Chapter 55: Hit the list
Unlike the hectic atmosphere in the examination room, Deng Qianqiu at this time had begun to feel like every day was a year.

As soon as Deng Jian finished the exam, he began to ask Deng Jian what article he had written and whether he could recite it by heart. He also wanted to study it.

Later, I thought, the exam has already been taken, and there is no reference to other candidates' essays. It seems meaningless to just study my father's test paper. So I persuaded myself not to be nervous, not to be excited, but to stay calm.

On the other hand, Deng Jian's calm attitude at this time made Deng Qianqiu feel that his father was not doing his job well.

"Dad, why are you still so calm? Is it easy for father and son to read this book? We have spent so much hard work and effort, and now we have to see the real results, but you are not in a hurry."

Deng Jian still looked relaxed, and he advised his son, "The exam is over, why bother yourself? Qianqiu, don't rush into things. I was too sleepy a few days ago, so you should go and take over. I need to get some sleep."

Deng Qianqiu shook his head, but was helpless.

On the third day of the Chinese New Year, the day of the results announcement finally arrived. Deng Qianqiu could not wait any longer and went to the Confucius Temple early in the morning to occupy an advantageous position.

The Confucius Temple is already packed with people.

Many scholars and curious people gathered here, discussing privately, and wanted to see the lucky person who made the list.

Deng Qianqiu came in and pulled Deng Jian, but Deng Jian seemed a little reluctant. After studying so hard for so long, he felt a little uncomfortable with such a lively atmosphere.

Soon, with the sound of a gong, a notice began to be posted on the screen wall of the Confucius Temple.

Deng Qianqiu pulled Deng Jian's collar and held it tightly. He was so worried about his father that it seemed like he was going to take the imperial examination himself.

Deng Jian's expression gradually became serious.

Many scholars around him whispered.

Deng Jian said, "Qianqiu... have you posted the notice? My eyesight is not good and I can't see clearly."

Deng Qianqiu was about to answer.

Suddenly, a few scholars around them looked at the father and son with strange eyes.

Deng Qianqiu was feeling nervous at the moment, so he asked, "What are you looking at?"

Deng Jian said: "Don't be rude."

The leader of these scholars sneered: "From your accent, you sound like you are from Fengyang?"

Everyone laughed.

The leading scholar took advantage of everyone's laughter and continued, "It is indeed not easy for people from Fengyang to come here to participate in the provincial examination. However, it is not that I look down on you two. It is really... it is better not to come to see the list, so as not to bring humiliation upon yourselves."

Deng Qianqiu was feeling very anxious, and when he heard this, he got angry: "What's your name?"

Facing Deng Qianqiu's angry stare, the man showed no fear and said calmly, "I am your student Chen Xiong, but I haven't asked for your name yet."

Deng Qianqiu naturally didn't bother to pay attention to him.

Deng Jian said, "Deng Jian."

As they were talking, someone finally said, "It's posted. It's posted."

Suddenly, the noisy Confucius Temple became quiet.

Countless people were anxiously looking forward to the posted list.

Deng Qianqiu muttered silently: "Chen Xiong, Chen Xiong... Chen Xiong..."

The scholar named Chen Xiong standing nearby began to feel a little anxious. He was already nervous when he saw the list, but the young man next to him kept nagging. Why was he calling his name?
Deng Qianqiu suddenly laughed: "Haha, without Chen Xiong, you didn't win, you didn't win, haha..."

This smile of his made Chen Xiong's eyes go dark all of a sudden. He felt endless loss and bitterness in his heart, and now being ridiculed by Deng Qianqiu, he felt even more depressed and lost interest in life.

“La la la la la… la la la la la…” Deng Qianqiu began to hum a tune.

Chen Xiong was furious: "I didn't win, so maybe you did?"

Deng Qianqiu scratched his head: "Oh, I actually forgot to show my father the list. I only remembered to show you the list and almost forgot the main thing. Dad, I am an unfilial son."

