Rebirth: From being expelled from the imperial court to becoming a high-ranking official

Qin Yunhe stayed at home for many days preparing for the exam and did not go out until the Chinese New Year was approaching. He planned to relax a little and prepare some New Year's goods and gifts.

Qin Yunhe hadn't been out for many days. When he went out and looked at the streets in the village that were already filled with a festive atmosphere, he felt a bit like "there is no calendar in the mountains, and you don't know what year it is when the winter ends."

Thinking that I haven't seen Chen Er for the past month or two, I thought of asking him to go to the town market to buy New Year's goods and chat with him.

Chen Er's house is now clean and tidy, no longer as dilapidated as it used to be.

A simple shed was also built for the stove in the yard, under which were hung red peppers, a string of garlic, dried fish, bacon, etc.

The broken water tank in the corner of the stove was replaced with a complete one. It doesn’t look very new, but at least it’s not broken and it’s been cleaned cleanly.

A little further outside the shed was a neatly stacked pile of straw, apparently for easy access.

Qin Yunhe praised that Chen Er was getting better and better.

"Chen Er." Qin Yunhe shouted as he walked in.

"Hey!" Chen Er's voice came from the room, and soon Chen Er ran out: "Ah Wen! How come you have time to come here today?"

Chen Er hadn't seen Qin Yunhe for the past month or two and missed him a lot. He grinned when he saw him.

"come on in!"

"Let me ask you, are you free these two days to go to the market in town together?" Qin Yunhe said as he walked into the house.

"Going to the market? Great. Tomorrow is the market, let's go together."

At this moment, someone came out of the house holding a small basket. When he saw Qin Yunhe, he quickly greeted him: "Mr. Qin."

Qin Yunhe returned the greeting and went into the house with Chen Er.

Chen Er explained to Qin Yunhe: "I came here to exchange for biscuits and bait."

"Not bad, are you serious about selling cakes and bait?"

"It's not a big business. People don't usually buy anything, but it's Chinese New Year, so they want to buy something to entertain guests or give as a gift."

"Why did you say change?"

Chen Er laughed when he heard this and said, "Yunniang said that there are many poor people in the countryside, especially during the New Year, when money is needed everywhere. How can there be so much cash to buy cakes and food? So I thought of a way to exchange. I can exchange whatever I have.

These days, we can exchange anything, including peppers, dried radishes, and sorghum. If we really don’t have anything to eat, we can exchange for things, such as wheat straw, firewood, and anything that can be used.”

Qin Yunhe finally understood where the peppers and garlic under the eaves came from. He couldn't help but sigh: "Yunniang really has a way."

The two chatted for a while, and Yunniang, who was in the other room, probably finished her work, and came over with a plate of cakes and said hello: "Mr. Qin is here, someone just came to exchange for cakes and food, so I have time. What can I do for you?"

"Oh, let me ask Chen Er if he is free. Let's go to the market together tomorrow."

"If you have time, you have time. What else can you do in this winter? A few days ago, Chen Er was still complaining that you might not have time to go out and play with him this winter."

“It’s definitely been a bit busy this year.”

……

The few of them chatted for a while before Qin Yunhe went home.

The next day, Qin Yunhe and Chen Er went to the market together and bought a lot of New Year's goods and festival gifts.

Qin Yunhe hadn't been to the county town to visit his teacher for many days. He had prepared a holiday gift and took the opportunity to visit his teacher.

When Qin Yunhe arrived at his teacher's house, he saw Bisong turn around and walk in.

"Brother Bisong."

When Bisong heard this, he turned around and looked at her with a look of surprise: "Mr. Qin, you are here. The master has been talking about your coming these days."

Qin Yunhe felt a little ashamed after hearing this. He came here almost every year during these days, so he guessed that the teacher had been looking forward to it.

"Blame me, blame me. I didn't have enough time to review, and it got delayed until today."

"It's okay, just come with me. The teacher also knows that you must be busy preparing for the exam and don't have time to come."

The two walked in while talking. When they reached the door of the study, before they opened the door curtain, Bisong said, "Sir, Mr. Qin is here."

When the two entered the room, Mr. Gu smiled as soon as he saw Qin Yunhe: "Yunhe, come quickly!"

Qin Yunhe quickly put down his things and saluted the teacher, and Mr. Gu came over to help him up.

"I thought you'd be here in the next few days. How about reviewing these days?"

"I have made some progress recently, but I also have some questions that I would like to ask the teacher for advice."

Mr. Gu was also accustomed to discussing academic matters with his students, so the teacher and student started chatting without much greetings.

Bisong made tea and served it to him but he didn't dare to disturb him.

The teacher and the students talked until lunchtime, and Bisong joked, "The teacher has been waiting for Mr. Qin for many days. It turns out that he is anxious to discuss academic matters with Mr. Qin."

