Zhang Yue saw Chen Zhu praising him, and even acted like a good student, bowing and saluting.
Chen Zhu was even more satisfied and pointed at Zhang Yue and said to Chen Xiang: "I am good at identifying people. Not only do I have an outstanding appearance, but I also have the appearance of being a noble person. If you are a general, you will be granted the title of marquis, and if you are an official, you will be worshiped as the prime minister."
Chen Xiang was even happier after hearing this, but she still had to say something "disparaging": "It's too much praise. He's just an incompetent junior. I'll have to discipline him more in the future."
"Don't dare to take it, don't dare to take it."
When Chen Zhu and Chen Xiang exchanged words with each other, Zhang Yue could tell that it was indeed a long-standing friendship between the two, not an ordinary friendship involving interests in the officialdom.
Finally, Chen Zhu whispered a few words to Chen Xiang, and Chen Xiang nodded before leading Zhang Yue to say goodbye.
Zhang Yue bowed and saluted.
Chen Zhu also praised: "Your disciple is young, his etiquette is extraordinary, and he will become a great person in the future."
Zhang Yue understood that 90% of such compliments in person were for the recommender's sake. It would be stupid to take them seriously. The most important thing was the parting words.
After Chen Xiang and Zhang Yue said goodbye, they left the Chen Mansion. Chen Xiang looked at the path and saw no one everywhere and whispered to Zhang Yue: "Let me test you, what is the different word for 'special'? Write it on me." palm."
Of course, this did not trouble Zhang Yue, who immediately wrote '耑?' on the palm of Chen Xiang's hand. Chen Xiang said to him in a low voice: "When solving the test question, the second sentence must contain the word '葑', so remember it."
Zhang Yue couldn't help but be startled when he heard this. Is this for himself?
Don't you mean it's just a simple writing?
It turned out that these were the last words Chen Zhu told Chen Xiang just now. The teacher pulled himself up to this point for this purpose.
Could it be that Kong Yiji's research on the four types of Hui also means this.
Zhang Yue thought about this and couldn't help but ask, wouldn't using this word make other examiners see anything?
"remember?"
Zhang Yue said: "Students remember it."
Chen Xiang nodded and said: "Very good. Remember not to tell anyone else when you go back. You need to work hard when you go back and don't take any chances."
"Students know."
When Zhang Yue passed by the path, he happened to meet two scholars who happened to see them coming out of the small door of Chen's mansion. They couldn't help but look envious. They also hurried forward while the door was still open.
But the old servant who had just opened the door for Zhang Yue and the others slammed the door shut tightly, making the two of them frustrated.
The two scholars knocked on the door for a while, asking for kindness at first, but when they saw that there was no movement, they immediately looked angry.
Pooh!
They spat in the direction Zhang Yue and Chen Xiang left.
"Stop looking." Chen Xiang said to Zhang Yueyan expressionlessly.
"Yes." Zhang Yue replied, and immediately left with Chen Xiang without looking back.
After learning about the candidates for the examiner, the candidates looked for various ways or were busy writing papers. This shows that many candidates had the advantage of taking the test before, but now they can call it a warm test after the examiner confirms that they can come to the door.
As for those who didn't make it or were too late, they can only cry out and regret it.
Whether they see the examiner or not, the candidates feel that the examiner has accepted their papers, which will greatly increase their chances of winning this time.
Some didn't find the opportunity, so they squatted next to the examiner's house all day long, just in case.
Anyway, few people in Taixue study with peace of mind.
It wasn't until three days before the examination that all the Imperial Examiners came to the examination room to open the temple, and this trend of writing papers calmed down.
Everyone then felt at ease and picked up the books to read three days before the exam.
There are no classes in the Imperial College these days, and many Imperial College students who live in Bianjing have gone home to prepare for the exam.
Ouyang Fa also came to visit Zhang Yue and gave him many things such as the Four Treasures of the Study, as well as several purses, book bags and other handmade items.
Zhang Yue saw that several pieces of workmanship did not seem to be bought from the shop, and he couldn't help asking Ouyang Fa: "Isn't this what you bought?"
Ouyang laughed and said, "Sanlang is really as sharp as a torch."
Zhang Yue said: "Then thank my sister-in-law for me."
Ouyang Fa hesitated and said, "My wife didn't do this either."
"That is?"
Ouyang Fa said: "You don't have to ask. I'm giving it to someone else. Don't guess who it is, and I won't tell you. By the way, don't say it badly, otherwise in the future...hehe."
Zhang Yue smiled and said a good word.
After Ouyang Fa left, Zhang Yue took a few handmade things and looked at them carefully, and couldn't help but said: "It seems that this lady in my family is not very popular."
When Zhang Yue said this, he looked around quickly thinking of Ouyang Fa's words. He was relieved when he saw no one.
"Really, how can there be no reason for others to say it? I just want to say a few words." Zhang Yue said to himself.
Fan Zuyu and Huang Haoyi had all gone home, so only Zhang Yue, Huang Lu and Sun Guo were left in the house.
Sun Guo obviously seemed a little lacking in confidence. He can't keep his face down when writing a paper, but he can't calm down when reading.
In the private examinations and public examinations in Taixue, Huang Lu was not as good as Zhang Yue and Huang Lu. Although Zhang Yue said he was not good at poetry and prose, through cheating and diligent practice, he had obtained excellent scores in Taixue's poetry and prose examinations for several consecutive months. As for classics, righteousness, policy questions, etc., he had always been his strong point.
Huang Lu didn't work hard and was already ahead of many people. In the past few days, everyone went to the examiner's office to write papers, and even Zhang Yue was taken to have a look, but Huang Lu was studying in the studio every day, doing whatever he was supposed to do.
