Su Chong clenched his fists in anger. “They’ve gone too far! We have to expose Liu Zijian. We can’t let him replace you.”
“Zijin, don’t worry. We’ll testify for you. We’ll arrive today. There’s still time.”
Su Chong comforted Liu Zijin. He heaved a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he waited firmly.
Otherwise, Liu Zijin might not be able to participate in the exam. The condition of his feet was too serious. It was Liu Zijin who gritted his teeth and endured it to walk to town.
He did not expect Liu Zijin to encounter such a terrifying thing.
No wonder he was so outstanding but so down and out.
An outstanding student. In many families, they supported scholars.
Liu Zijin was too thin, weak, and sickly. No matter how one looked at it, he did not look like he was being supported. If it was such an environment, it would make sense.
“Su Chong, thank you.”
Liu Zijin was touched. He had already lost count of how many times he had thanked him.
His past was scarred, but the heavens took pity on him and sent Su Chong and the others into his world. His fate was even changed by Su Chong.
Su Chong was a little worried. “Then what will happen after the exam?”
Liu Zijin was smart, so he would definitely be able to pass the examination. However, what if he returned and was controlled by that family clan and replaced?
Su Chong thought for a moment and said, “Zijin, you shouldn’t go back to that place. After the exam, I’ll go with you. Let’s quietly pick up your mother.”
Liu Zijin said, “Su Chong, thank you. I’ve already thought about what to do the last time I came. After this exam, I’ll stay in Anping County and bring my mother here.”
What he did not tell Su Chong was that the last time he was in Anping County, he had already asked around and thought of a way out. Everyone said that the daughter of the county magistrate was as strong as a pig and ugly. Most importantly, she was the only daughter and was looking to take in a husband.
The Wang family had a big business, and he was already prepared to recommend himself as a live-in son-in-law. His mother’s health was too poor, and he needed to support her. His health was also poor, and he also needed to eat and drink well. Moreover, he had to continue participating in the imperial examination. All these things required a lot of financial support.
But he was too ashamed to say such a terrible thing.
In front of the magnanimous Su Chong, he was like a rat in a ditch. Let him hide these ugly things for now.
When Su Chong heard that he had already made up his mind, he thought that he was preparing to teach in some school in Anping County. Su Chong smiled and agreed. “It’s good that you stay. When you pass the Elementary Scholar examination, it won’t be difficult for you to find something to do. It’s enough to support your mother.”
“Yeah.”
Liu Zijin responded faintly and did not continue on this topic.
Su Chong and Liu Zijin arrived at Anping County just after midnight.
Liu Zijin asked Su Chong to let him down.
They were already in the county. There was still time to settle things, so Su Chong let Liu Zijin down and let him walk slowly.
When they arrived at the inn, Su Hua and Zhou Heng hurriedly came out to welcome them. Seeing that Liu Zijin’s foot was injured, they asked with concern, “What happened to Zijin?”
Su Chong angrily told everyone what had happened.
Su Hua and Zhou Heng were also very angry when they heard this. Stealing someone’s identity was simply too sinister.
This was no small matter, so he had to tell the teacher.
The teachers thought that this matter was too big and could not find Liu Zijian at the inn. In order to prevent Liu Zijian from entering the examination hall before Liu Zijin, Liu Zijin had to go to the examination hall early to wait.
Fortunately, it was hot now. It wouldn’t hurt to spend the night out.
Su Xiaolu performed acupuncture for Liu Zijin and applied medicine to his ankle.
Liu Zijin cupped his hands in gratitude. “Miss Su, thank you, thank you.”
His foot no longer hurt as much.
After eating at the inn, they went to the examination hall to wait. When they arrived, it was cold and quiet outside.
Lin Pingsheng looked at them and smiled. “Looking at you guys like this, I remember that when I was in the imperial examination in the past, pure friendship was the most precious. You guys wait here and catch the person tomorrow morning. You just have to make it clear to the junior official who called out the names. At that time, someone will testify and compare. This matter will be clear. No one can replace the other.”
Su Chong, Su Hua, and Zhou Heng nodded.
Lin Pingsheng looked at Su Xiaolu. “Xiaolu, let’s go back to the inn and come back tomorrow morning.”
Thinking that there were many mosquitoes at night and that Liu Zijian did not know martial arts or had any special abilities, Su Xiaolu nodded. “Okay.”
Before they left, Su Xiaolu gave them a small box and said, “This is for repelling mosquitoes and bugs. Wipe it on your hands and clothes.”
Su Chong took it and nodded. “Okay, thank you, Xiaolu. Go back and rest with the teacher. There’s no need to worry about Big Brother and Second Brother here.”
Su Xiaolu nodded and returned to the inn with Lin Pingsheng.
On the way back, Su Xiaolu suddenly asked, “Teacher, is there only one entrance to the examination hall?”
What if there were more than one?
Lin Pingsheng smiled and said, “Girl, don’t worry. There’s only one entrance. If Liu Zijian wants to enter, he can only go in from here. If he secretly goes in from other places, he will only be caught and chased out. All the candidates have to enter from this entrance and verify their identities.”
Replacing the identity of others. Such a thing was rare because it was not easy to study. If one could pass a scholarly examination, who would be willing to help others?
This kind of thing was usually done willingly. People like Liu Zijin who were controlled had never happened before, and ordinary people would not forcefully remove others’ identities.
Most of the time, a person with knowledge would accept a large amount of money from a certain family and use his identity to take the examination for him. When he wants to take the examination, he would use his real identity to take the examination for himself.
But it would also be easy to be found out.
Like Liu Zijin, he was already here. As long as he guarded the examination hall early, there was only one door. It was impossible for Liu Zijian to replace Liu Zijin’s identity because he couldn’t get in.
“Only one door. That’s good, that’s good.”
Knowing that there was only one door, Su Xiaolu was relieved.
After hearing about Liu Zijin, she knew even better that the imperial examination was not easy.
They returned to the inn to rest.
She got up early the next day and went to the examination hall with Teacher Lin.
Su Chong and the others had slept outside the examination hall all night and had been guarding it since morning.
When the time came and the door of the examination hall opened, Liu Zijin went forward and told the roll call officer about this matter. He even took the five taels of silver that Su Chong had borrowed from him to give to the officer. When the roll call officer took the money, he would naturally care more. This way, even if they did not see Liu Zijian enter, when he arrived at the roll call, Liu Zijian would not be able to pass.
Without being named, the papers submitted would be invalid.
As more and more students came, they walked into the examination hall in groups of two or three. There were more and more people, but Su Chong and the others had yet to see the person Liu Zijin was talking about.
Liu Zijin had said that Liu Zijian had a mole on his nose, but they hadn’t seen it either.
