Chapter 85: Give them all a chance.

The locals cheered when child Hu stepped forward and the magistrate went to take his seat. The guests were not as trilled. This all seemed rigged. Not that if the semifinals were in their village, it wouldn't have been as rigged, but still.

"I, ah, I have come here to…" Little Hu looked nervous, the magistrate tipped a sand clock upside down and the boy palled. "We all know that China is, um, it is…"

"Psst," It was Han Shanyuan who had moved a little to the front, so little Hu could hear him. "Tell them your key points, and you'll be fine. They have probably read your essay already. Just look at how they are smiling at you."

 With that, the boy returned to his place, and little Hu cleared his throat.

"We are numerous, but there are many regions which face a shortage of hands! That is why there has to be a stipend to encourage women to have more children. And we need more schools, or else there will be none of us left," the boy said, breathing heavily.