White-robed Minister

0030 [Entering the County for Examination]

Yuan Mei of the Qing Dynasty said: "Books cannot be read unless they are borrowed."

We cherish what we lack all the more. If a book belongs to someone else, reading even one more page before returning it is a bonus.

If you have your own library, you might not be very motivated to read.

Xu Lai's situation is similar now.

He only had one copy of the Analects with Commentary. During the winter off-season, when there was not much work to do, he could only read this book over and over to pass the time.

After days of diligent study, Xu Lai memorized the 12,000-character passage from the Analects.

Then review and reinforce a few passages of scripture each day, and then read the relevant commentaries and annotations in detail.

Sometimes Xu Lai couldn't help but think that if he had more choices, he would never be so slow and deliberate in his reading; he would have gone to read other books long ago.

Having fewer books can actually make people more immersed in the experience.

He was like a boy in a martial arts novel, hiding in a mountain valley, practicing the same basic sword technique over and over again.

In particular, he also has the understanding of later generations, and by comparing it with the annotations of this time, he can understand many different things.

He's practically read this set of "The Analects with Commentary" to perfection.

As the county exam approached, Xu Lai even took out paper and pen and began writing his reading notes. He wrote more and more reading notes, so he simply compiled them into a manuscript, which he named "A Preliminary Discussion of the Analects".

Nothing much happened between returning to the village and taking the county exam.

The military inspector had already been arrested, and the salt bandits had long since fled back to their hometowns. No one was interested in the impoverished Qingxi Village. Wealthy families from outside the mountains dared not come; they only hoped that Xu Lai would not cause trouble.

Besides collecting dead branches and leaves for compost, the father and brothers also went to the city twice to sell firewood.

To be honest, selling firewood isn't profitable.

To the north and east of the county town, there are mountains and forests for miles around. The northern part, in particular, is a continuous mountain range, home to many professional woodcutters. They have easy access to the town and have established long-term supply relationships with many shops and residents.

For the villagers of Qingxi Village, the journey to sell firewood in the city was even longer. They had to set out before dawn and arrive in the afternoon, carrying their loads and peddling their wares along the streets.

If they don't sell out on the same day, they have to sleep on the streets overnight, and they can easily catch a cold if they're not careful.

Before long, it was time for the county examination. Xu Lai carried a small basket on his back and went out.

He had no books, so he used a basket on his back instead, just like someone going to the city to sell agricultural products.

That morning, Xu Lai set off without disturbing anyone, just as dawn was breaking; otherwise, the villagers would have surely come to see him off.

I arrived in the county town with light steps; it was just past noon.

"Xu Sanlang!"

Xu Lai was indeed a celebrity in the county. When he entered the city, the gatekeeper recognized him at a glance and took the initiative to greet him.

Xu Lai smiled and nodded in response.

Another gatekeeper said, "When your father and your second brother went to town to sell firewood, we didn't take a single piece."

"Thank you both, brothers. May I ask your names?" Xu Lai said, cupping his hands in greeting.

The two gatekeepers laughed and said, "We're all on the same side, so we definitely won't pull anything out."

As they spoke, they introduced themselves and thus got to know Xu.

Rural residents are only taxed if they bring too much agricultural product into the city at once. However, in practice, it's a classic case of skimming off a passing goose; even firewood sellers get a few scraps taken to offset their tax.

My father and second brother were clever; they simply mentioned Xu Sanlang's name, and it actually worked—they didn't smoke a single stick.

After entering the city, Xu Lai went straight to the archers' quarters and chatted and mingled with the archers on duty.

About two hours later, Uncle Zhang and Bu Chao returned to hand over their shift. The two were delighted to see Xu Lai and immediately took him to a restaurant.

"You guys are something else, eating at restaurants all the time?" Xu Lai laughed.

Uncle Zhang said, "When you're on the night shift, you can eat in the barracks. On weekdays, you can only go to restaurants, the cheapest little ones. You can't afford anything too expensive."

Xu Lai asked, "How's work at the county command?"

Uncle Zhang said, "It's alright. Your reputation is quite high, so we can benefit from it too. My superiors and colleagues haven't deliberately caused any trouble."

