The Young Master of the Jia Family in the Red Chamber

With the plan to go south and return to his hometown, Jia Hu didn't rush to ask Situ Jing for leave, but went to inquire about the situation with Su Yi. Among them, only Su Yi was famous. When Jia Hu entered the palace, he He just passed the examination as a scholar, and he was still a junior, who was praised by the prince.

Su Yi listened to Jia Hu's question, and said with a slight smile: "The Su family's ancestral home is Zhili, and it only takes a few days to go back and forth. I took the county examination, government examination, and hospital examination and I took leave a few days in advance to go back. The situation is different. The county examination will be held in February, and the hospital examination will take until May. Not counting the delay on the road, you will have to stay in Jinling for four months, and you will have to go back and forth for at least half a year. Besides, the spring road is not easy to travel. I know many people Those who returned to Jiangnan from Beijing to take the exam all set out in the autumn of the first year, and Jiangnan’s literary style is at its peak, so it’s easy to study, and it’s safer to go back earlier.”

Su Yi made sense, Jia Hu nodded and said: "That's right, my cousin is going back to his hometown this year to take the country test, and the elders in the family are worried that I will go out alone, so they want me to go with him. But in this way, The departure will be in May at the latest, and Gong Xue will be delayed for at least a year."

Su Yi frowned slightly, and murmured: "Jia Hu, you should think about it. The companionship in the palace is not static. The previous companionship of His Highness was to go back to the hometown to take the exam and leave the palace, and then make up for you and Han Qi. , you have to leave for a year, His Highness may not reserve a place for you."

In the palace school, like Su Yi and Jian Ming, they have been following Situ Jing since they were studying, and there are not many companions who have followed him for more than ten years. Usually, only cousins ​​from the prince's grandson's family would be like this, others Accompanying readers are changed every three to five years.After all, Gongxue was set up for princes and grandchildren, and they did not take the imperial examinations, so the teaching content was quite different from the academies outside. Anyone who wanted their children to pass the imperial examinations would not be able to enter the palace as an accompanying student. For a long time, three to five years is enough, otherwise the exam will be missed, but the top priority.

Jia Hu smiled wryly and said: "I understand this, but children's exams are always taken, so I want to ask you, in the past, some people asked for leave to take the exam, what is the rule?" , I still need to go home to make up lessons by myself, but there are many things that you can get in touch with here, which you can’t touch outside. If you go back to your hometown and take a test, you will lose your qualifications as a companion. Jia Hu would rather postpone the test for two years. Study in the palace for two more years. Anyway, there is no age limit for the children's examination, so he can take the examination directly before taking the rural examination.

Seeing Jia Hu's embarrassment, Su Yi comforted him and said, "His Royal Highness has always treated you kindly, maybe he will reserve a seat for you, but you can go and ask. Every family is different, and there is no charter. It’s just to tell the master, there’s never been anything that’s not allowed.”

There are too few precedents and lack of reference, so Jia Hu had to go to see Situ Jing.When Situ Jing heard that he was going back to his hometown to take part in the children's examination, his expression remained the same, but when he heard that he was going to leave in early May, there was a turmoil between his brows and eyes, and he asked anxiously, "Why so early?" Isn't it just an exam for a scholar? , Su Yi asked for leave four or five days in advance every time, why did she arrive at Jia Hu's place more than half a year in advance, Situ Jing said that she was incapable of accepting it.

Jia Hu raised his eyebrows slightly, and said distressedly, "I don't want to leave so early, but my cousin is going to take the provincial examination in August, so it can't be later."

"Since that's the case, you should go back." Situ Jing opened his lips slightly, but found that he had nothing to say, so he had to allow Jia Hu to ask for leave, and then said, "Come back soon after you pass the exam, and I will take the place of accompanying you." No more people, I will keep it for you, if you fail the exam, forget it."

Jia Hu didn't expect that Situ Jing would reserve a place for him to accompany him, so he was overjoyed, and smiled happily: "I'm determined to live up to His Highness's expectations."

Situ Jing also smiled and said, "If you have the heart, come back with a score like Xiaoyi's." Jia Hu's smiling expression immediately collapsed.

In the East Mansion, Jia Zhen had just had a son, and it was a rare time, so she couldn't bear to go out. However, the provincial examination was held every three years, and he couldn't miss the opportunity. He just had a hard time with Jia Jing and postponed the departure time until mid-May. , and then later, the day began to heat up.

At first, Jia Hu was the only one who went back to his hometown with Jia Zhen. Later, when Jia Zheng heard about this, he asked Jia Zhen to bring Jia Zhu with him, saying that he was about the same age as Jia Hu, and it was time for him to end.Anyway, it was a chartered boat trip, and there were many people waiting around him. Jia Zhen didn't care about bringing more people. He just remembered that during the Chinese New Year the year before last, Jia Jing had said that it would take at least three years for Jia Zhu to pass the exam. so urgent.

