During the Ming and Qing China, the scholar is one of the pillars of local gentry.

在明清时的中国，秀才是地方士绅阶层的支柱之一。

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As no more than 5% of them could become officials, the majority of the scholar-gentry stayed in local villages or cities as social leaders.

这些人中不超过5％的人会被录取为正式官员，大部分有功名在身的学子会留在乡村（附：或老家？）

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