After being reborn as a man, the woman improved her family's fortunes through education.

The first part of the provincial examination required candidates to write an essay from either the Analects or the Doctrine of the Mean, or an essay from the Great Learning or the Mencius.

There is also a five-character eight-line poem, four poems on the classics, and three questions on the Four Books in the first session. Each question requires more than 200 characters, and each question on the classics requires more than 300 characters.

The second examination consisted of one passage from the Five Classics, as well as one passage from an imperial edict, judgment, memorial, or proclamation. The essay required to be at least 300 words long, and there were later variations.

The third round of the examination consisted of five essay questions on current affairs, requiring candidates to combine classical Chinese theories with their own opinions and insights on contemporary political events.

The content of the examinations shows that Confucian classics were the main core content of the imperial examinations.

All three sessions require you to enter the examination room one day in advance and leave the examination room the day after the exam.

Those who passed the provincial examination were called Juren, also known as Yibang Chushen. The first place was called Jieyuan, the second place was called Yayuan, the third, fourth and fifth place were called Jingkui, and the sixth place was Yakui.

Landlord Jiang took the lead, leading his son and grandson-in-law into the hall in a line. After they were seated, they methodically wiped the tables and arranged the things they had brought in.

Step by step, just like the college entrance examination and the nine-day mock exam at home, they had memorized all the actions and steps, so they were naturally not flustered when they entered the examination room.

With the examiner's command, the gong sounded, and the candidates began to answer the questions.

Jiang Wenqing took a deep breath to calm himself down and recalled the exam room precautions his son had mentioned before before he began to grind ink and pick up his pen.

After his son's intensive training during this period, the last vestiges of his confusion have been dispelled, and now his mind is very clear, and his writing is as if divinely inspired.

Although the provincial examination questions were not easy, they were actually easier than the mock exams his son had created time and time again. He finally understood what his son meant when he said he was "giving him a boost."

He was tense at first, then relaxed; he was calm at first, then relaxed. At this moment, he fully understood the devilish son's good intentions. Suddenly, he was no longer nervous. No matter how terrible the provincial examination was, could it be more terrible than his son?

He's not even afraid of his own son now, so why would he be afraid of the provincial examination?

The article, several hundred words long, was written in one go, in standard official script, clear and concise.

Looking at Dong Jin, although he seemed a little nervous, he gradually calmed down and answered the question when he thought of the expectations of his wife and children at home.

Recalling his brother-in-law's previous instructions, he silently repeated, "Stay calm, stay calm, you can do it!"

Landlord Jiang answered the questions calmly and composedly, showing neither nervousness nor panic. He would occasionally put down his pen to rest his wrist, yet he did not answer the questions slowly.

As time passed, many candidates began to look troubled, scratching their heads in frustration.

However, the three members of the Chiang family continued to write their answers methodically.

After Jiang Wenqing finished writing, he checked it carefully again. After confirming that there were no errors, he dried the paper, rolled it up, and put it into the bamboo tube hanging on the wall, just like he did during the college examination. He then put the bamboo tube into a waterproof and rainproof oilcloth bag, tied it up, and hung it back on the wall.

Dong Jin had completed most of the work by this time. His forehead was slightly sweaty, but his eyes were firm, and he remained relatively composed.

Landlord Jiang finished his answer sheet a little earlier, and after doing the same thing—drying it, putting it away, and hanging it on the wall—he even leisurely boiled some water to make tea.

As the sun set and darkness fell, Dong Jin finally finished writing. After letting out a long sigh, he put away the answer sheet according to his brother-in-law's instructions and hung the waterproof tarpaulin bag on the wall.

Today I finished the Four Books questions and the five-character eight-rhyme poem. Tomorrow I only need to complete four questions on the meaning of the classics. That's plenty of time. I probably won't need the three candles I prepared for the exam.

