Chapter 93

Before entering the examination room, every examinee always needed to go over a body-search first. Actually not so many of them wanted to cheat in the examination only for pupils, but still some examinees couldn’t avoid cheating. They hid their notes in various ways; some even hid them among their hair.

Worse still, some people would boldly write some keys on their arms. Xu Ran touched his nose and felt that these people were too stupid. They even had no idea that the words written with a writting brush were so big there that others would see them easily. Besides, even if they could muddle through, how could they know if they would get that content for the keys?

In fact, if it were in modern times when the papers were needed to answer with a ball-point pen, and things would be different. A small piece of paper could contain a lot of content inside. In such a case, it would really be useful when even a small piece of paper was brought in.

When it was Xu Ran’s turn, he went through the body-search honestly, and did everything cooperatively as he was instructed like turning around, raising his hand….

Xu Ran passed the check smoothly and entered the examination room. There were already many people inside. Xu Ran saw Lin Hua and Zhao Chen sitting in the corner. Lin Hua waved at him with a smile and Xu Ran nodded to show his greetings. Then he found his seat and sat down to wait for their invigilator.

Having not taken any test for a long time, Xu Ran felt a little nervous. This feeling was just like when he took the college entrance examination in modern times.

It was very quiet in the examination room. Maybe it was because people present didn’t know each other that no one made a sound. Only a few of them were still reciting something in a low voice.

Soon, an invigilator came in with a scroll in his hand. He first stressed the rules of the exam, and then he checked every examinee’s desk. At last, he opened the scroll.

There were only a few words on the list, “In all walks of life, filial piety first.”

Ancient sages all said that filial piety was the first, but this filial piety also had several types. In Xu Ran’s opinion, everyone should be filial, but not blindly filial.

The ancients also said that since ancient times it was hard to be both loyal and filial at the same time. Therefore, filial piety was not so easy for one to observe.

After showing the scroll to the examinees, the invigilator began to speak, “I believe you have seen that today’s topic is filial piety first. This is your test item. As today’s invigilator, that’s what I would remind you. Please start the test now!”

The imperial examination here was not the same as what Xu Ran had known. Here, the total examination time was three days, including six subjects, two subjects a day. The subjects to be examined were Thesis, Historical Records and The Four Books.

The only thing that was the same was The Four Books.

The Thesis was simple but also difficult, and it was hard to judge.

Therefore, many people began to whisper and sigh.

Hearing the voices from below, the invigilator banged the table and shouted, “Silence! Answer your paper.”

Apart from the difficulty in the writing of ancient Chinese, Xu Ran thought he was OK. He always believed that people should be filial, but not blindly filial. As for the issue of loyalty and filial piety, people should understand the reason that no country, no home.

After thinking about the topic for a while, Xu Ran picked up his writing brush and wrote quickly.

The other examinees also began to quieten down and answered the papers in front of them.

The examination time of each subject was two hours. Xu Ran finished writing his paper in about an hour. He didn’t know whether he was allowed to hand in his paper in advance, and the invigilator didn’t mention that, either. Thus, he could only bend over the desk and play with his writing brush.

He wanted to spin the writing brush, but there was still ink on it. If it was spinned, the ink would be splashed everywhere, which would affect many people around him who were still immersed in the examination.

Seeing that Xu Ran didn’t look around, the invigilator just let him be. He didn’t expect that there would be any excellent examinee to appear in the examination room here. If there was any, he believed they wouldn’t be here, but went to have the test in the county.

At last, time was up. Xu Ran was the first to actively hand in his paper, after which he walked out with ease.

However, he did not leave right away. Instead, he stood at the door waiting for Lin Hua and others.

As soon as Lin Hua came out, he complained, “Xu Ran, I can’t write a lot of words even though I can say them. I can’t pass the test. This is the first subject only! Oh, my!”

Xu Ran was confused, too, “This can not be compared. What you say is one thing while what you write is different.”

Xu Ran then took a look at Zhao Chen. Though he didn’t say anything, he looked not happy, either.

After some hesitation, Xu Ran asked Zhao Chen, “You also don’t know how to write?”

