Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 41: Choices

Watching Mr. Chen stride away, Zhao Qing realized his master was probably angry. He sighed inwardly, quickly hurried after him, and tried to comfort him with kind words.

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No one else came over to talk to him after that.

Lu Chang’sheng had more or less come to a decision in his heart.

These influential families had all made him roughly the same offer—clearly, they’d come to some private understanding.

Otherwise, if they fought each other over him, grudges would form, and for families at their level, such discord would be a huge obstacle to banding together.

So, letting this year’s Child Scholar make the choice was a kind of fair solution that everyone could accept.

For the more powerful families, this was a concession; yet in exchange, they gained the privilege of making the first offer of support.

"So these few families are actually the strongest ones behind the Lin Family!"

Lu Chang’sheng didn’t dare make a final decision right away. Instead, he waited until the other child scholars were done talking, then got up and went over to talk with them. After mingling, he confirmed his suspicions.

"No wonder you’re Lu Tongsheng—these families are definitely among the strongest! Even across all of Black Mountain Prefecture, they count for something!" one child scholar remarked in admiration.

There were plenty of influential families in the Prefecture City, but not all of them could take part in something like this.

This young man looked to be in his early twenties, with delicate features and a hint of martial vigor about him.

"How should I address you, friend?" Lu Chang’sheng cupped his hands in greeting.

"Du Meng, from the Prefecture City!" the other replied, returning the gesture.

The two chatted for a while, feeling a kindred spirit in each other after just meeting.

While they spoke, Du Meng’s capability became clear; quite a few child scholars began drifting over, mostly drawn by Du Meng.

With some subtle probing, Lu Chang’sheng learned Du Meng came from a distinguished scholarly family in the east of the city.

The family had ten male members, all child scholars.

The only pity was that none had ever advanced to become an Advanced Scholar, and the family, being poor at networking, wasted all their scholarly status—ending up as just a clan of bookworms.

On most days, the whole household scraped by on the child scholar stipend. Even so, compared to other child scholars here, it was still an elite background.

"We’re all this year’s Child Scholars. Once we get to Jixia Academy, we ought to get along well!"

Finally, Du Meng left those words and ended the conversation.

By then, night had fallen. The singing girls and dancers now stood prettily under the merfolk lamps, looking like fairies stepping out of a painting—utterly captivating.

Many child scholars who’d been suppressing themselves for hours could finally no longer hold back. Each pulled a girl aside into one of the adjoining private rooms.

A few others refrained, wandering off alone in another direction.

Lu Chang’sheng followed after them, and before long, knocked on the door of a pavilion’s room.

"If Lu Tongsheng had arrived any later, Master would already be resting!"

The singing girl waiting outside curtsied as she spoke.

This courtyard cluster was used by Huiying Building as premium guest quarters. Some of the influential families hadn’t left, instead staying the night. If things weren’t settled tomorrow, they’d depart then.

Evidently, Patriarch Lin was among those staying.

"Thank you for the trouble!"

Lu Chang’sheng returned the courtesy, then followed the singing girl inside.

Soon, just before the main hall, he met the Lin Family Patriarch.

"Looks like all my efforts tonight weren’t in vain!" Seeing Lu Chang’sheng, Lin Xiaowen was visibly delighted and had a pot of premium ’Fairy Temple’ tea set out.

This was a fine imported tea, only sampled by high officials of the Great Yuan. Seldom did it appear on the open market in any prefecture.

For Lin Xiaowen to bring it out now—that was true earnestness.

"Since you’ve chosen the Lin Family, let me speak plainly, so there won’t be any misunderstandings down the line!" Lin Xiaowen said. "We’re seeking a bet on the future by backing you—helping you go further, and hoping that in the days to come, you’ll offer some support to our families in return!"

Not to say that there aren’t naïve scholars out there, but anyone they’re inviting certainly isn’t one.

Rather than beating around the bush, it was better to lay things bare.

Facing things honestly would only strengthen the relationship between both sides.

If things were kept secret, trouble would arise sooner or later.

This was the lesson many families had learned after much cooperation.

"A favor for a favor—I get it," Lu Chang’sheng nodded.

"Good!" Lin Xiaowen chuckled. "The Lin Family may not rank with the truly noble aristocrats, but we have some resources and connections! But let me be blunt: we’ll only invest in you as much as your achievements warrant—not just you, but the others as well!"

"It’s up to you all to earn it! For example, the Imperial Examination!" Lin Xiaowen stood up, saying, "It doesn’t just test your talent, but the forces you have behind you. Without people like us, even the most gifted won’t get anywhere!"

He’d suspected the imperial exams would be tricky, but hearing it spelled out still made Lu Chang’sheng’s heart skip a beat.

Indeed, with the dynasty on the brink, bureaucratic rules couldn’t possibly keep holding firm.

Just like in his last life—even in peaceful times, once official interests were involved, it was like fishing for a needle in the ocean for ordinary folks trying to intervene.

After that, Lin Xiaowen laid out more requests, repeating the idea of "reciprocal favors."

At last, he turned to what Lu Chang’sheng really wanted to know.

"Black Mountain Prefecture is severely hierarchical. For us, the only way up is via the imperial exams. So you must fully prepare for that—there’s no avoiding it!"

Seeing Lu Chang’sheng nod, Lin Xiaowen continued: "As for the exams—once you enter Jixia Academy, you’ll learn what you need to. By then, just focus on your studies. Leave everything else to us!"

"Everything else?" Lu Chang’sheng looked confused.

What else could there be besides studying?

"Ha! You’re from a humble background, so you don’t know how things at Jixia Academy work!" Lin Xiaowen laughed. "Passing the Child Examination lets you into Jixia, but there’s gold hidden in those books—you want to attend lectures, you’ll have to pay for it!"

By now Lu Chang’sheng’s eyelids were twitching uncontrollably.

"The professors, instructors, martial artists and other staff at Jixia Academy all have to be supported! If you hadn’t allied with us, your measly monthly child scholar stipend of one tael of silver wouldn’t last you at all in there!"

Damn it!

Lu Chang’sheng stayed silent for a while, unable to hold back a classic curse.

"Aside from that, there’s something else not widely known—which you’ll want to pay attention to!" At this, Lin Xiaowen hesitated slightly before going on.

"Patriarch Lin, please speak!"

"I hope you’ll spend more time practicing martial arts in addition to studying."

"I’ve arranged a martial artist to be your instructor. When the time comes, you can train with him."

"This matter—"

Lu Chang’sheng wanted to ask for details, but Lin Xiaowen just shook his head and said, "I’ve only heard bits and pieces myself—there’s talk of reinstating the Six Arts in the exams. Whether it’ll actually happen is another thing, but since rumors are spreading, it’s probably not for no reason. There’s upheaval everywhere—having some martial skills can only help."

"Do not mention this to other child scholars!"

With that, Lin Xiaowen stifled a yawn. "I’m tired—let’s talk more tomorrow."

Lu Chang’sheng stood to take his leave.

After he left, Lin Xiaowen sighed softly.

"Still standing too low... The Six Arts have been abandoned for years. To bring them back now—who knows why!"

"Hopefully this young man will bring me some surprises!"

As for the rebels—he wasn’t worried. As part of the elite, operating outside officialdom, he knew a thing or two about the state of the Great Yuan.

Don’t be fooled by how rampant the rebels seem now. Shaking the Great Yuan isn’t a simple feat.