Chapter 333: Provincial Examination (2)
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
In comparison to the number of Cultivated Talents in the prefecture, the candidates who arrived to participate in the provincial examination were notably more impressive.
Three days remained before the commencement of the examination, and the provincial capital bustled with scholars wearing kerchiefs and their accompanying relatives.
It was evident that those with exceptional talent were predominantly from affluent backgrounds. Impoverished scholars often found themselves borrowing funds for travel and examination fees, rendering it impossible for them to have relatives or friends accompany them on this arduous journey.
Su Bin’s circumstances were vastly different from the previous year when he sat for the Cultivated Talent examination.
Back then, as a Cultivated Talent hopeful, he opted to reside in a modest dormitory provided by the prefectural school. He aimed to economize and harbored fears of potential foul play.
Sleep proved elusive throughout the night due to the resounding snores of fellow candidates.
Now, however, he enjoyed the comforts of his own home.
Qin Zhenzhen personally prepared meals, each consisting of four dishes and a soup—nutritious and safe, with no room for complacency, particularly regarding pre-exam sustenance.
This caution stemmed from the nature of the provincial examination, which comprised three consecutive exams, each spanning three days.
For this duration, they would eat and lodge within the Gong Courtyard, emerging only once the exams concluded.
During these three days, candidates couldn’t leave to dine, and no one could deliver food to them. Consequently, they brought their own supplies, including steamed buns and cakes.
Inside the examination hall, there were no provisions for heating food, and even drinking water was limited to the cold variety.
As such, the imperial examination not only assessed literary prowess but also demanded physical resilience. Without good physical health, enduring nine days and six nights within the examination hall would prove exceptionally challenging.
The provincial examination was also known as the “Country Examination” because it took place in the autumn, and it was often referred to as the “Fall Quarter Examination.”
The first round of the examination was scheduled for August 9th, the second round for August 12th, and the third round for August 15th.
On the evening before August 9th, Qin Zhenzhen and Su Ning diligently prepared all the food that Su Bin had requested.
Anticipating the rigorous scrutiny by officials who would inspect the food upon entry to the examination hall and check for hidden notes, they decided against making meat buns. The fear was that if a meat bun got crushed, it would significantly affect Su Bin’s appetite.
Thin pancakes, on the other hand, were a different story. Qin Zhenzhen had Su Qing precut the pancakes into noodle-like shapes in advance to prevent them from being torn apart by examiners with dirty hands.
Bacon rice balls were also on the menu, and they had been pre-scattered for the first day’s meal.
For the second and third days, Su Bin had pancakes and jerky to sustain him; the food basket was well-stocked.
Bright and early in the morning, Qin Zhenzhen, Su Qing, Su Ning, and Su Bin’s two secret guards accompanied him to the examination hall.
Due to the stringent security measures, the examinees formed four long lines as they entered the examination hall.
Intrigued by the novelty of the security procedures, Su Ning was pulled to the front by Qin Zhenzhen to witness how thoroughly the soldiers inspected the candidates.
Having already experienced it once before, Qin Zhenzhen found nothing unusual.
However, for Su Ning, it was an eye-opening experience. The soldiers treated each candidate as if they were prisoners, demanding the removal of hats, shoes, clothes, distribution materials, blankets, and all other tools. The blankets had to be single-layer, with no concealed items, and even the writing brush tubes were meticulously scrutinized.
Then, his food basket underwent a meticulous inspection. Each item of food was thoroughly crushed and flipped through multiple times to ensure that no hidden notes were concealed within.
Thankfully, Su Bin’s food had already been broken into pieces beforehand. After the soldiers probed the fragments with chopsticks and found nothing amiss, they permitted him to enter the examination hall.
However, after the examination concluded, Su Bin resembled every other candidate, sharing in their collective disheveled state.
The hurried transition to the next examinee left him in a pitiable condition, forced to walk briskly with tousled hair, barefoot, clutching his disarrayed clothing, blanket, shoes, and other tools.
In appearance, they bore a striking resemblance to beggars..