Chapter 98 Results Announcement
Fortunately, the results of the prefectural examination were also announced in the form of public announcements.
Even though everyone was so crowded that they couldn't move, the clerk's voice announcing the list was still able to drown out the many conversations in the room.
At first, there were still some voices talking, but as the official announced the list, the originally noisy conversations gradually turned into whispers.
Soon, only the voice of the clerk could be heard throughout the entire area.
Moreover, in order to ensure that everyone present could understand, the clerk would first announce the matter in official language and then repeat it in the local dialect.
While this makes it easier to avoid mistakes, it naturally slows down the chart reading process.
As the names of those who made the list were announced one by one by the clerk, cheers and cries could be heard from time to time, but they were quickly suppressed.
It's hard not to feel nervous in such an atmosphere.
Guo Baiwen felt his heart was about to jump out of his throat, and his ears were more sensitive than ever before as he tried to distinguish every name being announced by the clerk.
Lin Zhongbin had unconsciously clenched his teeth, his hands were clenched into fists, and he was muttering something under his breath. His voice grew louder between the announcements from the clerk and gradually became softer as the clerk revealed the names of the people.
When the announcement reached the forty-first place, a classmate who had been standing next to them suddenly felt a buzzing in his head. Forgetting his surroundings, he instinctively shouted to everyone around him, "It's me! They called my name! Waaaaah, I passed!"
He cried loudly, but his heart was finally at peace.
The others, who hadn't been called on yet, were anxious about whether their names had been called, but still offered their congratulations, "Brother Tong, congratulations!"
He was a student who had taken the preliminary examination last year in Class A. He failed last year, but this year he came again and finally passed.
Seeing his name called, Zhou, who was also competing again this year, couldn't help but become even more anxious.
If he weren't currently squeezed into a crowd, Guo Baiwen felt he would be pacing back and forth like an ant on a hot pan.
Fortunately, his anxiety didn't last long. Soon, when they called out the fifty-seventh name, he exclaimed, "Hooray!!! It's me!!! It's my name!!!"
He won too!
Although my ranking wasn't as high as my classmate Tong's, I still passed!
The expressions on their faces at that moment were a mixture of crying and laughing, which made the others present even more anxious.
Lin Zhongbin sighed, turned to look at Guo Baiwen, and lowered his voice, "Those two are usually among the top students in Class A, and they only managed to squeeze into the top sixty in this exam, so what about us—"
Is it really possible to pass the exam?
Seeing that he was about to say something discouraging, Guo Baiwen shook his head at him and patted him on the shoulder reassuringly.
However, he couldn't utter any words of comfort. After a while, he could only say dryly, "Wait a little longer."
He was actually extremely anxious, but at this moment, there was no use in being anxious.
I can't squeeze in, and I can't see anything, so I can only listen to the charts slowly.
Didn't you see the older test-taker next to you? Because of his poor mental fortitude, he's already starting to break down and pluck out his own beard.
This ranking, though originally intended as a good deed, now feels like a dull knife cutting into my heart.
Each cut was made slowly, yet each one was incredibly clear.
As the clerk read out the names, some people burst into laughter, while others danced with joy.
When they called out the ninety-third place, another classmate who had come with them jumped up, and then they cried and laughed together with Tong and Zhou from before.
Only Guo Baiwen and Lin Zhongbin remained.
The clerk was about to finish announcing the top 100 names.
Lin Zhongbin's face grew increasingly ashen. He had already prepared himself for failing the exam this time, muttering to himself, "It's okay, it's okay. Zhou and Tong also took the exam twice before they passed. We've only tried once. If we don't succeed this time, we can try again next time..."
"If it doesn't work this time, there will be another time..."
If his face hadn't grown paler as he read, his words would have been even more convincing.
Seeing his appearance, Guo Baiwen couldn't help but sigh. Just as he was about to say something to him, Lin Zhongbin suddenly pushed his shoulder.
"Yizhang! Listen! It's your name! They're calling your name!"
What? !
Guo Baiwen disregarded what he hadn't said aloud and hurriedly went to listen to the announcement.
Fortunately, the clerk would announce the name twice. When it wasn't his name, he felt like he was being cut with a dull knife. But when he heard his name, it was like heavenly music!
They even wanted to listen to it a couple more times!
When he heard the clerk announce the next person's name as the 100th, Guo Baiwen belatedly realized that he should be ranked 99th.
It's great, it's great.
Although ninety-ninth place is not a particularly high score, it is still quite remarkable to be in the top one hundred of the prefectural examination!
He couldn't help but want to smile, but the moment he looked up and met Lin Zhongbin's gaze, he quickly suppressed the joy.
Brother Lin's ranking hasn't been announced yet.
We can celebrate later, after all the charts have finished.