Bu Chao said in a low voice, "The archers have gotten to know the neighbors inside and outside the city well, so they're too embarrassed to extort money from them. The shops also have connections and give them a monthly allowance, but the archers don't get much of it. They're the most ruthless towards those from the countryside who come to the city! But I..."

"You can't bear to see the poor people in the countryside, can you?" Xu Lai said with a smile.

Bu Chao sighed, "Of course I can't bear to. But I'm the tenth general, in charge of ten archers. Those archers don't get paid; they can only make money off the villagers. If I step in to stop them, the archers will definitely resent me, and I won't be able to continue working here."

In addition to their duties as criminal investigators, police officers, and firefighters, these archers also serve as urban management officers. Urban management is a key revenue-generating activity, and they certainly won't be involved in civilized law enforcement!

Xu Lai patted his cousin on the shoulder: "Once I pass the imperial examination, I'll find you another job."

"When can I take the imperial examination?" Bu Chao asked curiously.

Xu Lai said, "The imperial examinations are now held every two years. The preliminary examinations will be held this autumn, and the earliest we can take the provincial examination is the autumn after next. If everything goes smoothly, we can take the metropolitan examination the year after next."

Bu Chao laughed and said, "It won't be long, so I'll take care of the archers first."

In Bu Chao's view, Xu Lai's knowledge was imparted to him by Su Gong in a dream, and he would definitely pass the imperial examination in no time.

The three arrived at a small restaurant, where Uncle Zhang ordered half a liter of cloudy wine to treat Xu Lai to good food and drink.

They spent the night together, sleeping in the rented room of the two of them.

The western and southern parts of Qingyuan County are bordered by the river, while the northwestern part belongs to the government district. Therefore, the northeastern part of the town has the cheapest housing, and Uncle Zhang and Bu Chao rent a house there.

The two shared a small room with very little furniture; there was only one bed.

The rent is 90 cash per person per month.

They're both bachelors, and even after deducting food and drink expenses, they can still save a considerable amount of money. But who knows, they might get married in the future, and their daily expenses will definitely increase dramatically.

Three grown men squeezed into one bed, and Xu Lai only took off the coat that the county magistrate had given him.

In the darkness, Bu Chao joked, "There's a widow next door. I heard Uncle Zhang is still unmarried and works as a deputy constable in the county magistrate's office..."

"Ahem!"

Uncle Zhang coughed twice to interrupt.

Bu Chao chuckled.

Xu Lai also laughed and said, "Uncle Zhang, you're over thirty years old, it's time to consider this kind of thing."

Uncle Zhang said, "This is my fate. When I was a few years old, one person in my family died every year, and after a few years, they were all gone. Uncle Liu said I was cursed, and even Master Su couldn't protect me. If it weren't for the villagers' help, I would have starved to death long ago. Whoever I marry will die. It's better to live alone, save some money every year, and take it back to the village to repay the kindness."

Xu Lai didn't refute the feudal superstition; his time travel story was quite mysterious, so he offered a roundabout explanation: "Things are different now. Master Su has used his divine power, and the village's fortunes have turned around. Your evil aura has long since dissipated."

Upon hearing this, Uncle Zhang was somewhat tempted.

Su Gong may have truly possessed divine power, exempting the entire village from corvée labor for three years. Xu Lai even went to take the exam, and he and Bu Chao also became archers.

Perhaps, the malevolent aura within me has truly dissipated?

For no apparent reason, Uncle Zhang thought of that widow who lived in the house next to his rented room. Although she wasn't pretty, she wasn't ugly either, and she had a very large waist and hips, making her look like someone who could both bear children and do housework.

That night, Uncle Zhang couldn't sleep.

……

The county exams weren't so strict; they only tested poetry and prose, and the exams only started in the late morning.

There's no need to get up in the middle of the night.

Uncle Zhang and Bu Chao were going to roll call, and Xu Lai got up early with them and went to a small shop on the street for breakfast.

Then, they carried the small table and stools from the rented room to the county government office.

Bring your own answer sheet and exam desk/chair!

The examination venue was set up in the main hall of the county government office and the open space outside the hall.

When Xu Lai arrived at the county government office, many examinees and their parents had already gathered there.

Most of the candidates are under 20 years old, because if they fail the state college entrance exam three times, they will no longer be able to take the state college entrance exam.

