Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 42 Manipulating the Fingers (Strongly requesting continued reading and monthly votes)
These powerful figures had no idea that the masterminds behind all this were just a few immature kids.

In their view, this seemingly simple test question must be full of hidden meanings, so they dared not be careless.

Xue Maozong took the exam questions and originally wanted to go to Cui Shendao, a clever man, for advice. However, Cui Shendao was prepared to strictly enforce Tao Mo's rules, which meant letting his son do whatever he wanted.

Xue Maozong felt this wouldn't do, since only sixteen people would be recruited and the competition would be too fierce. So, after returning home, he didn't go to his son first, but instead went to his steward, Uncle Lin.

He was born into nobility and knew nothing about daily necessities.

When Butler Lin learned that it concerned the young master's studies, he dared not be negligent. After carefully reviewing the question, he said, "Reporting to the young master, there is indeed a mystery in this matter."

"What's the secret?"

"As far as I know, with the prices in the West Market and the budget allotted, it's impossible to do everything to the best of everything. There must be trade-offs. I believe the key to this test lies in how to make those trade-offs and still achieve the best results."

"I see."

Xue Maozong nodded and said, "According to the rules, we are not allowed to interfere in this matter, otherwise it would be considered cheating, so we cannot openly help."

Uncle Lin nodded and said, "I understand."

Imperial College.

"Brother Yang, are you sure you're not mistaken?"

Wu Chongwen raised his head and looked at Yang Zhan with great surprise.

Yang Zhan said, "There's no mistake. These are the exam questions from the Nameless Academy. It's all about who can do it the best and fastest within these rules. Their families can only give them the stipulated amount of money, and they must complete the task in the West Market. They can't interfere with anything else."

Xu Daoxuan, standing to the side, scoffed, "What kind of bullshit exam is this? I think that nameless old man is just a fraudster who's trying to gain fame."

Wu Chongwen said, "Alas, I used to think so too, but the progress of Wang Xiaoque and others is an indisputable fact. Now, the ministers in the court, and even the emperor, believe that Wuming is a hermit master."

Yang Zhan asked, "So what do we do now?"

Wu Chongwen pondered for a while and said, "Although the regulations prohibit others from helping, the only basis for investigation is the price in the West Market. If it exceeds this price, it is naturally unreasonable. As for the other aspects, even if we help, Wuming would not know."

Xu Daoxuan said, "This is not something we are good at either."

Wu Chongwen said, "If we can't even do this, then Li Jieman and the others have been right. There are some things we just don't bother to do, but if we were to do them, we would definitely do them better."

Night had fallen, and due to the curfew policy of the Tang Dynasty, the streets, which had been bustling all day, were now deserted, with only a few patrolling soldiers occasionally seen.

Of course, rules only apply to the majority of people, not everyone.

A small tavern was still lit by a faint candlelight, but three young men were sitting inside, and there wasn't even a bartender. These three were Cui Gu'er, Han Xiaohu, and Xue Jun.

"Have we been tricked by Brother Que and his gang?" Xue Jun asked, frowning.

Han Xiaohu hurriedly asked, "What do you mean?"

Xue Jun said, "Let alone whether the test questions are simple or not, if we wanted to cheat on a test like this, we wouldn't need Brother Que and the others' help!"

Han Xiaohu scratched his chin and said, "That's true."

Cui Gu'er waved his hand and said, "You can't say that. This exam is easy for us, and it's easy for everyone else too. Let's wait for Que Ge'er and the others to arrive before we talk about it."

Said Cao Cao, Cao Cao.

There was a knock on the door.

"Who?"

"I am the orphan of Cui," Cui asked hastily.

Someone outside the door responded, "It's not your father."

Cui Gu'er opened the door and said irritably, "I'm not your father either."

Wang Xi laughed and said, "I dare to do anything in this world, except be your father."

