In the end, the "Xiao Sanyuan" holder was still just a xiucai. However, if later, during further studies or after passing the juren exam, one didn't wish to advance further but sought a minor official position, superiors comparing candidates would naturally choose the more outstanding one.
It's like modern times: even if candidates all meet the benchmark for first-tier universities, the best schools only admit those with the highest overall scores.
Everyone thought Fang Zichen should spend two years consolidating his knowledge, then take the exam in one go to seize the "Xiao Sanyuan." After exiting the examination hall, people speculated that the first place this time was probably from the Qinghe Academy again. The most favored candidates were Bai Huanan and Ji Xinzhou. These two were among the most knowledgeable and talented in the academy. They hadn't attempted the previous academy exam, not because they worried about failing, but because they wanted to accumulate more knowledge to seize the top spot in one attempt.
Bai Huanan and Ji Xinzhou were both in the top class, taught by Master Tang, Master Yang, and Old Master Wu.
In the previous two assessments, Master Tang and Master Yang were quite satisfied with the answers submitted by these two students. Their abilities were evenly matched, so neither master could say for sure who would take first place.
On the eve of the academy exam, the three masters were drinking tea and chatting when the topic came up.
"Huanan's poetry and literary attainments are high, but his policy essays are somewhat weaker. Xinzhou happens to be the opposite," Master Tang said. "However, if the academy exam difficulty is similar to previous years and policy essays constitute a major part, Xinzhou would likely have the advantage over Huanan."
Master Yang nodded. "That makes sense."
Old Master Wu poured tea and water, remaining silent.
"What does the Academy Head think?" Master Tang asked.
Old Master Wu was silent for a long while. He couldn't accurately gauge Fang Zichen's ability, but the young man seemed clever and spoke persuasively, even if he spouted plenty of nonsense. Judging from his prefectural exam paper, he had some skill. However, the prefectural and academy exams were ultimately different; the latter was several degrees more difficult. He had sent books to Fang Zichen, who claimed to have finished them. But out of over twenty books, only about eight or nine had annotations. When Old Master Wu asked if Fang Zichen had encountered anything he didn't understand, Fang Zichen said no.
Hearing this, Old Master Wu felt a headache coming on.
Having no questions was the biggest problem.
It either meant he hadn't understood and couldn't even identify the problems, or he was deceiving him and hadn't actually finished reading.
Fang Zichen wasn't around, and Old Master Wu didn't have time to supervise him constantly. They had met twice during this period, but before they could talk much, Fang Zichen managed to infuriate him, so he hadn't been able to ask many questions.
However, Fang Zichen cared about face. Without full preparation, he probably wouldn't attempt the exam and risk embarrassment.
Remembering how boastful Fang Zichen had been that evening, Old Master Wu said, "It's hard to say."
Master Tang set down his teacup. "What does the Academy Head mean by that?"
"The prefectural exam top scorer, Fang Zichen, is also preparing to take this exam," Old Master Wu said. "If he takes it, Huanan and Xinzhou's chances of winning aren't great."
Master Yang frowned slightly, puzzled. "I've heard of this person, but..." He paused. "The Academy Head thinks so highly of him? From what I know, he has no tutor, never attended an academy, and presumably studied on his own. Without guidance or or personal instruction, passing the county and prefectural exams with a bit of knowledge is possible. But the academy exam is a difficult hurdle to cross. For someone like him, it's probably quite challenging."
"What seems difficult to us... but that kid said he doesn't fight battles he isn't prepared for," Old Master Wu said. Here, he recalled Guaizai's heap of words: 'My father is taking the exam in the third month next year, if he passes, he'll be a xiucai, the year after he'll take the juren exam...' He choked up a bit. Since Fang Zichen dared to boast like this to his son, he must be brimming with confidence. "It's pointless to say more now. We'll know when the time comes."
For Old Master Wu to speak like this meant he held this person in considerable esteem.
From his words and expression, Master Tang and Master Yang understood that Old Master Wu appreciated this person greatly. Therefore, he must have some outstanding qualities. After all, Old Master Wu knew Bai Huanan and Ji Xinzhou's capabilities inside out. If he thought these two couldn't compare, then they probably couldn't.
Being so valued by Old Master Wu, Master Tang and Master Yang developed a strong curiosity about Fang Zichen. However, thinking that the academy might lose again to an unknown young scholar made them feel somewhat uncomfortable.
After the academy exam ended and the exam papers circulated, Master Tang and Master Yang felt even more apprehensive.
In previous years, the academy never included arithmetic problems. This time, there were two right away. They had used past academy exam materials for comparison, focusing on the eight-legged essay, policy essays, and current affairs. Now, they had been caught completely off guard.
Arithmetic was a fatal weakness for literary scholars.
Still, it wasn't an insurmountable problem. If they hadn't anticipated arithmetic questions, other academies probably hadn't either. Since everyone was in the same boat, there wasn't much to worry about.
But they had heard Fang Zichen was the bookkeeper at a restaurant. If that was true, then his accounting skills were likely excellent.
Thinking this, they comforted themselves.
Being good at accounting didn't necessarily mean being good at arithmetic. Keeping accounts and using an abacus—who couldn't do that?
On the day the results were posted, crowds swarmed the yamen gates. As soon as the red list went up, the three characters "Fang Zichen" shone brightly at the very top.
Everyone was stunned.
Wasn't this the person who had just passed the prefectural exam. He hadn't even paused to catch his breath before diving straight into the next one.
He must have been in a tremendous hurry, as if rushing off to have diarrhea.
And now he had taken the exam, and taken first place yet again, damn it all. The crowd's gaze turned silently toward Bai Huanan and Ji Xinzhou.
It made one wonder just how anyone else was supposed to get ahead.
Both Bai Huanan and Ji Xinzhou looked deeply depressed, ranking second and third respectively. The many fellow students accompanying them felt some indignation on their behalf, while others couldn't help but feel a bit of schadenfreude.
Bai Huanan and Ji Xinzhou had toiled diligently, studying late into the night, and driven themselves hard for four years, competing against each other, all to seize the top spot. And in the end, they had lost to someone seemingly in a hurry to have diarrhea.
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