This exam is held once a year in the spring, and there's a make-up exam in the fall. There are two exams a year. If you can't pass by the age of twenty, you either can't take it again or you have to give up.

"Who is that person? He didn't even have a book bag or a satchel; he just came with a bamboo basket on his back."

"Judging from their appearance, their family is at most a fourth-class household."

"A fourth-class family dares to study for the imperial examinations? Aren't they afraid of squandering their family fortune?"

"Shh! Don't talk nonsense, that's Xu Sanlang."

"Is he Xu Sanlang?"

"Indeed! I saw him in Yinshabu last month. He's on good terms with the angel and Judge Chen, and the magistrate and registrar also value him highly."

"Heh, just a sycophant. I heard he even wrote poems to flatter the eunuch."

"Don't speak nonsense; you should address them as angels."

"A eunuch is a eunuch, do you think I'm afraid of him?"

"..."

Xu Sanlang indeed became famous in the county. The guards at the city gate knew him, and some scholars also knew him.

The family of the richest man in Qingyuan County was also outside the county government office at this very moment.

In Guangdong, horses are relatively scarce and roads are inconvenient, so even officials rarely ride horses or carriages.

The Chen family, however, were traveling in two horse-drawn carriages.

The whole family, more than twenty people including men, women, and children, came to take the exam with their eldest grandson, Chen Yanhong.

Chen Yanhong is already twenty-one years old (by Chinese reckoning) and is still unmarried, without even a fiancée. He plans to discuss marriage after passing the imperial examination.

This was common in the Song Dynasty, with some scholars who passed the imperial examinations not getting married until after the age of thirty.

"Is he that Xu Sanlang?" Chen Yanhong's tone was somewhat disdainful.

This man certainly had the confidence to be arrogant. From the age of twelve, he was sent to study at the renowned Songyang Academy. He lived and studied diligently at the academy for nine years, surrounded by excellent teachers and helpful friends, and looked down on the scholars from his hometown.

Chen Yanhong had just returned half a month ago, not even to Guangdong to take the imperial examination.

He had another route in the imperial examinations: academy → prefectural school → imperial academy → successful candidate in the provincial examination (or exempted from the provincial examination) → successful candidate in the metropolitan examination.

Guangdong Province has more than ten prefectures and counties, but only 77 quotas for the provincial examinations this year, averaging only 5.5 candidates per prefecture and county to go to the capital.

And what about the Imperial College?

However, there are more than two hundred places available for the provincial examination, and those with outstanding results can even be exempted from the provincial examination (they can directly take the imperial examination without taking the provincial examination).

The Imperial Academy was affiliated with the Imperial College and possessed most of the quotas for its students.

Chen Yanhong was not on the same track as ordinary students at all.

This person is returning to their hometown to take the entrance exam for the state school, but they are just using it as a stepping stone. They might not even bother to attend the school after passing the exam; they only want a state school registration.

So what if Xu Sanlang tries to curry favor with the powerful again?

Some of the teachers at Songyang Academy are retired high-ranking officials, like Yu Jing!

As a student of Songyang Academy, Chen Yanhong had reason to look down on all the scholars from Guangdong.

Moreover, he was a scholar who curried favor with a eunuch!

Seeing his grandson's arrogant demeanor, Chen Han said with concern, "Don't be so conceited. Even after entering the state school, you must not look down on or despise your classmates."

Chen Yanhong laughed and said, "Those people in the state school aren't my classmates. My former classmates are at Songyang Academy, and my future classmates are at the Imperial Academy. Anyway, I'm only going to spend a few months at the state school."

During the Qingli era, when schools were being promoted, it was stipulated that students had to study at the prefectural school for 300 days before they could register for the imperial examination to become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial civil service examination).

This regulation was abolished after only six months because most prefectures did not have state schools at the time. Even those that were established in an emergency had extremely poor teaching quality, and many scholars who passed the exams did not attend.

However, if Chen Yanhong wanted to be admitted to the Imperial Academy, he had to study at the prefectural school for 300 days and then use connections to obtain a place in the Imperial Academy.

The students at Guangzhou State University are rubbish; they don't deserve to be Chen Yanhong's classmates!