Chapter 229 Hesitant Zhou Houfang
There were ten interview questions today, and somehow, this one came up two or three times. Each time, the candidates repeated the same old, repetitive arguments, failing to analyze the overall situation.
Although Zhou Houfang's ideas are still somewhat immature, his innate political literacy is something that other candidates do not possess.
When Zhou Houfang left the examination room, he was still a little confused.
She saw Pang Xiaohua next to her also looking lonely, but as soon as she went out, she was quickly surrounded by several people, who asked her about her exam results.
Among them, Village Chief Fan was the most nervous, but seeing the frustrated look on his daughter-in-law's face, he knew that this matter was most likely to fail.
Zhou Houfang heard Pang Xiaohua blaming herself in a whisper, "Father-in-law, I'm afraid there's no hope this time. I only said one sentence during the interview, and it was random. As soon as I saw the examiners, my mind went to pieces... I could barely speak."
Another candidate nearby lamented loudly as he walked out the door: "Oh my God, why didn't I get to say a word! This, this, this... the guy in front of me just kept talking and I couldn't get a word in. Will this get a zero? It's over, it's all over, there's no hope this time!"
The students in his group also complained, "Exactly. Why does he have to keep showing off? We're in the same group, and we only have fifteen minutes, but he's the only one doing all the talking, leaving no room for anyone else!"
The person being blamed didn't seem to care at all. Instead, he sneered, "A group of people is an opponent. Who told you not to fight in the beginning? I said a lot because of my ability. If you can't say anything, you can only blame yourself!"
As they were talking, a few people almost started arguing at the door.
Pang Renhuai quickly pulled Pang Xiaohua aside and comforted her awkwardly, "Hey, it's okay. If you can't pass the exam, then you can't pass it. Let's just treat it as a trip to Jinzhou Prefecture!"
Pang Xiaohua's eyes filled with tears. "My family borrowed money and finally sent me from Lan County to Jinzhou Prefecture. It's all my fault for being tongue-tied. When I met the City Lord, I was so nervous I couldn't even speak!"
Although Village Chief Fan felt regretful, he had guessed the outcome and said, "Well, it's not a big deal. It doesn't pay that much. Now that you've got Teacher Zhao's recommendation, you can still become a teacher even if you don't pass the exam this time. You can earn it back in a month or two. If it doesn't work out this time, let's prepare again. Maybe there'll be another chance next time!"
Zhou Houfang, who was listening nearby, couldn't help but look over.
She was secretly amazed: How could a man from Lan County be willing to send his wife to take the civil service exam? Even her in-laws didn't object, and instead actively borrowed money to pay for the trip?
Zhou Houfang really couldn't understand such a thing.
It has always been the wife who works hard to help her husband achieve fame and success.
Why did the people in Lan County turn around?
When Zhou Houfang saw the family carefully comforting Pang Xiaohua, he suddenly felt very sad for some reason.
Even if she had the interview today, I'm afraid her mother would never allow her to show her face in public and work as a clerk.
If she became a clerk, the Zhou family would lose face, and how would her father cope? As for the Chang family, would they still want her as a daughter-in-law who hadn't even married yet?
It’s hateful. If she had known earlier, she would not have taken the written test. In this way, she would not have known that her talent was superior to Huang Weiguang and others.
Before she had ever seen the sun, she could still endure the darkness.
But now.
She stood on the bustling streets of Jinzhou Prefecture, feeling the free wind caressing her face, and felt that the world was particularly beautiful.
She seemed unable to bear the cramped backyard any longer, unable to bear to entrust the rest of her life to a strange man with no feelings, and even more unable to live her whole life pretending to be deaf and dumb.
In one’s life, taking the right path and choosing the right person is a very important thing.
What's more, a person's life is so long...
It was finally afternoon when Zhou Houfang estimated that the exam should be over soon and Xu Zhenying and the others should be coming out.
Because the scores had been announced on the spot and the candidates were told that all scores would be calculated and posted on the list tomorrow, the candidates left almost as soon as they finished the exam, concentrating their energy and waiting for the next day.
She stood alone at the gate of Jinzhou Mansion, waiting until the moon rose to dusk. She saw the lights inside light up one by one, and then heard a noisy sound coming from inside.
Zhou Houfang couldn't help but think: This young city lord is really busy day and night.
From this morning till now, I have been busy for at least five hours.
