In the early morning of October 22, the city of Hangzhou woke up in the cold in early winter. On the river in the middle of the city, under the light of the winter sun, the water vapor is steaming, like a long dragon spraying white mist. The coolies on the docks everywhere were still shirtless and sweating in the cold morning, and their heads and bodies were sprayed with white steam, like monsters steaming all over their bodies. The market and the river soon became lively, and the people in cotton jackets rubbed their hands and bent their necks and began to rush for the day's livelihood.

It was an ordinary winter morning in Hangzhou, but it became unusual because of one thing. The whole city, whether it is busy people or leisurely rich people, most of their conversations after waking up in the morning are as follows.

"It's twenty-two."

"Yes. Today seems to be the day of the autumn list. ”

"Yes, I don't know which students can have good luck this year, I don't know who Xie Yuangong of our Liangzhejiang Road is this year?"

Whether rich or not, poor or rich, the news of the release of the autumn exam cannot be ignored. It's not just a talking point, it's also a major turning point for yourself. Even if there is no one at home to study and take the exam, if there are students in the family of relatives and friends, you can't help but care. If a student who has something to do with himself can pass the autumn exam, it means that the road to becoming an official is one step closer. In the future, if one person enters the office, the possibility of relatives and friends around him will be further increased. No one will ignore this important matter, which is extremely important to both the court and the individual.

At the beginning of the hour, the government square was already crowded with people, and it was very lively. In several places, the front of the bulletin boards where the notices were posted was already flooded. After a long wait of nearly a month, all the students who participated in the Autumn Entrance Examination finally ushered in the judgment related to their fate. Although this big exam may not be able to determine their entire life, for most students, this big test is their only chance. Whether it is family background or mood, age and temperament, they are not allowed to have another chance. It was arguably the only major turning point in their lives. If you can't get it this time, your life will be predictably bleak and difficult.

Lin Jue also came here with Green Dance in the middle of the hour, and Xiaohu was sent home by Lin Jue to accompany his father Lin Youde to see the list. Although Lin Jue knew that Lin Youde was bound to be on the list, because that quota was already destined for him to pass this hurdle. But Lin Jue didn't want to talk about it, he asked Xiaohu to go home and let their family witness this exciting moment. That means a lot to Lin Youde's family.

The master and servant found a corner and stood quietly in a place with few people, and the bustling crowd in front of them was noisy. The students in front of them were either smiling and not caring, or talking with confidence, or their eyes were dull and worried. In short, at this moment, you can best glimpse the various states of life and the most insight into the world.

Lu Wu was obviously a little nervous, and stood on tiptoe to look at the yamen. From time to time, he turned his head to look at Lin Jue, and found that Lin Jue was hanging his head in contemplation, and he couldn't help but be a little worried.

"Is Childe worried that he won't pass the exam this time? Don't worry about the child, if you don't pass the exam, you won't pass the exam, is it just a day? In short, don't worry. ”

Lin Jue wasn't actually thinking about the list at all, he was thinking about another thing just now, that is, the big thing that he secretly discussed with Shen Tan more than ten days ago. Shen Tan came to the news yesterday that the little prince had asked the Ordnance Department to transport the old equipment away and promised to bear the freight. The palindrome from the Ordnance Division has also arrived, and Venucia will be shipped in the next few days. Lin Jue was thinking about the plan for the future. This plan should be considered Zhou Xiang to avoid mistakes.

"Is Green Dance so unconfident in me? Can't your son-in-law compare with these people? Lin Jue said with a smile.

"No, I mean, it's so hard for so many people to compete for those hundreds of places. Gongzi is naturally a first-class person in the world, and Gongzi can't pass the imperial examination, so what else is there to say? It can only be said that they are blind. I mean, Childe will definitely be able to pass the exam, but it doesn't matter if he can't pass the exam, we're doing pretty well now, and being an official may not be happier than now, isn't it? ”

Lin Jue smiled: "That's right. There is a saying that victory is happy and defeat is also happy, no matter success or failure, you can't be depressed. If you are admitted, you may be able to become an official and enter the office, which is naturally a good thing for the glory of the ancestors. It's nothing if you can't pass the test, as Green Dance said, I have my little Green Dance as a companion, and my life is fairy, but I am also at ease. ”

Lu Wu blushed and said in a low voice: "But it's not just me, there are other people, there are many people who are willing to accompany Childe." ”

Lin Jue heard it in his ears and pretended not to hear it. A few days ago, Lin Jue told Green Dance about herself and Xie Yingying, this little girl seems to be a little jealous, these days she always says something vindictive, intentionally or unintentionally, Lin Jue can't help it, so she has to play a little temper, only to be kind to her, hoping that Green Dance can calm down. He knew that Green Dance wouldn't be really angry, maybe the little girl was a little annoyed that she had been giving her a name informally. Lin Jue actually wants to make Green Dance grow up another year, after all, she is still a sixteen-year-old Lori, her body has not yet grown, and her development is still in progress. Whether it is from a psychological point of view or from the perspective of being responsible for Green Dance's physical health, Lin Jue can't do it. Although I really wanted this cute little girl when I was grinding my ears and temples some nights, I still didn't do it after all.

