On the morning when the triennial provincial examination began, Lin Ping'er got up early and went outside Bai Zepei's house to wake him and Qin Kaichang. They were going to take the provincial examination together this morning.

"Zepei, Zepei, get up." Qin Kaichang has almost recovered now and has remembered many things.

"Why do you look so bad? Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere?" He suddenly looked surprised and his voice couldn't help but become a little louder.

Lin Ping'er outside the house was startled when she heard it. She didn't care that Qin Kaichang was in the house, so she rushed in, took Bai Zepei's hand and said, "Zepei, what's wrong with you? You were fine last night. ah."

"Mom, I'm fine. I just have a stomachache all night, and I'm still a little dizzy now." Bai Zepei's voice also sounded weak.

Lin Ping'er's face changed drastically, "I'm going to see the doctor. You have to take the exam today, so this won't work."

"Mom, don't go. It's too late. You'll miss the time. My little sister left some medicine for me. I just need to take some." Bai Zepei climbed up with some difficulty and went to get a small bottle from the cabinet. I took the medicine for stomach problems and headaches according to the words written above.

Lin Ping'er was extremely worried. At this time, Bai Zehao and Bai Yihong heard the noise and dared to come over. Even Zhang Liliang came over. Everyone was shocked when they saw Bai Zepei's face.

"In addition to eating at home, did Zepei eat anything outside yesterday?" Zhang Liliang asked eagerly. He had already smelled a conspiracy. Otherwise, why would he be fine on weekdays, but why did he get sick on such an important day?

Bai Zepei shook his head, "I haven't been out for the past three days. I eat everything with everyone."

Lin Ping'er was anxious and called Cui Fan to come over to ask. She also called the secret guard to ask the two people at home if there was anyone suspicious of harming Bai Zepei.

"Madam, we found no suspicious person." Cui Fan said.

The secret guard also said: "Madam, there is no change in the servants at home."

"Then why does Zepei have a stomachache? Someone must have come here to harm him!" Lin Ping'er said angrily, "It would be great if Ruozhu was here. Zepei would definitely be cured. When Ruozhu comes back, let her Find out clearly and never let those people off lightly!"

Bai Zepei didn't seem to get any better after taking the medicine, and his face became even more ugly. Qin Kaichang next to him was also worried and said to Bai Zepei: "Zepei, don't be too nervous, otherwise your stomach will be even more uncomfortable."

"No." Bai Zepei said calmly. He really wasn't nervous, but in his current physical condition, it would be difficult for him to perform normally.

Time waited for no one, so Bai Zepei went to simply pack his things, and then went to the main room to drink a little bit of millet porridge, but he vomited it out before he finished drinking it, and his face became even paler.

"Kai Chang, you go first, don't waste time." Bai Zepei said to Qin Kai Chang.

Qin Kaichang said disapprovingly: "You and I are just friends, how can I abandon you?"

"Don't say that. I'm afraid I won't be able to perform well today. You must get good grades and bring glory to the academy." He said weakly and patted Qin Kaichang's shoulder, "I can't do it anymore. If you don't do it for me anymore, If I go, wouldn’t I become even more of a sinner?”

"This..." Qin Kaichang hesitated.

"Yes, Kai Chang, now is not the time to be impulsive, go quickly." Bai Yihong said.

"Yes, go quickly, the carriage is ready." Bai Zehao pushed him.

Qin Kaichang had no choice but to say goodbye to the Bai family worriedly, and got on the carriage at the door, not forgetting to tell Bai Zepei to come if he could.

After Qin Kaichang left, Bai Zepei's face darkened and he said to Lin Ping'er, "Mom, was Ruozhu careful about the medicine he gave you?"

Lin Ping'er was stunned. Before Ruozhu left, she gave Bai Zepei a lot of medicine in public, but he also gave her the same amount of medicine in private, but told her to hide it carefully and not let others know, so she didn't even tell Bai Yihong. Well, how does the second child know?

Thinking of this, Lin Ping'er felt confused, but she did not dare to delay and immediately said: "Hide it, I will find it for you."

Bai Zepei nodded and followed Lin Ping'er into the main room. Lin Ping'er spent a long time looking around, moved a lot of things, and finally took out all the medicine.

Bai Zepei took a few bottles and quickly ate them into his mouth.

"Zepei, didn't you take medicine just now? Is the medicine Ruozhu gave you useless?" Lin Ping'er asked in surprise.

Bai Zepei's eyes darkened a bit, "Mom, time waits for no one, please wait until I come back to explain."

"Oh, okay, okay." Lin Ping'er watched her second son go out of the gate, get on another carriage and leave.

Zhang Liliang looked at all this, his brows knitted together tightly, and he muttered: "I'm afraid there is a white-eyed wolf in the family."

…

At the provincial examination venue, when the examination was about to begin, Qin Kaichang finally saw Bai Zepei coming in. Surprise flashed in his eyes and he said happily: "Zepei, it's good that you are here. Your face looks much better. It should be The medicine is working."

Bai Zepei stared into his eyes for a while, but only saw sincerity and relief. Could he have guessed wrong?

When the exam began, the two of them returned to their seats, not daring to have any more conversations.

To be honest, Bai Zepei is not doing very well now. He doesn't seem to be in as much pain as before. This is also because he took stomach medicine, detoxification medicine, and refreshing medicine. He doesn't know what is most effective, so he just takes it all I have eaten several kinds of them, and I am treating a dead horse like a living horse.

Soon the pain in his stomach was gone, but his body was already a little weak, and his pen hand was no longer as strong as usual, but these were nothing, he would definitely be able to overcome it.

He worked hard for so many years, and faced the disapproval of the villagers until he passed the examination to become a scholar. He also carries the eldest brother's dream of studying and the burden of protecting the family, so he can't fall down no matter what. Not to mention that he is much better now, even if he has abdominal pain and is about to die, he can't just give up!

The provincial examination lasted for two days, and the candidate could not leave the examination room that night. He was not feeling well and his face was not very good. The doctor in the examination room discovered the problem and took the initiative to take his pulse, saying that he had a weak stomach and had eaten something unclean. .

Bai Zepei smiled bitterly in his heart. The whole family ate the same and everyone was fine. What unclean thing could he eat? And more than half a month ago, his mother was so careful that she wouldn't even put any wilted vegetable leaves into the rice, for fear that he would eat them. In the past few days, she even kept an eye on the kitchen. How could there be any uncleanness? What about things?

He glanced at the back of Qin Kaichang, who was sitting in front, and a wry smile appeared on his lips, hoping that he was overthinking.

He quickly recovered his thoughts and concentrated on answering the paper. Two days later, when he left the examination room, his steps were shaky and he almost couldn't stand. At this moment, a pair of hands came over to help him. He turned around and saw that it was Qin Kaichang who was like a humble young man.