Who Said a Study Servant Can't Win the Imperial Exam? - Chapter 35 - Cui Xian of the Cui Family, Dazzling Fame!

“Have you heard? There’s a storybook that’s been written exceptionally well lately!”

“Oh? What’s it called?”

“It’s called ‘The Legend of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit.’ I don’t tell just anyone.”

“What name?”

“‘The Legend of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit!’ Make sure you don’t buy the wrong book, only this one!”

Early in the morning, a peculiar scene unfolded in Nanyang City.

Burly, rough-and-tumble men were loudly shouting, wandering through the streets, discussing a storybook.

Afraid that passersby might not hear them clearly, they deliberately repeated the book’s name several times.

This left many townsfolk bewildered.

These days, even the rugged types are starting to enjoy reading?

You truly can’t judge a book by its cover!

And then…

Many of Nanyang’s prominent wealthy young ladies and madams also arrived early at the bookstores, specifically asking for a storybook called “The Legend of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit.”

Outside some bookstores, lines even formed!

With business booming, the bookstore owners were grinning from ear to ear.

Teahouses, restaurants, markets, taverns-everywhere people were discussing this book.

So… what happened?

Why, overnight, did this oddly named storybook become the object of everyone’s pursuit and conversation?

It’s as if not knowing about this book means you’re not a true Nanyang resident!

No one could clearly explain the reason.

But it just caught fire!

It was inexplicably popular, overwhelmingly so!

Youngsters who managed to buy the book stood outside the bookstores reading it immediately, their expressions excited: “Hero Rainbow Cat, you must defeat Black Heart Tiger!”

Wealthy young ladies cried in their chambers: “Blue Rabbit is dead, and I have no heart to explain the rights and wrongs. Such words from Hero Rainbow Cat, so moving, such faithful affection!”

The plot was grand and majestic.

Emotions were tender and lingering.

Friendship was loyal and true.

Right and wrong.

Good and evil.

How could such an all-encompassing story not become a hit?

After devouring the storybook in one breath, readers finally came to their senses and turned back to the title page of “The Legend of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit” to check the author’s name.

Huh?

It was co-written by five people?

Cui Xian conceived and narrated, while Pei Jian, Gao Qi, Li Heyu, and Zhuang Jin penned it.

Why did they need to write on his behalf? Truly curious.

Upon seeing this, many people were stunned.

Then they flipped to the back of the title page and found the answer!

But every person who saw the ‘answer’ was shocked, their eyes wide with astonishment.

“Because the author of this book, Cui Xian, is only 8 years old, has not begun formal studies, and cannot write. Therefore, we four have penned it on his behalf. We hope you will overlook any shortcomings.”

Wha-what?

The author of “The Legend of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit” is only eight years old?

Hasn’t even begun formal studies! Can’t write!

Good heavens!

How is this possible!

Thus, not only did “The Legend of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit” become a sensation.

Cui Xian, at eight years old, yet to begin formal studies, who could conceive such an extraordinary story, also rose to fame in a powerful manner!

What an exceptional young genius!

Of course, at this moment, more people were captivated by the story and hadn’t yet noticed this fact.

And those first drawn to the story were some of the students from the Pei Family clan school.

Recently, people have been outwardly mocking Pei Jian and his three companions for their audacity in attempting to write a Storybook. Yet, behind closed doors, they rushed to the bookstore to check out the book themselves. Their intention was to find material for gossip, to ridicule the four for what they assumed would be a ‘trash’ piece of writing.

However, after finishing “The Legend of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit,” these students were left in a state of shock, their eyes wide and mouths agape, exclaiming, “Impossible!”

Absolutely impossible! Could this Storybook really have been written by Pei Jian and those three companions? Did they truly have the ability to produce such work?

The students exchanged glances, unwilling to accept it, and flipped to the title page to check the author’s name.

“Phew!”

“Thank goodness, it was only Cui Xian who narrated it, and those four were merely the scribes.”

“What a relief, what a relief.”

“This Cui Xian must be an elder, perhaps even a great Confucian! He must be well-read and knowledgeable, otherwise, how could he create such an extraordinary Storybook?”

The students collectively sighed in relief, their anxious hearts finally at ease.

But when they turned to the back of the title page and read its contents, they were struck dumb, as if hit by lightning.

Their suspended hearts sank completely!

Good news: this masterpiece wasn’t written by the four companions.

Bad news: the real author is only eight years old, hasn’t begun formal studies, and can’t even write!

How is this possible?!

And who exactly is this Cui Xian?

At the Pei Family’s clan school, most students were anxiously waiting for feedback from the first group who had gone to the bookstore.

“They’re back, they’re back!”

“So, how was the Storybook written by Pei Jian and the others? Was it hilariously bad?”

“Why aren’t you saying anything, and why do you look so pale and odd? Was the Storybook unbearable?”

Seeing the group of students who had finished reading the book return in silence, those waiting for a spectacle were puzzled.

As it happened, Pei Jian, Cui Xian, and the others arrived at the clan school at this moment.

Today, the four Young Masters dressed very plainly.

Meanwhile, Cui Xian shed his usual low-key demeanor, wearing a custom-made outfit from the Pei Mansion, crafted from gold-thread snow satin.

His white attire fluttered, making him strikingly handsome.

In a few years, he would surely be a gentleman as refined as jade, unmatched in the world!

The students noticed him, their eyes lighting up: “Who is this person? He looks truly impressive! He’s even making Pei Jian and the others look like mere background.”

“I don’t know him, but why does he seem familiar?”

Only those who had returned from the bookstore and read the Storybook kept glancing at Cui Xian, seemingly having some guesses, their expressions eager.

Cui Xian, eight years old?

Judging by his appearance, the age seems to match!

Is it him?

The young Study Servant Cui Xian used to follow the Young Masters quietly, keeping a low profile.

But today, Pei Jian wanted his Junior brother to make a high-profile, stunning entrance at the clan school!

Noticing the gazes of some students on Cui Xian, Pei Jian knowingly looked at his Junior brother and loudly said, “Cui Xian, isn’t the weather great today?”

Zhuang Jin, Li Heyu, and Gao Qi chimed in loudly as well.

“Yes, yes, Cui Xian, what do you think?”

“Cui Xian, have you eaten?”

“Cui Xian, your clothes are really white today.”

Cui Xian helplessly rubbed his forehead.

Most students found this scene inexplicable.

But those who had returned from the bookstore were excited, frenzied, thrilled, unable to contain themselves!

Under the astonished gaze of all their classmates at the clan school, this group of students, faces flushed, surrounded Cui Xian!

“Heavens, heavens, you must be Cui Xian!”

“Are you really only eight years old, haven’t begun formal studies, yet wrote ‘The Legend of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit’?”

“A genius, a Prodigy!”

“This story, with its thrilling twists and heroic spirit, captivated me completely! You’re incredible, no, you’re practically the ancestor of the Storybook world!”

“I truly, after reading the Storybook, have started to admire and respect you!”

“Please, could you sign your name on my copy of ‘The Legend of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit’?”