Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 132: Examination Schedule Posted
Time is precious. A day has 24 hours, and no extra minute or second can be gained.
Even though Zhu Ping’an cherishes time, his fingers are too wide, and time is too thin, so time still slips away quietly through the gaps in his fingers. The sky can be repaired, the sea can be filled, and the South Mountain can be moved. The days and months that have passed cannot be pursued again.
Amid Zhu Ping’an’s diligent review, the academy examination drew ever closer.
“Brother Zhu, Brother Zhu! Hurry up, hurry up!” The chubby Xue Chi knocked urgently on Zhu Ping’an’s door.
Zhu Ping’an, who had been reviewing, opened the door and found Xue Chi standing there excitedly, his forehead beaded with sweat, as though he had just stumbled across some tremendous bargain.
“What’s the rush? If you break the door, you’ll pay for it,” Zhu Ping’an said. He had just begun working through the first question and was preparing to finish the eight-legged essay in one sitting, only for Xue Chi’s pounding to completely break his train of thought. Naturally, his expression was less than friendly.
“What do you mean, what’s going on? The examination schedule for all the prefectures was just posted by the education commissioner in front of the Gongyuan. Everyone’s gone to look. Come on, hurry up, or all the good spots will be taken!” Xue Chi said, his excited round face trembling.
By custom, Southern Zhili’s academy examination was held at the Jiangnan Gongyuan in Yingtian. Southern Zhili comprised fourteen prefectures, including Yingtian, Suzhou, and Fengyang, and with this year’s tongsheng added to those from previous years, the number of candidates was enormous. Thus, although everyone sat the academy examination at the same Gongyuan, they did so in batches. The examination was usually divided into two batches, with the prefectures around Yingtian going first and the others following. There was no need to fear leaked questions because each batch received different questions. Nor did differing difficulty create unfairness within a prefecture: candidates from the same prefecture received the same questions, and results were posted separately by prefecture. Each prefecture also had a fixed quota, divided into large, medium, and small categories according to local literary culture, population, and resources. Larger prefectures had more places and smaller ones fewer. Yingtian, Fengyang, and Suzhou, for example, were large prefectures with forty places each; medium prefectures had thirty, and smaller prefectures twenty.
That was the usual practice, but no one could guarantee there would be no changes this year. Plans could never quite keep up with circumstances, and the actual order always depended on the schedule announced by the education commissioner.
“What are you standing there for? Hurry up!” Xue Chi urged, his round face impatient.
Under Xue Chi’s repeated urging, Zhu Ping’an closed the door and went downstairs with him toward the Jiangnan Gongyuan.
Before they even reached the Gongyuan, they could already hear the noise of people discussing, seemingly because there had been changes to the exam schedule this year.
By the time they neared the Gongyuan, they could barely move forward. Tongsheng from every prefecture had crowded in to check the posted schedule, and even the broad entrance of the Gongyuan could not contain them all.
“Copies of the examination schedule, word-for-word, each copy 20 wen.” At this point, some savvy street vendors had rushed to copy hundreds of copies of the schedule and were selling them on the spot, making quite a profit.
“Give me two copies.” The chubby Xue Chi pulled out some money from his pocket and waved it at the vendor.
After the vendor took the money, he handed two copies of the written schedule to the chubby Xue Chi. After receiving them, Xue Chi casually gave one to Zhu Ping’an. Zhu Ping’an didn’t refuse and began to read it.
Sure enough, the education commissioner had made substantial changes to the examination schedule this year. It was still divided into two batches, but the arrangement differed greatly from previous years.
The education commissioner divided the fourteen prefectures into two batches. The first consisted of Yingtian, Fengyang, Huai’an, Yangzhou, Suzhou, Anqing, and Chizhou, whose academy examination would begin the next day. The second consisted of Songjiang, Changzhou, Zhenjiang, Luzhou, Taiping, Ningguo, and Huizhou, whose examination would begin three days later. On their examination day, candidates were to assemble at the gate of the Jiangnan Gongyuan during the Yin hour, around five in the morning, to register and enter.
“Hahaha, Brother Zhu, we can take the exam in the same batch!” Xue Chi looked at the schedule, laughing so hard his eyes were almost hidden.
“Mm.” Zhu Ping’an replied indifferently.
“To celebrate that we’ll take the exam together, I’ll treat you. We won’t go back until we’re drunk!” Xue Chi said, already reaching for Zhu Ping’an to head to a restaurant.
Hearing this, Zhu Ping’an could hardly stop himself from kicking the chubby Xue Chi’s face, making it two sizes larger. Damn, the exam is tomorrow, and you’re talking about not returning until drunk!
“I just had breakfast, so no thanks.” Zhu Ping’an replied coldly.
“That’s fine. Come on, let’s go! Here’s to wishing us success in the exam! We won’t return until we’re drunk…” Xue Chi was still enthusiastic, his gold chain swinging around his neck.
Damn it, not coming back until you’re drunk? The examination is tomorrow!
To this, Zhu Ping’an calmly replied, “I bought a bag last year!”
“A bag? A purse? You bought it last year, so what’s the point of mentioning it now? Let’s go, go, go…” Xue Chi was still as eager as ever, not at all concerned about tomorrow’s exam.
Well, ancient people wouldn’t understand the subtlety in this.
“Forget it. I need to go back and cram for the examination,” Zhu Ping’an said firmly, refusing to go along with Xue Chi.
“Sigh, you’re always so diligent, but you’re still studying so hard. The exam is tomorrow, it won’t make a difference if you don’t study today,” Xue Chi grumbled, looking a bit helpless.
“I’d advise you to go back and study too. The examination is tomorrow, and we have to be at the Gongyuan gate early to register. You want to drink until you can’t come back? What’s the point? We can drink after the examination,” Zhu Ping’an said, patting Xue Chi on the shoulder before heading toward the inn.
“Oh, oh, Brother Zhu, wait for me…”
Xue Chi hurriedly chased after Zhu Ping’an, shouting, “We’ve got a deal, after the exam, we won’t return until we’re drunk! Hehehe, I’ll take you to see something new across the river…”
In the end, after Zhu Ping’an’s persuasion, Xue Chi went back upstairs to study. As for how effective that studying was, no one knew.
Back at the inn, Zhu Ping’an sat at the desk, recalling all the knowledge he had accumulated about the eight-legged essay. Thanks to his rebirth, his memory this time was surprisingly good.
The other students in the inn were also immersed in their books, preparing for the exam. The business at the Jinfen Yulou across the Qinhuai River also dwindled by half. Those still consuming there were either confident or arrogant; otherwise, how could they stay in a place full of gentle temptations?
Take one step forward, and the sea is vast and the sky wide; take one step back, and you’ll be covered in dirt.
As night fell and the inn became quiet, the students sat by the windows, reviewing for the exam. This night, many students likely lost sleep.