Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Chapter 545 The villain is like a ghost
Feng Yuan teased: "Since Mr. Hou has learned it, why not comment on these two solved problems?"

Jia Cong glared at him and said, "Fat Feng, my father-in-law is here, how can I allow you to be so arrogant." After saying this, Baba looked at Lin Ruhai.

All the officials laughed, for the most talented man in the world could only know poetry and poetry.

Lin Ruhai said with a smile: "Sages value practical learning, and those in Dunlun have a profound understanding of it. What is called the study of Zhengyan, only complete ethics is sufficient for this study.

Although these two breakthroughs can be ranked on the apricot list, I think they are still not as good as they are. The first one is to break the topic. Although the meaning is good, it is a bit shallow after all. It is the way of a sage to practice, and it is not the intention of a sage.

The word "deep Xu" only praises his actions but does not explain his ways. The second half of the sentence is acceptable, but the first half is a bit cumbersome, and the distinction between "not learned" and "learned" is not fully explained. "

Everyone nodded in agreement, Tan Hwa Lang was extraordinary and hit the nail on the head.

Jiang Feng twisted his beard and said with a smile: "As Brother Hai said, it's absolutely true. How about I say, 'The Holy Sect values ​​practical learning, not to mention learning beyond the basics'?"

"What a breakthrough!" Everyone clapped their hands and praised, "Xiang Xiang's sword is still young."

Lin Ruhai also nodded and said with a smile: "Xiang Jiang broke the title, his spirit is like the sky, his energy is like a rainbow, he refines with super heart, and has profound skills in cutting down, I will bow down to him."

Jiang Feng waved his hands modestly, and while everyone was complimenting him, they suddenly heard the clerk at the door coming to report.

"My lords, some scholars are crying loudly and clamoring to go out."

"What happened?" Jiang Feng said calmly.

He has been in the examination room for a long time and knows that there are many strange things happening in the room, but he doesn't take it seriously.

"It said the pen I brought was damaged."

The officials shook their heads and said with a smile: "This boy is so careless that he deserves to suffer this calamity. Tell him not to make any noise. Anyone who violates this will be taken down."

"Yes."

Jia Cong was very curious about the scientific examination and said with a smile: "Wait a minute, I'll go take a look."

Feng Yuan was bored and said, "I'll go take a look too."

At that moment, several fellow examiners, censors, etc. accompanied the two of them out of the inner hall. In front of the No. 23 room of the "Jian" trumpet, they saw the scholar kneeling on the ground crying, and two trumpeters next to him. Watch.

"Shut up, my lords are here." The trumpeter kicked him hurriedly.

Seeing many examiners coming over, the scholar wiped his tears. He was shocked and frightened, and kowtowed to apologize.

"Get up and talk." Jia Cong raised his hand and said.

The scholar stood up tremblingly and stood aside, waiting for his resignation.

"Why are you crying and disrupting the examination room?" Jia Cong asked.

"My lord, the student just got the test questions and was about to write, but he found that all the brushes he carried in the test basket were empty, so he became incontinent. Please forgive me." After the scholar finished speaking, he started to cry again.

Feng Yuan glared at him and said: "Idiot, you guys who are eating, don't you know that you should check carefully beforehand? What's the use of crying now?"

The candidate lowered his head, not daring to tell the difference, and just wiped away tears silently.

Jia Cong walked over, took the exam card on the table and looked at it. Wu Xiaolin, a student from Jiangning County, Jinling Prefecture, nationality, ranked 51st in the Yimao Section of the Township Examination.

Oh, we are still from the same country. And quite young, in his early twenties.

Jia Cong couldn't help but feel a little love for talents. I did a small favor for him, but it can make him feel grateful for a lifetime. It may be useful in the future. It is really a benefit at no cost.

Because he turned his eyes slightly and looked at his answer sheet, there was indeed not a word written on it. Only a bright red "check mark" was stamped on the answer sheet, indicating that the person just now had been reviewed again by the supervisor and his identity was correct.

"Bring me the pen and see." Jia Cong said.

"Please take a look, sir." Wu Xiaolin hurriedly presented a brush.

Jia Cong saw that he had prepared so many pens, and it could be said that he was not fully prepared, but there must be a reason why something like this happened.

