Sword from the Immortal Mountain

Chapter 84: Returning Home in Splendor, Alarming the Ancestors
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In the classroom, Chen Jin was favored by Zhou Xuezheng and was selected as the first place. This immediately attracted everyone's attention, and their eyes fell on Chen Jin, feeling surprised, envious, and puzzled...

Among the candidates taking the college entrance examination this year, Chen Jin had almost no presence and no fame.

An unknown person suddenly became the center of attention in the examination room.

Then the biggest possibility is that his article was appreciated by Zhou Xuezheng.

Regarding this poem "Linjiangxian", it is of course very well written.

When Chen Jin recited, his intonation was up and down and his words were distinct, and everyone could hear it clearly.

Especially the last two sentences: "Good wind, with its power, carries me up to the sky", which are really the finishing touch and are used very cleverly.

What is even more speechless is that this is a test question. It is quite rare for ordinary people to write a qualified poem that does not deviate from the topic.

What’s more, it’s such a masterpiece?

Even if someone wants to raise questions, it is difficult to find the words to do so.

You should know that during the boy's examination stage, the chief examiner has the final say and can decide many things independently.

At this time, Zhou Xuezheng just gave Chen Jin a few gentle words of encouragement, very normal rhetoric, and then let him leave.

This is also a common practice to avoid suspicion and avoid criticism.

"Okay, the first case has been decided. Everyone has handed in their papers and left. Don't make any noise."

An adjutant came out and announced loudly.

The candidates did not dare to stop and filed out. When passing through the examination hall courtyard, many people bowed to the statue of the sage, and some even knelt down to pay homage.

In examination halls and colleges, statues of saints and gods would be erected for people to worship.

When they come in, there will also be many people coming to worship, hoping to obtain the saint's blessing and achieve success.

However, Chen Jin observed the statue and found it was just rotten wood. It had not been nurtured to produce any divine light. This was probably because there were too few incense offerings.

After all, the examination hall's doors are usually locked and closed, and are only opened during exams.

After going outside, Chen Liang was no longer so nervous and reserved. He rushed over with an excited look on his face: "Ah Jin, you won! Not only did you win, you won first place in the case!"

In fact, during the boy's examination stage, and even the provincial examination stage, if you pass, you pass, and the ranking does not play a big role. This is different from the Jinshi examination.

The Jinshi exam is divided into three categories, and the ranking is much more important.

However, in people's minds, the most talked about thing is the seating arrangement for people. When it comes to this aspect, everyone can talk about it and quote classics.

They would argue over rankings and even get red in the face.

Although those personnel rankings actually have nothing to do with me.

In short, in people's minds, passing the imperial examination and passing the scholar examination are on completely different levels.

Although Chen Liang's excitement was a bit exaggerated, it was also an expression of emotion.

At the same time, many other students came over and greeted enthusiastically and became familiar with each other.

Chen Jin was very young, but he got the first place in the college examination and was appreciated by the provincial education commissioner. He had a bright future.

In this atmosphere of flattery and flattery, Chen Jin's heart was as calm as water. However, when he heard too much, some distracting thoughts finally emerged, making him feel elated.

The world is a dye vat, and the ways of the world are truly pervasive.

He remained calm and did not resist, just like washing one's feet with water.

On the one hand, I came to take the exam because of my obsession as a scholar; on the other hand, it was also for the sake of experience, to do something I had never done before, and perhaps to gain something.

After returning to Qingyun Inn, the well-informed innkeeper immediately announced publicly: all Chen Jin's accommodation expenses were waived.

Not only that, the shopkeeper also very sincerely brought a plate of silver, about twenty or thirty taels.

And the four treasures of the study, etc.

Chen Jin was invited to write the poem "Linjiangxian" on the screen wall on the first floor of the inn.

The reward was generous, so Chen Jin did not refuse. He picked up his pen and started writing, winning unanimous applause.

It was a lively occasion without mentioning it.

Chen Jin won the first place in the case and achieved fame, but Chen Liang and his friends still had to wait for the public announcement to know the result. So after celebrating for Chen Jin, everyone was still worried.

You don’t have to wait too long for the public list of the academy examination. On the next day, the list will be posted on the outer wall of the examination hall.

