Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 177 Lu Beigu, First Place in the Provincial Examination! [Seeking Monthly Tickets!]

On the first day of the ninth month of the first year of the Jiayou era, the results were announced.

As dawn breaks, the autumn chill is already in the air.

Outside the east wall of the prefectural government office, the usually solemn office was now completely surrounded by a dense crowd.

The streets paved with bluestone slabs were bustling with people, shoulder to shoulder, as if the eyes of the entire city of Luzhou were focused on this place.

Hundreds of state students, along with their relatives and friends, and even busybodies and idlers in the city, couldn't help but whisper among themselves, their eyes fixed on the smooth blue brick wall.

That will be the place where the "list of announcements" will be posted, determining the fate of many people.

Meanwhile, shrewd vendors on the streets and in alleys have already caught wind of the bustling crowds. Taking advantage of this once-every-three-years peak season, they push their carts and carry their loads, squeezing into the crowds or gaps to loudly hawk their wares.

"Hot! Freshly baked steamed buns! With roasted meat inside—!"

"Salted plums from the well are appetizing and refreshing!"

"Sweet water! Refreshing sweet water! Quenches thirst and soothes the throat, making the wait for the results less anxious!"

"Freshly steamed glutinous rice balls, a lucky omen for passing the imperial examination! Eating them guarantees success!"

Some servants moved among them, buying food and snacks for their waiting young masters. Some students, who had gotten up too early and were now hungry and nervous to the point of low blood sugar, couldn't help but take out a few copper coins to buy some hot food to warm themselves up and calm their nerves.

The vendors' shouts rose and fell, mingling with the buzzing of the crowd, adding a touch of liveliness to the anxious atmosphere of waiting.

Lu Beigu was still wearing his dark blue school uniform and stood at the front of the crowd.

He stood tall and straight, his face calm, his gaze fixed on the wall where the list had not yet been posted, as unmoving as a rock.

Only the barely perceptible dampness seeping from his palm, which was slightly clenched in his sleeve, betrayed the equally surging tension within him regarding his own future.

The people standing beside him, including Cui Wenjing, Han Ziyu, Zhou Mingyuan, and Ji Yun, no matter how composed or carefree they usually were, all suppressed their expressions at this moment, their eyes fixed on what lay ahead.

Cui Wenjing tucked his hands into his sleeves, chin slightly tucked in, eyes closed as if meditating, but the tight corners of his mouth and the occasional lift of his eyelids betrayed his inner turmoil.

Han Ziyu seemed a little irritated, constantly tiptoeing to look around, and couldn't help but mutter a complaint in her voice: "Why aren't they here yet? What are they dawdling about!"

Zhou Mingyuan's face was still somewhat pale. His fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of his clothes, his gaze darted back and forth between the wall and the gaps between people, and his lips moved slightly as if he were muttering something to himself.

Ji Yun stood close to Lu Beigu, his eyes full of curiosity. He wasn't curious about his own ranking, since he couldn't pass the provincial examination anyway. He was only curious about who would pass this year.

"Gentlemen," Han Ziyu finally couldn't help but lower his voice and say to the people around him, "The results will be released soon. Why don't we guess who will be among the top five this year? Especially the top scholar!"

These words immediately attracted the attention of several familiar dormitory students nearby, who all moved closer.

Guessing the rankings is almost a must-do activity before the results are released. It serves to relieve tension and is also a tacit competition among classmates.

Cui Wenjing finally opened his eyes and slowly said, "The difficulty of this year's state examination questions is especially evident in the historical essay 'On the Currency of Yelang.' Unless one is well-versed in a wide range of books, thoroughly familiar with the history and geography of the Southwest, and adept at using the past to illuminate the present, it is extremely difficult to answer this question well. In my opinion, the one who can get a first-class grade on this question is a strong contender for the top scholar title."

“Brother Cui is absolutely right!” Zhang Xun, a student from the upper dormitory, chimed in. “That question was like a bolt from the blue. I racked my brains and could only manage to come up with a superficial answer, which I’m afraid is unlikely to impress the examiners. Brother Cui, you are well-versed in the classics and have a wealth of knowledge. You must have answered this question exceptionally well. The title of top scholar, just like before, is undoubtedly yours!”

His words drew agreement from several people around him. Cui Wenjing simply shook his head slightly and did not respond, but a glimmer of hope still flickered deep in his eyes.

After all, Cui Wenjing had won the top score in the provincial examination two years before last.

“Poetry and prose are also key,” Ji Yun interjected in a low voice. “The regulated verse has very strict rhyme restrictions and a broad topic. It would be difficult for Brother Lu to write one that is well-developed, lofty in its ideas, and unconventional. He has written a poem before called ‘Ode to Fawang Temple on the Buddha’s Birthday’. I think he can write this poem well.” His words drew everyone’s attention back to Lu Beigu.

Lu Beigu felt the gaze and simply smiled calmly: "Just do your best and leave the rest to fate."

“Brother Lu, you are too modest.” Cui Wenjing finally spoke, his tone serious. “Your talent is evident to all in the state academy. In my opinion, you will definitely be among the top five in this state examination.”

His words came from the heart and represented the views of a considerable number of students in the upper dormitory.

Lu Beigu's rise to prominence since entering the state academy has been truly astonishing.

“Yes, yes, yes.” Zhou Mingyuan nodded in agreement. “Brother Lu’s policy essay is truly impressive! I bet it will receive a very high score! It’s no less significant than poetry or historical essays!”

"And you?" Lu Beigu shifted his focus.

"As for me, I'd be lucky to pass the provincial examination like I did last time."

Everyone chimed in, analyzing the possible winners. The names they mentioned were all renowned figures in the state school or those who had recently shown outstanding performance.

The tense atmosphere seemed to ease slightly during the discussion, but everyone remained on edge, their eyes involuntarily glancing at the empty wall.

"I'm coming!"

"Look! The clerk is coming out!"

"Gong! Did you hear the gong?!"

A commotion broke out on the periphery of the crowd, and all the noisy discussions and vendors' cries were instantly drowned out by an even louder roar.

Several clerks from the prefectural government office, carrying rolled-up red notices, emerged from the main gate of the office, escorted by a group of yamen runners armed with fire and water sticks. The runners parted the crowd and led the clerks toward the smooth, polished east wall.

"All bystanders, step back!"

"Silence! Silence! The results are out!"

The dust has settled, right now.

The clerk deftly unfolded the list, carefully brushed paste onto the screen wall, and then the "list of announcements" that carried the hopes of countless people was steadily pasted on from bottom to top!

"Wow--"

The crowd surged instantly, with people in the front row pushing forward desperately, while those in the back row stood on tiptoe and craned their necks. Shouts, inquiries, and even suppressed sobs mingled together.

"What a pity! What a pity, thirty-seventh place!" A trembling voice of ecstasy rang out, revealing no regret for failing the exam, but rather pride in one's own progress.

"More than twenty. No chance of getting a spot." In another corner, an older student was pale and swayed, but was held tightly by his companion.

Subsequently, the top of the "List of Announcements" was firmly affixed to the wall.

The list of successful candidates who will travel to Beijing this year to take the provincial examination of the Ministry of Rites has been officially released!
"Look! At the very front! Who is the top scholar?!"

Taking advantage of their position, Cui Wenjing and his team quickly scanned the top of the list.

When their gaze fell upon the three large, bold characters at the very top, their pupils all contracted!
"First place—Lu Beigu!"

(End of this chapter)