Accident x 1
Mo Li naturally had no idea what Meng Qi was thinking. When he was stimulated by Meng Qi’s aura, his own aura fluctuated suddenly. He realized something was amiss and quickly composed himself. As he reached up to touch his face, he discovered the scales on his cheeks.
Fortunately, Yan Cen and the others were standing far away and didn’t see it.
Mo Li glanced sideways at Meng Qi. This person always seemed to attract trouble wherever they went. Now that he was not acting crazy, he still almost implicated him.
A sand rat could dig a hole, but what about a fish?
Wouldn’t he struggle on the riverbank for a while before plunging into the water? Would he have any dignity left?
Mo Li’s expression remained unchanged, but he felt displeased. With a wave of his sleeve, he walked directly toward the entrance of the ravine.
Meng Qi knew he were at fault, so he touched his nose and followed behind.
When they saw Shimo’s leader and Yan Cen again, both of them were even more cautious and showed greater courtesy. Shimo’s leader was a straightforward person, speaking bluntly, and even with extra politeness, there wasn’t much variation. It was Yan Cen who took the initiative this time, striking up a conversation with Mo Li and praising his medical skills with quotations and sincerity.
Mo Li was slightly surprised. Since leaving Zhushan County, he had only encountered ordinary commoners, few of whom could even read. It had been a long time since he had seen such proper manners and etiquette.
He instantly recalled what Meng Qi had mentioned about this person having an extraordinary background.
Mo Li was still slightly astonished, but Shimo’s leader was completely dumbfounded. The man who had always been taciturn suddenly spoke so appropriately, truly surprising.
Among the people in the entire stronghold, there were very few who could speak and hold a conversation. Because these people used to walk with their heads down, fearing to attract attention, they were also tongue-tied. Now, at their advanced age, learning how to interact with others naturally presented some difficulties.
As a result, this sworn brother of his had been silent all this time, only to make a stunning appearance now.
With the gloomy expression gone, dressed in a thick cloak that completely covered his arms, he seemed to have undergone a complete transformation. He stood tall and upright, like the mentioned beautiful and talented scholars in storytelling.
Indeed, people who have read books are different.
Shimo’s leader sighed inwardly. He tilted his head and noticed Qian Xiaolang, who was lurking nearby, observing the scene with curiosity. An idea crossed his mind, and he waved to call the young boy over.
Qian Xiaolang was only twelve years old and was extremely curious about rare visitors in the stronghold.
He didn’t speak, but blinked his eyes and kept stealing glances at Meng Qi.
Qian Xiaolang didn’t know how to conceal his curiosity, and Mo Li soon noticed him. Seeing the young boy looking at Meng Qi with admiration, Mo Li couldn’t help but wonder why there was suddenly another admirer of Meng Qi in Shimo’s stronghold. Meng Qi hadn’t done anything special there, so why did he now have a young worshipper?
Meng Qi paid no attention to it.
The boy was simply a curious child, not worth mentioning.
Yan Cen led the way ahead, and the group entered the largest building in the stronghold, which served as a makeshift gathering hall like in other bandit strongholds. Although the tables, chairs, and desks were crude stone, they were arranged in an orderly manner.
The gathering hall was already prepared with food and drinks.
There was nothing remarkable about the food, just hard bread and a steaming bowl of meat soup.
The drinks were homemade, with a distinct fermented scent from wild fruits. Someone carefully held a container and poured it into a gauze-covered bowl, sieving the wine meticulously.
The wine was turbid, and one sieving was not enough. It needed to be sieved three times repeatedly.
In the center of the gathering hall was a fire pit, with a rack above it. The sieved wine was placed on the rack to be warmed, ensuring it wouldn’t be too cold to drink.
As they were busy, everyone noticed when Shimo’s leader entered with his entourage and stopped what they were doing.
Some called out to the second-in-command, while others called out to the leader. Some even asked how Qian Xiaolang had come along.
Shimo’s leader cleared his throat and gestured towards Mo Li.
Everyone looked at each other, momentarily puzzled, before awkwardly bowing and expressing their gratitude in various ways, “Thank you, Physician, for saving our second-in-command.”
Mo Li: “…”
In the gathering hall, there were only six or seven people waiting for them. At this moment, not a single person performed the same gesture of respect. Some bowed while maintaining eye contact, some bowed their heads, and others bowed their heads and bent their waists in an uninterrupted manner. There was even someone kneeling on one leg, another folding their hands in prayer, and the most exaggerated one performed a deep bow like one would to pay respects to gods and Buddhas.
