While these five were either answering confidently or open-minded, students from other academies suffered.
It was too difficult!
They had studied current affairs for a year, expecting questions about various natural disasters as usual. Who knew this year it would be tax revenue? This was completely different from what they usually studied—how were they supposed to answer?
Especially Zhong Yichen from Qixian Academy.
Three years ago, during the academy exams, he arrogantly declared he would take the top spot, only to have it snatched by Meng Fangxun from Qinglian Academy.
After returning, he felt like a stray dog, tail between his legs, afraid to look up for fear of being mocked for not winning the top spot.
Actually, he overthought it. Even if he didn't get first place, he still ranked second. Those who couldn't even achieve second place wouldn't mock him.
But once some falls into self-doubt, they feel every looks down on them everywhere. He even considered moving away.
To fund the move, he thought of selling his poetry and prose.
Unfortunately, the poetry and prose he wrote didn't sell for several months in the county.
No appreciated it!
It was a remote county with few scholars—where could he find some who appreciated poetry and prose?
Moreover, with the Emperor's imperial exam reforms, poetry and prose became useless, so even fewer people appreciated them.
Helpless, Zhong Yichen had to stay home behind closed doors to study. Returning to Qixian Academy, he didn't dare show his face, afraid that aiming for the top spot again and failing would embarrass him.
Awkwardly, when he returned to the academy, the teachers didn't know how to teach him either. They were good at poetry and prose, but current affairs? They were completely clueless.
Fortunately, Zhong Yichen's mother had some connections with the local magistrate. She bribed him to learn a bit about current affairs.
But...
Zhong Yichen looked numbly at the exam question: "How to Increase Tax Revenue." "Heavens! Are you trying to ruin me?!"
No matter how well-connected his family was, the magistrate wouldn't explain a county's tax system to him, right? How was he supposed to answer this?
Not just him—except for a very few candidates, most candidates across the land groaned in despair when they saw this question!
Clearly, the year before last was about epidemic prevention, and they had studied prevention for three years. Why did it change to tax revenue this year?!
"Who has access to this?!"
"Unfair! Unfair! Unfair!"
Students who only knew how to study hard shouted about unfairness. Most students came from merchant or commr backgrounds; they had never even encountered tax-related matters since childhood—how could they answer?
Only a small portion who helped manage family businesses or were from scholarly families knew a bit about taxes, but even that wasn't enough to answer the question.
While the students were complaining, the chief examiners also scratched their heads. They thought the way to increase tax revenue was simply to raise taxes and impose various levies. But the question clearly referred to land tax.
How to increase land tax?
Farming could only yield so much grain per year, and it depended on weather. Not having a reduction was good enough—how could it be increased?
Watching the students in the exam compound scratching their heads, they could only sigh in relief that they had passed the imperial exams and become officials early. If they had to answer this question, they wouldn't know how either!
While they were worrying, the principal and teachers of Qinglian Academy were leisurely drinking tea in the prefectural city.
Unlike three years ago, when the two worried so much they couldn't sleep, this time they were in the best of moods!
"After all, we've taught everything we should," Principal Zuo Zhengjian was as relaxed as could be. "The magistrates of several counties have set examples for the students. No matter what the topic is this time, surely or two can pass!"
Li Jinren nodded. Over the past year, Zuo Zhengjian had scoured everywhere for current affairs materials for the candidates to practice on. The magistrates were also busy building their political achievements around "current affairs" in their respective counties. Every was working hard: "Hard work pays off!"
"Jinren, care to guess how many from our academy will pass the provincial exams?" Since Li Jinren said so, Zuo Zhengjian felt it was certain that at least two Juren would come from their academy, though he couldn't estimate the exact number.
"Three?" Li Jinren thought for a moment, adding more to his estimate. "Meng Fangxun goes without saying; we've all seen how hard that child works. Duan Youyan—I doubt he's been idle, always at the county office. Lastly, I'll bet on Xu Huaiqian. With his excellent handwriting, even scraping through at the bottom shouldn't be a problem."
In the academy, whenever they practiced current affairs questions, Xu Huaiqian always finished the fastest, and his answers were quite reasonable. Since the teachers weren't entirely sure of the correct answers themselves, they could only give vaguely positive feedback.
