Flipping through the papers while referencing the answer key, I couldn't help but be a bit shocked. Every answer was perfect. Literally zero mistakes were present in the entire test.
However, the most surprising part wasn't the perfect score. It was that Meng Mei finished the entire exam in less than an hour!
'Is my wife a genius?'
After flipping through the last page, I set the stack of papers down and looked up. Staring back at me was Meng Mei. The usual proud look was back on her face, and I could tell by the slight upturn of her lips that she saw my surprised expression.
"You are hired," I said with the utmost certainty in my mind. Perhaps if she had just matched the other applicants with her mathematics score, I would have tested her further. However, she surpassed each and every applicant in every category.
At my words, her grin transformed into a smile, and she gave me a nod of confirmation as if she were saying, "As expected."
I looked towards Cao Peng, who had been reading a book while patiently waiting for this spontaneous testing to end. Sensing my gaze, he closed his book and gave me his full attention.
"Cao Peng, tomorrow send a letter to agreed-upon applicants to let them know to show up to the Manor in a week. During that time get someone to renovate one of the rooms into a conference room. " After I finished speaking, I rose from my seat and gave a glance to Meng Mei.
"Ready to go?" I asked her.
With a nod, she rose from her seat and followed me back to the carriage.
{The Next Day}
The next morning I was back in the yard midway through today's training when I encountered something a bit interesting.
*Thunk*
'Huh?'
While the staff was still broken in half, it no longer carried the feeling of a dry twig. Instead, it was as if I had slammed a particularly thick branch against my thigh. To some it may seem like an unimportant detail, but it was different to me.
For the first time since the start of this masochistic practice, I felt real progress different from simply watching numbers go up. The pain also decreased by several notches.
The knowledge that I was ever so slowly turning into a superhuman filled me with anticipation for the future. So, with newfound motivation, I made a new personal goal for myself.
"Today I will break this staff no fewer than twenty-five times!" I said aloud in the empty courtyard.
{Tong's Tavern}
"I'm telling you, Mr. Golem, you should have raced me for the thirty coppers instead of taking the test. Easiest money I ever made!" The muscular young man with long hair tied back into a high ponytail boasted from his seat at the bar holding a mug of beer in his hands. He wore white martial arts attire with the characters for "Martial Hall" scrawled on the back.
Surrounding him were men and women wearing similar attire. The group had gathered at Tong's tavern to celebrate the man's triumph in the impromptu race around the city that had taken place during the preliminaries of the exam the day prior.
"Brother Song is the greatest!" One man chirped.
"Of course Big Bro Song won. He is one of the twin rising dragons of Skyfall's Martial Hall!" Shouted a particularly muscular woman, echoed.
"If only Brother Zhen competed too. That would have been a legendary battle!" said another.
Eating up all this praise, the young man, Song Chu, would not help but grin even more. High on the atmosphere surrounding him, he called out to the bartender.
"Miss Tong, let me get another round for my brothers and sisters here!" The man shouted. The group surrounding him cheered once more.
Sitting next to Song Chu was Zhen Li. He sat next to him quietly drinking his own beer and did not reply to Song Chu's boasting. For once the man's unruffled attitude did not spoil Song Chu's mood as he continued to boast about his speed and decision-making.
"Now, now, calm down, you lot. There are other customers here," sounded a melodious voice.
Carrying a tray holding dozens of drinks was the waitress Miss Tong. One by one, she passed out drinks to the martial artists. Each one thanked her as they received a drink. The last one to receive one was Zhen Li, whose eyes tracked her as she moved through the tavern.
After arriving in front of him, Miss Tong threw a flirtatious wink at him and whispered something in his ear. Whatever she whispered was enough to turn the man's ears red, much to the humor of the surrounding martial artists. However, a quick glare from Zhen Li was enough to shut them up.
*Knock,* *knock*.
The sound of knocking could barely be heard over the sounds in the tavern, but trained at a young age, Miss Tong noticed and made her way to the door.
"How did the exam go anyways, Mr. Golem? I heard plenty of people left the exam hall crying while complaining about the difficulty." Song Chu asked after taking a sip of his newly poured drink.
The rest of the group quieted down as well, wanting to hear his answer.
"It wasn't too hard. I was one of the few out of a hundred to pass. No big deal." Contrary to the seeming humility of his words, his face showed a grin that showed nothing but pride.
