On the fourth day of November, mid-winter, there is a yellow bell in the law.
At dawn, the north wind is strong, silver-gray clouds are galloping in the sky, the cold current is rolling, and a heavy snow is brewing.
It was extremely cold in November, and the Qinhuai River also changed from its usual liveliness and seemed to be sleeping peacefully.
On this day, the Enke Township Examination officially kicked off. The provincial examination is divided into three sessions, each lasting three days and two nights, for a total of 9 days and 6 nights. This is a comprehensive game of intelligence, physical strength, and physical fitness. For candidates, this game starts before entering the exam. Candidates who take the provincial examination in the entire southern Zhili Province must take the examination in Jiangnan Gongyuan. There are more than 10,000 candidates. It is often impossible to roll their names and enter the palace early in the morning. Therefore, many candidates rushed here last night to queue up, trying to be at the front of the queue and enter the examination room earlier.
When there are many people, chaos is likely to occur. Even if there are government officials and heavily armed sergeants to suppress it, there is still crowding and chaos outside the gate of Gongyuan. The exam has not even started yet. Last night, more than a dozen candidates were injured in the crowd and suffered head injuries. Blood flow.
Zhu Pingan and the fat man Xue Chi came to line up around early in the morning. After arriving, they lined up separately. Before the crowding was serious, Zhu Pingan ran to a corner to hide. After being suppressed by the reinforcing sergeants, he ran back to the queue and lined up.
The weather was very cold, and Zhu Pingan was wearing thicker clothes, made from rabbit fur by his mother Chen. Compared with other students, Zhu Pingan was much warmer. In addition to clothes, Zhu Ping'an also brought two rabbit skin blankets, which were used for sleeping in the examination room, one as a bed and the other as a cover. Of course, other items such as food, exam supplies, etc. were also brought along, and the food was plentiful...
At about three o'clock in the morning, I heard the sound of a drum from the Mingyuan Tower of Jiangnan Gongyuan, and the sergeant of the Yamen began to check the entrance of the candidates.
It was around six o'clock that Zhu Ping'an arrived in line. Zhu Ping'an brought a lot of things. The sergeant in charge of the inspection checked for a long time. The people in line behind him were very dissatisfied. They felt that Zhu Ping'an brought too many things, including blankets. After two meals, the yamen servants checked him for a long time. In addition, he brought too much food. The yamen servants have become chefs. Hehe, the waist knife is only used to cut pastries, dried meat and the like for him...
There were so many complaints like this that Zhu Pingan was somewhat used to it.
After about fifteen or six minutes, Zhu Ping'an's things were checked, and the yamen let Zhu Ping'an in.
However, something went wrong when entering the venue.
An examiner named Hu who was responsible for checking candidates at the door stopped Zhu Pingan. This examiner was serious about his work and it might be better to be rigid. During the invigilation, the candidates' age and appearance will be checked very strictly according to the roster.
"Your record shows that you are short and fat, and have a beardless face. However, when I look at you today, why do you say you are fat? Are you taking the test for me?" Supervisor Hu stopped Zhu Ping'an and asked in a stern voice.
Well
To be honest, Zhu Ping'an did not foresee this accident at all. Such problems had never occurred in the county examination, government examination, and hospital examination before. However, despite the suddenness, Zhu Pingan was not panicked at all.
"No, the student is Zhu Ping'an. After the college examination, the student studied day and night and lost weight; and Zhu Zi noted the meaning of "Wu Ye" in micro, and a person who is slightly fat is not fat. Please give me some advice, sir." Zhu Ping An remained calm and answered calmly. After all, he is Zhu Ping'an, and there is no mistaking this.
"Well, that makes sense, but are you looking stupid?" The examiner named Hu looked at Zhu Pingan and nodded, but then asked another question.
Zhu Ping'an could only show his signature silly smile.
"Yes." The examiner nodded and allowed entry.
Finally, there was no danger. After Zhu Ping'an entered the room, he was led into a dormitory by a guard. This is a relatively good dormitory. It is far away from the "stinky dormitory", which is the toilet. It is considered a first-class dormitory.
After putting all the things in the dormitory, Zhu Pingan looked around. Just like the last college examination, the dormitory was very narrow, with only two wooden boards at the top and bottom. The upper board was used as a table for writing answer sheets, and the lower board was used as a chair. , when sleeping, put two boards together as a bed. The difference is that now there is a pot of charcoal fire and two candles in the dormitory. Charcoal fires can be used for both heating and cooking. Candidates are isolated from the outside world during the exam and have to solve their own food problems. The invigilator only cares about cheating in the exam. As for the other actions of the candidates in the room, the invigilator does not ask at all.
The next three days and two nights will be spent in this small cubicle...
At about nine o'clock, all the candidates outside were admitted. While waiting for the exam, Zhu Ping'an heard from several yamen officials that seven or eight candidates with cheat sheets had been found during the inspection. Five other candidates who took the exam for the exam were also found and locked up in a small cell in Gongyuan to wait for the relevant departments to take action. .
Unexpectedly, some people really cheated. In the future, these people will have no chance to take the scientific examination, and they may even be exiled and sent to the army.
Now thinking about the scene at the gate, Zhu Ping'an felt a little sweaty on his back. If it weren't for my quick wit, I'm afraid it would be hard to say. He is Zhu Pingan. This is undeniable and can be proven, but if he proves it, he may miss the exam.
After all the candidates have entered at nine o'clock, the door will be locked. It will not be opened until the end of the exam, even if there is a fire or flood in the Gongyuan.
Mingyuan upstairs was full of people. There were two examiners, four co-examiners, one promotion person. In addition, there were officials responsible for receiving papers, sealing them, transcribing them, reading them, patrolling the prison gates, and searching for suspects. The older examiner signaled the start of the exam, and then the other officials performed their duties in an orderly manner. They all looked at the candidates below with a sense of nostalgia, watching the junior students learn from the seniors and seniors of the sophomores and juniors. My sister feels about the same as starting military training.
After the drums were played, the government officials began to hand out test papers and draft papers one after another.
Then, the exam questions are announced.
Today is the first session of the Enke Township Examination. According to the usual practice, the questions in this session are: "The Four Books" has three meanings and the Classics has four meanings.
When the government servant holding the test questions came over, Zhu Pingan quickly and neatly copied the test questions on the scratch paper.
This year is the same as in previous years. This time, the "Four Books" have three meanings and the classics have four meanings. Classical meaning is a subject in the imperial examination. The questions are based on scriptures and sentences, and the candidates write essays to explain the meaning. Of course, you have to use eight-legged writing style. These questions need to be answered in three days and two nights. No matter how you answer them or how you arrange your time, as long as you don't cheat, you can do whatever you want.
Because Zhu Ping'an hadn't eaten anything from early morning to now, so after copying the test questions, he cleaned up the things, spread a piece of cloth on the table, and then grilled the food he brought with him on the charcoal fire. , and started eating.
After eating and drinking, Zhu Pingan cleaned the table, spread it with pens, ink, paper and inkstones, and officially started his journey to the provincial examination. (To be continued.)
