Chapter 41: Success in the Imperial Examinations, Top Scorer of the National Liberal Arts Exam

Suppressing his thoughts about the system, Wang Donglai shifted his attention to the rewards it had granted him.

"Intelligence +1, Constitution +1. What exactly do these two attributes mean?"

Wang Donglai had been curious about these two attributes for a long time, but the system had never provided an explanation.

Just as this doubt surfaced in his mind, the system immediately provided an answer.

"Constitution is a general term for a player's overall physical health status, derived from a comprehensive assessment. The human body is peerless in its intricacy and possesses infinite potential; some can survive a lightning strike, while others die from a simple fall; some excel at running, while others possess superhuman strength—everyone is different. A player's physical fitness score of 7 points falls within the range of a normal human."

"Humans are intelligent beings that use tools, summarize patterns, invent, and create. The Intelligence score includes the player's emotional intelligence, IQ, memory, imagination, and more."

After reading the system's explanation, the doubt in Wang Donglai's heart instantly dissipated.

"When put that way, it does make sense. Compared to things like Agility, Defense, or Spirit, this explanation is more scientific and reasonable," Wang Donglai thought to himself.

"Right, the Gaokao results haven't even been officially announced yet. Why does the system show the main mission as completed?"

"The player's Gaokao results have been leaked."

Hearing this answer, Wang Donglai had an epiphany, remembering something.

Every year, the top scorers in the arts and sciences streams are bombarded with phone calls from university admissions offices.

This is especially true for Tsinghua and Peking University, which focus heavily on recruiting the top scorers from every province.

Often, a few hours before the official announcement of the Gaokao results, these top domestic universities receive information from relevant departments.

That information is the details of the top scorers.

The reason for this is partly due to the status of universities like Tsinghua and Peking in the domestic education sector, and partly because the state intends to support these top academic talents in attending these prestigious institutions.

For both the universities and the top students, it is a win-win situation.

Higher education institutions need a continuous stream of high-quality students to uphold the school's honor and create even more brilliant achievements.

Top students also need to access the most advanced knowledge and research results at top institutions to broaden their horizons, cultivate their abilities, and ultimately realize their personal value.

Consequently, top-tier institutions like Tsinghua and Peking naturally hold these top scorers in extremely high regard.

Every year, the admissions offices of these universities have a mission: to recruit the top scorers from every province and city.

There are even performance evaluations; if an admissions officer successfully recruits a top scorer, they benefit from it as well.

"In that case, my information must have been leaked by now, and the calls from the admissions offices should be coming in."

With a flicker in his eyes, Wang Donglai pulled out his phone.

Just as he took it out, it began to ring. It was an unknown number with a Beijing area code.

"Hello, yes, who is this, please?"

Although he guessed it might be an admissions officer, Wang Donglai pretended not to know.

"Hello, is this student Wang Donglai? I am Teacher Jia from the Tsinghua University admissions office in Qin Province. Congratulations, your Gaokao results are out."

The voice on the other end paused deliberately, as if waiting for Wang Donglai's reaction.

"Yes, the national top scorer in the arts stream!"

Wang Donglai spoke in a calm, indifferent tone.

"Student Wang, have other schools called you?"

Teacher Jia sounded startled and quickly asked back.

"No, not at all. You are the first to call me."

"Then how do you know your Gaokao results?"

"When I saw the exam paper, I knew I was the national top scorer in the arts. I just wasn't quite sure if it was for the whole province or the whole country. But when your call came, I knew I was the national top scorer."

The admissions officer, Teacher Jia, fell silent on the other end for a long time.

As an admissions officer, he met top scorers in the arts and sciences every year. Having seen so many, he didn't think they were particularly special.

However, this was the first time he had met a top scorer like Wang Donglai.

The calm, indifferent tone and the almost arrogant confidence allowed Jia Chuanbin to instantly form a mental image of the boy.

"Congratulations, Student Wang, on becoming the national top scorer in the arts. On behalf of Tsinghua University, I am officially extending an invitation to you. We hope you can join Tsinghua University for further studies. Our school possesses the most top-tier teaching resources, the best academic atmosphere in the country, and countless mentors and peers..."

