But suddenly, he said "Hey", and then the hand that was habitually preparing to put down the test paper stopped.
After watching for a long time, the exam official from the same school said in surprise: "This person is a great talent, I'm afraid he will be able to get Jieyuan."
As he spoke, the fellow examiner drew a circle with a red pen on the top of the test paper.
The so-called vermilion pen uses cinnabar as ink, and is generally used for scientific examination corrections and the Ministry of Punishment's review and approval of death sentences.
Drawing a circle on the test paper means that the test paper is passed by you.
If you draw a triangle, it means to be determined.
Drawing an x is derogatory.
After drawing a circle, the fellow examiner then asked the soldier waiting by the side to send the copied papers to the main examination room.
The four co-examiners each occupy an examination room for reviewing and approving test papers, while the chief examiner and the deputy examiner live in the same examination room.
At this time, the chief examiner and the deputy examiner were sitting in the main examination room drinking tea, looking very leisurely.
This is not surprising. Although the number of test papers is as high as 3,000, there are very few test papers that can pass the eyes of four examiners and are even pending.
According to convention, the number of passing test papers should be around 60, while the number of pending test papers should be around 120, which is relatively small if they are distributed to each examiner.
So far, only a dozen test papers have been handed over from the four examiners.
With the level of the chief examiner and deputy examiner, reviewing these examination papers is extremely easy.
So they had plenty of time to sit and drink tea.
Of course, even if they don't drink tea, they have nothing else to do here.
This is the only thing they can do during the provincial examination, even playing chess is not allowed.
So when the examiner saw a soldier coming in hastily, he immediately became energetic and said, "Here comes another test paper."
As he spoke, the examiner took the test paper, placed it on a bookcase and began to review it.
The deputy examiner was not in a hurry. Anyway, after the examiner had read and marked it, he wanted to read it and was not in a hurry.
But the deputy examiner soon discovered that something was not right. When the examiner looked at the examination paper, his face changed from relaxed to solemn, and then from solemn to joyful. In the end, he actually clapped his book and applauded.
Upon seeing this, the deputy examiner hurriedly stepped forward and moved closer to the examiner to take a look.
"This article can be called a solution to the problem!"
After reading it, the deputy examiner couldn't help but sigh.
The examiner asked somewhat sarcastically: "I wonder if Brother Menglong could have written this article in the first place?"
The deputy examiner was stunned, and after a long time he shook his head: "After reading this article, I feel inferior to you."
As for the examiner, he asked himself in his mind, if he encountered this question during the general examination, he would probably lose his reputation and it would be impossible to pass the Jinshi examination.
Of course, although they felt ashamed, they did not envy the candidate's talent. They immediately picked up their ink pens and drew a circle on the examination paper.
With these three circles in place, this candidate can basically be said to be a sure winner.
In fact, in the provincial examinations held every two years, even across the country, very few candidates can obtain three circles.
Because until the article is written to a certain level, these examiners are extremely harsh and strict.
To put it bluntly, this is how literati look down upon each other.
Before the level of the article exceeds that of the examiner, the examiner is often not willing to give the circle, and most of them will give a triangle.
It is not easy to surpass the examiner in writing.
You must know that among these examiners, whether they are the main examiner, deputy examiner or co-examiner, the worst ones are from the second-class Jinshi background.
Because Sanjia and Jinshi were born together, they were directly sent to other places by the Ministry of Civil Affairs to serve as officials after the imperial examination.
The officials who were able to stay in the capital, gain experience in the six ministries, and were finally selected as examiners for the provincial examinations were all from the second-class Jinshi background.
And in the provincial examination, how many candidates can surpass these second-class scholars in articles?
Just think about it and you will know that there are very few.
Therefore, during the provincial examinations in previous years, candidates who were able to get two circles, when the provincial examination list was released, their rankings were all before the examination. Those who were able to get one circle were basically guaranteed to be admitted to the Juren Examination, but they were ranked lower.
That’s all.
The vast majority of candidates who can obtain three circles can win Jieyuan, which is the title of first place in the provincial examination.
After a period of busy work, the four examiners sent a total of 61 test papers to the main examination room, and 123 test papers were pending.
It’s not surprising to have a few more test papers.
Anyway, in the end, everyone needs to sit together and make the final decision on the list of winners.
