The rise of the poor

Chapter 81

It was pitch black outside the window. The moment before dawn was the darkest, darkest, and coldest. The students and scholars who were usually sleeping in the inn had all packed up at this moment, packed their belongings and went out.

moth to fire

Or Phoenix Nirvana
This is the day that decides their future destiny. The county exam in February of Daming begins. The students and scholars walking out of the inn are either anxious or smug, and of course some are expressionless and calm.

Zhu Ping'an also went out at this time, and brought a lot of things with him, just like moving house: there was a rabbit skin blanket and a thin mattress in his luggage; he carried a large bamboo basket, which was full of food and drink Yes, preserved fruit, cakes, cooked food, braised meat, water cups, etc. are all dazzling; of course, ink, paper and inkstone are also essential.

After all, Zhu Ping'an was only 13 years old, and he was not tall. With so many things, he almost couldn't see anyone, like a clumsy tortoise with a shell on its back.

When other students and scholars who went out saw Zhu Ping'an, they laughed at him for bringing too many things. Most of them carried relatively light things, and some people also brought a lot of things, but none of them brought as much as Zhu Ping'an.

Zhu Ping'an turned a deaf ear to the ridicule of fellow students and scholars.

When passing the lobby, Zhu Ping'an was a little surprised to find that his uncle Zhu Shouren and several other students were leisurely ordering a table of good wine and delicious food, and had no intention of leaving. The other students and scholars in the same group looked at them enviously. , Uncle Zhu Shouren and the others also enjoy the attention and envy of everyone.

"She'er, don't be nervous, it doesn't matter if you don't get in this time, and you have a lot of experience, and you will have a long time in Japan."

Uncle Zhu Shouren, who was enjoying the envy of everyone, saw his nephew Zhu Ping'an who was carrying a lot of things on his back.

It's not even the exam yet, so why did you open your mouth and I didn't get it, and keep your mouth shut to gain experience. Zhu Ping'an looked at the elder uncle Zhu Shouren, who was kind and preached, and [-] grass and mud horses roared in his heart.

"Why hasn't the uncle left yet?" Zhu Ping'an asked quietly.

Hearing Zhu Ping'an's doubts, the uncle Zhu Shouren seemed to have drank three bowls of soju in one breath, and he was about to float up. His face was flushed with excitement, but he pretended to be nothing.

"The uncle is already a child. There is no need to participate in the county examination and the prefectural examination. It is only necessary to participate in the academy examination."

Uncle Zhu Shouren stroked his beard, his face full of pride, waiting to see Zhu Ping's envy, jealousy and hatred.

"Oh, that She'er will go first." Zhu Ping'an didn't care about his uncle's pride at all, he replied lightly, and went out with the crowd with his luggage on his back.

Just oh
Waiting for Zhu Ping'an's uncle, who was envious, jealous, and hated, he stared blankly at the back of Zhu Ping'an leaving.

Zhu Ping'an followed the crowd to the county test center. The test center was located in a market not far from the county office. During the test, the market was closed and cleaned, and a huge test booth was set up, facing south.On the south side of the examination shed, there are two gates, east and west. The gates are surrounded by wooden fences.There is a large yard in the examination shed, and there is also a main gate, which is often referred to as the Dragon Gate.This large yard is the test room for the candidates to take the test. The test room is divided into two parts. The front part is for the candidates to wait, and the rear part has several rows of tables and chairs for the candidates to answer the papers.The examiner sits on the west side, where candidates line up and wait for the examiner to call their names.

In front of the examination room, there were five teams of yamen in front of the main entrance, checking the certificates of students and scholars and the salutes they brought with them. Not too thick, the pastry has to be cut
The yamen inspected so carefully because they were afraid of cheating, so as not to be held accountable in the future.

There are a lot of students who failed to pass the test. Fortunately, they were not found to be cheating. As long as they were not cheating, if they did not pass the test, they would leave the items and people could enter.

It has been so many years in the imperial examination, and the punishment for cheating is also very serious. At least Zhu Ping'an did not find any cheating during the time he waited in line.

The yamen's search is like a modern security check. A lot of everything that Zhu Ping'an brought was opened and checked, and the cooked and preserved fruits were cut by the yamen just enough to be entered.

There is not a single item that is unqualified in such a large number of things, not only the students who are waiting to see the joke are surprised, but also the clerk who inspects them is a little surprised.

After entering the main entrance, a clerk with a little knowledge of the language and ink checked and checked Zhu Ping'an's identity resume. After checking, Zhu Ping'an was led to an open space, where four scholars in their twenties were already waiting. This should be the Old Master Sun has been the four candidates for the insurance.The four had high self-esteem and communicated with each other. None of them paid attention to Zhu Ping'an. They all knew that Zhu Ping'an was hired by Old Master Sun to make up the number.

Zhu Ping'an saw the performance of several people, and the original idea of ​​saying hello disappeared, and he just stood there and waited.

When it was almost dawn, the county magistrate in official robes arrived, and the waiting students and scholars became agitated, making the yamen guarding the order a little difficult.

There were too many people, and Zhu Ping'an was young and short, so he couldn't see clearly what the county magistrate looked like.

Through the communication with the people around, Zhu Ping'an knew that the county magistrate had generally said something encouraging, and then he talked about this exam. There are four exams in this county exam, etc. In fact, four exams can take five exams. The test is also possible, it is decided by the magistrate, and Zhu Ping'an also likes to see the four tests this time.

Then the county magistrate left the venue, and officials began to call names, and several yamen retell the county magistrate's words loudly for the students to hear.

It took a long time for Zhu Ping'an to hear his name, and he walked inside with several scholars who were protected by Old Master Sun with him.

There are paper lanterns in the courtyard, which are easy to see. Zhu Ping'an followed a few people into the atrium lobby, and followed them to the person who looked like an examiner in front of him and saluted.

"Li Lanshan, a native of Shanghe Village, has Sun Hongzhi as the guarantee." One of the four stepped forward and took a test paper to sing the guarantee.

Then Zhu Ping'an heard Old Master Sun's voice, "Linsheng Sun Hongzhibao."

Zhu Ping'an looked up and saw Old Master Sun sitting in the lobby, and there were several people sitting with Old Master Sun.

After hearing Old Master Sun's confirmation, the examiner nodded, and then a small official led Li Lanshan to the examination room to take the test.

Zhu Ping'an was the last of the five to sing and protect. After Old Master Sun responded, Zhu Ping'an didn't even have a chance to make eye contact with Old Master Sun, so he was led to the examination room by the clerk.

It is also understandable that so many candidates and guarantor students have to go through this process, and the time is very tight.

Zhu Ping'an has the seat number on the scroll seal in his hand, Ding Chou.This is arranged according to the zodiac, but Zhu Ping'an, who is used to seeing Arabic numerals, is still very at a loss. Fortunately, a small official caused a seat, otherwise it would be a hassle to find a seat.

There are ten rows of simple seats, one long table, one chair, and that's it.

Zhu Ping'an sat in the seat, put the pen, ink, paper and inkstone in place one by one, and then opened the test paper.

There are more than ten papers with red lines, horizontal and vertical lines, and each page has [-] lines and [-] characters each. There are also two blank sheets of paper for drafting.

But he didn't see the test questions, Zhu Ping'an was a little puzzled, and was about to raise his hand to ask the examiner, but he saw several yamen officers patrolling the venue with sign lights. The title is posted on this big board.

It turned out that, Zhu Ping'an suddenly realized.

(End of this chapter)