Chapter 52

Chapter 52

The first day of February in the thirty-fourth year of Huayuan.

There are still five days left until the county exam.

In five days, this year's county examination will be here.

The students in Grade B Hall repeated this sentence over and over again. After studying for so many years and taking so many exams, the truth will finally come out this time.

During the sacrifice ceremony at the Confucian Temple, what the county magistrate said to Dr. Yin actually sparked a lot of discussion.

Especially in the Class A Hall, I heard that they debated this for a long time.

After all, everyone saw the situation at that time.

Only the young people in the third class are happy. Sometimes they think about a successful career, and sometimes they think about the teachings of sages.

They're all right anyway.

Hey, why think so much? Just read.

Many teachers in the county school are no longer here.

They all have to go to the examination room in advance to prepare.

Not only that, everyone in the yamen is also busy with this matter.

On the day of the sacrifice at the Confucian Temple, Magistrate Nie stayed and talked to the instructor for a long time, but no one knew what they were talking about.

Anyway, after Magistrate Nie came out, he seemed a little different from before, but it was hard to tell exactly where he was different.

He had been in Zhengrong County for less than half a year, and the various blows he had suffered had almost made this gifted child of destiny a little discouraged.

But no matter what, the county examination is approaching and he must cheer up.

The clerks in the yamen were also busy.

Inspection outside the examination room, preparation of various tasks, and printing of examination questions.

The questions were set by people from the government office, and the teachers did not interfere.

Magistrate Nie also invited learned scholars in the county to help set the questions. These things had been decided long ago, and everyone was rushing to the county town in the past few days.

However, among this year's examiners, there is not Mr. Zhao who was there last year and the year before.

Originally, Master Zhao was on the list, but since Ji Yuan took part in the county examination, his name had naturally to be crossed out.

As the teacher of Jiyuan, one must avoid suspicion.

Although Master Zhao tried to avoid suspicion, he still arrived at the county town on the fourth day of February and stayed at Master Guo's house. This time, Dahai came along.

The two of them came over to prepare things for Ji Yuan's exam.

Although the county did not have any regulations on specific writing materials, Master Zhao still knew better how to prepare them appropriately.

Although Master Zhao knew that the county school would definitely help with the preparations, he was still worried.

From the sacrifice in the Confucian Temple to the fourth day of the New Year, I don’t know if it’s because I have a goal in mind, but Ji Yuan always feels that learning seems more interesting.

Every word of the sages' teachings seems to correspond to actual situations.

If you encounter this kind of thing, what should you do.

If you encounter such a thing, what should you do?

Moreover, in the intervals between readings, he found history books even more interesting.

It's a pity that he didn't read too much in total, and now he is in the review period, so he can't read anything else.

Ji Yuan's condition seems to be getting better and better recently, which makes his classmates around him look at him with sidelong glances.

What is going on?

It's obvious that everyone is getting more anxious and more haggard as the time gets closer to the end.

Only the era becomes more relaxed as it approaches?

Not only that, he looked relaxed when he was doing the questions. He wrote a few articles casually, and it seemed like he had done them in one go.

They also read the article and fell silent after reading it.

He is worthy of being Jiyuan and a gifted student.

When he was in Class C Hall, many people just thought he was hardworking.

Now that we are in the same class, I finally understand that this guy is a pervert!

Everyone thought that he was more hardworking than talented, but a closer look revealed that this man's talent for learning was the best they had ever seen.

Not only that, he seemed to be born with a lot of energy.

And if diligence can be considered a talent, then he is even more gifted.

When everyone was eating, Cai Fenglan said, "I've already said that Ji Yuan is a pervert, but you still don't believe it."

Everyone was silent. Is it really okay to say this directly?

Or in front of Ji Yuan.

The eleven-year-old Ji Yuan didn't care. He ate his biscuit and said, "Don't you realize that learning is also a kind of fun?"

Cai Fenglan said: "It is fun, but fun can also be tiring. Who is like you?"

???

You two.

Are you okay?

It's really fun.

Chang Qing said silently: "They say don't mess with a true genius."

This naturally refers to Ji Yuan and Cai Fenglan.

Everyone nodded subconsciously.

Unexpectedly, Cai Fenglan nodded and said, "Yes, don't mess with Ji Yuan."

"Hey, I thought I could avoid you by coming to the B-level hall earlier, but I didn't expect you to come again."

"If you have Yu, why have Liang?"

Ji Yuan finished his biscuit in a few bites and said, "I'm going to memorize the article, who's coming with me?"

???

