Today is the third time that Liu Ding has come to the Science Society.

He has passed the first two exams, and today is the last exam, what are the questions? Nobody knows.

Liu Ding has been living in the post station provided by the Science Society for the scholars who have passed the two exams to rest, and the daily meals are sent by someone.

Moreover, if you are admitted to the society and become a formal student, you will be paid by the society every month, and a monthly salary of three taels of silver will be issued, which can be regarded as eliminating the worries of poor students, and those who excel in learning will have an additional reward of more than 30 taels of silver every year, and even more, they can enter the society in advance and become a member, not a student.

After becoming a full member, the silver will naturally rise, and I heard that there are five hundred taels of silver every year!

This treatment is better than the Ming Jing scholars who entered Beijing to take the exam!

So when the identity was checked and he was about to step into the venue of the scientific society, Liu Ding's mood was apprehensive.

He's going to stay here no matter what.

Whether it's to fulfill their ambitions, or the wishes of their fathers and mothers.

Holding the cloth bag in his hand tightly, Liu Ding's gaze gradually became firm.

"Brother Ding" was just about to lift his feet to go in, when Liu Ding suddenly heard someone behind him calling his name.

Turning his head, it was Xiong Er.

I haven't seen him for half a month, Xiong Er has become more stocky from his original fatness, looks more stable, and has experienced.

"I know that you are going to have the last exam, so I will see you off," Xiong Er ran to Liu Ding, didn't care about wiping the sweat on his forehead, wiped his hands on his shirt indiscriminately, took out a small cotton bag with a precious weight, and said with a solemn face: "Here is a token from the mountain god of Jiming Mountain, bless you to successfully pass the assessment and enter the society to become a student!" ”

Taking the small cloth bag, Liu Ding pursed his lips and wanted to say something, but was punched by Xiong Er: "Don't say it, you don't have to say it, you will invite me to eat and drink when you are admitted!" ”

The two have played with open crotch pants since they were children, and there are some things that really don't need to be said.

"How are you doing?" Liu Ding looked at Xiong Er's body and felt that this guy had grown stronger more than once.

"His grandmother bombs mountains and mines every day, and she hasn't slept for many days," Xiong Er snorted, and then whispered in a low voice: "Tell you, Councilor Xu is preparing to establish a metal research institute under the scientific society, and we may be selected."

"Really?" Liu Ding's eyes lit up, if both of them can successfully stay in the Science Society, then they must drink a pot of wine!

"Alright, it's almost time, you can go in quickly." Xiong Er patted Liu Ding's shoulder and urged him to hurry up and enter the palace for the exam.

"Wait for my good news!" Liu Ding clenched his fists, then turned away.

I heard that the first two questions of the first enrollment of the society were written by Mr. Xuanhu, and then reviewed by himself, while the third question was written by Qi Guogong, that is, the chief consul, and the examiner was the entire seven-member parliamentary group.

This news made Liu Ding, who was sitting in the examination room, a little apprehensive.

Sitting there, covering his chest, saying that he was not nervous, it was a lie, Liu Ding only felt that his heart was about to pop out.

Boom!!!

The gong rang suddenly, and then the invigilator's voice sounded: "Distribute the test papers!! ”

The paper of the test paper is extremely elegant, bright yellow silk paper, made of three layers, thin but not broken, tough but not soft, both ends of the silk paper are engraved with gilt patterns, and the seal is written through, name, and birthday.

Slowly opening the letter, Liu Ding's breathing gradually calmed down, his eyes fell, his face was slightly stunned, and there were two questions on the half-foot-long scroll:

First, in the disaster year in the north, the temperature has dropped year after year, how to popularize sweet potatoes and corn and other things to benefit the people?

Second, on the development of production tools, the importance of productivity? (Please understand the words "production tools" and "productivity" by yourself.) ）

You can choose one of the above two questions.

For a while, in the entire examination room, the sound of heavy breathing sounded in turn.

The five invigilators glanced at each other, and they were all dignified—they had just learned about the two questions.

At this moment, Wenyuan Pavilion is in the hall.

"Chief, isn't the third question too obscure?" Looking at Wang Qi, who was leisurely drinking tea there, Xu Guangqi was a little helpless.

How could anyone have asked questions like that?

For students who have read the Four Books and Five Classics for decades, ask the question: How to improve crops? To adapt it to the colder soil and weather of the north?

