Wang Sanlang, formerly known as Wang Jinbao.
Because this name was too vulgar, he changed it to Wang Xuecheng after studying.
Wang Xuecheng followed Wang Xiaoxi out of the county for the first time and came to the capital for the first time, to Xinmin County, where commerce was most developed.
In an instant, he was attracted by this place.
The streets were full of people, men, women, young and old.
There was a gleam of hope on everyone's face.
He was so overwhelmed by the sight that his eyes were not enough.
Wang Xiaoxi patted his shoulder and said, "You'll get used to it after staying here for a few days. I'll take you there to settle in first."
After leaving the market, Wang Xiaoxi took Wang Xuecheng to the second phase of the project.
Thousands and tens of thousands of houses are neatly arranged, which shocks everyone who sees it for the first time.
"Butler Wang's house is right here? That's amazing."
"That's nothing," Wang Xiaoxi said with a smile. "The head manager of our coal plant bought a house in Phase 3 just a few years ago. It's a magnificent house with a big garden. My biggest wish in life is to buy a big house in Phase 3."
The house I live in now is okay for living in, but otherwise it's just average. My family is big and noisy, so it wouldn't be suitable for you if you want to study. But I've found a single room for you, right across the street. It's quiet and affordable. Best of all, it's available for short-term rent. Once you're admitted to the academy, you can just return the house."
"Thank you, Steward Wang!"
"You're welcome. We have the same last name, so it's only natural for us to help each other."
As they walked, Wang Xiaoxi introduced the surrounding situation to Wang Xuecheng.
The single room he found for Wang Xuecheng was on the second floor. It was indeed quiet, the price was not expensive, and the landlord was very easy to talk to.
The person living next door is also a scholar, a scholar who came to Beijing from another place and also plans to take the entrance exam for Shanhe College.
As soon as Wang Xuecheng went up to the second floor, he fell in love with this place.
I simply signed a three-party lease agreement with the landlord, paid one month's rent, and moved in.
Wang Xiaoxi said to him, "After dinner, I'll take you out to have a look. There are a lot of job openings these days, so it should be easy to find a job."
Wang Xuecheng thanked him repeatedly.
Wang Xiaoxi laughed heartily, patted his shoulder and said, "There are quite a few scholars living in this building. You should get closer to them and ask about the exam situation. After all, I'm a layman and I only know a little about studying."
Wang Xuecheng nodded heavily.
Wang Xiaoxi also told the landlord to take good care of Wang Xuecheng. As a local of Gyeonggi, everyone is from the capital.
People in Beijing should take care of people in Beijing.
The landlord readily agreed and personally introduced Wang Xuecheng to several other scholars.
They were all students from other places who had come to Beijing, all of them had achieved academic success. When they learned that Wang Xuecheng was just a student, they immediately lost interest in him. They didn't even bother to look at him.
In the eyes of scholars and juren, tongsheng were no different from illiterates. They were not worth their time and effort to make friends with.
Only one person, a scholar named Yan Ci, was polite to Wang Xuecheng.
"I just heard from the landlord that you are also here to take the entrance exam for Shanhe Academy?"
Wang Xuecheng nodded. "Is it easy to get into the academy?"
Yan Ci shook his head, "It's not easy to take the test."
Wang Xuecheng suddenly became nervous.
Yan Ci continued, "I've taken the exam four times since I came to Beijing last July, and I failed every time on the comprehensive paper."
Wang Xuecheng was confused. "What is a comprehensive exam?"
Yan Ci stared at him, looking him up and down. "You don't even know what the Shanhe Academy exam is about, do you?"
Wang Xuecheng nodded embarrassedly. "To be honest, Brother Yan, I only found out about Shanhe Academy a few days ago. I heard that if you get in, all fees are free, and you get four sets of clothes a year. There are monthly exams, and if you do well, you can even get…"
"scholarship!"
"Yes, yes, it's a scholarship."
Yan Ci laughed, seeing in Wang Xuecheng the same awkwardness he had felt when he first arrived in Beijing. Back then, he had made a lot of jokes and was nicknamed a bumpkin.
"I am a humble person, but like Brother Wang, I am here for the scholarship of Shanhe Academy." Yan Ci said solemnly.
"Brother Wang, do you know how much the Shanhe Academy scholarship is for the monthly exam? How much is the scholarship for the quarterly exam? How much is the scholarship for the final exam?"
Wang Xuecheng shook his head honestly. How would he know?
He is just a bumpkin now, confused the whole time.
Yan Ci said, "By age group, the monthly exams will give first place a scholarship of thirty taels of silver, and second and third place will receive twenty taels. I heard there's a new system this year, so fourth through tenth place will also receive awards. The quarterly exams will give first place a scholarship of fifty taels of silver, and second and third place will receive thirty taels. The final exams will give the highest scholarship, with first place receiving a hundred taels."
