The Marquis Mansion’s Elite Class
Chapter 391

"Ah?" The two of them were puzzled.

Boss Xie couldn’t help but laugh and explained, "Most of the book buyers are scholars, and they only come here in their spare time. Since today isn’t a rest day, if you want to sell all your eggs today, you’ll have to go to the academy."

He Zheng asked, "Is the academy far from here? We have too many eggs to transport easily."

Boss Xie quickly replied, "Not far at all—it’s just one street behind us. We have a cart in the shop, and I can call someone to help transport both the books and the eggs."

"Alright, let’s go then."

Boss Xie, whose surname was Xie, was around forty years old. A few years ago, he had once been a celebrated entry-level examinee, but after failing the provincial-level exam twice, he had given up hope on the imperial examinations and settled for selling books at the end of the street.

However, Boss Xie’s arrival still prompted the academy’s headmaster to personally come out to greet him, as he had once been the most outstanding student from their small local academy.

Boss Xie chatted animatedly with the headmaster, and soon, the old man’s spirits seemed to lift. When he heard that the visitors were Childhood Scholars, the headmaster even wanted to buy all the eggs on the spot.

But Boss Xie stopped him. "Headmaster, they mentioned cooperation—they want both sides to benefit. They’re here to sell eggs, but I’m not here to sell books. You know… I want the students in our academy to see hope."

The headmaster noticed the dim light in his eyes brightening again. The elderly man tentatively asked, "You… you still can’t let go of it, can you?"

Boss Xie smiled. "Of course not. I didn’t even pass the provincial exam—I wasn’t even qualified to take the autumn exams. How could I be content? My teachers once saw me as their most promising student, and I’m not even fifty yet. Why should I give up now?"

He then looked at the children gathered at the academy’s entrance, his eyes shining with enthusiasm. "I want the hope they’ve brought me to extend to everyone in this academy. I want to see more entry-level examinees, provincial scholars, and even higher-ranking scholars come from our humble place."

To pass the imperial examinations was the highest honor in the hearts of scholars.

The headmaster was moved. He sighed and then chuckled. "Fine, take them inside. I’ll gather all the students."

"Good."

Brightness Academy.

Under the silent protection of their guardians, five young boys sat on the small cart provided by Boss Xie, carefully balancing several large baskets of eggs as they slowly entered the academy.

Zong Wenxiu asked worriedly, "Jincheng, their academy looks so run-down. Do you think the students here will really have spare money to buy eggs?"

Zong Jincheng thought for a moment. "They probably will. After all, we’re offering free eggs with every book purchase. Boss Xie said their books are cheap—only forty coins per copy. If we add ten eggs to each book, the total would be fifty coins, but Boss Xie agreed to sell them for forty-five coins, covering the discount from his own profits."

Shen Yibai grinned. "Boss Xie is such a good guy. We’re really lucky."

He Zheng teased, "Just be prepared for the performance part later, Yibai. Don’t chicken out."

"Ah? What performance? We don’t have to reveal our identities, do we?" Shen Yibai instantly panicked—he hated embarrassing himself.

Zong Jincheng laughed. "Just recite some texts. You’re good at that."

Shen Yibai relaxed. "Oh, that’s easy. I can recite from morning till night."

Brightness Academy had over two hundred students. They had been quietly listening to their teachers when word spread that several Childhood Scholars had arrived. The silent academy erupted in excitement.

"Where? Where are they? Are there really Childhood Scholars here? I thought no one took the Childhood Scholar exams because they were too difficult!"

"They’re real! Not only did they pass, but they’ve come to our academy! Did the headmaster somehow convince them to study here?"

"Living, breathing Childhood Scholars! My ancestors would be dancing in their graves if I got to study with them!"

"Come on, hurry! There are several of them—our village’s ancestral graves are about to take turns emitting smoke from sheer pride!"

"Ha ha ha…"

Students of all ages were gathered by the headmaster to listen to Boss Xie—their former top senior—introduce the five young boys sitting on the stage.

The five boys, aged ten to thirteen, greeted them confidently. "Hello, everyone!"

The students below erupted again. "Five! All five of them are Childhood Scholars?!"

"They’re so young! All prodigies!"

"Well, duh! The Childhood Scholar exams are only for kids under twelve. If they were older, they wouldn’t even qualify."

"They’re amazing! Some of us struggle just to pass the entry-level exams, and they’ve already become Childhood Scholars—that’s equivalent to provincial scholars! They can even take the autumn exams!"

Boss Xie smiled warmly. "These five young men are from the capital. They prefer not to reveal their names or backgrounds, but they’re here for a simple exchange. If you have any questions, you can ask them after purchasing a book. There are limited spots—fewer than a hundred—so once they’re gone, that’s it."

Hearing this, Shen Yibai teased He Zheng, "The wool still comes from the sheep’s back. I thought Boss Xie was cutting the price out of his own pocket, but turns out we still have to answer questions."

Zong Jincheng laughed. "Answering is better than reciting all day. We can take turns."

Zong Wenxiu added, "As long as we don’t reveal our identities or lower the price, we’ll be fine. We can still finish the task. Look, people are already lining up to buy books."

Boss Xie didn’t know why these five mysterious boys were here to sell eggs, but mentioning it outright might diminish their influence among the students. So he avoided the topic entirely, letting the students assume he had invited the Childhood Scholars solely to promote book sales.

The boys remained oblivious to his little scheme, while the headmaster eagerly arranged tea and water for them, preparing for the barrage of questions from the students.

The first student, a nineteen-year-old, nervously asked He Zheng, "Honored Childhood Scholar, how many years did you study before passing the Childhood Scholar exams?"

He Zheng grinned. "Two years. I started learning to read in June two years ago and passed the exams this March."

(And he had been the top scorer in the nation—but he didn’t mention that, or it would be too easy to identify him.)

"My heavens!" The young man was stunned. He turned to his classmates behind him, his expression one of utter disbelief.

Were prodigies really this… prodigious?

Some of them had studied for over a decade and still hadn’t passed the entry-level exams, let alone dared to attempt the notoriously difficult Childhood Scholar exams in the capital.

The next student eagerly rushed forward. "Are the Childhood Scholar exams harder than the entry-level exams?"

Wei Xinglu answered, "Much harder. You have to study the Four Books and Five Classics—memorize them, understand them, translate them. The exam lasts five days in the examination hall before they let you out."

Another entry-level examinee came forward and asked, "You've actually taken exams at the Imperial Examination Hall? What does it look like? Is it just like an ordinary building? Our county exams are always held in academies or temples—we’ve never seen the Imperial Examination Hall before."

Zong Jincheng didn’t hold back his criticism. "The Imperial Examination Hall is just a place with countless tiny dark cells where no one can see anyone else. There’s nothing inside except a desk and a stool. Oh, and rats—so many rats! Especially at night, they squeak so loudly you can’t sleep, and you’re constantly afraid they’ll crawl right onto your face."