Chapter 29: Examination Hall – The First Step on the Road to Imperial Examination

Lin Guilan watched her son comforting her like a little adult and suddenly felt at ease. She had often heard others say how some candidates, with hair completely white, still came to take the Imperial Examination leaning on walking sticks. Even if her husband were the God of Literature descended to earth, it would be unreasonable to expect him to pass on his first attempt.

Although her husband loved reading and had talent, he wasn’t born into an official’s family. Everything had to be achieved through his own step-by-step efforts. If her husband became disheartened from failing the exam, she would simply do her best to comfort him.

After coming to this realization, Lin Guilan felt much more clear-headed. Although she thought the wontons weren’t as delicious as her own cooking, she quickly finished the entire bowl. After mother and son finished their wontons, Lin Guilan took Jiang Zhimiao to stroll around the market streets. The two bought some household items before returning to the inn.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qingshi had left with his bamboo basket before dawn. Years of studying by lamplight while moving from place to place to avoid detection, and Guilan’s daily sacrifices working from dawn to dusk to support him – all had been for this moment.

He had packed his things the previous day. There was the blanket prepared by Guilan, along with pastries she had made herself, marinated meat, and some rice in the bamboo basket. She had prepared the largest waterskin for him to drink from, plus the high-quality writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone she had specially purchased for his examination.

These writing implements weren’t cheap – far beyond what ordinary rural families like theirs could normally afford. He spent all day reading, neither farming the land nor earning a single grain of millet or rice. It was only through Guilan’s full support that he could embark on this Road to Imperial Examination.

Jiang Qingshi left very quietly, afraid of waking his wife and Miao Ge’er. Miao Ge’er lay on the bed sleeping soundly on his back, with faint drool trickling from the corner of his mouth. Jiang Qingshi felt warmth in his heart and reached out to poke Jiang Zhimiao’s round, bulging little belly. Jiang Zhimiao retracted his stomach slightly, his small hand waving unconsciously in his sleep.

Lin Guilan lay steadily as well, but after several years of marriage, Jiang Qingshi could tell she wasn’t actually asleep. Without mentioning it, he continued moving quietly out of the inn.

The inn Lin Guilan had chosen was well located, and Jiang Qingshi soon arrived at the examination hall. County government office attendants were already waiting in front of the examination hall to inspect what students brought with them. All of Jiang Qingshi’s equipment had been prepared by Lin Guilan herself. Being meticulous, she had even cut open the dry provisions she packed for him to prevent hiding cheating notes. Jiang Qingshi passed the search smoothly, then entered the main gate of the examination hall where he underwent a background check. Afterwards, he was guided to a spot where four other examinees were already waiting. Jiang Qingshi nodded to them, and all four returned slight nods in response.

Although this county exam was only the first step on the Road to Imperial Examination, candidates still needed to prove their native place in this county, pass a three-generation background check, and have a government-subsidized student as guarantor. This government-subsidized student would guarantee five candidates simultaneously, and these five had to write a mutual guarantee bond of five examinees – if anyone cheated, all five would be punished together.

The guarantor for Jiang Qingshi was Scholar Bu from the county town. Scholar Bu was something of a legend in their Jiangping County—he had passed the county exam in his teens, ranking first class, which earned him the title of government-subsidized student. At that time, Scholar Bu was riding high, and everyone assumed he would go on to become a Recommended man or something similar. Unexpectedly, he repeatedly failed subsequent exams and, now advanced in years, remained a government-subsidized student.

Eventually, Scholar Bu gave up on his ambitions and became a teaching benefactor for several wealthy families in the county, earning some silver to spend.

This year, Scholar Bu happened to have three students taking the county exam. Jiang Qingshi’s full sister, Jiang Yunxiu, had in-laws who were distantly related to Scholar Bu. Knowing her younger brother was to take the Imperial Examination for Children this year, Jiang Yunxiu sent someone to Scholar Bu with gifts, asking him to act as Jiang Qingshi’s guarantor. Scholar Bu had never even heard of Jiang Qingshi—a farmer who had never been formally taught by a tutor and had merely read a few books on his own. Taking the Imperial Examination for Children would just be a waste of silver.

But since relatives had come asking, he couldn’t very well refuse. He instructed Jiang Yunxiu to ensure Jiang Qingshi behaved properly and didn’t embarrass him by cheating during the exam.

Among the five candidates guaranteed by Scholar Bu, one was exceptionally wealthy. This person wore an azure brocade robe and had a piece of high-quality mutton fat white jade hanging from his waist. Surrounded by the others, he scrutinized Jiang Qingshi with a condescending air.

Jiang Qingshi thought to himself, This must be Scholar Bu’s prized student, Wei Fengling. He was considered “prized” not for any literary talent—but because Wei Fengling’s family ran an enormous business. Many said the Wei family was practically the wealthiest in Jiangping County. With such backing, even though Scholar Bu held the title of Scholar, he often fawned over Wei Fengling in subtle ways. Under the Wei family’s patronage, Scholar Bu could swagger through Jiangping County as he pleased.

Jiang Qingshi didn’t look too long. After all, they were all strangers, merely fellow examinees. He nodded to the other four and then stood to the side, waiting—his posture straight and poised, like a sturdy pine.

Wei Fengling, however, was studying Jiang Qingshi. He had heard that among those guaranteed with him this year was a farmer who already had a wife and children. He had expected a slovenly peasant, but when Jiang Qingshi entered, though dressed in a faded blue cloth garment, he was strikingly handsome and carried himself with noble bearing… Despite holding his head high, Wei Fengling found himself feeling inexplicably inferior in front of this farmer.

What a joke! How could I, the young master, feel inferior!

Impossible!

