HCB Chapter 450 Enrollment List
Chapter 450 Enrollment List
Ying Wuyou also personally participated in the grading process, carefully reviewing each answer sheet and not overlooking any detail. She would specifically mark those candidates who offered practical solutions to the hardships faced by the people of Daqin, so that she could focus on them later.
“Princess, please look at this answer sheet.” A teacher walked up to Ying Wuyou with a bamboo scroll in hand. “This candidate has insightful views on water management. He proposed digging deep wells in arid areas to use groundwater to irrigate farmland and even drew detailed diagrams.”
Ying Wuyou took the bamboo slip and read it carefully. Gradually, admiration appeared in his eyes: "This person is indeed talented and learned. If he can be selected, he will definitely make a contribution to the water conservancy cause of the Great Qin."
Then Ying Wuyou noticed the candidate's name—Zheng Ziyu.
As the marking process progresses, the list of selected candidates is gradually emerging. Those who excelled in the exam are about to embark on a new chapter in their lives, and Daqin Academy will also be revitalized by the infusion of these fresh talents.
A few days later, Xianyang City welcomed an exceptionally bright and sunny morning. A gentle breeze carried the chill of early winter. The gates of the three colleges—Daqin College, Daqin Women's College, and Daqin Medical College—were bustling with activity, as if the entire city of Xianyang was focused on them. Today was the day the admission list for Daqin College was announced, a list that carried the dreams and expectations of countless people.
Just after dawn, the gates of the three academies slowly opened, and the teachers, holding long bamboo slips, walked out steadily. In front of the Great Qin Academy, the teacher cleared his throat and loudly announced, "The list of students admitted to the Great Qin Academy this time is as follows..." As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd fell silent instantly. Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on the bamboo slips in the teacher's hands, as if they were the keys to the future.
"Crown Prince Ji of Wei!" A small commotion arose in the crowd as the teacher's resounding voice rang out. Crown Prince Ji of Wei appeared, dressed in a long black robe with gold thread embroidered at the collar, exuding understated nobility. He nodded slightly, his face expressionless, but a barely perceptible hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.
These past few days, he appeared calm on the surface, but was inwardly filled with anxiety. He knew that studying at the Qin Academy was not only a personal opportunity, but also a mission entrusted to him by the State of Wei. Now, he had finally achieved his goal, taking another step closer to it. The State of Wei had declined amidst the chaos of the Warring States period, and he bore the heavy responsibility of revitalizing it. He hoped to absorb advanced governing philosophies and knowledge from the Qin Academy to pave a new path for Wei's future.
"Zheng Ziyu!" Upon hearing his name, Zheng Ziyu remained calm. He was very confident in himself. With his abilities, Zheng Ziyu felt that passing the imperial examination would be no problem for him, but he had no interest in becoming an official.
He was passionate about arithmetic and eager to go further in the field. However, the Qin Dynasty at that time had little to show for its research in mathematics, so Zheng Ziyu had been burying himself in his studies and exploring the subject with great difficulty.
Upon hearing that Daqin Academy was offering specialized mathematics courses, Zheng Ziyu was overjoyed and immediately enrolled in the academy's entrance exam. The result was predictable: Zheng Ziyu not only achieved a perfect score in mathematics, but also presented a feasible plan in the assessment of public governance, showcasing his well-rounded talents.
Looking at the towering gates of the Great Qin Academy, Zheng Ziyu began to anticipate the days of studying numerology with others. He longed to engage in intellectual exchanges with like-minded individuals in this academic hall, jointly unveiling the mysteries of numerology and propelling its research to new heights.
There was also a long line outside the Daqin Women's Academy, but compared to the main Daqin Academy, the line outside the Women's Academy was significantly shorter. In this era, how easy was it for women to receive an education? Societal prejudice weighed heavily on every woman yearning for knowledge, like a towering mountain.
The idea that "a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent" is deeply ingrained in people's minds. Most women are confined to their boudoirs, and managing household affairs and raising children seems to be their destiny.
But there are always some brave women who refuse to accept such a fate. Su Yao was born into a merchant family, and although she was a woman, she possessed knowledge and ambition that rivaled any man. From a young age, she was fascinated by the family's collection of books, yearning to understand the outside world and learn more.
But whenever she expressed her desire to read and write, she was always met with shakes of her head and sighs from her elders, and gossip from the neighbors followed her like a shadow. But none of this diminished Su Yao's thirst for knowledge. She often secretly flipped through books when her family wasn't looking, eagerly absorbing knowledge under the dim candlelight.
When Su Yao learned about the enrollment at Daqin Women's College, a flame of hope ignited in her heart. However, the application process was fraught with difficulties; opposition from her family and ridicule from others could not stop her from moving forward.
"Su Yao!" The teacher's voice rang out. For a moment, Su Yao was startled, then burst into a hearty laugh. For so many years, her family had been raising her according to the requirements of a prominent family: never showing her teeth when smiling, and always behaving with dignity.
But today, she no longer wanted to suppress herself. She wanted to laugh heartily, to laugh out all the grievances she had suffered over the years, and to laugh out the joy of her dream coming true. Her laughter was clear and loud, as if it could pierce through the gloom that bound this woman and soar straight to the sky.
Her laughter seemed contagious; those who had heard her name mentioned earlier were also infected and joined in Su Yao's laughter. Their laughter mingled together, full of energy and anticipation for the future.
The other women, whose names they hadn't yet heard, looked on with envy at the women who had already been accepted. Their eyes shone with longing and determination.
Although they did not yet know their own fate, they were genuinely happy for these women who had taken the first step. They silently hoped that they would be the next ones to be blessed with good fortune, and that they too could break through the barriers of convention and embark on their own path of learning.
"Liu Cui!" "Zhao Xiaoya!" The teacher's voice rang out again, and two women in the crowd embraced and wept with emotion. They were children from a rural family with many sisters, and they had been apprentices in the county's weaving workshop. Every day, they were busy at the loom, repeating monotonous and arduous labor, and their lives seemed to have an end in sight.
One day, a volunteer named Cheng Mingyuan came to the county, bringing news of the entrance exam for Daqin Women's College. At that moment, it was like a ray of light shining into their bleak lives. A hope they had never felt before surged within them, and they secretly filled out the application forms, hiding it from their families.