After a while, Old Wang’s ox cart ca rushing from the western end of the village.
Gu Chengyu got onto the ox cart, and Old Wang whipped the ox beside him, making it move forward. Actually, Old Wang always carried the whip just to swing it around; he couldn’t bear to hit the ox! But the old ox was indeed obedient, making Gu Chengyu think of their big yellow ox at ho, which was also very obedient, well trained by its forr owner.
The ox cart had just walked a few steps when hurried footsteps and shouting ca from behind: "Wait, give a ride." Gu Chengyu turned around to see it was Gu Wanhua running towards them.
He saw Gu Wanhua, panting, rushing up to the stopped ox cart and clambering aboard with hands and feet.
"Hua, are you going to the private school?" Old Wang asked as Gu Wanhua got on. Actually, the news of Gu Wanhua failing the exam had already spread throughout the village. Getting up so early today, it must be heading to the private school; not passing the scholar exam, he still has to go to private school to consult the teacher, doesn’t he?
"Ah! Grandpa Wang, just going to private school." Gu Wanhua felt a bit hot-faced, guessing the whole village knew he had failed the exam.
His gaze fell beside him and saw Gu Chengyu sitting next to him, the kid he had to call Little Uncle, leaning against the edge of the ox cart with closed eyes.
Gu Wanhua opened his mouth but couldn’t call out "Little Uncle." Since he was sleeping, he’d pretend he didn’t see! He also heard that Gu Chengyu was attending private school, Mr. Wen’s private school at that. Mr. Wen was famously strict, and he didn’t know how Gu Chengyu passed Mr. Wen’s test.
But in the future at the private school, they will constantly et, inevitably feeling uneasy. Uncle and nephew attending the sa private school, people will surely laugh at him.
Gu Chengyu naturally understood that Gu Wanhua didn’t want to call him, but in the future, their relationship in the private school would inevitably beco gossip, making Gu Wanhua feel even more uncomfortable.
The ox cart stopped at the private school gate, and both Gu Chengyu and Gu Wanhua jumped off the cart. The fare had been paid by Mr. Gu yesterday. Gu Chengyu waved goodbye to Old Wang, and as he turned around, he saw Gu Wanhua quickly rushing into the private school, faster than a rabbit.
"Chengyu! Over here!" Wang Qikai got off the carriage and saw Gu Chengyu standing at the door, and the recently examined Gu Wanhua; he was just about to greet him when Gu Wanhua ran speedily. Wang Qikai noticed both ca from the sa ox cart; they might live in the sa village and share the Gu surna, probably making them relatives.
"Qikai!" Gu Chengyu greeted Wang Qikai, and the two walked into the private school together.
"Who was that Gu Wanhua to you?" Wang Qikai asked with a playful grin.
"Oh! That’s my family’s eldest uncle’s grandson. Why? You know him too?" Gu Chengyu knew Gu Wanhua had always been in Class B; how would Wang Qikai recognize him?
"How can you not know who I am? I’m the know-it-all! How many people are in the private school? Over the years, how could I not know?" Wang Qikai boasted, shaking his plump body, almost pushing Gu Chengyu down.
Gu Chengyu pushed him aside speechlessly; if this continued, neither of them would be able to walk.
"But, you just said Gu Wanhua is your eldest uncle’s grandson, doesn’t that make him a generation below you? Tsk tsk! No wonder he ran away so fast! Now that he’s returned, he must have failed the exam, huh?"
"Yes! That’s why the scholar exam is so difficult! You better put in more effort!" Gu Chengyu feared that when he moved up to Class B, Wang Qikai would still be stuck in Class C.
"Sigh! I’m not like you; you’ve morized a good half of the Thousand Character Classic. I sleep at the sight of a book; I really can’t control it!" Wang Qikai said in a sowhat dejected tone.
The two quickly arrived at Class C, about to step inside when they heard so commotion from the Class A room.
"Gu Wanhua! You were originally from Class B, and just days before the exam, the teacher moved you to Class A. Now, returning to private school, shouldn’t you be in Class B?" One student pointed at Gu Wanhua at the door and shouted.
There weren’t many students in Class A, perhaps a dozen, and the teacher spent more ti in Class A in the afternoon. Adding another person would further divide the teacher’s attention, so with many people, it’s better to have as few as possible now.
"Hu Minghui! The teacher moved to Class A before my exam. What do you an by not letting in now? Is the private school opened by your family or sothing?" Gu Wanhong angrily retorted, his face flushed. Those petty people must be taking advantage of his failure.
"Hey, Gu Wanhua? People are honored when self-aware, shouldn’t you know whether you belong in Class A?" Another student joined in the teasing.
Last ti three students went to take the exam. This year, due to the delay in the exam season, the county and prefecture tests were close together, so everyone hurried to the prefecture for exams. Two haven’t returned yet, probably they passed as scholars, while Gu Wanhua couldn’t even pass the first round, making Hu Minghui look down on him.
Proudly exploiting his early initiation, endlessly boasting in private school, they entered at about the sa age. After all these years, he had moved to Class A, while Gu Wanhua was still in Class B, only recently given a face by the teacher.
Gu Chengyu listened to them for a while, not wanting to hear more. But he wouldn’t rush forward to stop the argunt; it seed like long-standing resentnt anyway. Intervening abruptly would be improper, especially since Gu Wanhua didn’t look up to him as Little Uncle.
Pulled along by the bustling Wang Qikai, prepared to return to Class C. Wang Qikai was engrossed in the spectacle, unwilling to leave and insisted on watching further. Helplessly, Gu Chengyu entered Class C alone, fearing that if Gu Wanhua saw him watching, it might cause embarrassnt and add more resentnt.
Returning to his seat in Class C, he could still hear the arguing outside. Gu Chengyu shook his head, not assuming high morals of scholars; if their interests are involved, they argue no less than market shrews, just elegantly. Looking at Class C students, just a few ignored the fuss outside, while most had gone out to watch the show.
With everything set on the table, just waiting for the bell to start class. The voices outside finally stopped, fearing class ti reached; if the teacher saw this ss, punishnt might follow. Just not sure if Gu Wanhua entered Class A.
With the commotion over, Class C students returned to their seats, discussing the outside disputes together. Wang Qikai, excitedly entering from the door, placed his book bag on the table and without bothering to arrange his stationery, began sharing gossip with Gu Chengyu.
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