This pervert!

Cai Fenglan is right!

But they are going together!

Let’s be perverts together!

"Together! Wait until I finish eating!"

"Let me have some soup!"

"Water, give me water, I'm choking to death."

Everyone in Class B couldn't help laughing. They quickly packed up their things and checked each other's lessons tacitly.

It’s the final time, we can’t relax.

Strict training is considered a discovery.

The volume goes to the end of the era.

It would be great if there were several eras, one for each Minglun Hall, and he wouldn't have to worry about it. The students would definitely study hard.

On the afternoon of the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Dr. Yin came and said with a smile: "Everyone, relax. You don't have to come to the school tomorrow. Pack up your things, get enough rest, and get ready to start."

It turns out that it has always been the same since ancient times, and you have to relax the day before an exam.

The students in Grade B, who had been confused, finally raised their heads.

It’s time. It’s the final time.

Jiang Ke and others who were confused by what they learned were about to cry.

In the past twenty days since school started, they have been studying like crazy.

Forget about others, but how come you, Ji Yuan, integrated so quickly?

Having said that, Jiang Ke also discovered that their academic performance had improved by leaps and bounds, and their progress in the past twenty days was extremely rapid.

The entire county school is basically on holiday. There is no teacher in charge of the Class C class, and the Class B class is preparing for the exam the day after tomorrow.

When Ji Yuan was called to Master Guo's house, he saw Master Zhao and Dahai: "Master, Dahai, why didn't you tell me you were here?"

"I knew you were studying, so I didn't disturb you." said Master Zhao.

The sea also moved forward: "Grown taller, but thinner."

I don’t know if it’s because he’s getting older, but Jiyuan has grown taller and thinner recently.

When Ji Yuan first arrived, the eight-year-old was about the same height as other five- and six-year-olds.

Now at the age of eleven, he looks taller than children of twelve or thirteen, and his youthfulness is clearly evident.

"It's inevitable that you lose weight when preparing for the exam." Master Guo saw it most clearly at the county school. "Everyone is working day and night, and Ji Yuan is the leader."

Master Zhao felt a little distressed, but when he saw Ji Yuan was in high spirits, he felt relieved and took out all the things he had prepared.

"This square inkstone is very useful. Grinding ink is not difficult. This brush is also good. There are also snacks made by your master's wife. Don't go hungry during the three days in the examination hall."

Master Zhao and Master Guo told us many things to pay attention to when taking exams. These are all based on experience and are very valuable.

Ji Yuan did not refuse these things. Master Zhao now had many students and extra money, so he did not have to worry too much about the expenses.

Besides, he planned to give some of the harvest from his eight acres of land to Master Zhao.

Master Zhao didn't know that his student was still worried about him, so he finally said, "Relax, your article will be fine."

After that, he added: "If you fail, you can take the exam again. You have only studied for a few years, so it doesn't matter whether you pass or not."

This is all done to make Ji Yuan not worry and relax.

They talked for a while, but Ji Yuan couldn't live in Master Guo's house. After all, Master Guo was also in charge of the examination room, and it would not be good for them to have too much contact with him.

Afterwards, Ji Yuan went to Dr. Luo's house again. He had to take the exam soon, so he had to go to his mentor's house.

Dr. Luo also thought of it and seemed to have been waiting for him for a long time.

Dr. Luo also prepared a pen, ink, paper and inkstone, and said to him, "It's okay to take more things, at least there is a spare one."

As he said that, he must give him the thing.

Dr. Luo was not in charge of the examination matters. He was old and did not have to worry about many things.

When he got to Dr. Yin's place, Ji Yuan felt a little embarrassed to enter.

I feel like no matter which teacher you go to, you will receive a lot of things.

Seeing that Dr. Yin did not prepare pen, ink, paper and inkstone for him, Ji Yuan subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

Dr. Yin looked at him and smiled: "I saw Lao Luo preparing it for you, so I didn't do it."

Then, Dr. Yin asked him to sit down.

He first studied the knowledge, and then said, "Not bad, go to the examination room with peace of mind."

Dr. Yin is thirty-six this year. It has been thirty-one years since he started learning at the age of five. He has been teaching for about ten years, but Ji Yuan is his favorite student.

"I won't say much else. Take a rest today and try your best tomorrow."

The last place to go was naturally Master Fang’s place.

My current achievements in calligraphy are inseparable from the guidance of Master Fang.

Mr. Fang was still painting. When he saw Ji Yuan coming, he didn't even raise his head and said, "Whether you can pass the exam or not is up to fate."

