FIMA Ch51: County Examination

Due to its proximity to the capital, Tongzhou enjoys relatively good living conditions for its residents. Although the literary culture is not as flourishing as in Jiangnan, the small Wuqing County has about 400 participants in this county exam.

Everyone was divided into ten groups, carrying exam baskets. After being called by the clerk in the front, they followed the sign lanterns and gradually entered the venue to undergo inspections.

Gu Siyuan was in the middle of one group. He didn’t know how long he waited, but it was probably already bright when he finally heard his name.

He calmly carried his exam basket forward. Since the county exam only lasted one day, besides writing materials and his exam certificate, he only had two buns in his basket.

The inspection officer first verified his name, place of origin, and appearance against the roster.

Next, he moved the writing materials aside and directly broke the two buns into pieces to check for any hidden items.

After checking, he was then taken to a small room nearby where he had to strip off his clothes for a full body inspection.

In such thorough checks, dignity was non-existent.

Thus, Gu Siyuan was very curious about how those stories of women disguising as men to take the imperial exams managed to pass this entry inspection.

Finally, with all inspections completed, Gu Siyuan was able to walk through the exam hall gate.

Beyond the gate was a short transitional courtyard. Passing through the courtyard, he entered the main hall, where the county magistrate and several xiucai (successful candidates in the imperial exam) who vouched for the examinees stood.

At this point, Gu Siyuan had to loudly proclaim, “Student Gu Yang from xxx village, vouched by xiucai xxx.” Then, the xiucai who vouched for him would loudly confirm by the magistrate’s side.

…The embarrassment level was off the charts, like singing a mountain song.

After this, he finally received a blank exam paper from the county magistrate, with the number ‘182’ written in the top corner, which was his seat number.

In the future, when all five rounds of the county exam were completed, the rankings posted would not show the examinee’s name but this seat number.

Gu Siyuan has successfully found his seat. After sitting down, he first rubbed his hands and limbs vigorously to restore sensation.

Tongzhou, located in the north, was still freezing in mid-February. However, to prevent examinees from hiding cheat sheets, the county office forbade everyone from wearing padded jackets or cotton clothing.

Even though Gu Siyuan had been training his body since last year, he still found it quite unbearable at this moment.

Soon after, several more people proclaimed and confirmed their identities without any incidents, indicating that the examinees were honest, with no one using a false identity or smuggling in cheat sheets.

Suddenly, a gong sounded three times, and the county school gate closed with a creak, marking the official start of the exam.

A clerk holding a wooden board entered and began to patrol around the room.

All the examinees raised their heads to look; the board displayed the questions for this first round.

As usual, it required answering two passages from the Five Classics and composing a poem.

The first round was always the simplest, allowing most people to pass and have a chance to participate in the subsequent provincial exam. The selection criteria were also more lenient.

Gu Siyuan pondered for a moment, then spread out the blank exam paper he had just received and began preparing to write.

The two questions from the Five Classics were very simple.

Gu Siyuan only needed to find the corresponding answers in the passages of the Five Classics that he had memorized thoroughly, then use the eight-legged essay format and the tone of the ancient sages to fill them in the red-lined answer sheet.

He always wrote quickly, and since he had gone over the questions in his mind many times before, he completed the two passages from the Five Classics before noon.

Gu Siyuan organized his papers and set them aside to avoid accidentally dirtying them later.

At that moment, a gong sounded at the front of the exam hall. It turned out that the county magistrate was showing compassion for the cold weather by offering each examinee a bowl of hot soup, and those who wanted it could raise their hand.

Gu Siyuan immediately raised his hand. Even if he didn’t drink it, holding a bowl of hot soup to warm his hands would be good.

However, the soup was quite good—a radish and tofu soup with plenty of ingredients.

Gu Siyuan immediately took out the broken pieces of the buns from his exam basket and put them into the soup, making it like soaked bread. After a bowl of hot soup, he felt much more comfortable both physically and mentally.

