The Road to the Imperial Examinations of Farmers in Ancient Times

The next day, it was reported in the newspapers in the capital that a certain adult was admitted to Jinshi, abandoned his old wife, married a daughter of an official family in the capital, and threw his original spouse and the sons born to his original spouse to his hometown for more than a dozen years. Years don't listen or ask.And within a few days, the real son who claimed to be that adult came to the door to recognize his father, and staged a good show where the son recognized the father, and the father denied the son, and the son sat in front of the Chen residence, crying and making a fuss. .

That Mrs. Chen, who had always regarded herself as superior to others, suddenly changed from the main room to the concubine's room, and the sons and daughters of the concubines became the children of the concubine. Naturally, Mrs. Chen quit.

For a while, the whole Chen Mansion was full of excitement, and the aunts below hid aside to watch the show. Anyway, they were all concubines, and it was not their turn to be the main room. All the aunts were secretly laughing.

The upper beam is not upright, the lower beam is crooked, the old man is Chen Shimei, and the son is proficient in eating, drinking, whoring and gambling. A certain third young master either goes to the brothel or is in the gambling house. He owes gambling debts and refuses to pay. The people in the gambling shop stripped his clothes He and his trousers were thrown on the street, and the people from the gambling shop took the IOUs to Chen's house to ask for money.

Those who can open a brothel gambling shop in the capital must have a backer, not to mention that the other party came to the door with a signed and fingerprinted IOU. The Chen family has to give this money if they are willing or unwilling Give.

The capital is the city where gossip news is the least lacking, and the pleasure of ordinary people after dinner is to talk about all kinds of gossip

Since the newspaper came out, the people in the capital love to read the gossip news written in the newspaper every day. After reading it for a while, the common people all know that the articles written in the newspaper are not groundless and nonsense. , but it is true, so I love watching it even more.

"...It turns out that Mr. Chen abandoned his original spouse for the sake of his future and married another official lady."

"A father who doesn't even recognize his own son, hehe..." Sure enough, he is not a good person.

"The day before yesterday, the son who claimed to be Mr. Chen went to Chen's mansion to look for his father. Did you see it with your own eyes?"

"No, I didn't see it, did any of you see it with your own eyes?"

"Of course there is. How can you not watch such a wonderful show? Let me tell you..."

A group of people in the teahouse gathered together to talk about the Chen family. The people in their hearts looked down on Mr. Chen who abandoned even his own flesh and blood. What kind of official is a man who doesn't even want his own son?

Since the matchmaker came to the door that day, and the matchmakers behind came again, none of them could enter the door of Liuyuan Mansion, and they all blocked the door.There was no matchmaker coming recently, knowing that her brother really loves her as a younger sister, and he is not in a hurry to marry her off, Li Jinwan is in a good mood.

Hearing the servant girl beside him talk about Mr. Chen San, the corners of Li Jinwan's mouth twitched, she snorted, and said, "It's just such a thing, you still want me to marry him? Would not pick such a man!,,

Sure enough, all the matchmakers in the world are the darkest, and they don't pay for their lives!

Li Jinwan was very glad that she ran to find her brother and followed her brother to the capital.Otherwise, if she stayed in the village at that time, she might be forced to be her lazy cousin.

"Yes, miss, it's a good thing you didn't agree to this marriage at the time." Magpie would often run out of the house, and would bring back some gossip from the capital to her lady, and she would also bring news from the Chen family to her family. Miss.

Yingchun, who was standing aside, shook her head and didn't say anything about it.

"I'm stupid to listen to a matchmaker's nonsense and then nod. Hey, don't talk about this kind of person, it spoils my good mood." Li Jinwan waved her hand and said, "Let's go, let's go to the kitchen and have a look. "

"Oh, yes, Miss." Magpie came to his senses and asked hastily, "Miss, what are you going to do in the kitchen? Just tell me to do it."

"You don't know how to do it, follow up." Li Jinwan said without turning her head.

Well, she might really not understand, the little girl followed the master, and the master and servant went to the kitchen.