This assessment resonated with Zuo Zhengjian: "I think so too!"
"That child Xu Huaiqian doesn't show off, but he's not only producing charcoal and growing ginger at home; he's also helping several magistrates with people's livelihoods." Besides teaching, Zuo Zhengjian wasn't completely out of touch; he had heard about the developments in the counties near the academy. "No matter what the topic is this time, a Juren rank is surely within his grasp."
But he only dared to predict Juren; higher ranks he wouldn't speculate on. The world was full of talented people; they only saw Xu Huaiqian, but who knew how many hidden dragons and crouching tigers were in Changnan? It would already be good if Xu Huaiqian and the others could become Juren.
After all, if the imperial exams hadn't been reformed, apart from Meng Fangxun, they probably wouldn't even have passed as Juren!
While the principal of Qinglian Academy was estimating who might pass, the principal of Qixian Academy was directly praying to gods and Buddhas, begging heaven to hear his plea—that the provincial exams would still test poetry and prose.
That way, their academy's Zhong Yichen would definitely secure a Juren rank! Their Qixian Academy wouldn't lose face!
You see, when the exam reforms were announced the year before last, all the students were bewildered. He had repeatedly assured the students that even with the reforms, their academy would have candidates who could pass. Otherwise, these students would have g mad!
He didn't understand why His Majesty had to reform the exams. They had been conducted the same way for centuries—what was the use of testing current affairs?
What a great question?!
As the exam questions came out, people across the land wondered: What is the use of testing current affairs?!
Regardless of what others thought, Xu Huaiqian spent nine comfortable days in the exam compound his dear wife had arranged for him.
Apart from being confined to his cell, he ate well and slept well throughout those nine days. When he finally finished and left the compound...
Duan Youyan and the others looked at him in surprise: "Have you gained a little weight?!"
"Have I?!" Xu Huaiqian raised his arm to look—it still seemed very thin.
"Your face!" Pei Wangshu pointed at his face. "The skin on your face isn't as starkly thin; there's a thin layer of flesh now!"
Xu Huaiqian pinched his cheek and voiced his concern: "Does it look worse?!"
Zhang Bingwen was exasperated: "...It looks better, Senior Brother! You were frighteningly thin before. Having a little meat makes you look more normal!"
"Really?!" Relieved by their words, Xu Huaiqian took a silver mirror from his bag to check. "I do look much healthier than before entering the exams. Having a husband really makes a difference."
At this, Pei Wangshu and the others just wanted to roll their eyes.
But indeed, the exam experience this time was comfortable—good food, good sleep, and even the questions seemed clear and almost tailored to their strengths.
If they didn't pass this time, but the same topic came up again in three years, they were confident they would pass! This feeling of hope for the future was really great!
While they were full of confidence, most other candidates looked very grim. In the short time since Xu Huaiqian left the compound, attendants had already carried out three who had fallen ill!
"It's too hard! Too hard! Heaven wants to ruin me! Heaven wants to ruin me!" carried person kept muttering, making Pei Wangshu and the others puzzled. "Was the exam that difficult?"
If even Pei Wangshu found it simple, let al Xu Huaiqian and the others: "Not difficult at all! I even slept for three days after finishing!"
Truthfully, confined to his cell, he had nothing to do but sleep!
"Maybe others found it difficult!" Zhang Bingwen, unsure if his own answer was off-topic, shrugged nonchalantly. "Let's hurry out! I can see Brother Liejiu and Brother Yunjing waiting for us!"
Sure enough, as soon as they exited, they saw Chen Liejiu and Sheng Yunjing waiting at the gate.
Seeing his wife, Xu Huaiqian immediately stuck close to him: "Why wait for me? I would have returned after finishing the exam!"
Chen Liejiu had been worried sick outside. He had tried his best to make the provincial exam compound comfortable, yet people were still carried out ill every day. He waited outside the compound daily, fearing Xu Huaiqian might be carried out too.
Now, seeing his little husband emerge safe and sound, he finally relaxed: "Was the environment in the exam compound bearable?!"
"Very bearable!" Xu Huaiqian's eyes lit up. "Look, I've even gained weight!"
Chen Liejiu looked him over but didn't see where he had gained weight. However, his complexion was indeed rosier than when he entered, which set his mind at ease.
