Chapter 42: Cracking the Problem, Submitting the Paper

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When writing, pay attention to the format and word count, and keep the examination paper neat and your handwriting legible.
He looked at the first essay topic: "Serve your lord by respecting your duties first and eating afterwards."
After a brief moment of thought, he recalled that this topic originated from the Analects of China, specifically the section *Wei Ling Gong*: "The Master said: When serving your lord, respect your duties first and eat afterwards."
This meant that a minister serving his sovereign should solemnly and earnestly fulfill his responsibilities, placing the reception of his official stipend secondary.
He found it difficult to agree with this viewpoint, but that did not affect his ability to answer the question.
In any case, it was just a matter of professing how indifferent to fame and wealth he was, how benevolent and righteous the Emperor was, and how he could devote himself entirely to the Emperor until his dying breath...
After a brief thought, he began to draft his essay: "When the Sage discusses the duty of a minister, he strives solely to fulfill his utmost without seeking personal profit..."
Citing classics and historical precedents, he wrote several hundred characters in one go, editing and trimming until he felt thoroughly satisfied.
With this piece of writing, who would dare to claim there was anything wrong with it?
A single question had wasted half the day, and his stomach was rumbling with hunger.
He raised his head to look at the sky, which had turned heavily overcast, making it impossible to tell the time.
A gust of cold wind swept past, and he quickly and deftly used his inkstone to pin down his answer sheet.
Suddenly, a cry of shock rang out from nearby, followed by the sound of weeping. Before long, bailiffs came over and dragged the person away.
Hearing their conversation, he understood: the answer sheet of the man in the neighboring booth had been blown into a pool of ink, ruining the paper, effectively ending his examination.
Wang Xuezhou shook his head and sighed. After years of preparing for the exams, a single moment of carelessness caused all his efforts to be washed away just like that.
Composing himself, he took out the dry biscuits from his examination basket, washed them down with plain water for a hasty meal, and began to answer the remaining questions.
The second essay topic: "Words must be sincere, and actions must be resolute."
This topic also came from the Analects, urging people to ensure their words and actions matched without discrepancy.
This question was simple. After a brief thought, Wang Xuezhou wrote: "The two complement each other and form the foundation upon which a gentleman establishes himself and conducts his affairs..."
Having quickly copied out the response, he moved on to the next question.
The examination poetry topic: Compose a regulated verse on "A Chance Encounter on a Spring Day," using the character "Spring" as the rhyme.
Mr. Zhou had successfully guessed the topic for this poetry test. Wang Xuezhou had previously composed one in preparation, so he was rather lucky and didn't need to spend too much time thinking.
Recalling the lines slightly, he wrote the poem onto the answer sheet:
Warm sun descends upon the spring,
Full gardens bloom where petals cling.
Willows trail o'er emerald streams,
Swallows chirp through rafters' beams.
Fine rain nourishes fragrant grass,
Gentle winds make green smoke pass.
Azure hills add brocaded grace,
Broad fields display a grand embrace.
All things thrive with vigorous might,
The human world is a lovely sight.
May I follow wherever this leads,
And be drunk forever, ignoring all needs.
After finishing, he checked it to ensure no taboos or offensive phrases were present, and only then did he feel at ease, preparing to submit his test paper.
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Good or bad, his level was just right there anyway.
February days grew dark quite early. He handed in his paper neither too early nor too late; a small portion of candidates had already submitted theirs.
Stepping out through the main gates, some people looked relaxed, having cast off a heavy burden, while others looked pale and utterly dejected.
His expression remained calm, revealing neither joy nor sorrow.
Many people were waiting outside. When they saw someone emerge, they immediately looked over, only to shift their gazes away in disappointment when they realized it wasn't the person they were waiting for.
"Chudan!"
Wang Chengzhi, who had been waiting for a long time, called out in pleasant surprise. Wang Xuezhou walked toward him.
"Oh dear! I was worried sick. I was afraid it was going to rain before you came out. Fortunately, you're out."
Wang Chengzhi couldn't tell how well he had performed and didn't dare to ask, quickly taking the examination basket from his hands.
"Where is our older cousin?" Wang Xuezhou glanced around and didn't see any familiar figures; several of his classmates weren't here either.
"He hasn't come out yet! Go back and rest first, your father is waiting right here."