At this time of the end of the year, Zhuangmengge's business is very good. There is a long queue outside the store every day, and the daily products displayed in the store are not enough to sell.The scarcity of things is the responsibility, the more you can't buy something, the more people rush to buy it, so there is a limit to how many things are sold in their store every day, the money is big, and the reputation is getting better and better. bigger.

Li Jinwan had already prepared the goods in the store one month in advance, and there were specially invited people to watch over there, so she didn't need to keep an eye on them all the time, as long as she had time to go over and have a look.It's almost Chinese New Year recently, she has to be busy with the affairs of the house, and has to deal with some things in the house in advance. It took a few days to clean up and down the house, inside and out. The mansion is completely new.

Mrs. Wu saw Miss coming to the kitchen, and Miss usually comes to the kitchen from time to time, so Mrs. Wu was not surprised to see Miss coming to the kitchen, and asked, "What is Miss Si coming to the kitchen for? Miss Si, what are you doing?" Just say it, and we'll do it."

In addition to Mrs. Wu, another woman was invited to help in the kitchen.

The few masters in the house are not difficult to serve. In the past, they seldom criticized these servants, so they were treated well.

"I'm thinking about making a few snacks. It's okay. You don't know how to make them. I'll teach you how to make them first. I'll let you come next time." The Chinese New Year is only a few days away, and it just so happens that I have some free time today. I came to the kitchen, thinking about making some snacks to eat during the New Year, and then I can give them away.

"Okay, let's learn from Miss, and let us make it next time." Wu became interested as soon as she heard it, and asked, "What kind of snacks are you going to make, Miss?"

"Haha, you'll know in a while." Li Jinwan learned how to make snacks and food from her aunt, and later she thought about it by herself and came up with some different tricks.The snacks bought outside are expensive, and they are not as delicious as the ones she makes by herself, so it's better to spend some effort to make them myself.

"Eggs, flour, sugar..."

Now it's the Chinese New Year, everything in the kitchen is ready-made, basically everything she needs is there, Li Jinwan read it and reported what she wanted, and someone brought it soon.

"Yes, there are."

"...Is there any goat's milk? If not, go to the sheep pen in the backyard and squeeze some goat's milk." Li Jinwan said, seeing no goat's milk.

"There's no goat's milk, Miss Fourth, wait a moment, I'll get some later."

If there is a shortage in the kitchen, people will go out to buy it, and it will be bought back soon.

After getting everything in order, Li Jinwan directed a few people to divide the work, and everyone was busy in a short while.Knowing that the lady took the magpie to the kitchen, Yingchun, who had finished working outside, saw that everyone was busy here, so she also came to help.

Everyone was talking and laughing while being busy, and the half-day passed quickly.

Plates of baked biscuits were brought out, Li Jinwan tasted a biscuit herself, and asked everyone to taste it too.Everyone hadn't seen this kind of food before. After taking a piece and tasting it, they all said it was delicious. Li Jinwan smiled and said, "I didn't lie to you, did I? Is it delicious?"

“Crispy and delicious.”

"Miss Si made it herself, so it is naturally good.

For the remaining unbaked biscuits, Li Jinwan taught others to make them. She brought the freshly baked biscuits to find two little things.Sure enough, as soon as she appeared, the two children ran towards her. When Li Haopeng saw what his fourth sister was holding, his eyes lit up and he shouted, "It's a biscuit!"

"Fourth sister, are you making the biscuits?"

What are cookies?Xiao Yangyang has never eaten.

"Well, yes, it's biscuits. I just made them, and I'll bring them here for you to try." Li Jinwan put the plate on the table and called the two little ones to come and eat.When the two little ones saw something to eat, they ran to her side like a puppy who saw a bone. Li Jinwan couldn't help but smiled, "Hey, eat it, take it yourself."

"Hey, Fourth Sister, you are so kind." No money is required for good words, and it doesn't matter how much you give.

While patting his fourth sister's horse, Li Haopeng grabbed a biscuit for Xiao Yangyang, took one for himself, took a bite, it was delicious...

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, let's eat."

"Crack!"

Xiao Yangyang took a bite of the biscuit and made a crisp sound. It was the first time he ate this kind of biscuit, but it was delicious. After eating one, he wanted to eat the second one.When he was hesitant to get the second biscuit, another biscuit was stuffed in his hand, seeing the way Miss Shang Si looked at him, the child felt a little embarrassed.

