Poor but talented scholar

Chapter 104 Academy Recommendation

These words carry great weight.

Lu Chuan immediately lifted his robe and said, "On behalf of the entire Lu family, I thank you for saving my life. I will study diligently and never fail to live up to your kindness in protecting me today."

Looking at his composed demeanor, Magistrate Shen stroked his beard with satisfaction.

Then he turned and walked behind his desk, taking out a pre-prepared letter from a box.

It was a very common bluish-gray slipcase, with anti-counterfeiting ink stuck to the seal.

Magistrate Shen handed the letter to Lu Chuan.

"Lu Chuan, after all this idle chatter, let me ask you this: now that you've become a scholar, what specific plans do you have for the next step?"

Lu Chuan raised both hands above his head and took it.

"Your Excellency, I am still young. Over the years, I have been taught by you behind closed doors. To be honest, I am currently at a time when my mind is wide open and I am confused about how to proceed. I would like to ask Your Excellency to give me some guidance."

He pointed to the letter in Lu Chuan's hand, gesturing, "Open it and take a look."

Lu Chuan did as instructed, opened the red ink seal, and took out the letter inside.

Upon unfolding it, one could see two lines of small characters written in the official script.

Before Lu Chuan could read it carefully, Magistrate Shen had already put his hands behind his back, giving instructions.

"Lu Chuan, I won't hide it from you. Actually, I had this plan in my mind as early as when you won the county exam and shone brightly in the prefectural exam."

"After the county examination that year, I told myself that it was rare for Qingyang County to produce such a promising talent. If you can win the top prize in the next provincial examination, I will personally write a letter to send you to study at Suyang Academy."

"Although you fell just short of the top spot in this provincial examination, second place is still a significant achievement."

"This Suyang Academy is one of the top academies in Jiangnan. Its headmaster and instructors are mostly retired high-ranking officials from the imperial court. Those who study there are all exceptionally talented individuals from various prefectures and counties."

"If you continue to stay in this tiny county and work in isolation, your chances of passing the provincial examinations will be slim to none."

He pointed and said seriously, "This letter is a recommendation letter I wrote to the vice-head of the academy based on personal connections. Since you are confused right now, I will show you the right path."

"Keep this letter safe. After you return home and settle things, you can take it and go to the academy to ask for your studies with a clear conscience."

Magistrate Shen looked at Lu Chuan with the expectation that comes with the age of an elder.

"I am decades older than you and have seen too many exceptionally talented young people who became complacent after passing the imperial examinations, ultimately wasting their talents and becoming just another ordinary person."

He stood with his hands behind his back, speaking earnestly, "Lu Chuan, Qingyang County is too small; it can't contain your future. Go to Suyang Academy, see how true young talents write their essays, and you'll go further."

Lu Chuan looked down at the envelope in his hand and listened to the magistrate's explanation. His heart was suddenly shaken, as if he had been enlightened. His previous confusion and the pride he had felt from passing the imperial examination vanished in an instant.

Indeed, although I came in second place, it was only in a prefecture-level city.

If we look at the whole of Jiangnan, and at the academies where famous scholars gather, and the scions of noble families and elites of the academies who have been nurtured by famous teachers day and night since childhood, how terrifying must their knowledge and insight be?

If I continue to stay in the county town and work in isolation, it will be like sitting in a well and looking at the sky.

This county magistrate was genuinely interested in talent and was making plans for his future from his perspective.

Having thought this through, Lu Chuan had already made up his mind.

"I have kept your profound words in mind. If it weren't for your guidance today, I would have been living in a well with a limited perspective."

"You not only helped me with my studies, but also broadened my horizons. I am very grateful for your guidance."

Seeing that Lu Chuan understood immediately, he not only lacked the arrogance of youth, but also instantly grasped the situation.

"Haha, my dear nephew, please rise. I am merely going with the flow and pointing you in the right direction."

"To forge iron, one must be strong oneself; how far one can go ultimately depends on one's own destiny."

He chuckled and became even more polite.

He walked back to the head of the table and sat down, looking at Lu Chuan, and offered two words of encouragement:

"Alright, you must be tired today. Now that you've returned home in glory, go home first to see your parents and make your mother happy too."

"After returning home, remember not to be complacent. Once your family affairs are settled, pack your bags and head to the academy. I am in Qingyang County, awaiting your good news of passing the imperial examination."

After speaking, Magistrate Shen stretched out his right hand, picked up the teacup on the table, and took a small sip.

Lu Chuan was a perceptive man and naturally understood that this was a gesture of offering tea to see the guest off.

He immediately took a half step back, bowed, and said, "This student takes his leave. Please take care of yourself, sir."

After leaving the county government office, Lu Chuan did not linger on the street and went straight back to the inn.

Lu Shouye was circling the old ox in the backyard when he saw his son return, and his heart finally settled down.

The father and son asked for the cleanest room in the house, ate a quick meal, and then blew out the lamp and went to bed.

That night was the most restful sleep Lu Chuan had had since he started preparing for the exam.

The next day, it was dawn.

The sky was just beginning to lighten, and the thin mist had not yet dissipated.

Lu Chuan then opened his eyes.

His scholarly background had instilled in him an extremely accurate sense of time, allowing him to get out of bed at the perfect moment.

Hearing the noise, Lu Shouye, who was in the next bed, also jumped up.

The father and son smiled at each other, and neither of them lingered any longer.

"Shopkeeper, the bill is due."

When the innkeeper saw that the scholar was about to leave, he hurriedly tried to persuade him to stay: "Oh, scholar, why are you up so early? The stove in our inn has just been lit. Have some breakfast before you go."

"No, shopkeeper, my wife at home has been waiting for two months, and she'll be worried sick if I go back too late," Lu Shouye laughed, politely declining the shopkeeper's offer.

In the backyard, the old ox, after a night's rest, was full of energy.

"drive."

Once outside the city, there is a dirt road leading to the village.

As the road ahead became more and more familiar, we knew we would soon arrive at Lujia Village.

"Father, stop the car. Let me change out of this scholar's robe."

As Lu Chuan spoke, he made a gesture as if to untie the ribbon at his waist: "Wearing this outfit in the village is too conspicuous. It's more reassuring to change back into your old clothes."

"Nonsense, you're not allowed to change it."

Unexpectedly, Lu Shouye, who was usually gentle with Lu Chuan, suddenly pulled the reins on as if his tail had been stepped on.

He turned around, puffing out his beard and glaring, and grabbed Lu Chuan's hand as he was unbuttoning his clothes, his tone stern.

"You have to wear this outfit today, no matter what."

Lu Chuan was startled by his father's sudden loud voice: "Dad, I was just afraid of getting it dirty."

"What's wrong with getting dirty? If it gets dirty, your mother can wash it with rice water and iron it. But this garment absolutely cannot be taken off now."