"Tsk. Fake nice guy." Song Chu teased before continuing.
"So what if you passed by the skin of your teeth? There is no way someone with your personality could pass the interviews," he finished, taking another sip of his drink.
"I am sure you know since you couldn't even pass the first test." Zhen Li responded, causing Song Chu to choke on his drink.
"Ohhhh!" "You're just going to take that, Brother Song?" The surrounding disciples, sensing an incoming fight, egged them on. The alcohol in their system is fueling the atmosphere.
"Oh ye—" Whatever Song Chu was going to say was cut off by the sound of Miss Tong running back to the table. Her face was flushed, and excitement could be seen in her eyes. In her hands was a letter that was gripped tightly.
"I am so proud of you!" she shouted while leaping into Zhen Li's arms. He seemed confused but still held her, paying no attention to Song Chu, whose finger was still in the air poised to deliver a comeback.
"Why are you proud of me?" Still confused, he reached for the letter in her hand. After reading, any hint of his intoxication faded and was replaced by satisfaction and pride.
He turned back to Song Chu, who, perhaps sensing the atmosphere change, lowered his hand.
"Well, well, well. What was that about someone not passing the interviews? Maybe if you had a wife cheering for you, then you might have had a chance yourself?" Zhen Li's slight smile turned into a smug grin while pulling his fiance in closer.
Song Chu froze once again, and his face grew red. Whether it was from intoxication or embarrassment, only he knew.
The tavern momentarily grew silent before erupting in surprise.
"No way!" "Brother Zhen is an official now?!" "Congratulations!"
The entire room exploded as the patrons offered surprised exclamations and congratulations in equal measure.
Not to be outdone, Song Chu shook off his current mood and plastered a fake smile on his face.
"Way to go, Mr. Golem. Another round to congratulate my brother!" He shouted out, trying to shift attention. However, before he could continue, Miss Tong, still in her fiancee's embrace, turned her head towards him.
"Currently your bill is fourty-five copper coins. Please pay the bill before ordering more." She said with a smile that did not reach her eyes.
Song Chu froze before reaching into the pouch in his clothes. After looking inside and counting multiple times, his face went pale.
{Ling Family's Farmstead}
The sound of food being eaten filled the small home as the family of three ate their meals. As per usual, Ling Yu's mother was trying to pull her husband and son in for a conversation, but both ignored her efforts and continued to eat without looking at each other.
Suddenly Ling Yu's father put his utensils down and stared at his son. The sound echoed through the room, and his wife went silent. His eyes carried intensity they did not usually possess.
"I have been more than understanding, but enough is enough," he started.
For the first time in a while Ling Yu met his father's gaze. His face was still placid and carefully blank.
"No more studying. Starting tomorrow you will start helping around the farm, or you won't eat," he finished while staring at the young man.
"Father, I interviewed with the city lord yesterday. I am sure tha—" Before Ling Yu could finish, his father slammed his fist on the table.
"I am tired of hearing that! You were sure you passed the Imperial Examinations the first time. You were even more sure you passed the second time!" The man shouted at him.
"I am done. If you can't accept my rules, if you think you are a man now, then get out!" The man yelled in the frustration of a father who just couldn't get through to his son.
For the first time in years, Ling Yu's placid face changed to surprise. He looked at his mother, who just looked at him guiltily before staring down at her plate.
The air was tense until he finally responded.
"Fine," he replied. Not even finishing his meal, he stood up and made his way to his room and packed his clothing in a sack and made his way to the door. Standing by it was his mother.
"Yu, all we ask is that you ease up on studying and help out around the farm. You still have time left to apply for the Imperial Exams in a few years." She spoke softly, attempting to soothe his emotions. However, to Ling Yu, she only sounded like she was patronizing him.
He gave her a hug and left the house, gently closing the door behind him. He ignored the yelling in the house behind him and kept walking to the edge of the property when he saw a large man in a guard outfit. Seeing him, the man walked over to him.
"Are you Ling Yu?" The man asked in a deep voice.
"Yes, sir, I am Ling Yu," the boy replied.
The man handed over a letter and then left the farm. Opening the letter, Ling Yu read the contents before feeling a surge of excitement. He wanted to run back and show his parents that he was right. But he remembered their words. He remembered how they didn't even bother to show up to his exam this time. Taking one last look at the farm, he resolutely walked away.
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