Splendid peasant girl busy farming

Chapter 11766

Yang Ruoqing took a sip of the plum juice beside her, cleared her throat, and sorted out her thoughts before starting to explain to her family the environment in which Dazhi and his classmates were taking the exam.

“Back then, Da’an, Chen’er, and now Zhi’er, as well as Jinling, are taking the imperial examination called the metropolitan examination.”

"The previous examination for becoming a Juren was called the provincial examination. The metropolitan examination was usually held in the autumn of the year following the provincial examination."

“In some special years, such as when a new emperor ascends the throne, or when other general amnesties are granted, an extra opportunity to take the imperial examination will be given.”

"Let's talk about the imperial examination today."

"For the imperial examination, you have to go to the local prefecture. The examination place is called 'examination cell'. Our Changhuai Prefecture's examination cells can hold more than 8,000 candidates at a time."

The blacksmith exclaimed in surprise, "Ah? There are so many students in Changhuai Prefecture alone? It seems that the people of Changhuai Prefecture still value their children's education, literacy, and the pursuit of official titles!"

Old Sun corrected him: "To be honest, there are many wealthy people in Changhuaizhou. Studying isn't just about having the will; you also need money to support it. Pens, ink, paper, and the teacher's fees—everything costs money!"

Yang Huazhong nodded in agreement: “What my father-in-law said is absolutely right. If one person goes to school, there is one less laborer. If two people go to school, there are two less laborers in the family, but there are two more mouths to feed.”

"Just like our old Yang family back then, Grandpa Qing'er said that each generation of children and grandchildren could only support one person to go to school, while the others would do farm work to support the family and support the one who went to school!"

Gone?

That's it?

Everyone was still listening intently for Yang Huazhong to continue, but Yang Huazhong suddenly stopped.

Only Yang Ruoqing knew why Yang Huazhong had stopped abruptly.

The last two sentences from Old Yang were probably meant to promise his children and grandchildren, who had given up the opportunity to study, that they should work hard on the farm, support their elder brother and nephew, and that when they passed the exams in the future, their families would benefit from their success.

As a result, Yang Hua'an passed the imperial examination at the level of a child prodigy, which in later generations would be equivalent to graduating from primary school.

Yang Yongxian was slightly better off than Yang Hua'an. He passed the imperial examination and became a Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations). Every year, he could go to the county government office to receive a small subsidy for writing materials, but it was still very meager.

A Xiucai (秀才) is equivalent to a high school student, but this high school student is not the same as the high school student in later generations after the popularization of nine-year compulsory education and the expansion of university enrollment.

This kind of high school degree is quite valuable. It's equivalent to a high school student who has to take the entrance exam even in junior high school. You can count the number of people in a village, including those in the next village, on the list.

Passing the imperial examination and becoming a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examinations) truly brought the years of studying to fruition.

A poor, pedantic scholar, a licentiate.

Listen to this, even the common people call these two different things. This shows that reaching the level of a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations) is a substantial step, allowing one to turn the initial investment in studying into a return.

Those who passed the imperial examinations were exempt from taxes and could wait for an official position to be filled.

The father and son in the eldest branch of the Yang family enjoyed the support of the Yang family for nearly thirty years.

When Yang Hua'an was eighteen or nineteen, he had no hope of passing the imperial examination, so Old Yang arranged a marriage for him and they had a son, Yang Yongxian.

Yang Hua'an began his formal education at the age of six and dropped out of school at eighteen or nineteen, spending thirteen years in between studying.

When it came to Yang Yongxian, he started school at the age of five and was still enjoying the support of his family at the age of twenty-three, living a leisurely life for eighteen years.

Eighteen plus thirteen, thirty-one years have passed, and the father and son still can't get ahead and can't give back to the Yang family.

The people who truly gave back to the Yang family were from the third branch of the family—Yang Ruoqing and her brother Da'an. However, the Yang family made no initial investment in the siblings, and they even went hungry…

So Yang Huazhong stopped abruptly, not wanting to bring up those old stories of the Yang family, which would be embarrassing and hurtful.

"Dad, have a piece of watermelon, or let me continue. I haven't finished yet, hehe."

"Okay, Qing'er, you can continue. I won't interrupt."

Yang Ruoqing then explained to everyone: "This time, Zhi'er and the others will take three exams, each of which will last for three days and two nights."

"Huh? Three days and two nights? And there are exams at night?" Wang Cuilian exclaimed in surprise.

Yang Ruoqing said, "You can take the exam or not, it depends on the individual."

"Each candidate had their own small room, which was locked from the outside. Before entering, they would be searched to prevent any candidates from bringing in cheat sheets or anything like that."

"Once inside, the cell will be locked from the outside, and the examinee will have to eat, drink, and relieve himself in that small cell."

"During the day you can do the test papers. If you get tired, you can curl up and rest on the small bed. If you are energetic at night, you can continue to sit up and write the test papers. If you are sleepy, you can go to sleep. After three days and two nights, it will be time to hand in the test papers. Whether you have finished or not, you have to hand them in."

"After the first exam, you can go home and rest for a day or two, relax, replenish your supplies, and prepare for the next exam!"

"My God, taking an exam is like being in prison! The kids are suffering so much!" Wang Cuilian was truly shocked.

Madam Sun murmured, "It's really not easy to study and pass the imperial examinations. My son Da'an went through the same thing back then, but I, as his mother, was clueless and didn't understand anything. He arranged everything himself..."

My poor eldest son has to study and prepare for exams at the same time. It's so hard and difficult for him!
Finally, he even came back as the top scorer in the exam. It was so tough for the kid, but also so amazing!

“Mother, you don’t need to blame yourself. Back then, when Da’an went to Changhuaizhou to take the exam, although you and Father didn’t go, I gave him enough travel expenses and booked the best restaurant for him in Changhuaizhou. The restaurant was near the exam site, just a few steps away.”

"Oh, that's good, that's good."

Wang Cuilian then asked Yang Ruoqing, "What did you eat during those three days and two nights of the exam? Linglan and Ping'an couldn't have brought the food in, could they?"

“Of course not. The examination hall is a restricted area, and unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter,” Yang Ruoqing said. “They can only wait outside. In addition, before Zhi’er went in, Da’an had Xiaohua and Linglan at home prepare enough dry food, water, clothes, bedding, and even a chamber pot for him. After three days and two nights, when the first round is over, we will bring him out to resupply.”

"Sigh, it still sounds like torture! Getting into university is so hard!" Wang Cuilian still felt sorry for her.

"What isn't difficult? Once you pass the exam, it'll be fine. Nine days and six nights, just grit your teeth and get through it."

"Then let's wait until Zhi'er finishes all the exams, after the Mid-Autumn Festival?" someone else asked.

Yang Ruoqing calculated the days: "Today is the third day of the seventh lunar month, and the exams will start tomorrow, the fourth day of the seventh lunar month. There will be three exams, with a two-day break in between. By the time all the exams are over, it will be the end of the month."

"I probably won't come back immediately after the exam; I'll have to wait for the results in Changhuaizhou."

How long will it take for the results to be released?

"Based on past experience, it will take a month or two."

"If you don't pass the exam after the results are released, you can come back..."

Yang Ruoqing was immediately interrupted by Luo the blacksmith: "She'll definitely pass the exam. Let's just calculate the date based on when she passes..."