Who Said a Study Servant Can't Win the Imperial Exam? - Chapter 8 - Quickly, Bring That Study Servant Over!

Funiu Alley.

The flagstone pavement was spotless, and though located in the bustling heart of the town, there was not a trace of noise.

A wide, pristine river meandered behind the alley, its banks lined with graceful willow trees swaying in the breeze-a scene so picturesque it could rival a painting.

Locals of Nanyang called it the White River.

And this Funiu Alley, built along the White River, was known as the most affluent “Nobleman’s Lane” in Nanyang County Town.

Any scholar or wealthy family with a bit of reputation in the county resided here.

Among them, the Pei Mansion, home to a family with two provincial graduates, was undoubtedly one of the most prestigious households in Funiu Alley.

But at this moment, chaos reigned in the main courtyard of the Pei Mansion.

Predictably, it was the Young Master, Pei Jian, stirring up trouble again.

About half a month ago, Pei Jian had a quarrel with his mother, stormed out of the house, and, in a fit of defiance, refused to attend the Classroom.

When Madam Pei, his grandmother, learned of this, she confined the Young Master to the mansion for half a month.

But this time, the Young Master was determined not to return to his studies. The confinement did nothing to soften his resolve.

He even hatched a plan to sneak out of the mansion by climbing over the wall.

Of course, the walls were too high, and his plan failed.

Word spread among the household staff that Jian-Ge’er had been boasting lately, claiming he had become someone else’s “big brother.”

Apparently, the Young Master had met a “Junior brother” outside who was charming and loyal. He was now threatening to leave the Pei Family and join this Junior brother instead.

Anyone who heard this couldn’t help but be speechless.

Madam Pei, accustomed to her grandson’s occasional antics, responded with a straightforward solution: “He wants a Junior brother, does he? Fine, find one for him! Heaven help us, as long as he agrees to go back to his studies, I’ll do whatever it takes!”

But adults rarely understand the minds of children.

To Madam Pei, a Junior brother was equivalent to a “follower” or “Study Servant.”

Thus, a group of ten or so boys, all around the Young Master’s age, was brought to the Pei Mansion.

Madam Pei turned to her grandson and said, “Pick one. There are plenty of Junior brothers here for you to choose from.”

Pei Jian surveyed the lineup of “Junior brothers” with a critical eye, finding fault with each one.

This one was too dark.

That one was too burly.

This one looked too dull… Well, a bit of dullness might be acceptable, but not this much. He wouldn’t know how to say flattering words.

And certainly wouldn’t pretend to hold a Mohoulo figurine and claim to own one.

In short, none of them had the qualities a Junior brother should possess!

Pei Jian dismissed them all with disdain, declaring, “No need. I already have a Junior brother, and none of these people can compare to him.”

The Junior brother he was willing to leave the Pei Family for?

Madam Pei raised an elegant eyebrow, suppressing her impatience. “Where does this Junior brother of yours live? I’ll have the Steward inquire about him. If he’s suitable, I’ll hire him to be your Study Servant.”

The Steward had previously sent someone to investigate Cui Xian, the boy who seemed to get along so well with the Young Master.

However, Cui Xian was not a resident of Nanyang County Town, and the inquiry yielded no results.

Upon hearing his grandmother’s suggestion, Pei Jian’s eyes lit up momentarily but then dimmed as he shook his head. “He chose to recognize me as his big brother. How could I possibly ask him to become my servant?”

A Study Servant might sound dignified, but in essence, it was still a servant-a subordinate.

In those days, servants were divided into two categories.

One is the kind sold by impoverished families, bound by a Contract of Servitude. These servants have no personal freedom and are considered the private property of their masters, serving them for life.

The other type is hired help, not bound by any contract of servitude, forming a simple employer-employee relationship with their masters.

But regardless of the type, they are all considered subordinates.

Young Master Pei Jian, having grown up in luxury, had always been a bit spoiled and self-centered. It was rare for him to consider someone else’s perspective so earnestly.

Madam Pei, however, remained composed despite her surprise. “First, tell me the address,” she said. “I’ll have the steward investigate. Besides, whether the person is even willing to come and be a Study Servant is another matter entirely.”

Pei Jian thought for a moment and realized she had a point. He then provided the information.

The steward wasted no time and set out to inquire.

What he found left both Madam Pei and Pei Jian astonished.

This “Junior brother” of his actually had quite a background!

It turned out his surname was Cui.

Over twenty years ago, the Cui Family had been a prominent household in Nanyang County, boasting a Provincial Graduate Lord in their ranks-a family of refined and scholarly distinction.

However, due to certain circumstances, the family had gradually fallen into decline.

