After leaving Zhang Chang, Fang Zheng engaged in pleasant conversation with the three officials.

Their chat focused mainly on child-rearing, though those officials’ sons were mostly older than him….

But Fang Zheng’s 21st century advanced concepts of child torture and educational pressure clearly won unanimous approval from the three officials.

Tutoring and such were just elementary!

Like writing a hundred poems daily, twenty essays, memorizing two books for foundation building.

Running shirtless in snow for ten miles to train willpower.

Practicing music and painting for three sessions daily to cultivate artistic temperament.

Giving three hundred public speeches before age fifteen to develop court speaking ability.

The various examples left the three officials entranced.

They thought no wonder Fang Zheng could pass the jinshi examination in his teens! And speak so effectively at court meetings!

With such strict family discipline, passing the jinshi examination wasn’t surprising. I could do it too!

Two officials immediately became excited and declared they would have another child for fresh training!

The remaining one planned to experiment on his grandson…

After all, having heard such secret techniques only today, it would be a great pity not to implement them!

Their own sons were already grown up, not good to beat anymore!

Realizing too much time had passed, they briefly said goodbye and returned to monitor the examination.

Fang Zheng smacked his lips, seeming somewhat unsatisfied.

I didn’t even get to explain my quantum wave speed reading and right brain development guidebook.

I only revealed the surface and you’re already this excited, truly pathetic!

He shook his head regretfully and returned to the examination site.

Fang Zheng couldn’t be bothered with Zhang Chang anymore. Looking at his state, his mentality was already broken.

Going back to hover around him would be inappropriate. The other officials were currently on his side, but a second incident might lead to them reporting him.

Selecting reporters wasn’t urgent, with nine days available.

The main problem now was how to pass the time, as monitoring was extremely boring!

Fang Zheng didn’t know what else to do.

Enjoy the scenery? There wasn’t much scenery to see, just these few things in the examination compound.

Read candidates’ essays? He wasn’t interested!

Catch cheaters? The difficulty of cheating was too high! Probably not easy to catch.

So he could only observe candidates and the examination site to pass time.

Currently, most candidates in the examination hall were in deep thought, though a few were clearly slacking off.

Tapping fingers, touching inkstones, playing with brushes, or leaning against the wall pretending to nap.

Most likely they felt hopeless about passing and came just to experience the process.

Fang Zheng admired these slackers, especially their appearance of scratching heads unable to write a single word! So nostalgic!

Some things, some people, even across a thousand years of time and space could evoke shared feelings.

Slacking off… undeniably a great performance art transcending time and space!

However, after watching for a while, Fang Zheng quickly grew bored.

These few people’s skill level was too low, they couldn’t even twirl a pen!

He continued aimlessly observing between rows of cells, and his observation actually revealed some patterns!

Examination cells were privately classified as bottom cells, small cells, old cells, and mat cells.

The cells were arranged in rows, with old cells in the middle, small cells being undersized cells, naturally appearing at both ends due to measurement errors during construction.

Bottom cells, also known as stinky cells, were obviously next to the latrines.

Dozens of people using one latrine, without flushing toilets, the impact on examination taking in this position was imaginable!

Mat cells were temporary cells built with mats when regular positions were insufficient, but these didn’t appear in this provincial examination.

Countless candidates hoped to draw old cells, avoiding bottom cells and small cells.

Interestingly, candidates in bottom cells wearing patched clothing appeared with surprising frequency!

Fang Zheng wandered through over thirty rows of cells, and in more than twenty rows, the bottom cell candidates wore patched single-layer clothing!

But based on his previous observations… poor background students didn’t make up a high proportion in the entire examination compound, appearing to be only about twenty percent at first glance!

The high probability of poor students in bottom cells had only one possibility: there was corruption in the seat selection process! Those with family connections could arrange somewhat better seats, at least reducing the probability of getting bottom cells.

But Fang Zheng didn’t do anything about it, just smiled helplessly.

Reality was like this. The examination site could never be absolutely fair. Competition inside and outside the examination hall was always connected.

Poor family students were destined to face more obstacles than wealthy ones.

Though everyone was at the starting line, some rode bicycles, some drove cars or flew planes.

Some were even already at the finish line…

As for those on foot, they could only exchange several times more effort for a hint of “equality.”

It had been the same throughout history.