When Shi Taijun and Wang heard that Jia Zheng wanted Jia Zhu to return to his hometown for the exam, they were very worried. Jia Zhu was 12 years older and had never traveled far.

Jia Zheng said, this time it is better to have Jia Zhen from the East Mansion on the way, which is better than Jia Zhu going out alone.Shi Taijun and Wang thought about it too. Sooner or later the Tongsheng Examination will be taken, and Jia Zhen will take it with him. It is better than Jia Zhu going back by himself, so they don't object, and concentrate on packing Jia Zhu's luggage.

Just like Jia Hu, Jia Zhu also had to ask for leave for the exam when he returned to his hometown. The fifteenth prince was more forthright than Situ Jing, so he let Jia Zhu go.But at the same time, he also told Jia Zhu that once he left, he would not be given the place to read with him.Jia Zhu heaved a sigh of relief when he heard this, but he was a little bit unwilling.

In fact, what the fifteen princes did was very normal. If the companions want to make progress, they will definitely not stop them. Even if they enter the court in the future, they will also be their own help.It's just that people from the palace school come and go, except for one or two of the closest ones, they will not deliberately leave a place for anyone, the old ones will not go, the new ones will not come, and there is nothing wrong with making more courtiers and children, everyone It's good to get together and get apart, and the fate of those years is enough.

Besides, Jia Zhu didn't like palace studies too much. He entered the palace for three years, because he was with the fifteenth prince who had just been enlightened, and his homework improved very little.But Jia Zhu had to go. If Jia Hu passed the exam, his father would probably have more to say.From now on, there is still less than a year to go, he must work very hard, and no matter what, he must pass the exam as a scholar.

However, as soon as Jia Zhu thought about Jia Hu's prosperity in front of Situ Jing, even if he left the palace for a year, His Royal Highness would reserve a place for him to accompany him, unlike the fifteenth prince, who would leave the palace as soon as he said he would leave. Letting him go directly, I will inevitably feel a little upset, and I can't calm down while reading.

The date of leaving Beijing is set on May [-]th, which is said to be an auspicious day for everything.Situ Jing's birthday was in the second half of the year, so Jia Hu couldn't wait, so he had to send the gift ahead of time.The gift he prepared this year was relatively simple. It was a painting that Situ Jing gave him two months ago. He expanded it and carved a woodblock painting.When Situ Jing received the painting, he couldn't laugh or cry, and finally hung it in the study.

From Gyeonggi to Jiangnan, it is basically by water. After seeing the scenery along the coast, Jia Hu sincerely said that although the unpolluted environment is indeed beautiful, he still misses the time when there were planes and trains, so leisurely all the way It's so boring to go south by boat.

Jia Hu still recalled in his mind whether the steam engine had been invented, and he dared not think about airplanes in his life, but for trains, there is still a chance if he works hard.Compared with Jia Hu who was still thinking wildly, Jia Zhu was definitely an obedient student, even on the boat every day, he would spend all his time reading.Jia Hu was stimulated by his hard work, and felt a little lazy, so he followed suit.With something to do, Jia Hu suddenly noticed that the time was speeding up. Before he recovered, he heard that the time had already arrived.

After staying on the boat for too long, Jia Hu still felt that the ground was shaking after landing.The servants of the Jia family in Jinling had long since come to pick them up from the shore. After listening to the conversation between Jia Zhen and the visitor, Jia Hu realized that they had only arrived at the shore but not their destination. They would have to sit for a few days to return to Jinling. carriage.Although the official road is fairly smooth, but without springs and rubber wooden wheels, the shock absorption effect is almost zero.Jia Hu was in Gyeonggi before, and the distance by car was not long, which was tolerable, but these two days of driving around the clock, he felt that his internal organs were all dislocated.

Jia Hu couldn't stand the shock, so he ran outside to ride a horse. Unfortunately, he had no experience of riding a horse for a long time. After riding for a long time, the inner thighs were worn out, so he had to lie back in the car obediently, still thinking about it. So, one day, he must invent the spring.

After going through untold hardships, Jia Hu finally returned to the old residence in Jinling.Although Jia Zhu didn't make a fuss right away, she didn't look much better than Jia Hu.Only Jia Zhen, who had the experience of traveling far away, took appropriate measures, and from the looks of it, he was much better than the two cousins.

Because Jia Jing had written a letter a long time ago to explain that Jia Zhen and the others had packed up everything in the old house, and the prepared yard was also the best.Jia Zhen lives in the main room, while Jia Hu and Jia Zhu live in the east and west wing rooms respectively. The front yard is the study room, where they can take care of each other and discuss homework.