"If not, you can support your family by selling calligraphy and paintings."

Ji Yuan listened and almost laughed out loud.

Several of his mentors comforted him in different ways.

But he really likes selling calligraphy and paintings.

When Master Fang saw him laughing, he couldn't help but shook his head: "Take the exam well and don't embarrass me."

Ji Yuan thanked him solemnly: "Thank you for teaching me calligraphy. Ji Yuan will never forget it in my life."

"You should thank yourself for your perseverance." Mr. Fang put down his pen. "With this kind of heart, you will be able to achieve twice the result with half the effort in everything you do."

During the rest of the fifth day of February, Ji Yuan simply followed Master Fang in painting, still painting bamboo.

This was the first painting he learned, and now he has a very good understanding of the shapes of bamboo leaves.

As he was painting, Ji Yuan suddenly thought of something.

Bamboo and stone.

This poem by Mr. Zheng Banqiao was paired with a painting, and he still remembers what the painting looked like.

Ji Yuan was itching to show off his skills, but he just endured it.

It was only after I returned to the dormitory that I drew what was in my heart, and finally wrote the poem next to it.

Of course, the signature is naturally Mr. Banqiao.

This poem and this painting are a perfect match.

The bamboo growing among the rocks is so tall and strong.

No matter how barren the stone is, the bamboo grows straighter and straighter.

Although it is an ink painting, a vibrant scene comes to the fore.

Tough, upright, noble, and not afraid of hardships.

The temperament of the whole painting allows anyone who views it to be immersed in this spirit.

Ji Yuan admired it silently for a moment, then rolled up the painting and put it in the bookcase.

Basically no one would look through the stuff here, he just does it for his own amusement.

As I finished writing this poem or painting, I felt even more joyful.

There seemed to be an inexplicable breath coming out.

Ji Yuan's heart calmed down completely, he closed his eyes and fell asleep quickly.

When the other people in the dormitory came back, they saw Ji Yuan sleeping peacefully.

To be honest, they rarely see such an era.

On weekdays, Ji Yuan goes to bed later than them and wakes up earlier than them. Basically, few people have seen Ji Yuan sleeping so soundly.

Everyone slowed down their pace at the same time.

In such an atmosphere, I seemed to be gradually feeling sleepy.

I was still feeling uneasy on the way back.

Forget it, let’s go to sleep.

Only by sleeping can you get enough rest and prepare for tomorrow's exam.

After three consecutive days of exams, you must get enough energy.

Everyone in the Jiyuan dormitory fell asleep quickly. Although they woke up at the usual time the next day, they felt their minds were exceptionally clear.

I took a day off yesterday and had a good sleep. I didn’t even have any dreams.

Such comfortable sleep replenishes their energy.

take an exam!

Prepare for the exam!

They are going to take the test now!

The sixth day of February is the time for the county examination.

There are a total of eighty-two applicants from Zhengrong County this year.

There are twenty-five people in the county school.

There were fifty-seven students who registered from outside.

The number of people registering from outside has increased compared to the previous two years.

It seems that even if one fails the county exam, if one's results are good enough, one will be called into the county school, so more people sign up.

Some people took this as an opportunity to enter the county school.

This also shows how popular Zhengrong County School is.

So when the county school students appeared at the entrance of the examination room, many people looked over.

Although everyone had changed into their usual clothes, they were obviously different and the group chatted in a very familiar manner.

Most of the other students did not know the people around them, and did not feel that comfortable outside the examination room.

However, everyone saw a very young boy inside and couldn't help asking, "Who is that? He looks about twelve or thirteen years old, with a good temperament and appearance. Is he here to take part in the county exam as well?"

"You don't know this? He is Ji Yuan. He is only eleven, not twelve or thirteen."

"Ah, he is Ji Yuan?"

"It was him who caused a scholar to be stripped of his official position?!"

"What kind of talk is this? It's the scholar himself who has bad conduct. It seems that he can't make it in the city anymore. He failed the annual examination in the provincial school and bribed the examiner, so he was persuaded to come back."

"There are still people like this? It's really an insult to scholars."

"So, anyway, it wasn't Ji Yuan's fault. He was the victim. I heard that the scholar was jealous of Ji Yuan's talent at such a young age, so he deliberately didn't let him take the imperial examination."

"That man is too bad."

As everyone was discussing, Ji Yuan also noticed that many people were talking about him. He didn't care and checked his belongings for the last time, waiting for the examination room to open.

The examination room was guarded by police officers and no one was allowed to enter.

