Today was the day of the county examination, and Fang Yun was one of the examinees. However, Fang Yun was filled with despair about his future.
Fang Yun was a typical poor student.
Those distinguished families, noble families, noble families, sainted families, and even the supreme Confucius students did not have to worry about food and water, nor did they have to worry about their families. However, Fang Yun could not.
They could directly go to the best schools, but Fang Yun could not.
They could hire any kind of teacher they wanted, and they could ask for help whenever they wanted. However, Fang Yun could not.
They could buy any scriptures, commentaries, biographies, translations, and other books they wanted. They could even buy them at home. However, Fang Yun could not.
For Fang Yun and the other poor students, it was already difficult for them to survive. Being able to read a few books was already their limit. As for getting first place in the imperial examinations, flying in the air, and having a wonderful life, they were all beyond the scope of a poor student.
Fang Yun could not help but clench his fists.
Soon after, Fang Yun found himself in a desperate situation. The most important thing now was not to worry about his family's reaction after his death, but to survive.
Just last night, the original Fang Yun was beaten to death by four masked men on his way home.
"Who wants to kill that Fang Yun?"
Fang Yun quickly thought of the only possibility.
Before the Qingming Festival, Fang Yun had brought his sister Yuhuan, his child bride, to the Marquis Ancestral Hall fifty miles away to pray to Marquis Zhuge Liang that he could pass the county examination and become a high school scholar.
On the way back, the two of them met a person sitting in a carriage.
That person smiled and asked for the way to the Marquis Ancestral Hall. Fang Yun politely pointed in the direction.
Who knew that after the person thanked Fang Yun, he started chatting and introduced himself. His name was Liu Zicheng, and he had become a high school scholar three years ago. Moreover, he was a member of the famous Liu family in the Dayuan Mansion. His brother was very amazing, and he was the top scorer in the Jiangzhou Imperial Examination last year.
Liu Zicheng's family name alone wasn't much, but all the scholars in the Dayuan Mansion knew that the Dayuan Liu Family had a powerful distant relative in the capital, Left Prime Minister Liu Shan. He was the head of the Four Prime Ministers in the Imperial Cabinet of Jing Country and an important minister entrusted to him by the late Emperor. Some people even said that half of the officials in Jing Country were Liu Shan's students and old friends.
Fang Yun's greatest wish was to pass the county examination and become a high school scholar. As for passing the county examination and becoming a high school scholar, that was an unattainable dream for him. However, Liu Zicheng was refined and courteous, and had an extraordinary bearing. Moreover, he was an enviable high school scholar. Therefore, Fang Yun was unguarded and answered whatever Liu Zicheng asked.
After that, Fang Yun asked Liu Zicheng how to pass the county examination. Liu Zicheng taught him everything, and Fang Yun was extremely grateful.
When he learned that Liu Zicheng had been to the "Book Hill", one of the Three Holy Lands, and even the Second Pavilion, Fang Yun respected Liu Zicheng even more.
After that, Liu Zicheng let his carriage send Fang Yun and Yuhuan home. On the way, the two scholars chatted happily and even called each other brothers.
That night, Liu Zicheng stayed at Fang Yun's residence and chatted through the night. This made Fang Yun even more grateful.
The next day, Liu Zicheng left twenty taels of silver and a letter. In the letter, he said that he and Fang Yun felt like old friends at first sight and hoped that Fang Yun would accept the money. If he really did not want to accept it, he would return it to him after he passed the imperial examination.
Fang Yun read the letter and thought that Liu Zicheng was really a gentleman. However, he gave the money to Yuhuan and told her to keep it well. He was determined not to accept other people's money.
However, Yuhuan said that Liu Zicheng seemed to have ulterior motives. Fang Yun was furious and reprimanded Yuhuan for measuring the heart of a gentleman with her own mean measure.
Later, Liu Zicheng came a few times and gave Fang Yun some books. The two people's friendship gradually deepened.
Yuhuan said that she did not like Liu Zicheng twice and was reprimanded by Fang Yun. She did not say it again.