Soon, six examiners were sitting in the main examination room.
The examiner presides over the list determination meeting.
Naturally, what he meant was to follow the past practice of provincial examinations and first eliminate all test papers without a single circle.
All examiners have no opinion on this point.
After doing this, the remaining test papers changed from 184 to 63.
This is not surprising. Since I couldn't get the circled pending test papers from the same examiner, it stands to reason that it is unlikely that I would get circles from the main exam and the deputy exam.
After all, generally speaking, the main examiner and deputy examiner have a higher vision than the same examiner.
The only two test papers were entirely because the main examiner or deputy examiner felt that the articles were innovative, so they drew a circle.
But even if there are only 63 test papers left, it is still necessary to eliminate the derogations, because this time the provincial examination, the examiner is only willing to admit 56 people.
He thinks this is more auspicious.
Of course, this is the power of the examiner. As long as the admission quota he determines is not lower than the lowest number in previous years, nor higher than the highest number in previous years, then no one can blame him.
56 people is exactly the average number of previous provincial examinations.
The deputy examiners will not feel that Shannan Province is being targeted because there are too few admission places, and the same examiners will not make people feel that the quality of the article is too low because there are too many admission places.
In fact, for the examiner who has read all the test papers delivered to the examination room, he has already made up his mind to disparage those papers.
So he then cleanly dismissed 7 papers that he thought were unqualified.
Of course, this result was also agreed by other examiners.
Finally, the deputy examiner asked the examiner: "Do you want to search for remains?"
The so-called search means that when the examiner feels that the number of qualified test papers is not enough, he will find more suitable test papers from the demoted test papers to make up the number he needs.
But the workload is actually huge.
Since you want to search for missing items, you need to take out all the test papers, read them one by one, and review them again.
Therefore, generally speaking, unless the examiner has some considerations or has some important interests involved, otherwise, the examiner will not be willing to be so busy.
In fact, the same was true for the examiner. He shook his head and said with a smile: "With that article, why should I be afraid even if all the candidates are demoted?"
When the deputy examiner heard this, he couldn't help being stunned for a moment, and then started laughing.
Finally, the list of successful candidates was determined.
The clerk also took out the original paper, opened the name of the lake, and matched it one by one with the copied paper. After confirming that it was correct, he copied the list of successful candidates onto yellow paper, and then the chief examiner, deputy examiner, and co-examiner signed and stamped them one by one.
Put on your official seal.
At this point, the list has only officially come into effect.
In fact, when the examiner and other officials stamped his official seal, Fang Xiaoyue, who was practicing calligraphy in the guest room, immediately had a feeling.
Wen Qi began to slowly gather towards him from all around.
And when the next morning, several government officials took the yellow paper and posted it on the bulletin board outside the examination hall, the literary spirit quickly gathered towards Fang Xiaoyue.
This is not surprising. Literary spirit cannot be gathered simply by giving you the position of being an official. It needs to be widely publicized in order to generate more literary spirit.
Just like last time, Fang Xiaoyue didn't go outside the examination center to look at the list. Instead, she waited for the official to come to the inn and shouted: "Good news! Congratulations to Mr. Fang Mingrui from Kuangluo County for graduating from high school!"
He likes money. He has already prepared it. He went to the bank to exchange for small ingots, one or two.
Fang Xiaoyue directly grabbed a handful, about five or six, and stuffed them into the hands of the official who announced the good news: "Same joy, same joy."
However, after sending the official who announced the good news away, Fang Xiaoyue instantly became the brightest kid in the inn.
No way, everyone is not deaf, they all have ears, and they all heard the announcement of the good news from the Yamen servant.
"Congratulations to Mr. Xie Yuang! Congratulations!"
Scholars rushed up one after another, seeming to want to get some happiness from Fang Xiaoyue, and surrounded Fang Xiaoyue.
Even if the innkeeper wanted to squeeze in and say congratulations, he couldn't do anything.
Fang Xiaoyue finally sent everyone away. Not long after returning to the guest room, Mr. Qian Laipeng arrived quickly.
It must be said that Mr. Qian Laipeng is indeed very wealthy.
Cheng Yi alone gave two hundred taels of silver as a gift, and also gave the carriage and the servants to Fang Xiaoyue to facilitate his journey.
