Who Said a Study Servant Can't Win the Imperial Exam? - Chapter 43 - The Prodigy Turns Out to Be a Young Study Servant

Cui Family, Main Hall.

“Xian-Ge’er, are you saying that although you haven’t begun formal studies, you suddenly had a flash of inspiration one day and came up with a storybook?”

“The Young Master of the Pei Family and his three classmates helped you write and publish it.”

“And then you… earned thirty taels of silver?”

Faced with the astonished, dazed, and excited family members, Cui Xian nodded innocently and smiled, “Yes, is there a problem?”

Well… at first glance, it seems there’s no problem.

The issue is, that’s a whole thirty taels of silver!

Cui Zhongyuan swallowed hard, “Our entire family could go without eating or drinking for ten years and still might not save up that much money.”

“Xian-Ge’er has been away for less than three months and has already earned it.”

The key point is, Cui Xian is only eight years old.

Thinking about it like this, there’s a dizzying sense of unreality!

Just over two months ago.

When Cui Xian left home, Old Cui thought, this child is bound to have great prospects in the future.

Turns out, there’s no need to wait for the ‘future.’

Xian-Ge’er has already made it big now!

Thinking this, Old Cui suppressed her excitement, collected the silver pieces, and handed them back to Cui Xian, “Good child, the money you earned should naturally be kept by you.”

The whole family had no objections to this.

Chen took the opportunity to say, “Mother, Xian-Ge’er rarely comes home. Let Xianggong sleep in the bedroom tonight to keep him company.”

Cui Zhongyuan’s eyes immediately showed anticipation.

Lin and Cui Boshan also looked nervously at Old Cui.

Old Madam Cui was in a great mood, so she agreed readily, “Alright, let the elder keep Yu-Ge’er company too.”

The whole family immediately beamed with joy.

Cui Xian timely asked, “By the way, Mother, Grandmother, what was it you wanted to tell me earlier?”

There was indeed something to discuss earlier.

But now, there’s nothing to discuss!

In the face of thirty taels of silver, everything else becomes insignificant.

This substantial amount of money is enough to rebuild a fractured family!

Old Madam Cui waved her hand with a smile, “Those things don’t matter anymore. Good child, you’re the family’s great benefactor.”

These days, the Cui Family hasn’t been spared from the villagers’ mockery!

Cui Xian could mostly guess some of his grandmother’s thoughts.

He smiled, thinking that thirty taels is just the beginning.

In a few days, Wu Qinglan might personally come to find the ‘most talented prodigy in Nanyang.’

By then, the whole family will surely be even more astonished and excited!

The Cui Family will be able to hold their heads high in the village.

However, Cui Xian was still thinking ‘too narrowly.’

Because those who will soon visit the Cui Family will definitely not be just Wu Qinglan!

That day.

Master Pei Chongqing of the Pei Family first took a boat from Kaifeng Prefecture back to Nanyang.

In less than half a day.

Wu Qinglan and First Master Pei Kaitai also urgently boarded a ship back to Nanyang.

Madam Pei and Pei Jian waited at the dock for a long time, but never saw Master Pei.

Instead, they welcomed First Master Pei back!

Seeing the grandmother and grandson, Pei Kaitai was quite surprised. “Huh? Mother, Jian-Ge’er, how did you know I was back?”

Madam Pei was even more puzzled. “Kaitai, aren’t you supposed to be studying at the Provincial Academy? Why are you back? I was waiting for your father!”

Pei Jian, on the other hand, looked at Wu Qinglan, who was following his father, and suddenly understood. “Teacher Wu? I was wondering why you haven’t been at the clan school these past few days. You went to Kaifeng!”

The four of them exchanged glances, feeling something was amiss.

Then, the next moment, the steward of Pei Mansion rushed over, wailing, “Old Madam, Young Master! The Family Elder has returned to the mansion and has taken it upon himself to send Xian-Ge’er to the Gao family!”

What?!

At that moment, Pei Jian felt as if the sky was falling.

Without a second thought, he dashed home.

Madam Pei felt faint. “Quick, take me back to the mansion! That old fool, I’ll scratch his old face when I get home!”

Under the stunned gaze of Wu Qinglan and Pei Kaitai, the grandmother and grandson, along with a group of Pei Mansion servants, hurriedly left.

Pei Kaitai awkwardly remarked, “Even if they weren’t here to pick me up, they could at least not leave me behind.”

Wu Qinglan, however, had no time to concern himself with Pei Mansion’s affairs. He said, “Since Brother Kaitai has returned to Nanyang, I’ll head back to the clan school.”

He was preoccupied with the prodigious talent at the clan school!

What if that genius returned while he was away?

Pei Kaitai understood this well and quickly said, “Alright, Brother Qinglan, go ahead. I’ll handle everything.”

And so, they parted ways at the dock.

Wu Qinglan headed to the clan school.

As soon as he returned, a group of students surrounded him, chattering away.

Something about Xian-Ge’er writing “The Legend of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit” before beginning formal studies.

Something about losing a poetry contest with “Ode to the Goose,” and Zhao Yaozu being quite arrogant.

