The Daily Life of a Rich Peasant's Boy in the Imperial Examination

Sun Shan called Sun Dali over and said to the rough-skinned man with darker skin, "Uncle Dali, I have a mission for you in a few days."

When Sun Dali heard this, his eyes lit up and he asked very enthusiastically, "Master, what is the mission?"

The more tasks the master gives you, the more important you are.

Sun Dali felt very happy, thinking that a promotion and salary increase were not far away.

Sun Shan smiled and said, "Well, the students from the county are about to travel to Chenzhou Prefecture to take the college entrance examination, and they'd like you to lead them there. We've been on this route before, so we're familiar with it, so you'd be the most suitable person to lead it."

Sun Dali asked doubtfully, "Master, why do you want us to escort the students? I remember you used to go there on your own."

In the past, teams were formed and led by teachers, and they were organized spontaneously. The county government would not be responsible for it.

Lord Wei at most gave a few words of encouragement, and that was all.

Sun Shan explained, "Firstly, we've just finished suppressing the bandits, and we don't know if there are any that slipped through the net along the way. We have experience dealing with bandits. Secondly, traveling from Yuanlu County to Chenzhou Prefecture to take the college entrance examination requires not only the registration fee, but also the guarantor, food, lodging, and the cost of accompanying the escort team. Add it all up, and it's a considerable burden for a student from a poor family."

After a pause, he sighed and said, "Thanks to my good aunt, I was able to go to school and have the opportunity to pass the imperial examination. Other students are not so lucky. As a local official and a teacher to all the students in Yuanlu County, I want to help in any way I can. Let the guards from our Sunjia Village escort them to the exam, which will save them a lot of money."

Then he added, "It's hard for you. I have to go on a trip."

After hearing this, Sun Dali was so moved that his eyes reddened. He looked at Sun Shan with stars in his eyes and said excitedly, "Master, I am not tired at all."

Then he said, "Master, you are a really good official. You are worthy of being from our Sunjia Village. You can't bear to see others suffer. Master, don't worry, I will escort them to Chenzhou Prefecture."

Then he continued, "The students of Yuanlu County are fortunate to have an official like you as their guardian. I wish all officials in the world were like you."

Sun Shan was very proud, but he said modestly, "I can only do my little bit."

After a pause, he continued, "I still have to rely on you to get things done. Thank you for following me."

Sun Dali shook his head like a rattle: "It's not hard, I just like being by your side."

He glanced at Gui Ge'er beside him and added, "Master, my family's several bone-changing dragons will also be by your side in the future."

Sun Dali was very distressed. He worked so hard that he could almost recognize the other person's characters, but he still couldn't read them.

Alas, this is a very serious shortcoming. Even if you are illiterate and have penetrated into the master's heart, you will not be able to go any further.

It’s all my family’s fault. We were too poor, so I had no chance to go to school.

If you read from a young age, even a pig can learn to read.

Alas, I’m old now, and if I don’t understand, I don’t understand, and there’s no way I can change it.

Sun Dali now had no choice but to place his hopes on a few brats in Sunjia Village. They were luckier than himself and had the opportunity to learn to read and write, and even more opportunities to work for the master.

Hehe, there is a greater chance of replacing Gui Ge'er and becoming the master's confidant.

Sun Shan had no idea that Sun Dali was thinking so much, so he casually agreed: "Okay, when there is a suitable opportunity in the future, I will let the boys work with me."

Sun Dali was overjoyed.

He grinned and laughed, then hurried out to form an "escort team".

Now he is the team leader, with more than ten or twenty younger brothers. He picks out the suitable ones and eliminates the unsuitable ones.

Hehe, he is also a small leader.

After Sun Shan arranged the "escort team," he called County Magistrate Wang and said, "County Magistrate Wang, this year approximately 50 students from Yuanlu County will be traveling to Chenzhou Prefecture to take the imperial examination."

County Magistrate Wang looked at Sun Shan strangely: Why tell him these things?

Although he already knew how many people would take the college entrance examination.

These are not his business, so why tell him?

County Magistrate Wang gradually became alert. Although Lord Sun in front of him looked young, he was actually very cunning.

Although it seemed like he had done nothing since coming to Yuanlu County, County Magistrate Wang had to be extremely alert every time he faced Sun Shan, for fear of falling into a trap.

I heard that those silent dogs like to bite people secretly.

A new official is expected to start three things right after taking office, but Sun Shan had been in office for so long without starting a single one.

County Magistrate Wang always felt that Sun Shan was planning a big move, and the target was him.

He wanted to achieve the effect of making a stunning debut, hitting the target with one strike, and shaking the entire Yuanlu.

Sun Shan continued, "I met with Instructor Deng a few days ago, and he told me that many impoverished scholars in the county are unable to travel to Chenzhou Prefecture to take the entrance examination due to financial constraints. I'm deeply saddened by this. I don't want to see such talented students miss out again and again due to financial constraints."

County Magistrate Wang seemed to say: "What's it to me if they don't have the money for the trip? It's better not to take the exam. This will give the Wang family one less competitor."

That’s right, he, County Magistrate Wang, is so narrow-minded and disregards the overall situation.

That’s what I think, but I can’t say it that way.

County Magistrate Wang is a veteran actor. Although it is a bit difficult for him to win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, he is still very skilled in acting.

So he acted out the story with Sun Shan: "Sir, I feel bad for them too. But there's nothing we can do. Our Yuanlu County is not like those wealthy counties where the people live a prosperous life and have money in their pockets. Well, if you want to blame someone, blame them for being born in Yuanlu."

County Magistrate Wang sighed helplessly, looking like he was powerless.

Sun Shan secretly rolled his eyes at County Magistrate Wang. It was no wonder they were born in Yuanlu County.

County Magistrate Wang probably meant that they had bad luck and could not be reborn into a poor family.

Why study if you have no money? You’d better go home early and farm.

Sun Shan pretended not to understand what County Magistrate Wang said.

So he said, "Ah, it's actually my fault. I, as the fatherly official, can't make the people of Yuanlu live a prosperous life and every prostitute can afford to go to school. Ah, it's all my fault."

The alarm bells in County Magistrate Wang’s heart immediately started ringing.

What does Lord Sun mean by this? On the surface, he's saying it's his fault, but what does he actually want to do?

At the same time, County Magistrate Wang sneered secretly. "Everyone can read? What a dream!" Not to mention Yuanlu County, not everyone in the capital can read.

He quickly comforted her, "Sir, please don't say that. This is none of your business. If you want to blame someone, blame our Yuanlu County, which is deep in the mountains. It's hard to get rich. Hey, hey, hey!"

He sighed along with Sun Shan, as if he wanted to see who could sigh louder.

Sun Shan: ...

This cunning County Magistrate Wang is indeed a veteran, a perennial second in command, and a slippery native.

Sun Shan continued, "Oh, it's all my fault. It's my fault. Seeing students unable to take the entrance exam due to financial constraints, I can't sleep or eat well. I feel miserable all day long."

Sun Shan sighed in mock sorrow.

Then he changed the subject: "County Magistrate Wang, I heard from Jiaxing that your Wang family has a separate courtyard in Chenzhou Prefecture, and it is close to the examination hall."

His eyes twinkled as he looked at County Magistrate Wang, hoping he would answer yes.