If Mo Li didn’t know their identities and if an unaware outsider suddenly entered this gathering hall filled with a group of oddly looking people performing their respective greetings, they would likely be scared and faint, thinking they had stumbled upon a nest of monsters.
“What kind of greetings are these?!”
Shimo’s leader was utterly embarrassed, and his eyes seemed to pop out.
Yan Cen was also dumbfounded. This wasn’t how one would entertain honored guests; it seemed like a farce.
“…Didn’t you say we should be more solemn? More serious?”
The people in the stronghold looked at each other and quickly realized that there was a difference in their understanding of “being solemn.” Some thought sincerity was enough, while others believed it required the utmost respect. Some were undecided and simply followed the actions of those around them while adding their own “even more respectful” details.
Now that they realized their mistake, everyone felt extremely awkward.
“Cough, Physician, please pardon us. My brothers here are not accustomed to formalities or formal occasions.”
Shimo’s leader reluctantly salvaged some face for the stronghold, but he was furious inside.
Yan Cen gave his troublesome sworn brother a comforting look, unable to help but cry and laugh, and continued to take on the responsibility of welcoming Mo Li and Meng Qi.
While Yan Cen’s words were thoughtful, the atmosphere couldn’t be lifted after the earlier incident.
Meng Qi’s smile seemed ambiguous as he found the stronghold interesting.
Mo Li, on the other hand, remained composed and sat upright as if nothing had happened. When the leader scolded, he simply stared at the central fire pit in the gathering hall until everyone had taken their seats before slowly retracting his gaze.
Yan Cen felt a sense of gratitude in his heart.
The leader took a piece of yellowed paper from the hands of someone in charge of the storeroom and earnestly presented it in front of Mo Li, saying, “These are the medicinal herbs from our stronghold. We offer them as consultation fees and rewards.”
The paper was slightly old and yellow, and the words were written skillfully. However, they were not written in ink but looked more like charcoal that had been sharpened.
Mo Li glanced up and noticed that Yan Cen across from him seemed a bit uneasy, knowing whose handwriting it was.
There was no ink in Shimo’s stronghold, so it wasn’t easy to find this piece of paper. Mo Li didn’t say anything but took the “gift list” and read it. It consisted of common herbs, with only one slightly precious herb, Mountain Ginseng.
Mo Li had already purchased the herbs he needed during the day, and while these items were not bad, Meng Qi had no use for them. Thinking that the people in the stronghold might need these medicinal herbs to exchange for other goods, he politely declined, “Leader, you’re too kind. I’m just passing by this mountain and happened to be here…”
Mo Li’s voice trailed off because, with the light from the fire pit, he noticed two more lines of writing on the back of the paper. Naturally, he flipped it over to take a look.
Tiger bones, tiger whip.
Although they were rare medicinal herbs, but…
Mo Li silently placed the paper on the table and decisively said, “I have no use for these medicinal herbs. When traveling, I have no intention of adding weight to my luggage. If the leader and the second-in-command want to show their gratitude, just give me two cups made of bamboo from the mountains. They have a wild charm to them.”
Meng Qi was sitting nearby and had good eyesight. He also saw what was written on the paper. He was about to make a teasing remark when he suddenly heard Mo Li mention bamboo cups, and his expression changed slightly.
The leader of Shimo’s stronghold didn’t understand why Mo Li was requesting cups, but the matter was simple, so he readily agreed.
Yan Cen also breathed a sigh of relief. Writing tiger bones and tiger whip on the gift list was just a desperate move. The stronghold couldn’t find anything valuable. The things that ordinary people would turn their noses up at would only make them a laughingstock if presented.
That tiger used to be a tyrant in Shimo, preying on many mountain villagers. When they first entered the mountain years ago, it even ambushed and injured several people before being killed by the leader. The tiger bones and something dried had been kept in the stronghold for a long time. The traveling merchants couldn’t afford to buy them, so they might as well give them to the Physician.
At this time, warm wine was continuously brought up.
Mo Li didn’t drink alcohol, and Meng Qi didn’t drink either since he was taking medicine. The leader was quite disappointed.
He looked at Qian Xiaolang and wanted to say something but hesitated.
“Physician, what do you think about this child…”
Qian Xiaolang instinctively avoided eye contact and covered his mouth.