Before Jia Chuanbin could finish, Wang Donglai said indifferently

"Teacher Jia, I'm sorry, but for an event this important, I need to discuss it with my family. Once I have discussed it with them, I will get back to you."

Without waiting for Jia Chuanbin to respond, Wang Donglai apologized and hung up.

On the other end, Jia Chuanbin put down his phone, hesitated for a moment, and said to the other teachers, "This year's national top scorer in the arts is in a small county in Qin Province. I just called him, and he is still hesitating. We need to drive to Anshui County immediately."

"We absolutely cannot let Peking University snatch this top scorer away."

Originally, Jia Chuanbin and his colleagues thought this year's top scorer in Qin Province would appear in Tangdu, so they stayed there to maintain a geographical advantage. They hadn't expected the top scorer to come from such an unexpected place.

Just as Wang Donglai hung up, Wang Yanxing's phone rang.

"Hello, are you the family member of the examinee Wang Donglai?"

That opening sentence made Wang Yanxing's expression turn tense.

"Yes, yes, I am Wang Donglai's parent. May I ask who this is?"

He instinctively bowed his body, a submissive expression appearing on his face.

Wang Yanxing had heard this kind of call many times before—usually from the school saying Wang Donglai had been fighting or hadn't done his homework, demanding he come to the school.

Beside Wang Yanxing, Wang Shunguo caught a few fragments of the conversation. Seeing Wang Yanxing's demeanor, the contempt in his eyes deepened.

"Hello, I am Teacher Liu Yuanqing from the Peking University admissions office. Wang Donglai's Gaokao results are out. His total score is 737, making him this year's national top scorer in the arts on the national paper. Congratulations on raising such an excellent child."

"On behalf of Peking University, I sincerely invite your child, Wang Donglai, to join Peking University. I would like to know your thoughts."

Upon hearing the words on the other end, Wang Yanxing's eyes widened, and his expression became incredibly excited.

Peking University!

The top institution in the country; everyone from the elderly to young children knew its reputation. It was on par with Tsinghua University.

To be able to enter such a school was the ultimate glory for anyone living in this country.

It was the very definition of bringing honor to one's ancestors!

Wang Yanxing's phone was a cheap brand with noisy audio, so Wang Shunguo only caught bits and pieces from the side.

*Peking University... Admissions office... Arts top scorer...*

As these pieces of information combined, a bold guess surfaced in Wang Shunguo's mind.

"Could Wang Donglai really be this year's top scorer in the arts?"

Wang Shunguo was reluctant to believe the guess, but the current situation indicated nothing but the truth.

"Teacher Liu, regarding my child's matters, I still need to discuss it with him. I will talk to him first and then get back to you."

Wang Yanxing was incredibly excited, but he maintained a final shred of composure as he replied to Teacher Liu from Peking University.

After hanging up, Wang Shunguo could no longer restrain himself and blurted out, "Yanxing, who was that person calling you just now?"

"A teacher from the Peking University admissions office, named Liu Yuanqing. He said Donglai is this year's national top scorer in the arts on the national paper!"

As he spoke, a brilliant smile spread across Wang Yanxing's face, his eyes filled with pride, and his tone carried a deep sense of satisfaction.

Wang Shunguo's breath hitched, feeling extremely displeased. The next second, he blurted out, "That call couldn't be fake, could it?"

Wang Yanxing didn't speak. He gave Wang Shunguo a cold look and turned to walk into the house.

Cao Shuxian also realized what was happening. She wiped her hands on her clothes, her face full of smiles, and hurried toward the house.

"Donglai, the results are out! You are this year's national top scorer in the arts!"

Wang Yanxing's voice was full of excitement, his face wearing a thick smile of pride as he burst into the room.

"National top scorer in the arts?!"

"Brother, you're amazing!"

Wang Chenyue was stunned for a moment before reacting, jumping up on the spot and shouting excitedly.

"A teacher named Liu Yuanqing from the Peking University admissions office just called. He said they want you to apply to Peking University." Wang Yanxing, beaming, explained the situation to Wang Donglai.

"Yeah, I know. I just took a call too; it was a teacher from the Tsinghua admissions office."

Wang Donglai wasn't surprised. It would be stranger if a teacher from the prestigious Peking University admissions office couldn't find Wang Yanxing's number.

