Gu Yanzhang was at the end of the long line at the entrance of the examination room, turned around and explained to Ji Qingling: "You go back first, there are so many people here, don't be touched." ”

Ji Qingling smiled: "It's okay, I'll just stand for a while and leave soon." ”

At this time, it was almost time to enter the venue, in addition to the students in line, there were many family members who saw them off, and the field was crowded side by side. Ji Qingling and Gu Yanzhang stood together, there were people in front of them, left and right, and as long as they spoke a little quietly, they would not be able to hear clearly.

Before she could finish speaking, there was a commotion behind her, and seven or eight tall servants came from afar, tearing through the crowd as if they were splitting mountains and seas along the way. The person who was knocked away was still glaring angrily at first, and when he saw the clothes that the other party was wearing, he was immediately silenced, and he didn't dare to let go of a fart.

Several servants opened the way, and from behind came a boy of fifteen or sixteen years old.

Now it is only April, the weather is not very hot, but the boy is holding a folding fan in his hand, he is dressed in a brocade robe, ordinary appearance, his face is full of impatience, coldly glanced at the students queuing in the field, his eyes and expressions are full of contempt.

He did not line up, but walked straight to the front of the line surrounded by servants, and inserted himself in the first place. The student who was cut in line hurriedly took a few steps back and gave him a place.

There was a lot of noise in the field, but as soon as the boy and brother appeared, they immediately quieted down, and when they were far away, someone slowly whispered to each other. A scholar in front of Gu Yanzhang scolded in a low voice: "It's the Demon King of the Mixed World again!" ”

Ji Qingling couldn't help but ask, "This big brother, who is that person?" ”

The scholar showed a disapproving expression, and said: "The side branch of the Xie family in the east of the city, relying on his own few stinky money, and there is an uncle in the family who is an official in Beijing, who is arrogant and domineering all day long, it is simply a cancer!" ”

Ji Qingling asked, "Chengdong Xie family?" But which one opened the bookstore? ”

I have been in Jixian County for a few months, and Ji Qingling also has a general understanding of this place, there are five major clans in Jixian County, Xie, Yan, Qian, Zhang, and Liu, among which the Xie family in the east of the city is the bookstore, and the last time she and Gu Yanzhang went to sell those copies of "Sleepy Learning", the bookstore she was looking for was the Xie family's industry.

I can't imagine that there are such unreasonable people in the family of poetry and books.

The scholar nodded and said: "Exactly, he takes the Qingming and Liangshan exams every year, and he doesn't get in the middle every year, and he ranks more than forty people in the Qingming Academy, and he happens to be one short of being on the list. ”

Hearing this, the people at the back of the line also interjected: "I also know this, I know the person who was beaten, he is from Qijia Village, and he has no background at home, and he was beaten in vain." In the end, the Xie family couldn't see it, and they came forward to pay a few silver coins on their behalf, and it is said that now their legs are not good, and they are limping when they walk, which is hopeless for the imperial examination. ”

When everyone heard this, they all sighed once, pitiful once, and there was humanity: "What is this, last time, someone just said that his article was not as good as Zheng Shixiu, and he was pressed into Cuiping Lake by him in the winter, and it took half a cup of tea to let go, if it wasn't for the timely treatment, that life probably wouldn't come back." ”

As soon as he had finished speaking, someone else picked up and talked about another matter.

You say a word, I say a word, it seems that everyone has heard about the evil form and evil state of this son.

While they were discussing, they heard three gongs ringing in front of them, followed by the sound of the iron door opening wide, and then someone shouted, "Enter!" ”

The team suddenly clamoured, everyone returned to their teams, and after a while, soldiers came out of it and began to disperse the crowd that had come to take the exam.

Gu Yanzhang hurriedly explained: "You go to the back to find Qiuyue, don't run around, and don't come to pick me up again, I know how to go back!" ”

The team began to move forward slowly, and Ji Qingling only had time to respond twice before being dispersed by the soldiers.

Gu Yanzhang waited in line for more than an hour before he walked to the door, and the guards checked his identity documents, asked a few questions, and asked him to stand aside to estimate his height, and then pointed to a room behind him and said, "Go there and change your clothes." ”

He walked into the room, and there was already a servant standing in it, and when he looked at him, he said lukewarmly, "Take away the scribe's turban and shoes, and take off his coat." ”

Gu Yanzhang's face was a little difficult to look at for a while.

This is really a bit insulting.

But since it was a rule, he had to do what he said.

The official waited for him to take off his coat, then stepped forward to search his hair, shoes and socks, and searched his body, carefully checked whether he had made a cheat sheet on his belly, thighs, arms, etc., and after searching it, he put a number plate on the shoes and socks and clothes that Gu Yanzhang took off, put it in the cabinet at the back, and took out a new set of clothes, shoes and socks from it, and said: "You put it on, and come back to get it after the exam." After speaking, he pointed to the back and said, "Go out through this door." ”

As soon as Gu Yanzhang went out, he heard some noise in the room next to him, and several soldiers immediately rushed in, and after a while, it was quiet inside. He turned his head, ignored the gossip, and walked straight on.

There was a row of tables in front of him, on which his age and place of origin were written, Gu Yanzhang found his own table, walked over, asked him about his age and place of origin behind the table, took a sign and a key, and said, "Look for your room according to the number on the sign." ”

Gu Yanzhang looked down, and the sign and key both read "Xin Zi Yi Shi Jiu Fang". He thanked him and followed the instructions to find the room.

The so-called room is just a small grid, only two people wide, as long as you enter, you can't even get up and move, there is a moving table in the grid, a fixed chair, and the table is placed with pen and ink, inkstone and other things. He stood at the door and watched for a while, and then a soldier came up and said, "Don't stand here, go into your room, or you will cheat!" ”

Gu Yanzhang said a little bit of annoyance, moved the table and sat in.

This Jixian County really attaches great importance to culture and education, but it is just a small college examination, and this means of preventing cheating is not much different from the scientific examination.

He closed his eyes, recuperated for a while, and silently recited the scriptures that he had memorized for a long time.

At this time, you can't think too much, let alone be nervous, instead of guessing the question, it is better to memorize the scriptures to relax.

He had only finished memorizing most of the "Zhou Li" when he heard the crackling sound of firecrackers in the examination room, and then the soldiers held the plates and handed out test papers, blank papers and other things one by one.

The cubicles are not only small, because there are only wooden planks separating them, the people next to them can hear what they do, Gu Yanzhang was waiting for the test papers, and listening to the hiccups of the people on the left, the other party seemed to be very nervous, hiccups on the one hand, and stomped on the other, and after a while, he was reprimanded by the officials on the patrol.