Who Said a Study Servant Can't Win the Imperial Exam? - Chapter 11 - Heroes Are Not Defined by Their Origins

The Cui Family.

Main Hall.

“So, Xian-Ge’er, what you’re saying is that on the day you accompanied me to the County Town, while Granduncle Third was selling eggs, you managed to befriend the Young Master of the Pei Mansion, who happens to be the son of the Provincial Graduate Lord?”

“And this Young Master took an instant liking to you, even though you two only spent less than half a day together, and now he feels deeply connected to you?”

“After returning home, he couldn’t stop thinking about you. He’s willing to send a cart full of gifts, ten taels of silver, and a monthly wage of 500 wen, just to invite you to the Pei Mansion as his companion?”

“And if you refuse, he plans to come here himself to find you?”

After Old Madam Cui finished recounting the situation, Cui Xian cleared his throat. Under the incredulous gazes of his family, he nodded innocently, “Yes, that’s exactly how it is. Makes perfect sense, doesn’t it?”

Sense? Really?

Old Madam Cui looked utterly bewildered, as if questioning her grasp on reality.

This whole situation sounded absurd, almost like some kind of trickery. If the person involved weren’t her own grandson, she might have suspected that the Young Master of the Pei Family had been bewitched or deceived.

Seeing the dazed expressions on everyone’s faces, Cui Xian felt quite pleased.

Now this was more like it.

Life shouldn’t always be so bleak, with tears flowing at the drop of a hat. How could anyone live like that?

After explaining the sequence of events, Cui Xian handed the ten taels of silver given by the Pei Mansion’s steward to Old Madam Cui. “Grandmother, please take this money. Father, Eldest Uncle, and…”

He glanced at Cui Yu, who still had traces of tears in his eyes, and continued, “And Brother Yu. They all need money for their studies. Now we don’t have to worry about that anymore. Please, stop arguing about it.”

The family was indeed struggling financially.

That’s why Cui Xian didn’t refuse the ten taels of silver from the Pei Mansion.

But he silently made a note of it in his heart.

With his small, tender hands, Cui Xian held out the silver, offering it to his grandmother.

Old Madam Cui’s expression was deeply moved, but she couldn’t bring herself to take it.

The rest of the Cui Family in the Main Hall also remained silent.

Cui Xian found their reaction odd and continued with a cheerful tone, “Grandmother? Please take it. Once I go to the Pei Mansion, I’ll have a monthly wage of 500 wen. Not only can we continue to support Brother Yu’s studies, but we can also improve the meals at home… Grandmother! Why-why are you crying?”

At first, Old Madam Cui simply shed tears.

But soon, she couldn’t hold back and burst into sobs.

She trembled as she pulled Cui Xian into her arms, her voice quivering, “Xian-Ge’er, my good child. I’m crying because I’m happy, but also because I feel guilty. Before, I only allowed your brother to begin formal studies and never considered letting you. Did you… did you ever resent me for that?”

Cui Xian gently wiped away his grandmother’s tears with his small hands. “Grandmother, I understand our family’s situation. Why would I resent you? Brother Yu is the eldest; it’s only right that he begins his studies first…”

These words were not mere politeness.

Cui Xian, with his wealth of knowledge, would never harbor resentment over such trivial matters.

Besides, he carried his own sense of guilt-having taken over the body of one grandson of the Cui Family, how could he justify competing with the other grandson for the chance to study?

But before Cui Xian could finish his sentence, Cui Yu, his eyes slightly red, interrupted with a firm tone, “I won’t go to study.”

Cui Xian turned to look at him with a smile.

Then, Cui Xian asked Old Madam Cui, “Grandmother, may I ask-if our family had a little extra money today, would you send both my brother and me to begin formal studies?”

Old Madam Cui answered without hesitation, “Of course.”

Hearing this, Cui Xian smiled. “I believe you would. After all, whether it’s the palm or the back of your hand, it’s all flesh. When you decided to send my brother to begin formal studies earlier, you didn’t even glance at me. I thought to myself, how much determination must it have taken for you to say those words? How hard must it have been for you?”

Old Madam Cui felt her tears welling up again.

