After returning in January, Wei Shu started to feel a little worried after asking for the opinion of the headmaster and registering with the county government's etiquette office.
When he went to Cuiwei Academy, he was actually quite calm because he could feel the benefits of the academy there.
After returning to Qingzhu Academy, he lost his appetite and had several nightmares at night.
But in the following days, Chen Cui kept sending people to deliver things to him. They were all made from the system's output and had similar effects of "concentrating the mind and calming the spirit" and "soothing the nerves".
Not only did it greatly alleviate Wei Shu's anxiety before the exam, he was sometimes absent-minded, thinking not about what if he did poorly on the exam, but about what they would give him today... He really couldn't wear anything anymore!
Before he even realized it, it was time for him to leave.
At this point, Wei Shu's training value had been maxed out, so Chen Cui wouldn't need to come over again.
But since the system has regarded Wei Shu as a serious training target, Shen Cui no longer regards Wei Shu as an outsider. She just treats him as an early experience of being a parent accompanying an examinee.
Before the exam started, Shen Cui and Wei Shu inquired about the specific procedures and learned that candidates could bring some stationery into the exam room.
She didn't skimp on shopping points and bought him a set from the system mall.
Of course, those things are, as always, auxiliary enhancements that can help him keep his mind clear. However, how they are used will depend on Wei Shu's own real talents and skills.
At dawn that day, Wei Shu set out from Qingzhu Academy and reported to the examination shed outside the examination hall.
There was a paper lantern sign outside the courtyard, which only provided the simplest lighting. A yamen runner in official uniform stood at the very outside with a stern face.
Hundreds of students, all of whom looked well-read and had extraordinary temperament, stood in several rows. After that, they had to be guaranteed by the students in the imperial academy, their children and bodies would be searched, and the county magistrate would come in person to call the roll.
During this series of processes, the entire place was silent; you could hear a pin drop. The solemn and silent atmosphere seemed to have solidified into reality. It was not until dawn that the candidates could enter the examination room one by one.
There were quite a few parents who were sending their children to the exam. For fear of affecting Wei Shu's performance, Chen Cui did not tell Wei Shu that they would be coming. She only asked Wei Xi to get a carriage from the Wei family and park it outside the examination room.
Mu Erpang and Wei Xi had not yet felt what the county examination was like, but when they really arrived here and felt the atmosphere, they became unconsciously nervous even though they were only watching from the carriage.
After all the students had gone in, the outside of the examination hall became lively again, with tactful vendors coming over with their stalls.
Shen Cui and her friends came over without having breakfast. Seeing that the two children were so nervous that their faces turned pale, Shen Cui went to buy a few bowls of tofu pudding for them to eat.
After eating the hot tofu pudding, I felt a little more alive.
Mu Erpang said softly, "No wonder the lady in front said that the candidates of this year will enjoy the highest treatment in our academy. This is only the first round. It's so scary."
The same goes for Wei Xi. His psychological quality is actually not as good as Mu Erpang's. His mood value dropped a lot, but he just kept it to himself.
Chen Cui reached out and patted Wei Xi's back in a soothing manner. "As long as you have a solid knowledge, there is nothing to be afraid of. Besides, we are here to take the exam. It won't be too late to worry about you when you really take the exam."
After they finished eating, Shen Cui went to serve the dishes. The two children usually had lively eyes, but this time they didn't rush to do it. It was obvious that they were still nervous.
Chen Cui was well prepared. She took out candlesticks and books from the storage compartment of the carriage and handed them to the two of them.
No matter how much you can see outside the examination room, at least you have something to do and the pain is not so severe.
And Shen Cui kept looking at Wei Shu's numerical panel.
All county examination papers had to be submitted on the same day; no candles were provided and there was no need to spend the night in the examination. In the afternoon, after the students finished their exams, they began to be released in batches from the northern gate of the examination hall, called "Longmen".
Chen Cui and the others got off the carriage and headed for Longmen, where they identified Wei Shu among the students who were rafting.
When they saw each other, Shen Cui waved and Wei Shu came over quickly.
His complexion was not much worse than usual, and all the values during the test were normal, so Shen Cui probably knew that he did well.
There were more people waiting outside the examination room to pick up the candidates than in the morning, so a few of them went back to the carriage to talk.
"Why did you come all the way from the village to pick me up? There's no need to be so troublesome." Although he said that, there was still a hint of smile on Wei Shu's lips.
Chen Cui handed Wei Shu a cup of hot tea she had just bought and said, "They know you have an exam today, so they won't feel at ease if they don't come. So I just brought them here to broaden their horizons. They will have to take the exam later anyway."
Wei Shu finished his drink and continued, "The environment inside is OK, it's similar to the mock exam room in our academy, just a little smaller, but it's really cold. I didn't feel anything outside in the morning, but when I sat down inside, I felt the wind blowing straight into my neck."
