Ming Dynasty: Empress Ma and I swapped clothes!

Chapter 17 Eight outstanding stocks, the gentleman becomes my disciple?

Decades ago!

I vaguely remember those days...

Wang Yangsheng finally passed the county, prefectural, and provincial examinations, and when he went to participate in the provincial examination, he realized that although he was one in a hundred from Majia Village and even several surrounding villages, he was still a promising student.

But when they arrived at the examination hall in the prefectural city, they found that everyone there was an elite, a huge crowd that stretched as far as the eye could see.

After failing the imperial examination twice, he stopped studying diligently like his classmates and friends. Instead, he went to work as a staff member or accountant for other prominent families, or engaged in business.

Finally, after saving enough money, he returned to his hometown to open a private school, start a family, and build a career, which led to his current success.

It's not as good as the best, but it's definitely better than the worst.

"What a nostalgic time of youth."

Wang Yangsheng was suddenly filled with emotion.

Then, Wang Yangsheng bent down and looked down at the article in Ma Wenxiang's hand.

It turned out to be another policy essay on a topic he had set a few days ago, but from a completely new angle.

The introduction and development of the topic are still just right. Although it may not be the best, it reads very smoothly upon closer inspection, and before you know it, your evaluation of it has increased by one point.

In particular, the article is well-structured with clear paragraphs, and the reasoning within it is logically ordered and coherent, making it a natural and seamless piece of work. Its quality is comparable to the previous article, and it is equally astonishing.

The only drawback is that, like the previous one, it is somewhat limited: it only focuses on one or two books from the Four Books and Five Classics, without involving the works of other great Confucian scholars, and without many classic quotations.

Although the whole text is still easy to read aloud, it always feels a little lacking and not perfect.

To this, Ma Wenxiang could only chuckle.

Even though he majored in Chinese Language and Literature in the humanities and had a great interest in classical Chinese literature, how could he compare to the ancient people in front of him?

These days he's been working like a workaholic, just like he did for the college entrance exam, devouring every book he could find at home, biting his pen as he read them all. He's really giving it his all.

He made the most of the eight-legged essay style.

This was also his greatest asset and advantage in the imperial examinations.

In this world, right now, there is absolutely none!

"Ha ha ha ha."

From the silence, Wang Yangsheng suddenly burst into laughter even louder than before, but this time his tone held no trace of envy, only a profound sense of desolation: "This policy document, was it truly written by you?"

Ma Wenxiang nodded silently, trying to keep his tone calm: "Yes."

"Could this 'Memorial on Agriculture,' possibly have been written by you, Wenxiang?"

Wang Yangsheng asked again.

"Sir, you already asked that."

"How could this essay possibly be written by you? Even if you weren't a great Confucian scholar, you should at least be a successful candidate in the imperial examinations to have such ingenuity, yet you've only been studying for a few days..."

Does this mean they've completely given up on believing?

When doubts arose in Ma Wenxiang's mind.

Suddenly, Wang Yangsheng's tone changed, and he burst into laughter again, his hands still busy reading the two policy documents in front of him: "That's right. These two 'Memorials on Agriculture' are indeed written by you, Wenxiang. Brother Xiulin is not worthy. Within Majia Village, there is currently no one else but you, Wenxiang, who can be the best candidate."

Ma Wenxiang clasped his hands lightly, observing the height difference between himself and Wang Yangsheng, especially staring at his husband's profile.

If the other person is really crazy, can a slap wake them up like a shot of adrenaline?

Mr. Wang Yangsheng is actually quite responsible and a good person.

If possible, Ma Wenxiang wouldn't mind helping him out.

Just as Ma Wenxiang was eager to try, Wang Yangsheng's almost insane voice, which had nearly frightened the other students in the private school, suddenly stopped. He calmed down again and said to Ma Wenxiang in a very serious tone, "Wenxiang, don't get too excited. According to the teacher's guess, actually..."

"You could very well be a true genius! A one-in-a-million, world-renowned prodigy."

"Wow! Sir, is it really me?"

Ma Wenxiang jumped up and down dramatically, but in reality, he was so embarrassed that he could practically dig a palace out of his toes.

"Uh-huh."

Wang Yangsheng nodded solemnly, pointed at Ma Wenxiang with one hand, and said softly, "This young man, Wenxiang, has the potential to become a scholar."

"I never imagined that the Ma family's great expectations and their desire to break away from military households would not only fall on Brother Xiulin, but would ultimately fall on you, Wenxiang."

"If only Old Master Ma could see this now."

After Wang Yangsheng said that, Ma Wenxiang couldn't help but wonder whether the old man had gone to the garrison near Qingfeng County or had gone directly to the Northern Expedition battlefield to die.

Sir, the old master of the Ma family is not dead yet!

While the other children in the private school were still reading aloud and studying diligently, Ma Wenxiang was mysteriously led by Wang Yangsheng to the back of the school.

That was a place they, as children, had never been before.

Surrounded by lush greenery, the bamboo groves sway gently, creating an orchestral melody with the sound of the wind. Only after walking along the cobblestone path do you reach the other side of the private school.

Upon arriving at this place, there was no one around.

"gentlemen?"

Looking around, Ma Wenxiang weakly called out, feeling that he was in some danger.

Could it be that Wang Yangsheng, who appears to be a weak scholar, is actually a spy from the Northern Yuan, who has been lurking in the Ming Dynasty for many years, just to eliminate him, the future hope, the pillar of the Ming Dynasty, and the key minister of the country?

It's absolutely terrifying to think about.

But then...

Wang Yangsheng searched around the bamboo forest and, finding no one there and his wife and daughter not nearby, was completely relieved. He took a deep breath, his expression shifting dramatically, but he managed to suppress it all and approached Ma Wenxiang with a complex mix of emotions.

"Sir, what's wrong with you...?"

Ma Wenxiang couldn't help but ask a question.

next moment.

"Respectfully yours, teacher, student Wang Yangsheng pays his respects."

The dignified scholar Wang Fuzi, who was over thirty years old and had a great reputation in Majia Village, actually bowed and performed the formal apprenticeship ceremony for Ma Wenxiang, a boy who was only twelve or thirteen years old.

If outsiders were to witness this scene, they would be astonished and find it hard to believe.

At this moment, Ma Wenxiang's thoughts were almost the same: Does the gentleman want to become my disciple?

It can be done in a short while.

After much thought, Ma Wenxiang understood the deeper meaning behind Wang Yangsheng's actions.

For scholars, what could be more important than passing the imperial examination?

Compared to his useless pride, bowing down to a fellow villager who might be a prodigy, someone with the potential to pass the imperial examinations and have a bright future seemed insignificant.

The gentleman in front of me didn't just bow in greeting; he knelt down in a truly astonishing manner!

A man's knees are worth gold; now is the time to cash in.

Mr. Wang Yangsheng is truly a man of great talent.

And it's terrifying to think about!