The Cui Family eventually moved out of Nanyang County Town and returned to their ancestral village, Hexi Village, where their family legacy had originally begun.

Madam Pei, lost in thought, murmured, “If we calculate the years, the Provincial Graduate Lord of the Cui Family must be your Junior brother’s great-grandfather. He was an extraordinary man, you know. He even mentored your grandfather in his studies.”

“Oh, and your Junior brother’s grandfather-he was once a renowned Great Talent in Nanyang County Town. He became a Scholar Candidate at a very young age, and his scholarly achievements even surpassed your grandfather’s. Such a pity… sigh.”

A pity indeed. Heaven seemed to envy the gifted.

The Cui Family’s Provincial Graduate Lord and Scholar Candidate both passed away in succession.

And so, the once-glorious Cui Family swiftly fell into decline.

The Family Steward, too, sighed deeply. “To think they were once a family of Provincial Graduates. Truly unexpected. That Old Cui sacrificed everything to support her two sons in their studies, depleting the family fortune. I heard that in this year’s County Exam, both of Cui’s sons failed to pass again. Now the whole family is stuck in Hexi Village, living in poverty. Their meals rarely see any meat, and they’re constantly ridiculed and gossiped about.”

Pei Jian clenched his fists as he listened.

Who dared to mock his Junior brother?

Of course! Cui Xian, with his frail and skinny frame, his slow wit, and his impoverished family, must have been bullied often.

Why else would he be so eager to find a “big brother”?

The purpose of finding a big brother, naturally, was to have someone stand up for him!

And yet, ever since the day they parted ways, Pei Jian had been confined to the house and hadn’t even thought to inquire about his Junior brother’s struggles.

What kind of big brother was he, to be so neglectful?

Guilt weighed heavily on Pei Jian’s heart. He turned to Madam Pei with urgency. “Grandmother, please, I beg you! Go to the Cui Family and bring my Junior brother here! But don’t make him sign a Contract of Servitude, or even an employment contract. I don’t want him to be a Study Servant; I just want him to be my Junior brother! Every month, give him five taels-no, ten taels of silver as his stipend!”

Madam Pei remained silent.

As an adult, she saw the situation with far more complexity than a child could.

Now that they knew the Cui Family was a once-distinguished household, not mere farmers toiling in the fields, they had to approach the matter with the proper respect.

To barge in unannounced and ask if they were willing to let their child become a Study Servant would be far too presumptuous!

And besides, an employment contract would still need to be signed.

If you don’t sign a contract and still offer ten taels of silver a month, the Cui Family would definitely think it’s a scam.

Besides, who would offer such a high monthly salary of ten taels?

Madam Pei was contemplating how to handle this situation smoothly.

But Pei Jian was anxious.

He was worried about his junior brother, and seeing his grandmother remain silent, he thought she disagreed.

So he gritted his teeth and said, “Grandmother, why are you hesitating? Please bring my junior brother over. If it comes to it… I’ll agree to continue my studies at the Clan School!”

Madam Pei was stunned.

The servants in the room were also taken aback.

Oh my!

Pei Jian had begun formal studies at five and was now eleven, having disliked studying for six whole years!

This was the first time in his life that the Young Master had voluntarily expressed a desire to study.

Did that ‘junior brother’ of his have such charm?

Madam Pei was the first to recover, looking at the steward with excitement, “What are you standing there for? Go, quickly go to Hexi Village and invite him! Prepare a cart with rice, flour, grain, oil, eggs, and meat, and be sure to explain our intentions politely when you arrive!”

“Just say our Young Master needs a playmate and invite their Ge’er to stay at the mansion. No need for a Contract of Servitude, and as for the employment contract… forget it, no need for that either! But still, give the monthly payment, 500 Wen a month. Too much might cause envy, and the Cui Family might not even want too much.”

Pei Jian initially thought 500 Wen a month was too little.

But after hearing his grandmother’s last words, he immediately changed his tune, saying, “Then take ten taels of silver as well, from my account. That’s what I promised him.”

The broken ‘Mohoulo figurine’ might have been ‘fake.’

But the elder brother’s sincerity was genuine!

This time, Madam Pei was very straightforward: “Approved.”

The Family Steward happily went to carry out the task.

The entire Pei Mansion was filled with joy.

The Young Master was finally willing to study!

The Old Madam was in such a good mood that she even gave the servants a bonus.

The ‘Young Master’s junior brother’ hadn’t even arrived yet but had already won the favor of everyone in the Pei Family.

And they eagerly awaited his arrival.

Only Pei Jian felt a sense of sorrow.

Being an elder brother was tough!

For his junior brother, he had truly compromised a lot, sob sob sob!