《明史·列传·卷五十五》
年少时刚直豪爽志向远大，侍奉继母以孝顺闻名。宣德初年，中乡试任命为代州训导，愿意任其它职务，改任泰和县典史。
曹鼐，字万钟，宁晋人。少伉爽有大志，事继母以孝闻。宣德初，由乡举授代州训导，愿授别职，改泰和县典史。
He was upright and unrestrained when he was young and had great ambitions. He served his stepmother and was famous for his filial piety. In the early years of Xuande Emperor, he passed the provincial examination and was appointed as the training instructor of Daizhou. He was willing to take other positions and was transferred to the record keeper of Taihe County.