Chapter 78

After returning in January, Wei Shu, after consulting with the head of the academy, signed up at the county office’s ceremonial room and began to feel somewhat worried.

When he went to Cuiwei Academy, he was actually quite calm because he could feel the enhancement of the academy there.

Back at Qingzhu Academy, he couldn’t taste the food and had nightmares several times at night.

But in the days that followed, Shen Cui kept sending him things, all made from system outputs, with effects like ‘focus and calm the mind’.

This greatly relieved Wei Shu’s pre-exam anxiety. Sometimes, when he was absent-minded, he wasn’t thinking about what if he didn’t do well in the exam, but what they would send him today… He really couldn’t wear any more on his body!

Before he knew it, it was time for him to leave.

By this time, Wei Shu’s cultivation value had reached its maximum, so theoretically Shen Cui didn’t need to come anymore.

But since the system treated Wei Shu as a serious cultivation subject, Shen Cui also didn’t treat Wei Shu as an outsider now, considering it as an early experience of being a parent accompanying the exam.

Before the exam, Shen Cui and Wei Shu inquired about the specific process and learned that examinees could bring some stationery into the exam hall.

She didn’t hesitate to spend shopping points to buy him a set from the system store.

Of course, those things she bought were still auxiliary enhancements, which could clear his mind and perform specifically, but the actual performance would still depend on Wei Shu’s true abilities.

On the day of the exam, at dawn, Wei Shu set off from Qingzhu Academy and reported to the examination shed outside the examination hall.

There was a paper lantern sign outside the courtyard, only providing the most basic lighting, and the bailiffs in public uniforms stood solemnly outside.

Hundreds of students, each looking scholarly and extraordinary, stood in several rows. They had to go through the process of recognition and body search by the examination officials before being personally named by the county governor.

The whole process was silent, with no sound of birds or insects, and the solemn and silent atmosphere seemed to solidify. It wasn’t until dawn that the examinees could enter the exam hall one by one.

There were also quite a few parents outside sending their children off, fearing that they would affect Wei Shu’s performance. Shen Cui didn’t tell Wei Shu that they would come. She only had Wei Xi bring a Wei family carriage parked outside the examination hall.

Although Mu Er Pang and Wei Xi hadn’t felt how the county exam was going, when they really arrived at the place and felt the atmosphere, the two of them couldn’t help but become nervous even though they were only watching from the carriage.

After all the students had completely entered, the atmosphere outside the examination hall returned to lively. Some vendors who were quick-witted came over with their stalls to set up shop.

Shen Cui and the others rushed over without having breakfast. Seeing the two children nervous and pale, Shen Cui went to buy several bowls of tofu pudding to eat.

After eating the warm tofu pudding, they felt a bit more alive.

Mu Er Pang whispered, “No wonder Mom said that candidates should enjoy the highest treatment in our academy. This is only the first exam, and it’s already so intimidating.”

Wei Xi was the same. His mental resilience was not as high as Mu Er Pang’s, and his mood value dropped drastically, but he just suppressed it without showing it.

Shen Cui reached out to pat Wei Xi’s back soothingly, “As long as you have a solid foundation, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Besides, we’re just here to send you off today. When you really take the exam, it’s not too late to worry.”

After they finished eating, Shen Cui went to return the bowls. Although the two children were usually lively, this time they didn’t rush to do it, indicating that they were still nervous.

Shen Cui was well-prepared. She took out a candlestick and a book from the carriage’s storage compartment and gave them to the two of them to look at.

Regardless of how much they could see into the exam hall from outside, at least they had something to do, so it wasn’t so difficult to endure.

Shen Cui had been watching Wei Shu’s numerical panel all the time.

The county exam was a same-day submission, without candles or overnight stays inside. In the afternoon, after the students finished the exam, batches of students began to be released from the ‘Dragon Gate’ at the north gate of the exam courtyard.

Shen Cui and the others left the carriage and went to the Dragon Gate to look for Wei Shu among the released students.

When they saw each other, Shen Cui waved, and Wei Shu quickly came over.

His complexion was not much worse than usual, and all his numerical values during the exam were normal, so Shen Cui probably knew that he had done well.

There were even more people picking up examinees outside the exam hall than in the morning, so they all returned to the carriage to talk.

“Why did you specially come from the village to pick me up? It’s not necessary.” Wei Shu said, but there was still a smile on his lips.

Shen Cui handed Wei Shu a cup of freshly bought hot tea and said, “They both knew that you were taking the exam today and couldn’t rest assured if they didn’t come, so I brought them over to broaden their horizons. Besides, they will have to take the exam in the future.”

After Wei Shu drank the tea, he continued, “The environment inside is okay, not much different from the simulated exam room in our academy, just a bit smaller. But it’s really cold. I didn’t feel much outside in the morning, but once I sat down inside, I felt the wind blowing straight into my neck.”

