The next day, it was still dark outside. Gu Chengyu had already lit a candle and practiced calligraphy in the flickering candlelight. Ye Zhiqiu beside him was reviewing the books he had learned.
"Chengyu! Are you sure about this county exam?" The county exam is coming soon, and he will arrive at the examination room at 2:00 p.m. Although Ye Zhiqiu has a book in his hand, he can't read a word.
He looked at Gu Chengyu who was still grinding ink calmly, his face looking peaceful against the backdrop of candlelight. He really admired this junior brother. At this time, he could still be so calm. In comparison, he seemed a little impetuous.
He didn't want to be so nervous, but he was different from Gu Chengyu. Gu Chengyu's family was a wealthy family and they had no worries about food and clothing. Moreover, Gu Chengyu was only this year, so it would be okay to take the exam again in three years. What's more, Gu Chengyu was extremely talented, but in fact he didn't have any skills at all.
Do you need to be nervous?
"Senior Brother Ye! According to your usual knowledge, the county exam should not be a problem. Don't be too nervous. This will not be conducive to your exam. Try your best to take the exam and don't think too much." In fact, Gu Chengyu was also a little nervous, but he didn't show it.
Just come out.
After finishing writing the last stroke, Gu Chengyu cleaned up the pen and ink on the table. He checked everything in the examination basket and found that nothing was missing, so he straightened his clothes. The examination room required a body search, so jackets were not allowed, mainly for fear of
Candidates bring cheat sheets with them, so they can only wear a few more single clothes, but they have internal strength, so they will not be frozen. However, those weak scholars are a bit pitiful. They have not exercised all year round, which makes their bodies a little weak, and they don’t know if they can bear it.
Those who can bear it are like Ye Zhiqiu.
"Senior brother! You are not allowed to wear jackets in the examination room. You have to wear more layers, otherwise it will be a big deal if you catch the wind and cold." Gu Chengyu reminded Ye Zhiqiu when he saw that Ye Zhiqiu was still sitting there reading in a thin jacket.
"Ah? Then I'll go change." Ye Zhiqiu was a little hesitant. He only had two pieces of unlined clothes at home. He didn't tell his mother before going out. The family had spent a lot of money on him, and he didn't want him and his sister to be together again.
They were worried, opened the bag and took out two single clothes.
Gu Chengyu knew at a glance that Ye Zhiqiu didn't bring enough, "Senior brother, did you forget to bring them? Why don't you take the junior brother's clothes first? Our clothes are not much different, so we should be able to wear them. Now the exam is still the most important thing.
Don't neglect your body." Gu Chengyu is a little shorter than Ye Zhiqiu, so Ye Zhiqiu should be able to barely wear it.
Ye Zhiqiu was full of gratitude. He originally thought that the exam would not take long, so he endured it and passed it. His mother and sisters embroidered all the money he had, and his mother's eyes were hurt because of this. For him
During the exam, the two sisters spent the whole day embroidering purses. They were young and had calluses on the places where they held the needles. He really couldn't bear to talk about making clothes anymore.
"Xiaobao! Are you and your senior brother okay? Come and wash up quickly, we are about to leave." At this time, Father Gu's voice came over, and at the same time, the originally quiet inn suddenly became noisy. It seemed that most of the people living in the inn were
I'm a candidate, and I'm all getting up now to prepare for the exam.
Gu Chengyu and his party followed the surging flow of people and arrived outside the examination room with the examination basket. At this time, there were many students waiting outside the examination room. Several lanterns were hung under the eaves of the examination room, illuminating the originally dark venue.
Somewhat hazy.
Master Wen was already waiting for them outside the examination room. He was a guaranteed student and had to come. When he came yesterday, he was later than Gu Chengyu and the others. Because he had friends in the county, he stayed at his friend's house. Look.
When I saw them, I only said a few words of encouragement and said no more.
The examination booth of the examination room faces south, with a large courtyard in the middle. To the north of the courtyard is the main entrance, also called "Dragon Gate". There is also a courtyard at the main entrance for candidates to wait for their names to be called.
Gu Chengyu and the others didn't wait long before a government official came over and asked them to line up to enter the courtyard. Gu Chengyu waved to Father Gu and the others who were waiting on the other side to go back first. He didn't know how long this exam would take, so there was no need to stand there.
Wait outside.
When everyone enters the compound, they have to be called by the magistrate. When they enter, they have to be searched all over by the government officials to make sure there are no cheat sheets. They can enter after handing in their admission tickets.
After checking about twenty people before, it was Gu Chengyu's turn. Gu Chengyu took off all the clothes on his body. The yamen officer carefully checked the clothes. After confirming that there were no cheat sheets, he touched Gu Chengyu up and down again, and finally let him go.
Gu Chengyu took off his shoes for inspection. After struggling for a long time, he asked Gu Chengyu to put on his clothes and shoes.
At the same time, there was also a yamen servant who was comparing the portraits carefully. Seeing this, Gu Chengyu was a little depressed. When he went to the gift room to sign up, the things written on it were white and unnecessary, he was short, there was a red mole between his eyebrows, and even the mark on his face
His sexual peach blossoms are all written on it. For a person with obvious characteristics like him, even if he wants to find someone to impersonate him, he probably won't be able to.
The officer released Gu Chengyu only after he was sure that he was the person he was.
Then comes the chanting, that is, the examinee sings for a certain Linshengbao, and the Linsheng students confirm and chants for a certain Linsheng, and it ends. Each candidate has a seat number. Gu Chengyu entered the examination room and found Tianzi No. 5. This
The seat is fifth in the first row.
He put down the examination basket in his hand, took out the four treasures of the study and put them away. The lunch he brought was two pieces of white flour pancakes, baked by his mother, and a water bag, which was full of water. An umbrella would be needed
Indispensable.
After taking a look at the examination shed, he felt relieved when he saw that the tiles were intact and there was no air leakage everywhere. He had heard before that there were remote places where the examination sheds were very dilapidated, and some even didn't even have an examination shed.
They also brought their own tables and chairs, which shows that their Qinghe County can be considered a wealthy county.
The chief examiner of this county examination is Lu Zhixian. It is divided into five sessions. The first session is about classics. As long as you have read the four books well and have solid basic skills, you can pass it naturally.
Candles are not allowed in the examination room, and papers must be handed in before dark. Now, it is not completely light yet, and Gu Chengyu is bored waiting for the papers to be handed out.
The six of them were sitting separately. The candidate opposite Gu Chengyu did not know him. He was an old man about fifty years old and looked older than Mr. Gu.
Gu Chengyu sighed. In ancient times, there were white-haired old men at the top and young boys at the bottom in the examination room. Some people failed to pass the exams many times, but they still persisted in taking the exams and would rather spend their family's money to pass the exams.
Gu Chengyu really admires the perseverance of an old man like this with his fame.
Perhaps sensing Gu Chengyu's gaze, the student also looked towards the examination booth opposite, and saw a child opposite him. After being surprised, he shook his head. Gu Chengyu didn't know what he meant by shaking his head, but he could also understand what he was thinking.
I must have thought that this kid was here to gain experience.