Volume One: From Farmer to Scholar Chapter 56: A Guide to Preparing for the County Examination

After the new term began, the teachers and students of the county academy became even busier. As the year turned, the bell for the next round of the children's examination would ring on schedule. The county and prefectural exams were held annually, while the academy exam occurred twice every three years; next year was the turn for the academy exam. New students who passed the county and prefectural exams could participate in the academy exam, and within a year, their names might appear among the scholars.

Amidst the busyness, the winter break arrived quietly. Wen Lancang stayed at school to continue tutoring Chu Liuyi and two others. On the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, the supplementary lessons ended. Chu Zhaonan's family was to return home, and everyone parted reluctantly. Chu Yuexi told Liuyi that she would return to the academy at the start of the term and promised to bring him a fine gift. With the sound of firecrackers, Liuyi grew another year older. A new year, new hopes—Liuyi would embark on a new journey.

Since the term began, every time Liuyi returned to the academy, he couldn’t help but glance at the neighboring yard, but every time he found the gate firmly shut.

"Su Biao, why hasn't Yuexi come yet?" he asked.

Su Biao grinned mischievously. "What, are you missing her?"

Liuyi blushed and pretended to be displeased. "Nonsense, I just want to practice martial arts... Forget it, I can practice even without her."

He went to the open space and ran through a few sets of punches, but his heart felt hollow. She had promised to return at the start of the term, yet there was no sign of her. Women are all liars!

One day, returning to school on a day off, Su Biao greeted him eagerly. "Shuxian, all the classmates from the Su family’s private academy have signed up for the county exam. Su Wei and the others say they want to follow your example, become scholars, and bring honor to their families..."

Liuyi paused at the news. For years, he had been engrossed in the civil examinations, throwing himself into his studies, and had neglected those former companions who once chased after him, clamoring for stories. As their leader, he ought to lend them a helping hand.

He thought of predicting exam topics. Over the years, he had read countless books and tackled endless questions. Having experienced the county exam, he had developed his own insights into the structure and style of the questions. Even if he guessed wrong, the topics could serve as practice, and his friends would not lose out.

Liuyi took time to select more than a dozen likely topics, outlining his approach to solving each, and entrusted Su Laibao to deliver them to the Su family’s private academy. He also wrote "A Guide to Preparing for the County Exam," detailing every aspect from entering the exam hall to leaving it.

These materials were treated as treasures at the Su family’s private academy, strictly forbidden from being shared outside. The students worked through the questions diligently, and their teachers checked and corrected them one by one, pointing out flaws and guiding them to revise and improve. "A Guide to Preparing for the County Exam" was read over a dozen times.

They hadn’t realized there were so many subtleties behind the exam.

In the blink of an eye, the county exam approached the following year. Su Laibao took charge, arranging for all fourteen children from the private academy to stay at the same inn. The inn was far from the exam hall, but cheap and quiet.

On the day of the exam, parents brought their children early to wait outside the hall. Liuyi and Su Biao took half a day off specifically to see them off. The area outside the exam hall was bustling.

"Liuyi, Su Biao, we’re over here!" Su Wei, ever sharp-eyed, spotted them from afar and shouted. The other companions rushed over, surrounding the pair in an atmosphere of camaraderie.

"Remember every detail from the Guide," Liuyi instructed, hands clasped behind his back like a scholar. "Your results depend on many factors, so don’t be careless... When you receive your paper, don’t rush to start; first make sure your desk is steady."

"When filling in your name and place of origin, use the name you registered with. Even if you’re used to nicknames at home, don’t write those—otherwise, no matter how well you do, they won’t be able to find you..."

"Don’t be anxious. Read the questions carefully, outline your essay, draft and revise, then copy it out neatly."

"Be meticulous, keep calm, don’t soil your paper..."

He repeated the key points from the Guide, and the youths responded loudly, "Don’t worry, we know! We’ve read it many times, our teachers have gone over it, and we won’t forget a single detail."

Su Wei clenched his fists for encouragement. "I must pass, or else my grandfather won’t let me study anymore—he’ll make me learn medicine."

Su Biao laughed, "Isn’t that what you wanted?"

Su Wei shook his head. "I used to want to study medicine, but since you all passed, I want to prove myself first, then maybe I’ll go into medicine."

The others chatted about their hopes and ambitions. They knew Liuyi and Su Biao had pulled far ahead, but their success inspired them to strive harder.

Seeing the time was near, Liuyi raised his voice, "Enough talking, focus on the exam ahead. Look, what is this?"

"A talisman?"

"Yes," Liuyi replied. "This is a charm Su Biao and I requested for you at Lingjue Temple. The Buddha will bless you to pass smoothly..."

Su Biao was momentarily taken aback. He and Liuyi had always been together; they’d never been to Lingjue Temple. It was a blatant lie. But Su Biao didn’t expose him, instead joining in with a smile, "The temple’s talismans are truly efficacious. We prayed for one before our own county exam..."

The children were delighted, clamoring for the charm. Liuyi held it tight. "You can’t take it into the hall. There’ll be a search, and if it’s found, you’ll be expelled for smuggling it in—not worth it."

Everyone agreed and stopped fighting over the charm. At that moment, the gong sounded, and the exam hall doors opened. The candidates began to enter.

Watching his companions file into the hall, Liuyi and Su Biao bid farewell to the parents. On the way back, Su Biao asked, "Shuxian, why did you lie about the charm?"

"Spiritual encouragement," Liuyi replied, "to steady their minds, so they won’t be troubled by doubts in the exam."

"And how many do you think will pass?" Su Biao pressed.

Liuyi answered slowly, "We’ve done all we could. Now it’s up to their knowledge and performance. Exams are never certain—three parts fate, seven parts effort. Everything is in their hands now... Come on, we need to feel the urgency too. Soon we won’t have time to see them off, only to check the results when we’re free."

Su Wei and Jiang Ping emerged from the exam hall and immediately spotted their parents waiting beneath the willow trees. Su Wei ran over, grabbed his father’s hand, and exclaimed excitedly, "He guessed the topics! He actually guessed them!"

His words drew curious glances. Jin Buhuan, waiting for his son, stepped forward, "What did he guess?"

"The exam questions!" Su Wei replied proudly. "Xie Shuxian is our classmate—he gave us several predicted topics, and they actually appeared on the exam paper."

Jiang Ping chipped in, equally excited, "That’s right! I even fought with him once, but he bore no grudge and helped me so much. After the exam, I must treat him to meat buns..."

Su Wei’s father sensed trouble. He glanced warily at Jin Buhuan, pulled the two children aside, and whispered, "That’s enough, don’t say any more. We’ll talk when we get home..."