Gong Yuanxiu's eyes were glued to the constables as they unsealed the exam papers, eagerly waiting for them to find two specific scripts: number 379 from the South Hall's Earth section, and number 18 from the West Hall's Profound section.
But this year, there were at least eighteen hundred candidates, if not a full two thousand, taking the Provincial Examination in Heyuan Province.
Mountains of exam papers were stacked inside the room. Finding two specific scripts among them was easier said than done.
The search went on and on. The other officials remained seated, and regardless of what they were truly feeling, their faces showed nothing but dignified composure, as steady as mountains.
Gong Yuanxiu, in contrast, grew more and more anxious as time dragged on.
He was so restless he couldn't sit still, as if his chair were full of nails.
Sweat streamed down his face like rain.