Li Jie, who was standing to the side, hurriedly said, "Stop talking nonsense and go inside quickly, so that no one can see us."

A fat man and a thin man entered the hall. Wang Xi asked, "Do you know the exam questions?"

The three nodded in unison.

Cui Gu'er said, "Brother Que, this exam is really strange. It doesn't test academic knowledge, but construction."

Wang Xi said, "There's nothing I can do; this is just your style, sir."

Han Xiaohu chuckled and said, "I do like this style."

Wang Xi then asked, "So, how are your preparations going?"

Han Xiaohu said, "This exam isn't too difficult. My dad has already had someone calculate it for me, so I just need to follow the instructions."

"is it?"

Wang Xi then looked at Cui Gu'er and Xue Jun.

The two nodded in agreement.

"I see!" Wang Xi said with a smile, "In that case, there's no need for me and Xiaoman."

The quick-witted Cui Gu'er noticed Wang Xi's unusual expression and hurriedly said, "You can't say that. If we know how to do it, others will too. You promised to help us get into the Nameless Academy."

Wang Xi glanced at Li Jieman, "Xiaoman, sit down."

The two sat down.

"Cough cough, my mouth is a little dry."

“Oh dear! You two brothers risked curfew to come and help us, but we didn’t even get to have a drink together. It’s all my fault, it’s all my fault.”

Cui Gu'er quickly put on a smiling face and poured a glass of wine for the two of them.

Wang Xi and Li Jie pretended to take a sip, put down their glasses, and then Wang Xi said, "If you believe your old man, then you're completely finished."

Orphan Cui hurriedly asked, "What do you mean?"

Wang Xi said, "Can't you use your brains? Even your fathers can think of this, so why can't the teacher?"

Xue Jun's expression changed, and he said, "I knew there was something fishy going on here."

"is it?"

Han Xiaohu asked in surprise, "You weren't like that just now!"

"Shut up."

".!"

Wang Xi chuckled and said, "Were you just saying that you don't need me to help you cheat on this kind of test?"

"How can it be!"

Cui Gu'er said, "We've always pinned our hopes on Que Ge'er, otherwise we wouldn't have invited you out so soon!"

Li Jie asked with a smile, "Is that so?"

“Really, really.” Orphan Cui nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

"You guys know what's good for you," Wang Xi sneered. "This exam isn't going to be that easy."

"Is it difficult?" Han Xiaohu asked nervously.

"It's not that difficult."

Wang Xi said, "You only need to grasp one point."

"what?"

"Cheating."

"???"

"Brother Que, what do you mean?" Xue Jun was completely bewildered.

Wang Xi said, "This exam is actually testing whether you can be flexible. If you just follow the rules and do things according to regulations, I'm sorry, you are not suitable for our Wuming Academy at all."

Therefore, the cheater wins.

"what?"

The orphans immediately squeezed their mouths wide enough to fit three eggs.

Li Jieman chuckled and said, "You didn't expect this, did you? We risked being expelled from the academy to find out this for them."

Han Xiaohu suddenly slammed his hand on the table excitedly, “The Nameless Academy has not disappointed me. This is the academy I have always longed for. It’s so unfair that you can’t cheat.”

But Cui Gu'er was still uneasy, "Really? Who takes an exam where they can cheat?"

Wang Xi said, "Believe it or not, it's up to you."

I believe you.

Han Xiaohu said, "Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to get into Wuming Academy either."

Li Jieman was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "Little Tiger, what do you mean by that?"

Wang Xi replied, "No, Xiao Hu is right. This is the very purpose of our Nameless Academy."

Han Xiaohu chuckled.

Cui Gu'er also said, "Brother Que, we believe you. What should we do?"

Li Jie said, "You helped us back then, and we will definitely help you with all our might. We will not only help you find out the secrets of this exam, but also help you come up with a strategy to keep all your competitors out."

"is it?"

Cui Gu'er and his companions were overjoyed.

(End of this chapter)