Chapter 194: Chapter 193: Cramming at the Last Minute

The registration time indeed ended at noon, with Qin Yao and others who had already registered waiting, looking back, there was still a long line.

Upon learning that registration had closed, everyone could only sigh in frustration, blaming themselves for not coming earlier.

The steward announced the afternoon examination times, splitting it into several time slots, with Sanlang and Si Niang, Jinbao and Jinhua, being divided into two groups.

Jinhua and Jinbao were slightly earlier, Dragon and Phoenix Twins slightly later.

Qin Yao glanced at the sky, it was still early, planning to take the children to the town for lunch before returning, she was very composed.

In stark contrast to others under nearby trees, anxiously instructing their children.

Liu Bai was very anxious, as the children at home had no foundation at all, couldn’t even hold a pen, passing the examination seemed impossible.

However, the children’s stomachs were already rumbling, and Qin Yao said, “How can you have the energy to take the examination if you aren’t full? Let’s eat our fill first.”

Primarily, she was starving, having rushed here before dawn, waited all morning to confirm the examination list, the little she ate in the morning had long been used up.

Waiting on the main road, Liu Zhong and Da Lang were also frequently glancing ahead, waiting anxiously.

But Second Lang, darting around in the crowd, came back and sadly said:

“If I had known, I would have brewed a pot of sugar water to bring, so many people, selling a bowl each could earn quite a few copper coins.”

Da Lang glared at him, “You’re obsessed with money! Aunt Yao and the others haven’t returned yet, don’t know how things went.”

Standing far away, they could only hear others say registration stopped after noon, couldn’t see whether Qin Yao and the others were ahead or behind, seeing other villagers return regrettably, they became worried.

Waiting and waiting, with stomachs growling, they finally saw those familiar figures.

Liu Zhong ran forward, took his daughter’s hand, and asked: “How was it? Did you register?”

Jinhua looked anxious, Liu Zhong thought they hadn’t registered, was about to sigh when Jinhua replied with a hum.

“You child, why aren’t you happy after registering, scared me to death.” Liu Zhong said annoyingly.

Jinhua was already worried about the afternoon examination, now even more anxious after her father’s words, seeing him right in front of her, she pouted and, on the verge of tears, said:

“We still have to take the examination in the afternoon, Dad, what if I don’t pass?”

Liu Zhong thought it was a big deal, “If you don’t pass, you don’t pass, anyway, we weren’t expecting you to pass, if it weren’t for you clamoring to come, we wouldn’t have made this trip.”

Saying this, Liu Bai quickly patted his brother, “Shut up, the child is already anxious, if you’re not helping, at least don’t say these discouraging words.”

Only then did Liu Zhong realize he misspoke, quickly comforting her, “It’s okay, we tried anyway, come on, Dad will take you to town for some delicious food!”

Jinhua finally cheered up a bit.

Everyone got on the carriage and went to a noodle shop in town to eat. Due to the large crowd today, the shop had no seating, everyone just held noodle bowls and squatted by the shop door to eat.

Qin Yao and the other adults ate standing, the children placed their noodle bowls on the carriage shaft to eat, the height was just right.

Qin Yao gobbled down four bowls of noodles before burping contentedly, putting down her chopsticks to analyze with her two brothers:

“I just looked at the list, our children’s competitors amount to seventy-six, among them, twelve are children from large families, they seem to have some foundation, surely they’ll take the first twelve slots.”

“It’s up to our children to fight for the remaining eighteen empty spots. Those fifty-two children seem to be from various villages, they don’t look like they can read, I’m not worried about Sanlang and Si Niang at all.”

“As for Jinhua and Jinbao, although cramming now might be a bit late, memorizing two segments should be doable, hope is still there.”

Liu Bai and Liu Zhong hearing this, pulled their children over, saying what eat, hurry and recite with your Aunt!

Jinbao and Jinhua stood stunned with noodles still hanging from their mouths, huh?

Qin Yao helplessly looked at Liu Bai and his brother, “What’s the rush, let the children finish eating first.”

She was just contemplating what to teach them for the highest chance of success.

Spotting questions is a modern student’s best skill.

The enlightenment books here are “Thousand Character Text” and “Hundred Family Surnames,” every novice at school first learns “Hundred Family Surnames.”

One, the content is short and interesting, two, this book is the cheapest.

“Thousand Character Text,” is a deeper level, teaching students some basic principles.

Ding Family’s teachers should know these rural children’s cultural level is zero, examination topics shouldn’t be too deep, maybe they’ll assess virtue, intelligence, and physique, checking character, intelligence, suitability for teaching.

Therefore, “Thousand Character Text” is unlikely to be tested.

Then let Jinbao and Jinhua memorize “Hundred Family Surnames,” it’s brief, with quick memorization, they can recite up to forty or fifty surnames, in case the teacher asks if they’ve read any books, this will be helpful, far ahead of those who directly say they haven’t.

In terms of character, mainly focusing on etiquette, this is easy to learn, teach them a bit and they can handle it.

So when Jinhua and Jinbao finished eating, they drove the carriage to a secluded grassy area near Ding Family Manor for emergency training.

Afraid Sanlang and Si Niang might forget what they prepared yesterday, Qin Yao let Da Lang and Second Lang take them aside to review a few times.

Liu Bai and Liu Zhong watched Qin Yao’s calm and orderly demeanor, greatly admiring.

This was much better than them running like headless chickens.

Turning to look around, their opponents indeed as their sister-in-law predicted, except for the few large family children, others hadn’t read any books, didn’t even understand etiquette, only taught children to kneel and kowtow, coaxing the teacher with sweet talk was useless.

Then looking at Jinbao and Jinhua, with Qin Yao’s speedy mnemonic assistance, reciting Zhao Qian Sun Li Zhou Wu Zheng Wang, was quite smooth.

They even knew how to stand properly, and ceremoniously perform salutations.

The two brothers suddenly felt confident in their own children.

Soon, the school rang the bell, all waiting for the examination couldn’t help but tense up, quickly gathering towards the school.

Jinbao and Jinhua were in the first wave, Liu Bai and Liu Zhong encouraged the children, “Don’t be afraid, just do as your Aunt taught, show all your skills, Dad will be waiting for you outside.”

Jinbao and Jinhua nodded, took a deep breath, ready to enter.

Qin Yao also leaned over behind them, reminding them to pay attention to examination rules, we might not pass one test but surely some others, don’t let failure in one affect your mentality later.

“Don’t think of it as an examination, just see it as an opportunity to broaden your horizons, weren’t you always curious about what the school and teacher are like? Today’s a chance to explore, listen to your Third Uncle, this Ding Family school is built even better than the county school.”

“Better than the county?” Jinbao asked in surprise.

Qin Yao nodded, the siblings grew curious, shifting focus from the examination, the tense emotions visibly relaxed.

Liu Bai and Liu Zhong gave Qin Yao another grateful smile, honestly, without her, they might not have even registered today.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep