Chapter 75

Lin Yanzhao picked up his brush and wrote down the four lines of poetry given to him by the layman, then solemnly placed it in his collection of scriptures, intending to use it not to show off, but as a motto.

Seeing the layman pinch his beard and gaze out the window at the flying snow, Lin Yanzhao abandoned his plan to ask about his identity. Since the other party had not brought it up, he did not intend to ask either. If it was not to be revealed, it would not be. In that case, let the other party continue to enjoy the fun of playing the tiger while pretending to be a pig.

"Master, the student is taking his leave!"

"Hmm, you may go. Remember to study diligently."

After returning to the academy, Lin Yanzhao continued to study hard.

At the end of the cold winter, several heavy snowfalls finally came. This time, the snow was substantial, no longer the light, fluffy snow that could be seen but not touched, but real and tangible. The trees outside the study were all covered in white.

Ancient people always wore single-layer pants, without thermal underwear. In such weather, they would shiver with cold. Therefore, the disciples requested the academy to burn charcoal braziers in the lecture hall for warmth.

The academy immediately agreed, and every day, the cleaning staff would bring a pile of charcoal to the study and stack it beside it.

Then, the outer dormitory disciples would pick up the charcoal and put it into the braziers. While the disciples were reading in the study, braziers were placed in the four corners of the lecture hall for warmth, thus avoiding the fate of freezing like dogs.

Ten days before the quarterly exam, the academy's lecture sessions were all suspended, allowing the disciples to return to the study and focus on their reading. The disciples who had been busy with the lectures in the past few days found that the atmosphere of reading in the Emei Study was even more intense than before.

For three months, they had been enduring hardship and reading diligently every day, all for the quarterly exam.

"Initially, the people were born, it was Jiang Yuan. How were the people born? By offering sacrifices to pray for a child..."

"In the sixth month of summer, Xing moved to Chen Yi. What does 'move' mean? It is their intention..."

In the Emei Study, the disciples' loud reading voices were much more resonant than before, and each person's expression while reciting the classics was so focused.

With so many people working hard together, a sense of competition inevitably arose. Although Lin Yanzhao had a high talent, he was worried that others might surpass him, especially since his ranking was still behind Yu Ziyu.

The imperial examinations were like this: the position of Sun Shan and failing the exam seemed to differ by only one place, but they were worlds apart.

A thousand troops crossing a narrow bridge, no one would yield to another. The more one's studies advanced, the more people were left behind. Similarly, every moment one stopped, countless others would surpass.

Lin Yanzhao looked at Yu Ziyu and thought, "I won't think about who will be higher or lower in the final quarterly exam, but before the exam, I must study harder than you." Although Lin Yanzhao and Yu Ziyu said they were not competing, in their hearts, they both wanted to outdo the other.

While studying hard, Lin Yanzhao couldn't help but complain that these days were not for humans. Even when going to the toilet, he felt guilty!

Now, in the dormitory, there were small circles. Ye Xianggao always came and went alone, while Yu Ziyu and Lin Biqing studied together.

Zhu Xiangwen, Huang Biyou, Yu Qingzhou, and Lin Yanzhao often spent time together. Since Lin Yanzhao had introduced them to the society, they now regarded him as a god.

The chubby Zhu Xiangwen often complained, "No matter how hard I try, I can't match Ye Xianggao, Yu Ziyu, or Lin Yanzhao. I might as well give up." But every time he said this, he would still read with a pained expression.

Huang Biyou often joked with Lin Yanzhao, "Yanchao brother, you have won me twice, but I don't necessarily think I will lose to you in the quarterly exam. Our bet is still valid."

As for Yu Qingzhou, everyone knew he was about to leave the academy. When asked, "You are leaving, so even if you do well in the quarterly exam, it won't be useful," he would smile and say, "I know that even if I rank first in the quarterly exam, it won't be useful, but I just want to read with everyone before I leave, as a way to leave a memory."

Hearing this, everyone felt a bit moved.

In this way, the ten days passed quickly.

In mid-winter, the quarterly exam began. After the exam, everyone would go home for the New Year, so this was also like a final exam.

On the day of the quarterly exam, when the disciples carried their book bags to the Emei Study, they all looked serious, and no one had the mood to talk. A few people tried to speak loudly to hide their nervousness.

Everyone entered the study early and sat at their respective desks.

Lin Yanzhao, who had been troubled by the surnamed Ma scholar, lowered his head and said, "There's only fifteen minutes left before it starts, it's really hard to endure!"