As Guo Baiwen was thinking this, he remembered what he hadn't finished saying earlier. Just as he was about to continue speaking, he heard Lin Zhongbin shake his head, looking like he had been deeply shocked.
"Yi Zhang, your name was called too. It seems I'm probably the only one in the academy who didn't pass the prefectural exam this year..."
As soon as those words were spoken...
Guo Baiwen was at a loss for words.
After all, of the five people who came to participate in the prefectural examination together, four have already had their names called. At this point, no matter what words are used to comfort the person whose name was not called, it will seem like the person is not in a good position.
The ranking on the charts is getting lower and lower; it's already past number 120.
With only thirty people left, Lin Zhongbin said he probably hadn't been selected, but he was still listening intently to each of the remaining names.
Clearly, they are still quietly waiting.
But soon, he heard the clerk announce the 130th name, and still his name hadn't appeared.
Lin Zhongbin's eyes were red, as if he had given up completely.
The next moment, the results read, "132nd place in the prefectural examination, Lin Zhongbin of Xiuning County—"
There is no sound more beautiful than this!
Before Guo Baiwen could congratulate him, Lin Zhongbin couldn't help but jump around even though he was squeezed in the crowd.
"My name! I heard my name too!" The greatest joy is the sudden arrival of hope after despair.
For the first time, Lin Zhongbin abandoned his usual composure and couldn't help but shake Guo Baiwen's shoulder, "Did you hear that?! They just called my name!"
Although Guo Baiwen's head was buzzing from being shaken, there was no need to suppress the joy he had been holding back.
His smile grew wider and wider until he was almost beside himself with laughter. "I heard it! I heard it!"
After the clerk finished reading all the names, the scene became even more lively.
Those whose names were called couldn't help but burst into laughter, while those who hadn't heard their names at all were dejected.
Five students from Yangzheng Academy participated in the prefectural examination this time, and all five passed and became students of the lowest rank.
Now, I can say that I have finally shed my status as a commoner and can be considered a proper scholar!
But now that the yamen runners and clerks had left, the crowd, which had been somewhat orderly, became even more crowded.
We should be happy, but we can't be happy here.
Guo Baiwen patted Lin Zhongbin, who was still in a daze, signaling him to leave this crowded place while he still could.
After finally managing to squeeze out, Guo Baiwen's newly changed shoes had two black footprints on them, and Tong's hair was a bit disheveled. Zhou was in even worse shape; the hat he was wearing had somehow fallen off.
But now that he had finally gotten out of the crowd, he didn't intend to go back to look for it.
Since everyone was staying at the same hostel, the person who was supposed to deliver the good news should have already arrived at the hostel after the results were announced.
Although I heard everything just now, as long as I don't have the certificate of approval in my hand, I still feel like something is missing and I can't be completely sure.
So they joked with each other, but their feet didn't stop, and they hurried towards the hostel.
When they finally made it back to the hostel, a group of people were already waiting at the door.
The hostel owner looked at the group of people, unable to contain his smile.
Although it was only the prefectural examination, the fact that so many new students had emerged from his inn at once made him think of giving them a discount on the room rate for the next few days.
When they return to the academy, they can also promote it to the students of their own academy.
If anyone comes to the prefectural city to take the exam, staying at their house will surely bring them good luck!
Since the hostel owner himself had said so, the group naturally agreed and nodded in agreement, then looked at the good news they were holding.
Tong Tong and a few others unconsciously reddened their eyes.
Guo Baiwen quickly changed the subject, glancing out the window and saying, "It's getting late. Why don't we stay another night and hire a carriage to go back to Xiuning County tomorrow morning?"
"Since we're in the capital city for the exams, we haven't had a chance to explore much. This afternoon, you can go out for a walk or rest at the inn if you like."
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhongbin wiped his eyes hard with his sleeve and stepped forward as well. "Since everyone is here, I'll let you know in advance that I'll treat everyone to dinner tonight at Liu's Restaurant across from the hostel!"
When I first checked into the hostel, the aroma of braised duck from Liu's Restaurant wafted over, so enticing that I stopped to linger.
So it was decided right then and there that whoever got into the top class had to go to that shop and buy a big, fatty braised duck to treat everyone to a delicious meal.
To everyone's surprise, this time it passed unanimously.
Although his ranking was the lowest among those present, he was the only one in his family who was willing to study. This first battle was a success, and even though he was at the bottom of the class, he still passed smoothly.
The Lin family is not short of money. Now that everyone is a classmate and a student of the imperial examination, they should have a good meal to relieve the suffering they have endured for the exam.
Although everyone knew it was well-intentioned, they still tried to dissuade him, but Lin Zhongbin remained adamant.
So the matter was settled.
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