The seven days waiting for the prefectural exam results were spent by all the candidates in town.
In teahouses, taverns, on the streets, and at the theater, many were discussing the exam questions. Song Gaoli stared at Song Qiming, who was sitting on a chair reading a book intently, and sighed helplessly, "You really won't go out?"
Song Qiming shook his head. "The teacher already took us out this morning. Any important news we should have heard, we've already heard. The rest is all just idle gossip, not worth listening to."
"These are current affairs essays that my elder sister specially asked Young Master Su to get for me, all written by students of Anyang Academy."
Song Gaoli plopped down on a stool. "We've finally come to the prefectural city. Don't you want to go out and have some fun? If you don't pass this time, the next chance won't be for another two years."
Song Qiming's hand, turning the page, paused slightly. "I think I performed quite well. There shouldn't be a problem."
Song Gaoli put his hands behind his head, leaned back, and let the corners of his mouth droop. "Qiming, I'm a bit nervous. On the day of the policy essay, I felt I performed terribly. But I couldn't think of the ideas others mentioned. The more I've listened these past few days, the more I feel I won't pass."
Song Qiming turned his head to look at Song Gaoli, who was sprawled out like a salted fish on the long bench.
With so little space, he wasn't even afraid of falling off.
"I think you're worrying needlessly. What's the use of thinking so much? In the end, we still have to wait for the results."
Seven days passed slowly yet quickly, gone in the blink of an eye.
On the day the results were posted, the entrance to the examination hall was packed with candidates and their families, so crowded it was difficult to even squeeze in.
As the list was posted, some laughed heartily, while others hung their heads, unable to hide their tears.
Song Jinzhao and Song Shixue stood waiting under the eaves across from the examination hall.
Song Qiming had already squeezed in with Song Dazhuang and his son, packed together like meat in a sandwich.
The list contained the names and hometowns of several hundred people. The crowd was moving from right to left.
After being jostled two steps to the left, Song Qiming's eyes lit up. His feet seemed glued to the blue bricks; no matter how others pushed him, he wouldn't move.
He took a deep breath, his chest trembling faintly.
He turned and squeezed out of the crowd, stumbling over to Song Jinzhao, grinning to reveal eight white teeth.
"Sister, I passed! Thirty-sixth place."
Song Jinzhao's suspended heart finally settled halfway.
Hurdle after hurdle overcome, they had finally made it to the academy exam.
"Come on, let's go back and have a good meal to celebrate."
"I passed, I passed!!!" A loud, excited shout came from the crowd. It was Song Gaoli's voice.
Song Gaoli and his father stood at the far left end of the list, staring for a long time, trying to imprint those characters deeply in their minds.
Only after a good long look did they finally come out.
Song Gaoli rushed excitedly up to Song Qiming. "I'm on the list! Qiming, how about you?"
Song Qiming nodded with a smile. "I passed too."
"Qiming, what's your rank?"
"Thirty-sixth."
A flicker of envy appeared in Song Gaoli's eyes, but it was overshadowed by his own joy at having passed.
He asked in return, "Guess what rank I got?"
Song Qiming thought for a moment and replied, "Around a hundred-something?"
Song Gaoli shook his head.
"Two hundred-something?"
Song Gaoli still shook his head.
Song Jinzhao, observing the half-suppressed smiles on the faces of the father and son, spoke up. "Last place."
Song Gaoli's eyes widened, the light in them even brighter than that of Song Qiming, who had placed thirty-sixth. "Sister Jinzhao, how did you know?"
Song Jinzhao couldn't help but laugh. "It's written all over your face, and your father's too."
Song Dazhuang instinctively touched his face. "Is it?"
Since Song Jinzhao had already guessed, Song Gaoli wasn't as happy as he was a moment ago.
His smile faded, replaced by a touch of melancholy. "With my results, there's certainly no hope for the Prefectural Exam."
Song Dazhuang patted Song Gaoli's head, unconcerned. "Passing the County Exam is already very good. Treat this Prefectural Exam as experience. If you don't pass, you can try again in two years."
Back at the inn, Song Jinzhao received news immediately.
Of the six students Scholar Zheng had brought this time, three had passed the County Exam.
During dinner, Song Dazhuang asked Song Jinzhao, "When are we returning to the village? Tomorrow or the day after?"
