"Shi'an, you're alright?!"
Just as the group was walking, Song Shi'an encountered two acquaintances coming from the opposite direction.
The one who called out was Chunhou, the youngest son of Sheng'an's Northern Capital Commandant.
The other was Zhang Ji, the eldest son—also an illegitimate son—of an army chief clerk.
After the two came over, they first took the initiative to bow respectfully to Song Ce and the others.
The Lu Qingyan and Lu Mingbo brothers glanced at them once but paid them no mind, already preparing to leave. Only Song Ce nodded at them before departing, which counted as acknowledgment.
Actually, this made sense. After all, the gap between their two circles was far too vast.
Although Chunhou wasn't an illegitimate son, and the Northern Capital Commandant held real power—equivalent to a capital city's public security bureau chief—Song Ce and his peers had fathers who could attend court and have imperial audiences. Naturally, they wouldn't regard them highly.
Even though they received no respect whatsoever, the two behaved quite obediently.
Only after the group had departed did Chunhou pat Song Shi'an on the shoulder: "You really scared us to death, just plopping into the water like that."
"We originally planned to visit you, but got driven away by your family's servants." Zhang Ji said, "That skinny little short one—what a blind bastard looking down on people."
"You can't blame my family's servants, it was my father's orders." Song Shi'an said.
"..." Zhang Ji was stunned speechless.
Can't blame the servants, so you want me to curse your father instead?
"How could you fall into the water after drinking just that little? When I got home that day, my father nearly beat me to death." Chunhou complained.
See, there's a reason their circle is so low-class.
When those other people meet, they discuss the examination. When these two meet, it's all peer pressure.
"We really shouldn't have listened to that bastard Shi Li and gone drinking. He already passed, and he just wanted to drag us 'newly successful juren' down with him."
After Zhang Ji finished this sentence, the two of them burst out laughing.
The term "newly successful juren" was indeed humorous.
Since they couldn't check their scores, they could use the excuse of "failed juren candidate" to defend themselves, making it seem like they nearly passed.
However, their "giving up" attitude had its reasons.
While the number of candidates who passed the juren examination in Si Prefecture each year sounded substantial, there were even more government officials in Si Prefecture, and a whole pile of their sons. A five percent success rate was basically an impossibility for some students with lower examination abilities.
"Because of the civil examination system, those lowlife scum even have a chance to become officials now."
Chunhou looked toward Sheng'an city, where several merchants' sons were gathered together talking and laughing, and cursed with contempt.
"Acting all high and mighty, even learning to dress in robes and caps like us." Zhang Ji was equally disdainful.
Because they emerged from an era of division, the Great Yu Dynasty didn't discriminate by background when it came to talent—the civil examinations had no household registration restrictions. Even merchants could take them.
Some of Sheng'an's second-generation merchants had also squeezed their way into high society.
But regardless, a strict chain of contempt still existed.
Legitimate sons of high officials like Song Ce were unquestionably at the top—people inside the tower.
Legitimate sons of mid-level officials like Chunhou, and illegitimate sons of high officials like Song Shi'an were much lower, but could still be considered privileged to outsiders.
Below them were lower-level officials and capital clerks. Their sons needed to work hard to curry favor with people like Chunhou in order to gain some exposure to society.
Finally, there were those rich kids with money in their families.
They were the completely ostracized group.
Even if they imitated the young masters of aristocratic families in dress, interests, and frequented high-end establishments, they still couldn't make it to the table.
In summary, one conclusion could be drawn:
Keep hanging out with these idiots and I'll be ruined.
"If you don't pass again this time, what are you planning to do?" Zhang Ji asked.
Regarding this, Chunhou replied quite casually: "My father plans to arrange for me to join the provincial army in Huai Prefecture. My uncle is a commandant there, so I'll start as a squad leader."
"Just to be a common soldier, you still need your uncle to arrange it?" Zhang Ji was speechless.
"What the hell do you know?"
