The sky was getting dark, and there was already a sea of ​​people outside the county examination room. There were vendors at small stalls, servants waiting for the examination, relatives and friends waiting for the examination, and of course more people watching the excitement.

Even if a group of marching soldiers and yamen officers separated a few meters of open space in front of the dragon gate, they could not stop the gaze of many people looking in.

Status is important everywhere in this world, and taking the exam is no exception. No, the positions near Longmen are occupied by people from various large and small families.

"This time, there are more than ten young masters from your clan taking part in the examination. They are really prosperous in culture!"

"It's a pity that in last year's county examination, my He family only had three children, and the business was even worse."

"Alas, our clan has never produced a scholar since our ancestors founded the clan. I only hope that a scholar will be born in the next few years." Several rich people in bright clothes said with emotion.

"What should we discuss? It's just a small family that can't stand on the stage. No matter how good it is in the exam, it's just like that. It still depends on whether the county's wealthy families can produce a few good talents."

"We can also talk to the powerful Zhou family, Wu family and others. They have been quite active in recent years."

"If you don't promote people, build a few manors, and open a few shops, what's a big move? You're not even a rural family." As he said that, people from several families started to argue over which family was strong and which family was not.

.

Fortunately, the topic quickly changed, because the crowd behind suddenly gave way to three paths, and the people who came were the family stewards of the Zhao, Qian, and Chen families who were taking the exam.

"Why don't you give up your position quickly? These three families are all the tycoons of our county in Pingcang. Don't cause any trouble to the family." There were still many discerning people who immediately reminded the companions in front to get out of the way.

The stewards of the three wealthy families in the county were each accompanied by a group of powerful slaves, but they did not look above their heads, but greeted and chatted with the stewards of other small clans with a smile.

There is no way. It is very difficult to improve your family status every time. If you want to surpass other county tycoons at the county tycoon level, you have to win the support of more small local families.

"I heard that Master Chen Yun can read a thousand words at the age of three, memorize ancient poems at the age of five, and read the Four Books and Five Classics by the age of seven. I believe he will be able to gain fame directly in this examination."

"Master Qian postponed taking the county examination for a few years. He will definitely have a lot of savings this year. Maybe being a scholar is not his goal."

"Manager Zhao, Master Liangji is very talented and must be the first one to leave the examination room."

The stewards of the county tycoon family gave face, and the members of other small families naturally followed suit. They had a wealth of information about the direct lineage of the major county tycoons.

However, no matter how much they praise it, there is a tit-for-tat tone in the words of this clan and its supporters.

The county examination is really not difficult for a young master from a family like theirs, and it is a foregone conclusion that he will be a child student.

It's just that whoever's young master leaves the examination room first is the first to take the lead. This was a saying in previous years.

"When the market opens, bet on which young master will leave the examination room first and how many children each family will win this time." In a corner, a well-informed dealer has already opened the handicap.

Slowly, time passed, and everyone's eyes were looking forward.

Zhou Bai didn't know that there was a debate outside, so he strode out of the side door with Shi Shiran.

Although the lunch in the examination room is full, it is not very hungry, and it is all without oil and water.

He found that since his body was transformed by the small skill of archery, he was in good health and his digestive ability was truly unmatched before.

If you are hungry, you should look for some snacks to satisfy your hunger.

"Come out, the first candidate has come out!"

"Huh? Which young master is this? I consider myself Bai Xiaosheng. Why is there no record of this person?" The news dealer who opened the handicap was the most surprised.

The boss of Zhou Rui's family opened his eyes wide, and immediately shouted excitedly: "Master Bai, here."

Zhou Bai was a little surprised when he saw that everyone seemed to be talking about him, but he was not afraid and walked out of the crowd calmly.

"From the Zhou family of the township clan?"

"It's not the son of the third family of Zhao Qian and Chen who came out first. This is a loss for the county magistrate. The first place is not necessarily the same."

"Who knows if this Zhou Bai is blind? Being the first to leave the examination room does not mean he will pass, let alone the top spot?!"

"That is, is his Zhou family lucky enough?"

Those who challenge authority are always disliked by those in power, but it had no impact on Zhou Bai. His expression did not change at all until he and Lao Bashi left the crowded crowd.

"Master Bai, don't take their words to heart. If you are not envied by others, you are mediocre." Lao Baoshi did not ask Zhou Bai how he did in the exam, but tried to use his own experience to enlighten him.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Bai only admired the veteran's talents and did not pay attention to the ridicule from outsiders. He said calmly: "It will take more than half an hour for the dragon gate to open. You continue to wait for Zhou Rui.

I'm going to find something to eat first."

Then, in full view of everyone, this "genius" who was the first to leave the examination room actually ran to the street and bought a pack of roasted chestnuts and ate them.

This behavior was noticed by the officer who sent him out, and he immediately reported it back to Ji Hongzhe.

"He is only fifteen years old, and his inner self is not affected by external words. It is very valuable. He is ordered to pay more attention to him." After listening to the report of his close servants, Ji Hongzhe became more and more satisfied with Zhou Bai and explained.

As for other families, their attention to Zhou Bai is still limited. Ranking in the imperial examination is not all about literary talent, but also depends on luck.

Everything depends on the results after the results are released.

…

It was night, and all the candidates had dispersed in the examination room lobby, but the place was still brightly lit.

Because the marking officers need to mark the papers overnight and select the children who can pass the examination from hundreds of candidates.

Several senior civil servants, chief clerks, edicts, county magistrates, and county magistrates all sat down solemnly, holding ink pens in their hands.

Each article was graded in their hands. Literary officials were mainly responsible for grading the dictation of classics and meanings. Together with the chief clerk, there were a total of four graded county magistrates. They focused on the examination of poems and policy discussions.

Suddenly, in the middle of the night, all the test papers had been read by four marking officers.

Some answers have one red circle on them, and some have two or three answers, but there are very few answers that all four county magistrates are optimistic about, only five.

As can be seen from the arrangement on the table, these test papers are basically divided into four categories.

The first category is naturally five four-circle answer sheets, the second category is a slightly inferior three-circle two-circle answer sheet, and there are more than a hundred copies. The third category is actually basically giving up, and only one county official is optimistic about it.

However, I haven’t read the fortune attached to the paper, so I can’t conclude that the third category of essays is eliminated. This part has the most answers, about three hundred.

Only the fourth category, with almost two hundred answer sheets, does not depend on luck, and will definitely be rejected.

If your literary talent is too poor, no matter how lucky you are, you won't be able to be selected. This is the bottom line for the imperial court to recruit scholars.

The appointment of untalented people as officials will make the place a mess and make people resentful, which will also reduce the court's ability to absorb the local luck.
Chapter completed!