Rolling Red Dust(4)

Someone seemed to be talking in his ears, but the Fourth Master did not raise his head, let alone look around. This state examination was similar to the subsequent county examinations. They were both held in the main hall of the Yamen. There was not enough space for so many people in the main hall, and they were even arranged in the corridor outside.

Go up. The chief examiner is sitting in the main seat, and several deputy examiners, together with the state school's political and educational ministers and others, are wandering around the place. On average, there is one invigilator for almost ten candidates.

No one searched you when you came in, but that doesn't mean you have a chance to cheat. There are so many people talking so much, what do you really think? They would rather change the papers during the marking than scream in public like this.

People have grasped the handle.

This time I can bring amulets and other talismans with me, but I'm afraid I won't be able to do it next time. The Fourth Master is still thinking that since this talisman can be painted, something like carving it on a hairpin will not work. He thinks this

Well worth trying.

I tried my best to ignore the muttering, but the muttering still reached the Fourth Master's ears intermittently. Someone was saying: "...what a piece of crap...it doesn't make sense..."

Then his voice dropped again, as if he was refining his words.

He ignored it and answered his paper without changing his expression.

But except for Fourth Master, many people heard it. Some people thought it was other candidates talking to themselves, but it’s an exam, people should take exams, so they just pretended not to hear. But some people couldn’t sit still and thought this way

Look, I'm twisting and turning over there, thinking to myself, which of my dear friends dares to do this and that in this situation? It's a miracle that he hasn't been kicked out yet. There are more people looking around, and the gavel above has been slapped.

: "...If you don't abide by the rules of the examination room, don't blame me for being ruthless."

The examination room was suddenly shocked. Apart from the chanting, there was no other sound.

Many people regard this talkative man as someone with a tough backstage.

But when Fourth Master looked at the proctors walking back and forth, it seemed as if they couldn't hear these sounds at all.

As the Fourth Master was finishing his answer sheet, he heard someone say in his ear: "What a great article! What a pity, what a pity! What a pity that such a good article can only be used for the state examination!" He looked very regretful.

It seems that this is an old ghost who can't get out of the examination room. He has seen many examination papers, so he can make his own judgment.

Xu Xuan, who was sitting next to Fourth Master, was answering a question when he heard someone say in his ear: "The answers to the questions are mediocre and not bright. If the article does not show any ups and downs, it is destined to fail..."

When Xu Xuan heard the word "failed", his hand trembled, and ink spots almost fell on the article.

Who was talking? Xu Xuan was completely panicked. He looked here and there, and all he saw were people with their heads down answering questions, and no one was talking.

He frowned in confusion, and just as he was about to put down his pen, he heard the voice say again: "What's your answer? If you don't say that your article is not good, let's say... you can't pass the exam. The few husbands sitting at the end,

They all know the test questions in advance. You said you are like this...why bother to bother? Like me, I kept studying until I took the test, but in the end I got nothing. Not as good as mine, I have been an official for a long time, but I

What? Your luck is bad at this time. You can’t pass any exam. I’m not telling you, little husband, you really have no official luck at all in your life. On the contrary, you have been in jail several times. Go back! Don’t come back if you go back!”

These words were like a mosquito humming, repeating over and over again in my ears, with some kind of echo.

Just as he was upset and angry, the man said again: "Forget it, you must hate me to death right now. After you go back, I'm afraid you will hate me more and more. Coming and going, I have met so many people, and...

As long as you can calm down and listen to what I say, I will make it up to you and give you some pointers. Look to your right...do you see that person?"

right hand side?

Xu Xuan turned his face. On the right was the Mr. Jin who bought his ancestral home. He was a very nice man. His sister and brother-in-law said he looked very capable. He also knew him. He was a classmate. He couldn't help but click.

Head means seeing.

The voice said again: "This is a noble man. You must not offend him. It is best to make good friends with him. He can help you survive in adversity and keep you safe and wealthy for the rest of your life..."

Xu Xuan looked away from Fourth Master, couldn't help but look left and right, and asked in a low voice: "Who are you? Why can't I see you?"

As soon as I asked, the proctor next to me scolded me: "Don't talk. This is a warning. If you give it a second time, you will be disqualified."

Xu Xuan shrank his neck and heard the voice sigh: "You want money but no money, power but no power. You want literary talent, but you don't have literary talent. Those who come from poor backgrounds but are really talented have long been passed down.

You have a reputation. Not to mention whispering a word to them, even if you do something else, these people will not say anything. You are so weak by birth, and you have an honest and honest temper, and you are so gullible. Even a ghost like me,

I can't even bear to tell you nonsense..."

"Ah!" Xu Xuan couldn't help but cover his mouth, "Ghost? Are you a ghost?" He looked around, and the sweat on his head suddenly dropped.

He was too frightened and his voice was not quiet at all.

As soon as he made a sound, everyone looked towards him.

Xu Xuan looked at the livid faces of the examiners and hurriedly handed over his hands: "No... there is a ghost! There is a ghost! He... he... he was talking to me just now... he was talking to me... he kept mumbling.

Yes, didn’t you hear it? Didn’t you hear it?”

Everyone who heard the voice before felt terrified, yes! Someone really spoke. This is right. You can't speak in a low voice alone, so many people have heard it.

"It is totally unreasonable to confuse the public with such lies." The examiner above said: "Which county examinee is this? Drive him out! Drive him out."

After all, this is on the territory of Qiantang County. No matter what you say, Li Gongfu is very loyal and has made friends with some people. When something happened to his brother-in-law, the servant serving the tea quickly said: "

Sir, there were many candidates like this in previous years. Some of them went crazy after leaving school. There was also an old candidate who I met when I was young. He just died with relief after finishing the exam... This little husband also

It was considered good, so the little people immediately sent him to the doctor sitting in the hall to have a look..."

