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

Inside the clan school.

After Teacher Wu Qinglan mentioned the “inspection by the County Magistrate”, he saw Cui Xian’s eyes light up, realizing the boy had taken his words to heart.

This child is truly intelligent.

Teacher Wu genuinely liked him.

Thus, he thought for a moment and added, “The Lord Magistrate just took office at the beginning of the year. I have only seen him from a distance once; he seemed quite imposing.”

“Pei Jian’s father and grandfather mentioned that the new Magistrate, although young, possesses considerable talents not to be underestimated. He is also extremely upright and decisive, likely a man who acts swiftly and tolerates no dissent.”

Cui Xian understood then.

Teacher’s meaning was clear: do not try to show off in front of the Magistrate, as it could backfire.

“Thank you for your guidance, Teacher. I will keep it in my heart,” Cui Xian said, bowing in gratitude.

Under Teacher Wu’s proud gaze, he returned to the classroom.

On his way back, a fellow student, seemingly by accident, bumped into Cui Xian.

The student didn’t say anything and hurried away.

But in the moment they collided, Cui Xian found a slip of paper in his hand.

Without showing any reaction, Cui Xian unfolded it and after reading the message, his expression turned grave.

“People from Zhao’s family are watching you in the clan school. Be very careful.”

People from Zhao’s family…

Zhao Yaozu?

Cui Xian pocketed the note.

Back in the classroom, as if casually making small talk, he asked Pei Jian, “Big brother, after I returned to Hexi Village, how did ‘Ode to the Goose’ come to be recognized over ‘Ode to New Bamboo’?”

Upon this, Pei Jian momentarily forgot the sorrow brought by the new curriculum.

He burst into laughter, his face innocent, “Oh right, I forgot to tell you about this. That Zhao Yaozu, he distributed both ‘Ode to New Bamboo’ and ‘Ode to the Goose’ throughout Nanyang County Town, intending to use you as a stepping stone to fame… who would have thought, haha.”

“Also, someone publicly criticized ‘Ode to New Bamboo’. Zhao Yaozu’s grandfather, mistaking it for praise for his grandson, even shamelessly tried to strike up a conversation.”

Cui Xian laughed along with Pei Jian.

But his heart sank.

Zhao Yaozu’s grandfather, Zhao Zhi, is the deputy leader, the Vice Magistrate of Nanyang County, undoubtedly a powerful figure here.

Since arriving in Nanyang, Cui Xian had always been tactful, never seeking trouble.

But that doesn’t stop others from causing it.

The Cui Family had just moved to Nanyang, at a critical time for starting a new life.

There was absolutely no room for error.

The opponent was the Vice Magistrate, an official. A slight manipulation from him, and the current Cui Family would be defenseless.

To put it more directly-

Although Vice Magistrate Zhao had not yet made a move,

Cui Xian, who had studied Thick Black Theory¹, was already considering how to replace the Vice Magistrate of Nanyang Yamen.

Only by holding the initiative could he feel truly secure.

Zhao Zhi had immense power, having been Vice Magistrate for thirty years, and Zhao’s family was the leading local gentry of Nanyang.

And Cui Xian was only eight years old now.

The disparity between them was like that between the clouds and the mud. How should he play this game?

Cui Xian fixed his gaze on Nanyang’s County Magistrate.

Thanks to Teacher Wu’s information, he now had an opportunity to interact with Nanyang’s County Magistrate.

This was key to breaking the situation.

If there were a three-dimensional virtual chessboard at this moment,

Then Cui Xian, and Zhao Zhi, still unaware but powerful, would be sitting on either side of the board.

Zhao Zhi’s “old general” was himself.

And what about Cui Xian?

He needed to step out of the chessboard, placing the ‘Magistrate’ in the position of his own ‘general’, while he himself acted as the chariot, horse, and cannon-

Launching the fiercest attack on Zhao Zhi!

So the question was, how could he make the Magistrate willingly become his ‘general’?

Cui Xian had no immediate ideas.

The day’s lessons quickly came to an end.

Considering it was Cui Xian’s first day at school, the Teacher allowed him to leave early.

Pei Jian and the others, their eyes green with envy, could only stay put in the school. They had to memorize the day’s lessons before they could leave.

With his bag slung over his shoulder, Cui Xian left the classroom and went to find Cui Yu. “Brother, it’s still early. Want to go out for a stroll with me?”

Cui Yu looked pale. “I… I want to go home and study.”

Having begun his formal studies at a private school, he naturally couldn’t compare with the students of the Pei Family’s clan school.

Moreover, with a genius of a younger brother, Cui Yu felt immense pressure.

Thus, the two brothers parted ways at the clan school.