After directly retorting, Chunhou explained: "There's a bandit problem in Huai Prefecture right now, right? My uncle will send people to suppress the bandits, then casually pin a few merits on me. Two years—in less than two years I can work my way up to centurion. Even if you pass the juren exam, you won't reach the ninth rank in two years. If I spend two years in the provincial army, I'll be at least eighth rank from the bottom!"
Speaking of this, Chunhou was full of superiority.
Indeed, for second-generation kids who couldn't pass the juren examination, gilding one's resume in the military was also a path.
But not everyone had such conditions.
Chunhou was only so smug because he had an uncle who was a military officer with real power.
Of course.
When you want to put someone down, you can always find an angle.
"Huai Prefecture?"
Hearing these two words, Zhang Ji immediately showed disgust and said with revulsion: "Even if I never pass the juren exam in my entire life, I'll never leave Sheng'an to go to a place like Huai Prefecture."
[Regional discrimination in action]
"Shi'an, after finishing this exam, what are your plans?" Chunhou rolled his eyes at Zhang Ji, then turned to ask.
Zhang Ji also looked at him with meaningful interest.
Among the three of them, the one with the worst conditions was actually Song Shi'an.
Although Zhang Ji was also an illegitimate son and his father's official position was mediocre, his mother came from an important clan, and his family had over a hundred qing of good farmland—quite wealthy. Even Zhang family's legitimate wife had to consider his mother's feelings.
Only Song Shi'an couldn't boast about "finding connections if I don't pass."
So the two were especially interested in his answer.
Facing their gazes, Song Shi'an stopped walking and said flatly: "After finishing this exam, I'll go take the jinshi examination."
"..."
As his words fell, both of their expressions froze simultaneously.
"I'm heading in."
And after Song Shi'an's casual remark, he entered through the Examination Compound gates.
The two looked at each other in bewilderment. Only after they came to their senses did they point at Song Shi'an walking inside and burst into laughter.
"When did Shi'an start talking so funny?"
Chunhou was about to laugh to tears.
"Let's drink together after tonight's exam!" Zhang Ji shouted at the seemingly deranged Song Shi'an, "My treat, I'm buying!"
These two idiots, damn.
So you see, good friends really can influence a person.
Although Song Ce's group were also pretentious, at least they would discuss studying together.
It'll be better after the exam's over.
After entering the Examination Compound, there were still many different courtyard sections.
Because there were so many candidates for the provincial examination, within each courtyard section, many examination halls were further divided.
At the entrance of each examination hall, people checked identity documents, and once inside the hall, candidates couldn't move around freely anymore.
While passing through one courtyard section, Song Shi'an saw Song Ce.
So as he passed by, he lightly patted his waist and casually advised him like an elder brother: "Keep a calm mindset, focus on the exam."
"..." Song Ce heard his voice and turned his head, but Song Shi'an had already walked away.
"Does your family's illegitimate son have no manners at all?"
Before he had gone far, Lu Mingbo said contemptuously: "People like this who don't know their place will probably become more presumptu—"
"Focus on the exam properly."
Song Ce interrupted calmly before he could finish, leaving Lu Mingbo's words stuck in his throat, his expression awkward.
...
Although Song Jing was harsh on himself, he wasn't an enemy.
Song Ce, likewise.
Song Shi'an was very clear about this.
In the future, they would all be his political resources.
Or rather, political partners.
Once he got better, everyone around him would be good people.
Song Ce would also treat him like a real older brother.
"Name."
When he reached the examination hall and was about to enter, the guard on duty at the entrance asked with stern formality, following protocol.
"Song Shi'an."
After Song Shi'an answered, the other party cross-referenced against the recorded information on file.
In ancient times, there were a great many people who took exams in others' places.
Therefore, measures were needed to reduce the probability of proxy test-taking.
For example, before the examination, each prefecture and commandery submitted candidates' personal information.
Name, age, height, build, certain facial features.
The guard looked at Song Shi'an while cross-checking against the registry.
Song Shi'an.
Twenty years old.
Approximately eight chi tall.
Well-proportioned build.
Handsome features.
After confirming, the guard opened the gate: "Enter."