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

Sun Shan thought that his actions would cause the people to gossip, but he said he didn't care.

As a great and upright official, there is nothing he cannot tell others.

Then because of this action, a group of wealthy businessmen visited him.

Although the Wang family is a tyrant in Yuanlu County, they cannot dominate all industries. There are always some people who can survive in the cracks and become slightly wealthy.

Sun Shan looked at the ten so-called wealthy businessmen in Yuanlu County in surprise.

He asked doubtfully, "What do you want from me?"

Sun Shan had been in office for so long, and everything was going on as usual. He had never caused trouble for the common people, nor for the rich.

Everyone lived a simple life. Sun Shan was even better off than the previous county magistrates. He did not even ask rich people to pay tribute.

Rich Merchant A bowed his head and said cautiously, "Sir, I heard that the government will provide escort and accommodation for students taking the imperial examination. Is this true or false?"

What was said outside sounded very convincing, and the information received behind the scenes was also very convincing. Although it was confirmed to be true, I still had to ask more questions.

Sun Shan nodded: "Really."

Look at them in confusion.

"Scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans", "merchants" comes last. What does it have to do with students taking the academy examinations?

If there is a real connection, just secretly find the students to contact them.

Rich Merchant B quickly said, "Sir, it is an honor for the students of Yuanlu to have you."

After a pause, he added: "It is also our honor."

At the moment, Mr. Sun seems to be doing nothing, having only made some moves at the county school. I wonder if he'll continue this way, or if he'll just play the pig and eat the tiger, slowly devouring us once he gets familiar with us.

The rich businessmen are most troubled by people like Sun Shan. They would rather give them a warning right from the start so that the other party can feel at ease.

Sun Shan’s behavior now is hard to understand.

Sun Shan shook his head and said, "Yuanlu isn't a wealthy county, and taking the imperial examination is a time-consuming and laborious process. As their teacher, I hope I can be of some assistance."

Sun Shan was not only the father and mother of the people of Yuanlu, but also the teacher of all the students in Yuanlu.

Rich Merchant C agreed repeatedly: "The students of Yuanlu must be very grateful to you, sir. Thanks to your help, they have more opportunities to enter the imperial examinations, which greatly increases the chances of us Yuanlu having another scholar."

The wealthy businessmen surrounded Sun Shan, flattering him and praising him like a flower.

Fortunately, Sun Shan grew up surrounded by praise, so he certainly wouldn't lose his way in the praise.

Hehe, what’s more, he is better at giving compliments than the wealthy businessmen present.

When it comes to flattery, everyone present is a child.

Sun Shan raised his cup of tea, indicating that if he had something to say, just say it, and if he had something to say, just fart. Don't talk to him about these trivial things, he is very busy.

He'd found time to chat today, but tonight he'd have to work all night reviewing documents. Sun Shan didn't have that much free time for nonsense.

When the rich businessman saw Sun Shan raise his glass, it was obvious that he wanted to see him off.

They also knew that if they didn't get to the point, they would probably be driven away by Lord Sun.

This Lord Sun has always been like this, not wanting to have anything to do with merchants like them. He had been here for so long, but he only had one meal, and that was it.

It seems that genuine scholars really do not like businessmen, just as the legend says.

Look at Sun Shan, who is wholeheartedly devoted to the county school.

The wealthy businessmen secretly thought that Sun Shan was a noble person, exactly the same as the scholar they had in mind.

If Sun Shan knew what the rich businessman was thinking, he would definitely shout: It’s unfair!

It’s not that he doesn’t want to deal with wealthy businessmen, but there are currently not many to deal with.

I have only been here for less than half a year, and I have to respond to all changes with the same attitude.

Once you are familiar with and understand the situation, you will naturally find the person you need to find, no matter whether you are a wealthy businessman or a local gentry.

The wealthy merchant representative, Ding, stepped forward and said, "Sir Sun, these students are from Yuanlu, and we are also from Yuanlu. We also want to contribute our humble efforts so that more students can enter the imperial examinations, achieve academic success, and contribute to the prosperity of Yuanlu."

Sun Shan paused for a moment with the cup in his hand, then gently put it down.

The meaning of the wealthy businessman Ding is so obvious that even a fool can understand it.

It turns out that the reason I came to see him today was to donate money.

A rich businessman has nothing but money, otherwise how can he be called a rich businessman?

It seems they want to "pay tribute".

At first, Sun Shan also wanted to find sponsorship from wealthy businessmen or local gentry in Yuanlu, but then he gave up the idea.

He has only been here for a short time. What if those people think that he is committing corruption under the name of "student"?

So he quickly abandoned this idea and asked for help directly from within the government office, and that help was in the form of materials, and this help would not be able to pass through his hands.

This is the only way to avoid being caught in a dilemma.

Things like the mansion of County Magistrate Wang and the mule cart of Lord Wu's family, Sun Shan couldn't just rob them. He could just return them to their original owners after using them. That way, there would be no way to accuse him of corruption.

I didn't expect that a wealthy businessman from Yuanlu would come to visit me in person and ask for sponsorship.

Tsk tsk---I don't know why they do that.

The wealthy businessmen felt uneasy when they saw Sun Shan pursing his lips and remaining silent.

In the past, only fools would rush to give money, but this time the government spent a lot of money to send students to Chenzhou Prefecture to take the imperial examination. It was extremely high-profile, and the whole Yuanlu was talking about it.

If these natives were to do business in Yuanlu, it would be difficult for them to get by without doing something.

A county magistrate from outside the area was so devoted to the students, but the locals who were born and raised here and had lived here for generations were indifferent and would definitely be criticized to death.

It was rumored that the Wang family occupied the best resources in Yuanlu but made no contribution at all.

This time, the house was only lent out after the magistrate repeatedly requested it.

The Wang family's reputation in Yuanlu was already average, and now it has become even worse than average.

When the wealthy businessmen heard this, they felt that they could not follow in the footsteps of the Wang family and had to step forward and do something.

The wealthy businessman Ding took the lead and found ten businessmen who were considered lucky in Yuanlu. They decided to donate some money like incense money to help the students in Yuanlu take the college entrance examination.

This Lord Sun is really causing trouble. Although he is not causing trouble directly to them, he is implicating them invisibly.

The only way to avoid disaster is to spend money.

Sun Shan's eyes rolled around, and he looked like the fat girl seeing gold.

Then he smiled brightly, nodded, and said, "I understand your intentions."

He paused, then smiled gently, "That's a good idea, very good. I'm very happy. We're all from Yuanlu, so it's only natural to help the students of Yuanlu. Haha, I'd like to thank you all on behalf of the students of Yuanlu."

Sun Shan is not a noble person. He will not refuse the money that comes to his door.

And this kind of collective donation is speechless.

The wealthy businessmen are concerned about Yuanlu's cultural education, but you can't say it's their fault.

Accepting donations is a matter of course.

When the wealthy businessmen heard what Sun Shan said, they breathed a sigh of relief.

Oh, this world is so heartbreaking. People are eager to give money, but are still afraid that they won’t be able to give it away.

Oh, it’s so unfair. I spend money and suffer!