Chapter 50: Posting the Provincial Examination Results

In the Water Margin world, outside the Jinan examination compound, it was bustling with noise,

candidates from various counties and cities, as well as their book boys and servants,

plus the common people who came to watch the fun, surrounded the outside of the examination compound tightly.

The reason why it was so lively outside the examination compound today was because today was the day the provincial examination results were posted.

Posting the results, also known as "releasing the list," is the list of successful candidates announced after the examination.

The provincial examination results are posted in September, mostly choosing the days of Yin and Chen,

because Chen belongs to the dragon and Yin belongs to the tiger, taking the meaning of the Dragon and Tiger List;

and because it is autumn, when sweet-scented osmanthus is in full bloom, it is also called the Osmanthus List.

It was not yet time to post the results, but many people had already gathered outside the examination compound.

Scholars with servants and book boys could naturally let them check the list for them,

while poor, or anxious, scholars had to come in person.

However, because the provincial examination was extremely important, as long as the scholars were not really unable to get away,

they would all come to check the list.

After all, compared to letting others convey it, it was more reassuring to see it for themselves.

Even Zhang Jie, who was confident, was urged by Pan Jinlian, who was excited and anxious,

and brought her and Wu Song,

as well as Scholar Chen, who took the examination together, to the outside of the examination compound early in the morning.

Also following Zhang Jie and the others was Wang Laoban from the Good Guest Inn where they were staying.

"I wonder if I can make the list this time?"

"I didn't answer one of the policy questions well, I'm afraid there's no hope this time."

"I hope my article can get the favor of the chief examiner."

"Confucius bless me, Wenchang Emperor bless me, Kui Star Lord bless me."

The scholars were either doubtful, anxious, disappointed, indifferent, or praying to gods and Buddhas,

and so on, vividly demonstrating what is called the various states of all living beings.

On the contrary, the common people who came to watch the fun all had smiles on their faces.

They were here to watch the fun and eat melons, whose fun is not watching, whose melon is not eating?

"Selling wontons!"

"Selling deep-fried tofu balls!"

"Selling herbal tea, Wang's herbal tea!"

There were also clever small vendors starting to sell various snacks and small commodities.

"Move aside, move aside."

As the sun rose, a group of yamen runners escorted an official holding a scroll made of yellow paper out of the examination compound.

The grading work for the Great Song provincial examination was carried out in the "examination compound" of each prefecture,

mainly in special places like the Examination Hall of the examination compound, where examiners graded in seclusion until the list was released.

"The Yellow List is here, the Yellow List is here!"

A scholar who was close and had sharp eyes saw the scroll in the official's hand and began to shout excitedly.

The palace examination officials were examined and admitted by the Emperor himself, so the palace examination list was called the Imperial List.

In order to show the majesty of the Son of Heaven, let the scholars of the world regard the Son of Heaven as their benefactor, strengthen the rule,

and also to express good wishes to the successful candidates,

the provincial examination list was deliberately written on special yellow paper, taking the homonym of "Imperial List" to be the "Yellow List."

"Yellow List!"

"The list is out!"

The already lively scene instantly became noisy.

"Tom, it's really noisy when there are so many people!"

Zhang Jie, whose hearing was sharp, instantly felt his eardrums vibrating at a frequency and amplitude several times higher than usual.

He couldn't help but use internal energy to protect his ears, otherwise, if this continued, his hearing would inevitably decline.

The official holding the Yellow List didn't care about the excited crowd,

he unhurriedly walked along the path separated by the yamen runners to the place where the list was posted.

According to the usual rules, he slowly unfolded the list from bottom to top.

Because there were too many people, fearing that a stampede would occur due to crowding,

the yamen specifically found several yamen runners with large lung capacity and loud voices to sing the list.

"Changyi County, Scholar Xu Qianxue, ranked 72nd in the provincial examination!"

Several yamen runners shouted the name and place of origin of the first successful candidate together.

"Eh! I made it, I made it!"

In the crowd, an old man with simple clothes and gray hair and beard shouted excitedly.

The eyes of the people around him changed when they looked at the old Scholar Xu.

Even those who looked down on this poor scholar at the beginning changed their views.

Even if Scholar Xu was only the last one to make the list, the Sun Shan in the name-dropping,

but a successful candidate is a successful candidate, and it is different from a scholar.

Scholars might still be poor and sour, but successful candidates are definitely not poor and sour.

Not to mention the privileges of successful candidates not serving corvee and not paying taxes,

just saying that successful candidates are already qualified to be officials, successful candidates are no longer associated with poverty and sourness.

Although it is said that selecting officials for successful candidates is not as good as the imperial examination, starting from a seventh-rank county magistrate,

but successful candidates can also be officials like seventh-rank county assistants and county instructors.

Put into the 21st century, that is a county's second-in-command and the director of the education bureau!

