What surprised Zhou Xing the most was the child's clear eyes, which not only revealed intelligence, but also full of composure.
Yes, it's calm.
Now Zhou Xing finally understands why his son has become much more sensible since last year. Not only has he changed his bad habit of raising grasshoppers before, but he also often goes to the bookstore to get books and copy them.
Although the family does not lack this little money, in Zhou Xing's opinion, it is naturally good for children to develop the good habit of diligence and thrift.
It is said that those who are close to red are red and those who are close to ink are dark. The reason why my son has such a change is probably because he met a good role model.
As a parent, he is naturally happy to see such changes.
Let’s look at Lin Yuanqiu’s father. He speaks in a relaxed manner and is not slick. It is true that “there is a father like this and a son like this. This is human nature.”
The journey to Fucheng was a bit long. By the time we arrived at Jiangzhou Prefecture, it was almost the end of the application period. The government office must have been closed by now, so we had to wait until tomorrow to register.
The group stayed at a nearby inn. After putting away their luggage, Lin Sanzhu did not rest. Instead, he asked the innkeeper about the location of the examination room. He was going to decide on the guest room where he would stay during the examination. Save yourself the trouble of finding suitable accommodation temporarily.
When Zhou Xing heard this, he hurriedly said that he would go with him to have a look. He also said that it would be best for the two families to live together so that they could be taken care of when the time came.
Zhou Zixu was extremely happy to see his father and Brother Lin's father hit it off immediately. He felt that there was nothing happier than having two good roommates whose fathers also got along well.
After riding in the carriage for most of the day, Lin Yuanqiu felt that his butt and legs were almost no longer his own.
By the way, although the carriage tires at this time were equipped with shock absorbers, the road was not as difficult as usual. Sometimes when encountering potholes, Lin Yuanqiu was sure that if his father hadn't held him down, he would have been hurt when the carriage shook and jumped. His head might even hit the roof of the car.
Compared with the previous registration for the county examination, Zhou Zixu was much more relaxed this time. The reason was simple, because he registered for the government examination with the mentality of giving it a try. If he didn't do well in the examination, it would be okay.
Therefore, without any inner burden, he was in a good mood all the way.
For example, now, when he saw Lin Yuanqiu twisting his waist and kicking his legs, Zhou Zixu covered his stomach and laughed, and also followed suit.
When he was in the dormitory, every morning when he got up, Zhou Zixu would imitate Lin Yuanqiu's running and jumping movements.
I heard Brother Lin say that this can help you grow taller, but I don’t know where he got the idea.
Thinking that he was still sitting in the front row, Zhou Zixu followed the example without hesitation, thinking that if it worked, he could change to a seat at the back so that his every move would be visible during class. Then I won't be noticed by my uncle all the time.
Lin Sanzhu and Zhou Xing came back just before dinner. They had already found a place to stay. The inn they settled on was not far from the examination room, and it took about a quarter of an hour's walk to get there.
Although the rent of 150 cash per day made Lin Sanzhu really feel pain, he also knew that this money could not be saved.
Speaking of expensive, Lin Sanzhu would rather spend more money so that his son would have to travel less than those cheap inns where you have to walk for half an hour to get to the examination room.
After traveling so much today, everyone was a little tired. Thinking that they would have to be busy for a long time to register tomorrow, everyone went back to their rooms to rest after dinner.
On the second day, a group of people went to the government office early. Today was the time when the number of applicants was the largest. If they didn't go there earlier, it might be their turn to go tomorrow.
When we arrived at the government office, there were indeed many students waiting in line. They didn't waste any time and quickly joined them.
Lin Yuanqiu discovered that the average age of the students who came to register for the government examination today was obviously much older than those who applied for the county examination. He even saw many gray-haired old men lining up in the queue.
This reminded Lin Yuanqiu of what Su Xun said, "It is as easy as climbing to the sky for an old man." Combined with the scene he saw at this moment, it was enough to show how difficult the imperial examination was.
The process is similar to that of applying for the county examination. First, you need to sign a recognizance letter, then fill in the form, and then the clerk will fill in the invoice.
Lin Yuanqiu saw that in the column about his appearance, it still said that he was small, had a round face, was white, and had no beard.
…
After returning from Fucheng, Lin Yuanqiu devoted himself wholeheartedly to preparing for the exam, especially practicing essays and policy papers.
For this government examination, Lin Yuanqiu didn't think too much about how sure he was. He just had to live up to what he had learned.
There are seven counties in Jiangzhou Prefecture. When registering that day, Lin Yuanqiu heard someone give a rough estimate of the number of applicants for the prefectural examination. If each county had more than 200 people, then there would be more than 1,400 people in the seven counties.
Like the county examination, the admission quota for the government examination is also fifty, which is equivalent to getting one out of nearly thirty students. This is definitely no less difficult than the national examination in the previous life.
This year, several private schools in Sanmenting, including Changting Academy, had a total of 129 students taking the government examination. Among these people, there were not Lin Wenyan, Lin Wenqing, and Lin Wenjin’s cousins, because soon Although the three of them signed up for the previous county examination, none of them passed the exam.
