At the New Year's Eve dinner, Oldest Song and Second Song and their wives felt that many things had changed.
Their own families still relied on a small plot of land for a living, but the third branch of the family had left Songjia Village and bought a shop in the city.
After the New Year, Song Qiming was going to take the county-level imperial examination.
If he passed, the third branch of the family would soar to great heights, and the gap between them would only widen.
Oldest Song and Second Song couldn't help but look at their own sons.
All of them were studying, but Song Qiming could take the exam after only one year of study, while Song Yongnian and Song Yaozu still had to stay in the primary school for further study.
After transferring to the advanced school, they would have to study for at least one more year, maybe even longer.
Wasn't it the case with Song Gaoli? He failed the exam on his first attempt and had to study for another two years.
The more they thought about it, the more uncertain they felt.
The huge gap made them feel discouraged, and they were worried that the money they spent on their sons' studies would not yield good results.
Especially Second Song. After paying the tuition fees for Song Yaozu in the spring of next year, his family would be completely broke. He had been feeling anxious about this since the autumn harvest.
After the Lantern Festival, Song Jinzhao drove a carriage to take Song Qiming to Scholar Zheng's house.
Worried that it would be cold at night, she specially brought two extra thick quilts.
Mrs. Zheng stared at Song Jinzhao, who was carrying the quilts into the room, and her eyes didn't move for a long time.
She turned to Scholar Zheng and asked, "Isn't Song Qiming's sister sixteen this year?"
At the age of sixteen, it was the perfect age for marriage.
Scholar Zheng thought for a moment and nodded slightly. "It seems she just turned sixteen after the New Year. Why do you ask?"
A smile spread across Mrs. Zheng's eyes. She covered her lips with a handkerchief and whispered, "My sister-in-law from my natal family plans to arrange a marriage for Yu Bai this year. What do you think of Song Qiming's sister?"
Scholar Zheng stopped by the window and looked at Song Jinzhao, who was standing at the door seriously instructing her younger brother.
After thinking for a while, he said, "I don't think it's suitable. Your natal family is in Haoyue City. Qiming is still studying. His sister is the same age as him, and there is also a younger brother under two years old at home. How can Song Jinzhao rest assured?"
"Even if she wants to get married, she won't marry far away."
Mrs. Zheng frowned slightly and said unhappily, "There are still her grandparents and two uncles in her family. They won't hold back a granddaughter from getting married."
Scholar Zheng shook his head. "If they were reliable, Song Jinzhao wouldn't have to raise her three younger siblings alone. She probably doesn't have the intention to get married for the time being. If you don't believe me, you can ask her."
Mrs. Zheng twisted the handkerchief in her hand into a mess. "I'll send someone to make inquiries after the spring begins and also ask for my sister-in-law's opinion."
A month passed quickly. As the county-level imperial examination was just a few days away, Song Jinzhao went back to the shop first to clean the house.
Before the Yin hour (3 - 5 a.m.), the entrance of the county yamen was already crowded with examinees. The yamen runners were holding torches to maintain order.
Old Man Song came from the village early and insisted on sending Song Qiming into the examination hall in person.
Song Jinzhao handed the prepared bamboo basket to Song Qiming and said softly, "Do your best and don't be nervous. Just perform as usual."
Song Qiming tightened his grip on the bamboo basket and nodded vigorously. "Don't worry, sister. I'll definitely pass the county-level imperial examination."
Old Man Song looked around at the large crowd of people. Among so many examinees, only 20% would pass.
Selecting two out of ten, it was quite difficult.
With a loud gong, the yamen runner shouted, "Form a line!"
The examinees lined up in groups of five. The county yamen started calling out names, and each person had to queue up to have their identity verified and their belongings checked.
The entire county-level imperial examination would last for five days.
On the first day, they would take the exam on the Four Books and the eight-legged essay. On the second day, it would be the poetry and prose exam. They wouldn't know whether they could participate in the retest on the fifth day until two days later.
Only by passing all three sessions could one obtain the qualification of a child student and go to Anyang Prefecture to take the prefectural examination.
Only those who passed the prefectural examination were eligible to take the provincial examination to become a scholar. Those who failed would remain child students.
