Struggle in Ancient Times

The Liao family didn’t want Liao Tingyu to go back. Although, this town wasn’t very far from home but it was a whole day travel. It was hard for an information to reach all the way to the remote countryside. They didn’t know when will the result out.

If they didn’t get the news for the result, their heart would be uneasy. If they passed the exam, that would be good. But if they didn’t pass it, it was better to stay with the teacher and learned more knowledge.

Their family also poor, if there was meeting between students, er-ye would rarely participate. Every time a date was issued, er-ye would stay alone in his room. Just like this time, such a big matter of fee entrance he didn’t talk with his family.

They thought about it and felt guilty. If er-ye was born from rich family, he wouldn’t be so wronged. This town was interesting, it would be nice to see and explore it. It was a mother’s selfishness; she wanted the child to play and relax here.

Liao Ming supported his wife’s idea and said softly, “Just listen to your mother, you don’t have to worry about our home. Your brother is there with us.”

Liao Tingyu had no choice but to agree, “Okay, I will stay here waiting for the news. Take back the money, I still have it. Just put your hope on me; the teacher also told us that it was all good. Father, mother, you go back and wait for the good news.”

“That’s fine, we will take this money. You have to take care of yourself.” Liao Ming dragged the reluctant mother Deng away.

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On the way back, mother Deng smiled after she ate the steamed buns. Liao Ming took the bun and broke them into small portion and handed to mother Deng, “You can rest assured.”

Mother Deng glanced at him, “As if I was the one who worried and drank wine on the doorstep. We went all the way to send the money but we still went back with it.”

Liao Ming was humiliated, he didn’t care and touched the ox in front of him, “Isn’t it great my son can earn money? He also a person with idea, if he said enough than he had enough. You don’t have to worry about him. Besides, I as the father about to lose my job.”

“It’s an honour. Once the result is out, I will go to the town and buy a red cloth. Let’s tie them on the old ox’s neck and walk around the village. Let others envy our good son.” Mother Deng thought beautifully, Liao Ming also agreed with her. She imagined the scene and couldn’t contain her laughter.

“Well, you are the top contributor of our family.” Liao Ming nodded in agreement, “I will wash the ox that day, put a cloth cushion for you to sit then I’ll lead the ox. We can walk from the east to the west of village.”

“This is a good idea. I have endured so much and finally survived for my beloved son.”

Mother Deng and Liao Ming had no doubt about their son’s passing, because he never let them down about his study.

“After my son’s grade come out, I will ask him if he wanted to take the Juren exam.”

“You better think about his marriage, you don’t want to have a grandson from him?” Liao Ming interrupted mother Deng. It was unrealistic to expect so much, which would only exhaust their energy.

In the future, it was his own son’s business whether he wanted to take the Juren exam or not. The top priority for now was to start a family, his eldest son already had children but the youngest still all alone.

Mother Deng also thought this was true, she remembered carefully about the good girls in their village. But she thought country girl isn’t suitable for their son, “Forget it, when er-ye come back, someone will naturally ask about his marriage. Now I can’t think about it, if he doesn’t like it, er-ye can find a good girl or ger from the town.”

Note

I think I will explain a bit, sometimes this exam and their title are confusing.

From what I’ve learned, examination in ancient china history have 5 degrees:

Tongseng (children level): this one usually held in county/prefecturalShengyuan (student member/scholar): the students will earn their scholar title (xiucai) and will placed into two or three grades A B C Juren (well learned man): this held in province level with first and second place will be called jieyuan and huiyuanGongshi (tribute scholar): this one usually happens in the capital and to skim the scholars before palace examinationJinshi (advanced scholar): this held in the palace by the emperor, the top three (zhuangyuan, bangyan and tanhua) will be official with lowest grade while others usually end up in the imperial academy.

Sometimes scholar just after the title and keep trying for the exam. For now, Liao Tingyu still on the second degree and waiting for the result. If he passes then he could try the next degree.

Buuutttt, sometimes the author would choose different route or excluded some degree, I hope this explanation help us a bit to understand the scholar routes.