On this day, snow was still falling in Yingtian City, which was extremely magnificent. Only a silver-white color remained between the sky and the earth, just like a giant city of ice and snow.
At about the hour of Mao, Yingtian City dispatched a number of yamen runners and servants to decorate the area from Jiangnan Examination Hall to Confucius Temple with lights and colorful lanterns. The bright red lanterns and the silver-white snow formed a sharp contrast.
On this day, the students and scholars in the inn put on brand new student uniforms, put on the most pious expressions, knelt down and burned incense in the direction of the Confucius Temple.
Zhu Ping'an and Fatty Xue Chi were sitting at a table near the window in the inn's lobby, drinking rice porridge and eating side dishes. Zhu Ping'an looked calm and composed, eating very happily, but the fat man next to him was a little different. While eating, the fat man glanced at the door from time to time, and there were some bloodshot eyes. It seemed that he had a bad sleep last night.
The lobby of the inn was now full of students. Many of them were like fat men, looking towards the door from time to time, with red eyes like hungry wolves.
This day is the day when the results of the provincial examination are announced.
The provincial examination was different from the examination for students with academic qualifications. According to convention, the results of the provincial examination would be announced by yamen runners who would first go to inns and other places where students were staying to announce the good news. After all the new successful candidates had been announced, the complete list would be posted in front of the Jiangnan Examination Hall.
There was no need to worry about the officers not being able to find the way, as all students had registered their temporary residence information, place of origin, etc. with the government office in advance before taking the exam.
"The messengers of good news are out!"
At about noon, an excited shout was heard outside.
Then everyone in the lobby of the inn excitedly leaned out of the door, and Fatty Xue Chi almost flew off his chair.
How can a golden fish stay in a pond? Once it encounters wind and rain, it turns into a dragon.
Everyone dreams of passing the imperial examination and becoming a juren. Once you become a juren, things are completely different. It is another world called power.
Time seemed to pass very slowly. The students in the hall waited and waited, and it felt like they had been waiting for tens of thousands of years, but they had not heard any good news.
finally
"Good news on the provincial examination! Congratulations..."
Everyone in the lobby looked towards the door impatiently. Some even left their tables and chairs and ran towards the door.
However, everyone only saw a yamen runner holding a red scroll rushing past the door of the inn and walking towards another inn.
"well... ... "
A sigh was heard in the inn.
When the sighs of the crowd had not yet completely left their lips, another clear and loud voice of good news came straight to the lobby of the inn.
"Good news from the provincial examination! Congratulations to Mr. Xue Chi from Fengyang Prefecture for passing the provincial examination and ranking 35th..."
A messenger with good news rushed into the hall, shouting all the way.
Hearing this, Xue Chi, the fat man sitting opposite Zhu Pingan, stood up with a roar, and was so excited that he could hardly control himself. He shouted, "I won... Wait. What the hell, did you say the second place?"
The fat man said only two of the three words "I've been successful" and then stopped. His face, which was originally flushed, turned black and he grabbed the officer who brought the good news and shook them together.
"Yes, on the second list." The officer who brought the good news nodded.
After getting the confirmation, the fat man let go of the officer, his fat face almost crying, "You're not going to report for the deputy list! This is the last one on the deputy list."
The deputy list is an additional list in the imperial examination, also known as the reserve list. The deputy list of the provincial examination began in the fifth year of Jiajing in this dynasty. Those who are on the deputy list are not the successful candidates. Instead, they have obtained the qualification to continue the provincial examination. They do not need to take the imperial examination again, but can directly participate in the next provincial examination. There are not many places for this, and on average, one deputy list is selected for every five candidates on the main list.
However, and, eggs.
Everyone in the hall understood the fat man's excitement. Even if he didn't pass the imperial examination, passing the deputy list was pretty good, at least it was an honor. Everyone in the hall congratulated the fat man.
After a moment of loss, the fat man immediately figured it out, took out some change and gave it to the person who brought the good news, then sat opposite Zhu Ping'an and started to brag about himself.
"Brother Zhu, although I didn't pass the imperial examination, but being on the second list is also amazing. This is called the tribute list. Well, I can go to the Imperial College in the capital, which is much better than my father."
The fat man had a very strong inner healing ability, and he suddenly came to his senses. He was a person who got a place in the provincial examination by giving gifts through the back door, but he passed the examination on the second list. This was much better than those who took the provincial examination legitimately, especially his father, who could not catch up with him even if he flattered him.
"Well, not bad." Zhu Ping'an nodded. There was a sentence "I was surprised" at the end that he didn't say. It was indeed beyond Zhu Ping'an's expectation. Just based on the Fatty's article "My Sister, I Think About It", this result was unexpected. I guess the Fatty's other articles must have many outstanding points.
After hearing what Zhu Ping'an said, the fat man felt a little complacent.
In the following time, in addition to the fat man, two other people in the lobby of the inn also received the good news of the deputy list. They looked at each other with great resonance and made an appointment to drink together in the future.
"It's time to be on the list now." Everyone in the inn whispered to each other and looked outside the door.
finally
The sound of horse hooves shattered the hearts of the people who had been waiting for so long. Two strong horses neighed and stopped at the door of the inn. Two yamen runners dismounted, shouted the good news of the provincial examination, and ran straight to the inn.
"Good news on the provincial examination. Congratulations to Mr. Zhu Ping'an of Anqing Prefecture for passing the provincial examination and ranking 135th."
No. 135
The total number of people admitted to the entire Nanzhili provincial examination was one hundred and thirty-five, and Zhu Ping'an ranked one hundred and thirty-fifth, which meant he was the last on the admission list.
To be honest, this ranking was really beyond Zhu Ping'an's expectations. He felt that he shouldn't be at the last place.
However, if you think about it, there are more than 10,000 students taking the provincial examination, and it is already very good for me to pass. I am the last one, haha, it seems that I need to continue to work hard and work harder.
Don't underestimate the heroes of the world.
Zhu Ping'an quickly adjusted his mood, took out the reward money he had prepared long ago, and distributed it to the two officers who brought the good news.
The two officers took it and touched it. It was a heavy string of copper coins, which seemed to be quite a lot. They happily said some words of congratulations to Zhu Ping'an, then went back to report with a smile.
Zhu Ping'an passed the imperial examination and became a juren last in the exam. People in the inn were extremely envious of him. How could this young man be so lucky? He was the last one on the list. His luck must have been extremely good.
Besides envy, they are more jealous. If we are luckier, we can do it too.
"Brother Zhu, we are in the same boat. You are the last on the main list, and I am the last on the secondary list." The fat man said with a bitter face, but changed his words halfway through, "No, you have passed the exam!"
"It's only one year early or late. Brother Xue got on the second place list today. This is a special examination. According to the rental system, next year will be another provincial examination. Brother Xue, if you calm down and prepare for it, you will definitely be on the top of the list next year." Zhu Ping'an comforted the fat man.
"That's right. Without you guys as competitors, I would be ranked 35th. Hahahaha. Next time, we still have to admit 135th place. Then, it would be easy for me to pass the exam."
When the fat man heard this, his bitter face suddenly became cheerful and his voice was full of joy.
Indeed, every cloud has a silver lining.
Fatty's idea makes sense. In next year's normal provincial examination, Fatty's chances are really great. (To be continued.)