Who Said a Study Servant Can’t Win the Imperial Exam?

While Master Pei Chongqing was engrossed in reading “Rainbow Cat” in his study, over at the Gao family, Young Master Gao Qi lay sulking in his bedroom. That scoundrel Zhao Yaozu had someone ghostwrite a lousy poem, overshadowing the true prodigy, Xian. Infuriating! I must find a chance to teach him a lesson!

Just as Gao Qi was stewing in his anger, the bedroom door swung open. The Honorable Commander walked in, beaming with joy, and chuckled, “Son, I’ve got good news for you.”

Gao Qi turned over, still feeling downcast, “What is it?”

“Just now, I ran into Master Pei, and he agreed to send Xian-Ge’er to our house to keep you company.”

Wha-what?

Gao Qi, who had been feeling miserable, sprang up, stuttering with excitement, “Re-really? Dad, you better not be joking!”

Commander Gao immediately replied, “Master Pei himself said it, how could it be false?”

Upon hearing this, Gao Qi was dizzy with delight, overwhelmed by the surprise. Fantastic! But… Pei Jian will surely be furious, won’t he? Oh well, can’t worry about that now. This time, it wasn’t me who snatched your junior brother; blame your grandfather!

Thoughts raced through his mind. Gao Qi leapt from the bed, eager to share the news, “Xian has returned to Hexi Village. Dad, I want to go find him now and tell him this great news!”

Now?

Commander Gao glanced at the scorching sun outside, hesitating, “It’s June, and the village is busy with the wheat harvest. They won’t have time to entertain us. Why not wait until Xian-Ge’er returns…”

By the time Xian returns, it’ll be too late! If his junior brother is taken, Pei Jian will surely cause a huge commotion. We need to seize the opportunity now. But Xian’s family is busy harvesting… wait, I’ve got it!

Gao Qi’s eyes lit up, “Dad, gather twenty strong men, let’s go to Hexi Village and help Xian’s family with the harvest!”

What?

Commander Gao shook his head repeatedly, “That’s not appropriate. I’m a Fifth-Rank Commander; how can I go into the fields to harvest? Besides, harvesting is exhausting!”

Gao Qi tempted him, “Dad, ever since you finished reading ‘Rainbow Cat,’ you’ve been eyeing the Hero Rainbow Cat Mohoulo figurine Xian made for me, haven’t you? Once we get to Hexi Village, I’ll have Xian make another one for you!”

Commander Gao was tempted, gritting his teeth, “Alright!”

Thus, after a short while, the Gao father and son, leading twenty strong men, set off grandly towards Hexi Village.

Meanwhile, on Cui Xian’s side, he took a carriage back to Hexi Village from the Pei family’s clan school. The June sun was blazing, and villagers were cooling off at the village entrance. Suddenly, they saw a carriage arriving at Hexi Village, and everyone stared in curiosity. It turned out to be Xian-Ge’er from the Cui family!

Oh, this caused quite a stir, as everyone crowded around, eager to see the spectacle.

“Xian-Ge’er, have you really been sent by Old Cui to be a Study Servant?”

“Heavens have mercy.”

“You haven’t been home for a while, so you probably don’t know. Your grandmother has gone mad and locked your father and your eldest uncle in the stable!”

“And also, your family’s cow has been sold!”

“With the wheat harvested, it’s almost time to plow the fields. Without the cow, how will your family manage the farm work?”

“Not to mention plowing, even harvesting the wheat is a problem for your family now!”

Cui Xian felt a heaviness in his heart as he listened.

But he didn’t show it, pretending to be curious as he asked, “Is the harvest not good this year for everyone?”

A quick-talking aunt instinctively replied, “Indeed, it’s not very good.”

Cui Xian chuckled at her words, “No wonder, with so much time spent gossiping about others, your mouths are busier than your hands. It’s no surprise the harvest isn’t good!”

This kid, what a way to talk!

The adults were left embarrassed by his retort.

But Cui Xian couldn’t be bothered with them anymore and dashed home.

After being away for two or three months, seeing his family’s rundown house again brought a sense of familiarity.

