Chapter 63

It really stinks. Although it’s based on the lunar calendar, early August is roughly mid-to-late September in the Gregorian calendar, but the weather is still quite hot and humid most of the time. A group of people gather here, eat, drink, and relieve themselves here, and are not allowed to leave. You can imagine how terrible the air quality is.

They mostly ate dry food; cooked food was absolutely out of the question. Once the exam started, entry was strictly prohibited, regardless of your family background; you would be immediately quarantined.

In Confucian terms, this is what is meant by…