Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law-Chapter 535: Passing the Exam Makes You an Official
After listening to Chen Mo, Chen Cultivator felt a bit dizzy and sensed something was off, but couldnโt pinpoint what exactly.
Instead, he was moved by Chen Moโs heartfelt loyalty. ๐๐ณ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ฏโด๐ฃ๐ฆ๐.๐ค๐๐
Although he couldnโt articulate what seemed off now, Chen Moโs intentions were good, benefiting the people and the nation, and were indeed a monumental favor to scholars across the land.
If, through this imperial examination, a batch of talents loyal to Your Majesty and the country could be nurtured, then the Great Song might indeed rise again.
On the other hand, although the Court was restoring the imperial exam, it limited the examination location to Luonan, which could only attract a few scholars to participate...
"The wisdom of Duke An is unsurpassed, it seems I was too narrow-minded."
Ever since Chen Mo had appointed Chen Cultivator as the chief examiner of the imperial exams, he was naturally no longer a mere commoner.
"Ah." Chen Mo humbly raised his hand towards Chen Cultivator and then said, "Upon learning that the Court issued the decree to restore the imperial exam, I have already dispatched orders. It is expected that in the past couple of days, the government offices of various counties will receive them. Any citizen wishing to participate in the exam can apply at the government offices of Qing, Yu, Lin, Huai, Jiangnan, and Jiangdong. Upon verification, the office will issue a passport, which the candidate can use to go to the state city of the Four States to take the exam before August..."
"Very good."
After listening to Chen Mo, Chen Cultivator stood up and bowed deeply at a near 90-degree angle towards Chen Mo.
...
Soon, the news that the provincial exams would be held in the state cities of Qing, Yu, Lin, and Huai spread across the land. The people of the Four States, as well as those in Jiangdong and Jiangnan, became almost universally aware through direct conveyance by officials visiting the countryside.
Announcements were posted at the gates of county towns in the Four States, Jiangdong, and Jiangnan.
The announcements also mentioned that not only the people of the Qing, Yu, Lin, Huai Four States and Jiangdong, Jiangnan could participate, but any citizen from other states could also partake, provided they went to one of the government offices in the four states of Qing, Yu, Lin, or Huai to apply.
There are no requirements for application; any citizen of the Great Song can apply.
The announcement further stated that all those who pass the provincial exams, even if they fail the subsequent Metropolitan Exam, will receive a house, two acres of land, and the opportunity to settle and hold office in any of the Four States from Duke An.
The contents of the announcement shocked the nation.
One must know that previously, those who passed the provincial exams could achieve class ascension merely with the status of an Advanced Scholar.
However, the Court would only grant you the title of Advanced Scholar, while houses and land would have to be purchased oneself or received from noble clans or wealthy merchants in the counties seeking to curry favor.
As for holding office, only the Advanced Scholars were certainly placed by the Court, whereas Advanced Scholars needed to wait for vacancies and go to remote places.
But now, just passing the provincial exams grants it all.
After all, isnโt that what scholars join the imperial exams for?
...
Fengzhou.
Since Prince Huaiโs great defeat last time, although the Chen Army of Huai State didnโt take the opportunity to attack Fengzhou, Prince Huai had already lost control of Fengzhou. Especially after allying with King Chong, Fengzhou was left leaderless.
Some opportunists of Prince Huai saw this and flocked to Fengzhou seeking business opportunities, and many residents of Fengzhou migrated to Huai State.
This allowed the people of Fengzhou to be among the first to learn about the Four States hosting imperial exams.
Jing County, Ma Wang Village.
Spring plowing generally begins after the start of spring, between early March and April.
The spring plowing season in northern regions typically falls at the end of April and early May.
In the south, it occurs earlier, around late February.
However, with the thawing of the snow, the villagers of Ma Wang Village began bustling in the fields as early as mid-February.
Lin Zhong was among them.
Lin Zhong was born into the lower class, and his ancestors were Fifth-Grade Capital Officials during the Grand Ancestor Emperorโs period, but the descendants were disappointing, becoming progressively less successful, leading to the familyโs gradual decline.
By Lin Zhongโs fatherโs generation, the most successful member of the Lin Family held the position of Chief Clerk in a county town.
Unfortunately, Lin Zhongโs father was born of a concubine, leaving the family early, and due to major upheavals later, Lin Zhongโs family of three fled to Lin Zhongโs motherโs hometownโMa Wang Village.
Ma Wang Village, as the name implies, was inhabited only by the Ma and Wang families.
Therefore, Lin Zhong seemed out of place in Ma Wang Village, yet he was also quite proud of himself.
As an uncommon scholar in the village, even though he was born a concubine of the lower class, his family background was more prestigious than that of the villagers, and being young and a Child Student at the time, Lin Zhong exuded an air of superiority among the unlettered villagers.
This was the case five years ago, but now he has completely integrated into village life.
The reason was the suspension of the imperial exam, which had crushed his ambitions.
Though Lin Zhongโs father was a concubine, he possessed more worldly knowledge than the villagers and understood that education could change oneโs fate.
Lin Zhongโs mother, Ma Clan, married his father with certain discernment, so the two never burdened Lin Zhong with family concerns, encouraging him to focus on his studies, pinning all their hopes on him.
But with the suspension of the imperial exams, it struck Lin Zhong like a bolt from the blue. The immense pressure and villagersโ ridicule forced him to abandon his "unrealistic" dreams and return to an ordinary life.
During these past five years, he got married to a fellow villager and had a child.
Yet, deep inside, he still harbored a shred of discontent and perseverance. When all was quiet at night and his wife and child were asleep, he would pull out books from under the bed to read, a habit he maintained for over five years.
"Itโs nearly noon, mother has probably cooked the meal. Letโs go back to eat, and come back in the afternoon," Lin Zhongโs wife, Wang Clan, pulled her feet from the mud, stood on the field path, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and said to Lin Zhong.
Lin Zhong responded with a soft grunt.
At this moment.
"Brother-in-law, good news, great news." Wang Clanโs younger brother ran all the way from a distance. The field path was narrow, causing him to fall several times, but each time he got up with excitement and continued running.
Such a scene also drew the attention of the nearby villagers.
"Take it easy, donโt hurt yourself." Wang Clan frowned with concern.
"Whatโs the good news?" Lin Zhong had just climbed onto the field path and was washing the mud from his feet in the canal, not taking the words to heart.
"Big news, brother-in-law, the imperial exams are back." Wang Clanโs brother had heard from his sister about Lin Zhong getting up to read every night, knowing he valued this deeply.
"Iโve heard others say it too, but itโs in Luonan, too far, without travel money and itโs unsafe, I told your sister Iโm not going," Lin Zhong replied without lifting his head.
"Brother-in-law, itโs not the Courtโs exam; itโs from Duke An."
