Elaborate on the world of mortals

Chapter 793 Like Divine Help
On August 22nd, Qiuwei Gongsheng was preparing to enter.

Yi Shuyuan set up a bookstall on the street outside Gongyuan, where he sold not only the great principles written by sages, but also some so-called "miscellaneous books".

And he didn't use any new changes. He just changed his pale gray hair to blue silk, left a clear beard on his lips and chin, and wore his hair in a bun with a knot like the local scholar, which seemed to have changed his appearance.

There have been many Confucian scholars visiting Yi Shuyuan's bookstall these two days, and many books have been sold.

However, there were no people at the bookstalls at this time, and few people nearby were walking on the streets, because many people went to watch the excitement near Gongyuan.

That's right, it's fun to watch. Every time before the imperial examination candidates enter the venue, they are searched and their belongings are searched. Some people who want to cheat but have no background will suffer when they are caught.

Beside the bookstall, Yi Shuyuan was flipping through a book. While reading, he would occasionally lift the teapot to refill the tea cups on the small table.

Hui Mian will transform into a black and white cow-colored cat, lying on the table and licking its paws from time to time.

"Sir, it seems that selling books is quite profitable. This book has been open for a while, and there are so many people buying it!"

"That's because sir, I have a lot of books on my bookstall that they can't see. Besides, with the recent provincial examination, there are also many students coming to Pingzhou City. Can you take a look later?"

On a rooftop outside, Yu Xinmei landed here with a gust of wind, and immediately spotted Zheng Yiming in the middle of the Gongsheng team.

"Meow~~"

A slight cat meow sounded from beside her. Yu Xinmei subconsciously looked for the sound and saw a black and white cat sitting on the eaves of the roof not far away. The cat had an elegant posture and seemed to be aware that someone was looking at it. He even turned around and glanced.

Yi Shuyuan smiled and shook his head, flipping through a book while drinking tea. When the teacup in his hand was almost empty, he looked to the side and found that the cat on the table had disappeared.

Today's imperial examination system in Dayong has gone through several reforms, including Mingzong's drastic changes. It is based on the combination of local and central court, local and out-of-state officials randomly jointly supervise, and there is a separate direct admonishment post system for imperial examination candidates, as well as The emperor is nominally responsible for supervising the administration, but in the year of the imperial examination, inspection envoys may be randomly dispatched.

"But it's you who doesn't want to watch the fun?"

The luggage and other items carried with them must also be spread out, and the four treasures of the study and papers must be checked. Even the pastries and other food carried are poked and opened with chopsticks to see if there is anything stuffed inside. It seems very strict.

Saying this, Yi Shuyuan turned his head and looked at Hui Mian.

Today's imperial examination system in Guizhou is actually similar to that of the previous dynasty before the founding of Dayong. In name, the emperor appoints the examiner to preside over the examination, and local officials cooperate. As for the specific situation, it depends on luck and character.

In front of the Gongyuan below, the candidates came forward one after another, two at a time. They were mainly searched by four officers, one at the front and one at the front. After the search, the two officers turned around and searched again.

Guiguo, recorded as the "Land of Jade Gui" in Dayong historical materials and old maps, is generally considered to be a place with a high level of etiquette and simplicity, which can also be said to be relatively self-contained.

"It hasn't started yet. I'll come over after you finish drinking this cup of tea."

"Okay, okay, candidates are ready to come forward!"

"Hurry up, hurry up, everyone line up and come one by one!" "People outside, stay away, otherwise the sticks will make you retreat -"

An official shouted loudly, and the surrounding streets were filled with people. The crowd was talking about it, creating a commotion.

The relationship is complicated, and the supervision systems of all parties are not subordinate to each other. As long as the emperor is not too stupid, it is possible to commit fraud if he really needs to have good hands and eyes.

Outside the Pingzhou Gongyuan, in addition to some old gods, there were also many officials to maintain order, and candidates from all over the place lined up on both sides.