After quite some while, Zhao Chen nodded stiffly.

Xu Ran touched his forehead. At last, he understood why these two people did not look like good-for-nothing young men at all, but they were scolded by their fathers for being ignorant and incompetent.

They really had neither learning nor skill, completely ignorant in knowledge.

Looking at Lin Hua’s gloomy face, Xu Ran could say nothing. He could only pat him on the shoulder to comfort him.

Considering that there was still a test in the afternoon, Xu Ran planned to go back and have a good nap after lunch so that he would be in high spirit in the afternoon. He asked Lin Hua and Zhao Chen, “Are you ready to go home or go to eat first?”

Lin Hua glanced at Zhao Chen and replied, “I’m not going back. I’ll be scolded if going back now. I’d better go back later at night!”

Zhao Chen also nodded, indicating that he would do the same as Lin Hua.

“Then let’s go and find a place to eat!” Xu Ran suggested while going outside.

The rest of the people were all away from the examination house. Only they three were still there at the door.

After coming out, they found the shopkeeper was already waiting there. Xu Ran greeted him. When the shopkeeper got near, Xu Ran said, “Let’s go and find a place to eat first. We’ll go back to the inn later.”

Of course, the shopkeeper wouldn’t say anything about this idea.

So, Lin Hua and Zhao Chen led the way in front of them, while Xu Ran and the shopkeeper followed behind. They quickly found a restaurant. Actually, Xu Ran did not intend to go to a restaurant for lunch. After all, he was now in short of money, but Lin Hua waved his hand and said generously, “It’s my treat.”

Naturally, Xu Ran liked this idea and followed him.

There in the restaurant, Lin Hua not only ordered the food but also paid the bills in the end. Xu Ran and the shopkeeper only occasionally chatted with them when they were eating.

Xu Ran found Lin Hua was loyal to friends and that he would not look down on the poor. He believed that if Lin Hua could be a partner in business, it should be good. As for Zhao Chen, although he had few words, he had a good relationship with Lin Hua. Xu Ran thought that he was worth trying, too.

Xu Ran had a rough idea about these two people’s character during this good meal, after which he went back with the shopkeeper to their inn to have a rest.

In the following test, Xu Ran began to find a way out. The test items were not difficult, and in Xu Ran’s opinion, they were also very practical. As Lin Hua said, the test builder this time was the crown prince. Xu Ran told himself that this crown prince should be a good emperor in the future for the state and for the people.

Three days passed and the test was finally over. After walking out of the examination room, Xu Ran stretched lazily. This was really similar to the college entrance examinations.

If there was a book at hand, he might have torn it into pieces.

Of course, there were two people who were happier than him. Lin Hua needn’t to be mentioned. Even Zhao Chen was obviously happy this time.

Xu Ran told them after the second test. They didn’t need any profound words and they could try to express themselves straightforwardly. They should only remember not to say anything out of bounds.

Of course, both of them knew the simple words. After taking Xu Ran’s suggestion, they improved their test strategy. Later, they might have done well in the test. Now it depended on how their papers would be scored.

At last, the test was over, and they both were just like the birds released from their cages. They were so excited that they insisted Xu Ran go to drink with them.

Xu Ran quickly waved his hand, “It’s unnecessary to drink, but it’s OK to talk about business.”

Lin Hua looked at Xu Ran and asked in confusion, “Business? What kind of business? Who are you talking to?”

Being asked such a series of questions, Xu Ran chuckled, “Of course, I’m talking to you. As for what business, you’ll know soon. Let’s go! Let’s go and find a place to have a talk.”

As Xu Ran said this, he walked forward. Lin Hua and Zhao Chen looked at each other and then nodded before they followed behind.

Xu Ran deliberately didn’t ask the shopkeeper to pick him up today because he wanted to have a good talk with them two.

Xu Ran had his own plans. He did not wish to take an official career or go into the business field. He just wanted to be a farmer quietly. Although it was slow to earn money by farming for a living, it depended on how he did it. He planned to develop and grow a large number of fruits. After the strawberries were grown successfully, he would start to buy more hills and plant other fruits.