Another example: the relationship between production tools and productivity?

You asked Xu Guangqi to answer, but he couldn't answer.

It is simply impossible to understand the question!

"This kind of question, there is no right answer, you let me come, I can't say one, two, three, but the heads of three or four hundred people are better than a few of us, right? If you think of something and answer something, you can just say it with reason, and you can say it with something! Wang Qi didn't care, picked up the tea bowl and tasted the tea by himself.

A short time later, footsteps sounded outside the door.

"Qi Guogong! What is this title? This made the scholars of the Ming Jingke and Jinshi Department see it, isn't it a joke? When Sun Chengzong was angry, he always called Wang Qi the Duke of Qi, and I don't know what kind of psychology it was.

When he opened his eyes, Wang Qi looked at the test paper in Sun Chengzong's hand, but he put away his smile, sat up straight, and said: "Mr. Kaiyang, what is wrong with saving the country and saving the people?" ”

"What is a production tool? What is productivity? Sun Chengzong slapped the silk paper on the table and asked.

"Tools, plows, forces, people and animals are all powerful," Wang Qi looked at Sun Chengzong.

"I think it is feasible for the old farmers who have been working intensively for decades to answer this question," Sun Chengzong frowned: "Let these students come to study answer."

"Mr. Kaiyang, why underestimate them?" Wang Qi shook his head: "I'm really looking forward to what kind of answers they can write." ”

At this time, the people and scholars of the entire Beijing city also argued over Wang Qi's two topics.

"Increasing the yield of sweet potatoes and corn?" In the restaurant, after someone got the information about the exam papers, he wondered: "Isn't this a farming matter?" It should be in charge of the agricultural officer, what does it mean that this Qi Guogong treats this as an exam question? ”

"There is also a saying, the weather is getting cold, how can human intervention be able to make the weather cold? Qi Guogong didn't know what he was thinking? Everyone looked up at the scorching sun overhead: "I want it to be colder." ”

"You're looking, what does this second question mean? What does that mean? Another scholar pointed to a scroll in his hand: "What do you mean by productivity and production tools?" ”

Does Qi Guogong want the students of the Science Society to work in the fields?

"As soon as these two questions come out, I want to see, who will dare to say that the scientific society will surpass us and other national eunuchs in the future?"

"The study of the sage that Guozijian learned, the way of the society!!"

"And what about the Scientific Society? That's the knowledge of the field, hahaha, maybe, one day, we can really see those students of the scientific society, going to the fields in droves! ”

Hahaha.

Xiong Er, who was sitting in the corner and listening to everyone's discussion, was also frowning at the moment, I don't know how Liu Ding answered in the examination room?

Learn the exam room.

There were more than 300 people in the entire examination room, and they were sweating like rain at the moment.

Although the invigilator has placed ice cubes all over the examination room to cool down, there are still many candidates who faint directly in the examination room due to nervousness and anxiety.

One by one, they were carried out.

What's more, he scolded directly in the examination room: scolded Qi Guogong, scolded Xu Guangqi, and scolded the Science Society.

Of course, such a person was caught and thrown into the examination room on the spot, and his name was changed forever, and he was not allowed to take the exam again.

And Liu Ding, as soon as he got the test paper, knew that ten years had passed, and he seemed to be all for this exam.

Since he was a teenager, all his energy has been focused on cultivating those crops and improving the soil.

As the last incense ash of the dragon candle fell.

Boom!!!

The gong sounded again.

"At the end of the exam, all candidates will stop writing and !! the papers"

Call.

Liu Ding exhaled heavily, and then put the pen aside.

Crackling, sweat running down his hair and falling to the ground.

Liu Ding raised his head and hurriedly wiped the sweat on his head with his sleeve to prevent it from falling on the test paper and contaminating the surface of the paper.

Liu Ding looked down at his test paper, Liu Ding felt that more than ten years of hard work seemed to be all condensed in this day, just for this exam.

"I'm checking it again."

Liu Ding took advantage of the fact that the invigilator had not yet walked here, and looked down at the ten lines, trying to find some mistakes in the pen, or avoid words.

There should be no mistakes!

In a short time, the invigilator had already walked over, gently rolled up the silk paper, and then closed the place where the name was written, and took it away.

Liu Ding was pious at the moment, and he watched as his test papers were put into a black and purple wooden box, and then placed on the lowest level of the second stack.

