1715 [Bonus chapter]The Impact Across Baymard
Today was a big day.
The skies were dull and the air was chilly, only adding to the sorrow many felt in their hearts.
"Papa... I've failed you. I didn't make it. I-I-I didn't make it. What am I going to do now?"
"Aiyy~... you cheer up. Life is not a marathon. It doesn't matter who crosses the finish line first because several years from now, you can be in a better situation than them. The important thing is that you do your best and acknowledge your weaknesses."
"Mama... I'm sorry, I passed but had the worst passing grade. I almost failed just there."
"So what? Every victory must be celebrated. My son, years ago, you were illiterate. You couldn't even hold a book the right way. But now, you're sitting in class and can understand what they are saying. Your grades might only be because, for one, Pyron isn't our language but Roma. If given some time, I'm sure you'll exceed your limits. Just know that I am proud of you. I will continue working in Baymard for your tuition, so cheer up! You passed the exams and that's all that matters!"
"Big sis, will you hate me? I wasn't good enough after all your efforts to send me here."
"Hate you? Is that why you're crying as though it's the end of the world? My dear Lily, do you know how fortunate you are? You're not the first to fail an exam and neither will you be the last. Have you forgotten that last year I failed the bar exam to become a lawyer? Did I give up? No! I spent another year studying hard and now I've made it with flying colors and a scholarship. "
"That's right! Listen to your sister. Do you know how many people get turned down every semester for the Culinary and Bartending examinations? Do you know how many people get turned down to become theater stars? No matter what your results are, she will be proud of you if you don't give up. So you better cheer up fast because, in 2 days, it will be Christmas!"
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Across the Baymardian empire, both in the capital and other Baymardian territories, many found it funny to see their children cry so much.
In medieval times failure was a common thing to see.
In fact, a majority of the greats all failed uncountable times before crawling to the top.
Even when planning assassination attacks, 9/10 times monarchs would fail to kill their stepbrothers and siblings before getting it right one final time.
Do you know how many times farmers have had their crop yields fall below standard and made their families go hungry after paying taxes?
Do you know how many times they failed at starting businesses, even petty trades like selling tomatoes in a market?
Do you know how they failed to keep their children and loved ones alive during harsh weather, leading to the biggest regrets and knots buried in their hearts? Tsk.
Failure was too common for them when doing anything for the first few times.
So if you're going to cry for every little bit of failure in this world, then you'll be crying a river by then.
What's more, from what some people heard in Parent-Teacher meetings, it's said that over 99.9% of students never fail exams after their first 3 failures within the school.
Even Landon was amazed by the results.
You have to know that in some classes, there are no failures at all, with everyone's grades ranging between B- to A+.
Children of this era were far different from those in the future era.
They knew the importance of knowledge and knew the importance of never wasting any opportunity.
Take, for example, Momo's class.
Since they turned 9~10, none of the students in his class had ever failed a single course regardless of how many Grades they advanced.
Whether they were in grade 9 or Grade 12, everyone passed together and advanced to the next class together as well.
The only difference was that they would get distributed according to their grades, with some entering A class or E class.
It was funny that E-class consisted of people with mostly B- (minus) grades.
If it were back on earth, E-class would consist of those with C- (minus) grades or those at borderline D grades that struggled to advance to the next School Grade.
.
Many slammed the crying backs of these students, comforting them while also teasing them too.
Well, many men were not good at confronting their children so they could only buy them things and take them out instead.
It was hard for them to comfort their sons though comforting their daughters came easier.
They, men, grew up like that, never showing emotions easily.
It wasn't that they didn't cry, but they won't be in any public place unless on a battlefield or at a funeral of a loved one.
Well, it was truly awkward for many men since they have never seen their children cry at all.
They froze in shock, not knowing what to do for a second.
Seeing the tears in their children's eyes they understood how much the children worked hard on this, meaning it meant the world to them.
Even after going to Knighthood Academy, many have never felt so pained for failing compared to this.
This failure truly hurt them in their souls and guts. Even some in the many academies scattered around Baymard were stomped, crying underneath their pillows.
In the end whether it was their family or friends many quickly got out of their sorrow, knowing failure was only normal before great success.
Almost everyone in the Baymardian schools had failed at the beginning.
Even in the Lower regions, those working in the many industries failed numerous times to create the perfect products thus the prototypes that had been thrown into recycling.
But amid the sorrows of many were the jubilations of a larger group.
"Bahahahhahahahah~... Once again, I did it!"
"Grandpa! Grandpa! Look! Look! I made it! And my scores are one of the best in my Grade too!"
"No way! Mom, you said that if I ranked above the top 10, I will take me to Baymard's Universal Picture Studios. Don't forget that my idol, Kay Grodon is going to be there on the 18th for a grand fan meet-up! You promised!"
"Big brother! Big brother! I did it! Now, we can finally have fun and enjoy the Christmas season! Quickly, we have to get to the store and buy all we need. Don't forget that the day before and after Christmas are holidays too."
Christmas! Christmas! Christmas!
With the results out of the way, everyone focused on the most amazing time of the year.
It was a time of love, gift-sharing, and gratitude.