After looking at a few more rows, Fang Zheng grew tired and prepared to head back.

By now it was noon, the sun high overhead, temperature not low.

The official robes were thick and hot. Even walking in the shadows along the walls, Fang Zheng was sweating profusely.

But this wasn’t the most important issue… the important thing was that a faint stench began spreading through the air…

Clearly some people couldn’t hold it anymore and had started relieving themselves.

Naturally they wouldn’t choose to go to the latrine. Under each cell’s sitting board was a small bucket serving as a chamber pot.

They would directly relieve themselves in the small bucket, mainly to save time and reduce trouble.

But the stench inevitably spread from it.

Fang Zheng had inquired about this point and had mentally prepared himself.

But when he actually entered the examination site, he couldn’t help feeling regret. He should never have accepted this miserable assignment!

The latrines in the examination compound were nothing like those at home! When he was in Jianjiang, he hadn’t used a toilet for a long time, and after returning home, he wanted to hug his lovely toilet and kiss it twice.

The damn sanitation of ancient times! Always inescapable! Now he had to suffer again… uncomfortable!

On his way back to the officials’ quarters, Fang Zheng took a few detours, looking at several more rows.

He happened to spot a reporter sitting in a bottom cell.

He remembered this man was named Qin Shan, a very ordinary reporter at the newspaper office, somewhat silent in nature.

At this moment, he was red-faced and conflicted about something, completely unaware of Fang Zheng nearby.

After some hesitation, he bent down to take the small bucket from under the sitting board, placed it on the board, then knelt on the board facing the wall, rustling as he untied his pants.

Fang Zheng watched in shock, feeling slightly angry!

You’re right next to the latrine and still urinating in your cell!

And putting your food and chamber pot together is so unsanitary! Reporters from Banshan Newspaper can’t be so unhygienic!

After Qin Shan finished urinating with a satisfied look and put the small bucket under the table, Fang Zheng angrily walked over and whispered furiously, “Qin Shan! What the hell is wrong with you? Why not go to the latrine?!”

Qin Shan looked up startled, saw it was Fang Zheng, and immediately blushed deeply!

He hadn’t expected his private operation to be fully witnessed by Fang Zheng…

He lowered his head and mumbled, “Minister Fang… isn’t everyone doing this?”

“The latrine is just one wall away! Couldn’t you just put up a sign and go?” Fang Zheng asked.

Qin Shan looked up, eyes full of confusion, and probed, “Sir… you don’t know?”

“Don’t know? What don’t I know?” Now Fang Zheng was confused.

Seeing this, Qin Shan forgot everything else and quickly explained, “Sir, we absolutely cannot go to the latrine.”

“If we go, our examination papers will be collected! Officials will think candidates lack perseverance, or that going to the toilet is too inauspicious and might stamp a ‘shit mark’ on the paper.”

“Such papers won’t be read no matter how well written… which means taking the exam for nothing!”

“Ah, fearing such accidents… we absolutely cannot go!”

What? Fang Zheng was stunned.

He had inquired about many examination customs, but no one had told him about this unwritten rule.

Disqualifying papers because of latrine visits seemed extremely inhumane. What kind of rule was this!?

They couldn’t possibly defecate in buckets! How could anyone stay in such an examination hall?

“What’s a shit mark? I don’t have one?!” Fang Zheng asked, full of questions.

“It’s a small uninscribed seal that leaves a black mark on the paper. This is called a shit mark. It’s all unwritten rules… the seal is probably self-prepared by officials,” Qin Shan couldn’t understand why Fang Zheng didn’t know this. Had this rule not existed when he took the provincial examination?

“Hmm, continue writing,” Fang Zheng said.

As Fang Zheng walked away, he pondered this so-called shit mark.

He hadn’t expected such an unreasonable practice at the examination site…

But thinking carefully, it probably wasn’t that strict. Officials were human too, they must understand candidates’ needs!

They couldn’t possibly stamp every paper from someone who visited the latrine!

Evening visits might be acceptable… but exams started again at dawn.

This day would be extremely difficult to endure… after nine consecutive days, how many candidates would remain? If candidates didn’t eat, they might manage, but not eating much for three days plus sleeping against walls, how could they survive?

Fang Zheng asked himself sincerely, he couldn’t endure it!

Examinations tested talent, not intestinal capacity or anal elasticity. What nonsense!

