The prefecture examination was still one phase of the children’s examinations and should not be overly difficult, so the Primary Examination continued to be built mainly around short passages, giving the candidates ample room to demonstrate their abilities.

Only in the last two sessions — the Third Review and the Final Review — did Pei Shaohuai set somewhat more challenging extended passages. Extended passage questions, by their nature, presented a complete and meaningful sentence with a clear direction; candidates were required to deeply comprehend its meaning and find their own angle from which to engage with it.

Unlike short passage questions, which could be answered through self-consistent reasoning alone.

Extended passages were a far sterner test of candidates’ depth of insight and command of the written word.

The first question of the fourth session was a two-part question drawn from: “The clan praises him for his filial piety; the villagers praise him for his brotherly deference.”

This line comes from the Analects, in the Chuan Cheng – Chapter “Zilu.” Zigong had asked what kind of person “could be called a man of integrity.” Confucius replied that a person who “conducts himself with a sense of shame and, when sent as an envoy to the four quarters, does not disgrace the ruler’s commission” could be called such a person.

Zigong then asked what the next rank of such a person would be like, and Confucius gave this reply — “the clan praises him for his filial piety; the villagers praise him for his brotherly deference” — meaning a person whose clan commends his filial devotion to parents, and whose neighbors commend his respectful deference to elders.

Its essence lay in “filial piety and brotherly respect.”

Pei Shaohuai did not examine candidates on “what it means to be a man of integrity,” but deliberately chose to examine the second tier of such a person — and he had his reasons.

In this world, where scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants were ranked in strict order, many who had read a few volumes and learned a handful of characters had begun to call themselves “men of integrity.” What they did not realize was that they had not even met the standard of the “second tier” — so how could they aspire to “conducting oneself with a sense of shame”?

Furthermore, of those who passed the prefecture and academy examinations and became licensed scholars, only a very small number could go a step further and enter official service. The great majority would remain in their localities as local gentry.

Pei Shaohuai believed that only a candidate whose insight reached the level of “the second tier of integrity” would truly be fit to shoulder that responsibility.

To break open this question accurately was no easy thing. To write only of “filial piety and brotherly respect” without addressing the element of “second tier” would already have missed the mark.

The first question of the fifth session was once again drawn by Pei Shaohuai from the Analects: “He who acts for the sake of profit will invite much resentment.” — To give one’s heart entirely to profit, to be wholly driven by gain, makes it easy to incur resentment from all quarters and leads one’s path astray.

A thoughtful candidate, relating this to what had recently transpired in Quanzhou Prefecture, would not find it difficult to perceive the deeper purpose behind Pei Shaohuai’s choice of question.

Of course, examination questions could only select based on what candidates wrote on the surface; they could not truly reveal what lay in the depths of a candidate’s heart. But in the examinations, if a person could not even compose a passable essay on the surface — if their approach was already misguided — how could one dare say they could be of great use?

With all the questions thus composed, Pei Shaohuai was able to rest quietly for a few days while awaiting the start of the prefecture examination.

In his leisure, some of the chatter from outside began drifting over the walls and reaching his ears. Rather than being angered, Pei Shaohuai was amused, and said with a laugh, “In that case, they have actually saved me the trouble of marking papers — they have helped me filter out quite a number of those with grand ambitions and meager talents.”

He instructed Associate Magistrate Li to pay it no mind, saying that whether to register or not was entirely each candidate’s own affair.

If he truly lost his temper over this and made a show of handling it, it would only make the concerned party look insecure and petty.

——

That Pei Shaohuai, a Zhuangyuan who had achieved the Triple First, was unknown by name to the academies and students of Fujian — this was, in truth, not difficult to understand.

First, though the Office of Transmission did distribute the Court Gazette, circulated among government offices of various levels inside and outside the capital for copying and reading, the Gazette went through many hands in its successive transcription, and the news within it was often delayed and incomplete.

Those who transcribed it would, as a rule, excerpt only the portions relevant to their own concerns. For example, when Pei Shaohuai achieved the Triple First six years prior, it was indeed recorded in the capital’s Court Gazette, with several hundred words describing the grandeur of the Palace Examination — yet by the time a transcribed copy reached Fujian, what remained was a single line: “A student from Shuntian Prefecture in the Northern Metropolitan Region took first place in the regular examinations of the year Yi-You.”

Moreover, the Court Gazette circulated only among government offices — how many students without official rank ever had the chance to read it? And even if they had, with six or seven years having passed, how many would still recall it clearly?

Second, the north-south rivalry in the examinations had never ceased. Candidates in the south were intimately familiar with the great talents from their own region, but knew comparatively little about outstanding figures from the north.

Third — and this was the most important point.