"Time was still too tight. If funds were sufficient, I'd rather build individual rooms for each candidate." That was Chen Liejiu's initial plan, but the cost was too high. Individual rooms would need beds, desks, etc.—it would be a huge expense.
"Please don't!" Xu Huaiqian quickly stopped his wife's extravagant idea. "This was already exceptionally good!"
Any better, and it wouldn't be called taking an exam—it would be a vacation!
"But still, many were carried out!" Chen Liejiu pointed at the weak, ill candidates being carried away.
"I'm fine," Xu Huaiqian pointed at himself. Who could be weaker than him? "It must be their own problem, not the exam compound's fault!"
Zhang Bingwen and the others nodded in agreement. They had never seen an exam compound with such good treatment—they had even stuffed themselves with pastries inside, they were so delicious!
"Alright." Seeing they were all fine, Chen Liejiu finally believed his arrangements weren't flawed. He took Xu Huaiqian's hand and smiled at the group. "Knowing you worked hard on the exams, I've reserved a table at Huicui Restaurant. Let's go for a cleansing feast?"
Huicui Restaurant, the best restaurant in Changnan Prefecture—a single table cost ten taels of silver!
"Let's go, let's go!" Zhang Bingwen, the biggest food lover, immediately raised his hands. "Brother Liejiu is the best!"
"Boss Chen is generous!" Meng Fangxun smiled.
Pei Wangshu didn't mind. Since he would never find a husband like Chen Liejiu in this lifetime, he had already given up!
Duan Youyan had no objections either.
Only Xu Huaiqian glanced sideways at Chen Liejiu. Ten taels? Did his wife still have any private savings left?
The group headed to Huicui Restaurant, expecting the food to be completely different from Yong'an Prefecture. But upon arrival, seeing the table full of ginger dishes, they all stared wide-eyed: "Why is it all ginger?"
"It's all thanks to Magistrate Wu," Chen Liejiu, who had already tried the food at Huicui Restaurant, rubbed his nose. "He visited every official in Changnan with his ginger."
Not just officials—Chamber of Commerce members were also his key targets. Even if you didn't want to eat it, he'd find a way to make you try it. At first, every found him extremely annoying, but over time, they gradually accepted it.
Thus, ginger spread from Mishan County all the way to Changnan, becoming a signature dish in most major restaurants there.
"The taste is actually quite good," Chen Liejiu invited them to sit down. "Give it a try."
In fact, with the road from Xinghua Village to Changnan now open, more than just Mishan's ginger had made its way there—Yunmeng's mulberry wine and Anning's white sugar had also arrived. The magistrates learned from each other and progressed together.
They had managed their counties so well that the officials in Changnan felt tremendous pressure.
Chen Liejiu took a bottle of Yunmeng mulberry wine and poured a little for Xu Huaiqian. Every was in high spirits today; he could allow his little husband a small drink.
Just as they were enjoying the meal, a group of scholars from the Changnan examination hall, dissatisfied with this year's provincial exam questions, started a protest parade on the streets.
"Current affairs are useless! Reform the imperial exams back!"
Deafening chants of opposition came from the street. The hoarse, straining voices sounded as if they wanted to shout their throats raw, clearly showing their genuine opposition to the exam reforms.
Chen Liejiu even put down his chopsticks and looked down from the restaurant at the Xiucai scholars who had just finished the exams and were now gathered in the street demonstrating: "What's happening?"
Xu Huaiqian shook his head, then nodded: "Probably because of this year's exam questions?"
It was indeed because of the questions. This year's topic had caught many off guard. Very few in the world knew how to answer it. After the exam, the more the candidates thought about it, the angrier and more resentful they became. They had studied hard for over ten years, only to be tested on something they had never learned. A few candidates stirred up the rest.
They believed that since the law doesn't punish the multitude, they all joined the protest.
There's strength in numbers. As long as they united, they could persuade the Emperor to revert the exams to the old format, testing poetry, prose, and essays. Then passing the Juren exam would be no problem!
For a time, Xiucai scholars everywhere rose up in opposition to the imperial exam reforms!
While they were protesting, the court was also in an uproar. The envoys returned to the capital from Yong'an Prefecture, bringing back tax revenues that shocked the entire nation. The civil and military officials were also arguing fiercely.