"So, what are you thinking? Tsinghua or Peking University?"

As soon as Wang Yanxing asked, Cao Shuxian and Wang Chenyue also turned their gazes toward him, wanting to know Wang Donglai's thoughts.

"I..."

Before he could finish, the phone in Wang Donglai's hand rang again.

"Hello, I am a teacher from the Fudan University admissions office. Am I speaking with student Wang Donglai?"

As soon as the call connected, before Wang Donglai could speak, a slightly hurried voice came from the other end.

Wang Donglai replied calmly, "Hello, I am Wang Donglai."

"Student Wang Donglai, I assume you already know your Gaokao results. On behalf of Fudan University, I am officially extending an invitation to you. We hope you will apply to Fudan University. As one of the top universities in the country, we have a strong faculty. If you are willing to join us, we will provide generous benefits that match your status..."

Before the Fudan admissions officer could finish, Wang Donglai interrupted him.

"May I ask what these 'generous benefits' are? Please be specific."

Though it was only one sentence, it carried a heavy sense of pressure.

"Uh... For our top scorers in the arts, Fudan generally provides four years of full tuition waiver, priority for national scholarships, priority for Party membership, priority for staying at the university after graduation, and your choice of accommodation. If you are interested, Wang Donglai, I can explain it to you in detail..."

"I am not satisfied with these benefits. I can obtain national scholarships through my own strength, and I believe in my own ability regarding Party membership and staying at the university; I don't need these verbal promises of 'generous benefits.' Four years of free tuition is not enough! If your university is interested, you can come to my house for a face-to-face discussion."

After saying this, Wang Donglai hung up without waiting for a response.

Looking at the three people staring at him in a daze, Wang Donglai chuckled and explained, "I am the national top scorer in the arts on this year's national paper, with a Gaokao score of 737. I can't say no one will ever surpass me, but I can certainly say no one has ever reached this level before. I have the confidence to speak this way."

Cao Shuxian and Wang Yanxing still looked hesitant and worried, fearing that Wang Donglai's tone and attitude might offend the admissions officers of these universities.

Wang Yanxing frowned instinctively and said, "Donglai, you are still a student after all. These admissions officers are teachers at their universities. Being this direct is a bit much; you can't act like this in the future."

"Four years of free tuition, national scholarships, and priority for Party membership and staying at the school—these are already very generous conditions. You shouldn't burn bridges with these admissions officers just because you want even better terms. Even though we have a top scorer, they are still top-tier universities. We should just focus on studying steadily."

"Once you graduate, your mother and I can finally breathe easy. When you get married, your mother can help look after the kids, and I'll stay home to raise pigs and grow vegetables. You can come back every week, and we'll eat the fresh produce you bring."

Listening to Wang Yanxing, Wang Donglai frowned, but he relaxed his expression a second later.

"Dad, don't worry. I'm confident. Leave this matter to me. I can handle it. You just focus on taking care of things at home, okay?"

Wang Donglai's tone was calm yet extremely firm. Although he didn't directly refute Wang Yanxing's criticism, his words made Wang Yanxing instantly understand his intent.

"Alright, I'll listen to you."

In that moment, Wang Yanxing felt that Wang Donglai had grown up. He was no longer the child who needed help with everything or needed his father to make every decision. A hint of loss welled up in his heart.

Following that, Wang Donglai's phone rang one after another.

Zhejiang University, Nanjing University, Renmin University, Nankai University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Tangdu Jiao Tong University...

One famous university after another called, and without exception, they all extended goodwill to Wang Donglai, expressing their desire for him to apply to their schools.

Watching Wang Donglai take the calls from the side, Wang Chenyue was now filled with admiration.

The names of these universities were things Wang Chenyue wouldn't even dare to dream of.

And yet here they were, scrambling to call her brother, wanting him to apply to their schools with sincere and earnest attitudes.

*A true man should be like this!*

The phrase Wang Chenyue had read in history books suddenly came to mind.

*Back in the day, Xiang Yu must have felt this way too!* Wang Chenyue thought to herself.

Facing the invitations from the admissions officers of these top universities, Wang Donglai treated them all equally and stated his thoughts directly.

Whichever family offered the best benefits, that was where he would go!