This made Fang Xiaoyue a little touched.
It should be said that he also knows that the other party is investing in him, but it is still very rare to be willing to do so.
Of course, Fang Xiaoyue did not refuse.
After all, he does need it now.
As soon as Mr. Qian Laipeng left, Fang Xiaoyue did not stay in the provincial capital. Instead, she went to the Xuezheng Yamen to collect the certificate of election, settled the room fee, and returned to Kuangluo County in a carriage.
As for several of his friends, Lei Wangcai and others failed to win the election this time, which is a small regret.
So when he left the provincial capital, he still went to comfort him.
The horse-drawn carriage is much faster than the ox-cart.
Departing in the morning, the carriage arrived at the county seat of Kuangluo County at midnight.
After he returned to the county seat, he went to his grandfather's house.
Butcher Zhang was not at home, only his uncle Zhang Jutai was at home.
According to my uncle, Zhang Tufu, his wife and Zhang Yuanming both went to Fang's house.
This is not surprising, the good news must have arrived earlier than Fang Xiaoyue, so the Fang family must have had many guests come to their door.
It is not easy for a woman named Fang Zhang to receive those guests well, so it is reasonable for her parents to help with the management.
Because she was eager to return home, Fang Xiaoyue did not stay at her maternal grandfather's house, but took a carriage straight back to Yangjiacun.
From the county seat to Yangjiacun, the horse-drawn carriage is faster.
Before it got dark, the carriage arrived at Yangjiacun.
At this time, many people were squatting at the edge of the village chatting.
Unlike the Fang family, most of the people in Yangjia Village are farmers, so they only eat breakfast and lunch.
This is to have enough physical strength to do farm work, but they do not eat this meal in the evening, because they do not need to do farm work at night, and eating dinner is a waste.
Of course, there are times when you are too hungry to sleep at night.
When they saw a carriage approaching the village, the farmers started whispering.
"What kind of master is this that comes to visit Mr. Fang?"
This is an old man with gray hair.
Of course, considering that the average man in the Daze Country does not live to be forty-five years old, gray hair may not necessarily mean that he is really old, but may also be due to overwork.
When the good news arrived in Yangjiacun, everyone saw and heard it, so everyone in Yangjiacun knew that the boy from the Fang family had actually passed the examination!
Although there are many villagers who don't know what it means to raise people, there are also knowledgeable villagers who can explain it to them.
Juren is a master who is higher than a scholar and can become an official!
This explanation is understood by all the villagers.
Before, they had seen many important people called lords and officials come to Yangjiacun.
However, after being scolded a few times for approaching, they now no longer dare to come close to watch the fun.
But there were still a few ignorant children chasing the carriage.
But they soon saw the carriage stop at the door of Fang's house, and a handsome young man with a beautiful tree in the wind got out of the carriage.
"It's Fang Dalang! It's Fang Dalang who's back!"
These children still know Fang Xiaoyue, after all, they used to meet every day.
But before they could scream a few times, their mother or father covered their mouths.
"What nonsense are you calling me! Now I have to call you Mr. Fang!"
The people do not fight with the officials.
The people of Yangjia Village have seen many cases where their families were ruined because they offended an official.
Although Master Fang is from his own village, he is a master now and is different from before. It would be bad if his children screamed and made Master Fang feel embarrassed.
You never know when disaster will strike.
In fact, Fang Xiaoyue didn't notice the shouts of the children at all at this time. After he got off the car, he saw the courtyard door was open and walked straight in.
As for the carriage, the servant has been very clever during this time, so Fang Xiaoyue doesn't have to worry about him losing the carriage.
When he walked into the courtyard, he saw several people sitting in the main room.
Sitting there were my wife Fang Zhang, butcher Zhang and his wife, and Zhang Yuanming was standing behind everyone.
There was also a middle-aged man who was not very familiar to him. He was wearing a green suit and looked like a scholar.
However, the excitement welling up in his body at this time made him unable to care so much. He stepped forward and kowtowed three times to Butcher Zhang and his wife, which shocked them so much that they immediately jumped up from their stools.
"I can't do it, I can't do it, Mingrui, you are now the master of the election, you can't kneel down casually."
Butcher Zhang hurriedly helped his grandson up from the ground.
His legs are still a little weak now.
Although this is his grandson, he is also a great master!