On weekdays, everyone studies hard, but Huang Lu works hard as usual. Now before the exam, everyone is scrambling to write papers, and Huang Lu turns to studying hard.
Anyway, he did the opposite of what everyone was doing, without any panic or nervousness before the exam.
Zhang Yue comforted Sun Guo for a few words, but when the test was approaching, Sun Guo was also extremely stressed.
Everyone was fast asleep that night, but Sun Guo was lying on the bed dancing. Zhang Yue and Huang Lu were so startled that they woke up and rushed forward to push Sun Guo onto the bed.
After a while, Sun Guo finally calmed down, and Zhang Yue and Huang Lufang breathed a sigh of relief. Zhang Yue asked Huang Lu, "Do you want to hire a doctor?"
Huang Lu said: "He also had an illness in the past. I wanted to treat him, but he said it would just cost money."
Zhang Yue said in surprise: "I don't know about this matter. Let's talk about it after the test."
The two of them were worried that something might happen to Sun Guo again, so they lit lamps and stood guard by his cave.
At this moment, it was still an hour before dawn. Zhang Yue looked at the lanterns and whispered to Huang Luyan: "Why is Sun Guo still here despite being so ill?"
Huang Lu said: "It's also a chance to get rich. After all, after studying for so many years, I'm still willing to take the exam."
Zhang Yue said: "That's right. Look at Sheli, I, you and Sun Guo all come from poor families."
"You haven't been writing papers these days. Why are you studying alone in the studio?"
Huang Lu said: "Only those who have a way to write a book can be called a book. Those who have no way are just asking for peace of mind. Why should I bother to fight with them?"
"It's better to study with peace of mind. I think among the many examiners, there are always those who are only qualified regardless of their origins."
Zhang Yue clapped his legs and said with a smile: "Well said."
Huang Lu said: "Don't be ridiculous, I really have no way out, but it doesn't matter if I fail the exam. The worst I can do is go back to my hometown and farm the fields, like Tao Yuanming who 'picked chrysanthemums under the eastern fence and saw the southern mountains leisurely'."
Zhang Yue nodded and said, "You don't look for connections because you are the one."
Huang Lu smiled and said: "It seems so. But Sanlang doesn't have to learn from me."
Zhang Yue smiled and asked: "Anzhong, let me ask you, for example, there is a county school that enrolls students. The county's leading private school enrolls 99 out of 100 students. There is also an unknown private school with 100 students. Only one person enters the school."
“Do you think it’s the ninety-nine people who are the best, or the one who is the best?”
Huang Lu smiled and said: "Duzhi just wants to say that one person is better than most of the ninety-nine people."
"But having said that, we can only talk about it through this."
Zhang Yue said: "It's not to comfort An Zhong, that's the fact."
Huang Lu nodded. At this time, Sun Guo on the side was breathing heavily. It was going to be dawn soon.
Arrive the day before the test.
Candidates from Yangzhengzhai went to the bookstore before dawn to ask for a number. The bookstore led everyone into a courtyard.
A table was set up in the courtyard, and there was a No. 1 ticket on the table. The officials of the Imperial College called the names in order, and then the candidates signed the number one.
After signing, the candidate will receive a piece of paper with the exam seat number written on that day, and the signatures of each examiner on it. You can use this piece of paper to enter on the day of the exam, otherwise you will not be allowed to enter.
The seat numbers above are also predetermined to prevent candidates from colluding in private to cheat.
Zhang Yue and others took a piece of paper and returned to Taixue. They did not study any more that day. All the classmates walked around Taixue and then went back to rest.
Early the next morning, everyone got up early except for the candidates who set out from their own homes.
Zhang Yue brought all the preparations that Ouyang Fa had given him. He was packed with everything, as if he was a soldier going on a march to fight. He saw that everyone else was the same.
As for Zhaili, he had already hired a carriage and parked it outside Taixue.
Zhang Yue, Huang Lu, Sun Guo and others all got on the carriage one after another. Zhang Yue looked at Sun Guo's pale face and asked, "Are you okay?"
Sun Guo shook his head.
"It's okay. It's okay not to take the exam if you really can't. Your health is important." Zhang Yue comforted him.
Sun Guo forced a smile and said, "Zhai Chief, I'm fine."
"That's good."
The coachman urged: "Get in the car quickly, don't miss the time when the exam starts. Zhang Yue immediately helped Sun Guo to change the exam box, while Huang Lu supported Sun Guo beside him, and the three of them got on the carriage.
After getting into the car, the two of them encouraged Sun Guo a few more words. At this time, they heard an examinee quarreling with the driver outside.
"A few days ago, it was obviously a carriage. Why did it change to a donkey carriage today? Do you think I can't tell the difference between a donkey and a horse?"
Zhang Yue and Huang Lu both laughed after hearing this.
The driver on the side said: "Xiucai, listen to my words. Today is the Imperial College Examination, and tomorrow is the Kaifeng Prefecture Examination. All the carriages and horses in Bianjing have been hired by your students. Where are there any extra horses? As for the donkey cart, we have to do it." That's it, otherwise I'd like you to drive me to Kaibao Temple."
The examinee cursed a few times, but finally got into the car helplessly.
Kaibao Temple is in the north and Taixue is in the south. It's a long way away if you don't take a car.
So no one can delay this effort and can only suffer the loss of being dumb.
But it is also sad. The Gongyuan is next to the Imperial College, but it has been used for the Kaifeng Prefecture's examinations. Therefore, the Imperial College examinations are usually held in Kaibao Temple.
Although it is summer, it is still not bright yet, and the city of Bianjing looks like it has just woken up.
