Chapter 3: Candidate Number 35

After arriving in the provincial capital, Li Xiuyuan’s first priority was to find a hotel near the examination venue. It was no surprise that traffic jams clogged the area during the civil service exams, so staying close by was essential for a timely arrival.

He had deliberately come two days early to secure a suitable hotel. In his previous attempt, he had witnessed candidates scrambling to find accommodation the day before their interviews, only to discover all nearby hotels fully booked. They were forced to stay further away or settle for inferior conditions.

The next day, many of those candidates arrived late for their interviews or were in poor condition from inadequate rest, forgetting their admission tickets or skipping breakfast, all of which affected their performance.

Written exams tested one’s abilities, but interviews assessed one’s comprehensive qualities, demanding meticulous attention to every detail—hairstyle, attire, demeanor. Some showed up in joggers, which was absurd. This was a provincial-level civil service interview, not a casual club tryout. They were aiming to become officials, not teenagers.

After settling into his hotel, Li Xiuyuan undertook his final preparations: carefully ironing the clothes he had brought, and choosing a light meal at a modest restaurant to ensure his stomach remained comfortable.

On April 22, with only half a day left before the interview, he heard a commotion downstairs. Opening his door, he discovered two groups of candidates vying for the last two rooms, their quarrel noisy. Li Xiuyuan felt a pang of sympathy; no matter who won, the argument would surely affect their interview performance.

At that moment, the dispute seemed to conclude. Standing by the window, he saw the losing party leave dejectedly. One figure’s silhouette seemed oddly familiar. When she turned around, despite the glass separating them, he recognized her unmistakably—it was his ex-girlfriend, Lin Jingya.

So it was Lin Jingya who had lost the argument and failed to find suitable lodging. This would no doubt impact her interview tomorrow. Yet Li Xiuyuan knew that even if her performance faltered, it mattered little—she had topped the written exam.

The position she was applying for was at the local street office, while he was aiming for the county government office. The prestige and prospects of the two posts were worlds apart.

He wondered, if he succeeded, what expression would she wear upon seeing him? Would she regret? This seemed like a classic case of a broken engagement—him at the county office, her at the street office. Who was truly unworthy of whom?

He mused darkly but, in truth, he had long let go of Lin Jingya. His anger at the restaurant days ago stemmed from reliving old wounds, a painful empathy for a cycle he had already understood—it was merely the fable of the farmer and the snake, the man who sheltered the wolf.

He considered it a mistake of blindness, a misjudgment of trust.

On the morning of April 23, at half past six, Li Xiuyuan rose, washed, and donned his impeccably tailored suit. Standing before the mirror, he rehearsed his self-introduction and nodded with satisfaction.

Though the fabric was not exquisite, the fit was perfect, and that was paramount.

He went downstairs for breakfast and by quarter past seven set off towards Hedong University, the exam site, a ten-minute walk. By just before half past seven, he was already outside the venue.

At seven thirty, the entry check began.

By eight, all candidates were assembled in the waiting room, and the staff commenced the draw to determine the interview order.

At that moment, Li Xiuyuan felt a surge of nervousness. Unlike the written exam, which purely tested skill, the interview involved an element of luck.

The draw decided the sequence of interviews.

With fifty candidates in the waiting room, the day would be long—twenty-five in the morning, twenty-five in the afternoon.

For candidates of equal ability, the order mattered greatly. Being first or last in the morning, or first or last in the afternoon, made a significant difference.

Life’s order of appearance was important; in interviews, it was crucial.

Soon the drawing ended. Those who drew the first three numbers looked downcast, while some who drew the last few numbers wore grim expressions.

Li Xiuyuan checked his number: “Number 35.”

He breathed a little easier. The worst numbers were the first three because the seven interviewers each gave scores, discarding the highest and lowest before averaging.

Early candidates generally received lower scores as the interviewers had yet to gauge the overall level of the cohort.

The other less favorable slots were near the end of the morning session, numbers 22 to 25, when examiners grew weary after a morning of similar responses.

Similarly, the last five slots in the afternoon, from 45 to 50, were also tough.

The best numbers fell between 10 and 15, when interviewers were alert and had formed a preliminary impression of the candidates. Those interviewed then usually performed well and scored fairly high.

Number 35, however, was neither good nor bad—performance would decide.

It was certain that number 35 would be interviewed in the afternoon, during the middle segment—the prime time for high scores.

By then, two-thirds of the interviews would be complete, and the examiners would have a clear understanding of the candidates’ overall caliber. If a candidate dazzled them at this stage, the interviewers were generous with their marks.

The piercing exam bell rang. The examiner escorted candidate number one into the interview room; numbers two and three rose to await their turn.

The atmosphere inside the exam hall tensed instantly. Silence fell so deep that one could hear a pin drop, and some even heard their own heartbeat.

They said the college entrance exam was a life-changing opportunity; the civil service exam was much the same.

Li Xiuyuan’s interview was in the afternoon, so he remained calm, quietly rehearsing answers to anticipated questions.

By noon, half the candidates had finished. Lunch was provided at the venue, and after a brief rest, the interviews resumed.

As the number of candidates dwindled and his turn approached, Li Xiuyuan’s nerves began to stir.

Then a staff member called out, “Candidate number 35, please prepare.”

Taking a deep breath, Li Xiuyuan rose swiftly and followed the staff to the waiting area outside the interview room. Through the door, he faintly heard the previous candidate’s responses, but the loudest sound was his own heartbeat.

Five minutes later, the candidate ahead emerged. Without being told, Li Xiuyuan knew it was his turn.

He exhaled deeply and stepped into the interview room with steady strides and a solemn expression. He had prepared thoroughly, and whether he could seize this precious chance to secure a position at the county government office—and with it, a stable career for the next decade—now depended on this single moment of courage.