Chapter 733: Chapter 733: Returning to White Deer Town


    Just like in the provincial examination, seeing Sun Junyan’s name directly below Tong Sang’s took away half of Qiao Xiaomai’s joy.


    When she unintentionally caught a glimpse of Sun Junyan’s restrained yet gleeful demeanor as he made polite conversation with those around him, her happiness was further reduced to merely a third.


    “This man is so skilled at tricks and deceit, how can he pass the examination so smoothly!” Qiao Xiaomai grumbled resentfully.


    “Perhaps he’s just intelligent,” Tong Sang answered indifferently, not really concerned about the matter.


    What he was pondering over was the intentions of the Grand Emperor and Emperor Yongan.@@novelbin@@


    ording to Tong Tiehu’s spection, the Grand Emperor wanted the Tong Family to stay put and honest in Anping Vige, not to try any tricks, and to faithfully farm.


    But now they were permitting him to pass as a sessful candidate in the Imperial Examination.


    A sessful candidate, one step into officialdom, could take up minor posts or even be a county magistrate.


    This status was somewhat sensitive.


    Did the Grand Emperor not suspect the Tong Family anymore?


    Why did they let him smoothly pass as a sessful candidate?


    “Because they’re pragmatic,” Qiao Xiaomai responded to his inner doubts by guessing the thoughts of Yang Wenxiao and Emperor Yongan, “If your exam papers are well-written, they let you pass. As for whether they let you be an official, that still depends on their will.”


    “If they don’t want you to be an official, then it’ll be but a hollow title for you, granted in consideration of your Mistress’s grandmother. They won’t be so petty as to deny you the courtesy of the title.”


    “Furthermore, if even Sun Junyan can be a sessful candidate, there’s no reason you shouldn’t.”


    Tong Sang originally was listening carefully, but when he heard thest sentence, he couldn’t help butugh, “Where’s the logic in thatst statement?”


    “It lies in you being more diligent and virtuous than him. Hmph, this scum, you wait and see, he will surely bring cmity upon many more people.”


    Qiao Xiaomai murmured quietly, “Even the Grand Emperor knows what a piece of work he is, howe he still allows him to bounce around so freely.”


    Tong Sang, upon hearing this, patted her shoulder, “The Grand Emperor has his reasons.”


    “Alright, cheer up a bit, herees Brother Yu.”


    As he spoke, Tong Sang stepped forward a few steps, an affable smile on his handsome face, and thanked Ya Wuxia, “Congrattions to you, Brother Yu.”


    “I should be the one congratting you, Tong. Impressive!” Ya Wuxia gave Tong Sang a thumbs-up.


    This young man, two years his junior, was truly impressive!


    “Hey, let’s share the joy. Come on, let’s go have a drink to celebrate,” Qiao Xiaomai suggested.


    Tong Sang had been studying by himselftely and didn’t meet many people. Celebrating with Ya Wuxia would be enough.


    Ya Wuxia, who missed Qiao Xiaomai’s culinary skills, readily agreed, “Let’s go!”


    Passing as a sessful candidate, while paving one’s way into officialdom, did not differ much in status from that of passing the provincial examinations. Once the results were published, those who passed could go to the Prefectural Government Office to register and then leave as they pleased.


    The government office would send news to the county town where the sessful candidate was based and have someone from the County Government Office visit the candidate’s home to deliver the good news.


    Tong Sang and Ya Wuxia went together to the Prefectural Government Office to register their information. After receiving the congrattory announcement, which detailed their household registrations, sessful results in the Imperial and provincial examinations, and eligibility for the pce examination next spring, they carefully put the announcement away. They didn’t have ns to socialize with the magistrates in the office, so they immediately returned to the residence shared by Tong Sang and Qiao Xiaomai to celebrate with drinks.


    After a night of heavy drinking, it was time to bid farewell.


    They agreed to meet again in the Capital City in the spring of the following year, packed their belongings, and each headed to their respective hometowns.