There are more constables in the county this year, so the manpower is sufficient, and the atmosphere looks particularly different.

The inspectors at the door were ready and waiting for the arrival of Chenshi to search the clothes of the candidates in line.

These inspectors were either minor clerks in the government office or teachers recruited from the lower levels.

They are all closely related to this exam.

If there is anything wrong, no one can escape responsibility and it will be taken very seriously.

While Ji Yuan was queuing, Master Zhao, Dahai, Li Ting, Qian Fei and others were waiting outside.

Even Liu Rong, Jiang Ke and others, as well as Zhang Xun, who was Ji Yuan's stipend guardian in the First Class Hall, were there.

Ji Yuan waved at them and the bell rang over there.

It's morning.

It’s time to enter the examination room.

Ji Yuan walked forward and let the prosecutor search, while another official answered his questions, mainly asking about age, household registration, etc., to see if they matched.

From whether there are any stains on the fabric of the clothes you bring, to the color of the ink, the color of the brush, and whether there are any words on the food you bring, etc.

Check from beginning to end, and ask candidates questions while checking, so that candidates have no time to worry about too many things and cannot make up stories.

Then Ji Yuan was asked to draw a bamboo lot. The four rows and seven spaces on it were his room number.

It’s the fourth row, the seventh one.

The numbers are completely random to prevent candidates from colluding with examiners to cheat.

At this time, Ji Yuan remembered the time when he took the exam for the county school.

This is the procedure for taking the county school entrance exam. At the time it was said to be a mock county exam, and now it seems to be true.

Xishe, a small house made of thatched grass, is their personal examination room, with each person having a single room.

The single room is very small, and it is difficult for tall people to turn around.

There was a table and a bench inside, a small bed at the back, and some necessary daily necessities. It was very simple, without any unnecessary items.

The rest is what the candidates bring themselves.

Everything of these students has been checked, so there is definitely nothing wrong with them.

After Ji Yuan sat firmly, many people came one after another from behind. The patrolling constables did not allow the examinees to look any longer and said sternly: "Keep your head down! Don't look around!"

It wasn't that the constables were intentionally so harsh; it was all for the fairness of the county examination.

A total of eighty-two people took part in the exam, ranging in age from the youngest at eleven to the oldest at twenty-five.

The Tianqi State stipulated that one could no longer be called a tongsheng after the age of 25, which meant that one could no longer take the examination for a scholar after the age of 25.

For that 25-year-old, this was probably his last exam.

It would be great if you could pass the exam, but if you can’t, you have no choice but to find another way out.

An exam can determine a person's fate.

Ji Yuan listened to the bell. After two quarters of an hour had passed in the morning, which was around 7:30, the examination room was closed to visitors.

The constable outside shouted, "It's time to lock the gate!"

This is the main door to the Examination Yuan.

The current process is similar to when he took the county exam, and Ji Yuan felt relieved.

In addition, he had come to watch the county examinations last year and the year before, so he had gained some experience.

There was a candidate next to him who was trembling, obviously extremely nervous. When Ji Yuan heard him putting the items away, he felt his hands shaking.

The constable came here for inspection and shouted, "Put all items in place according to the regulations, don't you know?!"

The student quickly replied, "Yes, yes, I'll be right back."

The constable added: "The exam hasn't started yet, don't think too much."

Yes, the exam hasn’t started yet, why think so much?

The remaining constables stopped talking and checked to see if everyone's belongings were in place.

When they arrived at Ji Yuan's place, the two looked at each other. The constable still had a cold face. Even if they knew each other, they couldn't say hello at this moment, otherwise both of them would be kicked out.

After all the examinees were examined, the county magistrate led the invigilators and others to offer sacrifices.

Before the county examination, it was customary to offer sacrifices to the Confucian Temple and swear to the sages and teachers as well as the emperor that cheating would never be tolerated.

Ji Yuan had experienced this scene when he took the county examination, and it was still the same this time, but the number of participants was obviously larger and the rules were stricter.

Last time, I could still hear the county magistrate and his colleagues burning incense and taking an oath, but this time I could only hear a little bit of sound.

Because the examination room was divided more widely this time, compared to last time when there were five or six hundred examinees, the space was also crowded.

There were only eighty people this time, and everyone wanted to sit eight feet away from each other.

But the bell was still ringing loudly. After the bell rang, examiners came one after another, announced the exam rules, and emphasized the precautions again.

All examiners must work in pairs to supervise each other.

Not only that, there are also invigilators outside the examination room, who basically do not move around. Not only are they supervising the candidates, they are also supervising the examiners.

