Chapter 104
At noon, when the officers started beating gongs to distribute food, Fang Zichen had already finished writing everything.
To be honest, even the science section of the Gaokao (China's National College Entrance Examination)—covering physics, chemistry, and math—was only two and a half hours long. Those physics problems were particularly complex, full of intricate twists and turns that required extensive calculation and were extremely mentally taxing. So for this exam, which had only a few simple questions, why was a full day given to write it?
Even if he had to hold the brush with his mouth, it wouldn't take this long.
Several officers entered through the main gate, one carrying a large basket, and the other two carrying buckets.
Each person received two steamed buns and a bowl of soup.
For those with smaller appetites, it was enough to feel full.
For those who ate more, it would mostly fill them up.
The main thing was to avoid starvation.
When it was Fang Zichen's turn, he swiftly reached into the basket himself and picked out two buns.
The officer was about to get angry when he saw Fang Zichen smiling obediently at him.
As long as Fang Zichen kept his mouth shut and pretended to be well-behaved, relying on his looks, few people could resist him.
This officer in charge of handing out buns had picked his nose just after coming in through the gate.
The other candidates were honest and proper, their minds focused entirely on the exam papers. Fang Zichen, having finished writing, had nothing to do and didn't dare move recklessly, so he just rolled his eyes around and happened to witness this very scene.
The candidate sitting at the first desk near the entrance was eating heartily, finishing one bun in two or three bites. This person seemed to be very studious, as soon as he finished eating, he picked up his brush and started working.
The chief examiner sat upright. At noon, some people rested with their heads on the desks, but most didn't dare actually fall asleep.
They were somewhat nervous, having not slept well the previous night, and were afraid they might doze off later, so they just rested their eyes for a moment before getting up.
Only the strikingly handsome young man seated below the chief examiner, after finishing his buns and sitting properly for half an hour, spent the rest of the time sleeping with his head on the desk.
In the evening, a deafening 'clang' of a copper gong sounded, and the majestic, imposing gates of the examination hall slowly opened.
Candidates began to file out one after another.
A large crowd was waiting outside.
Men and women, wives and fulangs, the old and the young.
The crowd was packed tightly. Zhao Ger, holding Guaizai, couldn't squeeze through and could only wait on the very outskirts, standing on tiptoe and constantly craning his neck to look. But after watching for a long time, until almost all the candidates had come out, he finally saw Fang Zichen limping out of the examination hall.
"Husband..."
"Father..." Guaizai struggled to get down from Zhao Ger's arms. Seeing that Fang Zichen hadn't spotted them, he jumped up and down incessantly. He was extremely anxious, clenching his little fists and shouting repeatedly: "Father, Guaizai is here, Guaizai is here~"
"I see you!" Fang Zichen came over and scooped him up, tucking him under his arm.
Guaizai hadn't seen him all day and missed him terribly, afraid he might leave again. He clung tightly to Fang Zichen's arm with all four limbs.
"Father, Guaizai misses you, Guaizai misses you."
Fang Zichen pinched his little bottom: "...Mhmm, Father misses you too."
"Husband, what's wrong with you?" Zhao Ger asked, the worry and anxiety in his eyes completely evident.
He had heard that those who cheated in the examination hall, if discovered by the examiners, not only had their qualifications revoked but were also given twenty strikes with the bamboo rod.
Fang Zichen's face was contorted.
"My leg is numb." He rotated his neck a couple of times, it made a cracking sound. "My neck seems to be stiff too."
Zhao Ger was puzzled.
If he had said his hand was numb, his hand was tired, or his bottom hurt, Zhao Ger could have understood. But he wasn't writing with his feet, so how did his leg get numb?
Later, upon hearing Fang Zichen explain that he had slept too long with his head on the desk and overslept, and that if an examiner hadn't come over to wake him up after everyone else had left, he might not have woken up at all, Zhao Ger felt completely speechless.
He originally thought questions like 'Did you finish the exam paper?', 'Was the exam difficult?', 'Are you confident?' shouldn't be asked, for fear of putting pressure on Fang Zichen. But now he suddenly felt there was no need to ask anymore.
He slept until his legs went numb and his neck hurt, he had probably spent the entire afternoon in dreamland.
Just moments ago, candidates had been coming out of the examination hall in small groups, discussing the questions on the exam. Zhao Ger had overheard a few snippets. He heard several students wearing Anhe Academy uniforms saying it was difficult, and that there wasn't enough time, they were only halfway through the last major question when time was called.
Others didn't even have enough time to finish writing, but his husband...
Forget it, it's okay if he doesn't pass the exam. The important thing is that my husband is safe and sound.
He followed Fang Zichen back to Zuixiao Restaurant, went to the rest room, and gave him a massage until his hands and feet were comfortable and he felt no more discomfort. Then he prepared to go back with Brother Wu.
Guaizai didn't want to leave. While going downstairs, he looked back every few steps, his big eyes welling up with tears, as if this parting was a final separation between life and death, and they would never see each other again.
Fang Zichen felt reluctant to let him go: "Why don't you stay tonight! Anyway, the bed here is big enough for the three of us to sleep."
It was one and a half meters wide, enough for two people to sleep. Guaizai... could sleep on his chest.
They had chickens and goats at home, missing one feeding wouldn't starve them. But the village chief's ancestral home was quite remote, with few people around. If the owners weren't home, it was easy for thieves to target it. Besides, they hadn't brought a change of clothes. So, Zhao Ger still carried Guaizai and went back.
The three days of the imperial examination passed very quickly.
Yang Mutao, afraid that he would be tired, specially gave him two days off to go back and rest.
'Paid leave'—any fool knows this is a good thing. Who would refuse?
Fang Zichen happily packed his clothes, had Wang Xiaojiu wrap two pieces of pastry for him, and left, chuckling merrily.
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