Chapter 504: Master is in love!
The system had implanted a small piece of special data into the simulated human head. The head's eyeballs were specially designed lenses that transmitted the images it saw in real time to the system terminal. The system then integrated these images into a coherent image, projecting it into the void before Gu Jiayue's eyes.
Gu Jiayue was sitting on a rattan chair in the classroom, her fingertips resting on the test paper on the desk, her eyes fixed on the image in the void.
In the picture, the imperial teacher who had tried to kill her several times was furious at the head.
The old man was fooled around by the human head.
The old man's goatee was sticking up high, his face was red as liver, the whisk in his hand was clenched out of shape, he was cursing, and his saliva splashed on the man's hair.
Gu Jiayue looked at his almost crazy appearance, and finally a faint smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, and even a relaxed light was in her eyes.
The depression that had been pent up for many days seemed to be blown away by the wind, and I felt refreshed all over.
The modern legal education she received always reminded her not to kill easily. Besides, Jiang Luli's plan was still in progress and she couldn't lose the big picture for the sake of small gains. So she could only take a small revenge on this old man with bad intentions.
But seeing the old man spinning around in anger, she finally let out the anger in her heart.
This comfort also affected her teaching.
In the next few days, there was a hint of smile in her voice when she taught.
The students all breathed a sigh of relief.
There was a fat boy who was always forced by her to recite his lessons. He whispered to his deskmate, "Why do I feel like the teacher is in a good mood these days? She doesn't get angry when we get the questions wrong anymore."
My deskmate agreed. "I noticed that too. Yesterday I saw her staring blankly into space, grinning like a fool. I guess she must have a crush on someone!"
"Hmm? No way?"
"Of course not. My sister was like this when she fell in love with my brother-in-law. She would giggle from time to time, and her whole personality became gentle. She wasn't even angry when I broke her newly embroidered handkerchief."
The two children's discussion was recognized by many students.
Everyone prayed in their hearts that Gu Jiayue would continue to maintain this state.
The provincial examination in Dagan is held every three years, and this year happens to be the time.
The four former teachers of Qiushi Academy, Song Qiquan, Su Zhuxing, Zhou Caixiao, Fang Yuezhu, and Gu Yuchuan, all planned to take part in this exam.
As for the students who just passed the examination for the scholar degree this year, including Zhang Chuyan, the teachers all suggested that they take a three-year break and wait until the next session to take the exam. However, Zhang Chuyan could register first, just to familiarize himself with the process.
After some consideration, Zhang Chuyan decided to wait for another three years. After all, he was too young and the environment in the Imperial Examination Hall was too harsh, and his body might not be able to withstand it.
Song Qiquan and three others have already left their jobs to focus on their studies.
They only do four things every day: study, sleep, go to the toilet and eat.
Studying takes up two-thirds of my time.
They sat in the classroom before dawn, the light of the oil lamp illuminating their profiles as they turned pages of books, and the rustling sound of the pages turning came one after another.
They even set a rule for themselves: eating should not take more than a quarter of an hour. They would rush to the cafeteria as fast as they could, pick up their coarse porcelain bowls, sip a few mouthfuls, and then put down their chopsticks and rush back. Song Qiquan, feeling this was a waste of time, gave me some silver and asked a child from the school to bring him the food. Seeing this, the other three followed suit.
You know what, this really saves a lot of time.
I have to take the book with me even when I go to the toilet. Sometimes I get so engrossed in reading that I forget I am going to the toilet. I squat until my legs become numb and then I stand up tremblingly.
They would work on their homework until very late every night before going to bed, but their rest time would not exceed three hours. To prevent themselves from oversleeping, they even paid money to the old man in charge of the night watch in the school to come and wake them up on time.
If Gu Jiayue hadn't issued a strict order that required them to run around the school for half an hour every morning, they would have grown up in the classroom.
Every day at the hour of Mao, four men would run along the courtyard wall in short jackets, their footsteps crushing the morning dew as they panted heavily. The sweat from their foreheads dripped down their chins onto the bluestone slabs, shining in the rising morning light.
After running, they wiped their faces and went back into the classroom, not even wanting to waste time taking a break.
This fighting spirit makes Gu Yuchuan stand out.
He seemed to be born with calmness. He taught the lower grade children as usual during the day, and went home at night to just flip through the books and do the exam papers from previous years. Occasionally, he would go to Jiang Luli and sit in the yard to discuss a few verses of the scriptures in the moonlight.
In this way, there is no more learning required.
Song Qiquan and the other three looked at each other with envy and helplessness.
Why is the gap between people so big?
Of course, it wasn't just the four of them who worked hard for this exam; the teachers in the school also put a lot of worry into it.
Gu Jiayue looked through the four people's previous answer sheets and circled each person's weaknesses.
Song Qiquan's policy proposals weren't sharp enough, so she found nearly ten years' worth of memorials on current affairs for him to study. Su Zhuxing's understanding of the classics was shallow, so she spent half an hour each day with him, dissecting the Analects word by word. Zhou Caixiao's poetry was mediocre, so she collected collections of famous poets from around the world and had him analyze their rhythm. Fang Yuezhu's handwriting was sloppy, so she simply watched him practice until his writing was neat.
In just one month, the four people's progress was visible to the naked eye.