Deng Jian had poor eyesight and only felt that the list in the distance was blurry. He was feeling anxious and was speechless when he saw Deng Qianqiu was still arguing with someone.

Chen Xiong was about to vomit three liters of blood, and he said he couldn't understand it.

Deng Qianqiu continued to search nervously, and suddenly, he patted Chen Xiong on the shoulder: "Brother Chen, I have a question for you."

Chen Xiong rolled his eyes at him, but he was so discouraged that he just hung his head and asked, "What can I ask?"

Deng Qianqiu asked: "He is listed first on this list. Does it mean he ranks first? Or is it just arranged according to the number of strokes in the name? Or is there some other mystery?"

Chen Xiong said: "Of course he ranks first, at the top of the list."

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly felt pain in his shoulder. The hand that was on his shoulder just now suddenly twisted his shoulder tightly. The piercing pain made him wail.

When his companions saw this, they were immediately filled with anger, and they were all eager to help.

But at this moment, Deng Qianqiu excitedly twisted Chen Xiong's shoulders and shouted, "We won, we won, my dad and I won..."

bingo……

When the scholars who were about to step forward to help heard this, their faces turned pale.

Chen Xiong shouted: "Boy, what did you get hit by?"

Deng Qianqiu smiled widely and said excitedly, "Top of the list, top of the high school list, ranked first, my father's name is Deng Jian, Deng Jian..."

Chen Xiong was in great pain, but at this moment, he seemed to fall into the silkworm room, and then was tied up and began to be castrated, which was done by cutting him bit by bit.

Deng Qianqiu finally let go and grabbed Deng Jian.

Deng Jian stared blankly at the list in the distance, standing there in deathly silence.

He stammered, unable to utter a word.

At this time, an eunuch came flying over and shouted at the top of his voice: "Students, please accept the order. This is the order of His Majesty."

The busybodies and scholars here were in an uproar for a while. It took a long time before they restored order and accepted the order one after another.

The eunuch shouted at the top of his voice: "The Emperor, who is in accordance with the Will of Heaven, hereby declares to all students: I believe that there is nothing greater than serving the state and obeying Heaven, and that there is nothing more important than following the example of our ancestors in preserving the status quo; the way of being a minister is to be loyal to the emperor and love the people. I was born a commoner in Jianghuai, and I have inherited the great cause by following the will of Heaven. Now I am entrusted with the responsibility of serving the country, and I must work hard and think rationally, and I dare not be lazy.

It has been three years since the founding of our Great Ming Dynasty and the change of the reign title. The whole country has been renewed. You students are now going to the capital to take the urban and rural examinations. You will surely live up to my expectations. The students who have passed the imperial examinations in Nanzhili should stay in the capital and wait for the Ministry of Personnel to select officials to serve in the government. When you are an official, you must be diligent and honest, so as to ensure your position for a long time. If there are those who betray virtue and disrespect etiquette, indulge in desires and act in favoritism, the state’s reward and punishment system is in place, and I dare not be partial to them. I will definitely execute them to serve as a warning to others!
Everyone who heard this decree, especially those who passed the imperial examination, felt that their future was promising. But they could not help but feel horrified and broke into cold sweats.

The eunuch said, "Tomorrow I will summon all the candidates to the Fengtian Hall to see me as a token of my favor. You do not need to be polite. Come to the Ministry of Rites as soon as possible to be present. I respect you."

No one had expected this decree, that the current emperor would actually personally summon the newly-appointed juren from Nanzhili who had passed the imperial examination!

But if you think about it carefully, this was the first provincial examination in the Ming Dynasty. Not only were they allowed to go to the Ministry of Personnel to select officials as an exception, but now they were summoned to an audience with the emperor to show preferential treatment to scholars, which was also understandable.

It can be predicted that the treatment of this first batch of juren will be much higher than that of those who come later. After all, they will be the role models and examples for people all over the world in the future.

Everyone thanked him, and the eunuch rode away on his horse.

(End of this chapter)