Chapter 222: Chapter 97: County Examination (9)

After the second session of the county examination, time seemed to accelerate.

In what felt like the blink of an eye, this year’s county examination was drawing to a close.

Notably, Zhao Jing had placed first in all of the previous four sessions.

Today was the fifth and final session.

As evening approached, Chen Song and Xu Su Ying were already waiting outside the Dragon Gate. Meanwhile, Chen Wanqing was at home, preparing a celebratory feast for the returning champion.

By the final session, only eighty candidates remained. But not all of them would earn the rank of County Graduate.

Fewer than fifty of them would ultimately pass.

An old man with a full head of white hair and a matching beard commented, "Even if fifty of them become County Graduates, they still have to go to the Prefecture for the prefectural and college exams. Only then will we know which lucky few will become actual Scholars. But Qingshui County isn’t exactly a literary hub. The Prefecture only grants us a handful of Scholar positions each year. I wonder if we’ll get a few more this time. Otherwise, the competition will be just too fierce."

"I don’t know about the others, but the candidate who took first place in the first session is a shoo-in this year."

"I wonder which family produced such a Qilin..."

"Well, he’s not from my family... It’s a shame, really. He was born at the wrong time. A few years ago, the top-ranked candidate in the county examination automatically became a Scholar. There was no need to go on and take the prefectural and college exams."

"In any case, it has little to do with us."

It may have had little to do with the common folk, but for Chen Song and Xu Su Ying, it was a very big deal indeed.

Their family just might produce the county’s top-ranked candidate this year.

According to the old rules, the county’s top-ranked candidate would have automatically been granted the title of Scholar.

But in recent years, some County Magistrates had acted unscrupulously, openly using the position of "top-ranked candidate" for backroom deals involving money, power, and influence. This resulted in genuinely talented individuals being overlooked, while a bunch of useless freeloaders were promoted instead.

Because of this, the court issued a new regulation. Now, all county top-ranked candidates, regardless of their district, were to be treated like any other County Graduate. They would have to proceed to the Prefecture to take the prefectural and college exams. Only by passing those two additional hurdles could they truly earn the title of Scholar.

This change didn’t affect most people. After all, there were only two top-ranked candidates every three years. For families whose children were capable but not exceptionally so, it was just a piece of gossip. Who would really get worked up about it?

But Xu Su Ying was worked up about it. She deeply resented those corrupt officials for their misdeeds. If not for them, her Zhao Jing would be a Scholar the moment the results were posted tomorrow!

"The Dragon Gate is open! They’re coming out! Quick, quick, let’s greet the young masters!"

As the north gate of the examination hall swung open, the candidates inside pushed their way out while the crowd outside surged forward. If not for the Government Officials guarding the entrance, the scene would have descended into utter chaos.

Chen Song had come to pick up the candidates, but at this point, he couldn’t worry about that.

He immediately started shouting to help maintain order.

Xu Su Ying paid Chen Song no mind; he wouldn’t be able to get away anytime soon. She spotted De’an and Zhao Jing, grabbed each by an arm, and started leading them out of the crowd.

"Make way, make way! Hey, you..."

Xu Su Ying looked up. Who should be standing before her but Mrs. Li?

Clearly not expecting this unwelcome encounter, Mrs. Li looked stunned, completely dumbfounded.

Xu Su Ying, however, just rolled her eyes at her. "A good dog knows not to block the path. Move aside."

Mrs. Li snapped out of it and yelled back, "What did you just say? You don’t own this road! You can’t just act high and mighty because your husband works for the government..."

"Get lost! You’re so annoying, always talking nonsense!"

With a forceful shove, Xu Su Ying pushed Mrs. Li aside. As other people rushed forward, Mrs. Li was jostled and stumbled, nearly slamming her head into the main gate.

Xu Su Ying glanced back just in time to see this and couldn’t help but sneer. "Serves you right!"

"Mother, why are you still bothering with her? She arranged the engagement between Li Cun and Chen Wanyue behind Li Cun’s back. Li Cun doesn’t even know. If he did, wouldn’t all hell break loose?"

Xu Su Ying said, "I’m *waiting* for all hell to break loose! You can say your mother is being sinister, but I’m just waiting all day to watch their family’s little drama."

"Mother, you shouldn’t be like that. You should learn from Jing. On the first day, when we came out of the examination hall, we ran into Li Cun..."

"Ahem, Mother, watch your step. There’s a mud puddle here. Come this way."

Zhao Jing solicitously took Xu Su Ying’s arm, guiding her away from the puddle.

A spring rain had fallen two days prior, during the fourth examination session. It was already afternoon when the rain started pouring.

It wasn’t the usual gentle, drizzling spring shower, but a heavy downpour. In no time at all, the rainwater on the ground was ankle-deep.