Old Ding found out that Ding Youtian was going to take the examination for the position of Tongsheng three days later. The county had already announced the results, and Ding Youtian passed the county examination with the highest score in the county.
When the news reached the town, the mayor came with people beating drums and gongs to congratulate.
This move by the Zhenjun was certainly an attempt to curry favor with the emperor. Ding Youtian had only passed the county exam and needed to pass the prefectural exam to qualify for the examination for the title of scholar. But even so, he couldn't wait to come and congratulate him with a grand ceremony.
Dingxian Village was now a popular destination within a hundred miles, renowned and the pride of the entire county. The Emperor had personally granted Ding Youtian a title, and Ding Youtian was a man of high standing with the Emperor. He had also just passed the first round of the county examination with top marks. As the town's leading official, how could he ignore his concerns?
Although Zhenjun was a bit of a sycophant, Ding Youtian was not too cold to him. Just as he and Qin Yifan discussed that night, everyone has their own relatives and friends, and officials are no exception.
It is rare for an official to be free from greed, not to exploit the people, to be impartial in matters involving human lives, and to maintain peace in the area.
Although the town lord was somewhat indulgent towards his brother-in-law, he was generally able to do some practical things for the local people, so Ding Youtian did not give him the cold shoulder. As for the village head and clan leader, the county magistrate was not as good as the current one, and the two elders still showed great enthusiasm for the town lord.
Master Chen from the clan school also came over and offered to be his guarantor together with Master Mo when he took part in the college entrance examination.
Jane Ning prepared a table full of sumptuous dishes to entertain everyone. They were toasting each other and chatting animatedly, while Old Ding started cursing at home.
Now the only ones in the family who were willing to listen to his lectures and scolding were Mrs. Meng and the fifth brother's children. The eldest brother, Ding Youwang, used to come occasionally to listen to his nagging, but after Mrs. Liu muttered a few times in front of the eldest brother, he gradually came less and less.
Ever since Ding Youtian was granted the privilege of not kneeling before officials by the Emperor, the Liu and Gao families, after their envy and resentment, had come to realize that Ding Youtian was a figure their men could never rival. Since they couldn't catch up, couldn't compare, they simply cultivated a good relationship and reap some tangible benefits.
Now the eldest and third brothers are secretly trying to show goodwill to Ding Youtian, not as relatives, but as ordinary villagers. When they meet him, they no longer call him the fourth brother or the fourth brother, but call him Brother Youtian like other villagers.
The last time they dug the fish pond, the eldest, third, and second brother all went together. As long as Ding Youtian and Jian Ning didn't try to establish any kinship with them and put themselves in their proper place, they wouldn't turn them away. After all, they were paid the same wages as the other villagers.
It doesn't matter who you hire.
Old Ding and Mrs. Meng were furious, scolding them for being unambitious and disgracing themselves. But after the family split up and everyone pursued their own future, they could scold as much as they wanted, and the brothers would not listen to them anymore.
Regret it!
Old Ding felt that the worst thing he had done in his life was not to separate Ding Youtian's family, but to let his sons divide the family property while he was still alive.
Before the family was divided, who would dare to go and act nice to the fourth brother without his permission?
So, these brothers are now interacting with each other, but they have left these two old people out?
"What a bunch of bastards!" He was so angry that he walked around the house with his hands behind his back.
"Don't worry, old man. I heard each level of the exam is getting harder and harder." Old Mrs. Meng sat cross-legged on the bed, comforting Old Ding. "This time, he might have secretly bribed that short-sighted county magistrate. I don't believe he'll have the ability to take the second provincial examination and dare to bribe the prefect."
Straightening her back, Old Madam Meng curled her lips and continued, "I heard that when the prefect came last year, he didn't have a good impression of him."
"Just wait and see, it's good enough that people don't make things difficult for him!"
"If we put him to the test, he'll definitely be the same as before. Just sit back and wait and see if what I say works! If he were any good, he'd be an official by now. Wouldn't we two old men still be stuck in this country? Wouldn't we have followed him into that big brick and tile house and enjoyed a peaceful life?"
Old Ding felt relieved after hearing her advice.
He nodded, his hands behind his back, and said, "Well, that's right. He failed the previous county exams once, and in just over six months, he hasn't even been to school to learn to read and write. How could he suddenly become enlightened?"
The more he thought about it, the more he felt that Mr. Meng's analysis was correct.
"He thinks he can become a scholar just because those two old fools, the village head and the clan leader, flatter him and let him secretly teach the children a few words in the clan school? No wonder he's thinking about taking the exam again. He's just daydreaming!"
Old Ding really turned out to be a jinx, and his words came true.
After passing the county examination, Ding Youtian successfully passed the prefectural examination. According to the imperial examination system of Dayanchao, those who passed the prefectural examination would become students. The last academy examination was presided over by the academician appointed by the emperor. The academy examination was the most rigorous one in the entire examination process.
Ding Youtian had already come to the provincial capital with six villagers, including the village head and clan leader, as well as two scholar guarantors, Mr. Mo and Mr. Chen. At daybreak, they arrived outside the examination hall to wait for roll call, and the guarantors had to be present as well.
After identity verification and body search to confirm that you do not have any cheat sheets, you are allowed to enter the examination room. You are not allowed to leave the examination room during the test, and you have to urinate and defecate in the small clay basin under your seat.
Ding Youtian had heard from Qin Yifan before that this exam would cover astronomy, geography, and arithmetic, and would usually last a whole day. The examination room would be filled with the stench of feces, and sure enough, he was severely suffocated in less than half an hour.
Jian Ning had originally prepared a mask for him, but it was confiscated during the body search, so he had no choice but to answer with a pinched nose. He answered the other questions smoothly and quickly, except for the policy essay. This time, the topic was to write a policy essay based on the Book of Filial Piety, with a limit of 700 words.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