Almost everyone in the exam hall got a bowl, and some even copied his idea, soaking their buns or steamed bread in the hot soup.

They rested for a short while at noon.

In the afternoon, after Gu Siyuan finished writing the last poem, the first round of the county exam was essentially over for him.

By dusk, as the sky began to darken, another gong sounded, signaling the end of the exam and for the students to start submitting their papers.

The first round’s content was not difficult, and there weren’t many questions, so almost everyone finished.

Once all the papers were collected, the exam hall doors were thrown open.

All the examinees were released in rows according to their seat numbers, a process known as “releasing the rows.”

Gu Siyuan’s seat number was near the back, so by the time he walked out, the entrance of the exam hall was already crowded with people and vehicles.

However, he was tall, had a strong presence, and his upright figure stood out among the shivering, frail scholars.

“Darling…”

Xie Changyue’s voice faintly came from the crowd.

Gu Siyuan pushed through the crowd and walked toward where his family’s ox cart was.

The ox had been bought at the end of last year, and the cart was made by Gu Er under Gu Siyuan’s guidance. It was convenient for him to take some small household items to the county to sell and to pick up Gu Siyuan from the academy every evening.

This winter, Gu Er had made a simple curtain for the cart. Although it couldn’t keep out the cold, it could block the wind.

That morning, Gu Er and Xie Changyue had accompanied Gu Siyuan to the county.

As soon as Gu Siyuan reached the cart, a warm cup of ginger soup was pressed into his hands. Xie Changyue urgently said, “Darling, drink a sip quickly.”

He also took a large cotton coat from the cart and draped it over his shoulders.

Gu Siyuan wrapped himself in the coat, climbed onto the cart, and drank several cups of hot soup before he felt ready to speak. “Let’s go home. I need to warm up by the kang (a heated brick bed) to recover.”

Gu Er, sitting at the front of the cart, laughed. “Studying is really tough. They only let people wear two layers of clothing in this freezing weather. Even my mouth is frozen stiff.”

At that moment, a young servant appeared in front of their ox cart and called out, “Master Gu!”

Gu Siyuan looked up and saw it was someone from Wang Xu’s household.

He asked, “How is A-Xu?”

The servant smiled and said, “Young master is fine. He sent me to check if Master Gu is well.”

Gu Siyuan nodded. “I am fine too. Tell him not to worry.”

The servant acknowledged this and added, “Young master asked me to remind you that the results of the first round should be announced in about two days, and the second round of the county exam will be in about three days. Master Gu, don’t miss the time.”

“I won’t.”

Gu Siyuan thanked him for his kindness and offered him a bowl of ginger soup. The servant had been waiting outside the exam hall and was also quite cold. After drinking the ginger soup, he happily ran off.

After the servant left, Gu Er drove the ox cart away.

Xie Changyue extended his own warmed hands and placed them on Gu Siyuan’s face to give him some warmth.

Gu Siyuan simply pulled him into his lap, using him as a human heater.

After bumping along in the cart for about forty-five minutes, they finally reached home.

Mu Xia and the others, understanding the situation, didn’t ask how he did in the exam. They simply let him get onto the heated kang to rest, even bringing his dinner to him.

Gu Siyuan couldn’t help but laugh. During the college entrance exam in his past life, he had seen many examinees being looked after so attentively, but having been orphaned at a young age, he hadn’t been able to enjoy such treatment. Unexpectedly, in this world, he had the chance to experience it.

After dinner, as usual, he held his young husband in his arms and slept on the warm kang.

The next morning, he was back to his usual cold and spirited self.

The county exam required five rounds, each lasting a day. The previous day had only been the first round.

After each round, the papers were graded immediately, and rankings were posted in about two or three days. Only those who passed the first round could proceed to the second round, and so on for the third and fourth rounds.

Thus, the number of examinees decreased with each round.

