Traveling through time and space to become a child, supporting the family by catching fish and shrim

For the next two days, Chen Lang stayed at Sheng Chuliang's house to receive the final intensive training.

On the day of the exam, Mrs. Sheng brought a set of clean clothes for Chen Lang to change into.

Chen Lang was flattered and said, "Master's wife, how can this be allowed?"

Madam Sheng smiled and said, "What's so difficult about it? The money you've been giving to the servants these days is enough to buy several sets of clothes."

"Not to mention that you've raised the level of your family's cook to several notches."

"It's just this set of clothes, and Master's wife feels embarrassed. Don't look down on Master's wife's poor craftsmanship."

"Hurry up and change, it's time to go to the exam room."

Chen Lang originally thought that his master's wife's words "Don't despise my poor craftsmanship" were words of humility.

However, after putting on the clothes, I realized that this was the truth.

The master's wife's craftsmanship is really not that good...

Fortunately, this set of clothes is limited equipment and can be put aside after today.

After he put on his new clothes and arrived at the gate of the mansion, the housekeeper handed him the examination basket and said, "Mr. Chen, the master said he won't go with you. Everything you need for the exam is in this basket."

"At the bottom is the recommendation document he wrote. When you get to the scene, just show it to the clerk."

"The master also told you to keep a calm mind during the exam. As long as you perform normally, you will pass."

Chen Lang bowed his hands in thanks and said, "Fifth Uncle, thank the teacher for me."

"I'm leaving."

We arrived at the Nanhe County School, which is the examination venue for every county examination.

It was still early, but the gate of the county school was already crowded with students rushing to take the exam.

Officers armed with water and fire sticks guarded the gate of the county school, verifying the identities of each person one by one. Those with identity issues were not allowed to enter.

Although it was the lowest level exam, the officers did not dare to slack off when checking the candidates.

Not only do they check identities, but they also check the test baskets and conduct body searches to ensure that no smuggling is taking place.

Looking at the students in front of him, each with disheveled hair entering the examination room, Chen Lang was a little shocked.

The county examination is so strict, so when it comes to the provincial and metropolitan examinations, won’t people be stripped naked for inspection?

Chen Lang couldn't help but shudder when he thought that in the future he might be surrounded naked by a group of men and have every detail of his body carefully examined.

But on second thought, his goal was only to pass the examination to become a scholar and be exempted from corvee labor. Such a comprehensive examination for the examination should not occur.

So my mentality calmed down again.

After waiting in line for half an hour, I finally entered the county school.

After passing through the ceremonial gate, an archway appeared in front. A clerk sat behind the desk, recording the name, age and hometown of each candidate.

In front of Chen Lang was an old man with white hair. The clerk looked up and glanced at him, asked his name and hometown, and finally asked his age.

The old man said, "Thirty-four."

The clerk said with a half-smile, "To put it the other way around, I guess the number is off."

The old man said with a stern face, "How can a scholar tell lies?"

"Thirty-four, indeed."

The clerk snorted and lowered his head to record: "Age thirty-four."

When the old man saw the number, he gave a sly smile, took the license plate, and left quickly.

This operation completely confused Chen Lang.

When it was his turn, he couldn't help but ask this question.

The clerk, who was copying with his head down, became impatient when he heard this question and said, "Don't ask about things you shouldn't be asking about... Eh? Master Chen?"

Chen Lang asked, "Do you recognize me?"

The clerk smiled and said, "How could I not recognize Master Sheng's student?"

After saying that, he hooked his finger, motioning Chen Lang to come closer, and whispered, "Mr. Chen, the thing about age is this: the age for the county exam is reported by the candidates themselves. If the candidate passes, then all his future exams will be based on this age as the starting point."

"Mr. Chen, how old are you this year?"

Chen Lang answered truthfully: "Twenty-five."

"How old were you when you took the exam?"

"Seventeen."

"If Mr. Chen had reported his age as eight when he first took the Tongsheng exam, then if he passed the Xiucai exam in the future, you would have become the youngest scholar in the history of Nanhe County."

"If you continue to take the higher examinations and pass the Ju or Jinshi degree, the Ministry of Personnel will look at your information and see that you are so young, and they will give you more attention. On the contrary, those who are older will be dismissed casually."

Chen Lang asked, "After passing the imperial examination, you have to meet the emperor. Wouldn't it be exposed if you lied about your age?"

The clerk smiled and said, "Mr. Chen, how many of those who lied about their age would have achieved the top spot in the imperial examination? Alternatively, how many of those who believed they had the ability to become the top scholar would have lied about their age?"

"Most of these people want to earn the title of Juren. Once they pass the exam, they can use their inflated age to get a good job and enjoy a few more years of imperial food."

"For example, the old man mentioned earlier, he's already over fifty, and even though he passed the imperial examination, he was just dismissed without a care. The monthly salary he received was several times less than what he would have received as an official."

Chen Lang understood.

These people falsified their age in order to get a few more years of formal salary after passing the exam, instead of directly receiving a pension.

Chen Lang shook the clerk's hand, slipped a piece of silver into his palm, and said, "Thank you for your guidance. I have benefited a lot from it."

The clerk was in a better mood after receiving the benefit. He said, "Mr. Chen, how about I write you an eight-year-old?"

Chen Lang hurriedly said, "No need, no need. Just report the truth. If the teacher knew that I was lying about these things, I'm afraid he would expel me."

The clerk said, "That's right. Young Master Chen has such a good teacher like Master Sheng. Passing the imperial examination will be a piece of cake. It's only a matter of time before he ranks among the top three. There's no need to pursue these empty reputations."

After the clerk finished recording, he gave Chen Lang a number plate and said, "Mr. Chen, this is a good position."

The location where you take the exam is also very important. The environment in some locations is extremely poor, which will seriously affect the candidates' answering.

The piece of silver just now did have some effect.

Chen Lang took the number plate and said, "Thank you."

Holding my number plate and carrying my exam basket, I arrived at the main entrance of the examination room.

The county magistrate, the chief clerk, the county magistrate, and the two teachers of the county school are all here.

When the candidates pass by, they must bow and salute.

The county magistrate and the chief clerk did not speak a word, at most they just nodded. Only the teacher would say a few words of encouragement.

However, after seeing Chen Lang, the county magistrate swept away his previous aloofness and even smiled a little more. He said, "Chen Lang, do your best in the exam."

Chen Lang hurriedly returned the greeting, "I will definitely do my best."

The candidates standing behind Chen Lang were dumbfounded.

What is this man's background?