Chapter 748

Studying and taking the imperial examinations is certainly a good thing! In Youzhou there's a saying: 'In the morning a farm boy, by evening in the emperor's hall.' How wonderful it would be to turn one's fortunes in a day! Holding office is no longer the exclusive privilege of aristocratic clans; common folk can also rise to become generals and ministers through study, changing their station.

Yue Tianzhu was stunned by the saying 'In the morning a farm boy, by evening in the emperor's hall' as if it were a huge pie; he silently repeated it twice, his eyes lit up, and he stared at his young son, deep in thought.

The three older ones are probably too old, but this little one… is just over ten, eleven years old—there's still time!

Dawang kept on talking at length, sighing repeatedly. 'Studying, you know, is a refined pursuit; our kind of family isn't unable to afford it. Once one passes the exams and becomes an official… alas! It's hateful that our family are merchants—no matter how rich we are, we can't take the exams! Why is my father a merchant?! alas!!'

Dawang's act was too heartbreaking; the innocent Yue Man still comforted Dawang, and even Wei Shen felt sorry for him. Your days of running around aimlessly are probably over.

Wei Shen kept giving Dawang meaningful looks—better to take the hint and stop; that golden-haired one will be back soon.

He glanced a few times in the direction where Xiao Jingang had been coaxed away, and Dawang suddenly understood.

Today's persuasion to study goal achieved, Dawang indeed proposed to take his leave. Yue Tianzhu clearly took it to heart, feeling that his son's new friend was no longer the former troublesome brat—his words were substantive, he was proactive and enterprising, and his insight was exceptional! Such an upward‑striving child… he then invited Dawang, together with his son, to stay overnight at their home before continuing the journey; getting to know such an excellent child up close can do no harm.

Wei Shen: …… numb.

Dawang's schemes always hit the mark.

Before taking his leave, that fellow glanced at the new friend who was about to embark on a new life, and said with a conscience not yet silenced: 'Today I met Brother Man and felt an instant kinship; alas, I must still rush home. When you pass the Northern Border Academy exams we'll meet again—my family runs a shop called Oolong Echo on Zhuque Street in Youzhou, selling milk tea. Brother Man, if you ever go to Youzhou, just tell the proprietor to look for Wei Taiping, and I'll show you around the city. So for now, farewell—let's meet again in Youzhou.'

Yue Man felt awful; the friend he had just clicked with split up just like that, and he burst into tears with a wail.

Wei Shen: ……

This is the Great King's second visit to Ning'an County; the first time was during his fiefdom for map collection. He walked around the city, and Wei Shen could see from his expression that this guy was in a good mood.

Over the years Ning'an has acquired city walls, a main street paved with stone slabs, and neatly dressed pedestrians. No longer are they all in ragged clothes with sickly faces, with hardly any respectable people to be seen on the streets. Although at a glance everyone's attire looks quite similar, in fact half of them are the uniform work clothes issued by his conscripted laborers. But... at least the clothing is serviceable; they look spirited and there's no longer sheep dung all over the streets. The Great King was proudly pleased, having raised the people by shearing wool, and he felt proud!

The Great King didn't wander around; their unit, with Zhetian and Xiao Jin being very eye-catching, rested one night at an inn and left the city early next morning.

Leaving Ning'an County seat, after an hour they reached the border between Ning'an and Yangjiang, and Yingtai Isle was right before their eyes.

Even though the Great King, having followed Mengmeng and seen much of the world, was used to scenes, standing before Ningwu Gate on Yingtai Isle, he still gaped for a while.

Looking down from the full topographic map, one cannot fully experience the solemn, awe-inspiring presence of personally standing beneath the palace gate.

The gate tower crouched like a giant beast folding its wings; the layered eaves stacked up, forming a sharp point piercing the clouds. The two vermilion huge doors were now open; besides the gate soldiers who had arrived early, there was also the smiling Zhao Zhuge.

On the white marble base of the gate pier, a pair of large stone lions half-crouched, one paw pressing an embroidered ball, the other paw pressing emptily into the void.

Looking up, the plaque hung high, blue background with gold characters, strokes solemn. The ridge beasts lined up in a row at the corner of the eaves, held down by the roof tiles, solidified into a row of roars.

Looking east and west, the vermilion palace walls stretched to the limits of sight.

How huge is this!!

The Great King closed his mouth with his hand, "Cousin, if Minister Zhang came and saw Yingtai Isle, would he believe that the two hundred thousand is my last private stash?"

Wei Shen shook his head wildly, "Just standing here looking at this gate and the vague palaces on the distant mountains, I don't believe it. I believe you have twenty million taels of silver."

Great King: ……