Because I took one and opened the cap of the pen, I saw that it was empty, half of the wolf was not seen, only a hollow pen barrel was left.

Um? Jia Cong, Feng Yuan and others looked at each other a little strangely. They took the other seven or eight brushes and saw that they were all ordinary.

This is obviously not an accident, but man-made.

"Why is this?" Jia Cong asked.

Wu Xiaolin cried: "The student checked the test materials carefully last night before going to bed. I got up early this morning to prepare for the test, and only then did I find that the pen was completely destroyed. I really don't know what happened."

Feng Yuan was well aware of the disadvantages of the examination room and asked: "Did you live alone last night, or did you share a room with others?"

"During these days in Beijing, the student will share a room with a candidate from the same year and from the same hometown." Wu Xiaolin said.

Feng Yuan sneered and said: "How vicious! He uses such despicable methods to ruin a bad person's future."

Wu Xiaolin lost her voice and said: "My lord, are you saying that my brother betrayed me back then? This is impossible. I walked with him all the way and had a close relationship with him. How could he do such a thing?"

Jia Cong said: "People's hearts are sinister. What do you know? Who is your name in the same year?"

"Sun Kang."

"Come here. Go to Sun Kang and tell him that Wu Xiaolin's pen from the same year was damaged. Ask him if he would like to lend two for use. Don't mention the rest."

Jia Cong gave the order, then looked at Wu Xiaolin and said, "If he wants to borrow it, that's fine. If he doesn't want to borrow it, then he's just asking for it."

Wu Xiaolin cupped her hands and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Brother Sun will definitely lend it to me."

Jia Cong nodded and lectured: "You are such a big man, why do you only cry when something happens? There are so many candidates around, wouldn't you ask them to borrow two for use?"

Wu Xiaolin bowed in shock and said: "Student, I am ashamed. Because all the senior brothers have no pen left, they cry in panic and make the adults laugh."

Jia Cong glanced at him, and the candidates in the same row quickly lowered their heads, not daring to look at him.

"Human nature is so despicable." Jia Cong sneered.

Feng Yuan smiled and said: "This is human nature. How many people are selfless in their hearts?" With fewer competitors, his chances of getting on the list are greater. All the candidates have this idea, who will lend him a pen.

Jia Cong said: "Brother Zhengfang, do you think that if Confucius and Mencius were also taking the exam in this subject, would they lend it out?"

Feng Yuan smiled and said: "Confucius said: If you see righteousness and do not do it, you have no courage. Mencius said: Those who sacrifice their lives for righteousness. Where righteousness lies, they will naturally borrow it."

Jia Cong pointed his hand and said with a sneer: "It can be seen that these idiots have studied hard for many years in vain. They don't understand such simple principles of life, and they dare to call themselves disciples of saints."

Feng Yuandao: "Brother, please calm down. The word justice and profit are beyond their reach. Just let them go."

Jia Cong snorted. He hated despicable people the most in his life, but now he was only in charge of supervision and not admission. Otherwise, he would have to expel all the candidates in this row before he could be satisfied. "

"Sir, the candidate Sun Kang said that he has no extra pens to lend out." The clerk sent by Jia Cong came back to report.

Wu Xiaolin was shocked, her face turned pale, and she was stunned. She never expected that her companion who was considered a close friend would be so stingy.

Jia Cong's eyes turned cold, and just as he was about to order Sun Kang to be taken down, Feng Yuan pulled his sleeve and whispered: "There is no solid evidence about the darkroom incident."

Jia Cong frowned slightly and nodded slowly. Logically speaking, it was impossible for Wu Xiaolin to frame Sun Kang in this way, but objectively this possibility did exist.

What's more, there is no communication between the inside and outside now. When we open the door for investigation in three days, I am afraid that the traces in the inn will have been cleaned up.

Sun Kang was also a judge, so he could not arrest and torture at will, and it would be troublesome to investigate.

"That's all, give him two pens," Jia Cong said.

All the officials in the examination room looked at each other in embarrassment, but they did not dare to object openly.

Feng Yuan knew that Jia Cong did not understand the rules of the scientific examination, so he whispered: "The examiner must not teach or receive privately from the candidates. This is an iron rule.