The leader’s anger surged as he sternly said, “Do you still want to leave?”
Mo Li turned his head at the sound of his voice and saw Qian Xiaolang dejectedly say, “No, I think I’m living pretty well in the stronghold.”
“Nonsense,” the leader exclaimed, and everyone quickly tried to calm him down.
In the commotion, the young boy ran out, tears streaming down his face.
From the fragmented accounts of others, Mo Li learned about Qian Xiaolang’s background. The boy came from a poor family and was sold by his parents because of their dire financial situation. Due to his unique appearance, he couldn’t find a good place to go and ended up being half sold, half given to the old hunter as his son.
The old hunter, who was sitting in the hall, had lost one eye and looked as if he had encountered a ferocious beast while hunting, with half of his face disfigured. He sighed as he held his wine bowl and said, “They say it’s because of poverty, but his family isn’t completely destitute. His father was a scholar, and their family spent a lot of money on his education, hoping he would achieve great success. Over the years, they gradually sold off all their children. Those who were entrusted to his family are probably here to repay debts!”
“But let’s not talk about it. If Qian Xiaolang’s father had the ability, how could he spend so many years trying and failing to pass the exams? Even Qian Xiaolang is smarter than him. When we met him, the boy was still young but could already recite several books. Unfortunately…”
Whether it was in the previous dynasty or the current one, to succeed in the imperial examinations, it wasn’t just about studying hard.
If someone wasn’t physically attractive, they couldn’t even enter the examination hall.
Being an official was a matter of appearance, and those who were unattractive or had disabilities had no chance.
Whether Qian Xiaolang had talent for studying or could pass the exams didn’t matter because, from the moment he was born, that path was out of reach for him.
As they continued talking, they remembered that there was a Physician present and looked at Mo Li hopefully.
Mo Li pondered for a moment and shook his head slowly.
—The cleft on the young boy’s lip is too large. If it was just a half-exposed tooth, or if he were younger, Mo Li would have tried stitching it together with fine thread, and there would have been a high chance of successful treatment. But in his current condition, Mo Li wasn’t confident in his ability to cure it.
The leader sighed and didn’t say anything more.
Mo Li had a vague understanding of the situation and felt somewhat melancholic. He turned around and noticed that Meng Qi was also lost in thought.
“Brother Meng?” Mo Li called out.
Meng Qi self-mockingly replied, “It’s nothing. I haven’t thought about these things carefully before.”
He didn’t care about people’s appearances.
Mo Li shared the same sentiment regarding this issue.
It turned out that the path of benevolence and righteousness, the teachings of sages, and even the exhortations to study were all deceiving. Lines like “In books, there are beautiful faces” or “In books, there are houses of gold” were all nonsense! There were many people who could read books but had no chance of passing the imperial examinations, rendering their education useless and burdening their families with wasted resources. The suffering in the world was far worse than what people imagined.
After three rounds of drinks, Qian Xiaolang suddenly stumbled back in, his eyes filled with fear.
“Leader, something’s not right! There’s firelight in the mountain valley, and many people are coming!”
“What?” The leader stood up abruptly, anxiously asking, “Are there any banners? Are they soldiers?”
Yan Cen wanted to go out and see what was happening but was stopped by Mo Li.
“Your condition hasn’t improved yet. You need to take the medicine for at least seven days. It’s not advisable to exert your internal energy recklessly.”
“But…” Yan Cen had a foreboding feeling.
At that moment, someone else entered to report something.
“It doesn’t seem like soldiers, but there are many people. It looks like they’re searching the mountains!”
Author’s note:
Just imagine, if you were denied the opportunity to take exams and receive diplomas simply because you were considered ugly, and you would be stuck in the lower class for your entire life. It’s quite terrifying, isn’t it?
In certain dynasties, appearance was given great importance. When we talk about being good-looking, it’s not the same as our modern concept of attractiveness. It referred to having a dignified appearance, such as a square-shaped face or other specific facial features.
Even if you met the standards for appearance, performed well in the imperial exams, and had exceptional answers on your exam papers, factors like family background, influential mentors, and factionalism could still affect your ranking. They would even compare your face to your competitors’ faces and potentially adjust your ranking accordingly.
————
Personally, I feel fortunate to live in modern times. Even if one’s appearance is not exceptional, there are opportunities for education. As long as appearance is not a factor, at least in the college entrance examination, right?