The crowd gathered there early, eagerly waiting. When the list was released, those who were on the list were overjoyed, while those who were not on the list were sad.

Joy, anger, sorrow and happiness are all here.

"I won! I won!"

Chen Liang couldn't believe his eyes, he rubbed them, looked at them several times, and finally confirmed it. He rushed back to share the good news with Chen Jin, and didn't forget to thank Chen Jin for the two slaps.

There is a Qionglin Banquet for Jinshi and a Luming Banquet for Juren, but there is no formal official banquet after the boy's examination. It is mainly for the new scholars to organize dinners themselves to interact with each other and keep in touch with each other.

In fact, they have been eager to return home as soon as possible to tell their families the good news of their success in the imperial examination.

No one cares about your hard study for ten years, but once you become famous, everyone in the world will know you.

That refers to those who were successful in the imperial examinations and achieved the Jinshi level.

If you just passed the examination to become a scholar, the government would not send someone to your home to announce the good news. It would not be of high enough status.

After passing the examination to become a scholar, even Chen Liang, who loved socializing, quickly called his driver and went home.

"I won! Hehe, I won..."

In the carriage, Chen Liang could not help but feel happy and could not sit still.

Snapped!
With a crisp sound, Chen Jin slapped him for the third time.

He immediately became obedient, staring at Chen Jin intently, from head to toe, and suddenly lowered his voice and asked, "Ah Jin, do you know Zhou Xuezheng?"

"how do I say this?"

"I'm not saying you're not good enough to get the top spot, I just think this is a bit strange... Well, how can I put it? I know myself well, and the essays I wrote are not better than before, but I managed to pass the exam this time. I feel confused."

Chen Jin smiled and said, "As you said, understanding human nature is the key to writing. Perhaps what you and I have written just happens to be in line with Zhou Xuezheng's views."

"Maybe."

Chen Liang still had doubts in his heart, because what he wrote this time was very conservative, had nothing to do with new learning, and even went against it.

Could it be that the information I got was wrong, and that Mr. Zhou was not a new schoolman at all, but a member of the old school?

Oh, never mind, as long as I pass the exam.

When they returned to Chenze Township, the news that two scholars had passed the imperial examination at the same time spread quickly throughout the township, like a huge rock thrown into a lake, causing huge waves.

The village head Chen Jiande was overjoyed and immediately announced that the whole village would have a banquet to celebrate.

When private school teacher Chen Mingcheng heard the news, he was shocked at first, then happy, and then felt a little unbelievable.

If only one person passed the exam, it would be understandable, but both of them passed, and Chen Jin was the top scorer.

This is puzzling.

After all, teachers are aware of the level of their students' writing.

Could it be that the situation has changed in recent years and the wind direction has also changed?

So should I go out and take the exam again? Maybe I can pass it and become a juren.

Although he was over sixty years old, he felt that his heart was young even though he was old at heart when he was stimulated at this moment.

Looking at the examination room, what does an old scholar in his sixties count for?
Those old students, with white hair, are the benchmark...

Of course, Chen Mingcheng was just thinking about it. After so many years, it was not easy to qualify for the imperial examination again.

Chen Abu was overjoyed that his nephew passed the examination and ranked first in the list of scholars. He quickly killed chickens and ducks, prepared three kinds of animals, paper money and gold ingots, and brought Chen Jin to the ancestral hall to comfort the ancestors.

"Ah Jin, don't just stand there. Come on, kneel down with me and hold the incense in your hands."

Chen Abu urged.

Chen Jin blinked: "Do you really want to worship?"

Chen Abu hurriedly said, "What are you talking about? Worshipping the heavens, the earth and our ancestors is a matter of course. Hurry up, or the ancestral gods will be unhappy if you neglect it."

"Well, that's fine."

Chen Jin held three incense sticks in his hands, representing the three meanings of "heaven, earth, and man", and then bowed.

The next moment, there were crackling sounds, and several ancestral tablets enshrined on the altar fell to the ground for some reason.

Seeing this bizarre scene, Chen Abu was shocked, jumped up, and screamed: "What, what is going on?"

(End of this chapter)