If the candidates have any inconvenience, it is okay to help each other. If no one is willing to lend him a pen, he will have no choice but to give up the subject. "

Wu Xiaolin's face turned pale, and she had obviously thought of the outcome. Even her hometown friends wouldn't lend it to her. Who else would be willing to lend it to her?
The candidates on the left and right snickered in their hearts. It’s not our fault. You are from the same hometown and the same year and you didn’t borrow it. Why should we borrow it from you if we are not relatives?

Jia Cong said: "Since the rules are like this, forget it. Come and find a candidate named Jia Fang. Tell him it was me and ask him to lend two pens to Wu Xiaolin."

"Yes." The clerk ran away.

"Thank you, Lord, for your grace." Wu Xiaolin bowed her head and cried.

"I am selecting talents for the country, and I will give you some convenience within the rules. It's just my job, what's the value?" Jia Cong waved his hand and turned around to leave.

Wu Xiaolin burst into tears of gratitude, looked at Jia Cong's back and kowtowed a few more times.

"Brother Zhengfang..." Jia Cong whispered.

"I understand what I mean, Sun Kang. It's just a matter of a few clicks to depose him in this department. There's no need to speak." Feng Yuan laughed in a low voice.

Jia Cong said happily: "Brother Zhengfang knows me."

"Anyone who commits unjust acts will be punished by his own death. I will treat him as such." Feng Yuan said with a smile.

"good."

The fate of Sun Kang was decided by two big men in the examination room.

Jia Cong stayed in Gongyuan for three days and experienced a series of strange things. For example, the examinee died of a sudden illness and was not allowed to be carried out from the door, but was thrown from the wall; the examinee became insane and wanted to burn himself with fire, etc. The strictness gave me a deeper understanding.

Until the evening of the third day, Jia Cong was supervising the examiner in the Zhigong Hall to collect the candidates' test papers one by one. He thought that they would seal the papers directly, but he did not expect that there was another step before that - "violating the papers".

That is, the examinee will conduct a preliminary inspection of the test paper. If there are any irregularities such as overshooting, blanking, omissions, soiling, digging, etc., he will be dismissed directly. He will not be allowed to participate in the next two sessions, and will write on the test paper with a blue pen. Reason for deposing.

Skipping means not writing the answers in the order on the answer sheet, skipping one or several pages when answering.

If you drag Bai, you will hand over the blank paper.

Missing something, that is, missing a few words, or not filling in the blanks on the question paper as required.

A dirty roll means that the surface of the roll is stained, even if there is just a drop of ink, a drop of lamp oil, or any alteration, it is considered a violation.

Cutting out means trimming and splicing the answer sheet to correct typos.

Just by being judged, almost one-twentieth of the people would be deposed.

Jia Cong was amazed on the side. People who can pass the imperial examination, let alone their literary talent, are at least very careful and steady people, so that the examination process can be flawless.

After the examiner took back the test paper, he first reported the violation and expulsion to Lin Ruhai, then brought a list over and asked Jia Cong to sign it.

"What is this?" Jia Cong was stunned.

"My lord, these are the names of the candidates who were dismissed due to violations of the rules of the examination just now. They will be announced outside the Gongyuan Courtyard later. They are also called the 'Purple List' or the 'Blue List'" said the official who received the examination.

Jia Cong smiled and said: "I only know about Jin Bang, Xing Bang and Gui Bang."

The examiner smiled and said: "That's the list that everyone wants to be on, but no one wants to be on the purple list. The order is signed by the examination room's promotion officer." After saying that, he handed over a pen dipped in purple ink. No wonder it was called Purple list.

Jia Cong took the pen and signed, and then asked Wen Zhen to use his seal.

"Thank you, sir."

"Anything else?"

"Sir, it's gone. The first scene is over successfully."

"Okay." Jia Cong stretched and stood up, and said, "Old Wen, you can keep an eye on the next two games. I'm going to have a rest at home."

"Yes, sir, don't worry. I have to be careful in my humble position."

Jia Cong was already impatient and ran away in a hurry. No wonder the scholar wants to add fragrance to his red sleeves. Who can stand facing a group of big men every day?

(End of this chapter)