Song Qiquan's essays were more sharp, Su Zhuxing could quote from classics when lecturing, Zhou Caixiao's poems were praised by the Master for their spirit, and Fang Yuezhu's handwriting could also be read.
Coupled with their past accumulation, they all had full confidence in their eyes when they talked about the provincial examination.
The rules for the provincial examination in Dagan are complicated but rigorous.
Candidates who can participate must be students, tribute students, and supervisory students from various provinces, and must have passed the imperial examination.
In principle, only students who ranked first or second in the imperial examinations in prefectures and county schools, and the top three in the third class are eligible. In fact, anyone who has passed the imperial examinations, the admission examinations, or the remaining examinations can take the exam.
However, officials with a record of dismissal, street performers, brothel workers, or those whose parents have been deceased for less than three years are not allowed to enter.
Candidates must be recommended through various levels to confirm that they have no violations.
Officials at every level must sign and seal. If there is any problem with the candidate, the official who recommended him will be held accountable according to the law of "recruiting the wrong person".
Only after the process is completed will the Governor-General issue a document. Candidates will take the document to the Imperial Examination Hall and can only enter if it is compared with the documents archived by the Imperial Examination Hall.
This process is closely linked, making it extremely difficult to falsify.
If one wants to gain an advantage, he has to bribe not one or two people, but a series of officials from the county to the censor. Any mistake will be exposed.
The exam is divided into three sessions, on August 9th, 12th and 15th.
Candidates must enter the examination hall one day in advance, on the 8th, 11th, and 14th day of the first lunar month, and leave the examination hall the next day after the exam.
You will be subject to a body search upon entry to prevent cheating by bringing in smuggled items; the door of the examination room will be locked once you enter it, and you must eat, drink, defecate, urinate, and sleep in your cell.
The first test consists of one passage from "The Analects of Confucius", "The Doctrine of the Mean", "The Great Learning" and "Mencius", one poem of five-character eight-rhyme and four poems on classics.
The second round tested one question on the Five Classics, and one question on imperial edicts, judgments, memorials, and imperial decrees.
The third session consists of five current affairs strategies, which combine classics to discuss current affairs and government affairs.
Those who pass the exam are called Juren, and the first one is called Jieyuan.
The results were announced when the sweet scent of osmanthus filled the air, so it was also called "Guibang".
After the results were announced, the governor would host a Lu Ming Banquet, during which the poem "Lu Ming" would be sung and the Kuixing Dance would be performed, which was considered a great honor for the successful candidates.
Due to the complicated process of the provincial examination, candidates need to set off in advance.
Song Qiquan and the other three packed their bags and went to Gu Jiayue's study to say goodbye.
"Thank you for your guidance during this time, Headmaster." Song Qiquan spoke first, his voice solemn. He took a half step back and straightened his back. "I have learned a lot from this. Please accept my three bows, Headmaster."
"Master, please accept our three bows!" Su Zhuxing, Zhou Caixiao, and Fang Yuezhu also stepped back. The four of them stood side by side, bowing deeply to Gu Jiayue, with their foreheads almost touching the ground.
These three bows have nothing to do with gender or identity; they only express the students’ sincere recognition and gratitude to their teachers.
Gu Jiayue did not refuse and sat upright to accept the gift.
Looking at the curve of their waists and listening to the light sound of their clothes rubbing against the ground, the light in his eyes softened.
After they stood up, Gu Jiayue pulled out four cloth bags from under the table and handed them over. "I've taught you everything I can. The rest is up to you." She paused, her voice steady but powerful. "Just do your best. Gains and losses are all determined by your own thoughts."
She glanced at the four of them and added, "If you are fortunate enough to pass the imperial examination and enter the civil service, remember that the sages have no fixed minds and always take the people's hearts as their own."
The four of them bowed again and responded in unison: "Students remember this!"
"Go ahead." Gu Jiayue waved her hand. "Don't delay. Check if you have all the documents of recommendation, identity documents, academic documents, and internship documents with you."
"I've checked it again and again, and nothing is missing." Fang Yuezhu patted the outer compartment of the bag, which was bulging with all the documents.
"Okay." Gu Jiayue nodded. "Go ahead. My second brother is already waiting for you in the carriage outside the door. It will be good for you to travel together so that we can look after each other."
The four of them came out of the school and just walked to the old locust tree at the entrance of the village, they saw a green cloth carriage parked on the side of the road.
The car curtain opened, and Gu Yuchuan was sitting inside, holding a book in his hand, his fingertips lightly tapping on the pages.
Seeing him, the four of them, feeling a bit elated, suddenly sank. Their steps slowed down, and their expressions grew more reserved. "Master Gu," they called out in unison, a subtle hint of nervousness in their voices.
In terms of age, they are not much different from Gu Yuchuan, but for some reason, they always feel a little scared when facing him.
The glance he casually gave them seemed to carry an invisible pressure that could make their hearts skip a beat and even make them breathe more slowly.
Gu Yuchuan closed the book, his voice calm. "Hurry up and get in the car. It's getting late."
"Yes." The four people responded and climbed onto the carriage swiftly. Even the movement of lifting the curtain was cautious, for fear of making too much noise.
The carriage started slowly, the wheels rolling over the gravel road, making a soft "wheel-wheel" sound, and carried them towards the provincial capital.
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