Cui Yu headed home.

Cui Xian, on the other hand, went for a leisurely walk.

Firstly, to think about how to connect with the Magistrate.

Secondly, to check on the sales of “The Legend of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit” and prepare for opening a Mohoulo figurine shop.

Having a source of income was essential for the family’s livelihood!

After leaving Funiu Alley, Cui Xian casually entered a bookstore, and sure enough, “Rainbow Cat” was still selling well.

“What do you think the Rainbow Sword looks like?”

“Not just the Rainbow Sword, I’m also wondering what Hero Rainbow Cat looks like. He must be extraordinary!”

Listening to the conversations of a few book enthusiasts, Cui Xian chuckled inwardly.

Indeed, whether in modern times or ancient, there was never a shortage of anime enthusiasts.

At this moment, a young man, dressed plainly but exuding a typical ‘civil servant’ aura, entered the bookstore and asked, “Shopkeeper, do you have any Mohoulo figurines of Rainbow Cat and the Seven Heroes?”

The shopkeeper shook his head.

The other ‘book enthusiasts’ laughed and said, “There are no Mohoulo figurines of Rainbow Cat right now because no one can imagine what the heroes look like.”

The young man looked disappointed.

But he didn’t comment on the enthusiasts’ words.

Because this young man had learned through his own channels that there were Mohoulo figurines of Rainbow Cat and the Seven Heroes in Nanyang, though they were very limited in number.

In the past few days, the young man had visited several bookstores to inquire, but found none.

He turned and left, looking dejected.

Cui Xian noticed this, his eyes gleaming.

He had only given one Mohoulo figurine of Hero Rainbow Cat to each of his four older brothers.

Later, he made a set for Commander Gao.

This young man, who seemed like a ‘civil servant’, came in directly asking to buy Mohoulo figurines of Rainbow Cat and the Seven Heroes.

Hmm… It seemed likely that Commander Gao had shown off the figurines, and this young man had found out.

To have access to Commander Gao’s circle, coupled with such an obvious ‘civil servant aura’, Cui Xian speculated that this person was likely from the Yamen.

With Zhao Zhi, the Vice Magistrate, watching like a hawk, and the Magistrate still out of reach for now.

The two Provincial Graduate Lords of the Pei Family had already returned to Kaifeng Prefecture.

Commander Gao was a soldier and couldn’t take down Zhao Zhi.

So, it was quite necessary to make the acquaintance of someone who seemed to be from the Yamen to gather some information.

As for how to make this acquaintance-

Well, such anime enthusiasts were just too easy to handle!

Thus, Cui Xian quickly approached the young man and called out softly to his back, “Hey.”

The young man turned around, puzzled.

Cui Xian pulled something out from his pocket and waved it in front of the young man’s eyes.

The young man’s eyes widened instantly, his expression turning excited.

It was none other than the Mohoulo figurine of Hero Rainbow Cat!

Cui Xian understood-this man hadn’t just heard of the Hero Rainbow Cat Mohoulo figurine; he had seen Commander Gao flaunting it firsthand!

Clearly, this young man wasn’t just an ordinary “civil servant”; he was likely a “junior leader.”

Having figured this out, Cui Xian turned and walked away.

The young man, initially caught up in his excitement, had visited numerous shops only to unexpectedly find the Hero Rainbow Cat Mohoulo figurine with a child!

He had definitely seen Commander Gao showing it off!

But in a moment of distraction, the child was already leaving.

The young man snapped back to reality and hurriedly chased after him, speaking urgently, “Don’t go, don’t go! We can negotiate the price. Name your price, or if there’s anything… anything you need help with, just let me know.”

Cui Xian kept walking, “Let’s talk another day. I’m lost.”

The young man, eager to help, said, “No problem! Where do you live? I’ll take you home.”

Cui Xian gave him the address.

The young man thought for a moment, recognizing the location, and said, “I think I know where that is. I’ll take you there.”

Cui Xian responded with an “Oh.”

Seeing the child remain silent, the young man, still coveting the Mohoulo figurine, racked his brain to make conversation, “Do you like ‘The Legend of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit’? Who’s your favorite character?”

“Surely it’s Rainbow Cat, right?”

Cui Xian didn’t answer, pretending to be wary, “Why should I tell you? You wouldn’t happen to be a kidnapper, would you? What do you do?”

The young man quickly waved his hands, “I’m not a kidnapper, don’t worry. I… I run a restaurant business.”

This was clearly a spur-of-the-moment fib.

Unexpectedly, Cui Xian’s eyes lit up, “Restaurant business? That’s great, I have something you can definitely help me with.”

Huh?

Could it really be this coincidental?

I was just making it up.

The young man was stunned.

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