Transformed into a furry person, I am doing public relations in the Northern Song Dynasty

By the next day, the smell had become indescribable. Coupled with the tight time schedule, the candidates had no time to think about what to eat. They were all thinking about how to finish their answers early and leave the cramped room as quickly as possible.

In addition to food, clothes and bedding are naturally also necessary to prepare. The Imperial Examination Hall is only used during examinations and is not opened for several years. Some places have fallen into disrepair. If it rains again and leaks and wets the test papers, it would be useless to curse God.

Therefore, rain gear and daily necessities must also be prepared.

Last month, Zhao Chengyan sent Zhang Youzheng a piece of thick canvas about half a meter wide and long, which was coated with waterproof tung oil on both sides. If it really rained, he asked Zhang Youzheng to put it on the baffle of the cell to prevent him from being exposed to the wind and rain.

Lady of Duke Deng was busy all night long and packed four or five packages for Zhang Youzheng. She even wanted to give away the needles and thread in the house.

After finishing his breakfast, Zhang Youzheng followed his grandfather to the front hall. When they saw things piled up like a small mountain, they looked at each other in confusion, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"Mother-in-law has prepared too much. Although the exam lasts for nine days and six nights, I have to come back twice in between. Each exam only takes three or four days. It's not like I'm going far away. I only take some dry food and water, nothing else."

The old lady raised her eyebrows and said, "How can this be possible? That room is so small, the bed is just two pieces of wood, with only a straw mat on top. You can't even move your legs. If you don't lie down softer, how can you sleep well at night and answer questions properly during the day?"

"I won't bring much for you, just a new brocade quilt made this year, a cool porcelain pillow, and an outer robe for you in case you get cold at night. I've packed them all for you myself, so just put them on your back, it won't be too heavy."

My mother-in-law had indeed thought it through. In the southeast corner of his yard, her father-in-law had someone build a small room for him that imitated a cell, so that he could adapt to it in advance.

On the brick walls on both sides of the number house, about one foot and five inches and two feet and five inches above the ground, there are two brick joints, or brick supports, which are used to place two number plates, each one inch and eight tenths of an inch thick.

The lower number plate is placed inside and can be used as a chair, while the upper number plate is placed outside and can be used as a table. In this way, a set of examination tables and chairs is formed. Remove the upper number plate and place it together with the lower number plate in the lower brick support to form a bed board.

The bucket used by the examinees was placed in the left front corner, and the food and luggage they brought with them were placed in the right front corner. To put it bluntly, when they were pooping, they looked at the food, and when they were eating, they looked at the poop.

Last year, my father-in-law locked him up in a cell at home and asked him to adapt, but he couldn't make it through three days. Later, they tried once a month, and only then did Zhang Youzheng manage to eat, drink, defecate and urinate without changing his expression.

Unable to resist his mother-in-law's kindness, Zhang Youzheng finally carried one on his back and held a basket in each hand and prepared to set off.

Duke Deng and his wife personally accompanied their grandson to see him off. When they saw that they were still two streets away from the Imperial Examination Hall, they could no longer walk.

There were yamen runners from Kaifeng Prefecture coming out to maintain order, but the candidates were nervous and their families were anxious, so they all crowded forward, and there was a fear that a stampede would occur if they were not careful.

Zhang Youzheng didn't dare to ask the old man and old lady to follow him forward. Since he had more time, he took the old man and old lady to wait in the outer circle for a while.

After a while, Cheng Li brought two teams of people to block the left and right street entrances and only let the candidates in. Only then did the order improve.

Zhang Youzheng was just about to leave when he heard someone calling him. He was very familiar with the voice. He turned around and saw that it was Zhao Chengyan, Liu Yunqing, Zhao Shijin and Zhong Wu. They had all come running and could not get through by carriage or horse.

"There are so many people here, but we finally found you. We know you are a good scholar, so we don't have much to tell you. Yunqing is very careful, and we are afraid that the heat inside will cause you to get a heat stroke, and we are also afraid that the well water inside is not clean, so we bought some pills for you."

"Also, Ah Yan also found a water bag and boiled some drinks for you. The Imperial Examination Hall is not used for several years, and I'm afraid no one would think of cleaning the well. It's better to drink less water from the well if possible."

Zhao Shijin was a very eloquent talker, and he spoke out all his words in a rapid succession. He also hurriedly hung the water bag around the man's waist and stuffed the pills into the bamboo basket that held the man's food.

At the end, he carefully took out a small amulet from his bosom, for he was afraid that it would have words on it and he would not be allowed to bring it in. The amulet was simple, with only some auspicious cloud patterns, and it had a fragrance that could make people feel refreshed and energetic.

Zhang Youzheng took it and was so moved that he didn't know what to say.

Zhao Chengyan didn't want to cause any trouble for Zhang Youzheng at this time, so he just patted him lightly on the shoulder.

"You don't have to worry about your family. Just give it a try. We'll be waiting for you at the Zhuangyuan Building!"

Zhang Youzheng nodded solemnly, put down the luggage in his hands and on his back, bowed deeply to his parents-in-law and all his close friends, then took his things and entered the examination room without looking back.

Looking at Zhang Youzheng's straight back and firm steps, Lady Deng Guogong suddenly burst into tears for some reason.

"I always thought that Xiao Qi was always acting like a spoiled brat in our laps, but who would have thought that he has grown up in the blink of an eye. He is really different now."

Then she went on to talk about the details of the few people. No matter whether it was the medicine pills or the water bags, they were things that she, as a mother-in-law, had never thought of. If it weren't for these children accompanying Youzheng and caring about Youzheng, who knows what would have happened today.

Here, one can see all kinds of people. Some are kneeling on the ground crying in frustration, some are dancing with joy, some are crying with joy, and some are so weak that they have to be supported by others.

After the exam, more people came to pick up the candidates, and there were also various people doing food business around. Zhao Chengyan did not dare to ask Duke Deng and his wife to come, so he only went with Yun Qing and Zhao Shijin to pick up the people.

The three of them found a high place and looked forward to it. Mao'er and Zhao Shijin's servant rushed to the front, waiting to help Zhang Youzheng.

However, after waiting for a long time, no one came. After most of the people had come out, Zhang Youzheng came out with a few other gentlemen. Even though they were all disheveled, they were chatting happily.

Mao'er recognized the people on the left, they were Zeng Gong and his brothers, but he didn't know the people on the right, but he guessed they were also from the Imperial Academy.

He hurriedly went up to greet him and handed over the bamboo basket he was carrying on his arm.

Thinking that Zhang You was suffering in there and didn't dare to drink much water, Zhao Chengyan and Liu Yunqing prepared drinks and small pieces of fruit for him in advance.

When the gentlemen saw the things in the bamboo basket, they no longer cared about discussing the policy papers they had just discussed. No matter how polite they were on weekdays, their eyes were now shining with greasy light.

Without even needing Zhang Youzheng to greet them, they began to eat and drink, not being polite to Zhang Youzheng at all.

Fortunately, a lot of preparations were made, and after everyone had a few bites of food and drink to satisfy their appetite, they were no longer so anxious and regained some of their usual composure.

Now that everyone had found their families, everyone stopped talking. After all, there was plenty of time later. Zhang Youzheng agreed with them to have dinner together the day after tomorrow and then relax together.