Chapter 5: Jiang Ya'er's Accompanying Exam

"I understand, Mother. I will keep all of this in mind," Chen Ping'an said to Mrs. Wu. It had been a long time since he had heard Mrs. Wu's nagging.

Mrs. Wu finally stopped and then turned to Jiang Yar, but her expression was different from the kind and gentle one she showed to her own son. "Yar, take good care of Ping'an when you're outside."

Jiang Yar nodded repeatedly. "I know, Mother-in-law."

Under the gaze of their family, Chen Ping'an and Jiang Yar set off for the county town. Initially, they had planned for him to go alone, but due to his young age and inability to take care of himself, Mrs. Wu was afraid that something might happen to him. So she had Jiang Yar accompany him for extra care.

It wasn't until they couldn't see Chen Ping'an's figure anymore that the elderly couple from the Chen family supported each other and headed back home. "Old man, do you think Ping'an will succeed this time?" Mrs. Wu asked anxiously.

The old man walked ahead with his hands behind his back. Upon hearing Mrs. Wu's voice, he replied in a muffled tone, "Ping'an is still young. Even if he doesn't pass this time, he can continue to study."

"Rubbish! What nonsense are you talking about? Our Ping'an will definitely succeed," Mrs. Wu retorted sharply. Even though he was her husband, she wouldn't allow anyone to speak ill of her son.

Watching her back, the old man sighed and said nothing, following behind her.

Chen Ping'an and Jiang Yar had a smooth journey to the exam site. When they arrived outside the exam hall, Chen Ping'an looked at Jiang Yar, as if waiting for her to prepare. In his previous life, Jiang Yar had waited for him in the cold weather while he took the exam, which had caused her to catch a cold afterwards.

"Yar, after I go in, find a tea stall and warm yourself with some hot water," Chen Ping'an suggested. He knew that Jiang Yar probably wouldn't want to drink tea, so he suggested hot water instead.

The exam hall entrance was bustling with examinees and waiting parents. Some vendors saw the opportunity and set up tea stalls nearby, offering hot tea to travelers.

"No need, Ping'an. I'm not cold. I'll wait for you here," Jiang Yar replied. She had never experienced such a large-scale event since birth, and now she felt a bit shivery.

"Yar, wait for me to go in, and then you can find a tea stall to warm up. I won't be able to concentrate on the exam if I'm worried about you being cold outside," Chen Ping'an said, holding Jiang Yar's cold hands. Her thin clothes couldn't withstand the cold, especially in such freezing weather. "If you're cold outside, I won't be able to focus on the exam, and I'll be worried about you. Please go to the tea stall to keep warm, and then I can concentrate better."

Jiang Yar couldn't believe it. Although Chen Ping'an had changed, he had never been so considerate to her before. She nodded repeatedly.

"Your exam is important, and I can't let you have any other concerns about me," she said. "After you go in, I'll find a tea stall. Now, go in quickly!"

Chen Ping'an knew that Jiang Yar had taken his words to heart, so he turned and walked towards the exam hall.

Outside the exam hall, people were queuing up for inspection to check if they were carrying any cheating materials. Since it was a county-level exam, the body search wasn't very strict.

However, the inspectors were thorough in checking the examinees' belongings, fearing that they might be held responsible if any cheating materials were found.

Some people in front of Chen Ping'an had brought a lot of things, but nothing was found. However, a person in front of him was taken away because there were copied papers hidden in his pastries.

As the person was taken away, he kept shouting that he wouldn't dare to do it again next time.

Chen Ping'an learned from the person in front of him that he had taken the exam several times but had never passed. He was getting older, and this might be his last chance. He wanted to make a final stand, but unfortunately, he was caught before the exam even started.

When it was Chen Ping'an's turn, his belongings were simple: writing materials, and some dry food for lunch. This scene was familiar to him, so he had brought only the essentials.

The exam hall was the same size for everyone, facing north and south, with the main gate to the north and a large courtyard for examinees to wait in. Chen Ping'an stood quietly on the side, accompanied by a few others who had been guaranteed by the government to take the exam. When his name was called, he was led to his seat by a clerk.

The first part of the county exam consisted of writing two essays based on the Four Books and a poem with five or six rhymes. The titles, poetry, and prose all had specific formats, and the total word count should not exceed seven hundred words.

For Chen Ping'an, this was a piece of cake. With so much knowledge from his previous life, not to mention the countless poems he had written, this was nothing.

After going through it in his mind, he picked up his brush and focused on the exam paper.

Although Chen Ping'an had experienced countless challenges in his previous life, sitting in the exam hall at that moment brought back a long-lost feeling of tranquility.

His writing was strong and powerful, far beyond what the current Chen Ping'an could produce. In recent days, he had been gradually transitioning the youthful Chen Ping'an's handwriting to a more mature style, making it look more inexperienced.

So he first drafted a copy on the draft paper, and after making sure there were no problems, he transcribed it onto the exam paper.

Chen Ping'an had just written halfway when he heard a commotion in front. Soon after, he saw two attendants carrying a person out, who had fainted in the examination hall.

This was not the first time he had seen this. The examination hall was always full of chaos and unpredictable events. Cheating and fainting were just some of the worries for those who feared they might not pass.

Chen Ping'an focused and wrote seriously. This time, he was not interrupted. After transcribing, he carefully checked it twice.

Realizing his actions, he shook his head and smiled, sighing inwardly. He thought to himself, "I must be getting old. Even the memorials I submit to the emperor are not as carefully checked."

Although Chen Ping'an looked like a teenager, his heart was that of someone who had lived through many lifetimes.

Candles were not provided during the county exam. When Chen Ping'an finished his final check, it was almost time to submit the paper.

As he was escorted out with the others, being of short stature, he had to tiptoe to find his friend, Ya'er. It was best if they didn't get separated.