The journey of the only child of a peasant family to take the imperial examination

The provincial examination lasted for a total of nine days and six nights, with each session lasting three days and two nights. After the third day, the candidates could leave the examination hall and go home to take a bath and have a meal, and then go again in the early morning of the next day.

Zhang Pingan strongly suspected that this rule was in place because it was too hot in August. The food that the examinees brought in would not last for nine days and would all go bad.

August is the hottest time of the year. Even if Xu wanted to prepare some delicious food for her son, she had no good way. She could only bake some dry pancakes, prepare dry fried rice, and then wrap a lot of salted beans and salted radishes in oil paper to eat with them.

Zhang Ping'an didn't ask for pickles, as he was worried that he would drink too much water during the exam. Going to the toilet was too inconvenient. No matter how hard it was, it would only last for ten days.

He asked around with his classmates and Mr. Lu, and learned that the Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall was in good repair, so there was basically no need to worry about leaks. However, the weather was unpredictable. It could be sunny in the morning and rain heavily in the afternoon. An umbrella was a must, and some oil paper was also needed to prevent the papers from being splashed by rain.

In addition, you should bring more bamboo tubes and more drinking water. Although there are large water tanks next to each dormitory for candidates to draw water, the Imperial Examination Hall is only open once every three years. Drinking the water from the well in the hall can easily cause stomach upset. To be on the safe side, it is better to bring your own.

After hearing about this, Zhang Laoer made a lot of bamboo tubes, tied them together with hemp ropes, and carried them on his back, making a jingling sound. "Son, I'll help you carry it across. It's hot, and you need water. I've prepared some extra."

The small iron pot was made by a blacksmith these two days. Xu had already used pig skin to make the pot, so it can be used directly.

Zhang Ping'an looked at the two full exam baskets and the string of bamboo tubes on his father's back, and felt his parents' full love, hope and reliance.

My second brother-in-law Liu Husheng and Jin Baozi came over at that time to help with the exam.

After working for half a day, it was only the hour of Yin and it was still dark.

"Wow, there are really a lot of things to prepare. Let's go. We will accompany you to the Imperial College to take the imperial examination. We are counting on you in the future. Fortunately, I don't have to take the exam because my parents don't have such high expectations of me." Jinbao picked up one of the examination baskets and joked as he walked.

My second brother-in-law Liu Husheng mentioned another one.

The mule cart had already arrived at the door, ready to set off.

My second brother-in-law Liu Husheng drove the cart, and the four of them arrived near the Imperial Examination Hall in just over two quarters of an hour on the mule cart.

Along the way, I met many students who were also going to take the exam. Some of them were also taking the carriage, while others who were nearby just walked over, holding lanterns in their hands, which made them visible at a glance in the dark.

When they were about 500 steps away from the Imperial Examination Hall, the carriage could no longer go in. My second brother-in-law Liu Husheng stayed there to watch the carriage, while Jinbao followed Zhang Laoer to continue sending the examinee.

Although the imperial court had lost half of the territory in the north, there were still many people taking the urban and rural examinations in Lin'an. From afar, the crowds of people could be seen. The candidates taking the examinations and those who were accompanying them to take the examinations were waiting at the gate of the Imperial Examination Hall. There were at least one or two thousand people, and all kinds of noises mixed together, making it very noisy!

In fact, he is not afraid of the exam. What Zhang Pingan fears most is waiting in the early morning. It takes several hours, which is a waste of time. He can't even sleep, which will actually affect his state for the exam that day to a certain extent.

Therefore, the exam not only tests your academic knowledge, but also your physical strength and luck.

There was heavy dew in the early morning. Zhang Laoer had sent his children to the exam several times and was well prepared. He asked Xu to take out a few thicker autumn clothes in advance and put them on before going out. So no one was too cold at this time.

No one talked to each other. They had to be on guard against others, for fear that someone would do something bad in the examination basket. Zhang Laoer and Jinbao watched the examination basket closely.

The three of them huddled together in the cold wind.

It was not until the hour of Yin that the gate of the Imperial Examination Hall opened, and the yamen runners began to search everyone one by one. Those who were able to pass the examination to become a scholar all had rich experience in examinations, and each candidate brought a lot of things with him, so the line moved very slowly.

It took a while before it was Zhang Ping'an's turn. Zhang Laoer quickly helped his son take off his thick clothes, and hung his own bamboo tube on his son. Jinbao also hurriedly handed over the examination basket in his hand.

Zhang Ping'an was carrying two heavy exam baskets and a string of bamboo tubes on his shoulders, and the famous saying "Only those who endure the most hardships can become the best people" came to his mind!

The yamen runners were not surprised to see Zhang Ping'an's attire, as they were already used to it. Two of them divided the work to check, one checked the household registration card and the examinee's information, and did a body search, while the other checked the examination basket and bamboo tube. The biscuits were torn into pieces, and I don't know if he washed his hands!

After checking the household registration card and the candidate's information, the yamen officer who was frisking him said, "Take off your clothes!"

Then he began to search me thoroughly.

The whole process took half a quarter of an hour. Fortunately, there was no problem in the end, so Zhang Pingan was able to go in.

After entering the Imperial Examination Hall, Zhang Pingan discovered that this examination hall was much better than the previous one in Yingzhou City. It must be that the Jiangnan government was wealthy!

The examination room was cleaned very neatly, without any musty smell, and it was obvious that it had been renovated.

After entering, there will be a number of soldiers who will take people to the corresponding examination room according to the candidates' information.

Zhang Ping'an was lucky enough to be in the middle of the grid, with good lighting and far away from the bad numbers.

There is a toilet in the examination room so that students don’t have to go to the toilet when they need to go to the toilet.

There was a water tank at the door. Zhang Ping'an took a look and found that the water quality was not as bad as Mr. Lu said. It might be because of alum.

After sitting down, Zhang Ping'an took out the pens, ink, paper and inkstone from the examination basket and arranged them in order. Then he leaned against the wall and took a short rest, waiting for the examination to begin.

At the hour of Chen, the bell in the Imperial Examination Hall rang and the gate was locked. No matter what happened during these three days, the gate would not be opened. Zhang Pingan heard that many candidates for the provincial examinations had lost their lives due to fires in the examination halls before this dynasty, so in fact, taking the provincial examinations was also a very dangerous job!

After the bell rang three times, the chief examiner began to give a speech. Generally, those who could serve as chief examiners for the provincial examinations were close ministers of the emperor. Even if their rank was not the highest, no one dared to underestimate them.

However, the emperor is only seven years old now and has no real power. He is just a decoration. I don’t know which faction the chief examiner, Grand Secretary Du, belongs to!

The imperial examination mainly tests eight-legged essays, examination poems and policy essays. Mr. Lu has said before that policy essays are particularly important in the provincial examinations and account for a high proportion. If the essays are well written, they will be circled directly by the examiner, which means they will stand out from the circle. What is tested is the examinee's thoughts and strategies, so you must grasp them well!

After the lecture, the papers were distributed.

Zhang Ping'an picked up the test paper and read it from beginning to end.