The township examination is strictly searched, but its basic form is the same as that of the hospital examination.
You can only bring a mattress for the exam, and a bamboo basket to hold the pen, ink and inkstone, and the paper will be distributed by the Gongyuan.
The number of inspectors changed from two to four, and eight eyes were inspected.
Although the clothes are thin in this season, in order to prevent entrapment, you need to take off the clothes in the room and check them one by one. The clothes and pants should only be single layer.
A group of scholars in the room undressed, and the scene was somewhat spectacular. Fortunately, they are all educated and civilized people, and they all understand the principle of seeing no evil.
After inspecting the tribute courtyard, Du Heng received a "Hong" brand name plate. The tribute courtyard in Fucheng is sorted according to the characters on the "Thousand Characters", "Heaven and earth are mysterious and yellow, the universe is wild...", that is to say, Du Heng's number house Closer to the main entrance.
After waving goodbye to Qin Zhifeng, he wandered to find his own room and was about to go in when he looked up and saw a tall building standing in the courtyard, and then he saw that there were one in the southeast and northwest in the Gongyuan.
There are people standing on it, inspecting every move of the candidates in the tribute courtyard, it is a watchtower for supervision.
Although there is nothing wrong with careful thinking, but there are always a pair of eyes staring at such a high place, which makes people feel chills on the back.
Du Heng stepped into the No. 1 room, which is the capital city. Although the rules of the No. 1 room are the same, the Gongyuan at this end is more beautiful than the county town in terms of appearance and interior. At least there is no sign of moss growing on the corner of the leaking wall.
Earlier, I heard Mu Ti say that Qi Kaisheng paid great attention to scientific research, and it was evident when he entered the Gongyuan.
The exam officially starts on August 9th, so today you can familiarize yourself with the environment in advance.
However, the only one I can be familiar with is the exam room. Once you enter the Gongyuan, you are not allowed to walk around at will, and you are not allowed to make loud noises.
Although it is more humane that the hut is at the end of the alley, there is no need to deal with the smell in the numbered room, but if you want to go out to use the toilet, you have to report first, and then someone guards you and walks to the door of the hut without much delay.
However, Du Heng felt that this was better than the courtyard test, at least when his hands and feet were numb while sitting in the number room, he could then go to the latrine to relax his hands and feet and breathe fresh.
It was not cold at night in August, so Du Heng put a mattress on the bed, covered his head with a coat, and went away overnight.
The next day was slightly bright, but at the end of Mao's time, there was the sound of clappers, and then there was a sound, and the scholars got up one after another.
First, the house officer distributed the papers one by one.
After the papers were distributed, the first Confucianism Exam began.
Although the sky was already bright, the rooms near the backlight were dim, and some scholars lit candles.
Du Heng's condition is better, but the bed in No. 1 room is cramped, and he can't stretch it all night after lying on it, and his shoulders and legs are sore when he wakes up.
In fact, he is not the only one. Because of the poor conditions and worrying about the exam, many candidates hardly fell asleep all night.
However, when recording the test questions, my mind was not on myself at all, and I devoted myself to studying the questions.
The number of times Du Heng actually passed the exam was not as many as those who repeatedly passed the exam, but he passed the last ten exams along the way.
One should be to make a draft first, and then transcribe the article.
On the draft, first figure out which article the test question comes from, and then think about what it means. After solving the question, combine your own views and ideas to write an article eloquently.
Although everything has changed, compared with the previous exams, Du Heng also clearly felt that the questions of the rural exams were better than before.
Fortunately, I reminded the master of the students' practice questions for the local examination, and compiled a booklet containing articles from the past five local examination questions and the top three excellent examination papers, and carefully annotated the excellent sentences and creative ideas and so on.
Du Heng took the booklet to read and study the first three exams, felt the routine, and took mock exams for the remaining two exams without looking at the excellent exam papers.
After the article was drafted, it was judged by the master. The master stroked his beard and left a sentence that was acceptable.
Hand in the test papers at sunset for the township test, and leave the test room after handing in the test papers. The next test is on the 12th day, but you have to enter the test site one day earlier, which means you can rest outside for two days.
Du Heng was close to the gate, so he waited for Qin Zhifeng at a corner after leaving the examination room.
