Rare Treasure Chapter 2

T/N: So I skimmed read up to about Chapter 70, and I must say, for its slow start, this is quite a charming story. I'm not going to officially take this up, because I know that I can't promise regular updates with my other commitments, but it'll probably be the main thing I work on for a while like I did OZY, until someone else who can devote more time to it takes it up.

PS. I'm not a professional translator, and this novel can be a bit tricky, so please let me know if you think of a better translation for certain phrases. I'll give you due credit in the chapter.

Note: changed “Literature and Philosophy” High School to “Mainstream” High School as it is a better translation. It also encompa.s.ses things like athrimancy etc.

Chapter 2 – Every single person could flatten her with their intelligence

Lady Xiao sighed: “Ran Ran hates studying to this extent, what should we do? It's lucky that it has just been revision tests so far, and these are not going to affect her a.s.sessment for progressing, but in a few months time it'll be the year-end exams, which are extremely important. If she continues to be like this for the year-end exams, I'm afraid she will not be able to enter Radiant Pavilion for her High School.”

To enter High School, one must not just pa.s.s the exams; the results from the year-end examinations every year in Primary School will also be used to make the final decision. If Ran Ran suffers a defeat in her year-end examinations, it might affect her entrance exam in the future.

Xu laoye shouted angrily: “She dares! If she messes around again, I will definitely break her legs!”

The eavesdropping Xu Ran trembled, her legs feeling weak, and did not dare listen any more. From what she observed in the past few days, Xu laoye, though he looked to be friendly and easy to get along with, when it came down to it, he would definitely follow through on his threats.

She might be his biological daughter, but if she continued to be in this good-for-nothing state for her year-end exams, even if she escaped having her legs broken, she would be grounded for a year.

Her cheaply-gained big brother Xu Fei, who became an Imperial Guard, was a prime example. In the past Xu Fei was very mischievous, always coming last in his Primary School exams, to the point where it looked as if he would not be able to even enter the Martial Arts High School. Half a year before the entrance examinations, Xu laoye resigned from his concurrent job as a Scholar Official in Guan Wen Hall, and personally supervised and taught Xu Fei every single day.

Using Xu Fei's words, that half a year was practically an un-liveable existence.

Now, even if her cheaply-gained parents came to the conclusion that she simply hated studying, once they found out that she didn't even know how to take an exam – she didn't even dare think of the reaction Xu laoye would have.

Yes indeed, Xu Ran was feeling a great foreboding of danger; not only because of Xu laoye‘s violent rage, but also because she was at a complete loss as to what her own future would entail.

(Translated by jillaimee at Silent Moon Translations)

In Zhou Dynasty, High School made the difference between the gutter and the mountain peak. Poor families who wanted to change their fate went to great lengths to support their children in entering the Mainstream High School, if they managed to get into the public school, then all the better – the school fees were cheaper and it was subsidised; in today's context, it was like getting a bursary at a prestigious school. Within these, Radiant Pavilion was the number one High School, and the academy where every single generation of the Xu family had studied at.

Those who could not make it into the public High Schools could still go into the private High Schools. It was just that the school fees were a little more expensive, and there was no guarantee of teaching quality – one often had to separately hire their own private tutors. This is usually the best place for wealthy landlords and merchants.

Or, one could enter the Martial Arts High Schools. It was not difficult to get in; they had lower educational expectations, and as long as one pa.s.sed the Martial Arts module, they could enter the school. The top scholar in Martial Arts each year generally came from the Martial Arts High Schools. Even if they performed mediocrely in the Imperial Examinations, as long as they graduate from the Martial Arts High School, they could become military officials and guards, or join the Army.

And as for those coming from poor families with average grades, they usually entered the career-oriented High School, where they could choose from 360 careers. It was similar to today's professional schools, where upon graduating, they could immediately enter the relevant industry and work.

And now, putting the issue of entering High School aside, to her, even successfully completing Primary School was a huge problem ah!

The more Xu Ran thought about it, the more her heart throbbed with pain, and she returned to her room whilst sighing in despair. She casually flipped through the books “Essays on Current Affairs” and “The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art”, from right to left, up to down twice, gazing at the tiny and densely packed traditional Chinese characters, and she found herself simply unable to calm down.

Just then, her maid Hong Yu entered the room with a bowl of ginseng soup, saying that Lady Xiao had ordered the kitchen to stew it for her to nourish her body. Anxious and distracted, Xu Ran finished the entire bowl in one gulp, scalding her tongue.

Hong Yu hurriedly got her a cup of cooling tea to rinse her mouth. Xu Ran rinsed her mouth, and seeing the silver-green patterned ta.s.sel hanging on Hong Yu's waist, asked: “Hong Yu, you have pa.s.sed the attendant exams?”

She had two higher-ranking maids Hong Yu and Fei Cui, four lower-ranking maids, and a few others serving in the courtyard – a total of ten or so people. Out of all of them, Hong Yu had the most authority. There was no other reason; it was simply that she had scored the highest in the attendant exam.

