12dz Chapter 335 Who is the real poor loser?
Chapter 335 Who is the real poor loser?
"Oh, congratulations."
The attention that had been focused on Wu Yang returned to the rankings after a perfunctory congratulation.
Wu Yang: "..."
These people are truly short-sighted and ignorant. They're ranked first in the imperial examinations, but do they even know what that means?
Moreover, the top half of that list was dominated by people from wealthy, scholarly families.
Judging from their shabby clothes, they're probably looking for some poor, bookish scholar from some remote, impoverished village.
Wu Yang's eyes were full of mockery.
These people don't think that a country bumpkin who has only studied for a few days can pass the imperial examination for the lowest level of education.
So, he walked over with a smug look on his face, stood aside, and prepared to see how dejected these people would look when their names weren't on the list.
As the Master unfolded the last name on the list, the villagers and the people of Xicheng looked at it twice, but they still couldn't find Da Niu's name.
Zhao Chen quickly ran forward and carefully looked at it from beginning to end.
"So, did the top performers make the list?"
Most of the villagers below were illiterate and looked at Zhao Chen with nervous expressions.
Zhao Chen was certain that their village's hope was not on the list. He turned to the crowd and shook his head: "Da Niu didn't pass the exam this time."
Everyone nodded knowingly.
Wu Yang scoffed, "Da Niu? That's such an incredibly corny name."
These people must have prayed for good fortune for eight lifetimes to have their village produce a scholar.
I thought they would criticize and condemn the only scholar who wasn't on the list.
To my surprise, their expressions didn't change at all; they were still all smiles.
What's there to be happy about? Not being on the list proves you failed and lack knowledge.
His face was full of anticipation, clearly mocking.
The villagers hope that if they fail the exam, they can try again.
However, it is absolutely forbidden for anyone to attack the name of a big shot.
"You child, you're supposed to be a scholar, yet you wantonly slander your classmates, it's an insult to scholarship."
"That's right, don't think we won't hit you just because you're a little kid!"
Upon hearing this, Wu Yang puffed out his chest and said, "What? Just because my name is rustic doesn't mean I can't say it!"
Also, what classmate? My dad is a scholar, a man of great talent.
"Your North City Academy only has two teachers; it's not worth me coming here to study."
He studied at home, and with his father personally teaching him, exams were a piece of cake for him.
"Who said I wasn't on the list?"
Da Niu, who had just been sitting on the steps, walked in from behind the crowd.
Wu Yang glanced sideways at Da Niu, a mocking smile playing on his lips: "Oh, you're usually such a poor wretch who can't even afford an ink stick, yet you dare to spout such nonsense here."
When Lin Xi saw her child being bullied, she immediately went in to grab some silver and smash the boy to death.
He's not a big man, but he's got quite a big mouth.
Lin Xi has nothing but plenty of money.
Gao Mengli quickly reached out to stop Lin Xi: "Xi Xi, let Da Niu handle it himself."
People who look down on others will exist everywhere.
Arrogant and conceited, judging others by their narrow perspectives—there are plenty of people out there.
Da Niu will have to go to the prefectural city to take the imperial examinations to become a scholar or a provincial graduate. His parents are a safe haven, but there will always be times when they are not around.
Children grow up and eventually have to fly on their own.
If your wings are not yet fully grown, then learn to spread them first.
"But……"
Lin Xi frowned, determined to continue spoiling his son to the very end.
Gao Mengli glared at him, and only then did she give up and quiet down.
Those around him exchanged bewildered glances when they heard Wu Yang say that even Da Niu's ink sticks were unaffordable.
Wang Gougou scratched his head and asked those around him in a daze, "Are ink sticks really that expensive? Even Da Niu can't afford them?"
Zhao Chen shook his head, looking equally bewildered: "I don't know, I've never bought it."
Upon hearing this, Wu Yang's face lit up with joy, and he quickly pulled out a fine ink stick from his bundle: "See this? This ink stick was bought in the prefectural city. It costs two taels of silver."