The first round was the most crucial, also known as the “proper round.” Passing the first round qualified one to participate in the provincial exam.

Whether to continue taking the subsequent rounds was up to the examinees, but those confident in their knowledge and aiming for a good ranking usually continued.

Gu Siyuan aimed to be the top scorer in the county and later to achieve the small triple yuan, so he naturally wouldn’t miss any round.

So, after a few days of rest at home, he once again returned to the familiar exam hall.

Aside from the three-day gap between the first and second rounds, there were only two days between each subsequent round.

After the rankings for the first four rounds were announced, Gu Siyuan’s seat number ‘182’ unsurprisingly held the top position each time. Those who were observant had already speculated that this seat number likely belonged to the top scorer of the county exam.

By the time Gu Siyuan finished all five rounds of the county exam, it was already March.

The world was no longer in the grip of cold winds and gloomy skies but filled with the warmth of spring and the fresh green of grass.

In Wuqing County’s office, the county magistrate and the education official gathered all the papers from those who had passed since the first round to determine the final rankings. The one ranked first would be the top scorer of the county exam. The top scorer could directly skip the provincial exam and proceed to the academy exam.

County Magistrate Du looked at the five or six exam papers and candidate information specially organized by Advisor Lu, and said coldly, “Are these the most outstanding candidates this year?”

Advisor Lu quickly replied, “They performed well in all five rounds of the county exam and have good reputations both in the academy and in the countryside.”

County Magistrate Du nodded and looked at the education official sitting opposite him, “I wonder if Brother Qin has a final conclusion?”

Education Official Qin stroked his beard and nodded, “In past years, it took quite a bit of effort for this old man to decide, but this time, there is one person who stands out exceptionally. I am willing to vouch for him.”

A hint of a smile appeared on County Magistrate Du’s stern face, “Oh… let me guess, is it number 182?”

Education Official Qin also smiled, “Since you have already decided, we can begin ranking and issuing results.”

Advisor Lu remembered the academic records of number 182, and his eyes lit up, “Reporting to the lord, it turns out this candidate has some connection to you.”

“Hmm…” Upon hearing this, County Magistrate Du’s expression darkened, “In that case, the ranking needs to be reconsidered.”

At that time, officials were very particular about avoiding conflicts of interest.

Advisor Lu’s face changed drastically, and he hurriedly said, “Lord, you misunderstand. This is the child from the Gu family in Huangyang Village who invented the ‘Filial Son Machine.'”

“I see.” County Magistrate Du pondered for a moment, then pointed at Advisor Lu, “You almost ruined things.”

Education Official Qin chuckled, “Good things take time. This child’s talent is exceptionally outstanding, and he is also a person of great filial piety. He is well-deserving of being the top scorer in this county exam.”

…

Meanwhile, in Huangyang Village, several days of bright spring sunshine finally made Xie Changyue unable to suppress his desire to go out and play.

Gu Siyuan stood at the desk by the window, continuing his daily routine of practicing calligraphy and essay writing.

As soon as he finished writing a piece and put down his brush, a familiar warmth pressed against his back.

He smiled slightly and turned to pull the person onto his lap, caressing Xie Changyue’s round cheeks, “What are you up to?”

Xie Changyue hugged his husband’s neck and began to act coquettishly, “You’ve been writing for a long time. Isn’t it time to go out for a walk?”

Gu Siyuan looked at him, “What do you want to do?”

Xie Changyue’s eyes lit up, “How about flying a kite? I think today’s wind is perfect.”

Gu Siyuan pinched his delicate little nose, “You’ve been planning this for a while, haven’t you?”

Xie Changyue hummed and kissed him on the face.

The kite was bought in the county town after the last round of the county exam a few days ago.

After returning home, Xie Changyue found the kite’s design too simple, so he added many intricate patterns to it himself.

The spring sunlight was just right, and the dam outside the village was covered with green grass. Many children were digging for bugs on the ground while playing together.

