Chapter 19

In the afternoon, the study hall was so hot that not a breath of wind could be felt.

Since Lin Chengyi resigned as the tutor a few days ago, without supervision, the children lost their former enthusiasm for studying diligently during the afternoon classes and all hid in the cool shade under the banyan tree in the backyard.

The heat was unbearable, and the children, no longer caring about the dignity of scholars, stripped off their long-sleeved scholar robes and put on their undergarments. A few students brought loose tea leaves from home and brewed a large pot. The tea, having been drunk by a few people in large gulps, was already tasteless, but it was the only way to cool off.

Fortunately, the longan trees at the village entrance were laden with fruit. A few mischievous children secretly beat the trees with a rake and gathered several bunches. The children ate to their heart's content, spitting out the longan seeds to play with, which was quite fun.

The scorching heat of summer made the children lose their interest in studying.

Lin Yanchao, however, sat under the shade of the banyan tree, earnestly reading the "Great Learning" that Lin Chengyi had given him.

Without a word, a classmate brought him a bowl of cooled tea.

The cicadas chirped incessantly, making a lot of noise. After reading for a while, Lin Yanchao's mouth was dry. He picked up the large bowl of tea, drank a few big gulps, spat out the tea dregs, and let out a long breath, feeling the heat subside a bit.

The bowl of tea was already more than half empty, and someone immediately refilled it. Seeing that Lin Yanchao was free, a classmate immediately brought the "Thousand Character Classic" to ask for help.

After answering the question, the few classmates who had been listening looked at him with even more respect. After Lin Chengyi left, he almost became a half-teacher in the study hall. Compared to Zhang Guihe, who looked down on others and was aloof, the classmates preferred to seek advice from the approachable Lin Yanchao.

Speaking of teachers, Lin Yanchao thought of Lin Chengyi.

Next month, this tutor would take the college examination. Whether he would pass, Lin Yanchao predicted, was almost certain. After all, he was already a promised student of Hu Tixue. According to the unwritten rules of the bureaucracy, Lin Chengyi should have no difficulty passing.

Speaking of promised students, as a scholar of the Ming Dynasty, one had to pay attention to relationships and networks to succeed in the system. These included teacher-student relationships, fellow students, and fellow townspeople.

Among teacher-student relationships, the most important was the relationship with the chief examiner. The chief examiner was the guide for the student's official career. If Hu Tixue presided over the college examination, all the students admitted would be his disciples. A promised student was someone who had already established a teacher-student relationship before the examination.

In the college examination, names were not concealed, and records were not copied. Whether a student was admitted depended entirely on the examiner's personal preferences. When Hu Tixue graded Lin Chengyi's paper, he would only need to glance at his name. As long as the essay was not too off the mark, the rest would be a formality.

Similarly, Lin Yanchao was now a half-promised student of Hu Tixue, but he still had to pass the county and prefectural examinations. Speaking of the county examination, it was the first of the three minor examinations, controlled by the county magistrate. Thinking of the stern and harsh County Magistrate Zhou, Lin Yanchao knew it would be impossible to pull any strings.

At this moment, he could only work hard. Thinking of this, Lin Yanchao put down the tea bowl and was about to continue his studies when someone outside called, "Yanchao!"

Lin Yanchao stood up and saw that it was Zhang Zongjia, who said with a smile, "I have some good news for you. The matter of the Loyalty Temple has been settled."

Lin Yanchao was overjoyed upon hearing this.

Zhang Zongjia smiled and said, "It was personally taken care of by the inspector. The county office did not dare to be negligent and did not ask for any money. I have an old connection with the county office's ceremonial department, so I asked someone to inquire, and the document exempting us from miscellaneous services has also been issued to me."

Lin Yanchao was very grateful to Zhang Zongjia and said, "Thank you, Zongjia. I don't know how to express my gratitude."

Zhang Zongjia chuckled and said, "Nonsense, nonsense. If you want to thank me, just remember to help my unworthy son in the future."

Zhang Zongjia's words made Zhang Haoyuan feel ashamed. Lin Yanchao said, "Zongjia, Haoyuan is very talented. I only have a slight advantage in the 'Thousand Character Classic.' In the future, we can help each other."

Hearing this, Zhang Zongjia and Zhang Haoyuan were very pleased. Zhang Zongjia continued to his son, "Look at Yanchao, how measured his words are. You should learn from him."

Zhang Haoyuan lowered his head again, and Lin Yanchao did not know what to say. Zhang Zongjia continued to praise Lin Yanchao for a while before leaving.

With the document exempting him from miscellaneous services, Lin Yanchao felt more confident. When his aunt's family, the Xie family, tried to impose some miscellaneous services, the Lin family would not have to worry. He had planned ahead to prevent this.

"Haoyuan, Zhongshu, I plan to go home tomorrow," Lin Yanchao said.

Zhang Haoyuan said, "Don't go. I want to ask you for help with my studies these days."

Hou Zhongshu said, "Yanchao, who will play with me, no, who will study with me if you leave?"

Even Zhang Zongjia, who was eavesdropping at the door, shook his head, thinking that after Lin Yanchao left, the children's determination to study would not last long, and they would soon become lazy.