Everyone knew that to prevent cheating, you couldn’t wear a padded jacket or even a jacket. However, Wei Shu, relying on his good health, didn’t take it seriously. He felt that wearing several layers of spring clothes was more than enough to cope. Unexpectedly, he couldn’t move his hands and feet because of the cold inside.

“At first, the ink was all semi-solidified, so I didn’t dare to write. I just counted and counted the dozens of papers, but later, when my hands and feet warmed up, I started to write. I had written halfway through when I heard someone screaming that his paper was missing. He was immediately kicked out on the grounds of disturbing the exam… When you go in later, you must pay attention. Count the papers several times and don’t think it’s too troublesome. If it’s wrong, immediately raise your hand for help, but don’t make any noise.”

Relaxing suddenly, Wei Shu couldn’t help but chatter with them, all of which were valuable experiences gained from real exams. Although trivial, Mu Er Pang and Wei Xi listened very seriously.

When he talked about what he had taken today, Shen Cui raised her hand and said, “After the exam, don’t check the answers. Relax first. Wait until all the exams are over before discussing them.”

Indeed, I’ll say it again, Wei Shu couldn’t help but recall whether he had made any omissions in his answers today. It wouldn’t be good if it affected the exams afterwards.

While they were talking, the Wei family’s carriage also left the street outside the exam hall and drove to the dismounting stone outside Qingzhu Academy.

Shen Cui had originally planned to send Wei Shu back and then return home herself. However, when they arrived, Wei Shu said, “Let me go in and consult with the Headmaster. I’ll come back after the exam.”

Qingzhu Academy almost always had students taking exams, so there was no special treatment for current-year candidates. The rule was that students could not disturb current-year candidates until the end of the exam.

Wei Shu had never thought that this equal treatment was bad, but today he didn’t feel like going back. After all, he didn’t have to attend classes these days, so it didn’t matter where he stayed.

He went in and came out shortly after. Afterwards, he returned to Cuiwei with Shen Cui and the others.

After returning, Wei Shu slept for a while, and when he got up, he asked Shen Cui for a few papers and went to the simulation room. At this point, it was not about checking for mistakes, but about adjusting his mindset and getting used to the tense and solemn atmosphere.

Although it was said to be five exams in a row, there was a ‘case distribution’ process between each formal exam.

This case distribution was in the form of a circle, without writing the candidates’ rankings, only their seat numbers, and without writing their names, in a circle of fifty.

Wei Shu did well in the first exam, so in the next formal exam, he was assigned a higher seat number, and the supervision was stricter. It was similar to the exams in later generations, where outstanding students were brought closer to the chief examiner, giving them an opportunity to show their faces.

After this exam, Wei Shu had more to share. “The county magistrate occasionally comes down from his seat to inspect. The last time during the ‘case distribution,’ the student who was in the center and was raised one rank nearest to the county magistrate seemed to be very nervous. When he was asked to recite the ‘Holy Edict and Broad Instruction,’ he dropped his pen directly onto the paper. The county magistrate sighed heavily, and I could even hear it. It seems that… Anyway, don’t be afraid. As long as the county magistrate doesn’t sigh like that, there shouldn’t be any major problems. Just focus on writing your own answers.”

Wei Shu completed the county exam without any surprises or dangers.

He became more relaxed as he took more exams, while Mu Er Pang and Wei Xi gained a lot of valuable exam experience.

The system notified Shen Cui that the task was completed, but the specific system upgrade would depend on the results.

Between each formal exam, there was a circular distribution, while on the day of the formal announcement, there was a long distribution with names.

Early in the morning on the day of the official announcement, the county town was bustling with people waiting to see the results.

Since Wei Shu had already been assigned a higher seat number, it was no surprise that his name was among the first in the long list.

Unfortunately, he didn’t get the first place; he got second.

Wei Shu had a good attitude. He was not among the top students at the Qingzhu Academy. His qualifications and past exam results were only above average. The person who ranked first, Song Yao, also came from Qingzhu Academy. Before Mu Yunchuan entered Qingzhu Academy, Song Yao was already the most outstanding student there.

So, achieving second place was an exceptional performance for Wei Shu.

However, there is a difference between second and first place. When Song Yao appeared, people who recognized him congratulated him enthusiastically.

On the other hand, Wei Shu only had a few close friends like Song Shusheng around him.

Qingzhu Academy had a rule that after the county exam, students had to return to the academy to report their scores. When they returned, the differences in treatment became more apparent. The head of the academy called Song Yao aside for a private conversation.

Wei Shu reported his score and talked with Song Shusheng and the others. However, he was not summoned by the head of the academy.

After bidding farewell to them, Wei Shu took a half-day break. Just as he walked to the horse mounting stone outside the academy, he saw his own carriage.

When the curtain was lifted, Shen Cui, Mu Er Pang, and Wei Xi’s three smiling faces appeared, saying, “Let’s go, let’s celebrate!”