Dream of the Red Chamber: Daiyu and I swapped clothes

Chapter 78 County Examination [Seeking First Subscription]

Jia Baoyu rubbed his stinging nose, staring incredulously at the retreating figure, trembling with rage. "He...he actually dared to lay a hand on me?"

"Brother Xue, move aside!"

With a shout, Jia Baoyu was about to chase after him to argue, but Xue Pan stopped him with a grin.

'A bet? That's fantastic! How could I possibly miss out on such a sure-win opportunity?'

Putting his arm around Jia Baoyu's shoulder, Xue Pan's eyes flashed with cunning. "Brother Bao, don't be impatient. If he won't gamble with you, I will, how about that?"

"You bet?"

Jia Baoyu stared at him blankly for a moment, then asked in confusion, "What are you betting on? You're not taking the exam."

“I’m not interested in scientific research, but I can bet with you on Xiangling.”

Xue Pan patted his chest and said, "If you pass Brother Chen's test, I will get Xiangling back for you. Not only will I get her back, but I will also send her to your room."

Jia Baoyu's eyes lit up. "They've all been given away? Can they be brought back?"

Xue Pan nodded with a smug look on his face, "Of course, I'm a scoundrel."

Seeing his confident demeanor, Jia Baoyu couldn't help but nod. "That makes sense. It's settled then. I'll go in first, and we'll meet again on the day the results are announced."

Just as Jia Baoyu was about to leave, Xue Pan grabbed his arm again. "Hey, Brother Bao, wait a minute. Words are no proof; we need to get a written agreement first."

Jia Baoyu pondered for a moment, "That makes sense."

"Go quickly and get paper and pen."

Xue Pan immediately called to the servant behind him, "Don't delay Brother Bao's entry!"

Before long, the servant delivered a contract as requested by Xue Pan.

It states that if Baoyu ranks above Li Chen, the Xue family will take Xiangling back on his behalf; if Baoyu ranks below Li Chen, the position is left blank.

Seeing that Baoyu was about to put his handprint on the document, Xue Pan quickly stopped him, "Brother Bao, let's make things clear first. What if—and I mean what if—you lose?"

"What do you think?"

'You look down on me for giving away a maid, then I'll make you give one away too, and see how much more you bark then!'

Thinking of this, Xue Pan smiled and said, "How about this, since the bet is on people, then send one of your four head maids and eight maids to Brother Chen, one more or one less won't make a difference."

"As for me, who also placed the bet, I don't really want anything. I'm not short of money, and I don't lack maids. How about Brother Bao shouts 'I am a big turtle' three times in public when the results are announced, and that will be considered fulfilling the bet?"

Baoyu was immediately displeased. "Brother Xue, when have I ever offended you? Why are you targeting me like this?"

"Brother Bao, what are you saying?"

Xue Pan feigned grievance, "Brother, how could I harm you? I'm helping you. How can I ask for it without real evidence? Besides, do you really think you'll lose to Brother Chen? Then let's not sign this bet."

"How easy it would be to just get people out of there!"

As he spoke, Xue Pan made a move to leave, but Jia Baoyu quickly tried to persuade him to stay.

"Okay, okay, I agree."

Jia Baoyu hurriedly snatched the contract and gritted his teeth to press his fingerprint on it.

Watching Baoyu hurriedly disappear into the line of examinees, Xue Pan's servant couldn't help but ask, "Master, are you really going to go and ask Xiangling back...? This could make you enemies."

Xue Pan glared at him, "Do you think I'm that idiot Baoyu? Chen-ge'er can even write books, how could he fail the county exam?"

As he spoke, he gave the servant a sharp rap on the head.

The servant covered his head and said, "So you want Master Bao to shout three vulgarities?"

"So what? I want that idiot to be humiliated. I'm willing to do it!"

Rolling up the bet, Xue Pan laughed heartily and went outside.

……

The examination halls for the county-level examinations had no walls on all sides, only wooden pillars supporting the tiled roofs. This allowed for ventilation for over a thousand people inside, but lighting was also a challenge.

Only students in the front rows, the "sky" and "earth" columns, could answer questions comfortably by taking advantage of the sunlight.

The further back you go, the damper it gets. The last row is next to the outhouse, and it's known as the "toilet number." If it's summer and exams are held there, the stench is so bad that no one can write a single word.

Lin Daiyu is currently sitting in seat number 45 of the Xuan character.

The number chosen this time is also significant.

The sons of high-ranking officials and noble families in the capital would receive preferential treatment from the county magistrate, who would arrange their seats to the front.

It won't be too crowded, and the ventilation and lighting are better, making it easier to read the questions.

Being outside the mansion, Lin Daiyu experienced for the first time how pervasive power can be.

Although the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion had the title of a noble family, and commoners without official positions would still respectfully address him as the Zhenyuan Marquis, in reality, under the downgraded hereditary title system, the mansion only received the salary of a baron.

Now, he has received an official post of a fifth-rank official and an extra one, but in the capital, this is really nothing.

In particular, their family was looked down upon by scholars and literati.

Being in the Xuan-class residence, Lin Daiyu actually felt quite comfortable.

He could vaguely see that Jia Baoyu was ranked first among the top students, ahead of him, and he knew that the gap between the two families was still very large.

But given her abilities, it's hard to say what the future holds.

'Fortunately, the searches during the county-level examinations weren't too strict; I didn't see the description in the book of being stripped naked and thoroughly searched. Perhaps only the provincial and metropolitan examinations were conducted this way.'

Lin Daiyu silently recited, though she had been in each other's bodies for a long time, her inner girlish heart still couldn't accept it for the time being.

Suddenly, a gong sounded, and the exam officially began.

The yamen runners held up the examination plaques and displayed them in front of them.

The first question was on the Four Books, specifically the phrase "pardoning minor offenses and recommending virtuous and talented individuals."

The Analects of Confucius, in the chapter on Zilu, states that it is not difficult for a ruler to forgive minor mistakes and appoint virtuous and capable officials.

Lin Daiyu's eyes narrowed slightly as she picked up her brush and began to write.

On the plain paper, the elegant handwriting flowed like clouds and water, and the opening sentence set the tone for the entire piece.

"If we insist on perfection, then there will be no one of usable talent in the world; only by being lenient with minor faults can talented people be expected to perform their duties..."

……

Rongguo Mansion
When the sun was high in the sky, Li Chenfang woke up on his bed.

She stretched and rolled over on the fragrant bed.

Feeling the warm sunlight on her face, she couldn't help but think to herself, 'Judging by the time, Lin Daiyu must have already started her exams.'

"Miss, is it time to get up? Didn't we say we were going to coax Miss Yun today?"

Xueyan brought the dress to Li Chen's side, helped him sit up, and gently shook her arm.

"Oh right, I forgot about that."

Then, she leaned against Xueyan's chest, rubbing against the floral embroidery on her chest, feeling even more comfortable. "Help me change my clothes, then I'll go find her."

They searched several places in the mansion but couldn't find him.

Li Chen had no choice but to go to Wang Xifeng to find out what was going on.

As soon as I reached the corridor, I heard people inside talking quietly.

"Niece-in-law, tell your aunt the truth, did Rong-ge'er bully you?"

"No, nothing. I just came to pay my respects to the old lady and madam, and happened to be passing by so I thought I'd drop by to see you, aunt..."

(End of this chapter)