Chapter 111 The Prefectural School
Moving is a big deal, after all.
When we moved from Guojia Village to the county town, it was all done in a rush because we had no way out.
But now in Xiuning County, in addition to their new home, they also have a shop that has been operating for several years and has accumulated some reputation.
The fields that were previously rented out also need to be looked after by someone.
Whether it's because Grandma Guo is getting old, or Guo Xiaohua hasn't yet completed her apprenticeship under Lin Niangzi, or Chen Baoyue still goes hunting in the mountains with her father and uncles every summer.
After thinking for a long time, Guo Baiwen originally planned to leave alone.
But now, when I brought it up with everyone at dinner, they all expressed their disapproval.
Chen Baoyue was the first to respond. She had just returned from the prefectural capital a few days ago and didn't feel that living in a different place would be uncomfortable. At this moment, she only spoke tactfully: "I have never heard of couples living apart."
While she does enjoy hunting, even if she moved to the prefectural capital or state capital, there should be a place where she could practice archery, right?
Grandma Guo nodded and said, "That's right, that's perfect. I've never been to any big places either."
"This time, thanks to you, Wenzai, I was able to go out and see the world."
Guo Xiaohua looked at the two of them longingly. She wanted to go too, but she hadn't yet graduated from Lin Niangzi's tutelage.
Embroidery is different from other crafts; if you don't practice for a while, you'll become rusty.
She had finally learned the current acupuncture techniques from Madam Lin, and naturally didn't want to give up halfway through.
Guo Baiwen was also concerned about this. He looked at his grandmother and asked, "What will happen to Xiaohua if we all go out?"
We can't possibly let a young girl like her live in such a big house, can we?
Besides Lin Niangzi, there is also Carpenter Hu and his children in her family. Xiao Hua is now almost of marriageable age and can no longer stay with them.
Even if it were possible, wouldn't such a large house need someone to look after it when it's empty?
Some things can't be decided on a whim.
Upon hearing this, Grandma Guo and Chen Baoyue, who had previously expressed their opposition, also fell silent.
Seeing that his words had an effect, Guo Baiwen added, "Even if I go out alone, you don't need to worry too much. Just like the county school in Xiuning County, the prefectural and state schools also take care of the students' food and lodging."
"I will stay in the school dormitory, and the food and lodging will not be bad at all."
When this was mentioned, Grandma Guo unconsciously started shaking her head.
Although she hadn't been able to visit the county school, Guo Banshan had been working as a tutor for many years, so he was familiar with the accommodations and meals at different academies.
"You always know how to say nice things to coax me," Grandma Guo rolled her eyes in a bad tone before continuing, "Why don't you mention what the boy from Banshan said last time? That academy, they practically don't put any meat in the food every month, and they don't even put salt in the soup they make!"
As for the accommodation, although everyone lives in the same dormitory, some academies are used to fawning on the powerful and belittling the weak.
Those who were willing to spend money were arranged to live in newly built, better study rooms.
If you don't have enough money on hand, there are also rooms for seven or eight people.
They all lived in large, shared dormitories, without even a cabinet to put their personal belongings. The only advantage was that it was close to the school every day.
If you encounter someone with smelly feet and snoring, you won't be able to sleep at night, and you won't have any energy for class during the day.
Unexpectedly, Guo Banshan also told Grandma Guo these things. Seeing that he couldn't get away with it, Guo Baiwen had no other choice.
So this matter had to be discussed for several more days before a decision was made.
Grandma Guo and Xiao Hua still lived in Xiuning County, but Chen Baoyue was determined to go with Guo Baiwen.
Guo Baiwen originally planned to go to the state school, just like Master Guo.
But Grandma Guo thought that if they lived closer, she could take advantage of the holidays when the shop was closed and rent a carriage to take Xiaohua to visit him.
For Grandma, it was already quite an achievement for Guo Baiwen to pass the county-level imperial examination. Compared to the later achievements like becoming a provincial-level or metropolitan-level scholar, she cared more about whether the child could eat his fill and sleep well.
Guo Baiwen naturally knew that his grandmother was worried about him.
However, this meant that the journey to the state school would take two or three days, which was a bit too much for Grandma Guo's age.
So in the end, a compromise was reached: Guo Baiwen decided to go to the prefectural school in the prefectural city after he finished his studies at Chengnan Bookstore this season.
Having made up his mind, he naturally told Master Guo and Lin Zhongbin about his plans early on.
Master Guo didn't say anything about his final choice of the prefectural school instead of the state school, but simply patted him on the shoulder and said, "The prefectural school is also good. I hope we'll have the opportunity to meet in the state capital someday."
Guo Baiwen knew what the master meant, and naturally nodded in agreement.
"That day will come."
Lin Zhongbin, on the other hand, hesitated a bit after hearing that Guo Baiwen planned to go to the prefectural school. However, after thinking it over, he revealed some of his future plans to Guo Baiwen.
"I haven't told Yi Zhang about this yet. I originally planned to tell you after everything was settled."
"What's going on?" Why are you being so mysterious?
"Yizhang, have you ever heard of donating to become a prisoner?"
