Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

“The purpose of life is dedication...”

“Alright, alright! That's enough, very good!” Mo Xiaohu gave him an appreciative look.

However, due to wearing sunglasses, Xiao Letian couldn't see his true face clearly.

He only felt that he was being watched, and his heart couldn't help but tighten.

“Now, let me ask you two simple questions. What is forty-four plus thirty-seven?”

“Eighty-one,” Xiao Letian said without hesitation, blurting it out.

Mo Xiaohu was stunned for a moment, then continued: “What about ninety-four plus eighty-three?”

“One hundred and seventy-seven,” Xiao Letian answered again without hesitation.

Mo Xiaohu gradually became serious.

Da Jing doesn't really have a mathematical environment. Ordinary people can handle calculating when buying vegetables.

But singling them out to do numerical calculations is always difficult.

Some people even struggle with addition and subtraction within ten.

This kid in front of him can calculate so quickly, and correctly, which is really unexpected.

“What is one thousand three hundred and fifty-six minus two hundred and eighty-one plus six hundred and thirty-nine?”

“One thousand seven hundred and fourteen,” Xiao Letian quickly answered again.

This guy obviously has talent, either that or he's been trained, otherwise it's impossible to be so fast, in any case, he's a good seed.

Mo Xiaohu excitedly slapped the table: “Good! Come, write your name and address here!”

Xiao Letian was overjoyed and quickly grabbed a piece of white paper to leave his information.

“Tomorrow at seven o'clock... Chen hour, remember to go to the Banshan Newspaper Office to participate in the second test! Go.”

Mo Xiaohu took the paper from Xiao Letian's hand and wrote a large "A" above the name.

Xiao Letian saw it and felt a surge of ecstasy in his heart.

He repeatedly said: “Thank you, interviewer! Thank you, interviewer!”

After saying that, he turned and left, his steps a little lighter.

Xiao Letian hurried home, feeling this rare joy all the way.

Until he returned home, this joy immediately disappeared.

Walking into his dilapidated house, a person who shouldn't have been there at this time appeared.

An old man with a hunched back was bending over, tidying up something in the stove.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, he immediately turned to look.

“Letian? Why are you back so early today? Didn't you say you were going to study with your classmates?”

Xiao Letian looked at the other party's face, full of ravines and weathered, and his heart was shrouded in a huge shame.

He nervously called out "Dad" and then said with a guilty conscience: “Today the teacher had some matters, so I came back early.”

Xiao Kang looked at his son's unusual expression, grunted, and didn't ask any more questions, bowing his head to continue tidying up.

Xiao Letian said uneasily: “Dad, why did you come back so early today?”

“I was fired by the boss, I'll go out to find a job tomorrow. Have you eaten? You came at the right time, let's eat together.”

Xiao Kang opened the pot lid, and steam rushed out, dissipating to reveal a few steamed sweet potatoes.

After picking them out with chopsticks, he took two sets of bowls and chopsticks and brought them to the side of the dilapidated, stained dining table.

Then he took a small bowl of pickled vegetables from beside the stove.

After setting everything up, he said: “Eat, after eating continue studying, don't waste time.”

The father and son sat down and ate silently, without saying a word.

In this slightly dim and dilapidated house, the atmosphere was even more silent.

Halfway through the meal, Xiao Kang spoke: “Today an interesting thing happened in the city, I heard that a university has been established in the eastern suburbs, causing quite a stir, I heard people discussing it on the way home.”

A trace of brilliance appeared on Xiao Letian's face, and he quickly asked: “Dad, what do you think of the Eastern Suburbs University?”

“Heh... I heard people say that it trains craftsmen, which is really ridiculous. Making such a big show, it's simply a disgrace to scholars.” Xiao Kang's face showed a bit of disdain: “Can entering the Eastern Suburbs University get you into the imperial court? They dare to call it a university.”

Xiao Letian couldn't hide the disappointment in his heart, pursed his lips, and lowered his head to eat.

This trace of emotion was keenly captured by Xiao Kang, Xiao Kang frowned and said: “What did you learn in class today?”

“No... nothing, the teacher wasn't feeling well this morning, I studied on my own with my classmates,” Xiao Letian stammered.

“What did you learn exactly!” Xiao Kang's tone became a little heavier, and the movements of his hands also stopped, his eyes staring fixedly at Xiao Letian.

“How have I taught you since you were little! Tell the truth!”

Xiao Letian was afraid, goosebumps suddenly rose all over his body, and he trembled: “I... I went to see the Eastern Suburbs University's... interview.”

“Beast!!!”

As soon as Xiao Letian finished speaking, Xiao Kang suddenly exploded and kicked Xiao Letian over.

Caught off guard, Xiao Letian was kicked into the corner, skillfully curled up into a ball.

Red bloodshot eyes gradually climbed onto Xiao Kang's eyes, panting heavily: “I work outside to provide you with books... you actually want to be a craftsman! Are you worthy of your mother! Are you worthy of me!!”

Xiao Letian murmured, looking at his old father, his heart was full of shame.

Xiao Kang's face was full of heartache.

His wife died early, leaving only such an only son.

He is also a scholar!

In order to raise his child, he gave up taking the imperial examinations and gave up all his future!

He became a humble old farmer, working like a horse for others outside in exchange for a little pitiful wage.

His only dignity is the Confucian robe he wears, symbolizing his status as a scholar, which he wears every day even though it is already dilapidated, but even if he is ridiculed, he doesn't care at all.

Because he still has a son... clever and intelligent since childhood.

As long as he is carefully cultivated, one day he will be able to stand out, leap over the dragon gate, and enter the emperor's hall.

Bring glory to his ancestors and enhance the family!

For this, he has suffered all kinds of hardships.

It's just a pity... this son is smart, but he always lacks the perseverance that ordinary people should have in the way of reading, so he failed the student examination three times.

But he has potential, as long as he works hard, he will definitely pass!

Xiao Kang always told himself this.

But today, this dream, the expectation that has been supporting him to bear the pressure of life, suddenly shattered!

His wife's death, his son's lack of ambition, and the grievances he suffered, began to echo in Xiao Kang's mind like a revolving lantern.

Waves of dizziness impacted Xiao Kang's senses, and two lines of clear tears flowed down along the ravines on his face.

Suddenly!

Xiao Kang went crazy, picked up the broom beside the table, and hit Xiao Letian!

While hitting, he scolded: “Beast! Beast!! Are you worthy of your mother! Are you worthy of yourself!”

Heavy blows landed on Xiao Letian's body.

He had been beaten countless times by his father for not studying well.

It's just that before, it was just a small beating, but this time he was really angry!

Xiao Letian covered his face and wailed, without arguing, and saw his father's tears streaming down his face through his fingers.

His eyes also became moist.

More and more tears gathered, Xiao Letian let go of his hand and suddenly knelt down in front of Xiao Kang.

Thump thump thump! He kowtowed three times heavily, blood slowly flowing down his forehead, Xiao Letian wailed: “Dad! Hit me! Your son is unfilial, I'm sorry for you! Beat me to death!”

Hearing the sound, Xiao Kang's movements stopped.

As if all the bones in his body had softened, he casually threw the broom in his hand aside.

He walked into the house, lost in thought....

......