For a county, the annual county examination is the top priority.
After the students got the protection of the scholar-in-law and got married with each other, they handed over the documents and materials to the county government, waiting for the county examination to come.
The county government also produced an announcement listing the candidates for this year's county examination.
And each county admits ten scholars each year, and the number of applicants is usually two to three hundred. The competition is unimaginably fierce.
The announcement lists the personnel to understand the effect of knowing yourself and the enemy, and at the same time calculate your own pass rate this year. Therefore, every year when the yamen issues the announcement, there are a large number of scholars onlookers.
Chen Guhong, Wang Song's classmates, Qian Fei, and Fei Yuan are this year's students. The two met and came to watch the notice.
Both of them are in their twenties. If they fail the exam, they will have to take the exam again at most, and they will have to give up the route of fame and seek a living. They are very concerned about this year's list of children.
"There are only 180 people this year." Qian Fei was pleasantly surprised when he saw the list.
"And there are many new faces, some of them are only twelve or thirteen years old, newborn calves. But we are old children, rich in experience, and have opportunities."
Fei Yuan was also pleasantly surprised.
The two couldn't help feeling joyful, and it would be great if they passed the exam as a scholar. Just as he was overjoyed, Qian Fei suddenly caught a glimpse of a name that was familiar but would never appear on this list.
"Chen Guhong?!"
Qian Fei was shocked.
"How is it possible? He was suppressed by the Wu family. No one would protect him, let alone make friends with him. The county magistrate also had to make things difficult for him. Anyone can appear on this list, but he is impossible. You must be dazzled. " Fei Yuan laughed.
"Really, look."
Qian Fei spoke in a hurry.
"Impossible." Fei Yuan still shook his head, but when he looked at the list carefully, he couldn't believe it. Repeatedly said: "Impossible, impossible."
Then a wave of anxiety emerged.
The two of them did not get along with Chen Guhong at that time, one was because of pressure from the Wu family, and the other was that Chen Guhong was unlikely to become a scholar and belonged to a person with no future.
But now that this is impossible, people who are destined to have no future actually appear on the list.
Although you have to pass the test, you will understand. But if Chen Guhong got a scholar, he would become the husband of a scholar. Even if they have become scholar-officials, it may be extremely embarrassing to meet in the future.
Moreover, he has lived for decades, thirty years in Hedong, thirty years in Hexi, and he is not allowed to ask him in the future.
Qian Fei and Fei Yuan looked at each other, feeling uneasy in their hearts.
Wu Xiude was also disturbed. During these days, Wu Xiude had gone to the county government several times to meet Ma Zhong. As a result, the door was shut every time, and even if someone was sent to deliver the letter, there was no return.
When things go wrong, there must be demons, how can Wu Xiude feel uneasy
This day was the day when the notice was issued, so Wu Xiude dispatched his servants to check it out early, and Chen Guhong was impressively on the list. Wu Xiude became more and more uneasy, even more confused.
"Ma Zhong and I are friends. My Wu family has been a dignitary for hundreds of years, and I have more connections in the court. Why did he, Ma Zhong, betray me?"
Wu Xiude recalled that day when Chen Guhong came to the door and bet against him. Thinking, "If Chen Guhong really becomes a scholar, then what's my face? Besides, he is the tyrannical swordsman who beheaded Ah Kun. Not only is his face in danger, but his life may also be in danger."
Thinking of this, Wu Xiude couldn't sit still. Called the slaves and prepared the sedan chair, and went out.
When they came to the county government office, Wu Xiude stepped forward and asked the concierge in a low voice. "Is the old man free?"
The concierge received Ma Zhong's order, and said calmly: "Master Wu, please excuse me, the elder is on business and has no time to see guests."
Wu Xiude was furious, you little concierge, you actually talk to me in this tone? But if you want something from others, you have to bow your head. Wu Xiude took out an ingot of gold from his sleeve, handed it to the doorman and said, "Please inform me."
The concierge looked at this ingot of gold with envy, but it was easy to lose his job in violation of the county magistrate's order. Maybe he would go to jail, so the porter struggled a bit, then flatly refused: "Master Wu, I'm sorry, I don't accept bribes."
"Damn!" Wu Xiude cursed in his heart, but faced with such a concierge who didn't allow anyone to enter, he couldn't do anything, so he could only get on the sedan chair and go back to Wu's house in dismay.
"What should we do now?" Youdao said that Feng Shui took turns, and Wu Xiude set up three major killer moves to deal with Chen Guhong with a net of heaven and earth.
At this moment, there is nothing to do. When I get home, I can't swallow my food, and I can't sleep at night.
In just ten days, Wu Xiude's oily face became dry and thin. A pair of deeply sunken eye sockets, and full of dark circles, is really helpless.
In this case, the county test began.
The sun was shining brightly this day, and the palace was extremely lively. Concerning the future of the young master and the younger brother, Chen Xiuxiu and Yuanyuan got up early together and made a hearty breakfast first.
Immediately prepare the Four Treasures of the Study and put them in the examination basket. Fearing that Chen Guhong would be hungry in the examination room, he even prepared a few eggs.
After eating, Yuanyuan tidied up Chen Guhong's clothes, and Chen Xiuxiu couldn't help cheering up: "Little brother, don't be nervous, it doesn't matter if you don't pass the exam, at worst, go sell food with your brother-in-law."
But at that time, Chen Guhong got money from Brother Kun, Tian Zhai, and didn't tell Chen Xiuxiu. He especially despised money and wealth. At that time, Chen Xiuxiu and Wang Zhengzheng were injured, and Chen Guhong forgot about it.
Later, I thought, when I pass the examination as a scholar, I will surprise my sister together. Therefore, Chen Xiuxiu said this.
The concern of the family is full of warmth. Chen Guhong was not at all impatient, and with a smile on his face, he said: "I know, sister, don't worry, I won't be nervous."
After hearing Chen Guhong's words, Chen Xiuxiu immediately showed a smile.
After tirelessly exhorting a few words, Chen Guhong went out, Yuanyuan kept the test basket and followed behind Chen Guhong step by step.
The county examination is a big event, and there is a special examination room.
When we arrived at the entrance of the examination room, there was a sea of people.
"Gu Hong." Wang Song arrived one step earlier, followed by three house slaves and a maidservant, full of style. Seeing Chen Guhong, he smiled and shouted.
"Brother Wang." Chen Guhong stepped forward and greeted him.
At the same time, Ma Nong, Ma Geng's two younger brothers, and Ma Zhengde all greeted Chen Guhong. Of course, many classmates are also indispensable.
The students were all extremely embarrassed when they saw Chen Guhong, some looked away, some blushed and were ashamed. Chen Guhong had a calm demeanor, of course he didn't go up warmly, he just nodded his head as a greeting.
"Boom boom boom!"
Not long after, the gong sounded. The closed door of the county examination room was opened, and a yamen servant came out from inside to greet the candidates to enter.
The county examination officially began.