Mr. Gu laughed and said, "Haha, you know what, I really miss Yun He's thirst for knowledge after not seeing him for a while..."

After the meal, Mr. Gu gave Qin Yunhe some instructions on what to pay attention to in the metropolitan and palace examinations.

"I have confidence in your calligraphy. It has reached perfection and has its own style.

But you must remember not to smear the test paper during the exam. Today's examiners don't like smears on the test paper. Even if it is a small mistake, no matter how good your knowledge is, they will put it at the back. "

……

"Although the Imperial Examination Hall allows people to hold up a sign when going to the toilet, try not to do so, otherwise it will leave a mark and affect your score."

……

"After the palace examination, if you have the opportunity to go to the palace to meet the emperor, don't be too nervous. His Majesty is not a moody king. You just need to treat it as a conversation with an elder..."

Qin Yunhe took the teacher's words to heart, fearing that he would let the teacher down.

"Also, if you don't have time after Chinese New Year, you don't have to come. It won't hurt to pay a New Year's visit once. Just prepare for the exam well."

"Please choose the day you want to go to Beijing and make an appointment with your fellow travelers. Don't delay it."

Qin Yunhe agreed to all of them.

After saying goodbye to the teacher, Qin Yunhe went to see Feng Zhuo again. They hadn't seen each other for a month or two.

When the two met, Feng Zhuo couldn't help but sigh that the imperial examination was not easy. Not only Qin Yunhe, but also Lin Zhaotang, he hadn't seen them for more than a month and didn't dare to disturb them at all.

It just so happened that Qin Yunhe also had to go find Lin Zhaotang to confirm the departure time, so the two of them bought some pastries that children liked and went to Lin Zhaotang's house.

Lin Zhaotang had also been preparing for the exam at home for many days. It was only when he saw the two people that he suddenly remembered that the New Year was approaching.

After looking at the calendar again and confirming the departure date and chatting about recent developments, Qin Yunhe and Feng Zhuo got up to say goodbye and leave.

As the Chinese New Year was approaching, Yuger also came to give her husband a holiday gift.

Although Yu Ge'er came to their house a few times in the past few months, Qin Yunhe was busy preparing for the exam and had little time to accompany him, so the teacher and student had not seen each other for a long time.

When Yu Ge'er saw his teacher, he missed him and looked serious: "Teacher, I heard from my third uncle that the spring examination hall is very cold and many people will get sick. I asked someone to make a cushion out of fox fur for you to carry."

Yu Ge'er was obviously worried about Qin Yunhe's participation in the Spring Examination: "It's just a little small, sir, please use it reluctantly."

"How can you make a cushion out of fox fur? Did you cry and ask your parents to make it?"

It was a bit of a waste to use such a precious thing to make a cushion. Qin Yunhe looked at the size and wondered if it was originally intended to be a fox fur coat for Yu Ge'er, but he made it into a cushion on his own initiative.

"No, sir. This was given to me by my third uncle. I did it as soon as I was told to. My parents didn't ask."

Qin Yunhe tapped Yu Ge'er's head with his fingers and said, "Sir, you can't accept such valuable things. Take it back. I'll make you a fox fur coat when I get home."

Yu Ge'er refused to take it back, lowered his head and said with a worried look: "Sir, you should keep it with you. If you get sick from the cold, not only will I be sad, but Ruyi and Master's wife will also be sad."

Qin Yunhe laughed: "Don't listen to your uncle's nonsense. Who said that the Spring Examination will definitely cause people to get sick from the cold? There are so many candidates in each year, and only occasionally someone gets sick."

Yu Ge'er didn't listen to the teacher and just changed the subject.

"Sir, if you pass the imperial examination, will you no longer be able to be my teacher?"

Qin Yunhe didn't expect Yu Ge'er to worry about this.

But it is true that if he passed the imperial examination and became an official, he probably wouldn't have much chance to continue teaching Yuger.

Generally speaking, officials are not likely to be appointed in their hometown counties. If it is not far away, it is fine, and Yu Ge'er can be taken to see him. If he is appointed in a very far place, it is estimated that it will be difficult for the teacher and the student to see each other again in the future, let alone attend classes.

"Who says that the teacher will not be your teacher anymore after he passed the imperial examination? Once a teacher, always a teacher. Naturally, the teacher will still be your teacher." Qin Yunhe asked with some melancholy, but he still had to comfort and enlighten Yuger.

"It's just that maybe I won't be able to accompany you for that long. Maybe if you want to ask me questions in the future, I won't be able to answer them right away, but I will still check on your homework..."

Qin Yunhe counselled Yuger for a long time, but he looked a little depressed. Finally, he shed a few tears in Qin Yunhe's arms.