Chapter 10, Rush to the Examination

However, the joint guarantee requires five candidates to sign the policy and send it to the county, in order to prevent cheating. If one person cheats, all will be held accountable, resulting in the cancellation of their examination qualifications for life

Ye Chunqiu stuck out his tongue, feeling that this father had too many concerns, making communication nearly impossible

Ye Song seemed to understand, straightened up, stroked his grizzled beard, and exclaimed in astonishment: "Prostitute... what kind of prostitute? Oh, it must be a courtesan, what! Your father actually goes to indulge in courtesans? This... this is truly foolish, a disgrace to culture, absurd, absurd..." He could not help but shed tears, looking mournfully at Ye Chunqiu: "After more than ten years apart, your father has gone astray. With a sincere heart, one should cultivate oneself, manage the family, govern the country, and bring peace to the world. If one's intentions are not upright, how can one manage a household? This is terrible, utterly terrible. If I encounter him next time, I must teach him a good lesson on behalf of the ancestors of the Ye family."

The day of the county examination has finally arrived. On this day, Ye Jing got up particularly early and, together with Ye San, prepared the examination basket and a change of clothes for Ye Chunqiu. Inevitably, there were a few words of advice, reminding Ye Chunqiu about some matters regarding the examination.

However, speaking of which, Ye Chunqiu does not have much confidence in the usefulness of the optical brain

As they walked along, Uncle Ye unexpectedly approached Ye Chunqiu with great enthusiasm, stroking his beard and shaking his head, affectionately saying: "You are the Chunqiu of the main branch, aren't you? Has your father returned? That's wonderful; fallen leaves must return to their roots."

Ye Chunqiu is inexplicably amusing, speaking of... oneself is the child, isn't it? This week, the master's demeanor is even inferior to that of a child just over ten years old.

Ye Chunqiu instinctively shivered. Regardless of his intelligence, does he not also have a quantum brain? He shouldn't end up like an old uncle, should he

Master Zhou began to sing again

It is said that Ye Chenliang, due to his considerable knowledge, has also made many friends and enjoys good relationships. Someone jokingly remarked: "Brother Ye is too modest. If Brother Ye is not among the top, then we would also be left behind. For this ranking, I have the highest hopes for Brother Ye. Come, Brother Ye, let us have tea here."

Master Zhou did not give a lecture today. Of course, as usual, he did not cast a glance at Ye Chunqiu. He merely took out a roster and called out the names: "Ye Chenliang, Ye Xin... Ye Zichen..."

The first floor is bustling with activity, as the examination is about to begin. Most of the guests at this inn are individuals who are here for the exam, with some connections to the Ye family and the local residents. Uncle Ye quickly struck up a conversation with an elderly 'scholar,' discussing this year's county examination.

Ye Chunqiu was taken aback, unable to communicate at all. Beside him, Ye Jun Cai laughed so hard he almost choked, exclaiming, "Chunqiu, Uncle is deaf, haha... haha..."

Ye Chenliang humbly and appropriately stated: "Without the results being announced, how can one speak of certainty"

Uncle Ye happily nodded at Ye Chunqiu and said: "Good, your father and I are old acquaintances. Ah... ah... now that I think about it, the past is like yesterday. I remember when your father accompanied me to the county examination, he was about your age back then. Tsk tsk, your father is a good person, and I got along very well with him. However... he is a literary star, and he passed the examination for young scholars in one go. As for me... haha... I have been trying year after year, and in the blink of an eye, over twenty years have passed. Now that I think about it, the past is like yesterday. I remember when your father accompanied me to the county examination, he was about your age back then. Tsk tsk, your father is a good person, and I got along very well with him. However... he is a literary star, and he passed the examination for young scholars in one go. As for me... haha... I have been trying year after year, and in the blink of an eye, over twenty years have passed..." At this point, Uncle Ye began to cough violently, and it took him a long time to recover: "You see, if a person loses their ambition, their life is over. I am now sixty-three years old, and I have been taking exams for over fifty years, yet I am still like an old steed in the stable, my aspirations undiminished from my youth..." After saying this, he sighed deeply.

Just now, during the furniture insurance, Master Zhou was almost pointing and directing everyone on where to sign their names and where to affix their seals. However, when Ye Chunqiu and a few others approached, he merely turned his face away with indifference, too lazy to pay them any attention

Ye Chunqiu sat at the back of the cart. The only advantage of this open-style ox cart was the ability to enjoy the scenery along the way. However, the ride was quite bumpy, and after a short while, his backside became sore and numb. Ye Jun had been busy attending to the horses and was sitting beside him. As for Ye Chenliang, he did not greet Ye Chunqiu today, as he was on another large cart.