"Meow~"

Yu Xinmei smiled at Mao'er.

"Shall we watch it together?"

Hui Mian opened the cat's mouth and yawned, and the cat's tail swung behind him a few times.

Another candidate was found to have made a cavity under the inkstone and folded writings. He was immediately dragged out and served with sticks, and then dragged back to the county government office. At this time, the people watching the excitement were also excited.

Of course, most of the time no one is caught cheating, but officials can ask some candidates to tear off their clothes, and they can even ask them to undo their belts if they don't like them.

At this time, there are also Gongsheng who angrily reprimanded the officials for insulting their elegance, and most of them were beaten, which was enough to make some good-hearted people laugh.

After the search is completed, the candidates move forward and need to draw lots to decide where their cubicle will be.

Yu Xinmei had taken measures early on to prevent the compartment note she had tampered with from being touched by ordinary people, until she met Zheng Yiming.

After a long wait, it was finally the timid Zheng Yiming's turn to step forward and hand over the paperwork with both hands.

The official in charge of the scene sat behind the table, took the document handed over by the messenger, opened it, looked at it, and nodded.

"Search!"

The officer in front of Zheng Yiming had a serious look on his face. When he saw Zheng Yiming's somewhat subservient look, he immediately showed disdain. Not many of these so-called scholars were men, and he felt inexplicably uncomfortable looking at the one in front of him.

"Raise your hands! Untie your belt!" "Turn around!"

Zheng Yiming complied with everything he asked. The official beat him with a wooden stick, then smashed all the cakes he was carrying in his bag, opened the kettle and looked at it. Shaking it, the tea spilled out.

"Alright, alright."

The official on the other hand urged, this was obviously a long time, and the official snorted coldly.

"Let's go forward and draw lots!"

"Yes, thank you very much!"

Zheng Yiming tied up his clothes, looked at the packed luggage on one side, and stepped forward to grab a note from what looked like a larger bamboo Go box.

On the roof over there, Yu Xinmei gritted her teeth slightly. She was so angry that she almost made a move several times, but she finally held it back. At this moment, she finally stretched out her hand, which was exactly the moment Zheng Yiming grabbed the note.

"Meow~~" The cat turned around and meowed, as if it had noticed that the woman next to her was tampering with her. Yu Xinmei smiled at the cat and put her hand in front of her lips.

"Shh~~"

Zheng Yiming over there took out the note and opened it on the spot. The official read it and reported it.

"C number 12!"

After shouting, there was a clerk next to him who wrote Zheng Yiming's name on the note to prevent him from being replaced.

"Enter!"

Zheng Yiming took the note and cupped his hands to both sides, walked in with his luggage, and at the same time wiped the sweat on his forehead with his sleeves. Even though he had done this once, he was still very nervous the second time.

There were also officials in the Gongyuan, but they didn't care about the candidates who came in. Zheng Yiming found the exact location by himself, then spread the note on the corner of the seat. He was relieved when he actually sat in.

Not long after, that is, two quarters of an hour later, all the candidates had arrived.

Zheng Yiming sat in his seat, anxiously waiting for the exam questions to be announced. The official who had just made things difficult for him walked by outside and checked the notes on the seats one by one. Zheng Yiming lowered his head slightly and did not dare to look at him.

"Humph!"

The official snorted coldly, read the note and left.

Finally, the most difficult moment passed, and the test questions were finally revealed. They were unexpected and reasonable questions. They had basic skills in writing classics, but they also needed to be combined with the theme and quoted from classics to write political commentaries.

Zheng Yiming was a little unable to calm down at first. He just spread out the paper and meditated hard. Then a vague fragrance came and calmed him down unconsciously. Gradually, he became more thoughtful and active. He had a theme in his mind and started writing steadily. When I got up, even my handwriting was much more beautiful than before.

Time continued to pass. Zheng Yiming ate the mashed cakes and drank the already cold tea. The pen in his hand almost never stopped. All the things he learned in the past were used today. When he wrote down his feelings, he felt confident. The corners of his mouth could not help but raise slightly.

