Picking Up a General to Plow the Fields

Chapter 555: First Place

All credit to original author: Yi Yi Lan Xi

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Lian Fang Zhou’s heart relaxed and then suddenly tightened.
Grabbing Chun Xing’s arm, she quickly asked: “What place was it? Was it first place?”

Chun Xing was stunned and hurriedly answered: “This slave, this slave doesn’t know…” Seeing that Lian Fang Zhou was very concerned about this, she quickly added: “Miss, don’t worry! Second Young Master, Third Young Master, and Master Jian will all be back soon!”

When the crowd had heard Lian Fang Zhou’s question, they had all been very surprised.
They couldn’t help speaking up to defend Lian Che.

“Fang Zhou, Che’er is already very capable!” Aunt Zhang said gently.

“Yes, yes, how many people can pass the Tongsheng enterance examination at such a young age? I have never heard of it before! Never!”

“If I remember correctly, Che’er only started school last year, right?”

“Exactly, you can’t ask too much! Don’t scare the child!”

“…” Lian Fang Zhou froze and could only smile wryly.

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When did she ask too much? It was clearly that little guy asking too much of himself!

It was because he talked about first place in front of her all day long, which had unknowingly made an impression on her.

And anyways, what she was really worried about at the moment was his mental condition.
If he didn’t get first place, she didn’t know how sad he would be!

Of course, there was no way to explain all of this to everyone.
Faced with all these well-meaning persuasions, she could only admit her mistake and express an attitude of correcting her thoughts.

In less than a quarter of an hour, Lian Che, Ah Jian, and the others finally came back.
The villagers all gathered, including Village Head Zheng, the village elders, and the school teachers.
Everyone came over to congratulate them, their praise forming into one loud voice.

Lian Che’s face was full of smiles.
The little guy’s eyes were very bright and when he smiled, his tiny face was flushed with excitement and pride.

He got first place!

The stone on Lian Fang Zhou’s heart fell to the ground and she was sincerely happy.

Sun Ming rushed over when he got the news and Lian Hai came with him.

Today was a good day, so Lian Fang Zhou and the others naturally didn’t not care about him.
However, he soon found himself uncomfortable.

It was fine when he wasn’t there but when the crowd saw him, they couldn’t help put him and Lian Che together, saying that the Lian family was full of talents, each better than the last! Lian Hai was the first scholar in the village and Che’er was the youngest person to pass the Tongsheng examination, truly amazing!

This was originally just a fact, but Lian Hai felt that these words had a bit of sarcasm mixed in.
Thinking that people were taunting him for not being as good as Lian Che, he felt unhappy for a long time.

Unconvinced, he thought to himself: He was just a child and this was just his first exam, nothing serious! How many child ‘prodigies’ were held up by people only to fail in the end? Who cared?

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Lian Hai couldn’t help laughing.
“Tongsheng is a small test, Che’er.
Don’t be too proud, you have to make persistent efforts and pass the scholar exam as soon as possible to win honor for our Lian family!”

Most of the villagers were simple, honest people and they didn’t hear anything strange in his words.
Many of them laughed and echoed him.

Lian Fang Zhou and Ah Jian shared an unhappy look.
Why was this person so annoying? If others were happy, he must come and spoil their happiness!

Just when you think you’ve seen all his bad habits, you see how amazing he really is.

Stepping forward, Lian Fang Zhou smiled at Lian Che and said: “What my cousin said is very true! Che’er, you must listen to your cousin’s teachings very carefully.
Although he was not the first in the Tongsheng or the Xiucai exams, he passed them and can count as your senior.
He cares about you very much so you should live up to his expectations and let him see you get a good grade in your exams!”

Sun Ming, who had been frowning at Lian Hai’s words, couldn’t help but laugh when he heard her.
How could she be willing to suffer? Smiling, he said: “Yes, Che’er! You have to work hard! Your aptitude is better than ours, we didn’t have your grades when we were your age!”

Lian Che quickly agreed with a modest and respectful attitude: “Yes! Thank you, Lian Hai!”

Seeing Lian Hai’s baffled look, Lian Fang Zhou smiled inwardly: Yes! Who told you to be a spoiler for nothing!

The next day, Lord Lu, the county magistrate, hosted a banquet in honor of the newly admitted students at the county government office.
The scholars who were admitted last season would select the best among them and send them as well.

Lian Hai and Sun Ming were invited.

And to Master Lu’s surprise, Master Ding also accepted the invitation!

Master Ding, as the oldest and most prestigious local celebrity had of course been invited but no one had expected that he would actually agree to attend.

After all, this was just the Tongsheng exam.
Last year, when the county magistrate had held a banquet for the scholars, Master Ding had not come.

Although everyone was excited, they were inevitably very curious.

Of course, no matter how curious they were, no one dared to ask Master Ding why or accuse him of not attending last year.

With Master Ding’s status, he didn’t need to explain his actions to others and he didn’t need to consider anyone’s feelings at all.
Everything followed his will, who would dare to argue?

Some smart people, such as Master Lu, guessed that Master Ding had some purpose in mind and looked forward to the banquet even more!

Early that morning, Lian Che was dressed neatly and went to the city with Ah Jian, Lian Ze, Lian Hai, and Sun Ming.

“Don’t forget your sister’s advice!” Ah Jian said at the gate of the county government office as he helped him out of the carriage, patted his shoulder, and smiled.

Lian Hai hurriedly said: “I will take care of Che’er, don’t worry!”

Lian Che nodded and smiled at Ah Jian: “Don’t worry, Brother Ah Jian! I understand!”

Ah Jian and Lian Ze smiled, watching him go in step by step.
As for Lian Hai’s words, Ah Jian was quite disapproving and thought unkindly: Won’t you be busy making friends? How would you have time to take care of Che’er?

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Besides, he may not be sincere to Che’er so it was better for him not to take care of him.
The more he took care of him, the more it would only help Lian Hai…

The banquet didn’t end until very late at night and when everyone came out, they were chatting and laughing, looking very happy.

“It’s finally over!” Lian Ze breathed a sigh of relief.

He and Ah Jian had been waiting here for a long time.

Suddenly, a group of people all came out at once and Lian Che was among them.
Lian Ze’s eyes lit up and he waved his hands, calling “Che’er!” as he rushed forward.

Ah Jian followed him.

“Che’er, you’re here!” Lian Ze beamed.

“Brother!” Lian Che was following behind a tall, thin old man who had a grey beard and was wearing a light brown, dark patterned Confucian shirt.
The man had kind eyes and gentle eyebrows, looking quite respectful.