Xu Zhenying came out surrounded by the crowd. She said to everyone, "This exam is very serious. Many of the candidates here have come all the way from Lan County and Ye County. It will cost them a lot to stay overnight. So we have to work hard on everyone. Even if we have to work all night, we must first compile the results and post them on the bulletin board tomorrow morning. If you are thirsty or hungry, you can find Director Zhao in the logistics department. She will be with you the whole night."
After that, she called Xu Anping and Fang Ningmo over. "You two, work harder and dig up those hidden gems. Oh, and send me a copy of the admission list first. I'll be waiting no matter how late it is."
Zhou Houfang found the right moment and rushed forward, but unfortunately she didn't know that Xu Zhenying had personal guards around him. As soon as she stepped forward, An Peilin immediately handcuffed her hands behind her back.
At this moment, An Peilin was very excited and secretly thought that he had done a great job.
But when he grabbed her, he noticed her thin bones and knew immediately that she was a weak little girl.
"City Lord!" Zhou Houfang immediately called out to Xu Zhenying anxiously, hoping that she had left a deep impression on her in the examination room. Otherwise, she might actually be arrested as an assassin. "City Lord, I'm Zhou Houfang! I'm also one of the candidates this time!"
Xu Zhenying and his men approached gracefully. Qian Zhenniang took a look in the light and said with a smile, "Ah, he looks very familiar. Why are you sneaking around our city lord? The results aren't in yet. If you want to know your final score, come here early tomorrow morning."
"No! City Lord, I am Zhou Houfang, the eldest daughter of the Jinzhou Prefecture's Tongpan. My father is imprisoned, his life or death uncertain. My mother and grandmother are so worried they can't sleep day or night. That's why I came up with the idea of taking an exam to meet the City Lord! Please, City Lord, be merciful and tell me about my father's condition so that my family can be at ease!"
Xu Zhenying raised his hand, signaling An Peilin to let go of Zhou Houfang.
Zhou Houfang loosened the shackles and immediately walked in front of Xu Zhenying.
Under the night sky, the powerful woman seemed a little softer than she was during the day.
Zhou Houfang walked towards Xu Zhenying step by step.
Xu Zhenying smiled at her. "You can go back and tell your family that your father is doing well. All the officials in Jinzhou Prefecture have been imprisoned and cut off from the outside world. However, they haven't suffered the slightest torture in there. They are provided with three meals a day on time, and their daily lives are taken care of."
Zhou Houfang's chest heaved. She didn't know whether she should believe Xu Zhenying, but Xu Zhenying spoke frankly and sincerely, and his eyes were calm and peaceful, which made people irresistible.
She could only believe Xu Zhenying's words for the time being.
She looked at Xu Zhenying again, "City Lord, when can my father come home?"
"Hmm..." Xu Zhenying seemed to hesitate. "I don't kill indiscriminately, but I don't want to cause trouble for myself either. If I let them go, they will definitely cause trouble for me, and then I will have to kill them. So locking them up now is the best option. As for when to release them, I can only tell you, just wait."
Zhou Houfang felt a little sad.
Could it be that after all she did, she ended up being unable to do anything except get the news that her father was safe?
Xu Zhenying looked at her and smiled, "Why are you sad? Today should be your big day. You got the highest score in the interview."
Zhou Houfang looked up in astonishment, and then she seemed a little embarrassed and ashamed.
While her father was still in prison, she sacrificed herself to join the enemy and was even complacent about such a small achievement.
Xu Zhenying patted her shoulder and said with a smile, "Tomorrow's total scores and rankings will be announced. If you can make it into the top 150 this time, you'll find me outside the South City Gate. You should go back today. The security in Jinzhou Prefecture is not as good as in Lan County. Girls in Lan County can go out freely, but not in Jinzhou Prefecture. Go back early and don't let your mother worry."
With this intimate gesture and seeing the people around him acting as if they were accustomed to it, Zhou Houfang immediately confirmed the rumors.
Xu Zhenying... this local tyrant who dominates the area is a woman!
Zhou Houfang's face twitched a few times.
Thinking of what Xu Zhenying said, she was a little confused, but she could also see that Xu Zhenying didn't want to say more, so she could only agree for the time being.
She nodded ignorantly, then watched Xu Zhenying and his group walk away.
Did she really get the highest score?
If defeating Huang Weiguang the first time was a fluke and a mistake made by the examiner, then what about this time?
It is said that the interview results are scored by ten examiners and the average is taken.
She had come across the term "average value" in Lan County's mathematics textbook a few days before the exam.
If the average value is the highest in the whole exam, does it mean that Zhou Houfang's ability is recognized by all ten examiners?
But what would Xu Zhenying say to her?