Clenched his fists, Liu Ding's mood was a little excited.

After a short time, the invigilator gave the order to leave the examination room.

All candidates walked out of the examination room in turn.

The moment he walked out of the examination room, looking up at the sky, Liu Ding was in a trance: what he was pursuing and what he loved seemed to be within reach.

"Brother Ding!" Xiong Er's voice sounded from afar: "How's it going, how did you do in the exam?" When I was in a restaurant, I listened to people discussing, saying that the topic was tricky and unusual, what do you think? ”

Trying to calm his breathing, Liu Ding grinned: "Don't worry, I will be able to go to high school!" ”

As soon as these words came out, the eyes of almost all the scholars around him were full of naked hostility and jealousy.

"Good! With your words, I am relieved! ”

Xiong Er was extremely happy, ignoring the eyes of the rest of the people, and patted Liu Ding's shoulder: "Let's go, let's go celebrate today."

Liu Ding was also in a good mood at the moment, and he turned around to have a drink with Xiong Er.

"Huh?"

The next moment, Liu Ding's body seemed to be frozen, motionless.

"Brother Ding, what's wrong with you?" Xiong Er was a little puzzled.

"Old Xiong," Liu Ding licked his chapped lips, his voice trembling: "I don't seem to have written my name and place of birth!" ”

What?

When Xiong Eryi heard this, his heart tightened, and his face instantly turned white.

"Go and ask the examiner" Xiong Er reacted quickly, and immediately pulled Liu Ding to turn around and go towards the examination room.

"Hey, what are you doing? The exam has ended, and idle people are not allowed to enter the examination room, "The entrance of the examination room has been guarded by elite infantry at the moment.

According to the order of the Chief Consul, no one was allowed to enter the place until the box containing the exam papers was delivered to Wenyuan Pavilion.

"This brother is good, we have forgotten to bring something, go in and find it, it's convenient," Xiong Er said as he went out of his arms and stuffed the broken silver into the guard's hand.

"Yo," seeing the silver, the guard's face softened a lot, and he quietly stretched out his hand and took the silver into his arms: "What's the matter?" ”

"Please let my brother go in and find the examiner," Xiong Er said, also feeling that his brother's mistake was too low-level, so his face was a little embarrassed: "I didn't write my place of origin and name." ”

"What? Didn't write your name? The guard was stunned for a moment, and then laughed and said, "If you are so careless, what else do you want to learn?" Go home and grow sweet potatoes! ”

The guard's loud ridicule also attracted the attention of the surrounding scholars: "This person did not write his name......"

"I want to go in and go to the examiner!"

"Who knows if it's really not written by name, or if you want to take advantage of the opportunity to cheat......"

"Look at the way he looks, he's not a talented learner."

"I just said that I will win! Now it seems that the name is gone! ”

"Is it a sweet potato in a cloth bag?"

"Hahaha"

This scene at the entrance of the examination room made all the students happy.

People are like this, happiness and joy, most of them come from comparison, you are worse than me, I can get happiness.

At this moment, the door of the examination room opened again, and a team of guards escorted a carriage out.

Presumably to send it to the Society.

"Idle people wait for the speed and retreat!" The armored guard pressed the long sword and stood at the door: "Those who approach without permission will be handed over to Shuntianfu for punishment!" ”

As soon as these words came out, the scholars and people who were originally gathered around and wanted to continue to see the excitement all retreated.

Boom, the entire entrance of the examination room was immediately vacated, and no one wanted to get into a lawsuit for nothing.

However, Xiong Er looked a little unwilling, and as soon as he moved, he was about to step forward.

"Forget it." Liu Ding pulled his friend to death, although he had all kinds of regret and sadness in his heart, but no matter how he said it, it was not enough for people to get into a lawsuit: "Forget it, it's my own carelessness, and I can take the test again next year." Wait another year! ”

"Brother Ding?" Xiong Er turned his head and looked at his friend.

"Let's go have a drink!" Liu Ding's face tried to squeeze out a smile: "No matter what, you can settle in the capital."

"You laugh better than crying," Xiong Er stretched out his hand and patted Liu Ding's shoulder: "But don't be discouraged, we know your knowledge, if that Xu University Scholar and Qi Guogong have the talent to know people, whether you write your name or not, you will be able to win!" ”

Liu Ding smiled bitterly when he heard this, I am afraid that those who do not write their names will directly depose and make such low-level mistakes, and Liu Ding himself is a little speechless.