Accident x 1
Mo Li naturally had no idea what Meng Qi was thinking. When he was stimulated by Meng Qi’s aura, his own aura fluctuated suddenly. He realized something was amiss and quickly composed himself. As he reached up to touch his face, he discovered the scales on his cheeks.
Fortunately, Yan Cen and the others were standing far away and didn’t see it.
Mo Li glanced sideways at Meng Qi. This person always seemed to attract trouble wherever they went. Now that he was not acting crazy, he still almost implicated him.
A sand rat could dig a hole, but what about a fish?
Wouldn’t he struggle on the riverbank for a while before plunging into the water? Would he have any dignity left?
Mo Li’s expression remained unchanged, but he felt displeased. With a wave of his sleeve, he walked directly toward the entrance of the ravine.
Meng Qi knew he were at fault, so he touched his nose and followed behind.
When they saw Shimo’s leader and Yan Cen again, both of them were even more cautious and showed greater courtesy. Shimo’s leader was a straightforward person, speaking bluntly, and even with extra politeness, there wasn’t much variation. It was Yan Cen who took the initiative this time, striking up a conversation with Mo Li and praising his medical skills with quotations and sincerity.
Mo Li was slightly surprised. Since leaving Zhushan County, he had only encountered ordinary commoners, few of whom could even read. It had been a long time since he had seen such proper manners and etiquette.
He instantly recalled what Meng Qi had mentioned about this person having an extraordinary background.
Mo Li was still slightly astonished, but Shimo’s leader was completely dumbfounded. The man who had always been taciturn suddenly spoke so appropriately, truly surprising.
Among the people in the entire stronghold, there were very few who could speak and hold a conversation. Because these people used to walk with their heads down, fearing to attract attention, they were also tongue-tied. Now, at their advanced age, learning how to interact with others naturally presented some difficulties.
As a result, this sworn brother of his had been silent all this time, only to make a stunning appearance now.
With the gloomy expression gone, dressed in a thick cloak that completely covered his arms, he seemed to have undergone a complete transformation. He stood tall and upright, like the mentioned beautiful and talented scholars in storytelling.
Indeed, people who have read books are different.
Shimo’s leader sighed inwardly. He tilted his head and noticed Qian Xiaolang, who was lurking nearby, observing the scene with curiosity. An idea crossed his mind, and he waved to call the young boy over.
Qian Xiaolang was only twelve years old and was extremely curious about rare visitors in the stronghold.
He didn’t speak, but blinked his eyes and kept stealing glances at Meng Qi.
Qian Xiaolang didn’t know how to conceal his curiosity, and Mo Li soon noticed him. Seeing the young boy looking at Meng Qi with admiration, Mo Li couldn’t help but wonder why there was suddenly another admirer of Meng Qi in Shimo’s stronghold. Meng Qi hadn’t done anything special there, so why did he now have a young worshipper?
Meng Qi paid no attention to it.
The boy was simply a curious child, not worth mentioning.
Yan Cen led the way ahead, and the group entered the largest building in the stronghold, which served as a makeshift gathering hall like in other bandit strongholds. Although the tables, chairs, and desks were crude stone, they were arranged in an orderly manner.
The gathering hall was already prepared with food and drinks.
There was nothing remarkable about the food, just hard bread and a steaming bowl of meat soup.
The drinks were homemade, with a distinct fermented scent from wild fruits. Someone carefully held a container and poured it into a gauze-covered bowl, sieving the wine meticulously.
The wine was turbid, and one sieving was not enough. It needed to be sieved three times repeatedly.
In the center of the gathering hall was a fire pit, with a rack above it. The sieved wine was placed on the rack to be warmed, ensuring it wouldn’t be too cold to drink.
As they were busy, everyone noticed when Shimo’s leader entered with his entourage and stopped what they were doing.
Some called out to the second-in-command, while others called out to the leader. Some even asked how Qian Xiaolang had come along.
Shimo’s leader cleared his throat and gestured towards Mo Li.
Everyone looked at each other, momentarily puzzled, before awkwardly bowing and expressing their gratitude in various ways, “Thank you, Physician, for saving our second-in-command.”
Mo Li: “…”
In the gathering hall, there were only six or seven people waiting for them. At this moment, not a single person performed the same gesture of respect. Some bowed while maintaining eye contact, some bowed their heads, and others bowed their heads and bent their waists in an uninterrupted manner. There was even someone kneeling on one leg, another folding their hands in prayer, and the most exaggerated one performed a deep bow like one would to pay respects to gods and Buddhas.