“Grandmother, Father, Mother! I’m back!”

Cui Xian called out as he pushed open the gate and entered the courtyard.

His sudden return startled his family.

“Xian-Ge’er?”

Old Cui and Lin hurried out of the house upon hearing the commotion.

Then, Chen, with her round belly, waddled out, her expression excited, “Xian-Ge’er, why are you back? Come here, let your mother have a look at you.”

Cui Xian quickly ran over, and Chen pulled him close, the mother and son engaging in a heartfelt exchange.

Just then, Cui Xuan and Cui Yu, the siblings, returned from the small backyard, holding bowls of food.

Seeing Cui Xian, they were first delighted, then remembered something and hastily hid the bowls behind them.

Those were meant for Cui Boshan and Cui Zhongyuan in the stable.

The atmosphere in the house became awkward.

Cui Xian pretended not to notice, smiling, “Sister, Brother, I’m back. By the way, where are Father and Eldest Uncle? I have good news to share with everyone.”

Old Cui mumbled, “They’re studying.”

The two daughters-in-law remained silent.

Cui Yu pursed his lips; he had returned from school the day before.

The family’s situation was tough now.

They hadn’t decided when to bring Xian-Ge’er back or how to tell him about these heavy matters.

For days, the Cui family hadn’t slept well.

And now Xian-Ge’er had returned on his own!

Well, since he’s back, some things can’t be hidden anymore.

Chen sighed, ruffling her son’s hair, “You must be tired from the journey. Come, let’s go inside. Just as well, your grandmother and I have some things to discuss with you.”

The family entered the Main Hall in silence, each with a worried expression.

Only Cui Xian kept smiling.

He was handsome, with dark eyes, and his smile was particularly charming.

So much so that Chen and Old Cui opened their mouths several times but couldn’t bring themselves to speak.

How should they say it?

That your father and eldest uncle are locked in the stable studying, and recently, due to the heat, they suffered from heatstroke, vomiting and diarrhea, and spent a lot on medicine.

That the cow was sold.

That tomorrow they plan to harvest the wheat, but haven’t found any help yet.

Because they knew the Cui Family was in dire straits, they deliberately demanded a high price.

Old Cui had been crying for days out of desperation.

The Cui Family had become the laughingstock of the entire village.

Everything was a mess, not a single good thing to speak of. How could they possibly bring it up?

Xian-Ge’er, so young, was already struggling as a Study Servant at the Pei Mansion. To burden him with these troubles…

The family truly couldn’t bear to do it!

Seeing that no one was willing to speak, Cui Xian chuckled, “Well, shall I share my good news first?”

Chen replied with a strained voice, “Xian-Ge’er, go ahead. Your mother is listening.”

So, under the watchful eyes of the entire family.

Cui Xian stood up, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a bulging purse, which he then emptied onto the table.

Clatter!

A heap of shiny silver pieces danced across the tabletop.

In that moment, the atmosphere in the Main Hall of the Cui Family froze.

Old Cui’s eyes widened in shock, and she gasped.

Cui Yu and Cui Xuan were dumbfounded.

Chen clutched her belly and exclaimed, “Oh my!”

Lin sprang to her feet, her face full of disbelief.

Seeing the stunned expressions of his family.

Cui Xian grinned, “This is the good news I wanted to share! Recently, I wrote a Storybook and earned thirty taels in royalties.”

How much?

Thirty taels!!

Oh my! That’s a whole thirty taels!

All earned by Xian-Ge’er?

Chen and the others were too shocked to speak.

They had lived most of their lives without ever seeing so much money!

Old Cui, trembling, quickly covered the silver with an old piece of clothing and said in a shaky voice, “Eldest daughter-in-law, go close the door, and then… call Boshan and Zhongyuan over.”

Moments later.

Having been confined to the stable for months, never allowed out, Cui Boshan and Cui Zhongyuan entered the Main Hall, puzzled.

Unsurprisingly, the brothers were also stunned.

“Thirty taels? Earned by Xian-Ge’er?”

“Oh heavens, so much money! Am I hallucinating from living in the stable?”

“Keep your voice down, don’t let anyone hear!”