sjar Chapter 602 Another Imperial Examination
Chapter 602 Another Imperial Examination
"Who exactly wrote this imperial examination guide? It's absolutely ingenious!"
"Never mind whether it's exquisite or not, just hand me a rope!"
Feeling sleepy all the time isn't good; when am I ever going to get through all these questions?
"Haha, I told you to hang your head from the rafters a long time ago, but you just couldn't bear to part with your beautiful hair. If you ask me, nothing is more important than doing practice problems right now."
As the young scholar spoke, he handed the man a rope and kindly helped him tie it up, attaching it to the beam.
Six hemp ropes of the same thickness hung from the crossbeam, each tied to the other end to a candidate preparing for the provincial examination.
This scene seemed to recreate the atmosphere of the Chiang family's study room where students prepared for exams.
Just as the candidates were studying diligently with their heads hanging from the rafters, the door suddenly creaked open.
When everyone looked up, they saw that it was their benefactor who had given them the exam preparation materials.
"Brother Qiu, ouch, ouch!"
One person got up to greet him, but forgot that he was still "a grasshopper tied to a rope." Before he could take two steps, he was called back by a magical force.
"Hey! Be careful!"
Qiu Feng's words came too late, of course. The scholar was holding his head with one hand and his buttocks with the other, looking utterly ridiculous.
The other five people were struggling to suppress their laughter, biting their lips as they untied the ropes, trying their best not to burst out laughing.
"Alright, alright! Laugh if you want to, don't hold it in and ruin your health and affect your exam."
Finally freed from the ropes, the six welcomed Qiu Feng inside.
There wasn't really any space inside the house to entertain guests; it was one of the most inconspicuous courtyards in Qiu Feng's family home.
It's just a small courtyard, enough for six people, but there's no separate study available.
Now everyone gathers in the hall, treating it as a large study.
When everyone got together, they worked on problems together, hung ropes together, and stayed up all night together, which made their relationship even closer.
The courtyard had no servants or pageboys, only an old man guarding the gate and a rather old cook.
One person was responsible for guarding the gate, and the other was responsible for providing three meals a day for the six people.
Qiu Feng didn't come to just stroll around and disturb the candidates' preparations for the exam; he came with gifts.
"Brother Qiu never comes empty-handed, which makes us feel quite embarrassed."
None of them came from wealthy or farming families; none of them had a privileged background.
Even the provincial examination was funded by Lord Qiu's generous donations; otherwise, they might not have even had a chance to pass the provincial examination, let alone participate in the metropolitan examination.
Now that they are about to participate in the imperial examination, they are all deeply grateful to the Qiu family for their great kindness.
They certainly knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. Once they accepted the Qiu family's financial support, even if they passed the imperial examinations and became officials, they would still be unable to escape the Qiu family's influence.
So what? We were just rootless duckweed to begin with, and now that we have a powerful figure to cling to, why not hold on tight?
Such an opportunity is not something everyone is lucky enough to encounter. What's wrong with repaying the benefactor in the future? As long as it's not something immoral or immoral, isn't that enough?
Moreover, based on their understanding of the Qiu family and Lord Qiu, they knew the Qiu family couldn't possibly do anything bad.
Moreover, the Qiu family father and son are both excellent people.
"What's there to be embarrassed about? What I brought isn't some priceless treasure; it's all useful to you."
Do you remember the gentleman I told you about? He's the author of these exam preparation guides.
"Brother Qiu, haven't you been reluctant to say who the other party is? So mysterious. What, do you want to tell us today?"
They were naturally very curious, but since the other person didn't want to talk about it, they couldn't force them to.
Perhaps that great scholar simply disliked being ostentatious and preferred to act in a low-key manner?
When using someone else's hard work, you should at least give them basic respect.
It must be said that, regardless of their academic qualifications, the candidates selected by Qiu Cheng were all of impeccable character and could all be called gentlemen.
"Hey, sir~ after you pass the palace examination and parade through the streets on horseback, I'll introduce you to him."
"Oh? To meet in person? Brother Qiu, don't make fun of us. You have to keep your word!"
"Look at what you're saying. When have I ever gone back on my word? If I said I'd take you to see them, I will."
"Take a look at what I brought; it will all come in handy during the imperial examination."
The six people huddled together with their somewhat messy hair, waiting for Qiu Feng to take something out of the package.
"This is... a wooden barrel?"
"Oh dear, what wooden bucket? It's clearly a bamboo tube. What kind of eyesight do you have? Or have you never seen bamboo before?"
"Although my hometown doesn't produce bamboo, I've seen it before, but I've never seen it so neatly arranged."
Qiu Feng took out the bamboo tube that the Jiang family liked to use to store exam papers, and of course, there was also a matching oilcloth bag.
"The bamboo tubes and oilcloth bags here come in sets, one bamboo tube for one oilcloth bag. Divide them up, three sets for each person."
Nobody knows what these are for, but let's just divide them up first.
"Brother Qiu, what are these bamboo tubes and oilcloth bags for?" one of the candidates couldn't help but ask after receiving his share.
"These bamboo tubes will be very useful in the imperial examination. They can be used to hold your completed answer sheets, and the oilcloth bags are waterproof and moisture-proof, ensuring that your answer sheets are completely safe."
During the imperial examinations, no one can guarantee that it won't rain. Everyone will bring a rain cover, but the exam papers are delicate and will be ruined if they get even a little water on them.
Besides using tarpaulins to cover the main surface, it's still necessary to add an extra layer of protection to the exam papers.
As everyone stroked the smooth surface of the bamboo tube, they suddenly realized what was going on. They then noticed a wooden stopper connected to the top of the bamboo tube by a thin rope and exclaimed in amazement.
"And this too." Qiu Feng took out a few small porcelain bottles from the package. "These are pills to refresh your mind. If you feel sleepy or nauseous during the exam, take one and you'll be refreshed immediately."
This was certainly not made by Jiang Xiaoqi. Qiu Feng had someone find a physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau to specially make it. The porcelain bottle even has the emblem of the Imperial Medical Bureau on it.
Everyone accepted the porcelain bottle with great gratitude.
"Brother Qiu, you've thought of everything so thoroughly, down to the smallest detail. You yourself are preparing for the exam, yet you're still going to such lengths for us. I'm truly ashamed."
"Just focus on the exam and don't worry about anything else. I believe that with your talents, you will surely pass with flying colors one day."
"Then we will take your kind words, Brother Qiu. We will definitely do our best!"
After saying that, Qiu Feng shared his recent experience of practicing coding problems with everyone, and then got up to take his leave. Time is precious these days, and it shouldn't be wasted.
The six of them saw Qiu Feng off together and returned to their own battlefield, helping each other to re-tie the ropes and fight another three hundred rounds against the mountain of books and sea of questions!