Hong Yu was a little abashed; she busied herself with tidying the jadeware on the table as she answered: “I took it 5 times before I pa.s.sed.”

Xu Ran clapped her hands together: “That is very impressive, within the entire residence, you are the second one to pa.s.s the Grade 4 attendant exam!” The first to pa.s.s was Xu residence's steward, Old Tang, who was now a Grade Six servant.

After she spoke she felt a little dejected again, and muttered: “If it were me, I'm afraid I wouldn't even pa.s.s Grade 1.” If she had transmigrated into an ordinary, commoner family, she probably would not even have the qualifications to become a servant.

Lucky ah, lucky, she was now a child of an official! At least she wouldn't starve to death.

Hong Yu lowered her head and smiled: “Little Miss likes to joke around. Little Miss will be someone who enters the Imperial College of Supreme Learning in the future, you wouldn't be taking the attendant exam.”

Xu Ran raised the corners of her lips, and slumped on the table.

Imperial College of Supreme Learning yo, such a remote and sacred existence, she reckoned she wouldn't be able to even reach the edges of it in her entire lifetime.

(Translated by jillaimee at Silent Moon Translations)

After falling into a daze for a long time, Xu Ran suddenly remembered the question Lady Xiao tested her on earlier. She copied it down based on her vague memory of it, prepared to seek some help from her scholar-tyrant(1) older sister Xu Jia.

As long as she was willing to learn, it was never too late. If she wanted to change, she had to start from now.

Xu Ran silently cheered herself on. Just as she stepped out of the room, paper in hand, she b.u.mped into Xu Jiao, who was on her way over.

Xu Jiao had changed her clothes. She wore a celestial dress that fluttered and swayed lightly around her, and a pair of five-coloured sandals; whenever she raised her hands or took a step, she appeared delicately charming and cute.

留仙裙 (“celestial dress”)
image taken from:

The moment Xu Ran saw her, she knew that Xu Jiao must have gotten some new gossip.

As expected, the first words out of Xu Jiao's mouth was: “Second Sister, Official Zhao's daughter got engaged, it must be to the second son of Official w.a.n.g from Chen Nan's Ministry of Appointments.”

“Hah?”

Xu Jiao leaned in, acting all secretive: “I heard that it was because the examination official from the w.a.n.g family had already been decided behind closed doors. Zhao Yan has taken the exam for three years but still failed to enter Radiant Pavilion, she probably wanted to take a shortcut.”

The examination officials were overseers of all the Academy examinations. Because they would not have the qualifications to enter the other six government departments and be promoted, being an examination official was the highest position they could ever attain. As compensation, the Imperial Court had a quota in the High Schools reserved for their family members, who could enter without needing to take the exam.

Xu Ran didn't have much of an impression of Zhao Yan, but vaguely recalled that she was in the same Academy, and her fellow cla.s.smate. It was not a glamorous thing for a member of a n.o.ble family to take a shortcut; she probably had no other choice.

Xu Jiao shot a glance at Xu Ran, and smirked evilly: “Second Sister, if you mess up in your exam again, Father would probably also have to set an engagement for you to take a shortcut.”

Xu Ran hurriedly raised her hands: “Don't joke around, I won't be able to take that.”

Xu Jiao shrugged and handed over a small box. It was filled with embroidered silk flowers – they were exquisite and realistic, and each petal was even embroidered with unique patterns – it was undoubtedly the work of a high ranking maid from some family.

“From Princess Xiang Luo. Choose a few. You've recently been dressing a little too plainly, this is completely unlike how you were before.”

Xu Ran could only choose a few flowers casually, still focused on asking Xu Jia for help with the math question. She turned to leave, only to be pulled back by Xu Jiao, who looked unhappy: “Why didn't you ask me about the reason why Princess Xiang Luo gave me this?”

Xu Ran knew that she must be looking to show off again, and reluctantly asked: “Why?”

Xu Jiao delightedly said: “I'm now one of the top ladies in the capital, once I wear this flower in my hair, it will definitely become extremely popular. Princess Xiang Luo could then show off to others about her maid.”

Xu Ran repeatedly agreed as she spoke.

(Translated by jillaimee at Silent Moon Translations)

This cheaply-gained younger sister of hers had little interest in studying, and instead enjoyed chasing after novel trends. Her academic results weren't too bad, and so the elders didn't interfere too much with her hobbies. Despite her young age, she had good taste, and she was always dressed radiantly.  She was essentially the equivalent of a beauty blogger in ancient times.

Xu Jiao had yet to finish showing off, but Xu Ran was uninterested in further small talk, and waved the exam question in front of her: “See this, your second sister needs to attend to proper business; studying is a bigger priority.”

Xu Jiao clicked her tongue twice, and smiled: “You must be thinking of going to find Older Sister; she's too busy to care about you now, she has to study for tomorrow's exam. If she loses again to the Minister of Rites' son, Sir Su, she would probably be enraged to the point of coughing up blood. You better not go and disturb her now.”

