boyutpedia Chapter 312 Before and After the Exam
Chapter 312 Before and After the Exam
Gu Wenxuan put away the deed and said, "I have already entrusted the shop to a broker to rent it out. The tenants are still the two families who rented the two shops for business before."
Although Gu Wenxuan had only met the two families once, she had a good impression of them, so she agreed to the broker's suggestion and rented the shop to them.
The two families were very happy when they heard about Gu Wenxuan's decision. Business requires repeat customers. If there is no other choice, who would be willing to keep changing locations?
She warned Bai Jingzhou, "It's enough for you to know these things, don't keep them in your heart. I will find someone to repair the house, and I will also take the time to inquire about the two families who rented our shop."
Bai Jingzhou smiled, "Okay, I won't think about it."
For the next ten days or so, Gu Wenxuan left Zheng Rong's family to work for Bai Jingzhou, and she took Jia Yuelan, Fang Youfu, and Yang Wandong with her to inquire about information and find someone to renovate their newly purchased house.
Daming Prefecture was the seat of Hebei Road, and its prosperity was far beyond that of Xingzhou. The examination venue for the academy examination was not in the temporary examination hall built by the government office, but in a special examination hall of the Academy.
The academy examination is held twice within three years, and each time there are two tests (one main test and one re-examination). The content of the examination is roughly the same as that of the prefectural and county examinations.
The number of candidates admitted in the first round of the college entrance examination (the main round) is twice the number of candidates to be selected as scholars. The results are announced in a circle with seat numbers written on them but no names. This is called the "draft". After the second round of the re-examination, the sealed envelope will be opened and the names will be written.
The announcement of the list of candidates who have passed the academy examination is called "out of the list", and the admitted candidates are called "students", commonly known as "scholars".
Passing the examination for a scholar meant one had achieved fame and had left the common people class and entered the scholar-official class. One could enjoy privileges such as exemption from corvée labor, no need to kneel when meeting the magistrate, and the government not being able to arbitrarily punish one.
Of course, passing the imperial examination doesn’t mean that you can solve all your problems once and for all.
Scholars had to be sent to prefecture, state, or county schools, which was called "enrollment", and receive monthly lessons and examinations from instructors.
In addition, scholars were divided into three categories. The best ones were called "Bingsheng", who were given food monthly by the government; the next best ones were called "Zengsheng", who were not given food; and the third were "Fusheng", who were newly enrolled students.
There are quota restrictions for "innate" and "increased" learning, while "attached" learning is much more flexible in this regard.
The local educational administrative office responsible for presiding over the academy examinations was called the "Tijuxueshisi", abbreviated as "Xueshisi" or "Xuesi".
The Department of Educational Affairs "is in charge of the education affairs of all prefectures and counties along the way. It inspects the department every year to observe the quality of teachers and scholars, the diligence of students, and is responsible for conducting investigations and criticisms."
The chief official of the school department was appointed by the emperor as a Hanlin, one person in each route, for a three-year term. He was also responsible for examining both civil and military children. His status was equivalent to that of an imperial envoy, and he was on par with the governor. This shows how much the court valued local education.
They stayed in the rented house until the day before Bai Jingzhou and his team took the exam, and then they packed their bags and moved to Gu Wenxuan's newly bought house.
The new house was also very close to the Academy Examination Hall, and the accommodation conditions were better than the second courtyard they had rented before. Of course, the most important thing was that they could live in this house for free, and they no longer had to share the extremely high rent.
Because everyone was going to take the exam the next day, Gu Wenxuan did not prepare any raw, cold or greasy food for them that day.
While deliciousness and nutrition are guaranteed, their stomachs and intestines are also protected to the greatest extent possible.
That night, Gu Wenxuan distributed the dry food and other items prepared in advance by the logistics staff to Bai Jingzhou and the other three, and asked them to personally check all the items they had received to avoid missing anything.
Gu Wenxuan always liked to speak upfront, "Check carefully yourselves, tell me now if you find anything missing. If anyone complains later that I didn't prepare this or that, I won't tolerate it."
She has done her best by helping to prepare these things. If anyone wants to outsource all the responsibilities to her, or even take the blame on her when they make mistakes, she will not be the scapegoat.
Bai Jingzhou nodded vigorously, "That's right, we ourselves know best what we should bring and what we shouldn't bring, Wenxuan can only lend a little help."
What can others say? Including Gu Wenhai, who doesn't know that Bai Jingzhou mindlessly defends his wife?
After carefully checking their exam baskets and putting them back in their rooms, everyone washed up and went to rest early.
Gu Wenxuan and other people who were working in logistics also went to bed early because they had to get up early the next day to prepare breakfast for Bai Jingzhou and others, and see them off after they got everything.
Some are responsible for making breakfast, some are responsible for driving the car, some are responsible for escorting... no one is idle.
For the next period of time, Bai Jingzhou and the other four were either taking exams or waiting for the results. In Gu Wenxuan's newly bought mansion, the atmosphere was peaceful yet revealing a hint of tension and solemnity that could not be ignored.
On the day of the announcement of the results, everyone gathered outside the Ministry of Education early, waiting for the bailiffs to come out and post the results. The tension and solemnity were at their peak, squeezing out the last bit of relaxation and calm in the air.
Gu Wenxuan and her friends went to a teahouse with some other students to wait. They drank tea and ate snacks absentmindedly. Occasionally, they chatted with each other, and without exception, they talked about topics related to the announcement of results, exams, and studying.
Bai Jingzhou and the others had no intention of chatting with others, so they just sat there quietly, occasionally drinking a sip of tea and eating a piece of dessert.
After waiting for about an hour, there were already so many people outside the teahouse that it was crowded together. The bailiff finally came out with the list in his hand, amid the expectant eyes of everyone.
Although Bai Jingzhou and his friends were very skilled, they did not rush to squeeze with others. Instead, they waited until the crowd began to disperse. Only then did they pay the bill and go to look at the list together.
On the way, Bai Jingzhou met a student from the same academy. When the other person saw Bai Jingzhou, his eyes lit up immediately, "Hey, isn't this Brother Bai Xian? You just came to see the list? Well, you will definitely pass anyway, it doesn't matter when you see it."
Bai Jingzhou raised his eyebrows, "It seems that Brother He also passed the exam. Congratulations, Brother He."
The man laughed, his face showing more joy, "I am happy for you."
He has been studying for many years and is five or six years older than Bai Jingzhou. This time, he ranked higher than Bai Jingzhou in the exam.
He bowed to Bai Jingzhou and said, "Brother, go and check the list. I won't waste your time."
"Brother He, take care." Bai Jingzhou bowed slightly and continued to walk towards the list with Bai Jingshan and others who were becoming increasingly nervous.
Gu Wenxuan asked curiously, "Doesn't this person know Jingshan and Wenhai?" Aren't they from the same academy? These two always act together with Bai Jingzhou.
Bai Jingzhou hesitated for a moment and did not answer immediately. Bai Jingshan, on the other hand, did not have as many reservations as him. "It should be that the two of us are not on the list."