"Donating prison time?"
Although these two characters are not commonly used, Guo Baiwen had heard people mention them before.
Looking at his friend, Lin Zhongbin explained somewhat embarrassedly, "Didn't I only make the supplementary list in this college entrance examination? Normally speaking, I wouldn't be considered a student."
"If I donate my money to become a student of the Imperial Academy, I will also be a student of the Imperial Academy and can participate in the provincial examinations just like everyone else."
In reality, it's just about spending money to buy the title of a student in the Imperial Academy. Whether you want to continue your studies or directly become a substitute for a basic-level official, it will be much more convenient.
However, what you buy with money is naturally different from what others study hard for ten or even decades to pass the exam.
Therefore, those who donate to become officials are generally at a disadvantage when it comes to entering higher education compared to those who pass the exam. Even if they eventually become officials, their career advancement will be even more limited.
Guo Baiwen was a little puzzled, but couldn't help but comfort him, saying, "It's just that you didn't do well on the test this time. You might as well think about it again."
"I've thought about it carefully." Lin Zhongbin seemed quite resolute about this. "These days, it's already so difficult to even pass the county-level exam to become a scholar. What about becoming a provincial-level scholar, a tribute student, or a metropolitan-level scholar?! And how difficult would it be to become an official?"
"You know I'm not very talented. Do I really have to be like Master Guo and Master Cao, toiling away for so many years just to become a scholar?" He couldn't help but sigh heavily, clearly having thought about it for a long time.
"Even if one does pass the imperial examination in the end, apart from the top three, most of the rest will become minor officials of the seventh or eighth rank who are sent to other places."
Do you think that if I study hard every day, I can one day be among the top three?
Upon hearing this, Guo Baiwen was speechless for a moment.
If Lin Zhongbin asked him if he could pass the imperial examination, he might still insist that as long as he studied hard, that day would come.
But... the top three...
It's unclear what Lin Zhongbin has been listening to at home these days. Guo Baiwen had visited his home a few times before and knew how high his parents' expectations were for him.
"Talented men are as numerous as carp crossing a river."
Moreover, the path to officialdom is different from taking the imperial examinations; it's not enough to have excellent grades to secure a foothold in the capital.
They were just candidates from remote county towns. It was already quite an achievement for them to pass the imperial examination and become a Juren, or even just barely make it to the Gongshi level.
Even if that day ever comes and I succeed in staying in Beijing—
In a place where a single leaf falling from a tree could end up in the courtyards of officials of all ranks, could they truly dedicate their ideals and ambitions to their future pursuits, as described in books?
Lin Zhongbin seemed to be advising himself, and also Guo Baiwen, saying, "Since in the end you can only become a minor official, why bother toiling away in the exams for so many years?"
After hearing this, even Guo Baiwen had no reason to speak again.
He knew that Lin Zhongbin's family had always placed great importance on his future achievements, but he never expected it to be this heavy.
Recalling the time when the two of them went to take the college entrance exam together, Lin Zhongbin was also preoccupied, but you could still see the youthful spirit in his eyes.
Now, it seems as if they've resigned themselves to their fate.
Even though he wanted to argue back after seeing his current appearance, he opened his mouth but felt that whatever he said would be too empty and powerless.
Do we talk about ideals and ambitions?
He only passed the entrance exam this year and ranked low, so he was unsure whether he could continue to take the exam.
How can you possibly persuade others?
He remained silent for a long time, then sighed and said, "Since you've already made your decision, I won't try to persuade you anymore."
His words made Lin Zhongbin seem a little sad. He looked up at him and asked, "If you successfully get into university later, will you look down on me?"
After all, the title of "donating one's official rank to obtain a place in the Imperial Academy" is not a very prestigious one among scholars.
However, Guo Baiwen felt there was no reason to hesitate about this question and replied almost immediately, "Of course not."
He was also a little curious, "Is donating to become a prisoner expensive?"
Lin Zhongbin nodded, "Of course it's expensive!"
He spent 108 taels of silver just to become a student of the Imperial Academy.
If we follow my father's advice and donate to become a ninth-rank registrar or some other eighth- or seventh-rank county official, it would cost at least several hundred or even a thousand taels of silver.
For the same official position, the price for a scholar to donate for a supervisory post is different from that for a licentiate to donate for a supervisory post.
This was the first time Guo Baiwen had heard of such a thing. Since Lin Zhongbin was willing to tell him this in private, he listened carefully and secretly made a note of it, regardless of whether he would need it later.
Regardless of whether Lin Zhongbin ultimately succeeds in becoming an official, it seems unlikely that he will go to the prefectural school with him for further studies.
Originally, students went to official schools based on the principle of proximity.
Although some, like Guo Baiwen, chose to study at other official schools, they still needed someone to help with the introductions because the official school systems varied in different places.
Fortunately, the headmaster of Yangzheng Academy, where Guo had previously studied, was the registrar of Xiuning County. Before leaving, Master Guo specifically asked him to write a letter of introduction for Guo Baiwen.
With the teacher's recommendation and the introduction of a county clerk, Guo Baiwen's decision to study at the prefectural school was finalized.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
