Chapter 177 Chen Xinghe's entrance exam, the county magistrate personally visits Chenjia Village
As the best academy in the county, Qingyun Academy's twice-yearly entrance examinations attract a lot of attention.
Therefore, people started queuing outside at daybreak. When Xiao Ying and others arrived, the place was already crowded with cars, blocking the nearby streets.
“There are so many people.”
Yu Yezhou couldn't help but feel nervous, as if he was about to take an exam.
I heard that Qingyun Academy is very strict in recruiting students, and only accepts thirty to fifty people each time, but now there are more than three hundred to five hundred people coming to take the entrance examination.
The competition is too fierce.
"Don't feel any psychological pressure. After all, you only went to school for a few years."
Xiao Ying touched Chen Xinghe's head to help him relieve his tension.
Chen Xinghe slowly loosened his clenched fists and smiled.
"Don't worry, Mom. I know what to do."
"Well, at least I have nothing to regret."
At 2:15 am, a teacher came to maintain order. Students who wanted to take the entrance examination went to register themselves and then lined up to enter.
Before entering the examination room, their belongings were checked one by one. Even though it was not as strict as the county examination, it eliminated any ulterior motives.
The entrance examination would last a whole day, so after Chen Xinghe entered, Xiao Ying took Ling Yun and others back to the house first.
Yu Yezhou paced back and forth in the yard, unable to concentrate on his work at all. His worried look did not seem fake.
Xiao Ying asked with amusement, "If Xinghe fails the exam, will you always be upset?"
"Ma'am, please stop laughing at me."
A hint of embarrassment flashed across Yu Yezhou's face, and he ran to pour her a glass of water.
"Madam, are you really not worried?"
"What's there to worry about?" Xiao Ying smiled and shook her head. "Not to mention Xinghe is still young, there's still plenty of time for him to learn. Even if he can't pass the exam in this lifetime, does that mean he's no longer a human being?"
"Let me ask you, why did Xinghe apply to Qingyun Academy?"
Yu Yezhou answered without hesitation: "Of course it's for better learning."
"What happens after you learn better?"
"Examination for students, examination for scholars."
"And then?"
"Take the Juren exam, then strive to participate in the Spring Examination and get on the list."
Yu Yezhou's eyes sparkled. This was the common wish of all scholars, and the second young master was no exception.
"What happens after you're on the list?" Xiao Ying unexpectedly continued to ask.
Yu Yezhou showed a strange look. Was Madam testing him?
He said immediately, "If you are on the list, you can become an official. Even if it is just a small official, you will be out of the status of an ordinary citizen."
Xiao Ying nodded: "So you think Xinghe studied only to become an official and escape from the status of an ordinary citizen?"
"Then what else could it be... Oh, and it can bring honor to our family!"
Yu Yezhou's eyes brightened even more. This was probably what the lady wanted to hear the most.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Ying just smiled and said, "When Xinghe comes back, ask him what the purpose of studying is and what the purpose of becoming an official is."
"lady……"
Yu Yezhou's smile froze. Was his answer wrong?
After Xiao Ying left, he scratched his head, his mind still replaying Xiao Ying's words, and then he squatted aside to think carefully.
What is the purpose of being an official?
If you ask Ning Yuanze why he became an official, he might have said that it was to stand out, to not disappoint his aunt, and to not be looked down upon by others.
But after coming to Yun'an County, a remote county, and seeing too much poverty and hardship, he might add one more thing.
Let Yun'an County become prosperous and the people live and work in peace and contentment.
In order to achieve this goal, he has been working diligently and tirelessly since taking office for more than a month.
Today, he personally went to Chenjia Village to inspect the river that can benefit thousands of people.
With the concerted efforts of several villages, the river channel was completed yesterday. Several village heads reported the progress immediately. He was so delighted that he decided to come and inspect it in person today.
Early in the morning, all the villages gathered upstream of Taohua Village, waiting for Ning Yuanze's arrival.
Ning Yuanze went to the mountains first under the accompaniment and guidance of everyone.
Seeing that the dams had been dug up, the rushing river water poured into the tributaries from the main river, and several water wheels were running day and night, the widened river channel was filled again, almost restoring its previous water flow. Ning Yuanze felt very relieved and shocked.
"Okay, okay!"
Walking downstream, I was excited and satisfied when I saw the lush green crops around me, which were not affected much by the drought.
"This river channel has been dug well. You have all worked hard these days."
He smiled heartily and praised the village heads generously. This was definitely the most meaningful thing he had done since taking office.
Chen Jie, Duan Youfu and the others all breathed a sigh of relief, then their brows lit up with joy and they all began to compliment him.
"This is all thanks to the wise guidance of the county magistrate."
"Yes, if the county magistrate hadn't called us together to act together, we wouldn't have been able to do it."
"The county magistrate is truly a wise man. Thank you for saving our village from drought!"
“…”
The village heads racked their brains to come up with praises, and their words were extremely corny and became more and more outrageous.
The villagers who came to watch the fun even echoed and thanked the county magistrate for helping them solve the drought problem.
"There will be no reduction in grain production this year, so we don't have to worry about going hungry."
"Yes, the river has been widened! And the water wheels are well installed! Although it has been hard work recently, I am very happy when I think about the good harvest."
"This is all thanks to the county magistrate. If he hadn't asked us to widen the river and buy water wheels, the crops in these fields would have dried up."
"I didn't expect that our county magistrate is so young and yet so capable."
"The county magistrate is very approachable and even came to visit the river in person."
“…”
The people praised Ning Yuanze like a flower. Even though he was always calm and composed, Ning Yuanze felt warm in his heart.
Perhaps, this is the meaning of being a local official.
In the end, people still came with baskets to give gifts. The baskets didn't contain anything valuable, just some eggs, vegetables and so on.
"Fellow villagers, this is unacceptable."
Ning Yuanze waved his hands to refuse. These things were nothing to him, but they might be the food rations for a family of these people.
He said seriously, "I know everyone is excited and wants to thank me, but the people you should thank the most are actually yourselves."
"It was you who united as one and braved all hardships to build this river channel. You also paid for the waterwheel with your own money..."
"Even if I have to find someone to thank, it should be Madam Xiao who came up with this idea and contributed a waterwheel."
He was unwilling to take credit for it. After all, he didn't do much in this matter. It was not his idea, and he didn't contribute any money or effort. He felt really embarrassed.
Duan Youfu suddenly said cleverly, "We will certainly not forget Madam Xiao, but the county magistrate should also be thanked."
"If it weren't for your leadership and support, we wouldn't be able to unite. Folks, don't you agree?"
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