After hearing this, Taihao couldn't help frowning, and a strong dissatisfaction and anger surged in his heart. He never imagined that in a place like Jiutu City, the imperial examination would be reduced to a tool for money transactions, and the practice of substitute examinations would be so rampant, while truly talented young people would be buried in this dark shadow.

He took a deep breath, like a sip of cold spring, trying to quench the fire of anger burning within him. He clearly felt that he was on the edge of emotion at this moment, like the calm before a storm, on the verge of triggering. But he knew that impulsiveness would only make things worse, and he needed to be calm, like a lake in the cold winter, calm and deep.

He turned slowly, his eyes like a torch, and looked the young man in the eye. There was a hint of gratitude and firmness in his voice: "Your words are like the dawn of dawn, allowing me to see clearly the true situation in this darkness. I thank you for revealing it all for me. ”

Taihao's mind returned to what Yang Zhong had said before - "Maybe there will be other discoveries." He suddenly understood that perhaps the "other discovery" was referring to the shocking substitute examination incident in front of him. His heart was occupied by a complex emotion, ranging from a desire for the truth to anticipation and anxiety about what to do next.

The shopkeeper Bao Xian was silent for a moment, and finally broke the silence, his voice echoing in the air: "Everyone who intends to take the substitute exam this year has arrived, right?" ”

The onlookers responded in unison, and their voices were as turbulent as the waves: "It's all here!" ”

One of the readers couldn't help but shout, his voice revealing greed and urgency: "Bao Xian, reveal it quickly!" How much did they pay? If the silver is too small, I don't want to bother with it. ”

The shopkeeper Bao Xian smiled slightly, took out a piece of paper from his arms, and slowly unfolded it. His gaze swept over the paper, and then he read clearly: "The Luo family in Dongcheng, the literary test will be ten taels of silver for one time, and if you can win the first place, you will be rewarded with another fifty taels of silver." Twenty taels of silver for the martial arts test once, and if you can win the top spot, add another eighty taels of silver. ”

As soon as this remark came out, all the readers immediately discussed and sighed: "This Luo family is really stingy as before, and every year it is his family's lowest bid." ”

Taihao listened in confusion. Just to take the exam for others, even if you don't have the first place, you can easily get ten taels of silver, and these readers are still too few. It seems that this substitute test is indeed rich in oil and water.

Bao Xian's shopkeeper continued to read: "The Mu family in Nancheng, the literary test is fifty taels of silver for a substitute test, and if you get the first place, you will be rewarded with a gold bar." Sixty taels of silver for a martial arts test, and if you get the first place, add another gold bar. ”

There was another uproar among the readers, who said that the price was fair.

Afterwards, Bao Xian's shopkeeper opened his lips again, and his voice revealed an excitement that could not be concealed: "The sheep family in Xicheng, the literary test for the test bid sixty taels of silver, if you can dominate the 'city test', there will be another one hundred taels of silver as an additional reward; ”

As soon as this remark came out, the readers seemed to explode and discussed a lot. A reader was stunned: "Yo, the Yang family has really made a lot of money this year." Another echoed: "Yes, in previous years, the sheep family was not so bold." ”

The shopkeeper Bao Xian seemed to be very satisfied with this effect, he cleared his throat and announced in a higher voice: "The Sun family in Beicheng, the Wen test bid one hundred taels of silver for the examination, and if you can win the top spot, another two hundred taels of silver will be rewarded; The martial arts test substitute test is even more bid 200 taels of silver, if you can win the first place, add 300 taels of silver! ”

Before the words fell, there was already an uproar among the readers. They exchanged heads and ears, and they all marveled at the Sun family's generosity. "The Sun family is really arrogant this year, the sum of the literary and martial arts tests is a lot of money." "That is to say, the literary test adds up to three hundred taels, and the martial test is as high as five hundred taels, which is really jaw-dropping."

The shopkeeper Bao Xian carefully folded the piece of paper that seemed to carry many secrets and put it back into his arms. He tilted his head slightly and gestured to the shopkeeper in the bookstore. Soon, eight delicate ceramic bowls were placed on the table in front of them, silently waiting for their fate.

A clever shopkeeper held a pile of rough straw paper and shuttled between the readers, handing them out to each reader one by one. These papyri are about to carry their hopes and expectations.

Bao Xian's shopkeeper's voice echoed in the bookstore: "Ladies and gentlemen, according to our traditional rules, these eight bowls represent the four major families of the Luo family, the Mu family, the Yang family, and the Sun family from left to right. The four bowls on the top are for the literary test, and the four on the bottom are for the martial test. He paused, his gaze sweeping over the readers, "You all have a piece of paper in your hand, write your name on it, and fold it." If you want to take the test for whichever family, put the paper into the bowl of the corresponding family. It's not just a simple lot, it's your way of getting drawn. ”

When the readers heard this, they began to write their names on the papyrus. Tai Hao originally thought it was just a simple random process, but he soon discovered that each reader had to line up to put the paper in the bowl, and he also had to pay five taels of silver to the shopkeeper next to him before putting it in. This move obviously adds to the complexity and sense of solemnity of the whole process.

As the papers were thrown into the bowl one by one, the atmosphere in the bookstore became more tense and full of anticipation than the sound of money being traded. They all silently prayed in their hearts that their names would be lucky to be drawn.