It is rare to go back to the hometown, and it is necessary to burn incense and kowtow to the ancestors, especially Jia Zhen has a new son, Jia Hu and Jia Zhu are coming back for the first time.

The Jia family has a total of twenty houses, eight in Beijing and twelve in Jinling.The highest status is none other than the Ningrong Second Mansion. This time the eldest sons of the two mansions have returned. The clansmen in Jinling are naturally very excited. They rely on the Ningrong Second Mansion for food. How could they not please Jia Zhen and Jia Hu? .

Among them, Jia Zhen has grown up and is the future patriarch. It must be him that the patriarchs most want to get close to.Then there is Jia Hu, he is the eldest son of the eldest son of the West Mansion, he is naturally more respected than Jia Zhu who was born in the second son.Jia Zhu didn't show it on the surface, but she felt extremely uncomfortable in her heart.

Jia Hu obviously has everything, so why should he be overwhelmed? No matter whether he takes the exam or not, he has a title to inherit, but he has no second way out. If he doesn't do well in the exam, he will have nothing However, they returned to Jinling together.

When kowtowing to the ancestors in the ancestral hall, Jia Zhu looked at Jia Hu's back with a distorted expression.

Jia Zhen will take the provincial examination next month, so she can just read at home. Anyway, before he leaves home, Jia Jing has found countless questions for him to practice through various channels, and he may not be able to finish it on the day of the examination.However, Jia Hu and Jia Zhu will not be able to take the children's examination until February next year. Both of them are half-grown children, and self-study alone is not enough. Jia Zhen contacted them with an academy and asked them to borrow for half a year.It was also a coincidence that the head of that academy was actually a student of Zhang Jiuxin, who had a relationship with both Jia Zhen and Jia Hu, and Fang allowed them to join the class halfway.

In his previous life, Jia Hu went from kindergarten to university, and had many contacts with strange classmates. Even if he joined the class halfway through, he quickly made a few friends.Not to mention heart-to-heart, as close as brothers, talking and laughing, discussing studies, that’s fine, so Jia Hu felt that changing schools occasionally was also a very fresh experience.Jia Zhu didn't live as well as Jia Hu. He used to only study family studies and palace studies, and his family studies were all offshoots. He didn't bother to talk to them, and the palace studies were all princes and grandchildren, so he couldn't talk to them.

On the other hand, the Plum Blossom Academy where he is studying now has many official students, but unfortunately they have been classmates for several years and have their own small group. Jia Zhu is not the familiar personality like Jia Hu, so he can't get in at all.In fact, if Jia Zhu were not so reserved, he could get to know his classmates just by following Jia Hu. Unfortunately, he couldn't let go of his face and didn't want to admit defeat in front of Jia Hu.Jia Hu's attitude towards Jia Zhu has always been to let nature take its course, as long as outsiders see it as passable, Jia Zhu himself ignores him, and he certainly won't pull him over with the cheek.

Fortunately, Plum Blossom Academy is indeed one of the best academies in the south of the Yangtze River. It is the class for children. The masters who teach are also great scholars who have read poetry and books. Jia Hu and Jia Zhu are very helpful.Jia Zhu was determined to make up for the homework that was lacking before, so she was very busy during the day and night, and had no time to play with Jia Hu.

In August, Jia Zhen took the exam, which lasted nine days. When she came out, she was disheveled, and the servant who picked him up almost didn't recognize her.Jia Hu wanted to ask Jia Zhen how he did in the exam, but he fell asleep when he got home, so he had to give up and wait until he woke up.Jia Zhen slept for a day and a night, and when she woke up she was very hungry. The kitchen hurriedly delivered the food. He didn't even look at the food in front of him, so he ate three bowls of rice, and then went to the clean room to wash his hair and take a shower.After washing and washing, Jia Zhen was refreshed, and finally felt that she was alive again.

Jia Hu asked him again how he did in the exam. Jia Zhen shook her head, saying that she didn't remember, and that she never wanted to take the exam again in her life.Jia Hu was speechless, he didn't want to take the exam, it could be Jia Zhen's decision, if he passed the exam, Jia Jing would let him take the Jinshi exam, if he failed the exam, he would have to take the exam again.

On the day when the rankings were announced, the servants of Jia's family went to see the rankings early. As a result, Jia Zhen was lucky. Although the ranking was not very high, she passed the exam anyway.Both Jia Hu and Jia Zhu congratulated Jia Zhen. It was a blessing that Jia Zhen would not have to go back to her hometown to take the exam after passing the exam.