Zhou Houfang couldn't find the answer after thinking about it, but it didn't stop her from going home in a hurry.
She almost forgot about her father.
Zhou Houfang also secretly blamed herself for being unfilial.
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Early the next morning, Zhou Houfang ran out of the door amid her mother's tears and anxiety.
But this time, the maidservant beside her didn't leave her side for a moment, and kept muttering, "Miss, Madam has been crying every day these past few days, saying that she has wronged you and made you, a girl, run around everywhere. Today, no matter what you say, I will not let you out of my sight again."
"Good Amber, I have something important to do today! If you want to follow me, you can, but remember, don't say a word if you see anything!"
"Okay, okay, I'll listen to you, young lady!" Amber agreed repeatedly, "But can you really pass the exam? If you pass the civil servant exam, won't you be the same as those Jinshi candidates?"
Zhou Houfang's face showed a hint of joy, but he said, "It's not that easy. Becoming a Jinshi is much harder than this!"
"But it's already rare for the young lady to stand out from over a thousand people! I've heard that the young lady has loved reading since she was a child, and she's many times better than the third young lady of the Chang family. The third young lady of the Chang family is known throughout Jinzhou for her talent, and that reputation is just to bluff outsiders. I actually think the third young lady can't even read a few words!"
Zhou Houfang frowned. This girl of hers was not good in any way. She was loyal and hardworking, but she just couldn't control her mouth.
She said in a deep voice, "I will go see the city lord later. You must not say anything careless! The city lord is not Miss Chang San. If you say the wrong thing, I can't protect you!"
Amber was so frightened that her face turned pale and she didn't dare to speak.
My God, she is the biggest local tyrant in Jinzhou Prefecture. Who dares to provoke her?
Zhou Houfang went to check her results first. There was a huge crowd in front of Jinzhou Mansion. Amber had to work hard to squeeze in and saw Zhou Houfang's name. She immediately shouted, "Miss, Miss, you passed! Passed! 143rd!"
When Zhou Houfang learned the results, he quickly pulled Amber away from the bulletin board.
Firstly, there were too many people there, and she was afraid someone would recognize her. Secondly, out of a total of 150 people admitted, she was ranked third from the bottom, a truly unacceptable result.
Remembering Xu Zhenying's instructions, Zhou Houfang dragged Amber towards the South City Gate. Amber was so excited that she kept chattering all the way, "Miss, you really passed! Then you will become a Jinshi in the future, right?"
Zhou Houfang didn't have the patience to explain, so she had to bluff her: "You're yelling so loudly, are you afraid that the Chang family won't know that I, Zhou Houfang, have joined the thieves?"
Amber finally realized how powerful he was and shut up immediately.
At this time, the sky was bright and the streets of Jinzhou Prefecture were crowded with pedestrians. The aroma of pork from the restaurant, the early wontons, the pancakes on the roadside, all kinds of smells mixed in the air, seemed to make Jinzhou Prefecture come alive.
There are more and more people in Jinzhou Prefecture.
This city seems to be becoming more and more lively.
Zhou Houfang thought so, and she walked quickly, passing through the crowd and reaching the South City Gate.
It is said that the South City Gate was surrounded a few days ago. Every day, many people were seen working and coming in and out, but no one knew what they were doing. Now, when I looked, I saw that there were still soldiers guarding it.
Zhou Houfang explained the whole story. After the soldier went to pass the message back, he smiled and said, "Miss Zhou, the city lord said he's been waiting for you for a long time. Please come in. Oh, please go along the gravel path next to you and don't step on the cement."
Zhou Houfang was a little puzzled. "Excuse me, sir, what is cement?"
"When you go in, you'll see the barrier. Don't step on it. If you do, we'll fine you!"
Zhou Houfang nodded.
She just thought that the people Xu Zhenying brought with him were weird.
First of all, the soldiers in the city were dressed very strangely, and even their textbooks were weird.
Amber tugged at her sleeve, somewhat excitedly: "Miss, Miss, I see they actually have female soldiers! Those female soldiers have such short hair, and they all look very strong, no worse than the men!"
As a second-class maid, Amber rarely went out. Both of them seemed like bumpkins. Fortunately, Zhou Houfang had met many people from Lan County during the exam that day, so she patiently said, "It is said that there are not only female soldiers in Lan County, but also female doctors and female clerks. Women there are proud to work and become independent. You should have seen the results of this clerk exam. There are quite a few women on the list. And I met a woman yesterday whose father-in-law and husband actually borrowed money to take the exam. This shows how relaxed the atmosphere is in Lan County!"
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