The famous Hai Rui was an official as a successful candidate,

and his first job was the instructor of Nanping County.

Not to mention that Scholar Xu, no, it is Successful Candidate Xu, he is already qualified to participate in the metropolitan examination.

If he passes the tribute examination and becomes a successful candidate, wouldn't he have the opportunity to become a Han Lin,

enter the center of the Great Song, and become one of the ministers who rule the world?

As for Successful Candidate Xu, he is already gray-haired and not young?

Where is the problem?

In the Great Song where the Emperor and the scholar-officials rule the world together, as long as you can be named outside the Donghua Gate,

don't say it's just gray hair, even if you are seventy or eighty years old and can't walk, you are still a good man!

Han Qi, who returned to the court at the end of the reign of Emperor Renzong and served as the Privy Councilor and Tongping Zhang Shi,

which is equivalent to the prime minister of the Han and Tang dynasties, once shouted generously,

"Only those named outside the Donghua Gate are good men!"

"Has Successful Candidate Xu married?"

The wealthy landlords who were moved to action began to take the initiative.

Returning to calm, Successful Candidate Xu, who was not as crazy as Fan Jin, was a bit shy:

"My family is quite poor, I am over forty, and I have not been married."

The wealthy landlord grabbed Successful Candidate Xu's hand:

"This old man has a daughter, sixteen years old, who has not been married,

it seems that there is a marriage fate with Successful Candidate Xu!"

Zhang Jie, who had sharp ears and eyes, watched Successful Candidate Xu

and the wealthy landlord start to call each other "father-in-law" and "son-in-law."

"No wonder so many people are crazy about the imperial examination."

Zhang Jie touched his chin and sighed.

The poem "Encouraging Learning" by Emperor Zhenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty, Zhao Heng,

"Rich families don't need to buy good fields, there are thousands of bushels of grain in books.

Don't hate not having a good match for marriage, there are jade-like beauties in books.

Don't hate not having people to follow when going out, there are many carriages and horses in books.

Don't hate not having a good match for marriage, there are jade-like beauties in books.

If a man fulfills his life's ambition, he should study the Six Classics diligently in front of the window," is realistic.

Isn't it, the jade-like beauty and golden house belonging to Successful Candidate Xu didn't send themselves to the door?

"Licheng, Yucheng, Zhangqiu, Changqing..."

The yamen runners who sang the names didn't care about the excited Successful Candidate Xu and others, and continued to sing the names unhurriedly.

"Yuncheng County, Scholar Chen Wenyun, ranked 36th in the provincial examination!"

The yamen runner called Scholar Chen's name beside Zhang Jie in the middle.

"Good, good!"

Scholar Chen muttered to himself after learning that he had made the list, not as excited as Successful Candidate Xu.

However, the excitement and joy in his eyes could not be hidden.

"Congratulations to Brother Chen for making the list."

Zhang Jie bowed to Scholar Chen to congratulate him.

"Congratulations to Brother Chen."

Wu Song and Pan Jinlian also congratulated Scholar Chen.

"Congratulations to Master Chen."

Wang Laoban from the Good Guest Inn congratulated Scholar Chen.

"Same joy, same joy.

Renjie, your article is refined and exquisite, and will definitely be ranked before me."

Scholar Chen smiled and returned the salute one by one.

"Laiyang, Jiaoshui, Jimo, Penglai, Huang County, Mouping, Wendeng..."

With the yamen runner's singing, the number of places in front became less and less, but Zhang Jie's name had not appeared.

"Young Master, there are ten people left on the list, you should be among them."

Fearing that Zhang Jie would be anxious, Pan Jinlian comforted him.

It was just that while Pan Jinlian was comforting Zhang Jie, her own small fists had blue veins showing because of too much force.

Wu Song on the side also became anxious, quite restless.

He was like a brother to Zhang Jie, so he naturally didn't want Zhang Jie to fail the list.

"Brother Renjie is expected to be the sub-leader!"

Scholar Chen stroked his beard and smiled.

In the ranking of the provincial examination, the first place is called "Top Provincial Graduate," the second place is called "Second Provincial Graduate,"

the third to fifth places are called "Classic Scholars," the sixth place is called "Second Classic Scholar,"

and the seventh place and below are collectively called "Literary Scholars" or called "X-th place successful candidate" in order.

After these days of contact, Scholar Chen was amazed by Zhang Jie, and he was full of confidence in him.

"Don't worry."

Zhang Jie gave Pan Jinlian a reassuring look and put her small hand into his palm.

Seeing Zhang Jie so confident, Wu Song and Pan Jinlian calmed down a little.

But as the names of "Second Classic Scholar" and "Classic Scholars" were decided,

none of them were Zhang Jie, and Pan Jinlian and the others' hearts gradually lifted. ===== CHAPTER 51 =====