At Xu Jiao's words, Xu Ran felt conflicted.

In High School, Xu Jia was always ranked number two, and always yearned to defeat Sir Su, who was ranked first. Her determination was so great that the entire residence knew about it. It was indeed not very appropriate for her to ask Xu Jia for help now.

Xu Jiao glanced over at her, and her gaze fell upon the question in Xu Ran's hands. She murmured the question out loud to herself, then grinned widely: “Second Sister, you don't know how to solve this question? I'll teach you.”

Xu Ran received another blow to the heart.

… … If she recalled correctly, Xu Jiao was younger than her by two grades, and had just began learning The Nine Chapters of the Mathematical Art… …

Xu Jiao picked up some paper and a brush, and easily solved the question.

“1 old chicken costs 5 dollars, 1 mother chicken costs 3 dollars, 3 chicks cost 1 dollar. With 100 dollars, 100 chickens were brought. You can get 4 old chickens, 18 mother chickens, and 78 chicks.”

Xu Ran did some calculations. 4 old chickens would cost twenty dollars. 18 mother chickens would cost 54 dollars. 78 chicks would cost 26 dollars. It came together to exactly 100 dollars.

Heavens, how exactly did Xu Jiao solve this!

Seeing Xu Ran's shocked face, Xu Jiao was very satisfied, and happily began explaining: “It is impossible to calculate it directly, you have to approach this in another way. First, make the old chicken disappear, and you only have to consider the mother chickens and chicks. That would be 25 and 75 respectively. If you added 3 chicks, you have to reduce the number of mother chickens by 3 so that you have a total of 100 chickens, but then you would be missing 8 dollars. If you look closely, the old chicken costs 2 dollars more than the mother chicken, so by replacing 4 mother chickens with 4 old chickens, you'll get 100 chickens, and 100 dollars. Therefore, it's 4 old chickens, 18 mother chickens, and 78 chicks.”

Xu Jiao drew circles on the paper, using pictures to ill.u.s.trate her words, and realisation dawned upon Xu Ran.

It was actually the linear indeterminate equation in modern times, with three unknown variables and two equations – first, eliminate one of the unknown variables, then set the parameters to derive a whole number.

Xu Jiao continued: “Actually, this is not the only answer. 4 old chickens and 3 chicks cost the same as 7 mother chickens, so you can use subst.i.tution. If you remove 7 mother chickens, you get 4 old chickens and 3 chicks.”

Xu Ran tried using the methods, and indeed, she came up with two answers.

8 old chickens, 11 mother chickens, and 81 chicks. Or, 12 old chickens, 4 mother chickens, and 84 chicks.

(Translated by jillaimee at Silent Moon Translations)

Xu Jiao set down her brush, folded her arms together, and raised her chin, smiling: “How about it, aren't I great?”

Xu Ran gave her a thumbs-up, and unreservedly praised her.

Indeed, everyone here could crush her in terms of IQ. What a sin ah!

Xu Jiao smiled, and unable to bear seeing Xu Ran's dejected demeanour, rea.s.sured her: “This question is quite difficult.  Mother was too strict to have used this as a test. This is calculation at the High School level, it is normal for you not to have known this. I'm not outstanding in any subjects, but Math… I'm quite good with calculations.”

Xu Ran felt depressed again.

She was silent for a moment, then embarra.s.sedly asked Xu Jiao: “Do you have any simpler Math questions, let me do some…”

Xu Jiao dealt her another blow: “You finished all of your homework?”

… … She actually forgot about the legendary homework a.s.signments…

Xu Jiao reminded: “Second Sister took a break from school for two months, in addition to the one month long winter break in between, and refused to let Father hire a tutor during this period of time – the homework must have piled up. So you definitely can't delay any further with finishing your homework, at least finish the a.s.signments from the winter break first.”

Xu Jiao pulled her into the house, and picked out three crinkled books, flipping through them casually: “Second Sister, you have great courage and insight ah. You haven't even written a single word.”

(End of Chapter 2)

Terms:
Would you prefer t.i.tles to be roughly translated into English, or kept as its original? Lady Xiao vs. Xiao shi? Princess vs. junzhu?

(1): literal translation of 学霸. Basically means a student with excellent grades. They are like ‘tyrants' of the bell-curve/the grade system because they're at the very top- that's the best I can explain this phrase in English.

(2): 长史 There are a lot of t.i.tles like this, it's hard to translate them succinctly in English and it usually isn't that important (like 长史 is just a t.i.tle for a female official apparently) so I'll leave them as ‘Official' unless someone comes up with something better, or if I think of a better subst.i.tute.

Thoughts:
My math days are behind me, and I was shocked when I thought that the question was considered Primary School level in this novel, until it was revealed that Xu Jiao is just really really good at Math. @Murong Qingyu : good job on working it out! I was never the best at Math, and personally I would have gone for Xu Jiao's first method, but with much less finesse – just randomly allocate numbers to each type of chicken so it added up to 100 chickens, then shuffle the numbers around till I get the cost right.