Song Jinzhao put down her chopsticks and looked at Song Dazhuang seriously.
"The Prefectural Exam is in July, nearly three months away."
"The round trip from Anyang Prefecture to Xining City takes half a month if we encounter no trouble. So, I've decided to wait until Qiming finishes his Prefectural Exam before going back."
Song Dazhuang's ears buzzed, his mind struggling to process this.
Not going back meant staying in the prefectural city for three months. The small room they were staying in at the inn cost a hundred copper coins per day. Adding meals for two people made it two hundred coins.
The small room, shared by two, had only a bed and a tiny latrine. Turning around in the room felt cramped.
With a daily food budget of a hundred coins for two, they could only catch the faintest whiff of meat.
Under such conditions, staying for three months would cost at least eighteen taels of silver—far more than what Song Gaoli spent on a year of schooling.
Song Dazhuang said with difficulty, "Half a month isn't actually that long. Staying out is never as comfortable as being home."
Song Jinzhao insisted, "I don't want to drag the child back and forth. I've looked around the area these past few days. There are many short-term rentals specifically for examination candidates. I plan to go look tomorrow and secure a place as soon as possible."
Song Dazhuang looked at the resolute Song Jinzhao and felt utterly helpless.
His own family had no money, but Song Jinzhao lacked for nothing.
The hundred taels of gold bestowed by the Emperor, the money earned from running a shop in the city, and the bounty received for helping the Haoyue County magistrate eradicate bandits on the road—staying in Anyang Prefecture for three months was no worry for her at all.
Just as Song Dazhuang sat slumped on the stool, his mouth downturned and his face pained with indecision, Scholar Zheng walked into the inn with a grave expression.
Seeing Song Jinzhao and the others sitting in the main hall, he turned and walked straight over.
Song Qiming and Song Gaoli quickly stood up to bow in greeting.
Scholar Zheng waved his hand. "Sit. I have something to tell you."
After taking a seat, his eyes kept darting between Song Jinzhao and Song Dazhuang.
"As you likely know, in all my years of teaching, I've produced very few successful scholars. Those who persisted often failed the Prefectural Exam multiple times. In the end, it comes down to the limitations of my own knowledge as a teacher."
After saying this, he focused his gaze on Song Qiming and Song Gaoli.
"Now, there are still three months until the Prefectural Exam. With guidance from a more accomplished master, significant improvement is possible."
"I have a former classmate currently in Anyang Prefecture. He has agreed to teach you both for three months. If you are willing, I will take you to his residence to study tomorrow."
Song Dazhuang's heart gave a lurch, as if he had fallen into cold water.
He asked hesitantly, "Scholar Zheng, how accomplished is this former classmate of yours?"
Zheng Xiu pressed her lips together, her heart filled with trepidation. "He is a Jinshi graduate, once served as an official in the court. If not for his leg ailment, he wouldn't have retired so early."
Song Dazhuang's mouth hung open for a long moment. A Jinshi graduate—he must have been a high-ranking official.
Even though studying for three months might not guarantee passing the exam, if such a golden opportunity were missed, finding another tutor of such high scholarly caliber in the future would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Song Qiming stood up and bowed respectfully to Scholar Zheng with his hands clasped. "I am grateful for your earnest guidance, sir. This student is willing."
Seeing this, Song Gaoli quickly rose to his feet and followed with a bow. "I wish to go as well. Thank you, sir."
Scholar Zheng nodded with satisfaction, lightly stroking the beard beneath his chin.
After teaching for so many years, he had grown old. If, before his time was up, one of his students could pass the provincial examination and become a Juren, it would finally lay to rest the regret he had carried all these years.
Besides, sending a few students over might do him some good.
Song Dazhuang felt his palms grow sweaty with anxiety. He only had three taels of silver left. How would they manage for the next three months?
He couldn't possibly show up empty-handed tomorrow. If only he had brought more money when they set out.
He had thought it was more than enough at the time, but now he found himself in a tight spot.
Not long after the meal, Song Dazhuang knocked on Song Jinzhao's door.
He sat on a stool, his demeanor and movements somewhat stiff and awkward, hemming and hawing for a long while without getting to the point.
In all his years, he had never borrowed money from anyone, let alone from a junior who was only three years older than his own son.