Until one day, when Yuhuan went out to buy groceries, she met a local ruffian. Liu Zicheng happened to pass by, so Liu Zicheng activated the power of Wen Bao's "Mountain Brush" and killed more than ten ruffians to save Yuhuan. This made Fang Yun very grateful.
Just half a month ago, Liu Zicheng talked about Fang Yun's attitude towards Yuhuan and even pointed out that Fang Yun's family background would only harm Yuhuan.
Fang Yun also felt that he owed Yuhuan and said that he let Yuhuan down. So even though his relatives kept persuading him, he did not marry Yuhuan. He swore that when he passed the imperial examination, he would marry Yuhuan in a grand manner.
Liu Zicheng asked Fang Yun how confident he was in passing the imperial examination. If he wanted to be grand, he had to at least become a Ju Ren. How confident was he?
Fang Yun was silent.
So, Liu Zicheng said that he was willing to take Yuhuan as his concubine and was willing to give two thousand taels of silver as a betrothal gift.
Fang Yun looked at Liu Zicheng in shock, but he still did not realize Liu Zicheng's true motive.
At this time, Yuhuan walked out and told him what happened.
Every time Liu Zicheng came, he would deliberately get close to Yuhuan. Yuhuan told him, but Fang Yun did not believe her. So Yuhuan tricked Liu Zicheng, saying that if he could convince Fang Yun, she would marry Liu Zicheng as his concubine.
Liu Zicheng fell into her trap and Fang Yun suddenly realized. He scolded Liu Zicheng and threw the money and other things that Liu Zicheng gave him out the door.
Liu Zicheng flew into a rage out of humiliation and threatened Fang Yun. If Fang Yun did not sell Yuhuan to him as his concubine before the county examination, he would make sure that Fang Yun had no hope of passing the imperial examination.
Fang Yun recalled Liu Zicheng's words.
"I gave you face, but you didn't want it! This young master wanted to marry Yuhuan as my concubine to create a beautiful story: Liu Zicheng supports a poor child, a poor scholar entrusts a beautiful child as his wife! I already told my elder brother that I would marry a beautiful concubine. If he likes her, I can give her to him. If you don't agree now, how can I face him! If Yuhuan doesn't obey me before the county examination, don't blame me for being ruthless! In this Jingguo, our Liu family has the final say! "
Liu Zicheng left after saying that. Fang Yun could not forget Liu Zicheng's laughter and also could not forget Yuhuan's words.
"I, Yang Yuhuan, was born as a member of the Fang family and will die as a member of the Fang family!"
Only, Yang Yuhuan's eyes hid deep helplessness and sorrow, and even a trace of despair.
Fang Yun was only ashamed and moved, but now that Fang Yun thought of the scene at that time, Yang Yuhuan actually had a kind of tragic death!
Fang Yun felt pain at the back of his head. He stretched out his hand and touched it. With a light hiss, his head was actually broken.
"Since I am alive, Liu Zicheng will definitely continue to take revenge! I can't escape now. The only way is to pass the county examination and become a scholar. With a scholarly and scholarly position, he will definitely not dare to kill me in Ji county! A scholar is equivalent to a 'reserved talent', and an elementary scholar is a basic talent. Therefore, the county examination is the simplest. It only tests' Sacred Words' and 'Poetry'. As for 'Classics' and 'Political Theory', they will have to wait until later. "
"Notre-Dame, the mainland's imperial examination is different from China's ancient imperial examination. However, since I am here, I might as well take things as they come."
Fang Yun thought in his heart and walked out of the alley. His injuries were too serious and his whole body was in pain. His clothes were also wet and uncomfortable, but he clenched his teeth and persevered.
After walking out of the alley, Fang Yun saw a familiar face. It was Duan Hu, who worked as a waiter with him in the restaurant. He was four or five years older than him.
Fang Yun was about to smile bitterly and greet him when Duan Hu froze for a moment and revealed a hesitant expression. He lowered his voice and said, "Quickly go home and take a look. Something happened to your family."
