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

Sun Dali was embarrassed.

What kind of question was that? He actually asked me to introduce myself? We were all so familiar with each other, why did he introduce himself?

Sun Dali scratched his head and said embarrassedly, "Master, this, this is not necessary. I, who am I? Master, don't you know it best?"

Sun Shan smiled and corrected, "Please speak to me in Yuanlu dialect."

Sun Dali admitted his mistake and said, "Yes, sir."

Sun Shan said again, "Answer the questions quickly. First, let's test how well you speak Yuanlu dialect."

Sun Dali had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "Master, my name is Sun Dali, from Sunjia Village, this year..."

Sun Dali became more and more embarrassed as he spoke.

What kind of question is this? Why is it so embarrassing to introduce myself?

The adults also asked him to tell their height, weight, head circumference, waist circumference and foot circumference. What's going on?

And he was asked to explain how he went on a blind date and how he got married. He thought that girl was pretty, so why didn't she like him?

What kind of questions are these? It’s so hard to put them into words.

At the beginning, Sun Dali introduced himself, but as he was speaking he didn't know how to introduce himself anymore, so Sun Shan had no choice but to ask questions.

Through questions and answers, Sun Dali's family background was revealed.

After Sun Shan even knew that there was a mole on his butt, the problem was finally over.

Sun Dali's face flushed and his mouth was dry. He felt that the questions asked by the master were too private.

Oh, this kind of question is really difficult to answer. I hope it won’t appear in the test again next time.

Sun Shan nodded happily. "Very good, very good. You speak Yuanlu dialect very well now. You can definitely communicate with the locals outside. Aside from the accent, everything else is perfect. Good, very good. I often see you talking to the locals. You learn quickly by speaking a lot, so you don't need to learn the local dialect anymore. Next, introduce yourself in Mandarin to test how well you speak it."

Sun Dali: ...

a bolt from the blue!

I thought it would be enough to speak the local dialect, why are we being tested on speaking Mandarin?

Even if you want to take the test, should you take it separately? Taking two language tests in one day is too difficult, isn't it?

Sun Dali said hesitantly in Yuanlu dialect, "Master, we have to test you on Mandarin as well. This is too much. How about we test you again tomorrow?"

Sun Shan shook his head. "Please speak in Mandarin. The subject is still a self-introduction. Just repeat what you just said in Mandarin. It's very simple. Go ahead."

Sun Dali had no choice but to do as Sun Shan said and introduced himself in Mandarin.

It’s just that Mandarin is not spoken very often, so Sun Dali doesn’t speak it very well either.

After all, reading and writing are difficult enough, and speaking Mandarin is also difficult.

Sun Dali said a few words here and there, but he couldn't say much despite his best efforts. Finally, he said dejectedly, "Master, I, I can't do it."

Sun Shan asked and answered questions just like he did when he was speaking Yuan and Lu dialect.

Sun Shan asked, but Sun Dali's answer was not very good, and he even couldn't understand some of the official language.

Sun Shan stopped the test.

He said seriously, "Sun Dali, in Yuanlu, we must learn the Yuanlu dialect. When I go to the capital, everyone will speak Mandarin. If you don't understand it, how can you work around me? No matter how busy you are, you must learn to read and speak Mandarin. While there is still time, you can learn it well. You must learn Mandarin just like learning the local dialect, understand?"

Sun Dali understood it a long time ago, but unfortunately, he didn't know whether he was stupid or not good at studying.

It is quite difficult to learn to read, and even speaking Mandarin is difficult.

Sun Dali has been committed to challenging the village chief.

I deeply understand the importance of reading and writing, and I study very hard. Unfortunately, if I don't have talent, then I don't have talent, so it's very difficult.

Sun Dali confided his dilemma to Sun Shan: "Master, I study very hard, but I forget what I learn. I forget and then study again, only to forget again. Master, what do you think I should do?"

Sun Shan said firmly, "Nothing is difficult for one who sets his mind to it. If you learn a few words a day, you will eventually master it. Don't worry, take your time."

Sun Dali responded and scratched his head helplessly, thinking that he must take the book with him when he goes back and read it whenever he has time.

After Sun Dali finished the exam, Sun Heitan came in.

I just saw Uncle Dali walking out with his head down, and I couldn't help feeling uneasy.

The questions the master asks can't be too difficult, right? If they are too difficult and I can't answer them, will my wages be deducted?

Sun Shan smiled and said, "Sun Heitan, introduce yourself in Yuanlu dialect."

Sun Heitan and Sun Dali had the same reaction: What kind of question was this? Why did they introduce themselves? We were all so familiar with each other, was there any need for introductions?

Under Sun Shan's insistence, Sun Heitan had to introduce himself in Yuanlu dialect.

In the end, I had nothing to say and had to ask and answer.

Sun Shan asked curiously, "Heitan, when you were little, Big Head Dog said you had a fight with Grassroots and won. Is that true?"

Sun Heitan was embarrassed. What kind of question was this?

Speaking of fighting, could it be that the master still remembers that he wanted to beat the master?

Oh my God, if Sun Heitan knew that the master would be so successful in the future, he would never dare to speak to the master like this even if he was beaten to death.

Fortunately, I didn’t dare to fight in the end.

When I was little, I knew that my master would go to the provincial capital to work when he grew up and live a good life. I never thought that my master would be much more successful than I imagined and actually become a high-ranking official.

Ouch, this scared him.

Fortunately, the master is magnanimous and doesn't hold it against me.

Sun Heitan scratched his head embarrassedly and said sheepishly: "Master, I have forgotten what happened in my childhood. I don't fight now."

Sun Shan said jokingly, "Don't be nervous. I'm just asking casually. Now that you and Cao Gen are so close, you're definitely not going to fight."

Sun Heitan chuckled and nodded embarrassedly.

Sun Heitan spoke Yuanlu dialect fairly well, and could communicate well outside. The more he spoke with the locals, the faster he learned.

Sun Shan then tested Sun Heitan on his Mandarin.

Sun Heitan secretly groaned, why are there so many exams?

After talking until he was hoarse, there were still questions. No wonder Uncle Dali walked out with a dejected look on his face.

Hey, the master’s question is not difficult, but it is difficult to speak out.

Sun Heitan had no choice but to introduce himself in Mandarin.

Compared like this, he is much better than Sun Dali.

It's halting, but at least I can speak.

It seems that youth is indeed the biggest advantage. Sun Heitan learns much faster than Sun Dali.

The reason why I asked him to accompany the candidates to Chenzhou Prefecture was because I saw that he could speak some Mandarin. I didn't expect that after a few months, he had improved so much.

Sun Shan praised him highly: "Not bad, you speak very well. Keep up the good work. With time, you will be able to speak fluently."

Sun Heitan was delighted and said with a smile: "Master, I will try my best."

After that it was Sun Caogen, Big Head Dog...Sun Shan assessed them one by one.

I thought the men in Sunjia Village would learn as well as Sun Heitan.

The result? Worse than Sun Dali!

Instantly overturn the saying "youth is the greatest advantage".

These men are younger than Sun Dali, but their learning attitude is far inferior, and therefore their results are also inferior.

It was New Year's Day, so Sun Shan didn't want to criticize harshly.

But the dark aura on his face had already made the men feel uneasy.

Especially those triangular eyes that are raised high, which look so scary when they stare at people.

The men were trembling with fear, not breathing, not daring to speak, and even eating carefully, for fear that making the slightest sound would arouse the master's anger.