But Lin Yanchao put on a serious face and said, "How can you say such things? Is studying for yourself or for others? Can't you study without me?"

Hearing Lin Yanchao's stern words, the two did not know how to respond. Lin Yanchao's tone softened a bit and said, "I plan to take the imperial examinations in the future. You are all my friends, and I hope we can all pass together and become fellow students. If there is a difference in rank, I won't mind, but will you?"

Hearing this, Zhang Haoyuan and Hou Zhongshu were solemn. Even Zhang Zongjia approved in his heart, thinking that this boy was not ordinary. Not only did he recommend his teacher to Hu Tixue, but he also did not forget to help his classmates. Letting Haoyuan befriend this boy was a good move.

Zhang Haoyuan said with a guilty look, "Thank you, Yanchao, for your advice."

Hou Zhongshu said, "Brother Yanchao, why be so harsh? I will study hard."

Lin Yanchao smiled and said, "That's good."

The next day, the children dispersed and went home to play, waiting for the new tutor. Zhang Haoyuan and Hou Zhongshu, stimulated by Lin Yanchao's words, stayed in the study hall and studied hard.

In the dormitory, Lin Yanchao packed his luggage, neatly folding his clothes and placing them at the bottom. He packed the lamp oil, a few wolf-hair brushes, and the books he needed to read into his book basket. After packing, he left the study hall.

It was still early, and the villagers of Zhang's village saw Lin Yanchao and started to comment.

"Isn't this the prodigy chosen by the great teacher?"

"Though young, his future is limitless. My son studies with him, but he hasn't learned much from him."

On the way, the villagers greeted him, and Lin Yanchao also greeted them in return.

When he reached the village entrance, Lin Yanchao looked at the tall imperial scholar's arch for a long time. In just a few days, his situation had improved step by step.

After walking for over an hour, the sun was already high in the sky when he was about to reach home.

At the foot of the mountain, Lin Yanchao saw dozens of women washing clothes by the river, and men carrying water and washing chamber pots by the river. There was no concern about hygiene; the elders said, "Running water is naturally clean." The boat people outside the embankment lived, ate, and bathed by the water. Before reaching the village entrance, a few village dogs ran out, but they did not bark at Lin Yanchao, only whined softly.

It was good to be home. Lin Yanchao felt more and more affectionate, but this was not his true home. Hongshan Village was too isolated. The villagers lived in isolation, and many had never been to the provincial capital, which was only a dozen miles away.

The news had not yet reached the village that Lin Yanchao had been favored by Hu Tixue.

On the way, Lin Yanchao greeted his fellow villagers and relatives, who all smiled and replied, "Yanchao, you're back!"

"You're becoming more polite after studying."

"Go home quickly; your wife is waiting for you."

Hearing this, Lin Yanchao smiled awkwardly.

When he reached his two-story house, he saw Lin Qianqian feeding silkworms inside. She held a basket in one hand and took mulberry leaves from it to feed the silkworms. Lin Yanchao saw that the little girl had grown a bit and was even cuter. Lin Qianqian turned around and saw Lin Yanchao.

Lin Qianqian rubbed her eyes, showing a look of surprise and joy.

"Brother Yanchao," Lin Qianqian almost cried with joy.

Lin Yanchao was about to open his arms to embrace the little girl when Lin Qianqian suddenly stopped, her joy turning to suspicion. "It's not the first or fifteenth of the month, why are you back?"

Lin Yanchao replied, "Qianqian, the teacher has left the school, and there is no tutor, so I came home to see you."

Lin Qianqian did not believe him and said, "The teacher is fine, why would he leave? Did you skip school and come home? Was it easy for me to support your studies?"

Lin Qianqian immediately turned from suspicion to questioning. Lin Yanchao laughed and said, "You don't know, this time I went to the study hall, I was favored by the inspector, who promised to let our father enter the Loyalty Temple. The document exempting us from services has also been issued."

"The inspector is a star of literature; it's not easy for him to favor someone," Lin Qianqian said.

"Don't you believe me? I have the document."

"Is it real? Let me see."

Lin Yanchao shook his head, pretending to be angry, and took out the document from his book basket. Lin Qianqian took the document and, though she could only read a few words, she understood the general meaning.

"Brother Yanchao, it's true, you've finally made it," Lin Qianqian said, throwing herself into Lin Yanchao's arms and crying.

Lin Yanchao patted Lin Qianqian's soft shoulders and said, "Qianqian, the inspector's favor is not a big deal. Wait until I pass the scholar examination, then you can cry. If you cry now, you won't have enough tears when I pass the provincial and imperial examinations."

Lin Qianqian punched Lin Yanchao's chest and said, "You're just teasing me."

"Be gentle, I can't take it if you hit me every few days."

Lin Qianqian smiled and read the document again, word by word, before believing it was true. She said happily, "That's good. We should tell Uncle and Uncle Three the good news. They've been worried about the services assigned by Xie Zongjia these days."

Lin Yanchao's expression turned cold. "What services did Xie Zongjia assign to our family?"