If Mo Li didn’t know their identities and if an unaware outsider suddenly entered this gathering hall filled with a group of oddly looking people performing their respective greetings, they would likely be scared and faint, thinking they had stumbled upon a nest of monsters.
“What kind of greetings are these?!”
Shimo’s leader was utterly embarrassed, and his eyes seemed to pop out.
Yan Cen was also dumbfounded. This wasn’t how one would entertain honored guests; it seemed like a farce.
“…Didn’t you say we should be more solemn? More serious?”
The people in the stronghold looked at each other and quickly realized that there was a difference in their understanding of “being solemn.” Some thought sincerity was enough, while others believed it required the utmost respect. Some were undecided and simply followed the actions of those around them while adding their own “even more respectful” details.
Now that they realized their mistake, everyone felt extremely awkward.
“Cough, Physician, please pardon us. My brothers here are not accustomed to formalities or formal occasions.”
Shimo’s leader reluctantly salvaged some face for the stronghold, but he was furious inside.
Yan Cen gave his troublesome sworn brother a comforting look, unable to help but cry and laugh, and continued to take on the responsibility of welcoming Mo Li and Meng Qi.
While Yan Cen’s words were thoughtful, the atmosphere couldn’t be lifted after the earlier incident.
Meng Qi’s smile seemed ambiguous as he found the stronghold interesting.
Mo Li, on the other hand, remained composed and sat upright as if nothing had happened. When the leader scolded, he simply stared at the central fire pit in the gathering hall until everyone had taken their seats before slowly retracting his gaze.
Yan Cen felt a sense of gratitude in his heart.
The leader took a piece of yellowed paper from the hands of someone in charge of the storeroom and earnestly presented it in front of Mo Li, saying, “These are the medicinal herbs from our stronghold. We offer them as consultation fees and rewards.”
The paper was slightly old and yellow, and the words were written skillfully. However, they were not written in ink but looked more like charcoal that had been sharpened.
Mo Li glanced up and noticed that Yan Cen across from him seemed a bit uneasy, knowing whose handwriting it was.
There was no ink in Shimo’s stronghold, so it wasn’t easy to find this piece of paper. Mo Li didn’t say anything but took the “gift list” and read it. It consisted of common herbs, with only one slightly precious herb, Mountain Ginseng.
Mo Li had already purchased the herbs he needed during the day, and while these items were not bad, Meng Qi had no use for them. Thinking that the people in the stronghold might need these medicinal herbs to exchange for other goods, he politely declined, “Leader, you’re too kind. I’m just passing by this mountain and happened to be here…”
Mo Li’s voice trailed off because, with the light from the fire pit, he noticed two more lines of writing on the back of the paper. Naturally, he flipped it over to take a look.
Tiger bones, tiger whip.
Although they were rare medicinal herbs, but…
Mo Li silently placed the paper on the table and decisively said, “I have no use for these medicinal herbs. When traveling, I have no intention of adding weight to my luggage. If the leader and the second-in-command want to show their gratitude, just give me two cups made of bamboo from the mountains. They have a wild charm to them.”
Meng Qi was sitting nearby and had good eyesight. He also saw what was written on the paper. He was about to make a teasing remark when he suddenly heard Mo Li mention bamboo cups, and his expression changed slightly.
The leader of Shimo’s stronghold didn’t understand why Mo Li was requesting cups, but the matter was simple, so he readily agreed.
Yan Cen also breathed a sigh of relief. Writing tiger bones and tiger whip on the gift list was just a desperate move. The stronghold couldn’t find anything valuable. The things that ordinary people would turn their noses up at would only make them a laughingstock if presented.
That tiger used to be a tyrant in Shimo, preying on many mountain villagers. When they first entered the mountain years ago, it even ambushed and injured several people before being killed by the leader. The tiger bones and something dried had been kept in the stronghold for a long time. The traveling merchants couldn’t afford to buy them, so they might as well give them to the Physician.
At this time, warm wine was continuously brought up.
Mo Li didn’t drink alcohol, and Meng Qi didn’t drink either since he was taking medicine. The leader was quite disappointed.
He looked at Qian Xiaolang and wanted to say something but hesitated.
“Physician, what do you think about this child…”
Qian Xiaolang instinctively avoided eye contact and covered his mouth.