Ye Chenliang's face was bruised and swollen, and the bruises on his face had not yet faded. However, he was well-connected in the county and enjoyed a good reputation; many people had heard of his great name. One person asked, "Brother Ye, do you have confidence this time?"

The matter of the stipend students is the responsibility of the Ye family, and it is not necessary for the candidates to be accountable; naturally, the stipend students from the county will be invited to intervene.

Ye Jing smiled and said, "Of course, achieving the top rank in the examination brings glory to the family."

Who knows this sentence, yet Ye Song understood it clearly, and became furious, directly giving Ye Jun Cai a slap: "You wretched thing, lacking respect, look at Chun Qiu, although his father consorts with courtesans, Chun Qiu can still be considered as one who emerges untainted from the mud, you ignorant scoundrel!"

Until the very end, he recited: "Ye Chunqiu, Ye Jun Cai, Ye Wen, Ye Wu, Ye Junjie ... ... "

The Ye family's village is not far from the county town; it only takes a little over an hour to reach the county. Ye Chunqiu looked at this small town, which resembled a market, and did not find it remarkable

Moreover, today is the day of the joint guarantee

However, regarding such blatant discrimination, Ye Chunqiu did not say much, as the examination was what truly mattered to him

Uncle, greetings to you

After all, he is an elder. Ye Chunqiu hurriedly said: "Yes, yes, what Uncle is teaching is indeed true." He felt inexplicably a bit uncomfortable, wondering why it felt like he was a negative example, having studied his whole life, his hair turned white, his teeth gone, and his back hunched. Will I also end up like you in the future?

On the second day, Ye Chunqiu still got up early to go to school. As for that Master Zhou, he had grown too indifferent to pay him any mind, but he still needed to put on a show of attending school.

Ye Jun Cai was beaten fiercely by his great-uncle, crying out in distress. Ye Chun Qiu initially laughed, but upon further reflection, he wondered, is this a compliment or an insult? My father is so wronged; he did not consort with prostitutes

Among these five individuals, two belong to the Sanfang family, and another two are distant relatives of the Ye family. Naturally, like Ye Chunqiu, they are all the most troublesome children in the academy, who have never been favored by Master Zhou. Essentially, their lives have already been mapped out, destined to exist as the useless members of the Ye family

The leader of the group is a distant uncle, of the same generation as the old gentleman. When Ye Jing sees him, he must address him as Uncle. At this time, the old uncle has already turned gray, showing signs of advanced age, stroking his white goatee, directing the younger ones to gather the luggage onto a large cart, and then leaning against the yoke, commanding them to set off

... ...

"What did you say?" Ye Song, a bit hard of hearing, could not quite catch it, so he bent forward, bringing his ear closer to Ye Chunqiu's mouth.

Five individuals were called by name, and then the five youths stepped forward to each sign their names on the policy, followed by affixing their seals

Ye Chunqiu sharpened his knife with great vigor, unafraid like a newborn calf facing a tiger, and smilingly said to Ye Jing: "Father, I will return after taking the top position in the examination"

... ...

Although this is said, it is evident that the element of consolation is more prominent. After Ye Jing finished speaking, it seemed that he thought of something, and his expression became somewhat despondent

Others may not dare to speak, but Brother Ye is certain to succeed this time

Ye Chunqiu was left dumbfounded, exclaiming, "What on earth! Uncle, do you really have to be like this? You are hard of hearing yet still insist on being at the forefront of the imperial examination."

Uncle Ye, an old hand at this, led the group to the inn closest to the county school. The innkeeper, well acquainted with Uncle Ye, chuckled and said: "Old Mr. Ye has come to take the exam again. Oh, this year, the Ye family's presence is quite impressive."

Upon arriving outside the residence, more than ten members of the Ye family who had gone to the county to take the examination had already been waiting for quite some time

Ye Chunqiu is also quite astonished; Uncle has been taking the examination for over fifty years as a student, and yet he has managed to develop a sense of superiority.

He had no choice but to shout loudly into Uncle Ye's ear: "Uncle, your lesson has been remembered!" Remembered... remembered... remembered... remembered... The last three words lingered in the air.

Uncle Ye did not speak with the coarse individuals, merely stroking his beard and smiling subtly. As per the usual practice, he opened seven guest rooms, with two people sharing one room. Ye Jun Cai approached, wanting to share a room with Ye Chun Qiu, and then the group went downstairs for a meal