Candidates came out one after another with their belongings, looking quite tired, as if they had been exhausted after a day of heavy work.
There are also those who think that they have done well in the exam, and when they go out, they can't wait to talk about the exam questions and their own ideas for solving them.
These are also the usual appearance after graduation.
"Du Heng."
Qin Zhifeng saw the person waiting at the other end when he left the tribute courtyard, and hurriedly ran towards them with his things in his arms.
The groom at home came over and took all the things for the two exams.
When the two got into the carriage, they were both a little embarrassed and could smell the sweat on each other's bodies. It was hot in August, and they were suffocating in the tortoise-like small room of the number room. It was inevitable that they would sweat, and they were not allowed to take a bath.
Scholars love to be clean, it is simply suffering.
"My cousin has experience in the local examination, how do you feel about the questions of this local examination?"
"The person who wrote the question was based on the current situation, the war at the border, and the military policy. I didn't take the school test in previous years, and I am afraid that many candidates will stumble again this year." Du Heng responded
. , He has done the exam questions in the previous few rural exams, and it is true that there are very few questions about military strategy. Candidates who are in peace and far away from the border are naturally not deep enough in military strategy, and their writing is dry.
However, this is not difficult for one person. Seeing the reaction of the candidates on the stage, most of them are also worried.
The two of them didn't talk about the topic in detail. This is just the first exam, so don't lose your confidence because of the first exam, otherwise the first two exams will be more difficult.
Xiangxie went back to take a bath, took a good rest, and regained his energy for the next two games.
When I arrived at the Gongyuan on the eleventh day, it started to rain lightly. The weather was not good, and the rain became heavier at night. With the rush of summer rain, it crackled on the roof.
Du Heng lay on the hardwood bed with his clothes as a pillow with his legs bent, feeling that the conditions were worse than the bed that Xiaoman took him home to sleep in back then.
Thin tiles were covering the top of his head, which was very close to him, so it was just noisy, and he was a little worried that the dense raindrops smashed the tiles and fell on his face.
Du Heng turned over with difficulty and fell asleep on his side.
When the test papers were handed out the next day, the papers were slightly damp. Du Heng was afraid that the notes would smear, so he kept two sheets of paper for drafts, and took one folded and pasted it on his chest on the outer layer of his jacket, warming it up. The body temperature wants to dry the paper.
While answering the questions, he heard coughing repeatedly. The rain last night seemed to make the candidates who were already in a low mood sick, which undoubtedly made the exam worse.
Du Heng stared, it's one thing that God is not beautiful, but his physical ability to resist pressure also needs to be improved.
If he hadn't been repeatedly victimized by his reputation and practiced silently out of self-esteem, he would have suffered a headache under these conditions.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look at the sky outside the window, wondering if it was also stormy in the county town.
......
"Father, when will Daddy come back?"
The child lay on the counter, looking at his pink-white fingers with his head tilted.
He used to bend a finger after sleeping all night, so as to record how many days until his father came back.
But if he remembered, he couldn't remember how many fingers he had bent. He tried hard to recall how many fingers he had bent, but after tossing and turning his fleshy fingers, he still didn't have an accurate answer.
At this time, he could only ask his little dad for help. The child has a bad memory, and he forgot the questions he asked after a while, so he asked his little dad for help no less than ten times a day.
He raised his head and looked longingly at the door of the shop, hoping that once he looked up, he would see his dad standing there and call him little baby.
"Father, believe me!"
Qin Xiaoman was in front of the counter and was concentrating on his calculations. When he heard the boy's voice, he was a little confused. He didn't know what he said. He looked up, and there was a messenger standing at the door.
"Is there a letter from me?"
Qin Xiaoman walked out from the counter, and just now the person who was taller at the counter admitted that Xiaopai had gone to the door, and he also slid off the stool, following Qin Xiaoman's legs like a little tail.
When he became more committed, Du Heng went to rush for the exam again and was not at home, so Qin Xiaoman brought the little boy to the shop more frequently.
However, he took the child very seriously, and would yell at him every now and then, and he would not let him run around even in the shop, and spent most of his time in front of the counter.
Chengyi is quiet and obedient, if you tell him that if he runs around, someone will take the child away, so he will not run around.
