In Xu Mo's cognition, people who did this kind of thing should be impoverished students, just like the fellow students he had secretly followed before.
However, the facts were that the students who came to find him were either rich or noble, wearing gold and silver, and their every move was filled with the arrogance of wealthy young masters from Fengjing, making people who didn't know think they were from some prestigious family.
This person said directly, "I was as poor as you before, but later I was fortunate to be appreciated by nobles who helped me, so I could molt and become what I am now, able to live a decent life here in Fengjing."
Xu Mo's heart sank immediately.
This person was too smart, almost perfectly grasping the mentality of poor students longing for appreciation, and his straightforward tone added a sense of trust. If it was a student with weak willpower, he would soon look up to him.
Fortunately, Xu Mo still had some composure. He said softly, "What is this fellow student talking about? Xu doesn't really understand."
After speaking, he took out books to cover the patches on his clothes.
This move pleased the wealthy student, and also eliminated the wariness in the eyes of the wealthy student.
"You are Xu Mo, right? I've checked on you. You came from Xieyang County and entered the imperial examinations, but you are from a poor peasant family with dead parents and no one to rely on, so you came to Fengjing to take the examinations." The student murmured softly, as if recalling something, with a hint of melancholy in his eyes.
Xu Mo did not refute.
On his household registration, only his name was listed. His second brother had opened a new shop but only used Zhao Yuanqi Huai and Zhu Sihou as the names.
There was no need to mention Zhu Sihou. Qi Huai was a smart man who would not reveal anything. Zhao Yuan was simple-minded and stubborn. If Xu Mo said he had no money, then he had no money, and never doubted it.
"I also found out that you are temporarily living in your aunt's house. It must be uncomfortable to live relying on others, right?" The wealthy student went on.
Xu Mo blinked.
This aunt... should be Aunt Zhang, right?
Xu Mo's surname was Xu, and Aunt Zhang's surname was Zhang. One look and you know she wasn't his real aunt, so she could only be his cousin.
Very good guess, don't guess anymore next time.
The corner of Xu Mo's mouth twitched. He turned his head sadly, as if to admit it.
The wealthy student spoke with a hint of pride, "I also found out that your aunt has several young children at home, and they must be chattering noisily all day, making it hard to be at ease."
But in fact, when Xu Mo was alone, although it was quiet, he always felt a little lonely. When his younger siblings were there, the whole yard was like it was filled with vitality, and the words in the books also came alive.
"Such an environment is probably not conducive to your studies." After the wealthy student finished speaking, he concluded, "There are only three months left until the examinations. You need money, you need a quiet study environment, and you need a bright future."
He spoke enticingly, "As long as you want, you can easily obtain all these things."
There was nothing that could be easily obtained.
All the gifts bestowed by destiny had already been secretly marked with a price.
Wearing gold and silver was of course good, spending money lavishly was carefree as well, but when these need to be exchanged for one's entire talent, when the ambitious young scholar from before was worn down into a prodigal son without great aspirations, intoxicated by wealth and beauty, when looking back at the dozens of years of hard study in poverty, would one really not utter a word of regret?
Those tender moments of the past echoed like thunder, shaking one's ears.
Xu Mo looked quietly at the wealthy young master. The churning emotions in his eyes frightened the wealthy young master so much he almost curled up like a rat and fled. Only then did Xu Mo say softly, "I can try."
Just try.
The integrity taught by his father was still in his heart, and the patriotism taught by his teacher had not been forgotten. Xu Juyuan's talent would only be contributed to his family and country, and would never be used for personal gain.
But for the wealthy young master, just this "try" was enough.
Countless students had embarked on this dangerous ship like this. Some were unwilling, some were full of grief and indignation, some just wanted to earn a little money and then stop, some pitied them like Guanyin, trying to save their fellow students from the sea of misery.
But as long as they obtained money and enjoyed the pleasure of spending lavishly, they could never go back.
The elders said, it was easy to go from frugal to extravagant, but difficult to go from extravagant to frugal.
After experiencing exchanging one essay for hundreds of taels of silver, after understanding that money in Fengjing was equivalent to dignity and status, who could go back to the days of utter poverty, wearing clothes with patches, living day to day on coarse grains?
In the eyes of the wealthy young master, Xu Mo was just the next "them".
The two made a simple agreement.
The wealthy young master's requirement was simple. He needed Xu Mo to write an essay on last year's Fengjing provincial examination questions within three days, and then pay him money according to the quality of the essay.
After that, the essay would have nothing to do with Xu Mo, and the deal would be done after the money was paid.
When Xu Mo vaguely suggested meeting other fellow students, he was ruthlessly rejected by the wealthy young master.
"Our line of business is easy money, but there is still competition." He smiled ambiguously. "You and the other ghostwriters are in a competitive relationship. It is best for you not to have contact with each other. This is for your own good."
Xu Mo lowered his eyelashes and did not speak.
So these students who ghostwrote articles were called ghostwriters.
The refined young master was not bothered either. After making an appointment for the next meeting place and time, he strode away arrogantly.
He didn't care at all whether Xu Mo would write or not. Even if Xu Mo didn't write, there would always be others who wrote. If Xu Mo was willing to write, he could earn a sum.
The contact between the two was also limited to one-on-one, eliminating the possibility of spreading the news, while also preventing leaks of the client's privacy.
This was extremely satisfactory for the nobles who bought exam questions.
But it made Xu Mo feel tricky.
He stood still for a long time, until the birds resting on the branches flew away again, before footsteps sounded.
The refined Young Master Qi Huai walked out, with an unusual worried look on his fair face. "Brother Xu, you have really stirred me into a mess."
It turned out that half a month ago, Qi Huai had noticed Xu Mo's abnormal behavior. After several heartfelt inquiries yielded nothing, and being earnestly begged by Xu Mo, he reluctantly erased the intimate traces between the six siblings, and also put the name of the tenant of the second courtyard under Aunt Zhang's name.
So in the eyes of outsiders like the wealthy young master who came to investigate, it was just Xu Mo, orphaned and relying on his aunt, disturbed by noisy younger siblings, and therefore urgently needing money to change his circumstances.
In return, Xu Mo did not point out Qi Huai's prying.
Firstly, to satisfy Qi Huai's curiosity.
Secondly, he wanted to observe whether Qi Huai was useful or not without revealing his hole cards.
Thinking back to the three friends he met at the Imperial College.
Zhao Yuan was simple-minded, reckless and impulsive. Zhu Sihou was prudent, but had limited power. Only Qi Huai had both status and intelligence, and was the best candidate.
His barely passing the imperial examination as a juren also made it difficult to associate him with buying exam questions.
If it turned out that this juren Qi Huai's background was problematic, Xu Mo could take this opportunity to get on the line of Qi Huai's exam in order to delve deeper into the world of ghostwriters.
It really killed three birds with one stone.
Fortunately, Qi Huai did not disappoint him.
After the refined young master put away his fan, he smiled helplessly, "Since you really want to investigate, I will certainly accompany you."
"After all, I am the heir of the Minister of Rites."