The temporarily built examination shed was not very big, barely able to accommodate one person.
Song Qiming placed the bamboo basket on the ground and calmed himself down, waiting for the exam to start.
From the beginning when his sister taught him at home to later when he entered the private school to study, more than a year of hard study was all for this day.
If he failed, how could he face his elder sister who had painstakingly cultivated him?
After the test papers were distributed, Song Qiming quickly scanned the questions and already had a clear idea.
He calmed down and started to write.
The exam lasted from sunrise to sunset. With a loud gong, Song Qiming heaved a heavy sigh of relief as he looked at the test paper.
When he walked out of the county yamen, Song Shixue and Song Jinzhao were already waiting for him across the street.
Looking at his elder sister and younger sister waving at him, Song Qiming's eyes curved into a smile, and the corners of his mouth lifted.
He picked up the bamboo basket and ran over, shouting, "Sister." His voice was filled with strong dependence.
Song Shixue couldn't help but ask, "Brother, how did the exam go?"
Old Man Song stared at the expression on Song Qiming's face with wide eyes, afraid of hearing that he didn't do well.
Song Qiming nodded with a smile and said, "I don't think it was that difficult. It should be okay."
After finishing the poetry and prose exam on the second day, Scholar Zheng immediately called him over.
He asked the students who participated in the county-level imperial examination how they answered the questions and then let them go.
Song Jinzhao and the others didn't go back to the village but stayed in the city to wait for the results of the main exam.
Two days later, seeing Song Qiming's name clearly written on the list, Song Shixue jumped up happily, turned around, and grabbed Song Qiming's clothes, shouting, "Brother, you passed!"
The number of people taking the retest was nearly half of the original number, and half of the seats in the examination shed were empty.
After the exam, Song Qiming didn't need to go to the private school and just stayed at home to review his lessons.
Three days later, when Song Jinzhao was still having breakfast, Old Man Song ran over and urged them to go to the city to check the list.
"You have to go quickly. Otherwise, there will be people everywhere, and you won't be able to see anything."
Song Qiming held a baked cake and said, "Grandpa, it's too early. The list won't be posted until the Chen hour (7 - 9 a.m.)."
Actually, Old Man Song hardly slept all night. As soon as he closed his eyes, he dreamt of Song Qiming either making it onto the list or failing, which made him so restless that he couldn't fall asleep at all.
When they packed up and set off, they just happened to meet Song Gaoli's family at the village entrance, who were also going to check the list.
Since it wasn't his first time taking the exam, he looked much more nervous than Song Qiming.
When the two families arrived in Xining City, the list hadn't been posted yet. There was a large crowd gathered in front of the county yamen, and it seemed there were even more people than on the day of the exam.
As soon as the Chen hour arrived, when people saw someone carrying the list coming out of the county yamen, the crowd went crazy and rushed forward desperately.
Constable Zhao led the yamen runners to stop the people until the list was posted.
Song Qiming stared blankly at the name written in the second column of the first row.
Song Jinzhao beamed with joy and reached out to pat him on the shoulder.
"Well done. Our Qiming is now a child student."
This compliment made Song Qiming blush. "Sister, I'm only twelve years old."
Seeing this, Old Man Song behind him held back his gushing joy and loudly confirmed, "Did you pass?"
Song Shixue pointed at the list and said with a smile, "Yes, you did. Brother got the second place."
Old Man Song stretched his neck to look and saw that it seemed to be Song Qiming's name.
"I passed, Dad. I passed."
Not far away, Song Gaoli excitedly pointed to the middle of the second row and said to Song Dazhuang.
Standing to one side, Song Mancang looked at his grandson's name and smiled contentedly. Finally, his efforts over the years hadn't been in vain.
Song Jinzhao noticed Song Qiming staring blankly at Song Gaoli and his son. He lowered his eyes, placed his hand on Song Qiming's shoulder, and said, "Come on, let's go buy some joss paper. We have to let our parents know right away."
Song Qiming clenched his fists tightly. The longing for his parents welled up in his heart, and his eyes felt a bit sore.
He nodded vigorously and replied, "Okay."
Old Man Song covered his reddened eyes and followed behind.
He stared at the backs of his four grandchildren, as if he could see the figure of his youngest son.