Wang Chengzhi looked at him with concern, but Wang Xuezhou shook his head. "I'll wait for my classmates."
Not long after, more people streamed out from the examination hall.
Zheng Guangyuan, Xia Qianli, Zhao Xing, and Qi Xian were all among them, and even a few candidates from Ruhai Academy came out, yet there was still no sign of Lü Dasheng and Wang Xuewen.
The scholar from Ruhai Academy sneered when he saw them, saying, "We'll settle our accounts after the exams are over!"
Without waiting for any of them to react, he turned and left.
Xia Qianli frowned and said, "That fellow is truly detestable!"
Wang Xuezhou looked at the departing figure thoughtfully. "After the exams are finished, let's ask the senior students of Ruhai Academy what is going on."
Zheng Guangyuan nodded.
Soon, Lü Dasheng and Wang Xuewen came out, supporting each other with complex, sickly green complexions.
Just as Wang Xuezhou and the others were about to step forward, two pages rushed over, shouldered them aside, and hurried to support Lü Dasheng. "Young Master!"
"Quick, quick! Let's get back quickly, I can't take it anymore, ugh—I'm going back... ugh! To wash up."
Lü Dasheng retched as he spoke, waved goodbye to Wang Xuezhou and the others, and without even having time to talk, climbed into his carriage and sped away.
The remaining youths looked at each other in dismay before dispersing as well.
Wang Xuewen explained with an expression of indescribable misery, "That brother was assigned to the stinking latrine booth. I wasn't much better off; I was right next to him..."
Having said that, he caught a whiff of the smell lingering on his own body and immediately opened his mouth to retch. Pinching his nose, Wang Xuezhou urged, "Hurry back!"
...
Upon arriving at the inn, the innkeeper immediately had hot water sent up.
After washing up, Wang Xuezhou instantly felt refreshed. Wang Chengzhi brought out two bowls of ginger soup, watching them finish it down to the last drop before finally setting his mind at ease.
After a hasty meal that evening, the two young men collapsed onto their beds and fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.
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After resting for a day, the day for posting the results of the first session of the county examination finally arrived.
The county examination results were posted in a revolving circular manner, much like concentric circles on a wheel.
The closer a number was to the central dot, the higher the ranking.
However, because it was an anonymous examination where names were covered, only seat numbers were listed.
"First place, Yellow Character Number Four! Whose seat number is this?"
"Don't know! Who sat there?"
"Heaven is unjust! I didn't pass! It's impossible, I clearly answered so well..."
Before the nameboards, all forms of human emotion were on display: some people were ecstatic while others were despondent; some had gone frantic, weeping and laughing by turns.
Wang Xuewen grabbed Wang Xuezhou and managed to squeeze his way in. Relying on his height, he anxiously asked, "What is your seat number? I'll help you look."
"Uh... I don't think I need to. Look for yours first."
Wang Xuezhou had already heard his seat number just moments ago.
He was actually in first place!
He bit his tongue and suppressed the urge to laugh out loud, fearing it would provoke those who had failed.
Wang Xuewen searched the board for a long time without finding his seat number. Unreconciled, he read through it once more before finally accepting the grim truth that it truly wasn't there.
Wang Xuewen burst into bitter tears. Hearing him, the people around him could not help but shed tears as well, and some even embraced him in shared grief.
Wang Xuezhou was left virtually speechless by the sight.
He grabbed the weeping youth and quickly dragged him back to the inn to avoid making a spectacle of themselves on the street any longer.
"Chudan, you... you guys..." Wang Chengzhi hadn't gone to look at the results. Seeing Wang Xuewen's state, his heart skipped a beat, and he trailed off, hesitant to speak.
"Father, comfort our cousin. I'm going to read my books and prepare for the examination the day after tomorrow."
Wang Chengzhi's expression went blank for a split second before transforming into ecstatic joy. "You passed?!"
Wang Xuezhou smiled and nodded.
...
The second session of the preliminary review arrived swiftly, following the exact same process as before.
Only this time, Lü Dasheng did not show up.
Whether it was because of the trauma of the stinking booth or something else, he hadn't passed the first round and refused to subject himself to that torment again.
Sitting once more in the familiar examination booth, Wang Xuezhou felt completely at home.
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