This disappointed Lin Jincai and Jin, as well as Lin Quanhe, who were looking forward to good news.
I also truly realized how difficult it is to try to lift.
These days, Lin Jincai is thinking about whether to transfer his eldest grandson and second grandson to the family school. After all, in his understanding, the reason why the second grandson of his second brother's family can pass the county examination must be the same as Master Wang. It is inseparable from the teaching ability.
Wen Yan and Wen Qing both failed the exam twice in a row, so he had to try another method.
Originally, in Lin Jincai's opinion, because his eldest grandson and second grandson had studied with a scholar in the town for many years, he must have received good results in exams and everything else. But now, alas!
Regarding his wife's idea, Jin shook his head like a rattle. As for the reason for rejection, it was very simple, that is, "No one can read back after studying. If you transfer to family studies, how can you make Wen Yan and Wen Qing embarrassed!"
Apparently Lin Quanhe, Lin Quanjiang, and Zhang and the others all had the same idea as Jin.
The minority obeyed the majority, and Lin Jincai's plan came to nothing.
…
More than half a month passed in the blink of an eye. Amidst the busy review, the day of the government examination soon came.
In order to have more time to adapt, just like the previous county examination, Lin Yuanqiu and the others arrived at Jiangzhou Prefecture seven days ago.
In the past few days, except for going downstairs to eat, Lin Yuanqiu had hardly gone out. They all said that if you sharpen your skills before the battle, you will lose your happiness. In Lin Yuanqiu's view, the closer the exam is, the harder it is to relax.
In order not to interfere with his children's reading, Lin Sanzhu didn't stay in the guest room during the day. In addition to chatting with other family members in the lobby downstairs, he would also go to the market and wait until he saw many shops filled with people. After selling the book cover, Lin Sanzhu couldn't tell what he felt in his heart. Was it pride? Still helpless?
There should be some, after all, seeing that his son's good ideas are recognized by everyone, there is no reason for him not to be proud as a father.
But it is helpless, of course, because the more people learn from it, the less money one earns.
Seeing some more exquisite patterns embroidered on some book covers, Lin Sanzhu couldn't help but lament the competitive pressure of making embroidery. Thinking that after returning this time, he would have to come up with some more ingenious embroidery.
As for the pen covers and water bottle covers, Lin Sanzhu planned to use the same method he used when selling book covers, waiting to save more before sending them to bookstores. Otherwise, others would soon copy them, and it would be difficult for his family to earn more money.
As for the future, Lin Sanzhu thought of the newly purchased mountain, on which many persimmon trees had been planted. Lin Sanzhu thought that maybe when the persimmons on the mountain began to bear fruit. Their family no longer has to worry about making money.
…
April twenty-seven.
At the right time, the candidates taking the government examination left the inn with their examination baskets and headed towards the examination shed one after another.
Lin Sanzhu and Zhou Xing each carried a test basket. In front of them were Lin Yuanqiu and Zhou Zixu who were walking quickly.
With the experience of taking the county examination, both of them knew that if they entered the examination room earlier, they would have more time to sleep. Even if they couldn't sleep, just sitting in the dormitory to rest their minds would be better than staying outside the examination room for a long time waiting to enter the examination room. Strong.
Lin Yuanqiu still clearly remembered that when he took the county examination last time, he spent more than an hour just waiting to enter the examination booth. At that time, he was holding an examination basket in his hand. Lin Yuanqiu had such a sour taste. I don’t want to do it a second time.
Fortunately, the advantage of living nearby was perfectly reflected at this moment. No, when he was about to arrive at the examination room, Lin Yuanqiu saw that there were not many students lining up at the door, and he felt happy at the moment.
The yamen officials set up checkpoints on both sides of the road so that people taking exams could not follow them further forward.
After hearing the words from other people who were taking the exam, "Son, you must take the exam well, your family is counting on you."
Lin Sanzhu touched his son's head and said with a smile, "When Youshi comes out, daddy will come to the examination room to pick you up. We will have braised fish for dinner."
Uh-huh, Lin Yuanqiu nodded to Lin Sanzhu, "Dad, please go back and catch up on your sleep as soon as possible."
Worried that he would oversleep, Lin Sanzhu didn't dare to sleep.
Zhou Xing on the side told his son to remember to drink water from the bamboo tube when eating snacks at noon, otherwise his throat would be too heavy. When you enter the dormitory, you must check the corners first to make sure there are no spiders or insects.
Zhou Xing originally wanted to say something like, "Be careful in the exam and make sure you don't make any mistakes." However, after hearing Lin Sanzhu's instructions to his son, he took it back. When he said it again, it had become "Dinner". We also ate braised fish."
Looking at the back of his son walking forward with the test basket, Lin Sanzhu suddenly realized that his dog had grown taller without knowing it, because this time when he was carrying the test basket, he no longer had to worry about hitting the ground, and instead used force to lift the test basket. Work harder.
…
As soon as midnight arrived, the dragon gate slowly opened.
Soon the candidates began to enter the venue in an orderly manner, followed by the junior students to support them, and then the body search.
