Magistrate Gu knew what Xue De and the others were thinking, and secretly laughed: Gu Jin’an is soone favored by Junior Minister Ming, you’d better not act recklessly, or you’ll face a miserable end.
After Magistrate Gu explained the rules of the college examination and its schedule to those present, he allowed them to leave.
The students stood up, clasped their hands in salute, and said, "Students take their leave, Lord Magistrate."
With that, they filed out in groups of three or two.
Magistrate Gu even prepared farewell gifts for them, one for each, including Brother Cheng, which were handed to them by the departing governnt officials.
Brother Cheng was thrilled to receive the gift and said to Gu Jin’an, "Big brother, the magistrate is really kind, he even gave a gift, I wonder what’s inside?"
"What, what, what? Ha, as expected, a country bumpkin, always speaking in slang that can’t be taken to the grand halls, can’t you speak in elegant language?" Xue De blundered again.
Gu Jin’an’s eyes turned cold, his gaze piercing through Xue De, as he gave a cold smile.
Xue De had never seen Gu Jin’an like this before and was startled. Regaining his composure, he angrily said, "What are you looking at, you mud-legged fool? Be careful I don’t gouge out your eyes to feed the dogs!"
Gu Jin’an laughed, his smile as refreshing as a spring breeze, and spoke to the students and officials present, "Fellow examinees, brother officials, you all heard it, Xue De said he would gouge out my eyes, this is a violation of the criminal law. When I file a report accusing Xue De of attempted murder, I hope you all can be witnesses."
Xue De’s face turned pale, and he said angrily, "You’re talking nonsense! I was just speaking casually."
Gu Jin’an smiled, "I am just casually filing a report too."
With that, his smile vanished, his handso face turned unusually cold as he stared at Xue De, "Don’t think that because I overlook your provocations, you can act wantonly. It’s easy to ruin you, just one petition paper can put you in jail. Even if your family can bail you out, I can still ask officials to submit a morial accusing you of lacking personal virtue, taking away your official position, and ensuring you can never enter governnt service through examinations!"
So you’d better be smart and not bring about your own doom.
After hearing this, Xue De’s face turned deathly pale, and he stamred, but after steadying himself, he angrily said, "Also ask officials to submit a morial to strip of my official position, you country bumpkin, what officials can you possibly know?"
Gu Jin’an’s smile grew wider as he counted them off, "County Magistrate Zheng from Tianfu County counts as one, Old Master Zheng from the Jinling Zheng Family counts as one, Elder Shangguan counts as one..."
"You, you even know Elder Shangguan!"
The students present were stunned, soone exclaid, "The rumors are true, Gu Jin’an is really on good terms with the legitimate heirs of the Zheng family and Shangguan family, and even knows Lord Zheng and Elder Shangguan!"
With a bang, Xue De was so frightened that his legs gave way, and he fell to the ground, unable to utter a word.
Gu Jin’an looked down at Xue De from above, not even interested in dealing with him: "Absolutely useless, scared before I’m even done with you, and with such bravery, you dare to be arrogant? If it were in Jiangnan or the Capital, a fool like you would be crushed by the noble families and officials’ children in no ti."
After scolding Xue De, Gu Jin’an took Brother Cheng by the hand and left.
Xue De finally ca back to his senses and pleaded behind Gu Jin’an, "Brother Gu, please don’t write to Lord Zheng and Elder Shangguan, don’t strip of my official position, I worked so hard to pass the exam, if I lose it, my family will beat to death!"
Second last in the ranking is still a pass, and it’s his best performance to date, he absolutely can’t lose it.
Gu Jin’an ignored Xue De and left with Brother Cheng, Qi Kangming, and the others.
Xue De sat on the ground for a while before being helped up and leaving by others.
After the official returned and reported the matter to Magistrate Gu, he asked, "Lord, will First Place Gu really write to have Elder Shangguan submit a morial to strip Young Master Xue of his position?"
Magistrate Gu shook his head, "No, Gu Jin’an isn’t foolish enough to use such connections for such a trivial matter."
The Zheng family and the Shangguan family are resources kept for life-saving matters. Unless facing a life-and-death situation, Gu Jin’an wouldn’t seek help from the Zheng family or the Shangguan family.
Hearing this, the official was delighted, the Xue Family would surely send soone to him to gather information, by then he would pass on Magistrate Gu’s words and easily earn ten taels of silver.
Magistrate Gu was talking to the Da Li Temple prison guards about the distribution of scholarship docunts today and didn’t have ti for the official, after hearing the report, he sent him away.
The Da Li Temple prison guard was very satisfied with Gu Jin’an’s performance, "He’s smart and scheming, not bad."
The master doesn’t like those naive scholars, they only want those who are clever and resourceful.
...
"Brother Gu, we’ll take our leave first and visit your house tomorrow for further discussion," said Xu Zhao Ming to Gu Jin’an, he had co with Xu Liang, and they were going in a different direction from Gu Jin’an and the others.
Young Master Qu also said beside him, "I will take my leave too, tomorrow I shall co with my uncle and Uncle Shang to visit Brother Gu."
Young Master Qu’s uncle, Scholar Qu, was on good terms with Scholar Shang, and during the county examination, Scholar Qu had been Gu Jin’an’s guarantor. This ti, for the prefecture examination, Scholar Qu accompanied him as well.
Gu Jin’an smiled, "See you tomorrow, gentlen."
With that, they each boarded their own mule carts and went ho.
Visitors arrived at ho, it was the Yuan Jiagui and Tian Xiwang families, stating they ca to thank the Gu family, if not for the Gu family’s help, they would still be serving as servants and wouldn’t be living good lives with houses and lands.
Seeing them, Gu Jin’an was sowhat surprised, since it was almost dark, there was no reason to stay so late just to express gratitude.
Tian Xiwang was all smiles upon seeing him and quickly ca over with his son to talk, "Oh my, this must be the new top scholar, what a handso young man, I heard you aren’t engaged yet."
Tian Xiwang’s wife quickly left and headed toward the flower hall in the back courtyard.
Gu Jin’an furrowed his brows slightly and said to Tian Xiwang, "Hello, Uncle Tian."
Tian Xiwang was even more delighted, quickly saying, "Eh eh eh, good, good, good."
He continued, "Turning nineteen soon, quite the young man, you need to hurry with the marriage."
He started talking about Gu Jin’an’s marriage.
Gu Jin’an smiled, Tian Xiwang’s intentions were quite obvious, but he didn’t fancy the Tian family’s daughter, so he said, "I’m not in a hurry, I vowed to wait until I pass the scholar examination to discuss marriage."
"What? When would that be, even if you pass on the first try, you’ll be over twenty. Among us farrs, who gets married so late?" Tian Xiwang addressed Gu Dashan, "Dashan, you can’t let Brother An be reckless, quickly arrange a marriage for him, find soone of equal standing, don’t look for a rich family, those daughters of rich families despise us farrs the most. If you marry one, your whole family will have to endure her attitude!"
Tian Xiwang was very emotional, and his wife even more so, pulling Tian Hui’er along, she said, "Hui’er, quickly et your Brother Gu from the Gu family."
Tian Hui’er saw Gu Jin’an, and was delighted, he was a handso and capable husband, she perford a graceful bow and warmly greeted, "Hello, Brother Gu."
Gu Jinli, upon hearing this "Brother Gu," almost burst out laughing.
Gu Jin’an was quite displeased and said in a steady tone, "Just call Gu Family Big Brother."
What Brother Gu, it sounds so cheesy, and we are all adults now, calling like this could easily lead to misunderstandings.
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