Chapter 76

Seasonal exams take longer than monthly exams, lasting a full three hours.

The exam content no longer includes the scripture pasting and ink definitions from the lunar and solar exams. Instead, it consists of one five-character eight-rhyme poem, two questions from the Four Books, and two questions from the Five Classics.

The exam paper lists ten questions from the Five Classics, but students only need to choose two questions from their own classics to answer. Apart from the table judgments and policy questions, this is basically the procedure for the recent provincial exams.

Lin Yanchao did not think too much about it and started working on the questions. Although five-character eight-rhyme poetry was not his strong point, the Four Books and Five Classics questions were no longer as daunting as when he first entered the academy. Even if the questions were not in the texts he had memorized, he could still write decently, though his essays could only be considered second or third-rate, and would not earn high scores.

Lin Yanchao continued to follow his usual approach, choosing the two questions he was most confident about to write himself, and 'borrowing' model answers for the other two.

Lin Yanchao knew that if he 'borrowed' all four model answers, his score would definitely be higher, but first, both the layman and Lin Liao had advised him to write each essay himself and avoid taking shortcuts. Second, writing each essay under exam conditions would be the best way to improve his skills.

Therefore, Lin Yanchao decided to take the exam in his own way. He was not particularly concerned about whether he could surpass Yu Ziyu and secure a place in the inner dormitory. With thirty years of life experience, countless exams from childhood to adulthood, and various certification exams and job interviews after leaving school, he had developed a calm attitude towards exams.

Lin Yanchao wrote the essays with a relaxed mindset.

At this moment, Yu Ziyu was constantly wiping sweat. He was already very nervous about this exam, having tossed and turned all night without sleep. He felt a bit more energetic after putting a ginseng slice in his mouth during the day. Sitting at his desk, he could not concentrate, and when he heard the magistrate speak to Lin Yanchao, he became even more flustered.

"No, I can't keep daydreaming. I need to focus on the questions. The magistrate just happens to know Lin Yanchao. I must believe that the magistrate is fair and will not show favoritism in the grading."

"This is my last chance to enter the inner dormitory. If I fail, my parents will make me go back to the old house to study."

Thinking of studying in the old house, Yu Ziyu shuddered. He would have to live in a loft, with the stairs removed, and his meals would be hoisted up in a basket. He would not be allowed to step down from the loft, like a pig or sheep in confinement.

Such a life was terrifying to Yu Ziyu: "No, I can't let this happen. I must get into the inner dormitory."

With that, Yu Ziyu gritted his teeth, picked up his brush, and began writing on the exam paper.

Snow started falling outside, and the students stared intently at their papers, writing without pause.

If the scene could be frozen at this moment, one could clearly see the serious expressions on each student's face, a similarity that would persist no matter how many years passed.

"Collect the papers!"

At Lin Liao's call, the students reluctantly put down their brushes.

The white papers were now stained with ink and were collected by the attendants.

As the papers were collected, there was a commotion. Everyone turned to see Yu Ziyu suddenly stand up, his face pale, and then walk out of the study hall. A moment later, he returned to the study hall, his face covered in water.

No one laughed at him. The others also left the study hall, splashing water on their faces. Some of them looked as if they had been crying.

By lunchtime, the students had regained some energy.

"The results are posted."

"Finally, we can be free." Someone laughed, but at this moment, few people rushed to the board as they usually did.

"Looking at it won't help. I can't get into the inner dormitory anyway. I'll just wait until next year!"

"Right, let's try again next year!"

"Anyway, the ones who are most concerned are not us."

A few of them got up and left the study hall.

Lin Yanchao got up from his seat and walked to the board.

In another study hall, Lin Yin and Lin Liao were drinking tea.

In their hands were Lin Yanchao's exam papers. Lin Yin picked up a cup of tea and said, "This student has only been studying the classics for three months."

Lin Liao nodded and sighed, "Yes, I still remember when he came for the interview three months ago. He knew nothing back then."

Lin Yin took Lin Yanchao's exam paper and examined it repeatedly, sighing deeply, "In just three months, he has achieved such a level of scholarship. This student's talent may even surpass Ye Xianggao!"

Lin Liao nodded and said, "Moreover, the supervisor and the magistrate both hold him in high regard. However, Headmaster, I believe that haste makes waste. Such a talented student might become arrogant. Should we hold him back a bit?"

