It was pitch black outside the window. It was the darkest, darkest and coldest moment before dawn. The students and scholars who were usually sleeping soundly in the inn now packed up, took their things and went out.
It's a moth flying into the flame
Or the Phoenix Nirvana
This is the day that determines the fate of each of them in the future. The county examination in February of the Ming Dynasty has begun. The students and scholars walking out of the inn are either anxious or complacent, and of course there are also expressionless and calm faces.
Zhu Ping'an also went out at this time, bringing a lot of things with him, as if he were moving: there was a rabbit skin blanket and a thin mattress in the suitcase; he carried a large bamboo basket, which was full of food and drink.
There are a dazzling array of preserved fruits, cakes, cooked food, braised meats, water cups, etc.; of course pen, ink, paper and inkstone are also essential.
After all, Zhu Ping'an was only thirteen years old and not tall. He brought so many things with him that he almost couldn't see anyone, like a clumsy turtle carrying its shell.
Other students and scholars who went out saw Zhu Pingan and laughed at him for bringing too many things. Most of them brought lighter things, and some also brought a lot of things, but none of them brought so much as Zhu Pingan did.
Zhu Pingan turned a deaf ear to the ridicule from fellow students and scholars.
When passing by 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, without any intention of leaving. The other students and scholars in the same group looked at them with envy.
, Uncle Zhu Shouren and the others also enjoy the attention and envy of everyone.
"Xie'er, don't be nervous. It doesn't matter if you don't win this time. Once you gain experience, the future will be long."
Uncle Zhu Shouren, who was enjoying the envy of everyone, saw his nephew Zhu Ping'an, who was carrying a lot of things. His face became even more proud, and he preached in the tone of an elder.
We haven't even taken the exam yet, why do I fail when I open my mouth, but I gain experience by keeping my mouth shut? Zhu Ping'an looked at his uncle Zhu Shouren, who looked like an elder who was kindly preaching, and in his heart ten thousand grass and mud horses roared past.
"Why hasn't Uncle left yet?" Zhu Pingan asked quietly.
Hearing Zhu Ping'an's doubts, his uncle Zhu Shouren felt as if he had drank three bowls of soju in one go. His face was red with excitement, but he pretended to be nothing.
"My uncle is already a child. He no longer needs to take the county or government examinations. He only needs to take the college examination."
Uncle Zhu Shouren stroked his beard, his face full of pride, waiting to see Zhu Pingan's envy, jealousy, and hatred.
"Oh, the pig will go first." Zhu Ping'an didn't care at all about his uncle's pride, he replied lightly, then carried his luggage and followed the others out.
Just say oh...
The uncle who was waiting for Zhu Pingan was jealous and looked at Zhu Pingan's leaving figure with a blank look on his face.
Zhu Ping'an followed everyone to the county examination center. The examination center was located at a market not far from the county government office. During the examination period, the market was closed and cleaned, and a huge examination booth was set up, facing north and south. There are east and west gates in the south, surrounded by
With Muzha, there is a large courtyard. The north of the courtyard is the main entrance, called "Dragon Gate". Behind the dragon gate is a large courtyard for candidates to stand up and wait for their names to be called. To the north are three halls with an aisle in the middle. The examiners sit in the west room and face east.
Roll call. Further north, there are many simple multi-row seats for candidates to write.
In front of the examination booth, there were five teams of government officials in front of the main entrance, checking the certificates of the students and scholars and the salutes they brought with them. The inspection was very careful: the bedding must not have linings, the socks must be single-layered, the clothes must be unsealed, and the inkstones must be
It can't be too thick, the pastries have to be cut...
The yamen officers inspected so carefully because they were afraid of cheating and being held accountable in the future.
There were many students who took the exam before who brought unqualified items. Fortunately, they were not caught cheating. The unqualified items were just piled at the door by the government officials and people went in.
After so many years of imperial examinations, the penalties for cheating are also very serious. At least during the time Zhu Pingan was waiting in line, he did not find anything involving cheating.
Just like a modern security check, a lot of everything Zhu Ping'an brought was opened and inspected, and the cooked and preserved fruits were cut by the yamen just enough to be eaten.
There was not a single unqualified item in such a large number of items. Not only the students who were waiting to see the joke were surprised, but also the government officials who were inspecting were a little surprised.
After entering the main entrance, a clerk with some knowledge of literature checked Zhu Pingan's identity and resume. After checking, he led Zhu Pingan to an open space, where four scholars in their twenties were already waiting. This should be
Old Master Sun was the guarantor of the four candidates. These four people had high self-esteem and communicated with each other. None of them paid attention to Zhu Pingan. They all knew that Zhu Pingan was hired by Old Master Sun to make up the numbers.
Seeing the performance of several people, Zhu Pingan's original idea of saying hello disappeared and he stood there waiting innocently.
When it was almost dawn in Daise, the county magistrate in official robes arrived, and the waiting students and scholars became commotion, which made it difficult for the government officials to maintain order.
There were too many people, and Zhu Ping'an was young and short, so he didn't see clearly what the county magistrate looked like.
Through the exchanges with people around him, Zhu Ping'an knew that the county magistrate gave some general words of encouragement, and then talked about the exam. There were four exams in the county exam, etc. In fact, there were four exams in the county exam, and five exams could be taken.
It can be done in any venue, as decided by the county magistrate. There will be four exams this time, and Zhu Ping'an is also happy to hear about it.
Then the county grandpa left the scene, and the officials began to call the roll. Several government officials loudly repeated the county grandpa's words for all the students to hear.
It took a long time for Zhu Ping'an to hear his name, and he walked in with several scholars who were guarantors of Master Sun along with him.
There was a paper lantern sign in the courtyard, which was easy to see. Zhu Pingan followed a few people into the atrium lobby, and followed a few people to salute the person in front who looked like the examiner.
"Li Lanshan, a native of Shanghe Village, is guarantored by Sun Hongzhi, a local student." One of the four people stepped forward, took an examination paper, and shouted his guarantor.
Then Zhu Ping'an heard the voice of Old Master Sun, "Sun Hongzhibao, the born student."
Zhu Pingan looked up and saw Old Master Sun sitting in the lobby, and there were several other 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 exam.
Zhu Ping'an was the last one among the five to vote for him. After Old Master Sun agreed to bail, Zhu Ping'an didn't even have a chance to make eye contact with Old Master Sun, and was led by the clerk to the examination room to take the exam.
I can also understand that so many candidates and post-secondary students have to go through this process, and time is very tight.
There is a seat number on the roll seal in Zhu Pingan's hand, Ding Chou. This is arranged according to the heavenly stems and earthly branches, but Zhu Pingan, who is used to seeing Arabic numerals, is still confused about this. Fortunately, an official noticed the seat, otherwise it would be a difficult task to find a seat.
A troublesome thing.
There are ten rows of simple seats, one long table, and one chair, and that's it.
Zhu Pingan sat on his seat, placed pens, inks, paper and inkstones one by one, and then opened the test paper.
The test paper has red lines and horizontal grids. There are more than ten sheets in total, with twelve lines on each page and twenty crosses on each line. There are also two white papers for drafting.
However, he did not see the test questions. Zhu Ping'an was a little confused. He was about to raise his hand to ask the examiner when he saw several government officials patrolling the venue with sign lights. Two government officials held up a large wooden board to display the exam.
The title is posted on this large wooden board.
It turned out to be so, Zhu Pingan suddenly realized.