Kays Translations

Chapter 202: Bringing Good News

On this day, snow continued to fall in Yingtian City, creating a magnificent scene. The entire world was covered in a silver-white hue, resembling a grand city of ice and snow.

Around the time of the Mao hour (approximately 5-7 AM), officials and bailiffs were dispatched across Yingtian City to decorate the area from Jiangnan Gongyuan to the Confucius Temple with lanterns and festive ornaments. The contrast between the bright red lanterns and the silver-white snow was striking.

On this day, scholars and students staying at the inns changed into brand-new scholar robes, donned their most devout expressions, and knelt in the direction of the Confucius Temple, burning incense in prayer.

At a table by the window in the inn’s main hall, Zhu Ping’an and the chubby Xue Chi sat drinking rice porridge and eating small side dishes. Zhu Ping’an remained calm and composed, savoring his meal with ease. However, the chubby Xue Chi was quite different. While eating, he frequently glanced toward the entrance, his eyes bloodshot, a clear sign that he had struggled to sleep the previous night.

The inn’s main hall was filled with scholars, many of whom were acting just like Xue Chi—constantly looking toward the entrance, their eyes red, resembling hungry wolves.

This was the day the provincial examination results were announced.

Unlike the Children’s Examination, provincial examination results were traditionally announced first by bailiffs who went to the inns and other lodgings of the candidates to deliver the good news. Only after all the newly successful juren had been notified would the complete list be posted outside the Jiangnan Gongyuan.

There was no need to worry about the bailiffs losing their way, as all scholars had registered their temporary residence and place of origin with the authorities before the exam.

“The bailiffs are delivering the good news!”

Around the time of the Chen hour (approximately 7-9 AM), an excited shout was heard from outside.

Instantly, everyone in the inn’s main hall turned their heads toward the entrance, their anticipation reaching its peak. Xue Chi nearly flew out of his chair in excitement.

“A golden-scaled fish is not meant to remain in a pond; once it encounters a storm, it will transform into a dragon.”

Everyone fantasized about becoming a juren. The moment one attained that status, everything changed—it meant stepping into another world, a world called power.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl. The scholars in the hall waited anxiously, feeling as if they had been waiting for ten thousand years, yet no sounds of congratulations had arrived.

“Good news from the provincial examination! Congratulations…”

Everyone in the hall eagerly looked toward the entrance, and some even rushed forward.

However, they only saw a bailiff holding a red scroll, swiftly passing by the inn and heading toward another establishment.

“Sigh…”

A collective sigh filled the inn.

Before the sighs had completely faded, another clear and resounding announcement echoed toward the hall.

“Good news from the provincial exam! Congratulations to Xue Chi of Fengyang Prefecture for placing 35th on the supplementary list…”

A bailiff, shouting all the way, burst into the hall.

Upon hearing this, the chubby Xue Chi, who was sitting opposite Zhu Ping’an, jumped to his feet and shouted in excitement, “I passed… Wait, what? What did you just say—supplementary list?”

The words “I passed” had barely left his mouth before he froze. His flushed face darkened as he grabbed the bailiff and shook him.

“Yes, the supplementary list,” the bailiff confirmed with a nod.

After receiving confirmation, Xue Chi let go of the bailiff. His chubby face was on the verge of tears.

“You call this good news? It’s the last spot on the supplementary list!”

The Supplementary List was an additional list in the provincial examination, also called the Reserve List. The provincial examination Supplementary List began in the fifth year of the Jiajing era. Those listed on it did not become juren, but they qualified to sit the next provincial examination directly, without having to take the qualification examination again. The number of places was limited—roughly one Supplementary List candidate for every five candidates on the main list.

However, in the end, it’s all the same—nothing.

The people in the main hall understood the chubby man’s excitement. Even though he did not officially pass as a juren, making it onto the Supplementary List was still quite an achievement—at the very least, it was an honor. The people in the hall congratulated him.

The chubby man felt disappointed for a moment but quickly came to terms with it. He pulled out a small piece of silver and rewarded the messenger who brought the news. Then, he sat across from Zhu Ping’an and started boasting about himself.

“Brother Zhu, even though I didn’t become a juren, making it onto the Supplementary List is still a big deal. This is called the Gongbang (Tribute List). Now, I can go to the Imperial Academy in the capital. I’m way ahead of my old man!”

The chubby man had an incredibly strong ability to recover emotionally. In an instant, he was no longer upset. After all, he had managed to make it onto the Supplementary List despite obtaining his chance to sit the provincial examination through connections and gifts. That was already better than many who had entered through the proper route. Compared with his father, he was leagues ahead.

“Not bad.” Zhu Ping’an nodded. However, there was an unspoken part of his sentence—he truly hadn’t expected this result. Considering the fat man’s infamous essay My Sister, I Long for Thee, this outcome was surprising. Perhaps his other essays had some outstanding parts.

Hearing Zhu Ping’an’s words, the chubby man became smug.

As time passed, aside from the chubby man, two others in the inn’s main hall also received news that they had made it onto the Supplementary List. They exchanged glances with the chubby man, feeling a sense of camaraderie, and agreed to drink together in the future.

“Now it should be time for the Gui List, right?” The people in the inn whispered among themselves, looking expectantly toward the entrance.

A crisp clatter of horse hooves shattered their anxious anticipation. Two sturdy horses neighed and stopped at the inn’s entrance. Two government messengers dismounted, loudly proclaiming the good news of the provincial examination as they rushed inside.

“Good news from the provincial examination! Congratulations to Master Zhu Ping’an of Anqing Prefecture for placing 135th in the provincial examination!”

135th. The provincial examination in all of Southern Zhili admitted exactly 135 candidates. Zhu Ping’an taking 135th place meant he was the very last name on the main list.

To be honest, this result was a bit unexpected for Zhu Ping’an. He didn’t think he would rank at the bottom.

However, considering that more than ten thousand shengyuan had sat the provincial examination, becoming a juren at all was already an achievement. Last place or not—he had still passed. He chuckled to himself. It only meant he needed to work harder, much harder.

After all, one must never underestimate the hidden talents of the world.

Zhu Ping’an quickly adjusted his mindset, took out the reward money he had prepared in advance, and distributed it to the two messengers.

The messengers took the money and felt the weight of a heavy string of copper coins—there was a lot. Overjoyed, they offered their congratulations to Zhu Ping’an and then left, grinning as they returned to report back.

The fact that Zhu Ping’an barely scraped by to become a juren made the people in the inn both envious and amazed.

How could this young man have such incredible luck? The very last spot on the list—his ancestors must have been blessing him!

Yet, behind their admiration was jealousy.

“If only I had better luck, I could have passed too,” they thought.

“Brother Zhu, we really are kindred spirits, aren’t we?” The chubby man sighed. “You got the last spot on the main list, and I got the last spot on the supplementary list.”

Midway through his complaint, he suddenly corrected himself, “Wait, no—you actually passed!”

“One year earlier or later makes no difference,” Zhu Ping’an said reassuringly. “Brother Xue, you made it onto the Supplementary List this year, and this was a special provincial examination. Under the system, there will be another provincial examination next year. Settle down and prepare properly, and you’ll surely place high on the Gui List then.”

“That’s true! Without you lot as competition, I’ll rank at least 35th next time! Haha! They’ll still be taking 135 candidates—passing should be a piece of cake!”

Upon hearing this, the chubby man’s previously disheartened face lit up with excitement, his voice filled with joy.

Indeed, as the saying goes—misfortune might just be a blessing in disguise.

The chubby man’s logic made sense. With the regular provincial examination coming the next year, his chances of becoming a juren were indeed high.

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