Chapter 51

(Seeking recommendations, I see Uncle Guan's familiar x flowers again, x of...)

When the child who had run away from home for many days returned, he was never greeted with flowers and applause.

Despite his good attitude in confessing and his vow to focus solely on his studies from now on, ignoring all distractions, Chen Ke was only spared physical punishment and was still confined to his room for seven days.

By the time he saw the Su family, it was already the last day of April...

That day, the door opened, and he was released. After a quick wash, he was led to the backyard by Er Lang.

Entering the main house, he saw not only his own brothers but also the Su family, including Mr. and Mrs. Su and the four siblings, Su Baniang, her sister, and her two brothers. Chen Ke felt a great sense of depression: 'It’s not like they’re going to give me a three-court trial, is it?'

Fortunately, Chen Xiliang didn’t even look at him.

Chen Ke stood at the end of the Chen family line, facing the four Su family members. He saw Baniang and her younger sister giggling, Su Shi making funny faces, and Su Zhe couldn’t hold back his laughter... In short, they were all smiling at him.

Chen Ke then realized that he hadn’t washed his hair or changed his clothes, and his appearance must have been quite unkempt. If it were anyone else, they would have blushed and lowered their heads, but he casually flicked his hair, lifted his chin slightly, and had a natural confidence.

"Ha ha..." The Su family siblings couldn’t help but laugh, and Su Shi burst out laughing.

When Chen Ke looked up, he had already assumed a humble, penitent posture.

His movements were small, and he stood at the back, so only the Su family siblings could see him. The elders at the head of the table couldn’t see clearly, only noticing the Su family siblings laughing uncontrollably. This made Su Xun feel extremely embarrassed and angry, shouting, "What are you laughing at? Hézhong, are you itching for a beating again?!"

"..." Su Shi immediately lowered his head, feeling bitter: 'Why am I always the one to get scolded...'

"Never mind, Brother Quan, it’s good for boys to be lively," Chen Xiliang felt very pleased, shaking off his fatigue and saying, "Let’s get to the main point."

"Alright," Su Xun nodded and said, "You speak."

"Fine," Chen Xiliang cleared his throat and addressed the group of young people, "You young people, while your studies should primarily focus on cultivating virtue, there’s no denying that passing the imperial examinations is the most important thing at this stage. The Qing Shen Zhongyan Academy, founded by the great scholar Wang Fang, holds a prominent position in Meizhou and the surrounding counties. Its prestige is so high that during the Qingli Education Reform, we in Meizhou didn’t establish a separate official school but instead had the Zhongyan Academy take on that role."

The "Qingli Education Reform" was part of the Qingli New Policies and one of the few policies that were continued. Its main goal was clear: "All prefectures, states, and military districts, except those with existing schools, must establish schools." To enhance the status of official schools, the new policies also stipulated that only those who had studied for more than 300 days in an official school were eligible to take the imperial examinations.

Clearly, establishing the special status of official schools had a significant impact on private schools. In just a few years, the once-thriving private academies began to decline. However, super academies like the Yuelu Academy not only weren’t affected but also transformed into official schools, becoming dominant in the academic world.

The Zhongyan Academy, though unknown nationally and not the best in Shu, received the same treatment as the four major academies, causing those more prestigious academies to be envious and resentful.

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After a long, tedious speech, Chen Xiliang finally got to the point: "This year, the Zhongyan Academy is opening a new class, and registration will begin the day after tomorrow. You must be aware that this time is different from before. In the past, if you didn’t study at the Zhongyan Academy, you could go to other academies or study on your own, and it wouldn’t affect your chances of passing the imperial examinations. Now, the rules have changed. If you can’t get into the Zhongyan Academy, you won’t even have the资格 to take the imperial examinations!"

"Exactly," Su Xun, unable to bear Chen Xiliang’s verbosity, took over, "If you don’t get into the Zhongyan Academy, don’t come back!" He glared around the room, "Any questions?"

"..." The younger generation exchanged glances.

"Yes, Uncle Su, do we need to take an exam to get into the Zhongyan Academy?" Chen Ke raised his hand.

"Before, no, but now that it’s an official school, students from all the counties are flooding in," Su Xun said. "There are limited spots, so there will be an exam."

"If you don’t pass, you’ll have to wait until next year," Chen Xiliang added.

The Chen family members looked at Su Xun with changed expressions, thinking that he had moved the whole family over before the exam, which was quite foolish. But if they passed, they would be even more foolish, becoming 'cattle.'

"What will the exam cover?" Chen Ke asked again.

"Since it’s the first time, who knows, but it will likely be the Four Books and Five Classics, poetry, and couplets," the two elders shrugged. "In short, those who need to take the exam should go back and review their books. No one is allowed to leave the house tomorrow. Focus on preparing for the exam. Dismissed..."

