The Bookish Scholar of the Red Mansion

It was the tenth day of the second lunar month in the first year of Wenhe.

Jiangnan is humid, and it has been raining for days. Many candidates are worried about this and are worried that it will rain on the day of the county examination, which will affect their performance.

The county magistrate Xu Pingzhi is sitting in the county government office, but he likes this rainy season very much.

First, when it rains, there are never any lawsuits coming, so he can relax. Second, the spring rain moistens all things. It can rain continuously in this season when it is warm and then cold. I think the harvest of the farmers this year will not be bad.

Every performance evaluation during the county magistrate's term is very important. Xu Pingzhi's exam period is still one year away. As long as there is no major disaster this year, he should be able to get the results he wants.

Xu Pingzhi was a civil servant in the fifth year of Wuding. He was appreciated by the Yangzhou magistrate for his outstanding abilities and was promoted to be the magistrate of Taixing County. He did not win the imperial examination, although his talent was insufficient. However, Xu Pingzhi was well versed in practical matters and good at doing things, so he was more effective than some pedantic scholars in getting things done.

There has been no trouble in Taixing County in recent years, and he does have a share of the credit.

Since he had some leisure today, he was sitting in the county office and couldn't help but be concerned about the upcoming county examination.

Today's emperor changed the reign name to Wenhe, and his intention is naturally self-evident. Xu Pingzhi secretly guessed in his heart that the Holy Emperor was now firmly on the throne, and the princes and dignitaries in the court were almost reassured. At this juncture, the replacement of the reign title Wenhe was a signal to make great use of scholars.

He has an exquisite mind that can figure out what's best for him, and he also wants to continue his career in the officialdom, so he is naturally more attentive to this county examination. There was nothing to do, so he called Master Shaoxing to discuss everything.

Opportunities are always reserved for those who are prepared.

But County Magistrate Xu was not the only one with such a keen eye.

Li Gongming didn't know where he got the news. In order to cooperate with the prefect to rebuild Yangzhou Academy and promote culture and education. I heard that the salt merchants in Yangzhou Prefecture had prepared a sum of silver to be sent to the heads of cases in each county and their mentors before the government examination.

I heard that it was at least a hundred taels, so it was fine if I didn't know about it. Now that Li Gongming knew it, he would never allow himself to miss this windfall.

In previous years’ county examinations, the questions were very simple. Although Li Gongming was busy preparing for the provincial examination on weekdays, he did not spend much time on students. But he felt that he was much better than those masters in the mountains and valleys. How could he miss this honor this time?

Moreover, what Li Gongming really cares about is the reconstruction of Yangzhou Academy and the salt merchants' fawning behavior. Does this indicate that the court is about to make big moves?

Thinking of this, Li Gongming suddenly felt his blood boiling. In recent days, he called the students taking the exam to his side to supervise them and wanted to pull out these seedlings again.

Just when Li Gongming mentioned the matter, the steward of the family stepped forward and whispered to him.

What? You said Wang Xianming just brought a child here? Li Gongming frowned and asked a little strangely, Isn't it possible that his disciple who has read the Four Books and Five Classics will not attend this time?

It's naturally useless to ask a servant about this kind of thing.

Forget it, don't worry about him. Li Gongming waved his hand. He still needs to be strong. Even if Wang Xianming doesn't want to take the county test, his opponents will not be far behind.

Now at this time, let’s focus on our students.

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As the exam period approaches, the atmosphere in the inn becomes more solemn day by day. Chen Qi, who was still a god, walked around the inn these days and saw all the overly nervous scholars.

They either held books and read them again and again, or went to the Chenghuang Temple in the rain to ask for fortune-telling.

Having seen this situation so many times, even Chen Qi, the elder who accompanied the exam, couldn't help but become nervous.

But whenever he returned to his house and saw Chen Heng who was calm and composed, he didn't know what to say. He was afraid that as soon as he opened his mouth, he would convey his nervousness to his son, and he was also afraid that his son would not be fully prepared and would not be ranked well when the time came, and would in turn regret it.

Going in and out of the room like this, Chen Heng, who was concentrating on practicing calligraphy, noticed the clues.

Chen Heng put down his pen, smiled at Chen Qi and said, Dad, I am the one taking the exam, why are you nervous?

Hey. Chen Qi didn't know what to say, so he could only say, Don't you read more books?

Chen Heng couldn't help but wonder, blinked and said, I read it every morning when I get up.

Seeing that his son's stupid head was still not awake, Chen Qi gritted his teeth and gave his own suggestion: Let's take another look, just in case it happens to be useful in the examination room.

Chen Heng smiled and shook his head, knowing that his father was suffering from pre-exam syndrome and it was nothing serious. After he finished the exam, his father would be cured without treatment.

You will hate your books when they are used. That is an excuse for lazy people. Dad, your son's books... Chen Heng pointed to his little head, They are all here.

Okay, okay, it's all up to you.

Anyway, it was his son who was going to take the exam. Chen Qijian couldn't defeat Chen Heng and stopped talking. Just as the two of them were silent, the waiter's voice came from outside the door.

Sir, your family members are looking for you in the lobby. We have many scholars preparing for the exam in our inn, so I'm afraid I have to bother you two to go down there.

Chen Heng and Chen Qi looked at each other. Chen Huaijin was probably the only one who could come at this time. The father and son went downstairs together.