Wei Fengling straightened his posture even more, lifting his chin like a preening peacock. His usual sycophants, accustomed to flattering him, quickly positioned themselves around him, accentuating his presence.

But after striking his pose, Wei Fengling realized Jiang Qingshi wasn’t even looking at him. Jiang Qingshi appeared calm and detached, his gaze distant, already reviewing the knowledge he had memorized earlier.

Wei Fengling felt snubbed. He snorted coldly, a sudden irritation bubbling up at being ignored.

Before the exam began, the county magistrate arrived. Jiang Qingshi, being tall, got a clear look at the magistrate’s appearance. Wei Fengling watched the other candidates’ excited reactions to the magistrate and let out a faint snort of derision. This magistrate was on excellent terms with his father and frequently dined at their home—look at these country bumpkins, so easily impressed. The magistrate was merely a minor seventh-rank official, unlike him, Young Master Wei, who was destined for high office in the capital! Wei Fengling instinctively glanced toward Jiang Qingshi and noticed that he too had looked toward the magistrate but remained expressionless. Wei Fengling unconsciously nodded in approval.

Hmm… this fellow doesn’t seem like someone who’s never seen the world.

Wait, wait, wait! Why should he, the esteemed Young Master Wei, pay so much attention to some nameless peasant!

Jiang Qingshi, unaware of Wei Fengling’s internal turmoil, focused only on extracting useful information from the magistrate’s words. The scholar Bu Xiucai, who had vouched for them, was also present to confirm their identities. In the rush of the crowd, Jiang Qingshi noticed Bu Xiucai paying particular attention to Wei Fengling. Next came the roll call and distribution of answer sheets. A minor official led Jiang Qingshi to the examination hall. The first day’s county exam consisted of two questions from the Four Books and one poetry question. The Four Books questions were also called the first questions. Having practiced these at home, Jiang Qingshi felt the county exam was relatively straightforward and shouldn’t pose any problems.

Two bailiffs jointly held up a large wooden board and paraded it around—this displayed the exam questions. Jiang Qingshi read them carefully and began to concentrate, delving into his thoughts…

Lin Guilan, worried that Jiang Qingshi might lack confidence, gritted her teeth and stayed in the county town for several days with Jiang Zhimiao to keep him company. Her husband had said the entire examination process would take a long time, but she couldn’t afford to linger indefinitely with Miao Ge’er, as she still needed to earn money to support the family. Admittedly, the inn in the county town was terribly expensive—Lin Guilan calculated that the money spent on these few days’ lodging was almost enough to rent a shop in their town…

But for her husband’s sake, necessary expenses had to be made. She couldn’t be shortsighted at such a critical juncture.

Her husband had explained that passing the first session of the county exam would qualify him for the prefectural examination. However, he also mentioned that the results would take three days after the first session. Lin Guilan had initially hoped to use this time to have her husband accompany her and Jiang Zhimiao around town, but seeing him immediately resume his studies after the exam, she couldn’t bring herself to ask.

She had secretly glanced at her husband’s books before—though she recognized some of the characters, when strung together, they made no sense to her. Her husband dealt with these convoluted texts all day, and it truly seemed exhausting.

Not wanting to disturb Jiang Qingshi’s focus, Lin Guilan made sure to take Jiang Zhimiao out every day, fearing he might interrupt his father’s studies. Jiang Zhimiao felt slightly aggrieved by his mother’s lack of trust—his father’s Imperial Examination journey was a family priority; how could he possibly jeopardize such an important matter!

And so… Jiang Zhimiao was dragged out of bed early each morning by his mother and hauled around Jiangping County in endless circles. Jiang Zhimiao inwardly lamented: Mother, if I end up stunted, it’ll be all your fault!

On the first day, the mother and son simply wandered aimlessly. By the second day, Jiang Zhimiao noticed his mother had brought along a small notebook, diligently recording something while strolling through the streets. Though Jiang Zhimiao couldn’t yet fully read the script of this era, judging by his mother’s demeanor and actions, she seemed to be observing the shops and their merchandise.

Moreover, when his mother became absorbed in her task, she completely ignored him. Fortunately, Jiang Zhimiao’s inner self was already a mature and steady adult. Had he truly been a young child, with such preoccupied parents, he might well have been snatched away by child traffickers.

With his mother wholly devoted to her “enterprise,” not a single thought of hers related to Jiang Zhimiao. Throughout the day, he failed to catch any of her inner musings and could only trail behind her on his short little legs, utterly bored.

Lin Guilan seemed to have become addicted to investigating these shops. Starting from the second day, she rose even earlier and went to explore the other side of the county town.

After a full day of arduous walking practice, Jiang Zhimiao’s initially wobbly steps had clearly grown steadier. Watching other children his age still crying and fussing in their parents’ arms, he felt a surge of pride well up inside him.

Jiang Zhimiao puffed out his chest even more, inexplicably feeling a sense of… childhood competitiveness?

“If this shop really does open, we could send Miao Ge’er to school early in the future. He wouldn’t have to suffer the hardships his father endured…”

Jiang Zhimiao suddenly caught a snippet of his mother’s inner thoughts. So all her hard work was for his future well-being! Wait… did Mother mean she wanted to open a shop?

She absolutely had the capability for it!

So these past few days of investigating shops were her preparation for eventually starting her own business!

Jiang Zhimiao was somewhat aware of Lin Guilan’s aspirations. He knew she hadn’t just recently conceived the idea of opening a shop, but had suppressed the desire in her heart, mindful of the family’s expenses.

Jiang Zhimiao thought to himself that he must find an opportunity to encourage his mother. If she could sell so well with just a small stall, having her own shop would surely lead to even greater success!

Coincidentally, this day happened to be when the results of the first round of the county exam were posted.

Author’s note: