The Marquis Mansion’s Elite Class

The three private tutors stood trembling on the side, already exhausted from taking care of one child each day and night. Now, with another child added to the mix, who was going to take on the extra burden?

Pan Hongzhi was the first to panic. "Madam, I really can’t take on another child. With Jin Cheng, the little troublemaker, around, my hair is already turning gray. I simply don’t have the energy to look after Shen Yibai as well."

Cheng Zhidong quickly chimed in, "Yes, Madam. He Zheng, the little rascal I’m in charge of, is always scheming to study, which keeps me on my toes. On top of that, I have to make time to plan their study schedules. I’m already stretched too thin."

Zhao Yin: "..."

Well, since you two have spoken, it looks like I’m the only one left. I’m in charge of Wenxiu, who’s the most well-behaved and doesn’t cause any trouble.

Sure enough, after Pan and Cheng finished speaking, they both took a step back, leaving Zhao Yin standing prominently at the front.

Zhao Yin: "???"

You guys!! Don’t be so shameless!!!

Xu Wan couldn’t help but chuckle. "Don’t worry, gentlemen. I’m planning to hire another tutor."

The three of them collectively breathed a sigh of relief, especially Zhao Yin, whose cold sweat finally subsided.

Xu Wan continued, "Do any of you know of any fellow scholars from the last imperial examination who might be interested?"

The ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍three exchanged glances. Zhao Yin shook his head, while Cheng Zhidong mentioned that he had a cousin who had expressed interest. Pan Hongzhi said he had two classmates who were also eager to join after hearing about the generous pay at the Marquis Manor.

However, since Xu Wan hadn’t mentioned expanding the team before, they naturally hadn’t brought it up, not wanting to risk losing their cushy jobs.

Xu Wan nodded. "Then I’ll trouble you gentlemen to help me contact them. Please ask them to come to the manor tomorrow for a detailed discussion. Once the final candidate is selected, Zhao Yin will be responsible for showing them around and helping them get familiar with the environment."

Zhao Yin agreed readily. "No problem."

This was much easier than directly taking care of another little troublemaker.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Shen Yibai had learned a way to earn money independently: copying books by hand.

"Copying a book only earns you 35… coins?" Shen Yibai was equally puzzled by the unit of currency. "Are you sure it’s not 35 taels? It feels like it would take several days to finish."

To be honest, even 35 taels seemed too little to him, as it would only cover a few meals.

The little troublemaker rolled his eyes at him. "If you charge 35 taels to copy a book, how much do you think they’d have to sell the printed and bound book for? Use your brain. Does that even make sense?"

Shen Yibai pouted. "This job is both hard and doesn’t pay well. It’s too difficult."

"Do you have any other ideas?" the little troublemaker asked. "Without relying on your family or your father, what can a ten-year-old kid like you do to earn money?"

Shen Yibai fell silent. "Don’t rush me. Give me a moment to think… ugh…"

Xu Wan didn’t pressure him, instead telling the others, "You all go ahead and study. Let Yibai think on his own."

The three kids quickly got into their study mode. Each had a private tutor sitting beside them, guiding them according to their individual progress. The common thread was that they were all deeply focused.

Even Zong Jincheng, who was usually fidgety and constantly playing with his hands or the table, was now staring intently at his book. From time to time, he would discuss some philosophical point with Pan Hongzhi, spouting a bunch of classical phrases.

Shen Yibai was utterly confused.

Dude, aren’t you the leader of the four little troublemakers?

Since when did troublemakers become so studious?

But no matter how much inner turmoil he was experiencing, the three kids who were seriously studying didn’t pay him any attention. Shen Yibai even felt a bit isolated, but he didn’t mind since he wasn’t the one who had to study.

He sprawled on the table, looking around the massive study room, which was at least three times larger than a normal room. The walls were lined with towering bookshelves, packed to the brim with books. The heavy scent of ink and paper made him feel more and more suffocated.

Help… how could anyone willingly stay in a place like this?

This is terrifying!

This sense of dread followed him until evening, when it was finally time for dinner. Hearing that the chef at Yangyuan Marquis Manor was exceptionally skilled, Shen Yibai sprinted after Zong Jincheng.

If you’re not enthusiastic about eating, there’s something wrong with your brain.

He devoured his meal, only realizing afterward that someone was missing. "Huh, Jin Cheng, where’s He Zheng?"

The little troublemaker was still sipping his soup. Casually, he replied, "He thinks the dining hall is too far, so he stays in the study every night, munching on meat buns while he studies."

"What??" Shen Yibai was baffled. "The food here is so good, and he’s just eating meat buns? What’s the point?"

The little troublemaker explained, "He’s studying like crazy. My brother and I have already passed the Childhood Scholar exams. He Zheng is anxious because he wants to pass next year. Plus, the provincial imperial exams are coming up in August next year, so he’s under a lot of pressure."

Shen Yibai didn’t know much about these things, but as brothers, he was aware of He Zheng’s obsession with studying. He couldn’t understand it. "I really don’t get He Zheng. Why doesn’t he just train with his brothers in martial arts? Why does he have to make things so hard for himself? He’s been getting beaten up for this since he was a kid."

The little troublemaker put down his spoon and glared at him. "It’s called pursuing your dreams. You should respect him, not mock him."

Shen Yibai shrugged. "You used to mock him too, though. At most, you’d mock him while helping him climb over walls."

The little troublemaker’s fists clenched.

Talking to a troublemaker was really infuriating.

The little troublemaker said proudly, "I’ve grown up now. I’m a nationally renowned Childhood Scholar. Of course, I’m different from before."

Shen Yibai couldn’t comprehend it.

But soon, he would experience it firsthand.

That night, since the new tutor hadn’t arrived yet, Xu Wan arranged for Shen Yibai to share a bed with Zong Jincheng. The two kids slept on one bed, while Pan Hongzhi slept on the bed next to them.

So, that night, Shen Yibai had to listen to the little troublemaker, who, even after the lights were out, kept pestering Pan Hongzhi with discussions about some passage from the Book of Rites. Frustrated, Shen Yibai pulled the blanket over his head… but he could still hear them.

Shen Yibai screamed internally: Help!

What kind of terrifying place is this?!

Have my troublemaker brothers been possessed by ghosts or something?!

The next day, Shen Yibai showed up with dark circles under his eyes, heading back to the study to listen to the others study. Since the new tutor hadn’t arrived yet, he wasn’t required to study, and Xu Wan didn’t push him. But in that environment, even doodling with his pen made him feel uncomfortable, as if he were sitting on pins and needles.

In the outer hall.

Xu Wan watched as the three job applicants were led by Cui Liu to fill out their resumes. Cui Zhi came over and mentioned that one of them was a scholar from the last imperial examination, named Jiang Yan, from Hanlin North Academy.

He could have easily taken up an official position, but after offending someone, he missed the opportunity to take the civil service exam and thus lost his chance to become an official. Deeply disheartened, Jiang Yan refused to take the exam again. However, having spent his entire life studying, teaching was the only skill he had. So, he opened a small school to teach.

As the saying goes, "A scholar is useless except for becoming an official." Teaching wasn’t a lucrative profession either. Many of Jiang Yan’s students came from poor families, and he couldn’t bring himself to charge them much. As a result, his life became increasingly difficult. In the end, it was Pan Hongzhi who couldn’t bear to see him struggle. When an opportunity arose to expand the elite class, Pan quickly recommended him to give it a try.