When Qin Xiaoman was busy, he would sit on the stool, lie down in front of the counter and play with the beads on the abacus, or hold in his arms the colorful hydrangea that his father made for him when he was a child.
The customers who come and go see a well-behaved Fuwa sitting in front of the counter, and occasionally they like to come up to tease him.
"Whose letter is it?"
Chengyi tugged at the corner of Qin Xiaoman's clothes and raised his chin.
"Who else writes letters except your father?"
Qin Xiaoman picked up the little boy shortly, and went back to the counter to sit down. The little guy sat quietly on his lap, lying in front of the counter and looking at Qin Xiaoman opened the envelope.
"Xiaoman, everything is fine when my husband arrives in Fucheng. Don't work too hard at home, and wait for me to come back if you are uncertain..." "Why did
n't daddy say anything about Chengyi?"
Listening to Xiaoman's words After writing for a while, the kid frowned and looked back anxiously at Qin Xiaoman.
"Here we come, here we come. Listen!"
Chengyi widened his eyes when he heard the words, and quickly looked at the letter paper again. Although he couldn't read a word, he read it seriously, as if he could really read the letter.
"Did Brother Yi eat well? Did you sleep soundly at night?"
Qin Xiaoman said, "Ah, I have to write back to your father. Some children have to drink a big bowl of sugar water as soon as they eat, and their stomachs are full." He refuses to eat when he is round; he can't get up at night when he takes a bath in the cold and plays in the water, so don't sleep under the quilt."
Chengyi pursed her mouth, grabbed Qin Xiaoman's hand in a panic and shook it, and said pitifully : "Daddy, don't write to tell Daddy."
Qin Xiaoman said: "But isn't that what our kids are like? Daddy isn't talking nonsense." Chengyi hesitated for
a moment, and quickly promised: "When I don't eat anymore After drinking sugar water, I took a bath at night and slept under Dad's quilt."
Qin Xiaoman raised his eyebrows: "Really? Could it be that you lied to Dad?"
Chengyi shook his head: "No. "
"Well then, if the kid behaves well, the little daddy won't tell daddy."
Chengyi hugged Qin Xiaoman happily: "Father is so kind."
Qin Xiaoman carefully folded the letter and re-folded it. Putting it back into the envelope, he looked at the sunny weather outside and counted the days. Today is the last exam, and Du Heng will leave the exam room later in the evening.
I don't know how he did in the exam, whether he went well in the exam or not.
Qin Xiaoman thought about it, and decided to take a break from his busy schedule tomorrow to go to the temple, burn incense and worship the Bodhisattva, not to bless Du Heng's title on the Gold List, but to be safe and successful.
On the fifteenth day, after Du Heng finished his last exam, it was already sunset when he came out of the Gongyuan. A layer of golden splendor.
That's right, some of these candidates will be wrapped in golden light in a few days.
"Du Heng, here!"
Hearing the sound, Du Heng raised his head, and saw that Qin Zhifeng was already waiting in front of the carriage, and the number plate he drew for the next round was at the front.
"How? But everything is okay?"
Du Heng smiled: "It's okay."
Qin Zhifeng also showed a much more relaxed expression than the previous two rounds, not necessarily because he did well in the exam, but because of his heart I have been tightening a string for eight or nine days, and now I can finally relax.
No matter what the test result is, worrying about it right now is such a result, and relaxing your mind is still the same. When everything is settled, nothing can be changed.
Qin Zhifeng took the initiative to propose: "Go back and take a bath, how about we go out for a meal at night?"
Du Heng responded, and he has been in Fucheng for more than half a month, and he hasn't gone out much. He will pick something for his family while eating stuff to go home.
Candidates can eat, play, drink and have a good time in the county after leaving the Gongyuan, but the examiners will be busy now.
The first level of the township examination is no longer a child's play, commonly known as "big competition", according to the usual practice, the number of candidates goes up the less, but the examination room has also been transferred from the county to the prefecture, and the scope of personnel has expanded, and the number of people is not small.
However, Qiu Wei is strict, and the candidates with thousands of names only admit dozens of candidates.
