Xiaobao took this exam in front of everyone in the main hall.

Everyone at home, including Gan Lai and Huang Rong, served as invigilators.

It didn't take Xiaobao long to complete the answer sheet.

Whatever needs to be memorized by rote, just recite it directly in front of You Zhenghang and everyone else. Speaking is faster than writing.

Only the writing part is a bit time-consuming.

But Xiaobao could just write it out with a pen, because what You Zhenghang wanted to prove was his knowledge level, and whether the paper was neat or not was not included.

The questions in the Daxuan Yuan Examination are not too difficult, and there are more policy essays than those in the Children's Examination.

The children's examination requires the ability to memorize Hui Mo and then have certain opinions; the college examination requires not only the ability to memorize Hui Mo, but also the ability to write down the opinions within the specifications.

Xiaobao's qualification as a scholar is not watered down at all, because his usual conversations with his mother are enough for him to write policy papers.

You Zhenghang also felt that the exam went very well and got second place.

But he knew in his heart that some of the contents in the policy article were based on Xiaobao's travel notes, as well as some measures he heard from his father about improving the income of people in the county. Half of these measures were provided by Xiaobao's mother.

In other words, his second place is half that of Xiaobao.

But he still didn't give up. He wanted to witness Xiaobao's knowledge with his own eyes, and was unwilling to admit that he, a "child prodigy" who had been educated by a Hanlin bachelor since childhood, was not as good as a child taught by a peasant woman.

If it's really not as good as that, then...

"Master Chu! Please accept me as your student! I want to learn from you!" You Zhenghang blushed, but his voice was loud, and he knelt down as he spoke.

Zhuo Yao took a step forward, put his hands under his armpits and lifted him up: "Speak carefully, your waist won't hurt when you stand and talk!"

You Zhenghang didn't realize that the person he was really dissatisfied with was not Xiaobao, but the person who taught Xiaobao.

Because if he admitted it, it would mean that his grandfather and parents were not as knowledgeable as a peasant woman.

This was emotionally unacceptable to him.

But the reality is so cruel, so he wants to worship Chu Qing as his teacher, and he wants to thoroughly understand what is so brilliant about Chu Qing's education.

It is said that the strong are respected, and this is true among warriors. In fact, it is also true among literati, but literati are not as willing to admit it as warriors.

Chu Qing was a little at a loss: "You...that...Xiaobao...that, no, I mean Zhenghang, I have never been a teacher, and I have no knowledge. What stimulated you?"

Besides, you have lived in my house for more than half a month, and you know how we get along with each other on weekdays. Didn’t you see me and didn’t take care of Xiaobao much?"

You Zhenghang didn't believe it. At least he wanted to know how Chu Qing opened the small stove for Xiaobao. Maybe he hired a teacher.

Seeing the expression on the child's face that said "there is a secret in your family", Chu Qing had no choice but to say: "Since I have passed the exam, I came here to relax and have some fun with Xiaobao."

You Zhenghang just settled down.

Xiaobao curled his lips when he saw it: "Don't live in the same room with me! You are both a girl and a servant. You are disabled and need someone to take care of you?"

You Zhenghang: "If I don't bring a girl, who will help me sort out my clothes! Are you just..." Then he couldn't continue, Xiaobao really didn't need it.

The last time he came here, he brought a boy with him, and he was isolated by everyone. They all stayed away from him, as if he was weird.

"Don't you have servants in your family?" You Zhenghang was unconvinced, "Don't you also have servants in your mother's house?"

What I didn't say was "Is your mother disabled too?"

Xiaobao didn't need to answer, but he saw Huang Rong and Chu Qing picking cotton seeds together. There were sacks all around them, all filled with cotton seeds.

Huang Zhong was wearing the same short gray cloth jacket as Master Lu. Both Master Lu and Huang Zhong were holding chisels to measure a large stone, and there were no servants around to serve them.

Mu Nianci held a stack of account books to sort and check them.

San San sent the boys and girls away and asked them to find work on their own. You Zhenghang said, "Looking at the carload of gifts I brought you, how dare you not let me live in your house?"

From then on, Xiaobao had an extra "follower".

………………

One day in mid-September, Bai Hua and Wei Chengyi came, each carrying a small baggage.

