It was already a great strain for his family to afford his studies at Bocai Academy. If he were to attend school in the capital, his family would simply be unable to cover the exorbitant fees.
His young aunt, in particular, had started working to support the family from such a tender age, selling milk and opening shops. Whenever Yun Jinhe thought of his aunt running around tirelessly, her mind burdened with worry, his heart ached.
Seeing Yun Jinhe standing frozen and hesitant, Dean Fan cleared his throat. "Jinhe, this opportunity is truly rare. If you miss it, you may never get another chance. The court is in need of capable individuals, and His Majesty cherishes talent. If you can pass the provincial examination and strive further to become a Zhuangyuan or a Threepalace Scholar, His Majesty will surely value you greatly..."
As he spoke, Dean Fan stood up and rubbed his old back. "I have served as a Jizhu at the Imperial Academy for half my life and am well aware of the caliber of its instructors. If you go there, you will not only receive a superior education and learning environment but also broaden your horizons. While our Bocai Academy is not bad, it is located on the frontier, surrounded by desolate wilderness. It is bleak and impoverished. Surely, you don't wish to spend the next few years here?"
Yun Jinhe: "..."
So, Dean Fan's intention was for him to study in the capital?
"Of course, the prerequisite for attending the Imperial Academy is to rank among the top three. Then, we can discuss further matters!" Dean Fan stepped forward and patted Yun Jinhe's shoulder. "I have high hopes for you. Whether it's for your family or yourself, you must put in the effort..."
Upon hearing this, Yun Jinhe felt a mix of emotions, conflicted and helpless.
If one had wings, who wouldn't want to fly higher?
"Thank you, Dean, for telling me all this. I will return and study diligently to live up to your expectations..." Yun Jinhe took a step back and bowed respectfully.
Dean Fan grunted and waved his hand. "Good. You may go back and preview your lessons. The academy will commence classes tomorrow!"
"Yes, student takes his leave!" Yun Jinhe cupped his hands and turned to leave.
Before he had even walked out of the academy gates, Yao Jinsheng and Sun Tianxiu caught up with him...
"Hey, hey, hey, Jinhe, what did the Dean say to you? Why did it take so long for you to come out?" Sun Tianxiu asked gossipy.
Yun Jinhe glanced at him and shook his head. "He didn't... didn't say anything!"
"Really?" Yao Jinsheng grabbed him, narrowing his eyes. "You're not telling us the truth, are you? I heard that the academy will hold a major examination soon, and the top three can study at the Imperial Academy. Aren't you even a little interested?"
Yun Jinhe: "..."
This fellow was quite well-informed.
"What's the point of being interested?" Yun Jinhe pushed Yao Jinsheng away and hurried out of the academy.
"What's wrong with him?" Yao Jinsheng stroked his chin, lost in thought. "Why does he seem so dispirited?"
Sun Tianxiu, being from a poor family, understood Yun Jinhe's worries perfectly...
After pondering for a moment, he said, "In my opinion, Jinhe is probably worried about tuition fees!"
Everyone in the Daliang Kingdom knew that prices in the capital were sky-high. Studying there was like pouring money into a bottomless pit.
Although the Yun family was not poor, their circumstances seemed rather meager when compared to the capital...
Upon hearing this, Yao Jinsheng raised his chin nonchalantly. "What's there to worry about? If Jinhe really gets accepted, I'll ask my father for money and help him cover the tuition and other expenses. It's only a few hundred taels of silver, which is less valuable than the tobacco pipe my father bought!"
Yao老爷, who was far away in the capital, almost died of shock.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Yao Jinsheng, you're still boasting. Your father isn't even sending you money orders anymore, and you've already spent all the pocket money Yun Dama gave you. How will you manage your food expenses this month?" Sun Tianxiu couldn't help but tease.
Yao Jinsheng: "..."
This young master is the son of the wealthiest family in the capital, and he'll starve to death out here?
What a joke.
If all else fails, he could always go to Jinhe's place for meals.
Yun Jinhe returned to his residence, unrolled a piece of paper, picked up his brush, and intended to write a letter home...
But as soon as he wrote the first character, he quickly stopped, lost in thought.
"I'm like a money-devouring ghost. I either don't write home to report my safety, but whenever I do, it's either to ask for money or food. Yun Jinhe, how can you even bear to do this..."
Yun Jinhe muttered to himself, a self-deprecating smile on his face. He then threw down his brush, deciding not to study at the Imperial Academy after all.
He could still pass the provincial examination by staying at Bocai Academy.
He went to the kitchen and looked at the water缸 frozen solid and the chopping board covered in dust, which annoyed him again.
Miss Murong, why did you have to leave so suddenly?
Now there was no one to cook at home, and even the kang was cold. How was he supposed to manage alone?
Walking into the courtyard, he found that all the firewood had been used up, leaving only stacks of wooden logs that needed to be split before they could be burned...
As a farm boy, Yun Jinhe was no stranger to such tasks, but the axe for chopping wood was nowhere to be found.
Looking back at the small courtyard, Yun Jinhe became increasingly agitated. He decided to go out for a bowl of noodles, and after returning, he bought an axe, lit the stove, and slept soundly...
Ten days later, the academy's major examination commenced.
Inside the classrooms, students participating in the exam were seated. Partitions were installed beside the desks, resembling modern office cubicles.
Several instructors walked back and forth in the aisles, holding rulers.
If any student dared to cough or pass gas loudly, the instructor would immediately approach and subdue the student with two sharp raps...
Yun Jinhe rubbed his temples while working on his exam, feeling dizzy and unwell, as if he had contracted a fever, no, a cold.
He hadn't rested well these past few days. When he was hungry, he made a bowl of dough drop soup or noodle pieces. When he was thirsty, he brewed some dandelion water, which was good for clearing heat and detoxifying...
An instructor walked over, glanced at Yun Jinhe's exam paper, and his eyes suddenly lit up. He exclaimed, "What an excellent essay!"
Yun Jinhe: "..."
As the Minister of Rites himself had set and graded the exam, he was extremely strict with the candidates.
Although Bocai Academy had no shortage of academically proficient individuals, the instructors had rarely seen students like Yun Jinhe who could write such outstanding essays...
"Minister Feng is currently staying at our academy. He will finish grading all the papers in three days!" The instructor leaned close to Yun Jinhe and chuckled softly, "You, my boy, should start packing your bags and prepare to go to the capital with Minister Feng, haha!"
Yun Jinhe, with a conflicted expression: "..."