In the Ming Dynasty, there was a young man named De Yuan. He lived a very poor life and sometimes had nothing to eat for several days. But he liked to read, and he studied very hard to prepare for the Imperial Examinations, which were held only once every three years. Although he could not afford the fee for his trip to the capital, he did not give up his diligent study. De Yuan had a good friend named Wang Sheng, who was also preparing to take the Imperial Examinations. Wang Sheng’s family was rich, and he himself was very kind and generous. He suggested to De Yuan that they go together and offered to pay all the expenses.
Ming Dynasty candidates for civil servant positions gathering around the wall where the results of the Imperial Examination are posted, circa 1540. Public Domain
