Chapter 2029: Provincial Examination

Chapter 2029: Provincial Examination


After more than a month had passed, Meng Yunzheng sent another letter.

He mentioned that both Jiang Kuanyu and Deputy Chief Lin had eventually returned to their hometowns in the northern region after faking their deaths. However, their exact whereabouts remained a mystery. When Meng Pei had investigated Deputy Chief Lin's hometown, he found that his family had already left, and their whereabouts were unknown. The neighbors said that the entire family had disappeared overnight, not too long ago. Since Deputy Chief Lin's family consisted of only four members, it wasn't easy to track them down.

Later, Qi Lie had investigated the passenger ship from the harbor. Although it had a mixed crowd, boarding the ship required proper identification and registration. However, the ship's owner confirmed seeing Deputy Chief Lin and described his appearance. Still, he mentioned that Deputy Chief Lin had disembarked shortly after boarding and never returned to the ship.

In other words, Deputy Chief Lin had chosen to leave by an alternative route after recognizing Ying Dong and fearing being recognized.

At this point, the lead came to a halt, making further investigation challenging.

Nevertheless, no matter how challenging it was, Qi Lie and his team would continue their efforts.

For the time being, Shu Yu didn't pay much attention to this matter because the provincial examination was approaching.

In August, the weather was still scorching hot, but the candidates were becoming increasingly enthusiastic about the upcoming examination.

Dong'an Prefecture was also preparing for the prefectural examination. All the inns in the city were fully booked, and even Dongqing Temple, located outside the city, had women begging to stay overnight.

The prefectural examination occurred once every three years and was much grander than the county examination.

Taking advantage of the occasion, Wei Ronghua had launched a promotional campaign for instant noodles. Many candidates stockpiled them for the exam.

Shu Yu could already imagine the scene in the examination hall, with the aroma of instant noodles filling the air.

To her surprise, even Madam Tan bought a pile of instant noodles. She explained to Shu Yu, "Tan Cheng has been bedridden for two years. Now that he's resuming his studies, he has fallen behind a lot. So, participating in the prefectural examination this time is mainly about the experience and feeling the atmosphere. We don't expect him to pass. I think it's good for him to try it out. Next time, he'll have more confidence."

Shu Yu found her reasoning reasonable. Besides Tan Cheng experiencing the examination atmosphere, even Shu Rui and the other two siblings were encouraged by Teacher Wen to come to the city and immerse themselves in the examination ambiance.

Teacher Wen's idea was that Shu Rui would be eligible to participate in the child examination next year, even though this was the prefectural examination. Familiarizing themselves with the process would be beneficial.

Therefore, during this period, the three of them stayed in the rear courtyard of the Lu house in Fengtaoxiang. During the day, they visited various places, as there were many scholars in the city, and there were often poetry gatherings and gatherings. They enjoyed themselves and had a great time.

As the provincial examination approached, Madam Tan, who was usually calm and composed, was a bit nervous. She took Shu Yu to Dongqing Temple to pray.

Dongqing Temple was bustling with people. Although Shu Yu was full of confidence in Meng Yunzheng, she couldn't help but be influenced by the atmosphere. She sincerely offered incense and prayed, hoping that the ancestral deities would bless Meng Yunzheng's success.

The provincial examination was divided into three sessions, each lasting three days.

After nine days of intense examination, all candidates looked exhausted. However, their anxious and uneasy hearts were just beginning to feel the pressure, as they awaited the announcement of the results.

Candidates who had a glimmer of hope were eagerly awaiting the news.

Candidates like Tan Cheng, who had only come to test the waters, felt relaxed and carefree.

Shu Yu was also waiting for Meng Yunzheng's letter, hoping for good news.

However, before the news from Changjin Prefecture arrived, the Lu family received another piece of news."