Monthly exams in the clan school were, of course, nothing like the imperial examinations that required candidates to be locked in exam cells; there was only one proctor, the half-asleep Samuel Bolton, so naturally the students below were all quite happy. The moment James Bolton saw the test paper, his expression immediately became rather odd, because the entire paper was on the Analects, as if the other three books of the Four Books and the Five Classics had all been forgotten by the teacher.

Moreover, if his memory served him right, all of this content was something he had seen before.

“What the heck are these questions?”

“They’re from the Analects, I think…”

“No kidding, I know they’re from the Analects! Hey, Little Ben Sullivan, can you do these questions?”

“There are too many questions. Even if I finish my own paper, you guys probably won’t have time to copy!”

“I don’t care if you hand in a blank paper! Anyway, I’m giving you my test—ten taels of silver for you!”

James Bolton had no time to pay attention to the noisy chatter behind him, nor to the endless sighs and complaints. What he was most worried about at this moment was not being able to write the characters. But there was no time to worry about that now; seeing that what he thought was a lost cause now had hope again, how could he give up? So, dipping his brush in thick ink, he began to write furiously, gradually getting into the flow.

When the cloud board sounded an hour later, nine out of ten students looked ashen. The wealthy students worried about being scolded by their parents when they got home, while the poor ones feared they wouldn’t receive their monthly stipend from the school—after all, in these times, there weren’t many private schools where you didn’t have to pay tuition and could even get food and money. As a result, the brothers Charlie Bolton and Jack Bolton, who hadn’t shown up for class in days and didn’t come for the monthly exam today, were instantly hated by everyone.

Why should they get to skip the monthly exam? They were, after all, legitimate sons of the main Zhang family line!

But the exam was over, and no amount of frustration would help. Upon hearing there were no classes in the afternoon, the students scattered like birds and beasts. James Bolton saw Edward Green and Thomas Green packing up and getting ready to leave, but unexpectedly, Benjamin Sullivan called out to him.

“Sorry, I… I had no choice… I handed in a blank paper today too…”

James Bolton had never had much fondness for this cold and awkward guy, but seeing Benjamin Sullivan’s usually icy face flushed red, he suddenly felt that his minor annoyance could be overlooked. Seeing the cold-faced youth drop that line and prepare to leave, he suddenly called out to him.

“You helped others with their exams for money, but handed in a blank paper yourself. Aren’t you afraid your parents will scold you when you get home?”

Benjamin Sullivan suddenly turned around. Seeing that James Bolton’s face wasn’t mocking, his expression softened a little. After a long silence, he said, word by word, “You’ve never known what it’s like to go hungry, or to borrow money and rice from others. Ten taels of silver is enough to support my family for several months. Even if I get beaten or punished, it’s worth it. Your father may be able to help my family for a while, but he can’t help us forever.”

James Bolton sneered inwardly, watching Benjamin Sullivan stride out the door. With no one else in the room, he suddenly raised his voice and said, “Even if you pride yourself on your integrity, thinking that poverty doesn’t diminish ambition and that you should rely on yourself for everything, you came to the clan school to prepare for future advancement. What you did today may have brought you some benefit, but it’s ruined your reputation. How will you take the county or provincial exams in the future?”

As soon as he said this, he saw Benjamin Sullivan freeze in the doorway. Seeing this, he couldn’t help but shake his head, thinking that while this cold-faced youth certainly had a talent for study, he was rather clueless when it came to dealing with people. There are no secrets that don’t get out; once this gets leaked, what examiner would ever select such a scholar?

No matter what turmoil happened that day, in any case, the monthly exam was finally over. On this same day, because preparations were needed for the upcoming sixtieth birthday of the old lady Sullivan, Henry Bolton specially went to the clan school to request half a month’s leave for James Bolton. Naturally, he also requested leave for the brothers Charlie Bolton and Jack Bolton. Since their father Peter Bolton couldn’t get away from Jiaozhi, the matter fell to him to handle.

Father and son rarely went home together, and as they walked, Henry Bolton asked about the progress of the apprenticeship matter. Having muddled through yesterday, James Bolton couldn’t avoid it today. He originally planned to make up an excuse or tell a white lie, but after thinking it over, he decided to tell the truth, including the strange test paper from today.

“Well, let’s leave it to fate.”

Henry Bolton sighed thoughtfully, patted his son’s shoulder gently, and didn’t press the issue any further.

As the old lady Sullivan’s sixtieth birthday drew nearer, the city of Kaifeng gradually became livelier. After all, if not for her own sake, then for the sake of the Duke of England in Nanjing, how could the local officials of Henan not come to pay their respects to the Zhang family’s matriarch? If they flattered her well and she put in a good word with the Duke, that could be a great opportunity.