He could do other jobs that were available to him like doing light jobs or muscle work jobs. Like farming, serving, and other similar jobs.
China’s civil service exam started in the Han Dynasty but during the mid-Tang Dynasty there were now changes in the system. It now focused on the classics and literary style instead of technical expertise. The examination’s goal was to mold the country’s political, intellectual and cultural life. It also signified a change from a military aristocracy to a new class of scholars and bureaucrats. Though the system was able to promote cultural unity, some say the system limited creativity and produced officials who would question authority.
