"You're not planning to take the exam?"
Song Shaoyuan was taken aback, and the classmates sitting around him were also somewhat surprised.
Young scholars ranked in the upper-middle levels at the State School all shared the dream of pushing into the top ten in the provincial exam and proceeding to Chang'an to participate in the initial exams at the Academic Palace. Once one could stand out in the fiercely competitive entrance exams and gain admission to the Academic Palace, it meant leaping through the dragon's gate, potentially enriching one's family and ensuring its prosperity for decades to come.
Certain powerful clans, aspiring to become thousand-year-old families, spared no effort in investing in education. On one hand, they taught their own clan's children and also spent money to locate naturally intelligent children from other regions, moving their entire families over to educate them in the family's own schools. On the other hand, they would also relocate one or several branches of their family to the relatively educationally backward frontier State Mansions of Yu Country to increase the chances of their family's children passing the provincial exam and entering the Academic Palace.
This practice even prompted imitation among some less wealthy families, who moved their households a decade in advance. In some frontier State Mansions, this consequently provoked regional hostilities between Northern People, Southern people, Westerners, and Easterners.
For such an elusive chance of promotion, countless scholars across the world wore out numerous classic texts, and countless parents exhausted themselves with effort.
"Why have you decided not to take it?" Song Shaoyuan asked with concern. "Is it a lack of confidence, or have you been too busy lately? If it's about the five-string registration fee for the provincial exam, I have it right here."
Someone beside them chuckled. "Brother Shao Yuan, what are you saying? Who doesn't know that Security Hall has been making waves in Yizhou City these days? I heard that wealthy merchants from other regions are specifically coming to Yizhou to seek treatment from Risheng. How could he not afford a mere five strings of coins for the registration fee? I think it's because he feels that being a doctor is so lucrative, there's no need to bother with the classics of Confucius and Mencius anymore."
"Yes, after all, no matter how much you study, isn't it ultimately for the sake of 'Mr. Kong'? Better to make a name for yourself and get it over with, just like Doctor Yu."
The classmates burst into laughter. Such was the prevailing attitude in scholarly circles; these scholars, apart from fellow literati, tended to look down upon all other professions.
Seeing this, Li Ang frowned slightly, displeased with their frivolous tone and their comparing him to Yu Miaoshui.
Is Yu Miaoshui even worthy of comparison?
"Don't speak carelessly." Song Shaoyuan frowned and bluntly told his friends, with whom he usually enjoyed leisurely excursions, "A Doctor practices medicine to help the world and save lives. Isn't that much better than those who only know how to cram from books and are all talk but no action when faced with real problems? Moreover, I have personally witnessed Risheng's skills in treating bone injuries. They are far beyond comparison to those of deceitful charlatans like Yu Miaoshui."
He turned his head and earnestly said to Li Ang, "Risheng, don't rush your decision on this matter. Wait until tonight when my mother and I come to Security Hall, and we'll discuss it together…"
"Everyone has their own aspirations, Brother Shao Yuan. You're just too kind-hearted."
Not far away, another rising star of the State School, Zhai Yiming, heard the commotion and walked over. Ignoring Li Ang and the others, he gracefully cupped his hands in greeting to Song Shaoyuan. "Brother Shao Yuan, I have an invitation to an acquaintance banquet, which will take place in six days. I've invited several other classmates and scholars from other regions. I wonder if you are free?"
Yu Country had open customs, and various public and private banquets were prevalent. Indeed, feasts could be held for matters both large and small. The so-called acquaintance banquet was an elegant gathering held by scholars to build connections and enhance their reputations for the future.
Zhai Yiming, who came from the locally prominent Zhai Family in Yizhou, had been to Chang'an last year. Those he saw fit to invite were undoubtedly talented individuals he believed were most likely to pass the Yizhou provincial exam and become his classmates at the Academic Palace.
Song Shaoyuan returned the gesture with a cupped fist salute, his expression still cool, as Zhai Yiming slowly said, "The banquet isn't hosted by me, but by the governor's son."
As soon as Zhai Yiming made this statement, the courtyard immediately fell silent.
In Yu Country, which followed the Sui system, the head of a state was the governor. Therefore, the person Zhai Yiming referred to could only be Ji Chi, the Governor of Yizhou. The son of the Yizhou Governor was undoubtedly the foremost among the sons of officials.
"The governor's son's acquaintance banquet..." One of Song Shaoyuan's companions beside him stared wide-eyed, his hands hanging limply at his sides, muttering, "This, this..."
Another person also exclaimed in shock, "But, I remember the Governor's eldest son had his coming-of-age ceremony last year, and he didn't go to the Academic Palace. Could it be the second son? That's not right either; I hear the second son is only eleven this year..."
Zhai Yiming glanced at him and said indifferently, "The Governor's daughter obtained a recommendation letter from the Academic Palace Patrol a few days ago; she will also be attending the Academic Palace this year."
The courtyard fell silent again, and those with quicker minds exchanged glances, immediately understanding.
Compared to the Former Sui and the Zhou Kingdom to the south, women's status in Yu Country was much higher. Women were not considered mere appendages of men. They could voluntarily dissolve marital relationships, were not bound by the principle of 'the husband is the wife's guide,' and could pursue education, even holding official posts.
On one hand, this was a fresh trend brought by the Academic Palace. The proportion of Spiritual Vein Talent was roughly equal between men and women. There was no shortage of female cultivators occupying high positions within the Academic Palace, some even having been Mountain Masters, which significantly advanced the social climate of gender equality. On the other hand, this was because, a hundred years ago in Yu Country, a Holy Empress surnamed Wu had been born...
The Governor's son was undoubtedly holding the banquet to help his younger sister, who would soon depart for Chang'an, meet some local elites. And these State Scholars, if they could make a good impression on the Governor's son and daughter at the acquaintance banquet, could still find a clerk's job in the Governor Mansion, even if they did not get into the Academic Palace. There might even be further possibilities...
Zhai Yiming watched these fanciful classmates, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly. They didn't even stop to think how privileged and high-class the Governor's son and daughter were. This bunch of mediocre talents, whose literary skills were unremarkable and who struggled to compose a single poem, didn't even qualify to attend the banquet, yet they dreamed of making an impression?
"The Governor's son entrusted this invitation to me," Zhai Yiming slowly pulled a red invitation from his robes and handed it to Song Shaoyuan. "After much thought, I still feel that you, Brother Shao Yuan, are the most qualified." He was satisfied to see the expressions of envy and jealousy on the others' faces.
Heh, that's more like it.
Zhai Yiming smiled, about to add a few more words, when suddenly, he heard a noisy commotion coming from outside the State School.
"Please announce that Zheng Jialiang of the Rice Shop seeks an audience."
"Lu Zishi of the Clothes Shop..."
"Zou Wenbai of Zhengping Bank..."
Hmm?
The noise outside the State School caused Zhai Yiming and others to frown.
Believing himself a leader of the State School, Zhai Yiming walked to the gate, just about to scold whoever was making such a disturbance outside, when he abruptly stopped.
He saw twenty or thirty luxurious carriages parked at the entrance of the State School. Wealthy merchants in elaborate clothes were continuously alighting from the carriages, each holding visiting cards.
The president of the Rice Shop Guild, the president of the Clothes Store Guild, the chief manager of the bank... Any one of them was a prominent figure whom the Zhai Family would normally treat with utmost courtesy.
What's going on here?
Zhai Yiming instantly calmed down. He pulled over a servant at the entrance and asked in a low voice, "What's happening? Who are these people looking for?"
The servant scratched his head and said uncertainly, "They said they're looking for the Li Family's Eldest Son?"