I'm in the Red Mansion

Chapter 68 County Examination (Part )

After riding for a few laps, Jia Cong got off the horse and said to Zhao Shicheng:
"Master, I am going to take part in this year's boy's exam. I will take the county exam next month."

"So I won't come here until the county exam is over, so I'll let Master know in advance."

Hearing Jia Cong's words, Zhao Shicheng couldn't help but frown and said, "You are the descendant of a military family. It's enough for you to know a few words and read a few military books."

"Fame and fortune can only be gained through riding horses. What kind of imperial examination are you taking? You will bring disgrace to the reputation of your Jia family ancestors."

"Forget it, forget it, just go and take the exam. If you fail, just give up on it."

Jia Cong's face turned black after hearing this. I haven't even taken the exam yet, and you're cursing me for not passing it, right?
You probably don’t know this, but I’m also good at studying.

At this time, Liu Xianglian came over and put his arm around Jia Cong's shoulders, grinning and saying, "Junior brother, just go through the motions, and come back to practice martial arts after you finish the exam!"

Feng Ziying also nodded and said, "Little Junior Brother, Second Junior Brother is right. You have amazing talent in martial arts. Why waste your time studying?"

Jia Cong took a deep breath and said, "My two senior brothers, your advice is valuable and I will keep it in mind. We will meet after the county exam."

After leaving Zhao's house, Jia Cong went back to continue studying hard.

After going to the academy the next day, Jia Dairu said to Jia Cong, "Brother Cong, I have taken care of the registration and guarantee matters for you. You don't have to worry about anything else."

"There are only a few days left before the county exam. During this period, you must work hard and strive to pass the county exam in one go."

Jia Cong bowed and said, "Yes, Master."

Next, Jia Dairu took out the exercises he had prepared during the New Year to simulate the county examination and asked Jia Cong to do them.

……

Time passed day by day, and soon it was the seventh day of February.

The county examination officially began on the eighth day of February, and Jia Cong had already visited the examination room in advance.

Now everything is ready, just waiting for the exam to begin.

That night, Lin Daiyu asked Zijuan to bring her a talisman.

It is said that he obtained it from a temple and it is very effective. If he wears it on his body, he will definitely pass the county examination.

Jia Cong couldn't help but laugh after hearing this.

I didn't expect Lin Daiyu to be so superstitious and actually believe in this thing.

However, it would be a shame to waste her kindness, so Jia Cong put it on immediately.

That night, Jia Cong packed the things he would take to the next day's exam and went to bed early.

On the second day, early in the morning at the hour of Yin, a signal cannon was fired in the examination room, known as the first cannon, to remind the candidates to get ready.

Jia Cong quickly got up from the bed and began to wash and dress with Qingwen's help.

At this time, Aunt Mei, Cai'er, Hongxiu and Qingwen had already gotten up and were preparing meals for him.

I guess they didn't sleep much that night.

After Jia Cong finished washing up, they hurriedly brought him breakfast and served him.

After finishing the meal, Aunt Mei couldn't help but say, "Brother Cong, check carefully and don't forget to bring anything. If you remember it when you get to the examination room, it will be too late."

"You've studied hard and put in a lot of effort. I've seen it all. You'll definitely be able to overcome all obstacles in this exam and get the top spot in the high school list!"

Jia Cong nodded and said, "Yes, mother, I understand. I will check it again."

Next, Jia Cong carefully checked the things in the examination bag again to make sure he had not forgotten anything.

Then, Jia Cong said goodbye to Aunt Mei and others and walked to the examination room.

Speaking of which, Jia Cong is indeed a little-known figure. When Jia Cong is going to take part in the county examination, in addition to the people in their courtyard, there are also Sanchun, Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai.

In the entire Rongguo Mansion, no one else was aware of it.

Aunt Mei and others accompanied him to the gate of the mansion, and only returned after Jia Cong disappeared around the corner.

At this time, the second cannon sounded in the examination room, reminding the candidates to leave home and rush to the examination room. Jia Cong, now with martial arts skills, did not feel any difficulty in walking.

Less than half an hour later, he arrived outside the examination room.

Jia Cong arrived a little early and the examination room had not yet opened.

There were a few candidates arriving at the scene.

As time goes by, more and more candidates come.

Soon, the third cannon was fired at the entrance of the examination room. This was a reminder to the candidates that the door of the examination room would open soon and they would enter together after the door opened.

At this time, the chief examiner, dressed in official uniform, led the instructors and students to the scene to call the roll.

The student whose name was called came forward to submit the mutual marriage confession form and then received the answer sheet.

The answer sheet is called "test paper" or "paper", which is a folded book of thick paper with red lines printed on the inside. The name column on the cover needs to be filled in with Wen Tong.

After the test papers were distributed, the instructors and students on stipend were ordered to leave, leaving only the chief examiner and necessary examiners.

The examiner personally went to lock and seal the door, then returned to his seat and waited for the test questions to be announced.

The first day of the county examination consisted of two questions on the Four Books and one question on poetry.

The questions on the Four Books are also called the "head questions" or "first questions". Questions are taken from the main text of the Four Books and require explanation.

These two questions were not difficult at all for Jia Cong.

Of course, for the vast majority of candidates, it is not difficult.

After all, these two questions only rely on rote memorization.

If you can't even memorize this, you don't need to take the exam later.

Soon, Jia Cong finished answering these two questions.

Then, the third question was issued.

The third question is to write a regulated verse with five words and six rhymes, which is called the "full-length poem topic".

Jia Cong did not plagiarize this poem topic from later generations.

It is said that the emperor today values ​​literature, so why do you need to talk about the Han and Tang dynasties?

In this world, the proportion of fu-style poems in the imperial examinations is very low.

As long as you don't make any low-level mistakes, you usually won't get a very low score.

Well, the main reason is that Jia Cong doesn’t know many Qing Dynasty poems by heart, and he just didn’t come across a suitable poem topic this time…

The first day of the exam lasted until the evening.

After copying it in regular script, submit it together with the draft paper. The reason for submitting the draft paper is to avoid borrowing it from others, and it can also be used as a reference when reviewing the answers.

After completing the answers, submitting them to the clerk is called "handing in the paper", but the candidates cannot leave the examination room immediately.

You must wait until the number of people reaches forty or fifty, and the chief examiner will personally remove the seal on the door before you can leave. The chief examiner will then lock and seal it again.

Jia Cong answered quickly and the first exam was not too difficult, so he was one of the first candidates to hand in his paper.

After forty or fifty candidates handed in their papers, the examiner let them out.

At this point, the first county examination was completed.

After that, there will be three more county exams to be re-examined before the end.

The first exam results are usually released three to four days after the exam, which is called "issuance of results".

After the exam, Jia Cong walked back to the Jia family by himself.

Seeing Jia Cong coming back, Aunt Mei hurriedly asked, "Brother Cong, how did you do in the exam today? Are you confident that you will pass?"

(End of this chapter)