The day before the examination, the Wang Family and Mr. Xie followed the traditions of Xinghuai Prefecture and sent a special delivery to their rented home: brushes, "victory cakes," and rice dumplings. The gifts were a pun, as their names together sounded like the phrase "certain to pass with high honors."
The group had a few quick bites, checked their personal belongings one last time, and then returned to their rooms to rest.
Well before dawn the next day, they rose one after another, washed up, and ate a hot, delicious breakfast before heading out together.
It was the sixth day of the fourth lunar month, the heart of late spring. Outside, the grass was long, orioles were in flight, and flowers bloomed in vibrant clusters. Unfortunately, with the sky still dark, none of this scenery was visible yet.
As they walked out of their rented courtyard, they could faintly hear the sound of other courtyard gates opening and closing.
