A xiucai is a type of academic title, even if it’s the lowest rank among the scholar-official class. But a title is a title, and it still comes with quite a few privileges. For example, exemption from corvée labor, not having to kneel before the county magistrate, and the county magistrate cannot arbitrarily punish them, and so on.

Once you become a xiucai, your social status rises rapidly.

Mrs. Brooks said, “It’s not that easy to pass the xiucai exam…”

As soon as she spoke, she realized it was inappropriate and quickly stopped herself, afraid of hurting her son’s confidence and affecting his upcoming exam.

But what she said was true. Jing County is an ancient city with a thousand-year history, and it belongs to Yangzhou, a place renowned for its flourishing culture and abundance of talented scholars. To stand out here is no less difficult than a thousand troops charging across a single-log bridge—even if it’s just the first stage of the imperial examination, the children’s exam.

The children’s exam has three rounds: the county exam, the prefectural exam, and the academy exam. Only after passing all three can one be considered to have succeeded. In the previous three attempts, Sanlang Brooks couldn’t even get past the first round, the county exam, and had no results to speak of.

Therefore, although Sanlang Brooks swore confidently that he would pass, Mrs. Brooks was never sure in her heart, so she thought to prepare for both outcomes—her son would go take his exam, while Mrs. Brooks would stay home and arrange the marriage matters. If Sanlang Brooks passed, everyone would be overjoyed, and with the wedding, it would be a double celebration.

If he failed again, then from then on, he would have to give up on studying and stay home to live with the Liu family’s daughter.

However, Sanlang Brooks was completely unwilling to accept a blind marriage, to muddle through and marry a wife he didn’t feel good about.

In the end, Mrs. Brooks was so upset by his words that tears started falling one by one.

Seeing this, Sanlang Brooks frowned and offered a compromise: “Mother, don’t be in a hurry to agree to the Liu family. Wait until I finish the exam and the results are out before making a decision. If I don’t pass, you can decide everything; but if I succeed, then from now on, you’ll have to listen to me.”

Mrs. Brooks thought it over and felt this suggestion was acceptable. After all, there were only ten days left until the children’s exam, and it would pass quickly, so she agreed.

Sanlang Brooks breathed a sigh of relief. Convincing his mother was no easy task.

After a short rest, he first went to the martial arts school, finished his daily training, and then headed to the private school to consult Mr. Sullivan in person about essay formats and some important points for the children’s exam.

This exam was no ordinary matter and could not be taken lightly. Although he felt somewhat confident, the better prepared he was, the greater his chances.

Chapter Six: Villains Plot in the Night, Brother-in-law Pays a Visit

“Granny Wood, the Chen family isn’t willing?”

In the Liu family’s main hall, Mrs. Thompson was speaking with Matchmaker Wood.

Matchmaker Wood replied, “It’s not that they’re unwilling, it’s just that Mrs. Brooks said Sanlang is about to take the exam and has no time to spare, so they want to wait until after the children’s exam to decide.”

Mrs. Thompson sneered, “What an excuse. Don’t they just want to see if Sanlang can manage to become a xiucai, so they can bargain with us? They should take a good look at themselves. With Sanlang’s character, he shouldn’t expect anything in this lifetime.”

The bride price had already been reduced by two hundred strings of cash, yet the Chen family was still hesitating, which annoyed her.

Matchmaker Wood said, “Then let’s wait a few more days. Sanlang is naturally timid at exams. This year should be the same as before—he’ll just go through the motions and come back home.”

“Hmph, when the time comes, we’ll add another fifty strings as a ceremony fee, so they know that missing the opportunity comes at a price.”

Mrs. Thompson said resentfully.

…

After being punished by Yvonne Foster to hold horse stance for an hour, which left their legs deformed, Guitang Carter and Jintai Mason hadn’t dared to come to the martial arts school these past few days.

Sanlang Brooks was happy to have some peace and quiet.

Yvonne Foster had thought that since he was going to take the children’s exam, Sanlang Brooks wouldn’t come anymore. Unexpectedly, every morning Sanlang Brooks arrived at the martial arts school on time and practiced diligently.

After a period of hard work, Sanlang Brooks’s horse stance had become very standard—legs spread, hips lowered, chest out, head up—he faintly resembled a horse.

—To stand like a horse is the highest level of the horse stance.

Unfortunately, this “horse” Sanlang was really skinny. When the wind blew his clothes, they fluttered lightly, revealing his bony arms and legs.

Feeding the sword with blood every day took a heavy toll. If he hadn’t been eating and drinking desperately and practicing martial arts to strengthen his body, he probably wouldn’t have been able to hold on and would have collapsed.

Yvonne Foster didn’t suspect anything, but felt that the frail scholar truly lived up to his reputation—so weak that if he threw a punch, Sanlang Brooks might be blown away by the wind from his fist.

“Young Master Brooks, the exam is important. You should be spending more time at the private school, reviewing your lessons.”

Yvonne Foster didn’t think he had any talent for martial arts. First, his foundation was too weak; second, he started too late. He couldn’t understand why Sanlang Brooks was so persistent.

Sanlang Brooks replied, “The way of both civil and martial arts is about balance. When I’m tired of reading, why not move my body a bit?”

Yvonne Foster curled his lip. “Suit yourself, then.”

After finishing his horse stance, Sanlang Brooks didn’t go to the private school but headed straight home. As he passed through the streets and alleys, two people suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his way.

Seeing the unfriendly faces of Guitang Carter and Jintai Mason, Sanlang Brooks frowned.

Guitang Carter grinned and said, “Bookworm, you sure are diligent.”

Jintai Mason rubbed his hands together menacingly. “Every morning you go to curry favor. Do you really think we’re dead?”

Clearly, they already regarded Yvonne Foster as their forbidden territory.

Sanlang Brooks crossed his arms and suddenly spoke, “You want to beat me up?”

Guitang Carter and Jintai Mason looked at each other, not expecting him to be so sharp and to ask so directly.