Only at the feet of an emperor like Shuntian Mansion, capable people come forth in large numbers, can they have the opportunity to recruit hundreds of candidates.
The number of admitted students is small, and the review of test papers is also very strict.
As soon as the test papers are sent to the marking office, they should be "sealed, named, and transcribed" first to prevent the marking room officer from cheating by identifying the name and handwriting when marking the papers.
The test papers also have to go through layers of review. First, the room officer will first read the papers, leave comments on why they are good, and then transfer them to the chief reviewer for review.
After the examination papers were all reviewed, and before writing the list, the names on the stickers were uncovered, and they were copied one by one to be on the list.
Strict grading of the examination papers naturally slowed down the release of the rankings. It took September 5th to release the rankings, and there was still a 20-day waiting period.
Du Heng originally thought that he would go back to the county after the exam. After the Guipao came out, it would be delivered to various counties, and the results would be known after all, but it was just that he couldn't see the list with his own eyes.
Compared with going back to reunite with family members as soon as possible, these are also small points.
Qin Zhifeng persuaded him to stay, and if he won the ranking after the rankings were released, the Yachai would find the candidate's residence by beating gongs and drums to inform him. is to participate.
Du Heng made some calculations, if he really won the Luming Banquet, it would be impolite not to participate, if he returned to the county and rushed back a few days before the ranking was announced, he would have to delay for ten days on the road, and he would have to wait when he returned home. In less than two days, it was very ups and downs.
So it's better to just wait in Fucheng and wait for the list to go back.
Having just passed the big test, Du Heng didn't work so hard to study hard again with his books in his hands. When he was idle, he missed his family even more, sending home letters one after another.
Asked about Xiaoman, Chengyi, the family's autumn harvest, no trivial details are spared, and he even sent his greetings to the tiger.
Qin Xiaoman, who was in the county seat, was very eager to open and reply letters at first, but after that, there were more and more letters, and the longer they were written, the longer he could just read them and couldn't reply them.
"The man outside has another letter?"
Qin Xiaoman was stuffing the letter into the envelope, seeing the woman standing at the door, he put the envelope under the counter, and greeted people with a smile: "Mrs. Zhuang, come in and sit down. "
What are you sitting for? There's no business this afternoon. I dozed off as soon as I sat down, so I just stood up and walked around."
The woman had a kind face, always smiling, and she was the neighbor next to the Xiaoman shop, who opened a medicine shop.
Occasionally, Qin Xiaoman brings Chengyi to play in the shop, and when Mrs. Zhuang sees her, she always wants to go over and give Chengyi a hug. She often brings some snacks to Chengyi, and she is also very happy with the child.
Being close to each other, those who come and go will naturally become familiar with each other.
When there is no business at noon, the merchants will come out with a small stool, and sit together in a place where the sun is still shining and chatting together.
Qin Xiaoman also likes to join in the fun sometimes, and can hear a lot of news in the county, where a new shop has opened, who has a good business, and other things.
"As the saying goes, a scholar has a bad heart, but Du Xiucai is different. He takes good care of his family. It's not like ours. I don't see a letter when I go out to buy goods for a month or two." Many shops in this county are women
, Fu Lang looked at the shop, the principle is that the family business is not too big, and the men are wandering outside to get goods.
Qin Xiaoman said modestly: "He is a scholar, so he loves to write. I can't read a few words, and I can't read every letter." Mrs. Zhuang laughed, looked around: "Your
family Brother Yi didn’t come to play in the shop today, huh?”
“Tell his little cousin to play with his cousin at home.”
Mrs. Zhuang said: “You are also hardworking and capable. You take care of the child by yourself, and you have to pay for it every day. He came back from the village to guard the shop."
Qin Xiaoman passed a stool over, and the two of them sat and chatted outside the door under the eaves: "His father is coming back soon. Although he is used to going back and forth Running, but it’s not very convenient after all, and I also have some thoughts about setting up a foothold in the county.” The
grain store has a good income, compared with the paper workshop to make money, it has been making a living non-stop for the past few years. On the contrary, he has some savings, and his desire to buy a house is even stronger.
"That's great."
Half the street here knows that Qin Xiaoman's husband-in-law is a scholar. He is gentle, polite, and good-looking. He was selected as a scholar last year. The merchants all respect such people.