"Promise your good words!" Liu Ding finally arched his hand: "Let's go."

With that, the two left side by side.

And the box containing the exam papers was also escorted towards learning.

Wenyuan Pavilion side hall, the society council.

"Councillor, the test papers have been collected and placed next door," the chief invigilator stood not far from Xu Guangqi, reporting to him, followed by the four deputy invigilators and the clerk in charge of the paperwork.

To open the test paper bank, you need at least six keys.

Xu Guangqi sat there, chewed the last tea leaf in the teacup, and swallowed it.

"Are there any special circumstances?" Xu Guangqi didn't raise his eyelids, he still lowered his head, and transcribed the "Xiyi Encyclopedia" in front of him.

"In addition to fainting on the spot, cheating and scolding exam questions, there is one thing that the lower officials can't be sure of!" The examiner lowered his head and hesitated.

"What?" Xu Guangqi's pen paused, his eyes raised, and his eyes shone over.

"When the paper was checked, it was found that there was a candidate who did not write his place of origin and name."

"Have you ever written down the title of his frontispiece?" Xu Guangqi frowned.

"Back to my lord's words, in order to avoid suspicion of melon fields and plums, the lower officials did not record it," Seeing Xu Guangqi frowning, cold sweat was already dripping on the examiner's forehead.

"It's good that you haven't recorded it, and you don't have to talk to me about such things," Xu Guangqi continued to pick up the pen and transcribe: "I'll talk about it after reading the papers."

"Xia Guan knows."

"Let's go down and get busy."

Today is not the time to check the test papers, after all, Wang Qi and Xu Guangqi have a lot of political chores every day, and the time for reviewing the test papers has already been set, and they have their own regulations.

I don't know how long it has been, the messenger has already come in to add lamp oil twice, Xu Guangqi finally put down the brush, picked up the tea and drank a cup: "When is it?" ”

"The first moment." The waiter replied respectfully, "My lord, the dining room has prepared noodles, rice and side dishes for you, you see?" ”

"Is there any millet porridge?" Xu Guangqi doesn't like greasy.

"Yes, I'll bring it to you" The waiter turned around and walked just two steps, and then turned back: "My lord, someone in the mansion has sent a message saying that Madame asked you to go back early." ”

"Let him call his wife back, and the old man will go back in a while," Xu Guangqi waved his hand a little impatiently: "You go." ”

"Yes!"

Click.

As soon as the waiter left with his front feet, there was a sound of footsteps outside the hall, followed by the sound of pushing the door in.

"Who is so rude?" Xu Guangqi didn't like to be disturbed when he was writing a book in the middle of the night, and he was about to scold him when he looked up, but after seeing the visitor, he smiled bitterly: "The ruling lord hasn't gone back yet?" ”

"Mr. Xuanhu, I'm disturbed," I saw Wang Qi walking in with a food box in his hand: "I just wanted to go back to the house, but when I saw that Mr. was brightly lit here, I knew that you hadn't left yet, so I asked the dining hall to make rice porridge and bring it to you." ”

"There's Master Lao," Xu Guangqi got up, moved his body, and sat opposite Wang Qi.

His own waiter sets the dinner for him.

"Lord Archon, why haven't you returned to your house to rest?" Xu Guangqi drank a bowl of rice porridge and looked up and asked.

"There are so many things, I can't rest," Wang Qi leaned back in his chair and gently turned the wrench on his thumb.

"Because of Shi Kefa's entry into Beijing?" Xu Guangqi asked tentatively.

"Things like that, I never take it to heart," Wang Qi shook his head.

"Shanshan is chaotic and stirs up one side?" Xu Guangqi put down the dishes and chopsticks and asked.

"Ordinary bandits, without great ambitions, do not enter the stream," Wang Qi also denied.

"But there are many soldiers, and the people are in need?" Xu Guangqi felt that this was a big deal.

"Power from the barrel of a gun is the only way to go," Wang Qi chuckled.

"What's that?" Xu Guangqi was a little puzzled.

"I want to know if there is a light in today's examination paper that indicates the way!" Wang Qi sighed lightly, and that look made Xu Guangqi feel that Qi Guogong, who had always been incomparable in power and decisive in killing, was a little lonely.

(End of chapter)