Chapter 693 Zhao Sidan is ambushed
The examination hall for the provincial examination was located in the Gongyuan (Imperial Examination Hall).
The candidates entered through the main entrance, passed through the Dragon Gate, and were then verified. Their names were called out one by one, and their household registration documents were checked before they were allowed in.
Once inside, candidates will be searched to check for cheating materials. After confirming there are no issues, they will be led to their assigned examination rooms in an orderly fashion. Each candidate will have their own examination room with a table, chairs, and a simple bed. If a candidate needs to use the restroom, the invigilator will take them to a designated toilet located within the examination room.
Eighteen students from the Great River Academy stood in one place, waiting to be searched.
Soon it was Yu Zhan's turn. After seeing his name, the person in charge of the body search searched him carefully three or four times before letting him go. The person in charge led him to the examination shed, directly to the corner room next to the toilet.
Yu Zhan pursed his lips. This was something he had expected, so there was nothing surprising about it. He pushed open the door and calmly walked in.
After Yu Zhan, it was Qian Hui's turn. He casually spread his arms and let himself be searched. After one search, they let him go.
He leisurely followed the person in charge to the examination hall, showing no sense of urgency about the upcoming exam.
Zhao Sidan shook his head. If Brother Qian can pass the imperial examination this time, the Qian family will be extremely fortunate.
He took two steps, walked up to the investigator, opened his arms, spun around, and was about to turn back to face the investigator when the investigator stopped him: "Wait a minute, what's this...?"
The investigator reached down to his lower back and pulled out a red belt.
This is the top scholar's belt; Mr. Zhou prepared one for every student entering the examination hall.
The investigator, finding nothing amiss, tossed the belt back: "Alright, you can go in now."
Zhao Sidan fastened his belt back on, then picked up his pile of belongings: blankets, luggage, dry food, water bottle, and writing materials...
His fingers suddenly stopped—where was the bundle of writing materials?
He was shocked and quickly put down what he was carrying. He squatted down and searched the ground, but the ground was clean and there was nothing there.
"What are you still dawdling about here for?" the investigator said impatiently. "Hurry up and go to your seat in the examination booth. Don't delay the people behind you from entering."
Zhao Sidan looked around on the ground but couldn't find his things.
He slowly withdrew his gaze, stood up, and looked at the investigator: "Did you hide my things?"
Only for that brief moment did the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone leave his sight.
His mother had warned him to be careful in everything he did. He thought the examination hall was a sacred place where no villains would dare to approach, but he was still careless.
The person who could bribe the exam organizers must be connected to the He family.
But now is not the time to speculate about who is behind this. Without pen, ink, paper and inkstone, he will not be able to complete the next exam.
He stared coldly at the investigator.
The investigator avoided his gaze and said coldly, "You forgot your own things and are framing me. Now you either go to the examination hall and sit down, or you get out."
Zhao Sidan clenched his fists.
Without writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, going to the examination hall is just sitting there aimlessly, which is completely meaningless.
At this hour, the gates of the examination hall are already closed. If he leaves now, he will never be able to enter again, and the next provincial examination will be in three years…
He turned around and looked at the people waiting in line behind him for the search; their eyes were filled with schadenfreude.
Yes, with one less competitor, everyone here has a better chance. Who wouldn't be secretly happy?
But he was unwilling to give up just like that.
He gritted his teeth and said, "I saw you take my things and hide them in the back cabinet. I demand to open the cabinet and check..."
"Outrageous! How dare you!" the search officer roared. "The provincial examination papers for this year are in here. Are you trying to see them in advance? I've seen plenty of people like you. Guards, throw him out!"
Zhao Sidan was unwilling to leave and was about to argue.
Qian Hui, who hadn't even entered the examination hall yet, quickly came over: "Hey, sir, it's a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding, everyone calm down, hehehe..."
He put his arm around Zhao Sidan's shoulder and said to the investigator, "My brother is young and doesn't know any better. Please, sir, don't hold a grudge against a child. There are so many people watching; we can't let everyone laugh at us, can we..."
"Jing Si, what are you doing? This is an important exam venue, what are you arguing about?" He grabbed Zhao Si Dan's other things haphazardly, pulled him towards his exam booth, and whispered, "It's just writing materials, what's the big deal? I have some here, I'll give them to you, why are you arguing with him?"
Zhao Sidan looked up at him: "You only have one set, what will you use if I give it to you?"
The provincial examination was the largest provincial-level examination, and there were special regulations regarding writing implements. To prevent students from cheating, the brush handles were hollowed out, and the inkstones were not allowed to be too thick. Each person would have an inkwell brush with a storage box on the brush head to store some ink, enough for one person's use. If it were distributed, there wouldn't be enough for everyone. There were also regulations on the number of sheets of Xuan paper for drafts, and the limit could not be exceeded...
"Hey, why are you being so polite with me?" Qian Hui said nonchalantly. "Mr. Zhou prepared one set for me, and my grandfather also prepared one set for me. I'll just give you one of these. Don't be shy, take it."
He blocked the investigator's view with his body and forcibly stuffed himself into Zhao Sidan's luggage where he kept his blankets. "Be careful, don't get tricked again."
“Brother Qian, don’t lie to me.” Zhao Sidan’s attitude was firm. “These specially regulated writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones can only be one set per person. How can there be a second set? I was tricked, which was my own mistake. I don’t need Brother Qian’s help. I’m still young. I’ll have a better chance if I come back in three years… Brother Qian, you do well on the exam. I’m going out now.”
Now that things have come to this, there's no point in him being angry anymore.
He will accumulate strength over these three years, and he will come back in three years and will definitely achieve the best results!
He turned to leave, but just then, Qian Hui, who was beside him, suddenly screamed and fell to the ground.
Several people in charge quickly gathered around.
"This must be the first examinee to faint this year."
“In previous years, some people fainted at the entrance of the examination hall. At least this person managed to get in, so it's not too embarrassing.”
"These people are supposed to be scholars, yet they fainted before the exam even started. They'll have to wait three more years for the next exam. Time waits for no one!"
The person in charge lifted Qian Hui up and walked out of the examination room.
The fact that a candidate fainted in the examination room was nothing unusual for the staff of the examination hall. After a few brief discussions, the place returned to silence.
Zhao Sidan opened his mouth in astonishment. He saw Qian Hui slightly open his eyes and give him an encouraging look.
He pursed his lips and reached out to touch the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone hidden under the blanket... Since Brother Qian had given him the opportunity, he was determined to get a good score.
When he becomes successful in the future, he will definitely repay Brother Qian's kindness today.
Zhao Sidan pursed his lips into a straight line, turned around, and strode towards his own examination booth.
Qian Hui, on the other hand, was simply thrown into the fenced shed outside the examination hall, left to fend for himself...
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