My brother-in-law instructed us to avoid using candles in the examination hall if possible. Firstly, the candlelight was dim, and to see clearly, we had to stand close to the paper, which would easily smudge the exam paper with wax. Most importantly, the candle flame could ignite the paper and cause a fire, which would not only disqualify us from the exam but could also burn us alive.

Ugh, just thinking about it makes me break out in a cold sweat. Even if there are emergency services in the exam room, it's not a guarantee of safety. People aren't allowed to leave, so being locked up in the exam room is practically a passive wait to die.

Both Landlord Jiang and Jiang Wenqing had experienced the imperial examinations under the guidance of Jiang Xiaoqi, so they naturally kept these safety precautions in mind even more.

That night, the three of them rested briefly in the examination room, ate some dry food by the last bit of light, and still didn't touch the three candles.

Landlord Jiang lay on the narrow bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. He thought to himself that if his son could pass the imperial examination this time, the family would surely prosper even more.

He would naturally be happy if his grandson-in-law passed the exam, but since his grandson-in-law was from the Dong family, he would still prefer that the Jiang family members pass... Of course, the best outcome would be for all of them to pass.

Since his beloved grandson said he had a high chance of succeeding, he had to be even more careful. If his son Jiang Wenqing failed the exam, he could at least save face and honor for the Jiang family.

The next morning, sunlight streamed into the examination room, and the three of them, full of energy, began to tackle the questions on the classics.

Jiang Wenqing casually ate some simple, filling sesame paste, then tidied himself up and immediately immersed himself in the exam questions, writing with great speed and fluency.

Dong Jin was still savoring the deliciousness of the lotus root starch. He really wanted to ask his brother-in-law how his brain was structured.

He was good at studying, skilled in riding and archery, proficient in martial arts, and skilled in cooking. He invented lotus root starch and sesame paste, among other things. Each one was incredibly delicious, and most importantly, they were perfect for bringing into the examination room. They were convenient and you didn't have to worry about them being broken up by the inspectors.

This is already powder that can't be ground into anything more, how much more can it be ground?

He put down the bowl, wiped the tabletop clean, moistened his brush and ground the ink, and pondered the profound meaning of each question.

Although Landlord Jiang was a bit older, he was experienced and his spirits were not weak. He answered the questions steadily, which was inseparable from the health pills and brain-boosting pills that Jiang Xiaoqi secretly fed him.

Of course, Jiang Xiaoqi didn't show favoritism. She also gave Jiang Wenqing and Dong Jin a little bit of brain-boosting pills, but she didn't give them any health-enhancing pills for the time being. After all, they weren't seventy or eighty years old, and they should just rely on themselves to tough it out.

The main problem is that his health-preserving pills are a scarce commodity, and he doesn't have many himself. There's enough for his grandfather, but for his father and brother-in-law... he doesn't want to waste so many points yet.

Let's wait until the two of them successfully earn more points. Then we can exchange some with the system for them. After all, if one of them makes it onto the list after the provincial examination, they can get 3000 points.

Including his senior brother, there are four people. Each person who achieves the title of Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations) will receive 3000 points. If all four of them make the list, he can earn a maximum of 3,000 points.

This is the best outcome. No, if someone can become the top scholar in the imperial examination, they will also receive an extra 3000 points, which is a lot of points.

He has been thrifty and hardworking over the past few years, and he also earns interest from the points bank, so he has accumulated a lot of points.

After the provincial examination, he actually got points! Hehe, he can finally think about buying those point-earning items that he had been reluctant to buy before.

He did have some free points items unlocked before, but as he progressed, many of those free points items became dispensable.

For example, the earliest "Worry-Free Pen" and the later "Sketching Paper" he obtained, he asked the system, and they said they couldn't be recycled for points.

The three of them finished the sutra questions on the second day as expected, around the same time as yesterday. It was still a little light in the sky. After putting away the exam papers, the three of them boiled water, ate dry food, and made porridge.

After eating and drinking my fill, I lay down and waited to leave the exam hall tomorrow.