The daily life of a peasant girl taking the imperial examination

Originally, the Zhuge family members were clearly uneasy when they heard that Zhuge Yunshu's name had not appeared in the top ten. They waited until the second place was reached, and they thought that Zhuge Yunshu had no hope of attending the clan school.

But unexpectedly, their eldest daughter was so outstanding, winning first place in the clan school.

It also brought in five taels of silver for the family, which astonished the entire household.

They never imagined that they could earn money by studying.

At this moment, a commotion broke out in the crowd, and everyone was discussing it. Suddenly, someone rushed forward and shouted, "It's not fair! Why didn't the top five students in the previous year's clan school receive any money as a reward?"

Once the first person stepped forward, many voices of discontent immediately arose from the crowd.

"Exactly, why should I?"

"Look, four out of the top five are from the clan chief's and village chief's families, isn't that...?"

We need an explanation.

"..."

Seeing the increasingly unpleasant murmurs from the crowd, the clan chief and village chief turned ashen with anger.

"Quiet! Quiet!" The teacher at the front looked angrily at the crowd: "The decision to award silver to the top five was made by the town's official school. The silver is an award issued by the town's official school to support outstanding students in the village schools. If you have any questions, you can go to the town's official school."

After hearing the Master's words, the crowd immediately fell silent, and the troublemaking villagers from the Zhuge family dared not raise their heads like quails.

That's true, people only dare to act arrogantly in the village. If they went to the town, who would dare to do that?

Although this dynasty was relatively more open, it was still a feudal society, and the hierarchical system was very strict. If you offended those powerful people, you would be punished at best, and killed at worst. There were clear precedents for this.

"Please have the five elders who ranked first come forward with their children."

As soon as the master finished speaking, the clan chief and the village chief took the lead and led their children forward. As for Zhuge Yunshu's family, it was naturally the head of the family, Old Master Zhuge, who stepped forward to accept this honor.

After they had all come forward, the teacher placed the silver coins into the hands of the elders one by one, and then said to the crowd below: "Studying has always been an important matter in every dynasty, and our Zhuge family is fortunate to have more opportunities to study than other villages. I hope that every household in the family will attach importance to this and take talent and hard work as the primary selection criteria, and not simply give all the enrollment quotas to boys."

"In this dynasty, women can live independently, inherit family businesses, study for the imperial examinations, and bring glory to their families. Look at these two girls, Zhuge Yunshu and Zhuge Yunxi. Aren't they still earning money for their families through their studies? So, whether they are men or women, as long as they can bring glory to their families, they are good children."

Master Zhuge was also helpless. The number of girls taking the entrance exam each year could be counted on one hand. He knew that many girls in the family were actually more hardworking and more talented than the boys. Ah, what could he do? He'd just have to take it one step at a time!

The Zhuge family members below scoffed at what the Master said. Why waste a spot on a girl? Even if she becomes successful, she can only earn money for the family for a few years before getting married. In the end, it will only benefit outsiders.

"Now, please invite the top five disciples from this clan school exam to come forward and explain why they study," said Master Zhuge.

The first to step forward was Zhuge Yunbo, the village chief's grandson, who was also the oldest of the five, at 12 years old. He confidently declared, "I study to take the imperial examinations and become an official, just like my great-grandfather in the capital."

Master Zhuge nodded in satisfaction, "That's ambitious, next one."

The second to appear was the granddaughter of the clan chief, Zhuge Yunxi, who was the third child in her family and was 10 years old this year. The little girl raised her round face slightly, her expression firm, and looked at everyone. "I study to prove that no one says that women are inferior to men. Women can also achieve something. Like my cousin Yun Chu from my second grandfather's family in the capital, she is already a student of the first level of the imperial examination."

Listening to her cousin's words, Zhuge Yunshu couldn't help but say to the system, "Such ambition at such a young age, system, are you sure you haven't bound the wrong host?"

The system remained silent, too lazy to bother with the host who seemed to have a problem with his brain.

"Well said. I hope all the girls in the clan can be like Yunxi, with a spirit no less than that of men," Master Zhuge said with satisfaction.

Next, Zhuge Yunqing, the nine-year-old from the village chief's family, and Zhuge Yunxing, the nine-year-old from the clan chief's family, spoke in a very Versailles-like manner. They both thought reading was interesting and very simple.

The two of them were like they were in a competition, which made everyone present both amused and exasperated.

Finally, it was Zhuge Yunshu's turn. She had originally drafted a speech in her mind, but then gave up, thinking it would be better to speak from the heart and express her truest thoughts.

So Zhuge Yunshu addressed the members of the Zhuge family with great enthusiasm: "At first, I wanted to study so that I wouldn't have to work in the fields and so that I and my family could have a better life. But after listening to what my older cousins ​​said, I suddenly realized that studying is not only a big deal for an individual and a family, but also the foundation for the strength of a family and even a country. So I must study hard and become a useful person for my family and country."

"Here, I would also like to thank my family, especially my grandparents, for giving me this precious opportunity to take the clan school exam. I also thank my uncle and aunt for giving up their own son's opportunity to take the clan school exam for me, their niece. And thank you to my parents, my second uncle and aunt, and my youngest uncle." After saying this, Zhuge Yunshu bowed to her family.

"Waaah! Host, I'm so touched. I never thought you would still remember your ultimate mission. I thought you had forgotten it."

Zhuge Yunshu: "..."

Did she accidentally say something inappropriate?

Zhuge Yunshu looked at her family members who were looking at her with such emotion, and she suddenly felt guilty.

At this moment, Zhuge Yunbo and Zhuge Yunxi looked at her with sparkling eyes, as if they had seen a kindred spirit.

"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! I didn't expect Brother Fengshou's family to be so enlightened. Everyone should be as harmonious and loving as their family. All other members of the clan should learn from Yun Shu and put the honor of the family and the prosperity of the country first." Master Zhuge clapped his hands in satisfaction and cheered.

The Zhuge family was completely bewildered; they had just become a harmonious and loving family.

Zhuge Yunshu could only say to his past self who had spoken so carelessly: "Hey, be more realistic, take it easy, don't set your sights too high."

Thus came to a close an ancient version of a clan academy award ceremony.