Chu Qing invited them to the main hall and asked, "Why are you here?"

Bai Hua threw away the baggage casually: "Find a room, we brothers will stay at your house during this period!"

Chu Qing: "Ah?"

Wei Chengyi felt that this was not good: "Master Bai, pay attention to your wording."

Bai Hua: "Be careful! She's already 'showing filial piety', who can say anything? Don't Mr. Huang live here too?"

Chu Qing: "Who are you talking to to vent your anger? The anger is quite strong! Nianci, please bring a pot of Coptis chinensis to calm down the fire!"

Bai Hua: "Don't! I'm afraid of you! Wei Chengyi and I have been suspended, so we have no place to live. You can make room for us!"

Chu Qing: "Chengyi, Bai Hua and I have no common language. Tell me, what happened?"

Wei Chengyi: "That's right, because the last time Xiaobao was assassinated, it was reported that the former Donglun Princess was absconding. It has been more than a year now, and she has not been caught. The superiors said that we have neglected our duties..."

Xiaobao, who had already stepped into the threshold with one foot, pulled his foot back with a swish, turned around and left.

Bai Hua: "Stop!"

Xiaobao: "No! I'm not a crow's mouth!"

Wei Chengyi continued: "The acting official has arrived, and Lord Wu will come in person in the next few days."

Chu Qing asked: "The boss? Who is the boss, Mr. Hu? Didn't this case be handed over to Song Tingshan? The blame should not be traced to you!"

Bai Hua: "Xiaobao is right. We didn't notice that there was a princess missing at first. That's our fault!"

Wei Chengyi: "You can't say that. At that time, this place was under the control of Jizhou, and we were not secret agents stationed here."

Bai Hua: "How could they not know the situation at that time? This is just deliberately looking for trouble! If I don't take the lead, how can I let them make trouble for Chiang Kai-shek's deputy Qian Hu?"

The Secret Investigation Department's directorate in Xinlun Prefecture was established only after the Second World War. Before that, the Jizhou Directorate had been sneaking spies into Donglun State. If we really wanted to be more serious, we would really implicate Chiang Kai-shek's deputy Qian Hu.

Chu Qing asked: "Who is the acting official?"

Bai Hua said: "You know him!"

Chu Qing: "The one named Han?"

Bai Hua: "Huh, that's him!"

Chu Qing: "Haha, this is interesting. I'm not sure who it's for."

Wei Chengyi looked at Chu Qing and then at Bai Hua: "It's not directed at me anyway."

For the first time, Chu Qing had the urge to actively cooperate with Bai Hua: he wanted to beat Wei Chengyi.

Xiaobao came in with a bowl of fruit. There were apples, oranges, autumn pears, and pomegranates in the bowl, which were packed in a vegetable basin.

Bai Hua grabbed an autumn pear and gnawed it: "I have to defeat the fire! Hey, why are you carrying such a big basin? Is it the basin for washing your feet?"

Wei Chengyi took the apple to his mouth again.

Xiaobao: "Yes, my footbath!"

Huang Rong came in with a pile of exquisite fruit plates: "Xiaobao, why did you bring them without dividing the plates? Zhao Min was scolding in the kitchen, saying that some blind thief dared to steal into Chu's house!"

Zhao Min, the "grand maid of Chapai", was in charge of Chu Qing's kitchen. As soon as she washed the fruits, when she turned around, a bowl of fruits disappeared.

Wei Chengyi took a bite of the apple: It’s so crispy!

Chu Qing grabbed an orange and peeled it slowly. The Qiuli in Bai Hua's hand only had a core left: "Look at how calm you are. Are you watching the fun? I'm here for you!"

Xiaobao interjected: "That's not necessarily the case, I'll let you figure it out!"

As he spoke, his right hand imitated Huang Zhong's way of stroking his beard, making gestures between his chin and chest, while the thumb of his left hand moved quickly on the joints of the other four fingers.

Wei Chengyi: "Slow down, there's an afterimage!"

Chu Qing: "..."

Bai Hua: "..."

After a while, Xiaobao stopped moving: "I'm counting with my fingers, Bai Hua, you are going to suffer a bloody disaster!"
Chapter completed!