short series

The Old Scholar's Path to the Top Scholar

share time: 2025-12-25 00:30:23

Fifty-year-old Zhou Fulai has failed the scholar exam twenty times. His wife calls him "useless," neighbors mock his "outdated dream of being a top scholar," and even his son is ridiculed by classmates: "Your dad is a fool." But he can't let go—his father's last words, "Our Zhou family must have a top scholar," have been a thorn in his heart. The day before the exam, his son suddenly has a high fever. His wife smashes his books: "Either stay with our son or go take that damn exam!" Zhou Fulai squats in the yard crying, only to see his son crawl out wrapped in a quilt, holding his warmed book: "Dad, I kept your book warm. Go take the exam—I want to be the son of a top scholar." He grits his teeth and goes. He tops the written exam, and in the imperial interview, the emperor asks: "Why persist at your age?" He kowtows: "I'm not doing this for myself. I want my son to know that dreams are never too late." The emperor's eyes redden and he names Zhou the new top scholar. When he rushes home with the scholar's robe, his son holds a fever patch and smiles: "Dad, I knew you could do it!" His wife wipes tears and hands him hot congee: "Drink first—I ironed your robe."

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