I'm in the Red Mansion

Chapter 73: It’s Good That I Didn’t Pass the Exam
Based on Mrs. Xing's understanding of Jia She, as long as she said this, Jia She would be furious and would definitely order people to call Cong Ge'er and beat him up.

Even if I can't kill him, I'll skin him alive.

Maybe the money that was kept for the mother and son over the years could be saved.

This old guy hates his children being disrespectful to him the most.

Sure enough, she guessed right—

After hearing what she said, Jia She became furious.

Then he stood up and slapped Mrs. Xing hard in the face.

Mrs. Xing was knocked to the ground, blood oozing from the corner of her mouth, one side of her cheek was swollen, and five fingerprints were clearly visible.

Unfortunately, she was only half right.

It was true that Jia She was furious, but he did not vent his anger on Jia Cong. Instead, he vented it on her.

Jia She could not help but get furious and said, "You stupid woman, you have made me lose all my face today!"

"You're deducting the monthly allowance from your bastard son. Do you think you can achieve anything?"

"Besides, you stupid woman are not only stupid, but also evil. You tried to sow discord between us father and son!"

"This is just a warning to you. If you dare to do this again next time, be careful or I will kick you out of the house!"

"After you go back, return all the money you have withheld from them over the years! If I find out that you are secretly disobeying my orders, I will show you how I will punish you!"

Mrs. Xing was obviously frightened.

She had been married to Jia She for so many years, but this was the first time she saw Jia She so angry with her.

Mrs. Xing's family had long been in decline, and she sold most of their property as her dowry.

If she was really divorced, she would be homeless.

Thinking of this, she dared not anger Jia She anymore. She quickly got up and retreated timidly.

Jia She asked someone to call Jia Cong over.

In Aunt Mei's yard, when she heard Jia She calling Jia Cong over, she got up and accompanied Jia Cong.

However, he was stopped by Jia Cong.

He was sure that at this moment, if Jia She called him over, it would definitely not be to scold him.

Sure enough, after he entered Jia She's room, Jia She not only did not scold him, but instead encouraged him kindly.

If Jia Cong had not already known Jia She, he might have been moved by the drama of deep father-son love he performed.

No wonder someone in later generations said this: when you have achieved certain achievements and reached a certain height, you will be surrounded by good people.

This is indeed true.

He was just the first in the county examination, but Jia She's attitude towards him changed fundamentally.

Next, Jia She promised that Mrs. Xing would return all the monthly allowance that had been withheld from them for so many years.

After encouraging him some more, he let him go.

After returning to Aunt Mei's courtyard, Aunt Mei was relieved to learn that he had not been scolded.

Aunt Mei couldn't help but say, "Brother Cong, since you have won the first place, you must bring four-color gifts to the chief examiner to present a thank-you gift to your teacher."

Those who rank tenth or above in the county examination are called "Qianba". Students who are selected into Qianba have to visit the chief examiner to express their gratitude.

Jia Cong still didn't have a deep enough understanding of this world. If Aunt Mei hadn't reminded him, he would have almost forgotten about this matter.

After Aunt Mei reminded him, he finally came to his senses and said hurriedly, "Mother, I understand. I'll go right away."

After saying this, Jia Cong took the silver, went out to buy gifts, and went to the examiner's house.

Soon, Jia Cong was welcomed into the examiner's house, and met the other nine students who had ranked in the top ten.

However, the chief examiner was not enthusiastic about him, and the other nine candidates were even more cold towards him.

After thinking for a moment, Jia Cong guessed that it was probably due to his status as the son of a noble family.

Jia Cong didn't have the habit of trying to please someone who didn't like him, so after sitting for a while, he stood up and said goodbye.

After leaving here, Jia Cong thought for a while, bought some gifts, and went to Jia Dairu's house.

Regardless of whether Jia Dairu was of average ability or not, he did his job perfunctorily and made the Jia Family Charity School a mess.

But he was very good to himself. If it weren't for Jia Dairu, he would have taught himself.

I may not be able to pass the county examination this time, at least I won’t be able to get the first place.

Therefore, necessary thanks are due.

After arriving at Jia Dairu's house, when Jia Dairu learned that Jia Cong had actually passed the county examination and ranked first in the county examination, he could not help but be overjoyed.

He couldn't close his mouth from laughing.

Jia Dairu encouraged Jia Cong and wanted to invite Jia Cong to his home for dinner, but Jia Cong politely declined.

After leaving Jia Dairu, Jia Cong thought about it and decided to go to Master Zhao to report the good news.

Strictly speaking, Zhao Shicheng treated himself even better than Jia Dairu did.

Jia Cong first went to find his senior brother Feng Ziying. He decided to find his two senior brothers and then go to Master Zhao's house together.

Seeing Jia Cong, Feng Ziying couldn't help but ask, "Junior brother, I wonder how you did in the county exam this time?"

Hearing this, Jia Cong was as sad as if he had lost his parents and said nothing.

Feng Ziying was immediately delighted. He patted Jia Cong on the shoulder and said, "Little Junior Brother, Senior Brother has already told you that your talent lies in martial arts!"

"It's good that you didn't pass the exam. From now on, you can just give up on this idea and focus on practicing martial arts in the future!"

Jia Cong did not make any distinction and soon went to Liu Xianglian's house with Feng Ziying.

When Liu Xianglian met Jia Cong, he asked the same question as Feng Ziying.

"Junior brother, how did you do in the county exam this time? Did you pass?"

Jia Cong also had an expression as if he had lost his parents, and said nothing.

Seeing this, Liu Xianglian couldn't help laughing and said, "Junior brother, you didn't pass the exam, did you? Haha, no way, no way, you didn't really pass the exam, did you?"

"I've told you before, you have such a great talent in martial arts, and you're the descendant of a general, what kind of imperial examination are you taking?"

"Is it okay now? You should know how to turn back after hitting a wall, right?"

Seeing that Liu Xianglian was about to laugh to death, Jia Cong became furious.

Old Six, even if I didn’t pass the exam, you don’t have to gloat over my misfortune, right?
No, I clearly passed the exam!

Humph! Wait a minute, I'll see if you can still laugh!
Soon, the two arrived at Zhao's Mansion.

After meeting Zhao Shicheng, Zhao Shicheng asked the same question.

"Cong'er, I wonder how you did in the county exam this time? Did you pass it?"

As a result, without waiting for Jia Cong to answer.

Feng Ziying couldn't wait to say, "Master, my junior brother didn't pass the exam! My junior brother failed the exam!"

Beside him, Liu Xianglian nodded vigorously and said, "Yes, Master, I said that Junior Brother would not pass the exam. Now Junior Brother can come back and learn martial arts from Master!"

Zhao Shicheng couldn't help but say, "Really? Haha, hahahaha!"

"It's good that you didn't pass the exam. No, what your teacher meant is that if you don't pass the exam, you can focus on your martial arts training."

(End of this chapter)