Chapter 316: Let

The second round brushed off nearly half the people, leaving less than three hundred candidates qualified to continue to the third round.

And compared to the first two rounds, although this round was not as important, the difficulty was not weak at all.

It was mainly reflected in two aspects.

First, in terms of time, the first two rounds only took one day, entering in the morning and leaving in the evening, without staying overnight; the third round was two consecutive days, having to stay in a narrow cell for a whole night.

Not to mention whether it was cold or not, the main thing was that it was hard to hold your poop, right?

Secondly, the types of test questions were different.

According to convention, the first round tests classics, mainly examining the candidates' mastery of basic knowledge.

The second round tests poetry and arithmetic ability, which is the true embodiment of the candidates' personal talent.

The third round tests policy essays. Like the first round, it is also writing essays, but there is a big difference in focus. Usually, it's giving a topic and letting the candidates elaborate on their views and opinions from various aspects such as politics, agriculture, and folk customs.

In short, it tests vision and ideological height.

Unless it's the kind of person with particularly rich life experience who has unique insights into things, otherwise, to be meaningful...

It's hard.

However, fortunately, this round didn't have much impact on the final ranking, only serving as a reference, so the candidates' mindsets were still relatively stable.

Everyone gathered at the gate of the prefectural school, laughing and talking, waiting to enter.

Duan Xiu walked down from the carriage, and what he saw was such a harmonious scene.

His gaze searched in the crowd and soon locked onto Jiang Zhan. Jiang Zhan was standing under the big locust tree with several classmates, listening to Master Yan's teachings, nodding from time to time.

That little look was as obedient as it could be.

Duan Xiu curled his lips.

Strive hard, take first place. Only then, when all results are canceled in the future, or even exiled to the frontier, will it be doubly painful.

And he would transform into a savior, pulling him out of the mud.

By then, would he still be afraid that Jiang Zhan wouldn't be grateful to him and offer his true heart?

Thinking of the beautiful prospects, the smile on Duan Xiu's mouth grew wider. Just as he was about to withdraw his gaze, his sight inadvertently collided with the black-faced woman next to Jiang Zhan.

Duan Xiu recognized her.

Jiang Zhan's sister-in-law—Madam Du.

Du Ruo leaned against the tree with her arms crossed, standing on one foot, the other foot tilted obliquely, looking at Duan Xiu with a smile that wasn't a smile, her eyes carrying three parts mockery, three parts coldness, and four parts indifference.

Duan Xiu's eyelids jumped, and he suddenly felt a chill on his back, an inexplicable chill surging into his heart.

He became vigilant instantly.

Could it be... Madam Du was the one who killed Seven Steps last night?

Otherwise, why look at him with that kind of insightful and contemptuous look?

Just as he was thinking this, he saw Du Ruo twist her foot, her body tilted, and she almost fell a pathetic tumble.

*Uh*...

Duan Xiu twitched his lips.

Sure enough, he thought too much; she was just an ordinary village woman. A true martial arts master should have a foundation as solid as a rock; how could she not even stand still?

He shook his head with a laugh, and his mood relaxed.

Just at this moment, the *dang dang dang* sound of the gong rang.

It was time to enter.

By the third round, they were basically all familiar faces, so the inspection wasn't as strict as before, just letting them take off their outer clothes and shoes to take a look before letting them through.

Plus, with fewer people, the speed of passage was very fast.

Taking advantage of everyone's attention being on the queue, Du Ruo turned behind the tree and complained with her hands on her hips: "Old Tie Uncle, next time you talk to me, walk to the front first, okay? Suddenly shouting, my soul was scared away."

Old Tietou looked innocent, "The old man's voice isn't loud; is it because the Madam was looking at other men too intently?"

Du Ruo: "............"

This sounded as if she had some thoughts about that *Duan Xiu* (gay man).

*Pah*, disgusting!

"The time has come." She hurriedly turned the topic to the main business, "Old Tie Uncle, the rest depends on you."

Old Tietou glanced at Duan Xiu in the queue and laughed, "Just watch, Madam. I'll make sure he walks in and is carried out!"

After saying this, the person disappeared without a trace.

Du Ruo remained in place, watching Jiang Zhan enter.

But her gaze swept toward Duan Xiu from time to time.

Until she saw Duan Xiu pass the inspection and enter the vermilion gate with a superior attitude, she lowered her eyes and smiled meaningfully.

Since the Duan family dared to do such vicious things as plotting against Jiang Zhan, they should be prepared to accept the backlash.

Wasn't he trying to destroy Jiang Zhan's future?

Then don't blame her for using his own way to treat him.

Oh right, Duan Xiu and Shen Jing Bin seem to be good friends, right?

Good friends, walking together for a lifetime, enjoying blessings together, and as for making a fool of themselves... of course, they have to do it together, *hehe*.

"*Achoo! *" Duan Xiu sneezed a big sneeze.

He frowned.

Thinking it should be because he didn't sleep well last night and caught a cold.

It was nothing big, so Duan Xiu didn't care and continued to walk toward the exam hall.

His cell was the same as the second round, still in the main hall of the third courtyard, having to pass through two courtyards to get there.

Not just him, most of the candidates were there.

Everyone walked their own way, ignoring each other. After all, once they entered this place, it was not good to make noise, so as not to be secretly reported by the bailiffs and affect their impression points in the chief examiner's mind.

Duan Xiu didn't worry about this; anyway, he probably didn't have a good impression in Su Qingyao's mind long ago.

He mainly looked down on others.

Of course, except for Jiang Zhan.

Therefore, he had no desire to communicate.

Just walking on his own, suddenly his nose hurt, as if he had been hit by something, and that thing was stuck on his nose bridge, wet and sticky.

Duan Xiu subconsciously reached out to wipe it.

Looking down.

It was actually a pile of bird droppings!

*Ugh*, he almost vomited, and his face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

Just entering the exam hall and having bird droppings fall from the sky, it was truly unlucky...

But now was not the time to care about this. If it was discovered by others and spread by word of mouth, who knows what it would turn into in the end? Maybe they would say he was eating shit inside the exam hall.

So he had to deal with it quickly.

Duan Xiu first glanced around, and seeing no one discovered it, he felt a little better.

Then he took out the handkerchief used to wipe the baffle, quickly wiped the bird droppings off his nose, originally wanted to throw it on the ground, but was afraid of being seen, so he had to endure the disgust and tuck it into his sleeve.

Then he pretended to be fine and continued to walk inside.

I don't know if the bird stole honey, but the feces still had a thick fishy-sweet smell, hovering at the tip of his nose.

A bit dizzy.

Duan Xiu shook his head, and the uncomfortable feeling finally gradually disappeared, so he threw this little episode behind him completely.

He sat in the same position in the first row near the middle, and the neighbor was still Jiang Zhan.

However, Duan Xiu was very conscious this time and didn't look for trouble.

Soon all candidates were seated.

Su Qingyao also entered as before, patting his large belly, bringing along several clerks, and as per custom, he explained the rules, distributed the test papers, and began the examination.

Everything seemed to be so normal. ===== CHAPTER 317 =====