Not only that, there was a constable standing between the two seats, and he and the examiner were also supervising each other.

Listen to what the examiners say, follow their advice carefully, perform your duties conscientiously, and be impartial.

Another saying: "It is forbidden to talk, make noise, or pretend to be someone else."

Also, when to distribute the papers, when to collect the papers, when to distribute water and food, and when to distribute candles.

The bell was struck once every half hour. If two bells were heard, it was one hour, etc. There were also officials who reported the time implicitly.

Because the students have to stay in this examination room for three days, or to be exact, two and a half days, and it is almost over in the afternoon of the third day.

There are five exams in three days, and there are many things to pay attention to.

The last time I took the county exam, it only took one day, but Ji Yuan felt exhausted. This time it will take nearly three days. Fortunately, he had a good rest yesterday.

After everything in the venue was read out, the clock struck quarter past noon.

On the sixth day of February in the thirty-fourth year of Huayuan, the county examination in Zhengrong County of Jianmeng Prefecture in Tianqi State officially began.

The sound of the bell was so melodious that it seemed to echo throughout the sky.

The test papers were distributed to everyone. Ji Yuan touched the paper. He had studied for a full three years in his life, from the age of eight to eleven.

Not to mention my previous life, I read for almost twenty years.

After so many years of studying, I don’t know if I can pass the children’s exam.

Ji Yuan opened the test paper and quickly glanced through it according to his habit.

The scope of questions in the county examination is basically within the Four Books, and the main focus is on the meaning of the Four Books.

In addition, there will be an exam on scriptures and theories on the last day, and a test poem.

There is no need to talk about the classics and commentaries, only the Five Classics. Since it is a county examination, it will definitely not exceed this scope.

The Ji Yuan period also wrote poems for test essays, which were verses praising the emperor on current affairs, and they only needed five words and six rhymes.

Before the county examination, he had done the examination questions.

He also took the county exam last year.

According to his idea, this is just doing simulation questions.

Looking at the test paper now, I just feel familiar.

It seems that the two years of simulation questions were not in vain.

The exam lasts three days, with a total of five sessions.

Now this first scene is called Zhengsheng.

The content of the test paper was not difficult. Ji Yuan started from the first question: "If one family is benevolent, the whole country will be benevolent; if one family is courteous, the whole country will be courteous."

If a family is kind, the country will be like this.

If a family is humble, the country will also be humble.

This statement comes from The Great Learning, the chapter on cultivating oneself, bringing peace to others, and aspiring to bring peace to the world.

This is all that is written in the title, and I usually connect the era with the context.

The first part talks about the principles of managing a family, and the second part talks about how the monarch’s greed for profit will lead to unrest in the country.

Everything is connected.

Write about 700 words based on this.

Not only should the writing be beautiful, but it should also be meaningful. Although the county examination papers are not so strict and some ink spots are allowed, it is best not to have them.

It is allowed, but since everyone doesn’t have it, it’s good for you not to have it.

Ji Yuan spread out the exam paper and started to do the first question.

There are two questions in the morning, and the total time given is three hours.

It took about three hours to write two 700-word articles.

It seems not difficult, but there are requirements for articles and handwriting, plus the time for drafting, it is actually not that easy.

There is still some time before the end of the exam after Ji Yuan finishes writing, so he might as well copy it again carefully.

His handwriting was already beautiful, and when he copied it again, the official script in front of him was not only rigidly beautiful, but also had Ji Yuan's own aura.

I finished writing the last word and it was time to put away the paper.

During the lunch break at noon, the government distributed water and bread. If you are not used to the food, you can eat the snacks you brought with you. You cannot drink too much water to avoid gastrointestinal problems.

The situation in the afternoon was the same as in the morning.

The same two questions on the Four Books, the time is also one and a half hours

The second exam is called the re-examination. The questions are more difficult, but generally they are related to the Four Books.

Ji Yuan wrote the book quite quickly, and finished copying it before dusk, waiting for the collection.

It's only February now, and it gets dark early. I can hardly see the test paper clearly.

At the specified time, the constables distributed candles to the candidates. The candles were relatively short and were not only needed for the exams, but also for everyone to rest here at night.

Ji Yuan did not light the candle immediately after getting it. Since the test paper was already finished, he decided to use it in the evening.

I guess it will be dark at night.

At 6:00 p.m., at the exact time of You, all the test papers were collected.

It's time to eat and rest.

