The daily life of a peasant girl taking the imperial examination

The following day, Zhuge Yunshu and Zhuge Yunli, led by Zhuge Fengshou, Zhuge Lairong, and Zhuge Laifu, went to the clan school.

They carried ancient-style satchels made for them overnight by Uncle Zhuge. These satchels were made of bamboo and wood, with two layers. They looked bulky, but they were very light to carry.

Originally, Zhuge Yunshu suggested that her mother sew two modern cloth bags for them, which would be simple and convenient. However, the suggestion was met with a firm rejection from the whole family, who even labeled her as a spendthrift.

Looking back now, I really shouldn't have made that suggestion.

You should know that in ancient farming families, cloth was very precious. From childhood to adulthood, it was only because of today's apprenticeship ceremony that she and her third cousin were wearing new, dusty clothes.

Even so, she was envied by her older cousins.

Along the way, Master Zhuge gave them many instructions, and as a result, Zhuge Yunshu heard a lot of crucial information.

The clan school had three teachers, all of whom had attended the town's official school and held the title of "child scholar".

The oldest is Master Zhang, who is forty-eight years old this year. He mainly teaches Class B and has a kind and benevolent face.

Next is Master Li, who is forty-five years old this year. He mainly teaches the junior class A. He has an eccentric temper and is serious and rigid. Almost all the students in the clan school are afraid of him, but he is also the most learned of the three.

Finally, there's Master Zhuge, a member of the same clan. He's forty-one years old this year and mainly teaches Class A. He's a smooth talker and a peacemaker.

Soon, they arrived at the clan school. By then, many new disciples and their families had already arrived. When almost everyone had arrived, a disciple of about fifteen or sixteen years old led them into the clan school.

According to the class assignment requirements, Zhuge Lairong took Zhuge Yunli to Class B, while Zhuge Fengshou and Zhuge Laifu took Zhuge Yunshu to Class A, which was located in the middle building.

Upon seeing the clan chief and village chief, Grandpa Zhuge and Zhuge Laifu took the initiative to greet them.

After waiting for a while, a teacher dressed in a gray long robe, with his hair neatly combed and held in place with a wooden hairpin, walked out with square steps and an expressionless face. He looked very stern.

The newcomer was none other than Master Li, who struck fear into the hearts of the students of the clan school. He looked to be about the same age as Master Zhuge, but his studies had given him an air of scholarly refinement.

At this moment, the clan chief and village chief immediately stepped forward and bowed in the manner of a scholar, saying, "Master Li."

Others followed suit, including Zhuge Yunshu, and also performed the same salute.

Master Li nodded slightly, stroked his beard, looked at Zhuge Yunshu and the others, and said, "To be my disciples, one must be of upright character, not pedantic, and most importantly, able to endure hardship. Can you do that?"

Zhuge Yunshu looked at the teacher in front of him. Although he was a bit strict, he could say such things, so he must have good character and a correct set of values. So he took the initiative to step forward, bowed and said, "This student will definitely do it."

The other four also stepped forward one by one to make their promises to the Master.

Master Li's originally serious face broke into a smile as he looked at the five talented children in front of him and nodded in satisfaction.

After he finished speaking, the elders, with great tact, stepped forward and presented the six gifts and tuition required for the apprenticeship ceremony. Master Li gestured to the old servant beside him to put away the gifts and tuition, and then led them to the study of the clan school to formally perform the apprenticeship ceremony.

Zhuge Yunshu and the other four knelt down on both knees, bowed nine times before the tablet of Confucius, and prayed for the saint's protection.

Then they bowed three times to Master Li as a disciple. At this time, the old servant next to Master Li brought five cups of tea, and Zhuge Yunshu and the others knelt down one by one to offer tea to Master Li.

Finally, the master gave a speech. Master Li symbolically encouraged his disciples to study diligently, respect their teachers, unite with their fellow disciples, and strengthen the clan's school. After that, he gave each of them books related to early childhood education, and the apprenticeship ceremony officially ended.

After that, Master Zhuge and the others bid farewell to the Master and left, leaving behind Zhuge Yunshu and the other four.

Master Li sat in his study, looking at his five newly accepted disciples, and suddenly said, "I would like to know your current progress in your studies."

At this moment, Zhuge Yunbo stepped forward, bowed slightly, and said, “Master, I have memorized the ‘Hundred Family Surnames,’ ‘Thousand Character Classic,’ and ‘Three Character Classic’ at home, but I do not know their meaning. I humbly request your guidance.”

Next, Zhuge Yunxi, Zhuge Yunxing, and Zhuge Yunqing were all making similar progress. In order to fit in, Zhuge Yunshu also echoed their statements.

Master Li looked at them with a smile in his eyes, but still admonished them: "These three books are only the three officially designated primers for the clan school. There are four more primers to follow: 'Youxue Qionglin,' 'Qianjia Shi,' 'Di Zi Gui,' and 'Sheng Lü Qi Meng.' After you finish these, you will be qualified to take the town's official school exam. However, you must know that there is a big gap between you and the students in the town's clan school. Therefore, you are required to work twice as hard during your time in the clan school so that you will not fall behind."

Seeing his disciples looking dejected, Master Li offered them a timely reward: "At your age, it is truly remarkable that you have already completed these three introductory books. This also shows that you have considerable talent, but remember not to be arrogant or complacent."

"Yes, disciples will keep in mind Master's teachings," Zhuge Yunshu and the others replied earnestly.

Master Li looked at his five disciples with increasing satisfaction. "Hmm, just remember that. Now there are five of your senior brothers in the Elementary Class A. They have finished learning 'Youxue Qionglin' ​​and have started learning 'Qianjia Shi'. Now, you few, come with me."

The five of them followed Master Li to the Elementary Class A. Although it was a room, there was a bamboo curtain separating the two rooms. From one side of the curtain, they could hear the voices of their fellow students reading.

"You all should thoroughly study the entire 'Three Character Classic,' and I will explain it to you in a while." After giving these instructions, Master Li hurriedly left.

Zhuge Yunshu and the others sat down in their respective seats and took out the book "Three Character Classic" given to them by the Master, and began to read it diligently.

Five new classmates arrived in Class A, but it didn't affect the senior students' studies on the other side of the bamboo curtain.

For no other reason than that they were mostly around fifteen or sixteen years old, already sensible and understanding, and less curious. Besides, they all lived in the same village, so they already knew the general situation, and nothing could affect their studies.

After Zhuge Yunshu finished reading the book in his hand, he looked up at the others and found that they had all finished reading and were sitting there idly in a daze.

Zhuge Yunshu felt that since they would be classmates for three years, it would be better to get to know each other. So she whispered to the other four people, "Hello, cousins. I am Zhuge Yunshu. I live at the far east end of the village. I know you. You are my cousins ​​Yunbo and Yunxing from the village chief's family, and my cousins ​​Yunxi and Yunqing from the clan chief's family."

Although they were all from the same village, Zhuge Village was quite large, so to be honest, they only met for the first time during the clan school exam.