CMWKSD -Chapter 75 Mock Exam

Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian, each wearing just two thin layers, shivered in the wooden cabin. A table made of wooden planks was set off to one side.

A basket sat nearby, containing a few steamed buns, pickles, and some lotus root starch. Writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were all prepared.

In the corner was a small charcoal stove, with a few half-burned lumps of coal barely alive inside.

The two tall, burly men could barely straighten their legs while sleeping in this cramped little cabin.

Looking at the exam papers on the table, they finally understood what a mock exam was.

The cabin had been reconstructed exactly like the examination hall’s test rooms.

Outside, the Ji family watched them like monkeys observing some performance.

Early that morning, Jiu Yue (Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian’s mentor) had stripped the two of them down to only two thin layers of clothing—oh, technically, the eldest brother had done it himself under Jiu Yue’s sharp, demanding gaze; Jiu Yue hadn’t touched them.

Then, with a single kick, Jiu Yue sent both of them into the cabin.

She said it was to let them experience the exam atmosphere in advance.

Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian sighed simultaneously. Though they couldn’t see each other, the shared sense of hardship brought a feeling of mutual sympathy.

Resigned, they picked up the exam papers and began to look through them.

By now, they also realized that all the questions had been created by Jiu Yue. Over the past two days, she had been furiously flipping through books, undoubtedly preparing questions for the two of them.

They said nothing. Thinking that Jiu Yue probably wouldn’t make the questions impossibly hard, they decided to spend the next three days reviewing what they had done so far and checking for any mistakes or gaps in their knowledge.

However, the moment they opened the papers, both brothers were immediately absorbed by Jiu Yue’s questions.

Because the exam was modeled on the official academy test, their teacher had provided a collection of past questions. Both brothers were familiar with the level of difficulty normally expected.

But when they saw Jiu Yue’s questions, it was clear she had put serious effort into them.

The combination and arrangement of the questions was so meticulous that, at first, they thought they must be reading them wrong.

After mentally reviewing the books they had memorized, back and forth, they realized that Jiu Yue’s question-setting was genuinely impressive.

The subsequent essay questions, the nine chapters of arithmetic, rhymed poetry, and so on—Jiu Yue had based everything on the actual level of the imperial examination.

No, to be precise, the questions were slightly harder than the real exam.

The brothers no longer thought Jiu Yue was just playing around. Although they felt confident they could pass, their ranks might not turn out well based on these papers.

Because of the mock exam, the Ji family courtyard was silent enough to hear a pin drop. There was no choice—Jiu Yue had given the order.

That night, Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian followed the exam routine and stayed in the little cabin. It was so cold that they barely could endure it; if they couldn’t make it through this, the real exam would certainly be even harder.

Late at night, Su Ruo quietly stepped out of the house with two sets of bedding. Ji Dahai, sound asleep, heard the creaking door and, seeing her in the moonlight, was startled. He quickly got up and grabbed her: “Chaomian’s mother, what are you doing?”

Su Ruo was full of worry: “The early spring weather is so cold. The two boys can’t possibly endure it. I’m bringing them extra bedding. I’ll pick it up early in the morning and make sure Jiu Yue doesn’t find out.”

Ji Dahai was concerned too, but remembered what Jiu Yue had said: if they could survive this, they could certainly make it through the real exam.

This mock exam was carefully prepared by Jiu Yue, completely replicating the actual academy test.

Ji Dahai patiently explained to Su Ruo, worried for the boys. But thinking about the hardships the two had endured over the years while studying, and recalling that they had recently been unable to take the imperial exams, this suffering now seemed trivial by comparison.

Su Ruo sighed, still uneasy, but understood that Ji Dahai was right.

Jiu Yue had gone through so much effort to create this mock exam for the two boys. They had spent years working hard with their faces to the ground and backs to the sky. All she wanted was for them to perform well and bring honor to the family.

Three days passed in a flash. Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian, coughing softly, emerged from the cabin and handed their exam papers to Jiu Yue.

She handed each of them a bowl of ginger tea and said, “Why are you showing me this? I don’t grade exams. Go show your teacher.”

The brothers paused. Ji Yiqing guessed that Jiu Yue knew how to make questions, but couldn’t grade them. He carefully tidied the papers: “Alright, we’ll take them to our teacher tomorrow.”

Jiu Yue hummed in agreement and went back inside.

Su Ruo rushed out from the kitchen: “Quick, quick, quick. I’ve warmed some water for you. Wash up properly, get a good night’s sleep, and don’t think about this until tomorrow.”

Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian were stiff all over. The cabin was cramped and suffocating, and they were nearly going crazy.

They had no choice but to take a hot bath, eat the light meals specially prepared by Shen Mei, and fell asleep as soon as they lay down.

Early the next morning, they took the exam papers into the county town.

Their teacher, surnamed Qi, had initially intended to take them on as formal disciples. But as he taught them, he realized his own skill level wasn’t sufficient to be their master, and he abandoned the idea.

Hearing that they had suffered, he felt some sympathy. Fortunately, the worst of it was over.

The plan had been for the brothers to return to the academy for the new year, but the exam was only a few days away. Returning to the academy now would be pointless.

Moreover, their skill level was already sufficient for the exam. Knowing they would be studying at home, Teacher Qi abandoned the idea of recalling them to the academy.

That morning, Teacher Qi was still teaching at the academy. Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian went to his home instead.

It was then they remembered that Teacher Qi was still a teacher at the academy and would be teaching classes.

They simply sat under the veranda, waiting for him to return. Ji Chaomian occasionally glanced at his paper, still deep in thought over Jiu Yue’s questions, trying to find better ways to solve them.

Ji Yiqing had gone through his paper several times, then said to Ji Chaomian, “Brother, why don’t we exchange papers and look at each other’s?”

Ji Chaomian agreed.

They swapped papers until Teacher Qi returned.

Teacher Qi took the thick stack of papers from their hands. He was about to ask a few questions, but as he saw the questions and answers, his mouth immediately closed in admiration.

“The person who made these questions is very skilled.”

Ji Yiqing smiled knowingly. Jiu Yue always managed to surprise them from time to time.

Teacher Qi stroked his beard while reading, then finally picked up a cinnabar pen to begin grading their work.