Chapter 122: Astonishing Tales

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Kou Peihan watched as Qu Renbin finished reading the article, growing impatient. He hurriedly asked, “Old eccentric, what do you think of the essay Zhou Zhi wrote?”

Qu Renbin smiled but said nothing.

Beside him, Cheng Ke’s forehead was already damp with sweat. Cheng Dingbang hadn’t finished writing yet, while Zhou Zhi’s pen flew swiftly, having already submitted his work. Although he hadn’t seen Zhou Zhi’s essay himself, Cheng Ke was certain it must be excellent; otherwise, Qu Renbin wouldn’t have handed it to the middle-aged scholar to read.

Fortunately, Cheng Dingbang soon handed in his essay, and Qu Renbin immediately began to examine it. Cheng Ke stepped closer, standing behind Qu Renbin to carefully scrutinize his son’s work.

After submitting the essay, Cheng Dingbang looked disdainfully at Zhou Zhi, standing arrogantly by the desk, waiting for Qu Renbin’s critique.

One had to admit, Cheng Dingbang’s essay was decent, well-structured and meticulously composed—a fine piece. This was likely Cheng Dingbang’s best effort yet, though his hurried hand caused some of the characters to be a bit sloppy, a minor flaw at best.

After reading, a pleased expression appeared on Cheng Ke’s face as he nodded approvingly at Cheng Dingbang. Filled with pride, Cheng Dingbang grew even more arrogant, barely able to wait for Qu Renbin’s verdict. He had already positioned himself in front of Zhou Zhi, casting a look of contempt his way.

At that moment, a sharp “slap!” echoed from the desk, followed by a hoarse voice saying, “Well written! Truly a fine essay!”

Zhou Zhi, Cheng Dingbang, and Kou Peihan all turned toward the desk. The person who had slammed the desk in surprise was the middle-aged scholar.

The scholar’s face was still flushed with excitement as he quoted, “The wealth of the ruler lies in the people; when the people are prosperous, how could the ruler alone be poor?”

He was referring to the opening lines of Zhou Zhi’s essay.

Then the scholar addressed Qu Renbin, “Master, what do you think?”

“Heh heh! Glorious words, indeed. After reading this essay, one feels truly refreshed. Heh heh! I haven’t seen such a composition in quite some time,” Qu Renbin praised.

Cheng Dingbang was stunned. That sentence hadn’t been his. Could it have come from Zhou Zhi?

So, the county magistrate and Master Qu were amazed by Zhou Zhi’s essay?

That couldn’t be—Zhou Zhi was a mere country bumpkin who hadn’t even attended the county school, much less the village academy. He had been studying only for less than a year, yet had written a better essay than the so-called “Prodigy of Qingdu”?

His arrogant expression instantly paled to white, his small eyes dimming as he glanced toward his father, Cheng Ke.

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Cheng Ke had already sensed something was amiss. After Qu Renbin read Zhou Zhi’s essay, he handed it to the county magistrate. But after reading Cheng Dingbang’s, he casually set it aside. Clearly, Zhou Zhi’s essay was superior.

Sure enough, Qu Renbin said, “Zhou Zhi, come here and greet the county magistrate!”

Only then did Zhou Zhi realize the middle-aged scholar was Chen Guangyao, the county magistrate of Qingdu. To have a chance to meet the magistrate and receive his praise for one’s writing was an extraordinary stroke of luck.

It was well known that the magistrate would play a crucial role when he later took the imperial examination for the title of xiucai.

Zhou Zhi hurriedly performed a kneeling bow to Magistrate Chen Guangyao.

As a commoner, it was only natural for Zhou Zhi to bow respectfully to an official.

Before he could kneel, Kou Peihan pulled him back, saying, “The magistrate is in plain clothes today, so you may skip the kneeling.”

Chen Guangyao smiled wryly at Kou Peihan and said to Zhou Zhi, “Follow Xiao Han’s advice; you may forgo it.”

His use of the nickname “Xiao Han” showed a close relationship with Kou Peihan.

Though excused from the kneeling, Zhou Zhi still bowed deeply, which pleased Chen Guangyao, who nodded approvingly.

“Zhou Zhi, the boy from Baiyue Village, greets the county magistrate!”

“Heh heh! No need for formalities. Xiao Han has already told me about you,” Chen Guangyao said with a smile.

Qu Renbin took up the conversation, “Zhou Zhi, I must admit I misjudged you! Heh heh! You truly have talent, and I admire you greatly. Come, show me the eight-legged essay you just wrote.”

Zhou Zhi promptly stepped forward and stood respectfully before the desk. “Please, sir, guide me!”

“This eight-legged essay is innovative in its conception, a fine piece indeed. To compose it in just an hour is remarkable.

However, there are some flaws—let us begin with the final conclusion…”

The old scholar proved his worth as a seasoned academic, delivering a lofty and eloquent critique. Zhou Zhi listened intently, suddenly enlightened, and his spirit seemed to brighten greatly.

Chen Guangyao also listened closely, nodding repeatedly.

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At last, Qu Renbin sighed deeply. “Alas! I have expounded these theories to my students countless times, yet they never grasp the essence.

It is both laughable and lamentable that few of my own students can write such excellent essays—not even close to your level, a rustic youth who has studied only a few months!”

Qu Renbin glanced at Cheng Dingbang, whose face and that of his father, Cheng Ke, were already flushed red as they stood speechless, looking thoroughly embarrassed.

Neither Magistrate Chen Guangyao nor Qu Renbin mentioned Cheng Dingbang’s essay again or spoke to him, leaving them utterly sidelined and ignored.

With Qu Renbin’s grand lecture concluded, Cheng Ke was about to take his leave.

Before he could speak, Kou Peihan grinned triumphantly and said to Cheng Dingbang, “I heard you’re the ‘Prodigy of Qingdu,’ a xiucai no less. Yet a rustic boy’s essay surpasses yours? Ha ha, aren’t you ashamed, prodigy?”

Kou Peihan was elated and seized the moment to thoroughly humiliate Cheng Ke and his son.

Though disguised as a boy, Kou Peihan’s true identity as a girl was no secret, especially since Qu Renbin affectionately called her “little girl.”

Cheng Ke and Cheng Dingbang, though strangers to Kou Peihan, inferred from Qu Renbin’s attitude and her impish behavior before Chen Guangyao—who was not only unperturbed but seemed to like her more—that she was no ordinary person. They had no choice but to endure her ridicule silently.

After mocking Cheng Dingbang a few times and seeing no retaliation, Kou Peihan grew bored. Turning around with a bright expression, she said, “Zhou Zhi, are you crazy? Why haven’t you sworn allegiance yet?”

Zhou Zhi suddenly realized that Qu Renbin’s detailed guidance was an unspoken offer of mentorship. In that light, he had indeed been foolish.

He hurriedly bowed to Qu Renbin, “Student…”

Before he could finish, Kou Peihan laughed and interrupted, then suddenly sobered, “I said you’re foolish, and you truly are. Who told you to take that eccentric old man as your master? I meant you should swear allegiance to him!”

She pointed her slender finger at the county magistrate, Chen Guangyao.