Students are not allowed to leave their own rooms and all activities must be carried out inside them. Otherwise, they will be regarded as cheating and will be directly expelled from the examination room.

Ji Yuan made the bed by candlelight. It was still a little chilly at night in February, and the bed was ventilated on both sides, so he had to keep warm.

There is still a day and a half of exam left, so I must take good care of myself.

Ji Yuan packed up his things. The candle was almost burned out. He quickly finished the snacks made by his master's wife and prepared to go to bed.

Go to bed early, you have to take the test tomorrow.

The county examination in Zhengrong County is particularly strict, which is not the case in some other places.

For example, after the first Zhengsheng exam, students can go home.

What will you do after you get home?

And other results.

Only those who pass the first exam can enter the second round.

Many were eliminated in the first round of the exam.

For example, if there are 100 candidates in the first round, then about 90 of them can enter the second round.

The second exam was a repeated examination, with the same process, eliminating a group of people.

I must say that county auditions in most places are like talent shows.

Elimination round by round.

After screening to the end, the champion is selected.

The examination format in Zhengrong County is different, but the marking situation is similar.

The papers of the first round of examinations will be marked first, and the top few papers will enter the second round.

Some more will be eliminated in the second round until the fifth round, when the best ones will be selected.

But every round is different.

The first and second exams, which were the first day's exams, were almost all passed.

The third exam will be extra strict.

Most people’s test papers basically fail in the third round, and the subsequent papers will be directly sealed.

In other words, the first two exams are just appetizers.

The third exam, called the repeat exam, is the most important.

This is an exam to select the best from the best, and the rules in the form are extremely complicated.

This is also the reason why most students look for a good teacher, or a teacher who has experience in imperial examinations.

If you have no experience in this, you will suffer a lot of losses.

People like Ji Yuan who have participated in mock county examinations and listened to the teachers' instructions in person will feel unfamiliar when they actually take the county examination, and have to slowly figure out many things.

Not to mention there is no good teacher to teach.

Many emperors paid attention to schools, and rightly so.

Ji Yuan blew out the few remaining candles and fell asleep quickly.

There were eighty-one other examinees, patrolling constables, and invigilators around.

But it's so quiet in there that you can hear a pin drop.

The courtyard was brightly lit, but the eighty-two dining rooms were pitch dark, and many people tossed and turned before falling asleep.

When Ji Yuan woke up, it was still dark. He lit the candle that was left over from yesterday, folded the quilt, and did some exercises in the room to stretch his muscles.

Actually, thanks to his young age, he didn't feel cramped in this small room. Although the bed was small, he was not tall either, so it was quite suitable.

But what is there to be proud of?

He still wants to grow taller.

Ji Yuan couldn't help but smile. Seeing that it was still early, he closed his eyes and silently recited the Four Books he had learned.

It was the seventh day of the second month, the third exam the next day, and he had to give it his all.

The candle burned out completely and the day dawned.

The constable still distributed pancakes and water. This time their luck was better because the pancakes from the morning were still hot.

The examinees who had worked hard all day ate voraciously, but Ji Yuan only ate half of the food. He put the food aside before he was full, and used half of the water to drink and the other half to wash his face and regain his consciousness.

I have an exam soon, so I can't eat too many carbs.

Otherwise, the digestion of carbohydrates will increase blood sugar, which will make you feel very sleepy during the exam.

The third round must be repeated seriously.

At 8 o'clock in the morning, the test papers were handed out.

There are still two questions.

The first is that I was poor when I was young, so I was able to do menial jobs.

This quote comes from The Analects of Confucius. Taizai, a high-ranking official, asked Zigong, "Who is your teacher and how come he knows so much?"

Zigong replied that it was God who gave him virtue, allowing him to understand so many knowledge and skills.

But when Confucius, Zigong's teacher, heard about this, he replied, "You know me, Taizai. I was poor when I was young. Therefore, I was good at menial tasks and had many menial skills. How can a true gentleman have so many skills? Of course not."

The sentence "I was young and poor, so I looked down on many people" is one of them.

There are many ways to analyze this sentence.

Some people think that this was Confucius' self-deprecation. The ministers said he was a saint, and Zigong said it was a gift from God.

So he has to say that he is actually very ordinary.

The reason why he has many skills that seem lowly to others is because his family was poor when he was a child.

These skills are considered lowly by gentlemen and they disdain to do them.

Confucius was actually very remarkable for being able to say this, and he was indeed the sage that Zigong talked about.

Some people also say that this was Confucius' sincere answer, that he was not a saint and his talents were not given by God.

