Chapter 62: Top Scorer

"I am."

The yamen officer saw Zhou Huaishan raise his hand and walked over with a big smile.

The other scholars looked at Zhou Huaishan with suspicion, unsure of what was happening.

"Could it be that he was caught cheating by the magistrate?" someone sneered.

Sun Jin clenched his fists as he noticed the yamen officer's smiling face, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

Ignoring the ridicule, Zhou Huaishan asked the approaching yamen officer, "What’s the matter?"

The yamen officer, still smiling, bowed and said, "Congratulations to the top scorer Zhou! The magistrate asked me to deliver the message that you should prepare well for the next exam at the prefectural level."

This announcement caused an uproar.

The top scorer!

Everyone immediately crowded around, as if they were in a zoo observing a rare monkey.

Wait a minute... Isn’t this the same person who rushed out to kiss the red list earlier?

The crowd's attention shifted back to the red list, pondering if it really worked.

Suddenly, some were envious, some jealous, and others regretful.

Had they known, they would have kissed it too.

If I don’t make it this time, I’ll definitely kiss it next time!

Zhou Qing was stunned, turning to look at Zhou Huaishan. "Father? Top scorer?"

Her voice was trembling.

She was well aware of Zhou Huaishan’s study habits and foundation. 

Although Shen Li had said that passing this time shouldn’t be a problem, still...

This is the top scorer we’re talking about!

Zhou Qing was shocked, but so was Zhou Huaishan himself.

Only Shen Li stood to the side, smiling serenely.

Before the exam, he had tailored specific practice exercises for Zhou Huaishan, all based on the magistrate’s personal preferences.

The strategy was to be practical and methodical, avoiding anything too innovative or unique.

With Zhou Huaishan’s excellent handwriting, topping the county exam was not too difficult.

Sun Jin stood there, his face alternating between green and white, feeling as if a thunderbolt had struck his head.

Zhou Huaishan, the top scorer?

Impossible!

If Zhou Huaishan is the top scorer, then what does that make me?

I’m the one who should be the top scorer!

Sun Jin’s classmates were also dumbfounded by the news.

One of them, who was particularly impatient, asked the yamen officer, "Sir, could there be a mistake? Isn't Sun Jin the top scorer?"

Hearing his name mentioned, Sun Jin felt a surge of anger but also a glimmer of hope as he looked at the yamen officer.

The yamen officer waved his hand dismissively, "How could there be a mistake? The magistrate himself said so. Are you questioning the magistrate?"

The student quickly forced a smile, "Of course not, but Sun Jin is the best in our academy..."

The yamen officer cut him off unceremoniously, "Just because he's the best in your academy doesn't mean he has to be the top scorer!"

The student's face turned red, and he opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Meanwhile, a few more yamen officers came out, heading straight for the red list.

One began writing the names of the scholars who had passed the exam on the list, while the other two posted the top two papers on a sideboard.

The crowd immediately surged forward, looking for their names.

Those who found their names were overjoyed and went to check the sideboard.

Those who didn't find their names were disheartened and quietly left.

Amidst the crowd, Sun Jin shot a venomous glare at Zhou Huaishan before turning to look at the red list.

He had passed, but he wasn’t the top scorer, nor was he in the top three. He was barely fifth!

Sun Jin felt humiliated.

With all the knowledge he possessed, how could he be fifth?

He moved to look at the papers on the sideboard.

Zhou Huaishan’s handwriting was indeed good, he admitted that, but wasn’t the content rather plain?

No innovation! No uniqueness!

He was not convinced!

Zhou Huaishan, unaware of Sun Jin's dissatisfaction, had already climbed back onto the mule cart.

Since he was the top scorer, why bother looking at the list again?

Lying back on the cart like a lord, he lazily ordered, "Ping, massage my shoulders. Little Shen, massage my legs! Qing, I want tanghulu. I saw you holding half a skewer earlier."

Zhou Qing rolled her eyes, but Zhou Ping and Shen Li cheerfully took their positions.

"Father, what was the exam topic this time?" Zhou Qing asked as she handed the tanghulu to Zhou Huaishan.

She couldn’t fathom what topic the magistrate had given that allowed her father to top the exam.

However, before Zhou Huaishan could answer, a heart-wrenching scream suddenly erupted from the crowd behind them.

"Oh no! The last question was about drought, and I misread it as early!"

Zhou Qing couldn’t help but turn around to look at the unfortunate scholar.

He rushed out of the crowd, fell to his knees, and desperately clawed at his hair, crying out in despair.

Just then, Zhou Huaishan, who had been lounging on the cart, suddenly sat up and grabbed Zhou Qing’s hand.

"Qing!"

Zhou Qing was startled. "What is it, Father?"

Zhou Huaishan wore an expression of utter panic, looking at Zhou Qing in terror.

"I think I’ve lost my memory."

"I can’t remember anything."

"Just five days ago, I could recite all the classics by heart, but now I can’t recall a single word."

"Just five days ago, I knew the format of an eight-part essay, but now, I can’t remember anything."

"Just..."

Zhou Qing, initially alarmed by his claim of memory loss, began to smile knowingly as she listened further.

Post-exam syndrome.

She remembered how, before the college entrance exams, she knew astronomy, geography, conic sections, hybridization of cells, philosophy, history, English, and classical Chinese.

But then...

Ah, forget it. Who hasn’t had their moment of brilliance?

"Father, don’t worry, you haven’t lost your memory. See, you still remember me and how I got here."

As soon as Zhou Qing said this, Zhou Huailin, who was driving the cart, almost whipped the mule off course.

Qing, the way you’re trying to comfort your father... why does it sound so strange?

Shen Li’s ears turned bright red.

Zhou Ping looked up at Zhou Qing, blinking in confusion.

It felt like his sister had just said something she wasn’t supposed to at her age.

Only Zhou Huaishan took it seriously, recalling the day of his transmigration and breathing a sigh of relief.

"Goodness, you scared me. I do remember how you got here."

When their cart reached the city gate, they saw Uncle Zhong waiting with another mule cart.

Zhou Huailin stopped the cart and looked at Shen Li.

Shen Li jumped onto the other mule cart.

It was loaded with half a cart full of packed food boxes, emitting a tempting aroma.

Zhou Ping gulped, "Senior Brother, what’s all this?"

Shen Li smiled, "Didn't you want to eat the dishes from Fushun Restaurant? I ordered everything you liked. Master got the top spot, so we’re celebrating. Let’s take it home to eat."

"Yay!"

Zhou Ping cheered and nimbly jumped from Zhou Huailin’s cart to Shen Li’s cart.

"Senior Brother is the best!"

As they spoke, Zhou Huaishan, still spry, leaped over as well.

His agile movements were like those of an athlete.

You can’t mess with someone who’s got money!

Ordering everything on the menu, just like that!

With half a cart of delicious food, they happily headed home.

By the time they got back, someone had already delivered the good news, and Zhao, overjoyed, gave the messenger two taels of silver as a tip.

In the blink of an eye, the entire village knew.

Who would have thought that the usually honest and straightforward Zhou Huaishan would self-study and become the top scorer?

After all, it took Zhou Huaihai three tries to pass the county exam.

An exam is a time of joy for some and sorrow for others.

As the day wore on, the once-bustling area in front of the red list grew quiet.

Zhou Huaihai, dressed in a brand-new brocade robe, stood before the red list, staring at the name above the word "first," his expression dark.