Chapter 224 Handsome Young Man Degeer
Sun Shan walked into the study which also served as his bedroom. Since he went to school in the county town, he only stayed at home for one or two nights a month, or even one or two nights every two months.
However, Su still took care of it on time so that Sun Shan could move in immediately after his return.
I don’t think about anything during busy days, but when I calm down now, I think more.
I was thinking that I would go to Zhangzhou Prefecture in a few days, and then take the prefectural examination in a few days. If I was lucky, I would take the academy examination in August. Time was very tight.
It seems like there are still a few months left, but in reality it’s just a blink of an eye.
Sun Shan shook his head and stopped thinking about it. Grinding ink and writing, you have to practice writing better.
The county examination papers would not be posted, so Mr. Hong used his connections to check the examination papers of the successful students.
He said to Sun Shan: "Your paper has all the correct answers, which is better than the first place. But your handwriting is far behind. Maybe that's why you are ranked second."
After a pause, he encouraged her by saying, "Don't be discouraged. Writing well is not as good as doing well on the questions. We can get second place if we don't get first place. As long as we are on the list, the ranking doesn't matter."
Mr. Hong thought that except for the handwriting, Sun Shan's handwriting was worse than the first place candidate's, but in other aspects he was better than the first place candidate.
The county magistrate was a fan of calligraphy, so it was not surprising that the first place was given to a candidate with good handwriting.
Or if the top scorer comes from the county school, the instructor will also have face.
The imperial examination not only tests knowledge, but also tests social skills. In more distant examinations, social skills will become less important and knowledge will be more important.
Sun Shan didn't care at all who was the top candidate. He agreed very much with what Hong Xiucai said. It was enough to be on the list. As for the ranking, it was neither important nor unimportant.
I practiced calligraphy slowly, and my heart gradually calmed down. I lowered my head, and raised it again. It was almost dark.
At this time, De Geer ran in from the yard and shouted, "Shanzi, you're back."
Sun Shan hadn't seen De Ge'er for a long time. He took a closer look and found that he looked stronger and more energetic than before.
Uncle Sun is of average appearance, but Aunt Sun is a beauty in the area. De Ge'er looks like Aunt Sun and is the most handsome in the Sun family.
His big eyes are bright and sharp, and he looks like a handsome young man at first glance.
Sun Shan smiled and said, "How did you know that you came back today?"
De Geer said with a smile: "I saw Brother Hongwen in the school, he said you are back."
Then he asked in a low voice: "Are you going to Zhangzhou Prefecture? Are you going to take the prefectural examination?"
Sun Shan nodded and said, "Yes, we will go there in a few days. The provincial examination is coming soon, and Master Hong arranged for us to go there early."
De Ge'er patted Sun Shan's little shoulder and said sincerely, "Shanzi, you will definitely pass it. I believe in you. No one in Sunjia Village, no, Huangyang County, is smarter than you. You ranked second in the last county exam. You are amazing."
Sun Shan straightened his chest and said confidently, "Brother De, I think so too. I will definitely pass this time. If I pass, I will be a Tongsheng."
When De Geer heard the word "Tongsheng", his eyes lit up and he said excitedly: "Shanzi, if you pass, you will be a Tongsheng, just like Master Zheng."
Sun Shan nodded and said, "Yes, if I pass, I will be a Tongsheng. If I pass the academy exam in August, I will be a Xiucai."
When he heard the word "scholar", the light in De Ge'er's eyes blinded you, and he said excitedly: "Shanzi, if you pass the college entrance examination, you will be a scholar, which is better than Master Zheng."
Sun Shan nodded and continued, "Yes, you are right. Do you want to be my housekeeper? This is the housekeeper of the scholar."
Hearing the words "Master Scholar", De Geer became even more excited and said excitedly: "Yes, I will. I will be your housekeeper and will not go to the capital to work with my aunt."
Sun Shan's face suddenly turned cold, and he said in a cold tone: "Brother De, I'm almost a scholar. How about you? How are you doing in school?"
De Ge'er had a smile on his face one second, and a bitter look on his face the next.
I knew that Shanzi wouldn't be able to be my scholar's housekeeper so smoothly.
He hung his head and did not dare to look at Sun Shan.
Sun Shan didn't want to lecture De Ge'er, but he had to.
I just heard from Hanlu that Dege'er often walks chickens and fights dogs in the village. He is so busy playing that he has no intention of going to school.
He was often beaten with a stick by Master Zheng, and he refused to go to school.
Uncle Sun and Aunt Sun were furious and beat De Ge'er severely.
That’s why the people in the Sun family’s old house knew about De Ge’er’s situation in the school.
After much persuasion, he went to school and studied hard, but he could not last more than three days and was beaten by Master Zheng again.
