Chapter 343: My Cousin Passed the Imperial Examination

Chapter 343: My Cousin Passed the Imperial Examination

Sun Shan didn't dare to speak out. It was better not to say anything if he was not sure. But his intuition told him that the name on the victory report was his cousin He Shujin, and he also hoped it was his cousin.

Among the scholars who took part in the provincial examination in Zhangzhou Prefecture this time, only Lu Yuming, who ranked first in the Lu case, made the list, while all other students were wiped out, and Li Xinyun naturally failed.

Sun Shan sighed deeply. He didn't expect that the results of Zhangzhou Prefecture were so poor, only slightly better than those of Huangyang County. No wonder the capable students of Zhangzhou Prefecture tried every means to go to academies in other places, and only went to the prefecture school when they had no other choice.

In this provincial examination, it sounded like someone from the provincial school made it to the list, but in reality, not a single student from the provincial school made it to the list.

The passing rate of the provincial school was barely maintained only because of the student status.

I have heard from my classmates before that very few people can pass the imperial examination after completing their studies in the provincial school. Most of the students in the provincial school study outside and then pass the imperial examination.

The powerful families in Zhangzhou Prefecture left the prefecture school early on and went to study in other places.

Sun Shan couldn't help but fall into deep thought. He should leave the provincial school as soon as possible and go to study elsewhere.

His aptitude is average, and even if he continues to study in the provincial school, he will not be able to make any progress.

Besides, the course taught by the professor is almost complete, and it’s time to find a new place to study.

Faced with this problem, Sun Shan was very distressed. He didn't know where to go to study.

He has no money, no power, and no talent, so others look down on him.

Sun Shan didn't know what to do to get out of his current predicament.

No matter how upset Sun Shan was, the provincial examination officially ended.

Li Xinyun and others also came back.

When Li Xinjun saw Sun Shan, he immediately pounced on him. Sun Shan dodged because he could not support Li Xinjun's huge body.

Li Xinyun said aggrievedly: "Ashan, you actually hid? Ashan, you are too much."

Sun Shan pushed Li Xinyun away, pretended to be serious, and did some nonsense, which looked very improper.

Sun Shan thought of his failure, and for the sake of their schoolmate, he pretended to comfort him: "Ayun, don't be sad. Even if you fail the provincial examination this time, you will definitely pass it next time. You have to believe in yourself."

Speaking of the provincial examination, Li Xinyun felt even more uncomfortable. He touched his head and said painfully: "Ashan, if possible, I never want to take the provincial examination again. It is too painful and too uncomfortable. Going in to take the examination is really worse than death. Fortunately, you didn't go this time. Your small body would definitely not be able to support it. Alas, you really have foresight and know your own weight. Unlike me, I thought I was a child of destiny, but in the end, I lost half my life."

Sun Shan looked at Li Xinyun carefully. After not seeing him for just over a month, he found that he had indeed become thinner and more haggard. He asked with concern, "What's wrong? Was it really difficult? Ah Yun, can you tell me about the environment of the provincial examination? You didn't get a bad number this time, did you?"

Li Xinyun shook his head and said, "Well, I didn't get a bad number. But staying in there for nine days was not a place for human beings. I don't want to go through that kind of environment again. Ah Shan, I feel so uncomfortable when I think about having to go in again in the future. Oh my God, why didn't God let me pass? Why did God torture me like this?"

Sun Shan glanced at Li Xinjun unhappily and decided not to talk to him anymore. He turned to ask Zhang Chaoyang, Liu Wenhuan, and Jiang Qian.

Zhang Chaoyang shook his head and said, "Ashan, Ayun is right. The environment inside is not suitable for human beings. I feel particularly painful when I think about having to go back in three years. Alas, I really envy Lu Anshou. He passed the provincial examination on his first try. He is so amazing and so lucky."

Jiang Qian said with a bitter face: "Staying in a cell smaller than the one for the college entrance examination for nine days, and having to do exercises every day. Oh, it is very painful both physically and mentally. Only those who have experienced it know. Ah Shan, you have to be prepared. There are still three years left, so train yourself well."

Liu Wenhuan looked pale. He said that this was a sequelae of the exam. After he left the exam, he had been weak and the illness had not been cured.

Now that I have returned home to study, my health is not as good as before.

He said to Sun Shan, "Ashan, I thought I was in good health, but after entering the examination room, I found myself very weak. This provincial examination was really uncomfortable, many times more difficult than the imperial examination. Alas, my body will not be able to recover for at least a year or two. Ashan, Aqian is right, you have to train your body well. Fortunately, you had the self-knowledge to not enter the examination room, otherwise you would have been skinned alive. I was skinned alive."

Sun Shan looked at the weak Liu Wenhuan. It seemed that the provincial examination had taken a toll on him. He used to speak with full force, but now he spoke in a gentle voice.

People who don't know the details might think he is pretending to be polite.

Sun Shan didn't know what to say, so he started to talk nonsense, saying some nonsense that was neither true nor false, which was nothing more than: Don't lose heart, you are still young, you will definitely pass the exam next time, now you should train well and review well...

Li Xinjun rolled his eyes at Sun Shan. He hated such irrelevant words the most. They were all feeling so uncomfortable, but Sun Shan said it so nonchalantly.

Li Xinjun snorted and went home to rest. He had just failed the exam and was feeling very sad, so he planned to take a break for a while and adjust his mentality.

At the end of September, Sun Shan finally received a letter from Guangzhou Prefecture.

Aunt Sun wrote that He Shujin passed the imperial examination and ranked seventh. His ranking was very high, so after the imperial banquet was held, he would immediately go to Beijing to take the imperial examination.

As for the Juren’s wedding, it will be held in early October.

This letter only informed Sun Shan, not asked him to participate.

In the letter, Aunt Sun repeatedly warned Sun Shan not to come, as the journey was long and the mountain road was rugged and very dangerous.

It would be better for Sun Shan to study hard in the provincial school and not wander around alone. There are many bad guys outside and Sun Shan is still young, so he should not travel alone.

In the letter, Aunt Sun also sent Sun Shan 20 taels of silver, telling him to use the money to buy good food and clothes, and not to save money and go hungry and cold.

If it’s not enough, don’t be shy to ask.

Aunt Sun also said that now that Jing'er had passed the imperial examination, she had more property and could earn more.

To sum it up in one sentence, Aunt Sun is richer now and can help her nephew from her mother's side better.

Sun Shan was filled with mixed emotions. His cousin had passed the imperial examination and he should have spent money on gifts, but instead, Aunt Sun gave him money to use.

Sun Shan didn't know what to say for a moment.

Along with the letter from Aunt Sun, there was also a letter from my eldest cousin He Shujin.

In the letter, the eldest cousin first expressed his emotion that he had finally passed the imperial examination, and then encouraged Sun Shan to study hard and pass the imperial examination like him. Finally, he said that after he went to Beijing to take the imperial examination, he would sort out some information for Sun Shan.

Finally, he sent Sun Shan another 20 taels of silver, saying that the money was for Sun Shan to buy paper and practice calligraphy. The eldest cousin said frankly that Sun Shan's handwriting in the letter to him was really bad and he needed to practice hard.

Sun Shan looked at the 40 taels of silver in his hand, his nose felt sore and he was speechless for a moment.