What had she done to deserve such a thoughtful grandson?

Xian-Ge’er was only eight years old. At his age, most children would still be mischievous and carefree, yet he was already so mature it made her heart ache.

But the more sensible Xian-Ge’er was, the more determined Old Madam Cui became not to let him become a Study Servant.

No matter how poor they were, they couldn’t let a child suffer.

The rest of the Cui Family clearly felt the same.

Eldest Uncle Cui Boshan was the first to speak. “Xian-Ge’er, we all understand your intentions. But I can’t agree to let you become a Study Servant. And your brother certainly can’t take the money you earn to pay for his studies.”

Eldest Aunt Lin, her eyes reddened, chimed in, “Your uncle is right. I may have a weakness for nice things, but Xian-Ge’er, rest assured-I know what’s right and wrong. You’re only eight. If we took your money, I wouldn’t be able to step outside without people pointing fingers at me.”

Cui Zhongyuan and Chen exchanged grateful looks with their elder brother and sister-in-law.

As parents, they naturally didn’t want their son to start working at such a young age.

After everyone had spoken, Old Madam Cui took Cui Xian’s hand and smiled. “Did you hear that? Your uncle and aunt are absolutely right. We can’t accept these Ten Taels or the cartload of gifts outside. Tomorrow, we’ll return them.”

“The Steward was kind and polite, but the Pei Family is a distinguished household. You’re still too young. If you go, you’ll have to live under someone else’s roof, constantly watching their moods.”

Cui Xian was deeply moved by their words.

But he was determined to go to the Pei Mansion.

He needed to leave this impoverished Hexi Village.

Compared to the conventional path of attending a Classroom to begin formal studies, the role of a Young Master’s Study Servant was far more suitable for him.

It wouldn’t confine him to a Classroom. He’d have more freedom to move around and could even use the Pei Family’s name to earn money outside.

At the right moments, he could join the Young Master for a few study sessions.

Then, he could craft a persona for himself as a “prodigy”-a child who, through casual exposure to books and a few lessons alongside the Young Master, could miraculously grasp everything with ease, mastering it all effortlessly.

With that image, his future path would be secure.

So, Cui Xian gently freed himself from his grandmother’s embrace. In front of the entire family, he flicked his long robe, dropped to his knees, and knelt firmly on the ground.

Though only eight years old, his expression was resolute, his posture upright, as steady as a pine tree, as unyielding as bamboo.

Even at such a tender age, he carried himself with a dignity and strength of character.

“No. I must go to the Pei Mansion.”

“First, our family is poor and in need of money. Only by continuing my studies and passing the imperial examination can I rise above our circumstances and bring an end to our hardships.”

“Second, the Pei Mansion is the home of provincial graduates, a family of noble reputation. They have extended a sincere invitation, and I cannot let this opportunity slip away.”

Cui Xian knelt on the ground, looking at his family with earnest eyes. “Father, Mother, Eldest Uncle, Eldest Aunt, Grandmother, I understand what you all are thinking. Yet, despite our poverty, even at my young age, I wish to contribute to our family.”

“Hexi Village is remote and desolate. I want to step out and carve my own path.”

“Born into the Cui Family, I am deeply grateful and wish to shoulder the burden of restoring our family’s honor and continuing the legacy of our ancestors.”

His voice was youthful, yet his words were powerful and resonant.

The family listened, stunned, gazing at Cui Xian as if seeing him for the first time.

Old Madam Cui was deeply moved, her voice trembling, “Good child, good child, get up, the ground is cold. I know your ambitions are great, but precisely because of that, I can’t bear to see you become a Study Servant.”

Cui Xian lifted his head, his dark eyes shining brightly, and smiled, “As they say: ‘A hero is not defined by his origins.’ Why should being a Study Servant matter? Grandmother, just wait and see.”

“I will surely secure a brilliant future for myself and for our Cui Family.”

A hero is not defined by his origins.

What a profound statement!

Old Madam Cui wiped away her tears, her expression a mix of relief and excitement.

Twenty years had passed.

After witnessing her two sons fail countless times in the imperial exams, her heart and spirit had grown cold. But today, listening to her young grandson’s words, they were warmed once more.