Lin Yuanqiu discovered that the searches in the government examinations were more detailed than those in the county examinations. Not only did the candidates take off their clothes and loosen their hair, they also asked them to spread their legs and jump on the spot a few times. He didn't know what they would find out by doing so.
At this time, Lin Yuanqiu was extremely lucky to have untied his hair. Having hair covering his face made him less embarrassed.
After getting dressed and arriving at his dormitory, Lin Yuanqiu hurriedly opened the oil paper bag in the test basket. Just now he saw Souzi cutting there with a knife. Now he looked at the oil paper bag. The chestnut cake has the shape of a cake, and it is not an exaggeration to say it is chestnut flour.
Lin Yuanqiu was not dissatisfied. On the contrary, he felt that this strict anti-cheating behavior was absolutely fair to students who really studied hard.
After wrapping the chestnut cake, Lin Yuanqiu tied up his loose hair again with a hair tie. Then he lit a candle and illuminated the corner. Well, it was quite clean. I think the government office had arranged for the servants to clean it.
Lin Yuanqiu took out the rag from the test basket and wiped off the dust on the table. After blowing out the candles, he lay down on the board, closed his eyes and rested.
In a daze, three drums sounded in my ears and I thought, this is the dragon gate.
Sleeping on your stomach is always uncomfortable. After Lin Yuanqiu changed his face countless times, he heard the sound of someone moving. Is this the beginning of curls?
Opening his eyes drowsily, he realized that it was already dawn. Lin Yuanqiu saw that there were government servants carrying burdens, delivering the test papers in the baskets to each dormitory one by one. Soon, Lin Yuanqiu also received his own That share.
After waking up, Lin Yuanqiu opened the examination basket, took out the inkstone and ink sticks, and began to pour water and grind the ink.
Prepare these in advance and try to ensure enough time to answer questions.
About two-quarters of an hour later, I heard the sound of a gong. On April 28th, Kuimao, the first government examination of Jiangzhou Prefecture began.
This test was about writing essays. Lin Yuanqiu did not rush to write. Instead, he briefly browsed through more than a dozen test papers. This was very necessary, because if he found anything inappropriate in the answer sheet at this time, such as answering questions, If it is blurry or damaged, you can ask the curtain official to replace it, but if you don't find it in time, you will have to consider yourself unlucky.
After all the papers were correct, Lin Yuanqiu took the draft paper, dipped his pen in ink, and began to write the first answer.
He has just seen the content of the first answer question, which is a short paragraph from the "Wuyi" chapter of Shangshu: In Zujia, he was the king of injustice and was a villain in the past. When he ascends the throne, he knows that he has the support of a villain, can protect the common people, and dare not insult widowers and widowers. Si Zujia enjoyed the thirty-year reign of his country for three years.
Lin Yuanqiu wrote the second half: From then on, when the king was established, he lived and breathed, and he did not know the hardships of farming. He did not listen to the work of villains, but only indulged in pleasure...
In fact, as long as you have read the Four Books and Five Classics well, the first session of Tie Jing is not difficult. Candidates only need to fill in the answers neatly and be careful not to make typos or omissions.
There are four tests in this government examination. In addition to the classics and Mo Yi, there are also essays and policy discussions. The test on Mo Yi also includes a poem.
The title of the poem given was "The Fragrance of Heaven is Floating Outside", and it was required to compose a seven-character quatrain according to the meaning of the title.
Lin Yuanqiu was stunned. It was not difficult for him to write poems and poems, and he also understood the meaning of "clouds drifting outside", but what exactly was the fragrance of "heavenly fragrance"?
What kind of floral fragrance is it?
Lin Yuanqiu was certain that "The fragrance of the sky is floating outside" was definitely a poem. He was also certain that he had never learned this poem when he was studying in ethnic studies or private schools.
The fragrance of the sky is floating outside, the fragrance of the sky is floating outside... Lin Yuanqiu silently recited it several times in his heart, and felt that it was somewhat familiar.
In my previous life, I often wrote and signed paintings and read a lot of poems, so I should be able to remember them.
After Lin Yuanqiu recited it silently a few times, he suddenly remembered that the poem "Lingyin Temple" written by the Tang Dynasty poet Song Zhiwen contained the sentence "The fragrance of heaven is floating outside the clouds", so this "scent of heaven" should be the fragrance of Buddha. , which is the incense used to worship the gods.
After reviewing the question correctly, the remaining seven-character quatrains were not difficult for Lin Yuanqiu. Although he rarely writes poems and poems based on Buddhist incense and gods, he never deviates from his roots. As long as he grasps the substantive characteristics of the starting line, the first sentence, and the rhyme pattern, he can still write a seven-character quatrain. .
Lin Yuanqiu first typed a draft on the manuscript paper, then revised and polished it over and over again, and finally wrote the poem.
After repeatedly confirming that it was correct, Lin Yuanqiu took the answer sheet and copied a fresh seven-character quatrain in neat Guange style: After the rain, the Zen Peak Mountain Temple is pure, and the dust is not stained in the misty mountains...