The younger generation bowed to the elders and then filed out.

When the Chen and Su families reached the courtyard, they found that Chen Ke had already disappeared, probably to take a bath.

"It seems he’s not shy; he’s just teasing us," Su Shi laughed. "But he’s really put us in a bind."

"There will be many more days like this," Er Lang joked. "My brother has a nickname, 'Pit of Ten Thousand People.' Hézhong, you’d better be careful."

"Do you think I’m a pushover?!" Su Shi immediately became competitive.

"Stay humble, Hézhong," Su Baniang, skilled at handling her brother, pinched his ear. "No leaving the house tomorrow. Chen Er Lang will supervise you!"

"Cousin, don’t worry," Chen Cheng, who had been acting like an older brother, blushed. "I promise he won’t leave the house..."

"Then what will you do?" Su Shi, feeling embarrassed in front of the Chen brothers, broke free and jumped to the side.

"Will I have nothing to do? You all are going to school. Are your schoolbags ready? Pens, ink, paper, brushes, umbrellas, wooden shoes, snacks..." Baniang looked helpless. "Don’t you need to prepare?"

She smiled at Chen Cheng, "I’ve already talked to Uncle Chen. I’ll prepare the bags for San Lang and Wu Lang too."

"Thank you so much, Cousin," Chen Cheng’s face turned red. "Can you... help me..." He wanted to say, "Can you prepare one for me too?" but was too embarrassed, so he changed it to, "with such a big favor."

"It’s no trouble at all," Baniang smiled generously. "Alright, let’s get to work!" She then took her younger sister’s hand and prepared to go shopping.

Er Lang wanted to follow but stood there like a frog with its throat pinched, puffing his cheeks but making no sound.

"Brother, you should go too!" A familiar voice came from the moon gate, and it was Chen San Lang, who had quickly washed up and returned.

"What should I do there?" Er Lang regretted saying this as soon as he did.

Chen Ke also wanted to kick him. "Lead the way, handle the accounts, carry the bags... There are so many street thugs, you need to protect them!"

"Alright, I’ll go..." Chen Cheng eagerly followed.

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In the afternoon.

In the small study of the second courtyard of the Chen residence, a large bookshelf faced the door, filled with various books. Between the bookshelf and the door, two large desks were placed facing each other, each equipped with the Four Treasures of the Study and various writing tools.

Chen Ke sat at the desk on the right, surrounded by the Four Books and Five Classics, flipping through them at an incredible speed.

He was so engrossed that he didn’t notice when Chen Xiliang entered.

Chen Xiliang didn’t make a sound and sat down opposite him. Chen Ke finished another book and looked up, only then noticing his presence. "Father, please remember to knock next time."

"Brat, still holding a grudge," Chen Xiliang laughed. "Where did you learn to hold grudges?"

"Born with it."

"Alright, no more jokes," Chen Xiliang said seriously. "I’ve only had you study at home and write, without sending you to school. Will you be nervous for tomorrow’s exam?"

"I wasn’t, but now that Father asked..." Chen Ke said slowly. When he was happy, he called him "Father," but when he was upset, he called him "Father."

"So?"

"Still not nervous."

"Speak properly," Chen Xiliang, feeling helpless, knew that his third son always became sarcastic after being punished, though he didn’t know where he got such a temper. "Not being nervous is good. Do your best and show your true abilities. I believe in you, and there won’t be any problems."

"I believe in myself too," Chen Ke nodded seriously. "Do you know why I’m so depressed?"

"Why?"

"Because according to the usual punishment standards, I should have been confined for three days. This time, it was four days longer, clearly making me a pawn in your and Uncle Su’s competition." Chen Ke shook his head. "Father often says that a gentleman should be lenient in punishment... And you know I wasn’t out playing."

"Ha..." Chen Xiliang was hit where it hurt. He had heard that Su Shi was confined for six days after running away, so he doubled the punishment and added a day to show that the Chen family’s rules were not half as lenient as the Su family’s... Feeling guilty, he changed the subject, "If you had told me what you were doing, wouldn’t you have avoided the confinement?"

"Never mind, it’s all resolved, no need to talk about it," Chen Ke changed the subject. "Father, don’t worry about me. You must pass the imperial examination this time, or next time you’ll be my classmate..."

"Uh, brat..." Chen Xiliang was frustrated, but it was true. According to the new policies, everyone had to study for 100 days in an official school before taking the imperial examination. This time, the court was lenient, but if he didn’t pass, next time he would have to go to school regardless of his age... Taking the exam with his son was embarrassing enough, but studying with him would be unbearable.

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One more chapter, seeking votes, seeking a rise!

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