The leader’s anger surged as he sternly said, “Do you still want to leave?”
Mo Li turned his head at the sound of his voice and saw Qian Xiaolang dejectedly say, “No, I think I’m living pretty well in the stronghold.”
“Nonsense,” the leader exclaimed, and everyone quickly tried to calm him down.
In the commotion, the young boy ran out, tears streaming down his face.
From the fragmented accounts of others, Mo Li learned about Qian Xiaolang’s background. The boy came from a poor family and was sold by his parents because of their dire financial situation. Due to his unique appearance, he couldn’t find a good place to go and ended up being half sold, half given to the old hunter as his son.
The old hunter, who was sitting in the hall, had lost one eye and looked as if he had encountered a ferocious beast while hunting, with half of his face disfigured. He sighed as he held his wine bowl and said, “They say it’s because of poverty, but his family isn’t completely destitute. His father was a scholar, and their family spent a lot of money on his education, hoping he would achieve great success. Over the years, they gradually sold off all their children. Those who were entrusted to his family are probably here to repay debts!”
“But let’s not talk about it. If Qian Xiaolang’s father had the ability, how could he spend so many years trying and failing to pass the exams? Even Qian Xiaolang is smarter than him. When we met him, the boy was still young but could already recite several books. Unfortunately…”
Whether it was in the previous dynasty or the current one, to succeed in the imperial examinations, it wasn’t just about studying hard.
If someone wasn’t physically attractive, they couldn’t even enter the examination hall.
Being an official was a matter of appearance, and those who were unattractive or had disabilities had no chance.
Whether Qian Xiaolang had talent for studying or could pass the exams didn’t matter because, from the moment he was born, that path was out of reach for him.
As they continued talking, they remembered that there was a Physician present and looked at Mo Li hopefully.
Mo Li pondered for a moment and shook his head slowly.
—The cleft on the young boy’s lip is too large. If it was just a half-exposed tooth, or if he were younger, Mo Li would have tried stitching it together with fine thread, and there would have been a high chance of successful treatment. But in his current condition, Mo Li wasn’t confident in his ability to cure it.
The leader sighed and didn’t say anything more.
Mo Li had a vague understanding of the situation and felt somewhat melancholic. He turned around and noticed that Meng Qi was also lost in thought.
“Brother Meng?” Mo Li called out.
Meng Qi self-mockingly replied, “It’s nothing. I haven’t thought about these things carefully before.”
He didn’t care about people’s appearances.
Mo Li shared the same sentiment regarding this issue.
It turned out that the path of benevolence and righteousness, the teachings of sages, and even the exhortations to study were all deceiving. Lines like “In books, there are beautiful faces” or “In books, there are houses of gold” were all nonsense! There were many people who could read books but had no chance of passing the imperial examinations, rendering their education useless and burdening their families with wasted resources. The suffering in the world was far worse than what people imagined.
After three rounds of drinks, Qian Xiaolang suddenly stumbled back in, his eyes filled with fear.
“Leader, something’s not right! There’s firelight in the mountain valley, and many people are coming!”
“What?” The leader stood up abruptly, anxiously asking, “Are there any banners? Are they soldiers?”
Yan Cen wanted to go out and see what was happening but was stopped by Mo Li.
“Your condition hasn’t improved yet. You need to take the medicine for at least seven days. It’s not advisable to exert your internal energy recklessly.”
“But…” Yan Cen had a foreboding feeling.
At that moment, someone else entered to report something.
“It doesn’t seem like soldiers, but there are many people. It looks like they’re searching the mountains!”
Author’s note:
Just imagine, if you were denied the opportunity to take exams and receive diplomas simply because you were considered ugly, and you would be stuck in the lower class for your entire life. It’s quite terrifying, isn’t it?
In certain dynasties, appearance was given great importance. When we talk about being good-looking, it’s not the same as our modern concept of attractiveness. It referred to having a dignified appearance, such as a square-shaped face or other specific facial features.
Even if you met the standards for appearance, performed well in the imperial exams, and had exceptional answers on your exam papers, factors like family background, influential mentors, and factionalism could still affect your ranking. They would even compare your face to your competitors’ faces and potentially adjust your ranking accordingly.
————
Personally, I feel fortunate to live in modern times. Even if one’s appearance is not exceptional, there are opportunities for education. As long as appearance is not a factor, at least in the college entrance examination, right?