The sun is getting higher and the square is getting more and more crowded. Finally, at three o'clock, the crowd in the square was in a commotion.

"It's coming, it's coming." Someone shouted nearby. Immediately afterwards, a large crowd of people swarmed in the direction of the yamen.

Green Dance pulled Lin Jue and was about to squeeze into the crowd, but Lin Jue pulled him back.

"It's on the list, isn't Childe going to take a look?" Midori shouted.

Lin Jue smiled: "Wait and then go, why bother squeezing with these people." Now that the result has been decided, wouldn't it be cheaper to go first? has already been hit, and what hasn't been hit is not a hit? ”

Lu Wu glanced at the crowd that was frantically crowded, stuck out his tongue and said, "It's true, Fan can't squeeze it, isn't it graceless." Let's wait for the others to disperse before we go, and let's see the excitement first. ”

The crowd frantically rushed towards the yamen, which was already crowded in front of the yamen, and at the moment it was even more crowded. The eyes of the crowd looked at the steps in front of the yamen, where dozens of soldiers surrounded several examiners had already walked down the steps of the yamen. Because of the congestion of the crowd, this group of people did not even have a way to go.

"Get out of the way, let the examiner post the red list on the notice board, you can take a closer look." A leader in armor shouted.

The people in front wanted to give way, but the people behind squeezed forward, which made it even more chaotic.

"Damn, do you still want to see the red list? Get out of the way. The leader of the vans was furious. Glaring, he pulled the whip from his waist.

"Call me and open a way." The leader shouted.

Dozens of soldiers raised their whips one after another, and came over with horizontal eyebrows, the whips crackling and threatening to strike. This trick really worked, and the crowd couldn't dodge. Although they are all people who read, they are different from ordinary people, but when they encounter these Qiu Ba, they are unreasonable. Besides, it's not a problem to block the road like this, and you have to make your debut after all.

The examiners did not stop the barbarism of the soldiers, but swaggered forward on the road opened up by the soldiers. Soon after, I came to the first sign. An examiner took the red notice from the hand of the attendant behind him, and one of the attendants dipped the paste from the paste with a brush, brushed it a few times and applied the paste, and the red list was firmly pasted on the billboard. The red background and black letters on it are densely packed with people's names. Another red list was also posted next to it, and the words on it were much larger, with only a few names.

"Brother Ji Liang, you've been hit. Sixth. Someone in the crowd shouted, and the sharp-eyed ones had already found the names of the people they knew by the time the examiner turned around.

The candidate named Ji Liang was overjoyed, staring at the red list with his hair that was squeezed into a bun like a chicken nest. Sure enough, in the sixth position of the second red list, I found my name with huge handwriting. For a while, he screamed in surprise, and even cried loudly.

"I'm in, I'm in, finally, it's been nine years, I'm finally ...... Woooooooo ”

Someone next to him shouted impatiently: "If you win, you won't give up a place?" We're not here yet. Go away, go away. ”

Red lists were posted on all three signs, and ten soldiers were left in front of each sign to prevent anyone from sabotaging and tearing up the list, and also to prevent someone from squeezing down the signs.

The black-pressed crowd was crowded in front of the three red lists, countless pairs of eyes, and countless people with their necks stretched out were eagerly looking for themselves or the name they wanted to find in the dense names. From time to time there were cheers from the crowd, the triumphant cheers of those on the list. And the vast majority of people were staring with sour eyes, and they did not find their names among the more than 400 names. They were not reconciled, so they squeezed to several other places where the red list was posted to look for it again, holding on to the luck that their names were omitted. Eventually, however, they realized that they weren't among the lucky ones.

The lucky ones happily spread the good news with their friends, but they are a minority after all. Soon after, the vast majority of the people were the walking dead, pale and dejected, staring but unable to see, like dying people. There were also people who cried loudly on the spot, as if they were mourning.

Someone yelled and rushed to the sign, shouting, "Mistake, mistake." You must have omitted my name, I was sure I would be hit, how could this be? ”

However, they were greeted by the whips of the soldiers guarding the signs, and the fiery whips made them sober up and realize that they had really failed.

On the whole square, joys and sorrows, sorrows and pains, and all kinds of life are in it. Some people get the best hope in life, while others suffer a fatal blow. As the saying goes, some people are happy and some are worried, all after the red list is announced.