The teacher has said before that in Confucius' eyes, a sage is someone who is generous to the people and can help the masses. Such a person is a sage.

Confucius also believed that there are no saints in the world today, and it is even more impossible for him to think of himself as a saint.

When he says later that I was poor when I was young, so I have many lowly talents and skills, he truly believes this.

Of course there are many interpretations.

Everyone interprets it differently.

As long as the analysis is meaningful, it will be fine.

Zhu Xi, Zhang Juzheng and others have all commented on this statement, and everyone's understanding of it varies.

Ji Yuan had read a lot of annotations, and all kinds of ideas were colliding in his mind, and he didn't know how to start writing.

Even whether to call Confucius a saint is a question.

Confucius has always said that there are no more saints in the world. Does this include him?

But most people think that Confucius is the sage Confucius.

There are also some people who do not agree with this. If you meet an examiner who agrees with it, then you should write that Confucius is a saint.

If you don't agree, write it in reverse.

The examiner’s preferences are also important in determining whether you can pass the exam.

Ji Yuan gritted his teeth and wrote at the beginning: "The sage recalled his past events because of the name of his contemporaries; his disciples followed the sage's intentions and recounted his past words."①

The sage was reminded of something that happened a long time ago because of what some people said at that time. As a student, I also followed the sage's words and explained the meaning of these words.

This is the beginning.

The word "sage" was identified at the beginning of the era, so naturally Confucius was recognized as a sage.

In his opinion, this is also in line with the ideas of most literati in Tianqi State.

After all, with the development of the imperial examination system to this point, other doctrines are not popular, so it is mostly correct to call Confucius the Sage Confucius.

After finishing the opening chapter, Ji Yuan began to analyze the following text.

Later he wrote: "What's more, such a difficult task is beyond the reach of my humble self. For every name and object, I can take it all day and night without any restriction."②

A difficult task has nothing to do with humble origins, and everything will eventually run out.

So no matter how much you have learned when you are young, you must continue to learn when you are old.

Only in this way can one master many talents and skills like a saint.

After finishing this article, Ji Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.

But most of the time has passed.

The next question is not easy either.

The second is to be worthy of heaven.

This quote comes from Mencius: Exerting One's Mind.

The original text is: A gentleman has three joys, and ruling the world is not one of them. Having both parents alive and brothers without any trouble is the first joy; looking up to the heaven without shame and looking down on people without embarrassment is the second joy; getting the world's talented people and educating them is the third joy. A gentleman has three joys, and ruling the world is not one of them.

It means that a gentleman has three kinds of pleasures: enjoying the ordinary and having good parents and brothers. This is the first.

The second is that one has no sense of shame towards heaven and earth, and the same is true for the people around him. "怍" means shame.

The third thing is to get talents from all over the world and teach them.

"Mencius" has always been known to have the demeanor of Mount Tai and is as upright and righteous as the text itself.

A gentleman's style can be seen from his three joys.

I chose the second answer in the exam, and I am worthy of your praise.

This question fell within Ji Yuan's comfort zone. Every time he read Mencius, he felt his heart surge.

This time, I wrote as if I were inspired by God.

“To seek happiness between heaven and man is the intention of a gentleman.”

"In the moment, I thought I had no shame, but I was ashamed. This is what a gentleman wants to be happy about, but he dare not know it."③

To seek happiness between heaven and man is the original intention of a gentleman.

When you look up, you don't feel ashamed of the sky; when you bow your head, you don't feel ashamed of the earth. Isn't this the happiest thing in a gentleman's heart? Who doesn't know this?

After writing the opening chapter, the following part will describe the happiness of the three joys to provide evidence.

I finished writing the entire article in one breath and had exactly a quarter of an hour left before handing in the paper.

After finishing this article, there is not a single typo in it, and I can't even copy it again.

The third round of the county examination, review again, hand in the paper!

The entire examination room was filled with the sound of papers being handed in.

Ji Yuan touched his stomach and felt that he was really hungry.

Although the bread that was not finished in the morning is cold, it can still fill your stomach.

Five exams, more than half of them are over.

Only the last two games left.

Test!

Continue to take the test!

The patrolling examiner looked at Ji Yuan, the youngest candidate in the entire county examination.

Is he really like what other students say, getting more energetic the more he takes exams?

The other students had taken exams for a few days and now were as listless as quails, but he was so energetic.

We are all educated people, and we have never seen such a personality as his.

I don’t know whether he will pass the county exam, and if so, what ranking he will get.

During the lunch break, Ji Yuan even took a short nap.