Tai Hao wrote the word "twelve" on the straw paper in his hand carefully. He chose to use his own nickname instead of his real name, "Taihao", which would both hide his true identity and reduce the risk of arousing suspicion from others. This simple act reveals his inner caution and resourcefulness.

When he learned that he still had to pay five taels of silver before putting his name into the corresponding bowl, he couldn't help but feel a pang of consternation in his heart. These five taels of silver are obviously not just to qualify for the substitute exam, but also to participate in this secret transaction as an "entrance fee".

Tai Hao realized that this substitute exam was not as simple as he initially thought. In addition to finding the right candidate, there are many complex benefits and monetary transactions involved. Five taels of silver may not be a small amount for many people, but here, it has become a "stepping stone" to participate in this unfair competition.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm the shock and anger inside. He knows that he is in a world full of darkness and corruption, and all he can do is do his best to expose these injustices and fight for a fair chance for those young talents who are truly talented but buried.

Tai Hao clutched the piece of straw paper carrying the words "twelve" and the five taels of heavy silver, his gaze was as firm as a rock, and he walked steadily towards the row of ceramic bowls. The bowls seem to quietly tell the fate of each other, waiting for the input of an unknown name.

Among the four bowls representing the "Four Great Families", he chose the Locke family. It's not because he has any special feelings for the Locke family, but because the Locke family gives the least amount of compensation for the substitute exam, so few readers are willing to substitute for it. And other families, especially the Sun family, naturally attracted many substitutes because of their generous shots. He walked over to the bowl that represented Locke's martial arts test and gently threw the straw paper in his hand.

When the public readers voted their names one by one, the whole bookstore fell into a tense and expectant atmosphere. The shopkeeper stood in front of the readers, ready to begin the fateful lottery.

This time, he started with the Sun family, who had the highest bid. I saw him stretch out two fingers, as if playing a piece of fate, and gently probed into the bowl that represented Sun Jiawen. His movements are slow and solemn, as if every detail is infinitely magnified, and the reader's breath stops.

Finally, he took out a ball of paper and gently unfolded it. The paper has a yellowish sheen in the light, and the handwriting on it is clearly visible. Bao Xian's shopkeeper took a deep breath and read aloud: "This year's test for the Sun family's Kaowen is - A Eagle." ”

As soon as he finished speaking, a man leaped out of the crowd and smiled. He obviously didn't expect the god of luck to favor him so much, and his excitement was palpable. He stood up and gave Bao Xian a deep bow: "Thank you Bao Xian!" His voice was full of gratitude and respect.

The readers around him cast envious glances at him, as if they saw in him the shadow of their dreams coming true. For a while, congratulations came one after another, "Congratulations!" "Good luck!" Every reader was infected by this sudden joy, and a cheerful and enthusiastic atmosphere permeated the bookstore.

Immediately afterwards, the shopkeeper Bao Xian stretched out his hand to the bowl that represented Sun Jiawu's test. His every movement seemed so solemn, as if he was performing a sacred ritual. The eyes of the readers followed his fingers closely, and their heartbeats accelerated with his movements.

Finally, he took a ball of paper from the bowl and gently unfolded it. The paper fluttered gently in the air, and the handwriting on it loomed in the light. Bao Xian's shopkeeper's voice sounded again: "The one who can test the martial arts for the Sun family is Ah Ying." ”

As soon as the words ended, a man walked out of the reader's room, his face beaming with joy and disbelief. He bowed his hand to the shopkeeper Bao Xian, and his voice was full of gratitude: "Thank you Bao Xian shopkeeper!" ”

He was congratulated by the surrounding readers, with friendly and envious smiles on their faces. A man stepped forward, patted him on the shoulder, and said with a smile: "Brother Ying, why are you so lucky, you have made a lot of money this year." ”

Ah Ying responded with a smile: "I didn't expect that I could have such good luck." There was an unconcealable excitement and excitement in his voice. This sudden good news made him feel a little fluttery, as if he was in a dream.

The shopkeeper continued his lottery ceremony, and every time he reached into the bowl, it seemed to pluck a tense and expectant piece of music on the heartstrings of the readers. Every time he announced, it decided the fate of a reader, and it also affected the heartbeat of every reader present.

He reached out again, this time taking out two paper balls from the sheep's bowl. The first is the list of exams for the sheep family, and after it was expanded, he announced: "The one who took the exam for the sheep family is - Ah Xiong." When Ah Xiong heard his name, a sincere smile appeared on his face, and he thanked the readers around him a little helplessly. The second is the list of martial arts exams, "The one who took the martial arts test for the sheep family is Ah He." Ah He was slender, and when he heard the results, he bowed gracefully, and the readers around him applauded him.

Next is the draw of the Mu family. Bao Xian's shopkeeper's movements were as calm and powerful as ever. The first name he took out was: "The one who tried the test for the Mu family was - Ah Hu." Ah Yu was a bookish young man, and when he heard the results, he had a confident smile on his face. Then there is the list of martial arts exams: "The one who took the martial arts test for the Mu family is Ah Shi." Ah Shi was a burly man, and when he heard his name, he patted his chest and let out a loud laugh.

In the end, Bao Xian's shopkeeper came to the bowl of the Luo family. He began to draw the list of Locke's exams. At this moment, the atmosphere is especially tense, because the Locke family has relatively few substitutes, and every reader is looking forward to luck to befall him.