The next February will be the exam. Although Jia Zhen feels that she has little hope, she has reached this point and must go back to take the exam. So he packs up his burden and heads back to Beijing, leaving Jia Hu and Jia Zhu in Jinling. Reading, only said that next May, the family will send someone to pick them up.

After Jia Zhen left, the lives of Jia Hu and Jia Zhu did not change much, and they still went to the academy to study every day.It's just that on the holidays, Jia Hu would go out to get together with his classmates, and Jia Zhu would just stay at home and read a book. Other than that, the two of them got along pretty well.

One day, Jia Hu and his classmates made an appointment to go to the bookstore, and called Jia Zhu habitually before leaving.Jia Hu thought that Jia Zhu would be as reluctant as before, but this time he actually nodded and said yes to go.Jia Hu was a little surprised, but said nothing, and the two went out together.

Compared with the capital city, there are more kinds of books in the bookstores in Jiangnan. Every time Jia Hu visits, he will discover something new.Unlike Jia Hu, Jia Zhu didn't read too much, so he quickly picked out two books. Seeing that Jia Hu wouldn't come out for a while, he left the bookstore, intending to visit the calligraphy and painting shop opposite.

As soon as he walked to the street, Jia Zhu bumped into a monk. He raised his head in astonishment, staring blankly at the two people who suddenly appeared in front of him.

"Amitabha!" The monk clasped his hands together and recited the Buddha's name.

"Buddha of Infinite Life!" The Taoist flicked his whisk and saluted.

"Hello, two immortal masters!" Seeing that the two were born with extraordinary bones and very different appearances, Jia Zhu couldn't help but become respectful.

"So it's you, really..." After carefully looking at Jia Zhu, the monks looked at each other with surprise on their faces.

Jia Zhu didn't understand what he meant, so he had to keep silent. His intuition told him that the monks and the others were probably not ordinary people.

"Forget it, since I met you, it's also fate." After a long silence, the monk spoke first, but what he said was still incomprehensible.

"Put this thing away, it will come in handy in the future." The Taoist said and shook off the Buddha dust, and Jia Zhu had a red sachet in his hand.

"You guys are..." There was something extra in his hand out of thin air, Jia Zhu was shocked, but when he raised his head again, one monk and one had disappeared.

Just at this time, Jia Hu and two classmates bought books, came out of the bookstore, saw Jia Zhu standing in the street in a daze, and called out: "Brother Zhu, we are going back, do you still have any books?" Pick it?" Jia Hu came back to her senses, quickly stuffed the sachet into her bosom, turned around and shook her head.

Jia Zhu didn't tell anyone about the encounter between a monk and a monk on the road. He took out that strange sachet to look at it when no one was there. Put it under the pillow, it smells good to sleep at night.

From winter to spring, Jia Hu and Jia Zhu spent a special year in their hometown in Jinling. Although there were no parents and relatives around, there were so many people in the clan, and it was even more lively than when they were in Beijing.Because no one cared about him, Jia Hu took the children of the clan and had a great time.

As soon as the first month passed, the day of the county examination was approaching. Jia Hu was confident, but Jia Zhu was a little apprehensive. However, when the results came out, both of them passed the test smoothly. The elders were overjoyed, and immediately wrote to the Beijing and Central Second Government to report the good news.

The government examination was held in April. Seeing that there was enough time, Jia Hu didn't panic at all, and even went out for two outings with the students in the academy.What made Jia Hu even more happy was that in late March, Situ Jing actually wrote him a letter, and it was delivered with a seal of "Lianzhong Sanyuan".

After receiving the birthday gift, Jia Hu sighed regretfully. Situ Jing was doomed to be disappointed. He didn't even get the first place in the easiest county test.The government test is more difficult, and there are more masters. He doesn't know how well he can pass the test.

Jia Zhu was not willing to fall behind Jia Hu's rankings. After the county exam, he studied even harder. Who knows, Jia Hu was still second in the prefectural exam, but Jia Zhu dropped to the [-]s. Fortunately, They have all passed the test, and they can all participate in the hospital examination to be held next month.

Two consecutive second places, Jia Hu felt that he was unlucky, so he asked someone to inquire whether the No.1 of the two exams was the same person.In the end, it was told that it was not the case. The one who ranked first in the county examination only passed seventh in the prefectural examination, and the one who took the first place in the prefectural examination was the third in their county examination.Jia Hu clenched his fists and secretly made up his mind that he must not be second in the college examination. If he can't get the first place, he can take the third place.It's a pity that the sky didn't come true. After passing the college exam in May, Jia Hu still ranked second, but Jia Zhu was very dangerous and barely passed the test.

In any case, the two masters of Rongqinghou's mansion were admitted as scholars, and the clansmen in Jinling still congratulated them.