Chapter 19: Daring to Dream

The seventh-place result seemed decent, but Shen Xiuyan was not satisfied.

In the past, he had been the top scorer in the national college entrance exam, not to mention the countless championships he had won in various competitions. How was it that in the ancient world, he was not performing well?

After class, he took his test paper and went to the familiar Liu Fuzi to seek advice.

Liu Fuzi couldn’t help but twitch his mouth when he saw Shen Xiuyan’s paper. He never expected Shen Xiuyan would come to ask him what was wrong with the paper.

Why did he only get seventh place?

How should he respond…

Should he just say that it wasn’t bad, but when I saw your name, I was biased and gave you an arbitrary rank?

Thinking about it, that was definitely something he couldn’t say.

What if Shen Xiuyan took it seriously and thought it was all his fault? What if he refused to let him write for him in the future?

So, he racked his brain and finally found a small flaw in the question.

Although it was practically nitpicking…

After hearing this, Shen Xiuyan had an epiphany.

He nodded while still praising Liu Fuzi, “As expected of you. After hearing your explanation, I can see my answer does have shortcomings. No wonder I only got seventh place.”

Liu Fuzi: “……”

Stop talking, if you keep going, I’ll be too embarrassed to even lift my head.

With that answer, how could there possibly be any shortcomings? It was pure nitpicking…

Liu Fuzi, feeling guilty, complimented him, “It’s fine, you’ve only been at Qingcheng Academy for a few days. Getting seventh place is already good. Keep up the effort next time.”

Shen Xiuyan nodded. Indeed, there are always people better than you. Qingcheng Academy really was full of hidden talents.

Seventh place was fine.

Lowering his expectations, it was still not bad. After all, he had surpassed so many people after studying for only a few days.

He was confident he would be able to take first place in the future.

With this excitement, Shen Xiuyan went to find Su Mingyue.

They hadn’t seen each other in a while since he had to attend class every day, and Shen Xiuyan missed her terribly.

Today, he could also show her this test paper!

He wasn’t trying to show off in front of his crush at all!

At this moment, he seemed to be admitting it unconsciously.

Just as he had expected, when Mingyue found out he had gotten seventh place in Qingcheng Academy, she expressed exaggerated amazement.

“Shen Lang, you’re really amazing! This is Qingcheng Academy, and you’ve only been here for such a short time and already got seventh place!” Her eyes sparkled with admiration, shining as if they could only hold him in them.

Shen Xiuyan was flattered by her praise and couldn’t help but boast, “Wait for it, soon I’ll definitely take first place!”

“Wow! As expected of Shen Lang!” The charming beauty clapped without a hint of doubt, completely supportive.

Seeing her so happy, Shen Xiuyan felt that all his efforts were worth it!

But Su Mingyue’s next sentence made him collapse.

“After you take first place, we can go for the Xiucai exam, Shen Lang, you’ll definitely be able to pass the Xiucai exam!!!”

Su Mingyue, with a determined look in her eyes, counted on her fingers. Shen Xiuyan could see no falsehood in her eyes.

Shen Xiuyan: “……”

Although… but…

Even he didn’t have that much confidence. Where did Mingyue’s confidence come from?

If he didn’t pass the exam, she would probably be disappointed.

Wait!

Was she implying that the lowest she would accept for a husband was someone who passed the Xiucai exam…

Shen Xiuyan couldn’t help but let out a whimper. Wasn’t she going to consider lowering her expectations?

He didn’t know how long it would take before he passed the exam…

But seeing the hopeful look in the beautiful girl’s eyes, Shen Xiuyan decided that as a man, he couldn’t say no!

He had to give his beloved the life she dreamed of!

Wiping away a tear in his heart, he also made a vow, “I will work hard to pass the Xiucai exam!!!”

“En, Shen Lang, you’re really amazing.”

Background character Cui Cui: Speechless, truly a case of a small knife wiping the backside—eyes opened.

These two are both daring to dream, and one is also daring to make promises.

Is the Xiucai exam really that easy to pass? If so, then everyone could pass.

I’m done, truly done.

Please lock this place down.

Having made a promise to his beloved, Shen Xiuyan began his intense study routine at home. It was just a small Xiucai exam.

He could always skip sleep!

Late at night, Shen Yuanming and Zhou Shi were surprised to see the light still burning in Shen Xiuyan’s room.

“What’s wrong with your brother? Studying so much that he doesn’t even sleep?”

Shen Yuanming shook his head. “I don’t know. But since he’s at home now, should you go talk to him about Uncle’s situation?”

Zhou Shi hesitated for a moment.

Shen Yuanming tilted his head. “Should I go talk to him?”

“Alright, you go,” Zhou Shi said, lowering her head, feeling a bit ashamed. As a mother, she felt incapable and had to trouble her son.

Also, she felt that her elder son seemed different now. He had become a man of responsibility, perhaps he would be willing to help.

Shen Xiuyan, who was madly memorizing his books, heard the sound of the door opening. He looked up and asked, “Yuanming, why are you here?”

Shen Yuanming replied, “Brother, I need to talk to you about something.”

Shen Xiuyan nodded. “Go ahead.”

Shen Yuanming lowered his head, somewhat embarrassed. “Uncle came today, but he ran into some trouble…”

Shen Xiuyan immediately stood up, his expression turning serious. His uncle was one of the few people who had treated the original owner well. Who dared to bully him? Let’s see if I agree with that!

“Let’s go! Who’s causing trouble for Uncle? Grab something, we’re going!”

Shen Yuanming: “……”

There’s no need to be this worked up. Let me finish what I’m saying first.

But seeing his brother’s attitude, Shen Yuanming felt happy. He really had changed.

Seeing his brother still eager to grab something, Shen Yuanming fell silent for a moment before rushing over to stop him.

It wasn’t that he was bragging, but with his brother’s thin body, he wouldn’t even last if someone gave him a slight push.

“No, listen to me first. It’s like this…”

Shen Xiuyan listened as Shen Yuanming explained and then breathed a sigh of relief.

So it wasn’t that he was being bullied. That’s good.

It turned out that his uncle had been unlucky recently. First, his wife got sick, and after spending money to cure her, his son fell ill as well.

The son was the only child, and the money had been spent as if it were nothing, but at least the child was saved, though still in poor health.

Thinking that things would settle, no one expected that his father-in-law would fall sick next.

At this point, his uncle had no money left.

But his father-in-law had always treated him well, and he couldn’t let him suffer without treatment.

In desperation, he came to his house to borrow money.

Shen Xiuyan spoke, “How much money is he borrowing? Is mother so embarrassed she can’t even come in?”

“Five or six taels, probably…”

Shen Xiuyan: “……”

It’s just five or six taels, why make such a big deal about it…

But then he thought about how his uncle had been so unlucky recently, and it was possible that there would be more situations requiring money in the future. He realized that teaching someone how to fish was better than giving them fish.

So, Shen Xiuyan waved his hand, “Tomorrow, have Uncle come over again, I have something to say.”

Shen Yuanming obediently nodded. “Okay!”

After closing his brother’s door, Zhou Shi anxiously asked, “Did you talk to him?”

Shen Yuanming nodded.

Zhou Shi quickly asked, “What did your brother say?”

“He told me to have Uncle come over tomorrow.”

Zhou Shi was confused but still said, “Then go early tomorrow, don’t delay your brother from going to the county to study.”

“Okay.”