When they arrived at the lobby, they saw their second uncle Chen Huaijin sitting on a wooden stool with a food box in front of him. His face was red, and he looked like he had eaten a lot of wine.

As soon as he saw Chen Heng and Chen Qi, Chen Huaijin stood up from the wooden bench excitedly and saw that his body was trembling a little. Chen Heng quickly quickened his pace and stepped forward to support him.

Brother, you are so cruel.

Chen Huaijin really drank too much, and his tone was louder than usual when he spoke.

Chen Heng helped him sit down and looked at the clothes on his second uncle's body. They still had signs of being wet. He must have come in the rain.

What's wrong with me? Chen Qi rubbed his head, unable to understand what this drunkard was talking about.

Heng'er came to take the county examination, and you didn't even inform me of such a big thing. Chen Huaijin's tone was very sad and angry.

No way, Chen Heng opened his mouth and looked at his father. Second uncle has been a bit confused in the past two years, and it doesn't make sense to say such things.

Chen Qi also felt that he was wronged and muttered: I thought you knew, didn't dad and mom tell you?

That's bullshit. Chen Huaijin cursed, I was having a drink with the shopkeeper in a restaurant earlier, and I met the youngest son of the Zhang family. He stopped by and told me, and that's when I found out.

Chen Qi smiled awkwardly, not knowing what to say for a moment, he had really forgotten.

Chen Huaijin didn't bother much about this matter. He just grabbed Chen Heng who was about to bring tea. Our shopkeeper heard that my nephew was only seven years old and came to take the county examination. He asked me to call you Go over and meet. Hehehe...

Chen Heng frowned when he heard this.

...How could I agree to him? Chen Huaijin hiccupped and continued, How can I feel at ease when I see Heng'er at this time? But he is so beautiful! I dismissed him with a few words and then came to look for him. you.

As if he was proud of his wit, Chen Huaijin shook his head and pointed at the food box in front of him, Heng'er, guess what your second uncle brought you? After saying that, he stood up without waiting for Chen Heng to reply. Open the food box and take it out one by one.

Half a steamed duck, a plate of rice cakes, a few dried fruits, and a piece of maltose at the bottom. Chen Huaijin said drunkenly: Look, it's all your favorite food. When you were a child, you often gave things to your two sisters. Today, you are alone. You can eat freely. My second uncle earns a lot now. Do you want to eat this candy? No matter how much, my second uncle will buy it for you.

Seeing Chen Huaijin talking more and more, the more he talked, the more drunk he became. Chen Qi had no choice but to get up and carry him back upstairs.

Chen Heng was left sitting alone in the lobby, sighing at the food brought by his second uncle in the rain.

He was worried about his second uncle's confusion, and was also moved by his caring at the moment. Chen Heng couldn't help but think of any way to make his second uncle quit his pawnshop business.

Chen Heng stared blankly at the willow tree outside the door, which was used to tie horses to guests. The willow trees swayed in the wind and rain, looking like a person's uncertain destiny.

But when Chen Heng took a closer look, he could find a few buds on the willow branches, which were the clarion call before spring came.

That night, Chen Huaijin also slept in the inn, but he and Chen Qi made a bed on the floor. The only bed is now exclusive to Chen Heng. The county examination is coming soon, and there is no way to talk about the etiquette of father, father and son.

When Chen Heng woke up the next day, Chen Huaijin was gone. Neither father nor son knew when he left, and they didn't try to find out. They continued to prepare for the exam with peace of mind.

But after that day, the food the two of them had in the inn was much better.

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In a blink of an eye, it was the day when the county examination was held. The rain that had been falling for many days finally stopped, and the bright disk-like moon was still hanging in the sky. The watchmen on the street will also shout a few more words at this time: the county examination is coming soon, don't be late. I hope to wake up the candidates who are still sleeping and prevent them from missing the exam.

Chen Heng, who got up early, ate a few simple breakfasts, and then set off towards the county government office under the escort of Chen Qi, along with the scholars who had secured the guarantee.

When I walked out of the inn, there were only scholars taking exams one after another on the street. Chen Heng smelled it with his nose and could smell a faint fragrance. He looked up and saw that the willow tree outside the inn had a few more buds.

I don’t know if this counts as the faint fragrance floating at moon dusk? Chen Heng smiled, lowered his head and concentrated on his way.

When we arrived at the county government office, there was already a queue at the door, but fortunately it was not long. Chen Heng checked his examination materials one last time before standing at the end of the queue.

When it was his turn, a scholar first took the paperwork and started to register. When he saw Chen Heng's age, he couldn't help but sigh, Young people are scary. Chen Heng just smiled and didn't answer.

Because Chen Heng was the youngest, the five of them put him at the front. When Chen Heng finished and his replacement came up, the officer behind the scholar had already pulled Chen Heng and started to search him.

When all five of them finished their work and crossed the county government gate side by side, the government officials shouted in unison: Zhang Shan, Liu Yan, Chen Heng... the five of them have signed bail, and the search is correct. Let's enter.

As Chen Heng walked into the county government office, there was a row of Taixing county clerks standing behind the gate. One of the old men also stood up at this time. After carefully looking at the appearance of the five people several times, he responded: College student Huang Tingxue, Save.

This is the legendary Ching Bao. After passing this level, you will enter the examination room.

Chen Heng's county examination is about to begin.

Come on, come on, the third update is at ten o'clock