Lin Yin chuckled and slowly sipped his tea, "You're overthinking it. Educating students is also about balance. Some people, no matter how much you hold them back, cannot be restrained. Let them go to where they belong!"

"Some students younger than him are already scholars."

Lin Liao smiled, "I just said that. But what about Yu Ziyu? He has been in the outer dormitory for three years, working hard. If Lin Yanchao is admitted to the inner dormitory, Yu Ziyu will be squeezed out. I really can't bear to see that."

Lin Yin sighed, "Speaking of Yu Ziyu, I know him. I know his father, who entrusted me to teach his son three years ago. Back then, he was so young, but now look at his performance in this seasonal exam. It's far below his usual level."

Lin Liao also sighed, "He was scared. His usual work is quite good."

Lin Yin shook his head, "If he performs like this in the seasonal exam, how will he fare in the child examination?"

In front of the board in the study hall.

Yu Ziyu clenched his fingers, looked up at the board, and saw that the first place was Ye Xianggao, the second place was Lin Yanchao, the third place was Yu Ziyu, the fourth place was Chen Xinggui, the fifth place was...

Several of Yu Ziyu's classmates rushed over and said, "How is this possible? How can he be second again? There must be something fishy."

"Yes, I read his essay last month, and it was far below yours, Brother Yu."

"Perhaps he bribed the magistrate. The conversation between the magistrate and him was very strange. Maybe the magistrate's clerks gave Lin Yanchao a high score."

"Right, if the Headmaster and the lecturer had graded his paper, they wouldn't have given him a high score, but the magistrate's clerks might not know better." This was said by Xu Jia, who was closest to Yu Ziyu.

"Brother Xu, be careful. The reputation of a government official is not something you can defame..."

"I'm just speaking the truth. A country bumpkin who picks manure and grows vegetables doesn't deserve to enter the inner dormitory." Xu Jia glanced at Lin Yanchao, almost insulting him to his face.

Lin Yanchao, who was usually good-tempered, suddenly flipped the table with a loud bang.

The students were shocked. This... he had flipped the table.

Lin Yanchao's gaze swept over the group around Yu Ziyu, and he pointed at them, "Gentlemen, you have defamed me more than once. Do you think I don't know? I have tolerated it again and again, thinking you wouldn't bully me. If you accuse me of cheating, do you have evidence? No evidence? Swallow your words and shut up, do you understand?"

This was a face-off. When had the students ever seen Lin Yanchao so angry?

Xu Jia and the others standing next to Yu Ziyu were taken aback. They had often mocked Lin Yanchao, but he had never responded, whether he heard them or not. But this time, Lin Yanchao stood up and harshly reprimanded them.

They were stunned. They were mostly from wealthy families, pampered at home and looking down on ordinary students like Lin Yanchao at the academy. When had they ever been scolded like this?

This kid must have eaten a bear's heart and a leopard's gall to dare to talk back?

What nerve, you've only been at the academy for a few months, and you dare to be disrespectful to your seniors?

What is this kid, to speak like that?

The young masters cursed in their hearts but did not dare to challenge Lin Yanchao openly. First, they did not expect him to stand up and fight back, leaving them at a loss. Second, without evidence, if Lin Yanchao accused them of false accusations, it would not look good to the Headmaster.

Their faces were grim, but they did not speak, plotting how to deal with Lin Yanchao. Xu Jia gritted his teeth and said, "Brother Yu, this scoundrel has taken your place in the inner dormitory. We can't let him off!"

Yu Ziyu's face turned red and white. Under the persuasion of his friends, he suddenly said, "Stop it. Am I someone who can't accept defeat? The victor is the king, the loser is the bandit. Do I lack the grace to accept this?"

"Brother Yu," his friends were surprised.

Yu Ziyu looked up at Lin Yanchao and said, "Brother Lin, we are classmates and roommates. We may not be very close, but we get along well, don't we?"

Lin Yanchao, seeing Yu Ziyu step forward, smiled and said, "Brother Yu, what do you want to say?"

Yu Ziyu flicked his sleeve and looked at Lin Yanchao askance, "Taking a position that does not belong to you is called overstepping. Being insincere and dishonest, filling the void with falsehoods, and deceiving teachers and elders is called greed. Do you think you can cover up your mistakes with words, loudly accusing classmates to hide your guilt and avoid criticism?"

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