Mrs. Zhuang was a businessman for a long time, and she knew the best about making contacts. Although she didn't mean to curry favor with Qin Xiaoman, she was much more warm and friendly than the merchants nearby.
This is also the benefit of scholars.
"Hey, I heard that there is a good house for sale on the other side of Fuji Lane. I also recognize the owner. He is an old doctor in our county. There are several children in the family, but the family is very affectionate, and it is not a problem for the son to get married. I am willing to live alone, but now I am thinking of selling the small house where I lived and buying a bigger house, so that the family can live comfortably." Qin Xiaoman's eyes lit up: "Really? How big is the house
? How about the style?"
"Well, Fuji Lane, you know, the law and order in the county is good. The house is a second-entry house, and it is very comfortable. If it weren't for the third-entry mansion, I wouldn't be willing to give it up. This house."
Seeing that Qin Xiaoman was interested, Mrs. Zhuang talked more vigorously.
"It's just such a nice house, I'm afraid the price is too high."
Qin Xiaoman was a little moved. In fact, he also wanted to buy a house with a courtyard at the beginning, like his cousin's house, which is considered spacious.
However, Du Heng told him that his household registration is in Luoxia County, and he probably makes a living here. In the future, if the number of people in the family increases, the house will be cramped, and it will be inconvenient if the residence is changed.
When you decide on a house, you want to look at it as an ancestral house that has been accumulated for many years. Now people pay attention to returning to their roots.
Even the officials in the capital will be sent back to their hometowns when they are old, and they will return to their hometowns when they are old.
In this way, it is better to buy a larger one in one go at the beginning, and save the trouble of moving it later.
Qin Xiaoman thinks this is also true.
Although the yard at Uncle Tang's house is much more spacious than that at Qin Xiaozhu's house, they only have two children. To land on the ground, the house is really much more compact.
However, their house was well chosen, with a wide open space around it, and if it is too small, it can be expanded.
"The price is negotiable. Doctor Zhang respects scholars the most. If he sells the house to your family, he will be happy."
Qin Xiaoman was a little flustered by what he said.
Seeing this, Mrs. Zhuang said: "How about I tell old doctor Zhang, how about taking a look at the house when you have time? Anyway, the house is for sale, and it is for others to see. It doesn't matter whether you buy it or not."
Qin Xiaoman responded: "Then I'll go and have a look. If the house is suitable, I can settle it when my husband-in-law comes back." "
Very good!"
Two days later, Qin Xiaoman packed up his bags and went to Fuji Lane to look at the house.
Mrs. Zhuang really didn't brag, the style of the house was upright, and it was really bright when entering.
There are gardens, pools, everything that should be there, and the house does not feel old, but it can be seen that the original owner took good care of the house.
The old doctor Zhang heard that Mrs. Zhuang said that Mrs. Hu Xiucai wanted to see his house, so he came to show Qin Xiaoman himself to see the house, and he was very polite: "This house used to be renovated every year, and there is no problem with the house. And we It's a doctor's family, there should be no such unreasonable things in this house, so you can live there with peace of mind."
Qin Xiaoman really liked this house, facing the sun, the flowers and trees in the house are flourishing, and the room is open.
Du Heng must also like it when he sees it.
He had some ideas in mind, so he went straight to inquire about the price.
Old doctor Zhang said: "The house here was originally a favorite house, and it would not be sold if it was not for family affairs. The price is second, the most important thing is to find a caring family. I heard that Mrs. Zhuang said that the Qin family is really a kind generation. If it is a husband. I like this house, and it can be sold for three hundred and sixty taels."
Qin Xiaoman had already prepared some mentally that this house would not be affordable, but he was heartbroken when he heard the real price.
"The house is good, but it's not a small sum. My husband, Qiu Wei, has not come back from Fucheng after the exam. How about I discuss it with him before making a decision?" Old doctor Zhang nodded: "Buying a house is a must
. The head of the family personally decides."
Qin Xiaoman likes this house very much, but he can't make up his own mind and ask others to keep the house, and said: "If old doctor Zhang finds a satisfactory buyer during this period, don't consider us."