Near the river, a big yellow cow was leisurely drinking water.

Seeing the lush green grass, Xie Changyue rushed towards it like a bird returning to the forest.

When Gu Siyuan and Xie Changyue arrived, they immediately attracted everyone’s attention.

Mainly, it was the kite in Xie Changyue’s hand that made the children envious.

Gu Siyuan wasn’t very interested in flying kites, so he said to the children, “Go help Brother Changyue.”

At first, the children were a bit scared of Gu Siyuan’s stern face, but after watching for a while, they couldn’t resist and slowly approached Xie Changyue.

Gu Siyuan sat on a small slope nearby, watching Xie Changyue and the children chase after the kite, a faint smile on his lips.

A group of energetic children played all morning, and it wasn’t until some of their mothers came to find them that they reluctantly left to go home.

Xie Changyue, being very loyal, told them they could come to the Gu house to find him whenever they wanted to play, earning a chorus of cheers and calls of “Brother Chang, Brother Chang” from the children.

Before leaving, one child’s mother smiled and said, “Changyue, you like children so much. You’ve been married for almost a year. It’s time to have your own.”

Xie Changyue’s expression turned slightly solemn. He knew that it was difficult for gers (a term for males who can bear children in this context) to conceive, and many might never have their own children.

Gu Siyuan noticed his expression and asked, “What are you thinking about?”

Xie Changyue hesitated, “Children.”

Gu Siyuan frowned and said coldly, “Having descendants is a matter of fate, not something to be forced.”

Xie Changyue looked at him, “You don’t mind?”

Gu Siyuan shook his head, “Why would I mind? Maybe it’s my problem, not yours.”

Xie Changyue frowned and quickly covered his mouth, “Don’t say that.”

Gu Siyuan chuckled, “Do you want children? If we have children, I might not favor you the most anymore. Any good things might not be given to you first, and I would be holding the child every day instead…”

Xie Changyue’s expression changed, and his eyes filled with disappointment.

Just the thought of someone taking his place in Gu Siyuan’s heart, no matter who it was, was unacceptable to him.

He looked at his husband and said coquettishly, “Then… let’s not think about it for now.”

“Right, you’re still young. No need to think about children too soon.” Gu Siyuan patted his head, “Alright, let’s go home.”

Xie Changyue nodded, “Okay.”

“Hmph, there are three ways to be unfilial, and having no descendants is the worst. You don’t want children? Shame on you!”

At that moment, a young voice came over.

Gu Siyuan and Xie Changyue looked up and saw Xie Dong and Xie Qiu standing not far away. The one who spoke was naturally the foolish Xie Dong. It seemed the last scolding hadn’t been enough.

Gu Siyuan glanced at him and casually asked, “You seem to have taken the county exam too. Where do you rank? Don’t tell me you have to shout ‘Xie Dong is the biggest fool in the world’ a hundred times at the village entrance?”

Xie Dong’s face changed drastically, “What nonsense are you talking about? I didn’t agree to that bet. Besides, do you think you did well?”

Gu Siyuan sneered, “If you think I won’t do well, why not restart the bet?”

“Hmph… who cares about you!”

Xie Dong met Gu Siyuan’s cold gaze and stern face, cursed under his breath, and quickly ran away, grumbling.

Xie Qiu gave the two a complicated look and hurried to catch up with his brother.

Early that morning, on the day the county exam results were announced, Mu Xia got up early to prepare breakfast.

After breakfast, everything was tidied up, and Gu Er hitched the ox cart, ready to go out. Mu Xia stood at the door to see them off.

Gu Siyuan looked at Mu Xia and said calmly, “Pa, why don’t you come to the county town with us? There’s nothing to do at home right now.”

Mu Xia was stunned for a moment, then a smile appeared on his lips, and he nodded vigorously.

Because Mu Xia was mute, he seldom went to the county town.