What were they talking about?!

Wasn’t “Rainbow Cat” co-authored by Pei Jian and those four Young Masters?

Wu Qinglan was eager to go to the Inner Room, feeling impatient, so he dismissed the students casually.

But when he entered the Inner Room and saw the “Ode to the Goose” on the table, he was instantly shocked!

It was him!

That prodigious talent had indeed returned!

The handwriting was as stunning as ever.

After Wu Qinglan read the poem carefully, he was so excited that his face flushed, and he almost danced in the Inner Room.

What a masterpiece!

If someone had the potential to become the future Saint of Calligraphy, a prodigious talent indeed.

And the ‘future Saint of Calligraphy’ could also write poetry?

Could he be the Star of Scholarship descended to earth?!

Wu Qinglan suddenly recalled the students mentioning “Ode to the Goose.”

He picked up the poem sheet and went out, asking loudly, “Who wrote this ‘Ode to the Goose’?”

“It was written by Cui Xian, the Study Servant beside Pei Jian.”

“Teacher, we told you earlier, this ‘Ode to the Goose’ lost to Zhao Yaozu’s ‘Ode to New Bamboo.'”

Upon hearing this, Wu Qinglan’s first thought was: So the genius was the unassuming Study Servant beside Pei Jian!

His second thought was: Eight years old, just beginning formal studies, future Saint of Calligraphy, creator of ‘Ode to the Goose’? Star of Scholarship, it must be the Star of Scholarship!

His third thought was: ‘Ode to the Goose’ lost.

Lost?!

Wu Qinglan felt a surge of nameless anger, gritting his teeth. “This is outrageous, outrageous! From now on, I, Wu Qinglan, will be at odds with Zhao’s family! This masterpiece ‘Ode to the Goose’ lost to a mediocre poem!”

Upon hearing this, the students at the clan school were dumbfounded.

On the other side.

Pei Kaitai returned to the Pei Mansion.

As expected, chaos ensued at home upon his arrival.

Pei Jian was furious, his eyes red with anger as he questioned his grandfather.

Madam Pei was even more outrageous, actually scratching Pei Chongqing’s face!

The Provincial Graduate Lord, Pei Chongqing, dodged awkwardly, yet he said, “It’s just a Study Servant, is it worth all this fuss from you two? Stop scratching, stop! Old woman, you’re going too far!”

“How about you let me finish reading this Storybook before you scratch me again? I’m really enjoying it!”

Pei Kaitai: “…”

What on earth is going on here?

And what kind of Storybook is so captivating that he continues reading even while being scratched?

Moreover… it’s just a Study Servant, surely it’s not worth all this trouble.

But then Pei Jian sneered, “You still have the nerve to read Storybooks? The author of ‘The Legend of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit’ was sent to the Gao family by you!”

Master Pei Chongqing was taken aback: the Study Servant he casually gave away was actually the author of ‘The Legend of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit’?

Regret immediately welled up in the old master’s heart.

At this moment, Wu Qinglan hurriedly arrived at the Pei Mansion, exclaiming, “Brother Kaitai, the prodigious talent has been found. His name is Cui Xian, and he’s Pei Jian’s Study Servant.”

Now.

Pei Kaitai also glared at his father, “Father! Look at what you’ve done. Do you have any idea that this Study Servant might become the future Saint of Calligraphy?”

Having been rebuked by his grandson and wife, and now facing his son’s reproach, Master Pei Chongqing was also annoyed, “What Saint of Calligraphy? You insolent child, how dare you speak to your father like that?”

The next moment.

Wu Qinglan said, “Not only is he a future Saint of Calligraphy, but Cui Xian also possesses remarkable poetic talent! Just look at this ‘Ode to the Goose,’ which he composed at the age of eight!”

Oh? A future Saint of Calligraphy who can also write poetry?

Pei Kaitai was quite intrigued.

Meanwhile, the old master was utterly stunned, filled with regret, “What? ‘Ode to the Goose’ was written by that Study Servant? And he’s only eight this year?! Oh no, no wonder Commander Gao is so thrilled as if he’s found a treasure!”

“I’ve personally handed over a treasure!”

With that, he rushed out the door, “I must go find Commander Gao and get him back!”

At the same time.

Having read ‘Ode to the Goose,’ Pei Kaitai was ecstatic, “What a poem! What a poem indeed!”

But thinking about how such a Prodigy was handed over by his own father, Pei Kaitai was furious again, “Mother, my father is truly senile; you must scratch him hard!”

Madam Pei and Pei Jian were left speechless.

What on earth is happening here?

Only Pei Jian, upon hearing ‘Ode to the Goose,’ realized something.

Judging by the reactions of the Teacher, his father, and grandfather, could it be-

‘Ode to the Goose’ is a masterpiece?!

The problem is…

Pei Jian murmured, “No way? ‘Ode to the Goose’ was just something Xian casually composed after reading ‘Sound Rhythm Enlightenment.'”

Wu Qinglan and Pei Kaitai were both taken aback!

Good heavens!