At this moment, someone ran out, and someone nearby chuckled, "Brother He has already gone to the toilet three times this morning."

A moment later, Lin Liao entered the lecture hall. Everyone thought he was about to start the exam, but to their surprise, Lin Liao said, "The governor will come to inspect soon. You all sit quietly. Ye Xianggao, Yu Ziyu, Lin Yanzhao, you three come out."

This quarterly exam was set by the prefecture. Everyone thought the governor would speak to them after the exam, but they did not expect him to come to inspect before the exam.

Ye Xianggao, Yu Ziyu, and Lin Yanzhao walked out of the lecture hall. Lin Liao said to the three, "When the governor asks, you three should be cautious in your words and actions."

Lin Yanzhao knew he had been chosen to receive the governor.

Soon, Lin Yanzhao heard footsteps and voices from outside the courtyard. He looked up and saw a man in his forties walking with an official's gait, hands behind his back. This must be the governor of the prefecture, surrounded by officials. Lin Yin and Lin Liao were accompanying him.

After crossing over, Lin Yanzhao found that the ancient people he had seen were mostly thin, with few fat people. Although Zhu Xiangwen was often called a chubby, it was relative. In his previous life, after working in an office for a long time, Lin Yanzhao had a thick waist, but no one said he was fat.

However, among the people who came, there were several who were overweight, indicating they lived a life of luxury.

Especially the governor, who was even fatter than the others. He looked up at the sign on the door and pointed to the plum blossoms in front of the study, smiling, "Emei Study, what a fitting name."

Lin Yin smiled and said, "These two plum trees were already there when I retired and returned to my hometown. Later, I built the study and named it after the scenery. I hope the governor will not laugh."

"Not at all, the headmaster serves the court with righteousness and benevolence, and teaches the people in the countryside. I truly admire you!" the governor said with a smile.

The people around him all chuckled in agreement.

The group then arrived at the lecture hall.

Ye Xianggao, Yu Ziyu, and Lin Yanzhao bowed their heads. Lin Liao said, "These three disciples are outstanding in the outer dormitory."

Lin Liao first pointed to Ye Xianggao and said, "This is the grandson of Mr. Guishan, named Ye Xianggao."

Then he pointed to Yu Ziyu and said, "This is a top-ranked disciple in the outer dormitory, named Yu Ziyu."

Ye Xianggao and Yu Ziyu bowed to the governor.

The governor smiled and said, "Both of you look like scholars from a family of scholars."

"This disciple has been in the outer dormitory for a short time but has made rapid progress, named Lin Yanzhao."

The governor smiled and said, "Could you be the one who said 'Can Yan be attacked?'"

Although the governor spoke lightly, the disciples in the outer dormitory all perked up their ears, wondering what "Can Yan be attacked?" meant and whether the governor knew Lin Yanzhao.

Lin Yanzhao sighed, realizing his reputation had indeed spread.

Lin Liao smiled and said, "The governor's keen eyesight is indeed remarkable, that's right."

The governor looked at Lin Yanzhao again and asked, "How have you been studying recently?"

This question was quite vague. Lin Yanzhao replied, "I reflect on myself three times a day, striving to deepen my knowledge, but I have not yet achieved it."

Lin Yanzhao meant that he reflected on himself three times a day, striving for knowledge, but had not yet succeeded.

"Good." The governor narrowed his eyes and said only one word, then turned to the others and said, "You have such excellent teachers, you must study hard and not辜负their efforts to cultivate you."

"Yes, we will remember the governor's teachings," the disciples said in unison.

After saying this, the governor walked away, and Lin Yanzhao and the others escorted him out of the outer dormitory courtyard.

Back in the study, the disciples were amazed by Lin Yanzhao's conversation with the governor. The governor was not only the magistrate of the ten counties in Minzhong but also the examiner for the prefectural exam. Leaving a good impression on him would be very helpful in the future.

Yu Ziyu, however, was sweating. This time, the competition with Lin Yanzhao was crucial, but the governor, who was the chief examiner, seemed to favor Lin Yanzhao. Could it be that he had already decided in favor of him?

Yu Ziyu felt even more pressure.

After a while, the caretaker brought in the exam papers, followed by Lin Liao.

"The caretaker is also supervising the exam!"

"It seems this time it will be very strict!"

"Of course, it's the quarterly exam."

The disciples whispered, but when Lin Liao's gaze swept over them, they immediately fell silent.

"Begin the exam!"

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