Everyone knew that in order to prevent smuggling, one could not wear a jacket or even a padded jacket during an imperial examination. However, Wei Shu was confident in his good health and did not take it seriously. He felt that a few layers of spring clothes were more than enough to cope with the situation. It was so cold inside that he couldn't move his hands and feet.
"At first, the ink I ground was half-solidified, so I didn't dare to start writing. I just counted the dozens of papers again and again. Later, I waited until my hands and feet were warm before I started writing. I was halfway through when I heard someone scream that one of his papers was missing. He was directly kicked out for disturbing the examination room... When you leave the examination room later, you must also pay attention and make sure to count the papers correctly. Don't be bothered to count them several times. If they are wrong, raise your hand immediately and don't make any noise."
Suddenly relaxed, Wei Shu couldn't help but chattering to them for a long time. All of them were valuable experiences he gained after real combat. Although trivial, Mu Erpang and Wei Xi listened very carefully.
When he talked about what the test was today, Shen Cui raised her hand and said, "Don't check the answers after the test. Relax first. It won't be too late to talk after the test is over."
Indeed, saying it again, Wei Shu couldn't help but think about whether there were any omissions in his answers today. It would be bad if it affects the subsequent exams.
While they were talking, the Wei family's carriage left the street where the examination hall was, and the driver drove the carriage to the dismounting stone outside Qingzhu Academy.
Originally, Chen Cui wanted to send Wei Shu back and then go home, but when she arrived, Wei Shu said, "I'll go in and ask the headmaster for instructions. I'll come back after the exam."
Qingzhu Academy has students taking the exam almost every year. There is no special treatment for the current candidates. The only rule is that students are not allowed to disturb the current candidates before the entire exam is over.
Wei Shu never thought there was anything wrong with this kind of equal treatment, but today he didn't really want to go back. Anyway, he didn't have to go to class these days, so it didn't matter where he stayed.
He came out not long after entering, and followed Chen Cui and the others back to Cuiwei.
After returning, Wei Shu slept for a while. After getting up, he asked Shen Cui for a few papers and went into the simulation room. At this time, it is not about finding out the gaps and filling them up, but about adjusting your mindset and getting used to the tense and solemn atmosphere.
It is said that there are five consecutive exams, but between each exam, there is a "case-handling" process.
This announcement is in the form of a circle. The candidate's ranking is not written, only the seat number is written, and the name is not written. Fifty people are listed in a large circle.
Wei Shu did very well in the first exam, so he was given a higher grade and the invigilation became stricter in the next exam. It is similar to the examinations in later generations. Pushing outstanding students closer to the examiner is equivalent to giving them a chance to show their faces.
After the exam, Wei Shu had more to share. "The magistrate would occasionally get down from his seat and inspect the exams in person. The first place winner who was ranked in the middle last time was the one closest to the magistrate this time. I don't know why he was so scared. I heard that when he was reciting the Imperial Edict, he dropped his pen on the paper. The magistrate sighed heavily, and even I heard it. It seems that... Anyway, don't be afraid. As long as the magistrate doesn't sigh like that, there will be no problem. Just write your own words."
Wei Shu passed the county examination without any major incidents.
He became more relaxed as he took the exam, while Mu Erpang and Wei Xi gained a lot of valuable exam experience.
The system prompted that Shen Cui had completed the task, but how the system would be upgraded specifically would depend on the results of the announcement.
In the past, there were round notices between each main session, and on the day when the results were officially announced, long notices were issued, and the long notices contained the names.
Early in the morning of that day, crowds of people from the county town came to wait to see the results.
Wei Shu had been given a hall name earlier, so there was no doubt that his name was seen at the beginning of the long case.
It’s a pity that he didn’t get the first place and came in second.
Wei Shu had a good attitude. He was not one of the best people. In Qingzhu Academy, his qualifications and past test scores were just in the upper middle level. Song Yao, who got the first place in the case, also came from Qingzhu Academy. Before Mu Yunchuan entered Qingzhu Academy, Song Yao was the most powerful person in the academy.
Therefore, getting second place was an exceptional performance for him.
However, there is definitely a difference in treatment between the second and the first. For example, as soon as Song Yao appeared, the people who were looking at the list recognized him and surrounded him to congratulate him and talk to him.
Around Wei Shu, there were only Song Shusheng and a few others who were on good terms with him.
Qingzhu Academy has a rule that after taking the county exam, students must return to the academy to report their scores. When the group returned to Qingzhu Academy, the difference in treatment became even greater, and the dean called Song Yao over to talk to him alone.
Wei Shu reported his results and finished talking to Song Shusheng and the others, but the dean did not summon him.
Wei Shu said goodbye to them and took half a day off to rest. Just as he reached the dismounting stone outside the academy, he saw his carriage again.
As soon as the curtain was drawn, three smiling faces of Shen Cui, Mu Erpang and Wei Xi appeared and said, "Let's go and celebrate!"
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