Even if the fruit was not a rare thing, people had to eat some of it. Besides, he was going to grow chestnuts and almonds. He believed the future fruit would be so large in quantity that Qin Shuwu could not undertake all the sales for him. Fortunately, the He Shui Town was far away from the Xu Village, so it would not have too much impact on them.

In the restaurant, Xu Ran asked for a private room and ordered a few signature dishes. After all the food were served on the table, Xu Ran began to talk to the two men about his business.

Xu Ran stated his plan. He admitted though at the moment, he would not be able to earn money from other things, he could sell chili paste for money. In addition, he could make some fermented bean curd, dried tofu and so on.

In fact, the only product that Xu Ran could guarantee to make money was his own chili paste, because no one could compete with him for the time being. As for fermented bean curd and dried tofu, neither of them had heard of it, so he could describe their prospects freely.

Lin Hua asked Xu Ran, “Xu Ran, we haven’t heard of this kind of things before. Can you sell them out?”

“You don’t have to worry about this. I’ve sold chili paste in my town. Most people like to eat it. As for the other two products, just because no one has ever eaten them, they will try them. ”

Zhao Chen had been silent since he came into the restaurant. He suddenly asked, “What do you want us to do then?”

Xu Ran knew that Zhao Chen was a calm person with a delicate mind and swift brain, except that he was not good at learning.

“Yeah,” Lin Hua also echoed.

Xu Ran stretched out his hand and knocked on the table, “Aren’t there shops in your family? You just find a shop and its location doesn’t have to be good. You just help me collect some chili and soybeans. Later, I will send you the first products after they are made. Since then, you will find someone to come for the delivery of the new products. As for how often you should come, you decide. Okay?”

Hearing what  Xu Ran said, both of them fell silent. After a while, Zhao Chen asked, “How to calculate the share? ”

“I get 30% while you two share 70%. How about it?”

“You are doing a good job in this business with no cost,” Zhao Chen said with a smile.

Xu Ran did not take it seriously, “What do you think of it?”

“All right, just a thirty-seventy ratio. You make a list and tell us how many things you want, we can get them for you, ” Zhao Chen didn’t respond, but Lin Hua answered cheerfully.

Xu Ran stood up and reached out his hand, “In that case, let’s have a happy cooperation.”

Although Lin Hua didn’t understand the meaning of their handshaking, both of them still stretched out their hands. Thus their three hands overlapped for a while and then separated. In this way, a cooperation agreement had been reached.

After sitting down again, Xu Ran continued, “Don’t tell others about this matter first. There are so many people outside that they may leak the information. As long as we work quickly and get the store ready before the list of our test is released, you will certainly not be punished by your family law.”

Both of them thought about it and nodded assent.

Xu Ran continued, “You need to speed up your collection of chilies and soybeans. I have to rush home because my family is still building a new house, and only my spouse and two children are at home. I am worried about them. In addition, I will pay you one hundred taels of silver before I leave, and you can regard it as the advance payment for my purchase of your goods. It’s also reassuring you in the business. When I bring you the chili paste, you can return it to me.”

Just as Xu Ran’s voice fell, Lin Hua replied, “There’s no need for that. We can still take out one hundred taels of silver. Besides, we’ll work together. We must trust you. Although we’ve not been together for long, from my years of experience in reading people, I know you are a good person.”

Both Xu Ran and Zhao Chen were confused at hearing the saying of ‘from my years of experience in reading people’, they both wondered how he coud say this only after his limited living years. In Zhao Chen’s opinion, it should be said that his years of experience in idling away seeking pleasure.

Still, Zhao Chen agreed with Lin Hua. He nodded, “Lin Hua is right. If you really want to run away with those things, we will just lose that little money. Naturally, we will not deal with you again. We trust you, and we will send you those things. As for the money, you’d better keep it!”

Xu Ran was touched by their trust. He raised his cup and said, “In that case, I won’t say anything further. You can wait to count money in the future. Well, let’s toast for our cooperation.”

“Cheers!” Lin Hua raised his cup.

“Cheers!” Zhao Chen also raised his.

Then they three tossed off their cups.