"So many?" Wang Xuecheng looked shocked.
Yan Ci shook his head. "That's not all. There's also a full scholarship, which requires excellence in every subject. The specific evaluation process is unclear at the moment. A full scholarship costs a total of one thousand taels per year."
Wang Xuecheng was so shocked by the one thousand taels Yan Ci mentioned that he was speechless.
Yan Ci continued, "The full scholarship is very valuable, so it's naturally very difficult to get. As far as I know, since Shanhe Academy opened, only two people have received full scholarships. One of them had his full scholarship revoked the following year. It was said that his academic performance declined and he no longer met the requirements."
Wang Xuecheng was secretly shocked and licked his dry lips.
He whispered, "I don't dare to hope for a full scholarship, but I'm already satisfied with just getting the monthly exam scholarship."
"Hahaha... I have the same idea as Brother Wang. I don't ask for a full scholarship, I just want a scholarship for the monthly exam. Unfortunately, I haven't passed the exam four times. But this time, I'm very confident that I can pass."
Yan Ci was particularly serious at the end.
Wang Xuecheng asked cautiously, "Brother Yan is already a scholar, do you still need a mere monthly exam scholarship to get by?"
Yan Ci slowly shook his head, "Brother Wang, do you think that anyone who can pass the imperial examination must have a family fortune of millions?"
Wang Xuecheng kept his mouth shut, afraid of making a fool of himself.
"Brother Wang, you think things are too simple. What's the point of being a scholar? Only if you can pass the imperial examination and become a juren can you accumulate a fortune. Brother Wang, you must remember that being a scholar is just the beginning. Being a jinshi is our goal. If you can't pass the jinshi, you must pass the juren. Only by passing the juren can you achieve something."
Wang Xuecheng suddenly felt a surge of pressure. Compared to Yan Ci, he felt he had no ambition. His only goal now was to pass the imperial examination and give his family an explanation.
He asked cautiously, "Brother Yan, why did you choose Shanhe Academy? The mountains are high and the roads are long, and you'll have to return home for the next provincial examination. Is it just for the monthly exam scholarship?"
Yan Ci hesitated for a moment, then stood up and closed the doors and windows. "Shanhe Academy has only been open for a few years and isn't well-known, yet it has attracted so many scholars. Why do you think that is?"
Wang Xuecheng shook his head honestly, he knew nothing.
Yan Ci lowered his voice and whispered, "It's not just because Shanhe Academy is rich, but more importantly, the owner of Shanhe Academy is Madam Zhao. You've heard of Madam Zhao, the owner of Sihai Trading Company and the wife of the Crown Prince.
"We are not qualified to enter the Imperial College. Shanhe Academy has no restrictions on social status. As long as you pass the exam, everyone can enter. This gives everyone a chance to meet the powerful. Studying in my hometown, how can I have the opportunity to meet the rich and powerful? Don't you think so?"
Wang Xuecheng's mouth was dry. "Will the nobles really come to the academy?"
Yan Ci said affirmatively: "Yes! Of course! There is a road behind the academy that leads directly to another hill. Do you know who lives on that hill?
All the residents here are the rich and powerful of the capital. This is the shortcut to heaven! Let me tell you another thing, many students who come here to study have been accepted as guests by nobles, and have directly made the leap to the dragon gate.
Wang Xuecheng let out a cry, obviously stimulated.
Yan Ci looked envious, "It's a pity that we don't have such an opportunity. But we still have the imperial examination. Shanhe Academy is not well-known because very few people pass the imperial examination. After all, it has only been open for a few years.
But as far as I know, there are quite a few who passed the examinations for the xiucai and juren levels. Most of these people had average qualifications, but after only two years in the academy, they all achieved academic success. There were especially many who passed the xiucai level in the academy.
Therefore, this year, there are many people like Brother Wang who are here for the title of scholar. Brother Wang, you must prepare well, or you will be rejected."
Wang Xuecheng suddenly became nervous, "Brother Yan, please teach me."
Yan Ci said solemnly, "First and foremost, you need to buy a prep book for the exam and practice every day like I did."
“What is practice questioning?”
“It’s just answering the test paper.”
Yan Ci simply took out the exercise book he had bought and said, "Look at the questions here, they are all from previous exams. First there are multiple-choice questions, then fill-in-the-blank questions, comprehension questions, and finally two essay questions.
This book is about divination. If you buy one and practice it every day, you'll have no problem passing the divination exam. The hardest part is the comprehensive paper, which covers everything. Oh, I've failed the comprehensive paper so many times, it's so frustrating! I'm going to pass this time no matter what."
Wang Xuecheng looked at the exercise book and deeply suspected that all the books he had read in the past were fake.
"So you can take exams like this?"
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