Who Said a Study Servant Can't Win the Imperial Exam? - Chapter 29 - So the Young Master is a Good-for-Nothing

The battle for “Xian-Ge’er” unsurprisingly ended with Pei Jian’s victory.

The three ladies, each with their sons, returned home in frustration.

Pei Jian, meanwhile, instructed the servants to move all the gifts from the three families into Cui Xian’s bedroom.

“When you have a break in a few days, take these gifts back with you.”

Pei Jian, with a mischievous grin, advised, “In the future, when those three send you things, accept them. But don’t agree to be their junior brother, and definitely don’t visit their mansions, got it?”

Your possessiveness is quite something.

Cui Xian nodded helplessly.

However, he was worried that after this incident, the four spoiled young masters might harbor grudges.

How would they work together to publish “The Legend of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit”?

Pei Jian clearly hadn’t realized the seriousness of the situation.

After some thought, he added, “Grandmother suggested sending you to the clan school to begin formal studies, but I think there’s no rush. Let’s wait for my father’s reply, and once ‘The Legend of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit’ is published and you gain fame, then you can join the clan school.”

“In the meantime, I’ll teach you the introductory books like ‘Young Learner’s Qionglin,’ ‘Dragon Script Whip Shadow,’ ‘Sound Rhythm Enlightenment,’ and ‘Expanded Wise Sayings.'”

Young Master Pei was paving the way for his junior brother.

Cui Xian nodded, “I’ll listen to you, big brother.”

That very night, Pei Jian received a reply from Kaifeng Prefecture.

After reading the letter, he angrily cursed his father for being “short-sighted” and “as if all his learning went to the dogs.”

Fortunately, the letter mentioned that his grandfather would be back from his leave next month.

Pei Jian thought, well, let’s wait a bit longer.

By then, “The Legend of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit” should be published, and he could have his junior brother apprentice under his grandfather.

That would make their bond even stronger!

Let’s see how those three fools could compete with him for his junior brother.

The next day.

Pei Jian took Cui Xian to school and happened to run into Li Heyu, Zhuang Jin, and Gao Qi.

The four former good brothers exchanged eye rolls and heavy snorts, ignoring each other.

Yet they all gathered around Cui Xian with a tacit understanding.

Gao Qi pulled out two steaming meat buns, eagerly offering them, “Xian, have you had breakfast? These buns are especially delicious! I got up early just to buy them for you.”

Zhuang Jin took the Book Chest from Cui Xian’s back, “Xian, this chest is heavy. Let a certain young master carry it himself!”

Li Heyu handed over a copy of “Expanded Wise Sayings,” “Xian, are you coming to my house tonight? I can teach you to read this book.”

Cui Xian accepted Gao Qi’s buns.

Zhuang Jin took the Book Chest and tossed it heavily to Pei Jian.

He also accepted the “Expanded Wise Sayings” from Li Heyu, thanking him repeatedly.

But Pei Jian boasted, “Xian already had breakfast. Our chef cooked lean meat porridge overnight.”

“That Book Chest isn’t mine; I prepared it for Xian. It’s full of introductory books, including ‘Expanded Wise Sayings.'”

Darn it!

It’s only because Xian lives at Pei Mansion that Pei Jian has the advantage of proximity.

The three young masters were seething with jealousy.

As the four surrounded a study servant with their attentiveness, passing scholars were left utterly bewildered, feeling as if they were caught in a whirlwind.

Wait, is this… reasonable?

Who exactly is the Young Master here, and who is the study servant?

Moreover, these four rascals were notorious for their bad tempers and being difficult to deal with.

What kind of charm does this study servant possess to have these four notorious figures circling around him?

It’s simply unbelievable!

The servants and study servants in the school looked at Cui Xian with eyes filled with admiration and respect.

A study servant achieving such a status truly sets a benchmark for the rest of us!

Thus, the previously unnoticed little study servant, Cui Xian, became famous in the clan school in such an odd manner.

Cui Xian was quite speechless about this.

In the Inner Room.

Teacher Wu watched from afar as those four pieces of Rotten Wood fawned over a little study servant, feeling somewhat puzzled.

But soon, he lost interest and returned his gaze to the calligraphy sheet in his hand.

The more he looked, the more he liked it.

The more he looked, the more amazed he was.

