Chapter 106
The village chief and the two other men stood with their mouths agape, completely dumbstruck. For a long moment, they were unable to react.
He really passed?
And... and he got first place?
This, this~
Uncle Liu, overcome with excitement, grabbed the man's arm. "Re... really?" he stammered. "Is it true?"
This was a question of doubt.
Scholars were often proud and arrogant. Under different circumstances, this scholar might have flicked his sleeve and left in disdain. Yet this time, he did not.
He patiently replied: "Of course. His name is written on the list; it can't be a mistake."
After repeatedly confirming the news, the village chief and the two men felt a wave of elation. With considerable effort, they squeezed their way out of the bustling crowd and happened to spot Fang Zichen standing off to the side with Zhao Ger.
Uncle Liu, who was the least able to contain himself, immediately ran over: "Young Fang!"
"Ah..." Fang Zichen noticed the man's flushed face, his rapid breathing, disheveled clothes, and messy hair, and quickly steadied him: "Uncle, are you alright? What are you all doing here?"
"We came to see the results," the village chief said, having now collected himself. He chuckled, brimming with joy.
He had been happy when his eldest daughter-in-law gave birth to a fat, healthy grandson, but that happiness couldn't compare to what he felt now.
He heavily patted Fang Zichen on the back, immensely gratified, and said: "You, young man, are something else!"
Zhao Ger mumbled, asking: "...He really passed?"
"En!" the village chief replied: "And he got first place."
First place...
The roar in Zhao Ge's ears numbed his hearing, and he felt a dreamlike sense of unreality. It took him a good while to belatedly realize that his husband had truly passed the exam.
He was so shocked his eyes lost focus. Excited and panting, he looked at Fang Zichen and moved closer to him.
"...Husband, you passed."
"I know!" Fang Zichen's gaze remained clear and composed, as he said: "I already said so earlier."
Zhao Ger grabbed his arm and said: "But you got first place."
He had never imagined that Fang Zichen could achieve first place.
When he went to take the exam, Zhao Ger's greatest hope was simply that his name would appear on the list.
Having a scholar in the family, Zhao Ger had paid more attention to matters related to the imperial examinations. Not to mention Scholar Wang, who started taking the exams at nine years old and was still trying in his twenties without success, even the most famous Anhe Academy in the entire county could only count its Tongsheng students on one hand.
Others studied diligently for decades. Although his husband had studied before and knew how to read, he had told him that what he learned previously was quite different from what was taught in Da Xia.
So, strictly speaking, the time since his husband picked up the books until now was less than half a year!
Moreover... during the county exam, he even slept until his legs went numb!
Considering all this, he hadn't dared to hope for much.
Even if he could pass, he probably would be near the bottom of the list. But now, he was first place.
How could he not be excited?
"I know!" Fang Zichen said.
Zhao Ger looked at him, his gaze filled with unconcealed and undisguised admiration. Tilting his head back, he stared at Fang Zichen as if beholding a deity. Fang Zichen returned the gaze, noticing how Zhao Ger's lips—parting and closing—were now crimson red. His face, flushed with excitement, was slightly swollen like a ripe apple, glistening with a moist sheen as if touched by morning dew. Fang Zichen remembered the taste of those lips—sweet, soft, and utterly captivating.
His eyes, like black grapes, were innocent yet alluring.
Fang Zichen felt thoroughly pleased, incredibly proud, and a bit light-headed. But being accustomed to humility, he said: "It's just first place! It's not such a big deal. Look how excited you are. You need to learn to get used to it."
The village chief stared wide-eyed and said: "This isn't a big deal?"
He had already decided, upon returning, he would slaughter two chickens and open the ancestral temple to celebrate.
Although Fang Zichen wasn't a member of the He family, since he had settled in Xiaohe Village, the village would now be considered his ancestral home.
The ancestral temple belonged to the entire village.
Fang Zichen swallowed, his prominent Adam's apple bobbing. He waved a hand dismissively and said nonchalantly: "This really isn't anything. It's just my standard performance."
The area was crowded, with sounds of cheering, lamenting, and congratulating continuously rising around them.
Fang Zichen said: "I told you before, to set your mind at ease. For me, taking the imperial exams is like eating, sleeping, or drinking water—there's no difficulty to speak of. You just wouldn't believe me, worrying anxiously. Now..."
Fang Zichen had originally wanted to say that this county exam was easy.
Although those other scholars had studied hard for decades, he too had undergone nine years of compulsory education.
Furthermore, from the age of two, the foreign-educated nanny his adoptive parents hired had already begun his 'enlightenment'. Later, at three, he entered kindergarten, and from then on, books were never far from his hands.
He was lazy, so while others needed to recite texts multiple times, he aimed to memorize them after just one reading.
After more than ten years in school, the education he received and the books he read surpassed what others might achieve in decades.
It was no exaggeration to say he could leave the students of Anhe Academy far behind.
The county exam's difficulty was similar to the high school entrance exams.
For a top student like him, failing an exam like that would mean he should just run into a wall and die.
It's just a county exam!
Getting first place is a simple, effortless matter.
However, there were surely some candidates who had failed nearby. Fang Zichen was sensible and lowered his voice when boasting. He didn't say anything else, nor did he dare to. Saying more would be like throwing a stone into a public latrine—it would inevitably provoke collective anger.
Zhao Ger covered his mouth: "Stop talking."
Fang Zichen laughed: "Afraid my mouth is too sharp and I'll get beaten to death?"
Zhao Ger: "..."
Village Chief: "..."
He Daleng and Uncle Liu shook their heads and laughed helplessly.
This young man truly had big mouth.
But fortunately, his ability was just as big.
Otherwise... it would be utterly embarrassing.
Those villagers who said Fang Zichen was overestimating himself and laughed at him for not knowing his own limits would have to shut up now.
Zhao Ger said: "You know it well enough."
"Don't worry, I know my limits," Fang Zichen said.
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