Several months earlier, Quanzhou Prefect Xie Jia had still been firmly seated in his yamen hall, and all the candidates had assumed that Prefect Xie would serve as examiner for the prefecture examination without any change. No one had foreseen that he would be arrested by the court and put to death at the hands of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Before that, many students had carefully studied and researched Xie Jia’s essays, deliberating over his stylistic preferences and making educated guesses on topics so they could tailor their essays accordingly, hoping to be selected by him.

After the incident, the academies had drawn on past experience and guessed that the court might delegate a Regional Administrator or Senior Secretary from the Provincial Administration to temporarily oversee the Quanzhou prefecture examination. So they had also made a point of studying these officials.

Who could have imagined the court would suddenly appoint a fifth-rank prefectural administrator as Chief Examiner?

By the time the notice was posted, there were few days remaining — and in their haste, the academies could gather very little information about him. In other words, they had never even conceived of the possibility that Pei Shaohuai might become the Chief Examiner.

——

In this world there are those who see only what is near, and those who see what is far. While the near-sighted were still clamoring about their miscalculated bets and nursing grievances over their earlier “investments,” there were already candidates making inquiries among the residents of Tong’an and Nan’an about Prefectural Administrator Pei.

If they could not read his essays, knowing a few things about his character was still worthwhile.

——

Because the free temporary lodging had been made available, there was an unusually large number of impoverished scholars and students from farming households sitting the examination this year. They first went to the examination hall to register, then used their examination placard and travel permit to check in and take their lodging assignment.

The courtyard had a kitchen, where the candidates could start a fire and cook their own meals. A small ration of lamp oil was also distributed each night for their use. With so little oil — enough to burn for only about an hour — and every student’s mind fixed on how to squeeze in a little more reading time, by the second evening someone had proposed that they combine their oil into a single lamp to share it, and all gathered around it to study.

Pages turned without a sound; the modest lamp glowed with a quiet warmth.

The wick sent up thin threads of black smoke, and though the oil fumes carried a slight sharpness to the nose, to these candidates it was as fragrant as the scent of books.

The night deepened, and still they read on; cicadas sang, the light grew faint, and still they were reluctant to stop.

Living three to five in a room, it was crowded and they disturbed each other, and no one could have the space to themselves — yet to come to know one or two kindred spirits and test one’s learning against theirs in the examination hall was no small thing.

And yet there was one who did not know what was good for him. One day, a man dressed in rather slovenly clothing put on the airs of “a man of letters” and complained noisily from early morning that the others had disturbed his peaceful sleep. One thing led to another, and he ended up grumbling bitterly.

“Self-cultivation, self-cultivation — the great Zhu Xi urged us to cultivate ourselves in solitude, yet without a room of my own, how am I to do so?” He smacked his lips and carried on, “Since lodging has been provided at all, why not do it properly? Arrange things well so that we can focus on our studies without distraction.”

He had turned his complaint toward Pei Shaohuai’s head, blaming him for not being thoughtful enough.

“Stop putting on airs here. Roll up your bedding and go find your solitude somewhere else.”

“In my view, you had better save what little money you have left for your examination expenses and go see a doctor. Come to think of it, the doctor will only shake his head — either way, it is money thrown to the wind.”

“You may grumble all you like, but the moment you say a word against our Chief Examiner, I, Fan, will be the first to refuse it.”

Someone also offered him a kind word of advice, saying, “I can see that you also come from a farming family. Think it over carefully — if not for this place to shelter, how many more years of harvest and river fishing would your family need before they could scrape together enough for a month’s lodging expenses on the road? Inconveniences while traveling are perfectly commonplace. All the more reason to be careful with your words — for words from the mouth bring ruin.”

Every word of that exchange was overheard by Associate Magistrate Li, who had come to do a round of inspection. Associate Magistrate Li was from Changzhi in Shanxi, and his temper was nowhere near as restrained as Pei Shaohuai’s. He strode in with his men and said with a ringing voice, “Not a trace of learning in sight, but the tune is pitched high enough; not a shred of a title to his name, and yet he carries himself like a lord. Men — throw him out for me.” He paid no attention whatsoever to the man’s repeated cries of remorse and pleas for mercy.

Once the matter was dealt with, Associate Magistrate Li’s expression eased considerably. He said to the remaining candidates, “The Chief Examiner has instructed me to make rounds of inspection. If any of you have difficulties, speak to this official. Otherwise, simply devote yourselves to your studies in peace.”

“Your students thank the Prefectural Administrator for his concern.”

After making his rounds in all directions, Associate Magistrate Li then moved on to the next location.

Among the residents, some of the candidates who had come from Shuang’an Prefecture also took up lodging in the courtyard. When they spoke of their Prefectural Administrator Pei, their faces were full of pride, and when they enumerated his achievements in Shuang’an, the words came in an endless torrent, drawing many other candidates over to listen.

One word leading to another, more and more people came to know of him. Whatever the academies outside might be saying, Prefectural Administrator Pei’s reputation among students of humble background was sterling.