It is better to say that he is sick than to be punished. If you make lies in the examination room and confuse the public, even if you are beaten to death, your death will be in vain.

Lin Yutong was waiting for Fourth Master outside, and was listening to Xiaoqing say: "...I can't get into this place at all, you Peiyuan Dan..."

Then before he finished speaking, the door opened.

Lin Yutong stood up suddenly because Xu Xuan was pulled out.

Those servants were all acquaintances of Li Gongfu and had already rushed over to find Li Gongfu. The others rushed to the teahouse opposite.

Lin Yutong called to the second brother: "Hurry up and serve tea to the big brothers and charge it to my account."

"Hey! It's the lady of the Jin family. Madam, you are so polite." A few people came in to talk, and Xiaoqing looked at the unlucky Xu Xuan: "What's wrong with him?"

Xu Xuan was still in shock. When he saw Lin Yutong, he hurriedly said: "Brother Jin is out for this scene. Don't let Brother Jin go in. It's... inside... it's haunted in there!"

"Ghost?" Xiaoqing looked at him: "What ghost?"

"It's the chattering ghost." Xu Xuan took the tea he brought and drank it in one gulp. "It's the ghost..." He looked at the officer: "You also heard it, right?"

Several officers looked at me and looked at you: "Ms. Xu, please don't say this nonsense. If the official is in charge, there are no ghosts! If there are ghosts, doesn't it mean that the masters are not clear-minded and the scientific examination is unfair?"

"

"It's just unfair!" Xu Xuan said hurriedly: "That ghost said it all..."

"What did you say?" An older police officer quickly interrupted: "We didn't hear what you said. Why haven't you seen this gentleman yet?"

Others were busy interrupting, and asked Lin Yutong, why are you waiting here? After one exam, he went home. We are all from the hometown, and we are not going to other places, so there is no need to worry and wait. If you have nothing to say, talk to me.

Then Li Gongfu came running all the way, panting. He must have heard about it, and he bowed to everyone: "My brother-in-law is not sensible, thank you very much. We will put wine in the Xiqing Building tomorrow to thank you all." That's it.

These people had earned the favor and left in a hurry. They didn’t want to listen to Xu Xuan anymore.

Li Gongfu smiled awkwardly with Lin Yutong again. Xu Xuan wanted to talk over there, but Li Gongfu grabbed him and left. Lin Yutong could still hear Li Gongfu's voice inside: "...Listen to you...I don't want to hear anything you say."

... Do you know that this recommendation... was not easy to come by? You said you didn't take the exam well, and it's none of your business whether someone speaks up or not..."

Xiaoqing chuckled: "This nerd is quite interesting."

Lin Yutong shook his head: "It looks interesting to you, but his family is worried to death. If he doesn't know the ways of the world, wouldn't it be hard to get a foothold in this world?"

Xiao Qing was stunned: "If there is, there is, and if there is not, there is not. That nerd is not lying at first glance. On the contrary, all of the guards know that there is something fishy here, but no one dares to tell the truth. Huh! Humans are like that.

hypocritical."

Lin Yutong looked at her: "If you want to be you, you can do whatever you want. But if you want to be a human being, it's not that easy to be a normal human being."

Xiaoqing curled her lips, not sure if she understood what she said, so she just handed over the bottle of Peiyuan Pill: "I can't do what you want me to do. Give it back to you..."

"Take it." Lin Yutong handed it over: "Just think of it as the deposit I paid you. In the future... maybe you will need it."

Xiaoqing glanced at the bottle of Peiyuan Dan and finally took it. He handed Lin Yutong a jade bottle and said, "You can take this thing and don't take care of it. If you need to find me, tell me what's inside and I'll be there when you call me."

arrive."

Inside is a small caterpillar, probably not that big.

Lin Yutong put it away and pretended, and Xiaoqing took her leave.

When the fourth master came out, Lin Yutong didn't dare to ask in a hurry. It was only after he got home that he asked: "Aren't you peaceful?"

"It's okay, no evil spirits can come out of that place." What the guy said to Xu Xuan was heard by the Fourth Master. They were just the souls of the candidates who died in the examination room and did not dissipate because of their obsession.

This incident had little impact on Fourth Master, but it directly affected Xu Xuan's life.

"I can't get anything out of my studies." Mrs. Xu chatted with Lin Yutong when she met her: "I have given up now."

Lin Yutong knew that Mrs. Xu was really scared this time. This was not a question of good or bad knowledge. Not to mention ordinary knowledge, she was really good at knowledge. When she became an official in the future, she would really get into trouble because of her temperament.

The roots are established.

"Everything else is a matter of the future... The main thing is that he... got sick from fear when he came back, and now he can't get out of bed." Mrs. Xu felt so worried that she spent money to give the fifty taels of silver to her great-grandfather and aunt.

I don’t dare to tell anyone yet. In the blink of an eye, I’m already twenty during the New Year and have nothing. What will I do in the future?

As for Li Gongfu, he was first in the county government office, thinking of interceding with his grandfather. If that didn't work, he could make a living by copying and copying as a scribe. But how could anyone dare to want such a foolish young man?

I didn't find any here, so I went to the bookstore to see if there was anyone who could copy and write, even if I wanted to learn in the store. They agreed, "Okay! You can just call me over when you can."

Unexpectedly, because of this disease, Xu Xuan read medical books several times while recuperating at home. His ancestors were in the herbal medicine business, and when he was a child, he followed his father and was quite familiar with the medicinal properties of medicinal materials. From this point of view, it seems that

After seeing it, Li Gongfu said: "Go to the bookstore, where there are all scholars coming and going."
To be continued...