Chapter 658: Chapter 658: Participating in the Rural Examination
Thus, the days passed as Qiao Xiaomai spent them selling edama, and before long, the provincial examination finally arrived.
At this ti, all the students from Bailu Academy who needed to take the provincial examination, apart from those from Huai’an County, had left. The examination site was at the Prefectural Governnt Office in County Town, overseen by the County Magistrate himself.
Tong Sanlang was to participate in the provincial examination, a matter of great importance. Tong Tiehu, Tong Xingda, and the Zhang Family all expressed their willingness to accompany Tong Sanlang to County Town for the examination, but Tong Sanlang turned them all down.
He only needed Qiao Xiaomai to accompany him.
Upon hearing this, Tong Tiehu said nothing, only nodded in understanding. However, Tong Xingda and the Zhang Family were gnashing their teeth in anger.
Their dear son had been led away by Qiao Xiaomai into the Qiao Family.
If they didn’t do sothing soon to win him back, Tong Sanlang was likely to truly beco a mber of the Qiao Family!
Rage building up in them, they knew they had to hold it in. For now, everything could wait until after Tong Sanglang finished the provincial examination.
As the examination was approaching, Qiao Xiaomai felt sothing akin to a parent sending their child off to the college entrance examination. She woke up before dawn and personally fried a pot full of Fried Dough Sticks, boiling two eggs as well.
The examination papers here didn’t use a percentage system, but she was still sowhat superstitious, sending Tong Sanlang off with blessings, following a custom from an alternate tiline.
Tong Sanlang didn’t say anything, quietly consuming all the Fried Dough Sticks and eggs.
After the simple breakfast, Qiao Xiaomai took Tong Sanlang on an ox cart and set off for County Town.
It took over an hour to travel from their village to County Town. They left when it was still dark, and after a shaky journey, they arrived at the gates of the County Governnt Office, which was crowded with people.
The place was packed with families sending off their kin to the examination.
Because of the presence of Bailu Academy, the academic atmosphere in Huai’an County was strong, leading to a considerable number of students participating in the provincial examination. Everything in the County Governnt Office except the County Magistrate’s seat had been moved away, replaced with neatly arranged desks.
Even the backyard of the County Governnt Office was filled with tables.
The provincial examination was not as strict as the tropolitan or palace examinations; there were no separate compartnts, and if any of the examinees finished early, they were allowed to submit their answers before the day was up.
Qiao Xiaomai believed in Tong Sanlang’s ability, but she still prepared a lunch box for him.
“Go, I’ll wait for you here.” Qiao Xiaomai parked the ox cart at a corner of the street and patted Tong Sanlang’s back, “It’s all up to today after the ten years of rigorous study; it’s your ti to shine!”
Carrying his lunchbox, Tong Sanlang disembarked from the ox cart. He cracked a smile, his eyes brightening, reflecting Qiao Xiaomai’s image, “Watch .”
Qiao Xiaomai looked at him, her arms raised above her head, making the shape of a heart with her fingers, “Young man, your journey is to the stars and the sea!”
This was the first ti she had ever made this gesture. The words sohow excited him, and Tong Sanlang raised his eyebrows in surprise, before the smile on his handso face broadened, “Wait for the good news!”
He wanted to make the sa heart-shaped gesture in return, but his hands were busy carrying the lunchbox, and he didn’t believe it was decent for a grown man to do so in public, hmmm…
He’d do it back at ho after the exam!
With the lunch box in hand, Tong Sanlang walked towards the entrance of the County Governnt Office.
The officials were examining the candidates in line, checking to see if they had any cheat sheets in their lunch boxes or on their bodies. Qiao Xiaomai sat in the ox cart holding her umbrella, watching this scene and silently started praying to all the gods and buddhas she could think of.
Regardless of which god or buddha it was, as long as she could rember them at this ti, she recited their nas one by one.
Tong Sanlang’s attempt could only result in success; failure was not an option.
After finishing her silent prayers and seeing Tong Sanlang enter, she was just about to guide the ox cart to a shady spot when the corner of her eye caught sight of a few familiar figures.
It was Sun Junyan, mbers of the Sun Family and Qiao ipan.
Sun Junyan was also taking the provincial examination. Sung Family and Qiao ipan were there to send him off. However, Qiao Qinghe was nowhere to be seen.
Qiao Qinghe was unable to overco his inner struggles; therefore, he did not show up this ti around.
[His journey is one to the stars and the sea]
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