——

On the twenty-ninth of the third month, with only a few days left before the examination began, the examination hall closed its registration.

At the third watch of the night on the third of the fourth month, the examination hall blazed with light. Lanterns hung high at the gates on all four sides, bearing prominent characters indicating directions, so that the candidates would not go to the wrong entrance and be unable to find the fellow candidates and guaranteed licentiate who had co-signed their registration.

To the careful observer, there were more candidates arriving for this examination than in previous years.

A gong sounded, and the Primary Examination commenced.

The candidates taking the prefecture examination bent over their desks, brushes moving with urgency, while those too proud to lower themselves to appear submitted their names sat in the wine houses, drowning their regrets in drink.

At midday, in one of Quanzhou Prefecture’s wine houses, several county school licentiates were drinking and making merry, gathered there to welcome a scholar who had come south from Hejian Prefecture on a study tour. The food and drink on the table had been laid in his honor.

After a few rounds of wine, inhibitions loosened, and the conversation flowed freely.

Their voices were not low, and words from the private room drifted out clearly to those seated in the main hall.

The talk turned to the examinations, and inevitably to the highest honors — the three top placers, and the Zhuangyuan. The Hejian scholar set up a deliberate suspense and asked, “Do any of you know what the candidates from the north pray to before their examinations?”

Everyone knew that Hejian Prefecture was close to the capital, and they listened with genuine curiosity.

“In the whole world, does everyone not pray to the God of Literature before examinations? Brother Wang, surely there is some mystery you are hinting at?”

The Hejian scholar waved a tipsy finger and said, “What use is praying to the God of Literature when you can pray to a pair of Zhuangyuans for divine favor?”

“A pair of Zhuangyuans?”

“In the regular examinations of the year Yi-You, a candidate from our Northern Metropolitan Region took first place — surely you have all heard of this?”

“There was indeed such an event.”

“In the regular examinations of the year Wu-Zi, the top placer was also from the Northern Metropolitan Region.”

Everyone thought it over and agreed, “That also happened.” They had heard it from candidates who had made the long journey to the capital for the examinations and returned — though the details had grown hazy and much had been forgotten.

The Hejian scholar then unhurriedly drew two small ceramic figurines from within his robe and said as he did so, “It is precisely by praying to these two that I passed the Academy Examination, and ever since I never travel anywhere without them.”

On the table sat two porcelain figurines no bigger than a finger’s width, fired with exquisite craftsmanship — their hair crowned with flowers, robed in red, the two small Zhuangyuan figures looked remarkably alike.

The Hejian scholar pointed to introduce them. “This is Pei the Elder, and this is Pei the Second. In the capital, everyone believes in them.”

“Two Zhuangyuans — and both surnamed Pei. Could these two gentlemen be from the same family?”

“More than the same family.” The Hejian scholar spoke now with even greater pride, as though describing his own relatives, and declared, “These two are brothers born of the same parents, close in age. There is a saying — ‘one surname, two Zhuangyuans, Triple First, famed in all four directions’ — have you never heard it?”

Everyone shook their heads, their hearts deeply shaken.

Two brothers from the same family, each achieving the Triple First and taking first place in succession — the way that sounded, it was like something out of a storybook.

Yet something in their minds felt vaguely wrong. The fifth-rank prefectural administrator currently serving as Chief Examiner in the examination hall — was also surnamed Pei. Surely it could not be him. It should not be — the Zhuangyuan of the Yi-You examinations ought to be serving in the Hanlin Academy, not posted to some distant southern prefecture.

Even those who had some impression of the Yi-You Zhuangyuan would find it difficult to connect him with a prefectural administrator posted outside the capital. After all, why did scholars under heaven so envy the three top placers? Because the three top placers could enter the Hanlin Academy directly, remain in the capital, and serve before the very eyes of the Emperor — their futures were bright. No one had ever heard of a Zhuangyuan being sent on an outside posting.

Their thoughts wandered in various directions, and just as they were deep in contemplation, they heard the Hejian scholar say, “I heard that several years ago, this Pei the Elder was posted outside the capital by the Emperor — promoted from the seventh rank to the fifth rank. Everyone guessed the Emperor just wanted to give him some experience… he was posted to some place, what was it called…” The Hejian scholar’s face showed a pained frown as he tried to recall. “Drank too much — can’t quite remember now.”

Whether in the private room or the main hall outside, all was suddenly silent.

After a long pause, someone ventured tentatively, “Posted to Shuang’an Prefecture?”

“Yes, yes — Shuang’an Prefecture, that’s the place.” The Hejian scholar slapped his knee and asked, “Do any of you know where this Shuang’an Prefecture is?” He tilted his head back and sighed with feeling. “If your household registration were in Shuang’an Prefecture — to be able to study under Pei the Elder — what extraordinary fortune that would be.”