Zhang The old doctor was about to answer, when a haughty voice suddenly came: "This house is old except that it has been lived in, but it looks okay."
As soon as the words finished, four people came without invitation.
Seeing someone in the house, the leading man waved his folding fan, and dangled the jade pendant around his waist: "I heard that the house belongs to you, a doctor. Let me take a look." The so-called visitor is a visitor, although the tone
is It wasn't kind, but the old doctor still said please, and let Qin Xiaoman do what he wanted first.
It seemed to Qin Xiaoman that there was a lot of battle, so he didn't leave in a hurry, he called Da Zhuang who came with him, and wanted to see how other people checked the quality of the house.
The man shook his fan, glanced here and there, and when he entered and exited the room, the door was pushed against the sound of gravity, and from time to time he used his foot to try to find the sill wood: "What kind of wood do you use for the beams in this hall?" "At the
beginning The pine wood was used for the construction."
"Pine wood?" The man shook his head straightly: "This room is a place for hospitality, and the pine wood is too shabby, so it must be Huanghuaer pear at the last.
" Raising his head: "The bricks and tiles on the roof are covered with moss, they are really old."
After being so picky, old doctor Zhang's expression was not very good: "After all, this is not a newly built house. Whose house has a roof? There isn't any moss on it."
Qin Xiaoman clicked his tongue, feeling that this person didn't seem to come to buy a house, but rather smashed the place.
Consciously following such a person to look at the house is not good, Qin Xiaoman is not the same.
"Who is that man?"
When he turned around, the man seemed to have seen him.
"It's a guest who came to see the house."
Unexpectedly, the man sneered: "That poor man can afford the house. You, the owner, are kind enough to let in all kinds of cats and dogs." "What do you say, it's none of
your business whether I buy it or not .”
Qin Xiaoman paused in his gaze, and couldn’t help arguing.
"Who are you, you dare to talk like that, but do you know who this is?"
The boy who followed the man said sharply, "This
is Wang Xiucai!" It's like being an emperor so flamboyantly.
He felt that it was really bad luck, so he said to old doctor Zhang: "Let's take our leave first." "
Hey! This brother, a vulgar countryman who doesn't know etiquette! He doesn't even know a scholar!"
Old doctor Zhang was very unhappy. People who came to see the house, even if they endured the sale of the house, there was no guarantee that they would not come to pester them again in the future.
However, because the visitor was also a scholar and did not dare to offend, he tactfully shirked and said: "Wang Xiucai, my house has been booked.
" "Don't you want to say that it was decided by that man just now! Can the sour brother pay for it?"
Old doctor Zhang said: "That's Du Xiucai's husband, and Qiu Wei is still on the court this year."
Surnamed Wang The scholar was a little shocked when he heard the words, but then felt indignant: "How much did he pay? I can add more!"
Old doctor Zhang closed his eyes and said, "Four hundred taels."
"Your dilapidated house is worth four hundred taels?! Don't try to fool me as a scholar!"
The old doctor Zhang said: "In the area of Fuji Lane, the size of the house, Wang Xiucai is open to ask the prices of the surrounding houses."
Wang Xiucai gritted his teeth: "Then I will come out Four hundred and twenty taels!"
After speaking, he took out twenty taels of silver from his body: "This is the deposit, I want your house!"
Old doctor Zhang was panicked: "Wang Xiucai, I have already agreed to Du Xiucai's family. I'm afraid it's not polite to take someone's place!
" Approaching: "It's your blessing that our scholar-in-law sees your dilapidated house, so don't talk too much, the scholar surnamed Du can come and look for him if he refuses to accept it!
"
Old doctor Zhang slapped his thigh angrily, how could he provoke such a scholar bastard, what should he do!
"Master, this other buyer is also a scholar. If we snatch it like this, will it..."
Wang Xiucai glared at the young man: "Since they are both scholars, who is older and who is younger? See His concubine looks like a poor scholar, so there's nothing to be afraid of." "
I heard that it's the end, but I'm afraid..."
Hearing this, Wang Xiucai kicked the servant on the butt : "Do you think that the country test is easy to pass? You will be able to be a juren after the end? In this way, there are no worthless country gentry jurors in the world!"
The boy shrank with his head in his arms: "Yes, yes."