My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 56 Unexpected Changes (1)

After Ji Xun, Fang Zhili, and Zhao Xiancheng left, the remaining Lin Ziping, He Jinbao, Zhang Mo, and a few others were at odds and almost fell apart.

Sometimes time is a cycle. After He Jinbao's family fell into poverty, he suffered from "school bullying" many times. The once little tyrant gradually became timid and submissive.

Once, Lin Ziping happened to see He Jinbao being bullied and stepped in to help. Together with Zhang Mo, they told the teacher about the bullying. Afterwards, He Jinbao hugged Lin Ziping and Zhang Mo and cried uncontrollably. After apologizing repeatedly, their relationship seemed to have returned to normal.

In the winter of the twenty-third year of Hue, Lin Ziping's entrance examination results were average. He did not have the halo of Ji Xun and Fang Zhili, and his family background was not good. Lin Zhong had been away from home for many years, and the relationship between the two was lukewarm. Lin Ziping was unwilling to tell the Lin family about what happened in the academy, which resulted in no teacher being willing to take him as a disciple. Later, Zhang Mo and He Jinbao became disciples of Master Cheng.

After experiencing a major upheaval in his family, He Jinbao became increasingly introverted, while Zhang Mo was a master at assessing situations. However, like Lin Ziping, the three of them had no interest in classical Chinese literature. Zhang Mo wanted to go into business, He Jinbao wanted to leave home, and Lin Ziping wanted to settle down.

Zhang Mo wanted to go into business, but his family disagreed. Several of his older brothers were also eyeing the business, and he needed to have enough leverage to take over the Zhang family business.

He Jinbao wanted to leave home, but he had no skills and didn't know what to do if he left.

Lin Ziping wanted to lie down and relax, but the social environment didn't allow it. Later, he saw that the teachers in the academy had a relatively leisurely life and even had official positions, so he planned to become a teacher in the future and lie down and relax within the system.

Zhang Mo believed that becoming a Juren (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) would give him an edge over his older brothers in taking over the family business.

He Jinbao wanted to become a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations) and obtain an official position, which would allow him to leave home.

Lin Ziping thought that since he didn't have a teacher's certificate, becoming a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations) should allow him to apply for jobs at various academies.

The three set a goal and began to plan, the first step being to pass the prefectural examination.

After Ji Xun and Fang Zhili left, the group continued to correspond. However, since the prefectural examinations were set independently by each prefecture, the three of them could only obtain the examination papers from the past two years, the annotations of the officials, and the predictions of famous people in Huai Prefecture about the prefectural examinations through Master Cheng. Moreover, to participate in the prefectural examinations, one not only needed to pass the preliminary examination but also had to be recommended by Master Cheng.

Only then did Lin Ziping realize how much of a favor he owed Ji Xun for helping Tao Ju'an find these things, and how difficult it was for Tao Ju'an to pass the prefectural examination back then.

Although Master Cheng was He Jinbao's uncle, he did not show He Jinbao any special treatment after the He family's misfortune. Master Cheng had many students, but the three of them were unknown among them and had a slight grudge against each other. Master Cheng often treated the three of them coldly.

In order to obtain firsthand information about the prefectural examination and to gain Master Cheng's recommendation, the three of them became even more respectful to Master Cheng, serving him constantly, serving him tea and water, cleaning, tidying up his quarters, arranging banquets, and handling social interactions... without daring to utter the slightest complaint.

Every time this happened, Lin Ziping would have the illusion that he had been a beast of burden for too long and could no longer stand up.

In the twenty-fifth year of Hue, a shocking case of cheating in the imperial examinations occurred in the Great Zhou Dynasty, causing much discussion at Mo Shan Academy.

Upon learning of the alleged cheating, Lin Ziping immediately wrote to Ji Xun and Fang Zhili for inquiry. He soon received a reply: someone had openly admitted during the palace examination to impersonating another person in the provincial examination, claiming that he felt as if he had seen the emperor in person. Overwhelmed with shame, he committed suicide on the spot. The emperor was shocked and enraged. A thorough investigation revealed that numerous merchants had engaged in corrupt dealings with court officials, committing collective cheating. Some officials were even from merchant families. Enraged, the emperor ordered the execution and confiscation of the property of the officials and scholars involved in the cheating.

"Lin Ziping, what did A Xun and Zhili say?" Zhang Mo asked anxiously when he saw Lin Ziping holding the letter and remaining silent for a long time.

Lin Ziping handed the letter to Zhang Mo: "Read it yourself."

Zhang Mo quickly finished reading the letter and handed it to He Jinbao and Yang Jiadian, all of whom looked on incredulously.

"Is this man insane? He's already taken the imperial examination, and he claims he impersonated someone else and even tried to commit suicide in front of the emperor?" Yang Jiadian said incredulously.

"Yes, this... is simply incomprehensible."

Lin Ziping picked up the letter and read it again. After a while, he said, "That's only one aspect. Another is the Emperor's actions. Isn't this execution and confiscation of property too severe?"

Zhang Mo nodded: "Ziping is right. It's also strange that the students and ministers involved in the cheating are all merchants."

They all fell into deep thought.

After a long silence, Lin Ziping said, "I feel that the situation for the imperial examinations may change. This year, Master Cheng did not recommend us for the prefectural examination, so we may not be able to take the exams in the future."

He Jinbao was somewhat irritated: "I don't know what my uncle is thinking. He's been putting pressure on us for years."

“Sigh, he’s still your uncle. You don’t know how much Ziping and I have to treat him like an ancestor. If he doesn’t want to recommend us, then he doesn’t want to recommend us. There’s nothing we can do about it.” Zhang Mo sighed as well.

Lin Ziping thought for a moment: "There are still about three months until the prefectural examination. Everyone should think of a solution. I feel that the situation is not good."

"Ziping, aren't you worrying unnecessarily?" He Jinbao said with concern.

“Even if the situation is good, Master Cheng has been holding back for far too long!” Lin Ziping said.

“It’s all because we were too young back then. Heaven’s justice is clear, and retribution is inevitable. You didn’t respect Master Cheng properly, and now…” Yang Jiadian said, shaking his head.

“Yang Xiaobao, stop joking around. Look at how many students there are in the academy now, how many of them can take the prefectural exam every year. Since the previous headmaster left, Moshan Academy has been getting worse year by year,” He Jinbao retorted.

“That’s how it is in all the academies in Huaizhou. In the past two years, the imperial examinations have been very popular. There are more scholars, so the examinations are more strictly controlled. It’s normal that we haven’t taken the prefectural examinations in the past two years,” Zhang Mo said.

Seeing that the group was about to start arguing, Lin Ziping said, "Alright, the most important thing right now is to find a way to get Master Cheng's recommendation. I'll go back and talk to my uncle. Xiao Bao, you should also go home and talk to your father. You still have a few years to take the prefectural exam. See if you can change your household registration so that you don't end up with a merchant family."

Yang Jiadian suddenly looked dejected: "Would my father agree?"

Zhang Mo patted Yang Jiadian on the shoulder: "Tell your father about this, and he will definitely change his mind about the impact on your younger brother Yang Jiayu."

He Jinbao nodded: "Yes, do you still want to find your sister? How can you find your sister if you don't leave your home?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Jiadian said, "I understand. I'll go back and tell my father to change my household registration."

"Xiao Bao, I'm just saying. If your dad doesn't agree, don't force it, or he'll beat you again," Lin Ziping cautioned.

"Brother Ziping, don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Yang Jiadian said with a smile.

"Let's all go back and think of a way to see if we can participate in the prefectural examination this year," Lin Ziping said to the group.

"it is good"