He was refusing to go to school again.
This happened over and over again, causing the Sun family a lot of headaches.
Sun Shan said sternly, "Brother De, I'm giving you one last chance now. If you don't study hard, I'll kick you out and stop you from being the housekeeper of a future scholar like me. Look, I've passed the county exam and am preparing for the prefectural exam. I've been making progress. What about you? Not only have you not made any progress, you've even regressed. With your attitude, I won't teach you how to do anything."
De Geer said aggrievedly: "Shan Zi, I don't want to either, but I really can't read on. I don't understand a lot of it, and my head is swelling. I'm not like you. I'm not as smart as you. You understand everything the Master says, and you understand things that the Master didn't teach you."
Sun Shan immediately retorted, "De Ge'er, who said you are not smart? You caught the most fish in the river. If you are not smart, how can you catch so many fish?"
Studying does not require you to take an imperial examination. It is enough for you to learn all the characters, calculate accounts, and read notices.
These are not difficult at all. If you say they are difficult, it means you are too wild, lazy, and don’t want to learn.”
After a pause, Sun Shan said in a slow tone, "Brother De, you are 14 years old this year. You will leave the school next year or the year after. If you don't study hard, you will never have another chance. Do you want to be like Brother Guang and become an apprentice to someone else and get beaten half to death?"
After Deger's eldest brother Sun Dingguang left the school, Sun Dagu did not make any arrangements. No matter how Uncle Sun and Aunt Sun quarreled, Sun Dagu remained unmoved.
Later, Aunt Sun had no choice but to let Guang'er learn carpentry as an apprentice.
Who knew that the carpenter was such a black-hearted person. Not only did he charge tuition fees, he also treated his apprentices like his own servants, beating and scolding them.
Guang'er couldn't stand it and ran back. Uncle Sun and Aunt Sun thought that since they had paid the money, they should let Guang'er be patient and learn the skills again.
Later, Guang Ge'er was beaten all over and fainted.
It was the neighbor next door who couldn't stand it anymore and secretly sent someone to inform the Sun family, only then did they know how much Guang Ge'er had suffered.
Uncle Sun and Aunt Sun argued with the carpenter, but to no avail.
The carpenter was a lousy guy, and Uncle Sun and his wife were completely defeated.
Huang couldn't help but secretly write a letter to Aunt Sun, asking her to give her grandson Guang a good place for her sake.
Since Aunt Sun didn't come back, my cousin He Shujin sent a manager back to Sunjia Village and went to the government office. The next day, the carpenter was arrested.
Many victimized apprentices reported the crime, and finally the carpenter was beaten half to death and his leg was broken. He was released only after he compensated the apprentices' tuition.
After that, Guang'er rested for half a year and was taken to the provincial capital by Aunt Sun to work.
After this incident, Uncle Sun and Aunt Sun changed and refused to go anywhere.
Apart from doing farm work, he just walks back and forth between home and the Sun family's old house.
In particular, Aunt Sun followed Huang's lead and would flatter her ten times for every word Huang said.
This made Huang avoid her, as she couldn't stand such enthusiasm from Aunt Sun.
In fact, my cousin He Shujin just used money to pave the way in the yamen, allowing the steward to bribe the yamen runners and teach the carpenter a lesson.
The yamen runners were also willing to do so. Firstly, the carpenter was indeed hated by both gods and humans; secondly, why not do it if he could get paid? Thirdly, the steward mentioned his connection with the prefecture intentionally or unintentionally, and the carpenter was a commoner, so the yamen runners would definitely be willing to give the steward face.
Guang'er's tragic experience left De'er with lingering fears. When he thought about it, his whole body trembled.
My eldest brother is so miserable. If it weren’t for my eldest aunt, he would have nowhere to turn to.
He didn't want to work with strangers.
De Ge'er said hurriedly: "Shanzi, I will work with you in the future and be your housekeeper."
De Ge'er's eyes rolled around: "My second brother is still staying at home, and my eldest aunt said that they haven't found a job for him yet. When I graduate from school, my eldest aunt may not be able to find a job either."
From this point of view, it is best to work with Shanzi. At most, Shanzi will scold you a few times, but he won’t hit you.
What's more, working for Shanzi, the future scholar, is much more prestigious than working for my aunt.
It sounds much better when you say it out loud.
De Geer added: "Shanzi, you can't leave me. I want to be your housekeeper and stay by your side."
Sun Shan snorted coldly: "I'll give you one last chance. If you don't study hard, I'll find someone else."
De Geer nodded and said, "Shanzi, I will study hard, and I will learn how to do accounting from Master Zheng. I will stay by your side and do accounting for you in the future."