He wanted to show these ignorant bumpkins his wealth.
Wu Yang proudly raised the ink stick above his head and spun it around a few times in the sunlight.
Da Niu looked down at his martial arts uniform he was wearing today. Because practicing martial arts wears out clothes, he wore durable fabrics.
It was indeed somewhat inferior to what Wu Yang was wearing.
Looking at the inkstick he held up above his head to show off, it's no wonder he didn't know its value. In Pingyao County, there was only one shop selling writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, so without comparison, he couldn't tell the difference between good and bad.
All he knew was that he had always used the same writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone that his master, Yu Mengmeng, had prepared for him, and that they even smelled of pine.
Da Niu asked curiously, "Does your ink stick have a pine scent?"
Wu Yang was taken aback by Da Niu's question: "N-no."
No?
Da Niu became even more curious and took a step forward: "Does your ink stick smell of camphor mixed with deer antler glue? After grinding it, can the ink condense into a purple glow on Xuan paper?"
Wu Yang's eyelids twitched, and he put down the ink stick he was holding, letting out a cold snort: "No."
Da Niu looked puzzled: "That's strange. My master said that the best ink is made with ten-year-old pine soot, Changbai Mountain deer glue, and three parts borneol to make it the finest ink."
This is the kind of ink I usually use at the academy.
Upon hearing this, Wu Yang's sneer deepened: "You country bumpkin, you really know how to talk big."
Don't tell me you usually use Nine Heavens Cloud Ink!
As for the Nine Heavens Cloud Ink, it costs a hundred taels a piece, and he had only seen it once in the study of the prefectural city.
After thinking for a while, Da Niu remembered: "Yes, yes, my master said that's the name!"
"Oh my, this is hilarious!"
"Look at this country bumpkin! He actually claims to use 'Nine Heavens Cloud Ink' ink, acting like he's from a prestigious family!"
A single inkstone can last a year. If you buy one inkstone for a hundred taels of silver, you probably couldn't afford it even if your whole family sold their possessions.
The pageboy beside Wu Yang was pointing at Da Niu and laughing so hard he was doubled over, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world.
Upon hearing that each piece of Nine Heavens Cloud Ink costs a hundred taels of silver, the villagers of Wangyue Village began to have their own ideas.
They all took off their money pouches, pulled out a few pieces of silver, and eagerly handed them to Da Niu.
Their village's hope deserves the best ink sticks!
"Da Niu, here are some loose silver coins. Take them and buy some ink!"
"Yes, Da Niu, I didn't bring much silver today, just about ten taels. Here, go buy those ink sticks!"
"Big Niu, you have to take mine!"
Wang Gougou quickly squeezed in as well, handing over his money bag.
"Hey, stand back a bit, don't block the way!"
Wu Yang, who was dumbfounded, was jostled by the villagers next to him.
The pageboy beside him quickly steadied him, saying, "Young master, be careful."
Why is this not going the way he expected?
Just now they were talking about how expensive ink sticks were, but now look around, people are holding up silver and giving it to that peasant.
They look to be around one or two hundred taels each.
Wu Yang was surprised. Could it be that he was delirious and saw things wrong?
But the snow-white silver was so clear under the sun that it almost blinded him.
These people can just casually pull out several taels of silver? And they carry it with them at all times?
But his father said that Pingyao County was very poor, full of peasants.
Although their town belongs to Pingyao County, it borders the prefectural city and is quite far from Pingyao County.
However, due to its proximity to the prefectural city, their town also prospered exceptionally.
However, no villager could easily come up with a few taels of silver.
Just then, a group of officials walked over from a distance.
But there were too many people here, so they had to shout: "Everyone, please make way, please make way!"
"I am here on the orders of Magistrate Tang of Pingding County to deliver a gift to the large ox in Wangyue Village, Pingyao County!"