After finishing the article and checking it several times, Zheng Yiming realized that it was still early and the examiner had not even urged him during the break, which meant that less than an hour and a half had passed.

Of course, Zheng Yiming did not dare to hand in his papers and leave the exam early, so he had to pretend. It was not until the sun set in the afternoon and the Gongyuan gong sounded that he handed in his papers and left like other candidates.

Yu Xinmei had been waiting outside for as long as the Gongyuan examination. When she saw the relaxed look on Zheng Yiming's face among the Gongyuan students who came out, she felt relieved and subconsciously looked around, but the cat had already left. .

Zheng Yiming was indeed very relaxed and happy. He felt that he would do well this time and might have a chance to rank high. He was also calm and confident when greeting other candidates.

True to that sentence, strength is the foundation of confidence.

However, Zheng Yiming was short of money and refused the invitation of some Confucian scholars to go drinking and having fun together. He was walking back to the inn alone. When he passed the corner of the street, his attention was attracted by something.

At the corner of Gongyuan Street, a ragged little beggar was huddled in the corner, shivering.

Although it is autumn now, it is not cold yet, and it is even a little hot today. Maybe I am sick.

People were coming and going on the street, but apparently no one paid attention to a little beggar, including the two big beggars next to him.

Zheng Yiming couldn't help but stopped. He approached the little beggar. The broken bowl was empty. After thinking for a moment, he took out two copper plates from his body and put them in. One of them was a five-cent copper coin, which was not a small thing for Zheng Yiming. The number is up.

"Ding bell~" The copper plate went into the bowl. Before the little beggar could react, a big beggar rushed out from beside him and grabbed the copper coins.

"Alas! Why are you like this? I gave this to him!"

"Hey, sir, don't waste it on him. He is seriously ill. He can't eat, drink or live. Hehehehe."

"Then give me the money back!"

After hearing what the scholar said, the beggar stood up and left without any intention of paying back the money. The other beggar also stood up and left, as if he was afraid of being used.

Zheng Yiming frowned, hesitated and took out the dried lotus leaves from his luggage. Inside were the leftover cake crumbs he had eaten. He poured the cakes inside the dried lotus leaves into the broken bowl.

"I'm also short of money. You can take this cake and eat it."

The little beggar seemed to have some reaction at this moment. His head was very messy and long, covering half of his body. When he looked up, Zheng Yiming realized that he was really naked and skinny.

"Thank you, thank you."

The little beggar said this, curled up to get the broken pancakes, stuffed them into his mouth bit by bit, and then grabbed a handful and stuffed them into his mouth hard.

"Slow down, slow down. There is still water."

Zheng Yiming took out the kettle and poured water into the broken bowl. The little beggar grabbed the bowl and drank. After finishing the drink, he looked at Zheng Yiming, and he had no choice but to pour more water.

After all the water was poured out, the little beggar just hugged himself there and shivered. It seemed that the only thing that could keep him warm was his hair.

Zheng Yiming looked around and saw why the people in Pingzhou were so indifferent. If he were in Xiahe County, it seemed that no one would lend a helping hand to a beggar.
But Zheng Yiming used to be the kind of person who was helped by others. Now he really couldn't bear it, so he unpacked his bag again, took out a copper plate from a book, which was still a five-cent copper coin, and stuffed it into the little beggar's hand. in hand.

"Don't let others see it! Take it and finish the hot noodles!"

When the little beggar took the copper coins, he also stared blankly at the open book. There was also a note on it, which read "C character 12 Zheng Yiming".

Zheng Yiming looked at the little beggar and looked down at the book in confusion. Could it be that this little beggar still knew how to read?

"Thank you, thank you, my benefactor."

"What's the benefactor? Alas!"

Zheng Yiming threw away the ridiculous thoughts in his mind, sighed, and finally left.

(End of this chapter)