Duan Hu still wanted to say more, but Shopkeeper Zhen, who was fifteen meters away at the entrance of Ji Xiang Restaurant, shouted, "Little Hu, are you itching for a beating? Quickly go buy groceries. If you are late, I will break your legs! "
Duan Hu sighed helplessly and gave Fang Yun a look that told him to be careful. He then turned around and left.
Fang Yun did not expect that something would happen to his family. He did not have time to bicker with Shopkeeper Zhen and quickened his steps.
Unexpectedly, Shopkeeper Zhen gloated and shouted, "Three years ago, I said that I could buy your family's Jiangzhou beauty and provide for your studies. Look at you now! Now that you have been targeted by the Liu family of the Da Yuan Mansion, you won't get a single cent! There are only two Distinguished Families in our county and none of them are famous families. The Liu family is famous and eats people without spitting out the bones. Look at the injuries all over your body. It must be the Liu family's doing, right? "
Shopkeeper Zhen was in his early forties and wore a green official robe and a black skullcap. He had one wife and two concubines and was a mean person. Because his surname sounded the same as the character for "needle", the waiters in the restaurant called him "Little Needle Eye" in private.
There was once when Fang Yun saw that Yang Yuhuan was too thin and weak, so he stole some leftover meat from a customer. He wanted to give it to Yang Yuhuan, but Shopkeeper Zhen discovered him. In the end, Shopkeeper Zhen snatched the meat from him and threw it on the ground. He then stepped on it and kicked it to the dogs in the courtyard.
"I would rather give it to a dog than give it to you!"
Fang Yun still remembered the contempt in Shopkeeper Zhen's eyes when he said that.
Fang Yun suppressed his anger and continued to walk forward.
Shopkeeper Zhen said proudly, "Do you think I hired you as a waiter because you are capable? I did it to get close to Yuhuan. Unfortunately, Yuhuan was obsessed and kept away from me. That's why I vented my anger on you. Since you have offended the famous Liu family, I can't draw fire to myself. You are fired! "
Fang Yun stopped and turned around to look at Shopkeeper Zhen coldly, "Then I ask Shopkeeper Zhen to pay the rest of my wages."
"You have offended the famous Liu family. My restaurant will most likely be affected by the Liu family's anger. It's good enough that I didn't ask you to pay compensation, but you still want wages? Scram! If you dare to come to my restaurant again, be careful that I will break your dog legs! "Shopkeeper Zhen fiercely glared at Fang Yun.
Fang Yun angrily glared at Shopkeeper Zhen and said, "I will remember your words. If you don't pay me the wages you owe me today, I will make you pay me back a thousand times in the future!" After saying that, he left.
"Poor and pedantic, aren't you afraid of biting your tongue when you talk big?" Shopkeeper Zhen sneered and entered the restaurant.
Fang Yun clenched his teeth and walked quickly. He wanted to go home and see what was going on. After that, he would bring his brush and ink to take the exam. If he couldn't pass the exam, Liu Zicheng would attack him again in three days. At that time, he would die without a doubt.
As long as he passed the exam, Fang Yun would be safe for the time being. Even if Liu Zicheng was from a famous family, he wouldn't dare to kill a scholar in Ji County.
Fang Yun didn't care about the gazes of passersby. As he walked, he digested his new memories. He realized that there was a big difference between Saint Origin World and ancient China. Because of the appearance of talent, the competition between the ten countries, and the hostility of the demons, pragmatism clearly prevailed.
For example, the scholars here usually used regular script to write, but the battlefield was constantly changing. When they used 'armchair warfare', they would use the simpler cursive script to quickly complete their writing. This led to the cursive script being constantly simplified over the past few hundred years.
The imperial examination system here was also very different. Earth's ancient imperial examination system started in the Sui dynasty, but here it started in the Han dynasty, seven or eight hundred years earlier. Moreover, the imperial examination wasn't held once every three years, but every year.
Saint Origin World's area was also much larger than China. There were a total of ninety states, and each state was equivalent to a province.
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