CHAPTER 206: CHAPTER 40: THE FAINTING CANDIDATE

Some others felt a bit regretful that Gu Chengyu was not ranked first. They also thought to themselves that apparently, Gu Chengyu was not unbeatable. How many talented individuals are there in this world? Gu Chengyu did not seem so unreachable in their minds anymore.

"What about me?" Gu Wanhua had no time to lament about Gu Chengyu’s ranking; he just wanted to know if he passed.

"Young Master Hua passed, placing four hundred and thirty-eighth." Ming Mo wiped his sweat and reported everyone’s rankings. The number of seat numbers on the board was overwhelming, and he barely managed to find each individual’s seat number, almost wetting the paper with his sweat. There were indeed many people, but it was joyful news that everyone passed!

"Ah? I really passed? My ranking is quite high! That’s great!" Gu Wanhua nearly shouted with joy.

The others also breathed a sigh of relief knowing they had passed. Among them, Ye Zhiqiu ranked the highest, but even he was only thirty-eighth!

But at this moment, the crowd suddenly became chaotic. There seemed to be a circle forming in the center, and the people on the outside were spreading outward.

A candidate inside shouted: "Everyone make way! He fainted!"

Originally, Gu Chengyu and the others weren’t paying much attention. When checking the results, both wailing and cheering were common; the candidates had become accustomed to it. Who knew what had happened this time?

He Shunian, curious, quickly went forward to inquire!

"Senior Brother, what happened inside?" He Shunian pulled aside a candidate who had run out of the crowd to ask.

"You wouldn’t know! Inside, there was a candidate in his fifties or sixties, quite aged. He was standing right next to me earlier, and it seemed like his seat number was not on the announced list this time. He looked through it many times and even asked me to help him. Alas! He must have failed again. He just fainted out of frustration and anger. I don’t know whether there were any fellow candidates with him to take him to the clinic!"

The candidate sighed and shook his head as he spoke. However, Gu Chengyu could tell from his tone that he had passed. The candidate who fainted probably lost consciousness due to pent-up anger and frustration.

Gu Chengyu pushed through the crowd. The candidate was still lying on the ground, unconscious, and surprisingly, no one was helping him! It seemed like he had no acquaintances there.

"Everyone, don’t crowd around! Step back a bit! Senior Brother Sun! Quickly go call the constable to take him to the clinic!"

"Alright! I’ll go call them!" Sun Xian immediately went to find a government official.

Gu Chengyu stepped forward, pinched the unconscious candidate’s philtrum, and after a while, saw that the candidate slowly came to. He looked a bit confused and hadn’t recalled what had just happened.

"Are you alright?" Gu Chengyu asked as the candidate regained consciousness and was moved by the nearby candidates to lie under a tree.

By the time the constables arrived, Gu Chengyu and the others were already on their way back to the inn.

Everyone was a bit silent, knowing the imperial examinations were tough. At this point, it was only the provincial exam, and there were many more exams to go. They could be eliminated at any point, hoping not to end up like that candidate who still had to take the exam despite having children and grandchildren.

"What’s wrong with everyone? We all passed, we should be happy. Go back, study hard, and prepare for the next round!" Gu Chengyu, noticing the low spirits, spoke up to encourage them.

"Little Uncle! Do you think we might still be taking exams at that age? Every time I barely pass, I’m worried..."

Gu Wanhua felt a bit lost at this moment. If he didn’t pass this time, he would have to start all over again, and it would be three years before he could try again. There aren’t that many ’three-year’ intervals in life. Even if he were lucky enough to become an Advanced Scholar someday, could he still become an official? He would be quite old by then.

"If you don’t try hard, how will you know you can’t pass? If it doesn’t work out once, try again. You’re still young, what are you afraid of? Don’t say such discouraging things even if you don’t achieve a great name. Working as a shopkeeper or accountant like your father would still be better than farming, right? Don’t overthink it, just give it your all in the exams!"

Gu Chengyu knew Gu Wanhua had no confidence in himself, but he passed every exam, didn’t he?

"That’s right, Wanhua! Don’t worry unnecessarily, just do your best in the exams!" Sun Xian patted Gu Wanhua’s shoulder to comfort him.

Ye Zhiqiu and He Shunian also hurried forward to console him. In fact, they too felt a bit lost, but after thinking it through, they were still young. They weren’t destined to be taking exams until old age, were they?

When Gu Chengyu and the others returned to the inn, they saw Manager Niu, with a radiant face, standing in front of the counter.

"Oh, did the young gentlemen go to check the list? Did everyone pass?"

"Thanks to the shopkeeper’s blessing, we all passed!" He Shunian replied with a smile.

"Seeing the manager looking so radiant, is there good news?" Gu Chengyu guessed Manager Niu might have received some favor from the prefecture’s office.

"Speaking of which, I owe thanks to you gentlemen. The gang of thieves caught today was no ordinary group! They were a band of mountain bandits, previously stirring trouble in Fengding Prefecture. They only recently came to Jingyuan Prefecture and were apprehended by Mr. Gu as soon as they acted. There are six of them here, and others still in Fengding Prefecture, but Lord Prefect said this was a major achievement!"

Manager Niu explained to the group, occasionally casting a glance at Gu Chengyu with a somewhat unnatural smile.

Gu Chengyu smiled, not caring much about these events. When he caught the gang, he had already mentioned he didn’t want to get involved. Mainly because he thought it best to keep some distance from Prefect Jiang!

"Really? We were fast asleep in the morning and didn’t know about this!" Sun Xian and the others heard about it from Ming Mo later on but couldn’t picture the scene at that time!

Manager Niu reminded everyone a few times to keep an eye on their belongings.

"Mr. Gu, are you free at this moment? Could you spare a moment for a conversation?" Manager Niu smiled somewhat embarrassedly, feeling as though Gu Chengyu’s gaze was filled with deep meaning.

Gu Chengyu let the others go up first, and Manager Niu invited him to sit at a square table.

"You know, Mr. Gu, although I handed the captured individuals over, once they were inside the government office, Lord Prefect would naturally ask how the thieves were caught. I could only tell the truth. I’m not one to falsely claim credit, but I do have an unreasonable request now."

Manager Niu picked up the teapot on the table, poured a cup of tea for Gu Chengyu, and handed it to him with a fawning look.

"Manager Niu, feel free to speak. If I can assist, I am naturally willing to lend a hand!" Gu Chengyu took a sip from the teacup. It was just ordinary large-leaf green tea, indicating that Manager Niu’s inn wasn’t making much money.

"It’s like this! I hope that when you take credit for the capture, you might include my name. Of course, I wouldn’t ask for a share of the reward money. I just wish to gain some reputation. As you can see, my inn mostly hosts common folk, while it is rare for distinguished guests to notice this humble establishment. Business hasn’t been booming. I hope some reputation might improve my inn’s business!" Manager Niu also wanted people to know he was a responsible manager, that staying at his inn came with assurances!

"Alas! I’m just grasping at straws here, hoping it might help. Everyone knows a theft occurred at my inn. Business was already declining; it was manageable, but several guests came to check out this morning!"

Gu Chengyu looked at the tall and thin man before him. Manager Niu, in his forties, was amicable and skilled in business but seemed undervalued at his current position!

"Manager Niu, did you buy or rent this inn?" Gu Chengyu did not rush to answer his question.