These days, whenever Teacher Wu had a moment, he would admire this sheet filled with “Rotten wood cannot be carved.”

What made him anxious was that the owner of the calligraphy seemed to have vanished into thin air and never returned.

Who could this person be?

Cui Xian watched from a distance as Teacher Wu scratched his head in the Inner Room, a subtle smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

After finishing the day’s lessons.

Pei Jian glanced sideways at his three troublesome friends and grumbled, “Let’s go, let’s work on the book at my place.”

Despite the disagreements, the book still needed to be worked on.

Because they had promised Xian.

But Zhuang Jin suggested, “From now on, let’s work on the book at the school, find an empty classroom.”

Li Heyu and Gao Qi agreed.

Pei Jian ground his teeth but eventually had to agree with a sour expression.

Don’t think he didn’t know what those three were up to-they were just trying to find ways to lure Xian away!

As the four were about to start bickering again, Cui Xian, the “object of contention,” shrank his neck.

When will this farce finally end?

The five of them silently chose an empty classroom and went inside.

They made no noise, while in the adjacent classroom, a group of scholars was happily chatting away, completely unaware.

And the topic of their conversation was none other than Pei Jian and his friends!

“That Pei Jian, never learned anything since childhood, neglected his studies, and showed no respect for the Teacher. Recently, he seems to have changed his ways and is talking about writing a book.”

“Hahaha, he’s a complete fool, what kind of book could he possibly write?”

“The funniest thing is that study servant beside Pei Jian, like a fool, constantly boasting that Pei Jian is a genius prodigy.”

“And then there’s Li Heyu, Gao Qi, and Zhuang Jin, those three rascals, recently acting crazy too.”

“Anyway, I don’t believe those idiots could write a book!”

They chatted recklessly, laughing loudly.

Little did they know.

In the adjacent classroom, the five who had just sat down were visibly upset.

The four rascals wore tense expressions.

Cui Xian was equally speechless-he had wanted to keep pretending to “admire the Four Great Talents.”

Well, now it’s ruined, with such blatant ridicule, how can the act continue?

It’s all over!

The lie of being the “Outstanding Big Brother” was exposed on the spot, and Pei Jian’s mindset was likely to crumble. He might just give up in frustration and continue being a useless Rotten Wood. “The Legend of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit” wouldn’t be written either. What a predicament!

Fortunately, Pei Jian wasn’t that fragile. He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and looked at Zhuang Jin and the others with a playful tone, saying, “These people are just jealous of my extraordinary talent, which is why they’re slandering me like this, right?”

Under normal circumstances, his three mischievous friends would have chimed in to support him. But now, they were in the middle of a disagreement!

Thus, Li Heyu remained silent. Zhuang Jin avoided Pei Jian’s pleading gaze. Gao Qi was quiet for a moment, then suddenly gritted his teeth and said, “Forget it, I can’t keep up the act anymore! What jealousy, what extraordinary talent, what Nanyang Four Great Talents-it’s all fake!”

“We might as well admit it sooner. We four are just the laughingstock, useless Rotten Wood, unlearned and hopeless.”

“I’m sorry, Xian, we’ve been deceiving you all along.”

The atmosphere in the room froze instantly. Seeing this, Cui Xian could only brace himself and feign a dumbfounded look at Pei Jian, “Big Brother?”

Pei Jian’s heart throbbed painfully. He didn’t even dare to respond to his Junior brother’s inquiry, feeling both sad and panicked, and inexplicably angry. He first shot a fierce glare at Gao Qi.

Pei Jian suddenly stood up, ignoring Cui Xian, and furiously kicked open the door to the adjacent schoolroom, “Which scoundrel is gossiping about me behind my back? Tired of living, are you? Yes, I’m a scoundrel, I’m a useless Rotten Wood, so what? Who are you to judge me?”

“This Pei Family clan school is opened by my family! If you don’t like it, then get out!”

The adjacent schoolroom fell silent. The scholars who had been loudly mocking them were like chickens with their necks squeezed, instantly quiet, their expressions awkward.

After a brief standoff, Pei Jian turned around and quickly ran out of the school. Perhaps the wind was strong, or maybe sand got into his eyes, but as he ran, tears kept streaming down.

He, this useless big brother, was about to lose his Junior brother.