Only by getting enough rest and getting enough sleep can you take the exam more seriously!

The examiner and the constable's mouths twitched even more.

Other candidates may not even be able to fall asleep at night, so how can you still take a nap? How can you be so careless?

In the afternoon exam, Ji Yuan, who had taken a nap, wrote faster.

In the exam on the afternoon of the second day, there was one less article from the Four Books and one more article from The Book of Filial Piety. This is a must-test content and will be in every important exam. The answers do not need to be original as long as they are relevant.

Ji Yuan was almost used to sleeping in the house at night.

In a blink of an eye, it was the morning of February 8th.

This is also the last half day of the exam. As long as this morning is over, the county exam will be over.

The entire examination room was filled with a certain emotion.

tired.

Too tired.

I have five exams in a row, and I have to eat, drink, defecate and urinate here.

Many people are untidy and don’t even bother to take care of their hair.

There's no way. I feel tired and exhausted, both physically and mentally.

The exam is really difficult.

Some people also thought that it would be better if they could just take an exam and then rest for a few days, like in other counties.

You can complain in your heart, but you still have to do the questions.

Ji Yuan could feel the commotion in the examination room, and could hear resentment in the sound of everyone flipping through their papers.

The third day, which was the fifth exam, was surprisingly easy.

The fifth exam only tests one sutra and one test poem.

There are only a few topics for the test poems, so you can just write whatever you like.

The sutras and treatises have become even simpler. I thought I would have to write an article, but I ended up just pasting it silently.

Yes, go back to the basic skill at the beginning of studying: memorizing.

Just write out one paragraph from memory.

There are five questions in the Five Classics. You only need to answer one. You are not allowed to answer more than one.

Ji Yuan rubbed his eyes.

Is he seeing things?

How can it be so simple?!

It was so simple that everyone in the examination room exclaimed.

Then the constable immediately scolded everyone and everyone quieted down.

Ji Yuan calmed down and understood what was going on.

As mentioned before, the county examination is like an open audition.

One round after another.

Only those who pass the first exam will be able to advance, and those who do not advance do not need to look at the test paper.

The second exam will advance to another level.

By the time the fifth round of screening came around, the number of participants had almost been decided.

There are twelve places for the county examination in Zhengrong County this year. It is estimated that by the fifth round, as long as the essay and the examination poem are not too bad, the county examination can be passed.

Therefore, the teacher who set the questions left them a loophole on the last day. Just relax, you academic masters.

Let’s take the talent show as an example.

There will be more than one person in the final group after the audition, so just pass the levels one by one and it will be fine to be the current twelve.

Of course, if you want to get first place, you still have to answer the questions seriously.

The other rankings can be ignored, but the top three in the county examination still need to be evaluated.

Ji Yuan is a serious person, it’s just a silent post, so he writes it.

It’s just a test poem, he also wrote it.

Just write it.

At noon, the fifth county examination ended.

The exam is over, finally over.

All students packed up their things and left the examination room in order.

When Ji Yuan walked out of the lodge, he subconsciously blocked his eyes from the sunlight. After staying in the lodge for more than two days, the sunlight seemed too dazzling.

He was in good spirits, but he felt a little uncomfortable just washing his face every day and wanted to go out, change his clothes and take a shower.

The other examinees looked depressed, and one of them was staggering. He directly supported Ji Yuan and subconsciously said, "Help me, help me."

As soon as Ji Yuan started to move, the other party said, "Forget it, you are so short, I am embarrassed to help you."

era:?

Just help me if you want?

It's a personal attack!

Cai Fenglan came over from behind, and Chang Qing was amused by this scene, and the fatigue on his face became more obvious.

What's the difference between taking a county exam and giving up half your life?

Cai Fenglan wanted to say, no wonder Ji Yuan exercises every day!

He will also exercise in the future!

After walking a few steps, the candidates finally had smiles on their faces.

The exam is over!

The exam is finally over!

At this moment, the sound of firecrackers and gongs and drums rang out outside.

These cheers are all prepared for the candidates.

Walking across the red paper of firecrackers, the sound of gongs and drums around them refreshed them.

There were huge crowds of people watching outside, all wanting to see what this year's candidates looked like.

There were also classmates and family members waiting outside.

They were both worried and happy for the candidates.

Ji Yuan looked at the familiar Master Zhao, Dahai and others, and couldn't help but wave at them.

The exam is over.

This is it, the exam is really over.

All that’s left is to wait for the results.

Today is February 8th, and the list will be posted in six days.

Just wait!