This time, accompanying his son to see the results had a very different meaning.

Li Xiangtao, holding a bowl and sitting at the door, couldn’t help but sneer, “Anyone would think you got the top spot. Does the whole family need to go just to see a ranking? What a show-off.”

This time, Gu Siyuan and Xie Changyue didn’t need to step in; Mu Xia was the first to glare at her fiercely.

When the family of four arrived in the county town, the usually spacious streets were crowded with people.

When they reached the book market street, they could hardly move.

Gu Er led Mu Xia through the crowd, “Luckily we listened to Yang’er and left the ox cart outside the city, otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to move at all now.”

Mu Xia nodded, thinking Yang’er was clever.

Xie Changyue said directly, “My husband is smart.”

“…” Gu Siyuan.

Although he had been in this world for almost a year, the experience of having a family of brain-dead fans was still very novel.

Just then, a familiar call came from above, “Brother Gu, over here.”

Gu Siyuan looked over and saw Wang Xu leaning out of a window on the left side of a teahouse, waving at him. He immediately nodded.

He then said to Gu Er and Mu Xia, “That’s my classmate. Father, let’s go to the teahouse.”

Gu Er had some impression of Wang Xu; during the winter, when he went to the academy to pick up his son, this young man was always around his son.

The four of them slowly squeezed their way to the teahouse door against the crowd. What normally took just a blink now took ages.

Led by the waiter, they arrived at a private room where four cups of tea were already poured on the table in front of Wang Xu. “Everyone, have a drink. There are so many people…”

Halfway through his sentence, Wang Xu stared at Xie Changyue, “Why are you here?”

Xie Changyue also recognized him, “You… you’re from the Wang family?”

Gu Siyuan wasn’t surprised. Xie Changyue had spent sixteen years in the capital and naturally knew many people his age.

He just pulled Xie Changyue and his father to sit down, “Take your time.”

Wang Xu waved his hand, “What do you mean this and that? I’m the sixteenth young master of the Wang family.”

Xie Changyue rolled his eyes and leaned close to Gu Siyuan, whispering, “Husband, you don’t know, this guy in the capital was always getting into fights and causing trouble.”

Gu Siyuan glanced at Wang Xu, obviously surprised.

Wang Xu spat, “Some people just couldn’t keep their mouths shut, how could you blame me?”

He then looked at Gu Siyuan, “Brother Gu, so you married this guy. No wonder no one in the countryside could catch your eye. But you’ll have a hard time; this little ger is quite difficult to handle.”

Xie Changyue glared at him and hugged his husband’s arm tighter.

Gu Siyuan pinched his cheek to comfort him.

Gu Er and Mu Xia were visiting a teahouse for the first time, finding it very novel, and couldn’t help but keep looking out the window.

The teahouse Wang Xu had chosen was unique, directly facing the posting area.

Once the auspicious time arrived and the constables unveiled the red silk on the list, those with sharp eyesight, like Gu Siyuan, wouldn’t need to go downstairs; they could see everything clearly from the window.

Just as he was thinking this, the sound of gongs rang out from outside.

After the gongs, there was a burst of firecrackers.

Gu Siyuan and the others got up and walked to the window.

Wang Xu asked, “Brother Gu, what’s your seat number?”

Gu Siyuan replied, “One hundred and eighty-two.”

Wang Xu nodded and had his servant go downstairs to tell another servant waiting at the list.

By this time, the firecrackers had stopped. The constable below grabbed a corner of the red silk cloth and pulled it down hard, shouting, “In the thirty-first year of the Qingjia reign of the Great Zhou, the Wuqing County Exam results are announced!”

As the words fell, the crowd erupted.

However, the constables guarding the list area remained in place. Despite the noise, no one crossed the line.

Xie Changyue, excited, grabbed Gu Siyuan’s shoulder, “Husband, I wonder what your rank is?”

Gu Siyuan nodded, “I can see it.”

…