Second watch, requesting pink.
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"Oh?" Lian Manman’s eyes widened when she heard that Lian Jizu needed money, "What does he need money for?"
"He said he needs to buy so kind of papers, and also he needs to go to the county town. There’s supposed to be so great Confucian or grandmaster coming to lecture, ’exchange ideas through literature’ or sothing like that." Lian Yeye struggled to recall the conversation she had overheard, "Yesterday, after Brother Jizu ca back from the private school, he discussed it with our uncle, in front of Grandpa. I heard it while I was nearby, though I didn’t quite understand it all. Anyway, both Uncle and Brother Jizu said that those papers and such are very important. If he spends the money now, Brother Jizu might have a chance to pass next year. If Brother Jizu doesn’t buy the papers and doesn’t go to the county town for the lectures, others who do will get ahead of him."
"Uncle and Brother Jizu said that it’s going to cost at least One String of Coins, and if we’re frugal, that might just be enough."
Lian Manman didn’t know much about the current imperial examination system. She only knew that Lian Jizu hadn’t wasted his years of studying, as he had already passed the county and prefectural exams, and next year he could go directly to the institutional exam. If he passed that, then Lian Jizu would beco the second Scholar in the Lian Family after Lian Shouren.
As for Wu Lang, he had never taken the exams and would start with the county exams next year. Of course, if all went smoothly, he would then take the institutional exam, and afterwards, he might join Lian Jizu for the sa exam.
But this was just what Lian Manman hoped for. She had always urged Wu Lang to study, but she didn’t want to pressure him too much. Wu Lang was thirteen today, and if he could beco a Scholar at the age of fifteen or sixteen, that would be considered quite early in this era.
Actually, Lian Jizu could have taken the institutional exam this spring, but he didn’t. He said that too many things had happened at ho last year, which had affected his studies. He wanted to study hard for another year and then take the exam next year.
Why did it feel like Lian Jizu buying papers and going to the county town was similar to her previous life when she bought mock exam papers and attended lectures by experienced teachers at key high schools before exams?
"One String of Coins!" Lian Manman clicked her tongue, "Did Grandpa give him the money?"
One String of Coins, equivalent to one tael of Silver, was not a small sum for tenant farrs. Given the Lian Family’s current situation, they would have to scrape together whatever they could to co up with the amount. Indeed, studying and taking the imperial exams was a costly endeavor that ordinary tenant farrs could hardly afford. And if the studying family mber was not considerate of everyone’s hard work and did not save, it would be even harder.
"Grandpa hasn’t given it yet; it seems like we can’t co up with the cash right now. After dinner, didn’t Grandpa call over Fourth Uncle, along with my dad and the others? While I was boiling water in the outer room, I heard Grandpa and Fourth Uncle discussing. It seems they are still short of money and want Fourth Uncle to talk to Supervisor Huang about advancing the wages for Second Uncle, Brother Erlang, Brother Sanlang, and my father."
"What did my dad say?" Lian Manman asked in a hurry.
"Fourth Uncle agreed, he said he’ll go talk to Supervisor Huang tomorrow," replied Lian Yeye.
Lian Manman cocked her head, surprised to hear about this. Why hadn’t Shouxin ntioned it when he returned?
After thinking for a mont, Lian Manman stood up and approached Wu Lang.
"Brother, has Mr. Loo retired for the night? If not, could you ask him..." Lian Manman told Wu Lang about Lian Jizu needing money for papers and attending lectures in the county town, "Brother, you also have exams next year, right? If it’s really helpful, we shouldn’t fall behind either."
"Is it about the advanced class? Why haven’t I heard about it?" asked Wu Lang, "I’ll go ask Mr. Loo."
Wu Lang left and returned after the ti it took to brew a half cup of tea.
"Brother, how did it go?" Lian Manman asked eagerly.
"I asked the teacher, and he told not to rush it. Every few days he will give topics to write essays on, which he will then review," explained Wu Lang to Lian Manman. Of course, they were unaware that Mr. Loo had more to say that he hadn’t expressed; regarding printing papers, could his penning model essays not be stronger than those of the literati who printed them? After all, most of those involved in printing papers were literati who had failed the exams for a long ti, and none known to have been an Imperial Scholar would deign to stoop so low as to engage in such a trade.
"Even if we need to buy the papers, there’s no hurry to do it now," continued Wu Lang, "Brother Jizu has the institutional exam coming up, and we still don’t know who the examiner will be. The papers being sold now are mostly old ones. It won’t be until the start of next year that the new papers co out. When that ti cos and we want to buy, we will."
After reflecting for a mont, Lian Manman roughly understood. This must be similar to the college entrance exams where each year’s trends could differ. Only when the exam period drew near would reliable insider information beco available, and that would be the most appropriate ti to guess test questions and morize model essays.
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