After nine days, wouldn’t all his reporters be ruined?!

Though he didn’t want them to pass, since they had entered the examination, he should help them fully!

Not daring to use latrines meant not daring to eat, so wouldn’t his abalone, beef jerky, instant noodles and other heartwarming preparations be wasted?

Fang Zheng indignantly hurried back, planning to ask Zhang Dongxiang about this situation in detail.

On the way back, he sweated profusely again, and by the time he entered the room, his body was sticky and extremely uncomfortable.

Zhang Dongxiang was leisurely, having just briefly patrolled after the examination began before returning to the officials’ quarters. Currently, a cup of tea sat on his table as he read a book nonchalantly.

Seeing Fang Zheng run back, he frowned, “Why aren’t you monitoring? Why come back?”

Fang Zheng didn’t answer, instead asking, “Hey! Third Uncle, where can one bathe in the examination compound?”

“Bathe?” Zhang Dongxiang was amused by this question.

“Yes, bathe!” Fang Zheng answered.

“Minister Fang… what bathing? You can go home after three days, just wash up simply! There’s no such condition here!” Zhang Dongxiang sipped his tea, saying calmly, “It’s only three days. Don’t tell me you bathe daily?”

“What else? You don’t bathe?” Fang Zheng blinked.

“Uh… one rest day every five days, of course one bath every five days! Hmm… you don’t have cleanliness obsession, do you?” Zhang Dongxiang asked suspiciously.

Those colleagues bathing once every five days was normal. Now in hot weather, once every three days. Apart from washing faces and feet, they only simply wiped their bodies.

Even those bathing every two days were rare. Not everyone was royalty. Why be so particular?

As for once daily, wasn’t that pure cleanliness obsession?

“………” Fang Zheng was speechless. He could understand commoners not bathing, but he hadn’t expected this group of court ministers to be the same.

“It’s so hot, you don’t bathe when you sweat?” he asked.

“Just wipe with a damp cloth. Listen, Minister Fang, this is the examination compound, not your home! Doesn’t everyone go through this? What’s unusual?” Zhang Dongxiang looked displeased and put down his book.

He looked at Fang Zheng as if looking at a plague. What’s going on?

Fang Zheng thought to himself, no wonder I always smell something strange during court sessions! So it’s you old fellows not bathing!

“What did you come back for! If it’s nothing, go back to monitoring!” Zhang Dongxiang picked up his book again, looking slightly irritated.

“I do have something! I want to ask about that shit mark. Why are candidates stamped for going to the latrine?” Fang Zheng asked.

Zhang Dongxiang put down his book again, examining Fang Zheng suspiciously.

“What’s there to ask? It’s always been this way! Don’t you understand the provincial examination rules?”

“And don’t say ‘shit mark,’ just call it ‘mark,’ it’s vulgar!”

Fang Zheng looked disdainful. So urinating in cells is refined? Such pretense!

“I know all the provincial examination rules, but this mark has no written regulation! Isn’t this deceiving the emperor?” Fang Zheng said calmly.

“Watch your words!” Zhang Dongxiang’s expression grew serious, “How could this be deceiving the emperor!”

“This has been the rule for generations! It was like this when I took the provincial examination, and it remains so now!”

“The imperial examination system selects not just candidates’ talent, but also their character!”

“Every official in court has endured this, weren’t you the same? Everyone must face this hardship!”

“Moreover… officials aren’t completely unsympathetic to candidates’ difficulties… those with acute illness or abdominal pain won’t be stamped.”

Fang Zheng frowned, “Ridiculous! What meaning do such suffering and endurance have?”

In his previous life, he had received education about enduring hardship, and now this approach continued in this life!

Suffering itself had no intrinsic meaning, yet somehow people were always willing to disguise the ability to endure suffering as a virtue.

“If all court officials have suffered like this, then this rule should be abolished. You all understand the taste of suffering better than anyone. How can you promote such unhealthy practices to torment generation after generation of candidates?”

Hearing this, Zhang Dongxiang’s expression unexpectedly softened, and his tone became smoother and more patient, “Scholars must suffer in mind and body. Talent and endurance are both essential… this is just a small test, nothing significant. If they cannot endure this small hardship, how can they accomplish great things in the future!”

“Do you understand?” he asked.

Fang Zheng pondered for a moment.

“I understand. Tight backsides accomplish great things!”

“……”