"Eat it, it's all for you to eat." Li Jinwan liked this child very much, he was very obedient, much more obedient than her family.

But her kid is also very cute...

Thanks to having a capable girl at home, Li Wen was almost always busy outside a few years ago, hardly taking care of his family.

At this time of the new year's festival, some etiquette comings and goings are indispensable.

Not long after he arrived at the household department, his relationship with his colleagues in the household department was so-so, and he didn't have much contact with them. It's good for people to deal with these human relations matters, and he doesn't need to deal with them himself.But there are some things that he needs to deal with in person, so he has been busy with these tedious things in the past few days.

Li Wen did not forget to send a gift to Master Zhan's residence during the New Year holidays. Master Zhan and his teacher are both colleagues and friends. As his teacher's student, he is here in the capital. not enough.When he went to Zhan's mansion that day, he found out that Master Zhan was not in good health. He had recently contracted a cold and was bedridden. It was inconvenient for outsiders to visit him, so he sent things there, said a few words of greetings to Master Zhan with the housekeeper, and left went.

He had always had a good relationship with the seniors of the Imperial Academy, and Li Wen wanted to continue to maintain this relationship, so at this time of the New Year, it was inevitable to exchange etiquette.He personally went to give new year gifts to several seniors in the Hanlin Academy, good wine and good meat, the wine was made by himself, and the meat was bacon from home, and each person could give two catties to taste.

Things are not important, but they are things that cannot be bought outside with money. The most important thing is a heart.

These old Hanlins promised to sort out the manuscripts for him before, and he had no free time in the first half month after he arrived at the Ministry of Finance, so this matter was postponed until now.Taking advantage of the home visit years ago, I also need to ask for manuscripts from my seniors. It is not enough to just take the manuscripts, and I have to draw a handsome and suave portrait of the seniors, which will be used as the cover of the book when the time comes.

"You should make the old man's painting more elegant and beautiful."

"Yes, it must be elegant and beautiful."

Li Wen didn't know that these old Hanlins were all so stinky, and he was worried that his paintings would not look good!But to be able to be an official in the imperial court, at least the facial features are correct, and these old Hanlins have been studying for half a lifetime, and they have read books for most of their lives, and they have an extra refined temperament.

The more and more manuscripts he got, the more and more portraits he drew, and the more he drew, the faster he would draw later.

"...At this time, everyone is going to go back to celebrate the New Year. I think it will take a few years for the anthology to be published. When the book is published, I will return the book and the original manuscript." It is almost the New Year, at Tomorrow Bookstore The door was closed, and he had to sort out and arrange these manuscripts when he went back. He had to wait until the bookstore opened next year before the master could publish the books there.

"All right, you can use it." Old Hanlin waved his hand, not caring whether it was brought this year or next year〇

They don't believe in others, don't they believe in Li Liuyuan?

After walking for a while, Li Wen collected a lot of manuscripts, these are original manuscripts, which will be put in the future market, these are priceless treasures.But at the moment, these old Hanlins don't seem to care too much about these things that can be written casually.

But speaking, he has been in the capital for nearly a year, and he really doesn’t have many friends. Some of them are candidates he met during the scientific examination. After the examination, those who failed the examination all went back to their hometown. , Not many of those who passed the exam could stay in the capital. We didn't have much contact with each other at ordinary times. They were just casual acquaintances, and personal acquaintances were not deep.

Several of his best friends are not here in the capital. Lu Zhishu went to Huaishui Sanjiang County to become an official, and he could not return to the capital for three to five years. The two of them would communicate in letters.It’s just that the journey is far away. He sends a letter over there, and he receives it here, and then writes another letter back. It takes three to five months to go back and forth, so it’s not enough to write a few letters a year. letter.

Shen Zijing and Su Yuan were preparing for the scientific examination two years later, and they were kidnapped by him to Lijia Village to work as part-time teachers.Li Wen wrote back to them a few years ago, asking if they would like to come to the capital after the next year. It is also okay to come here to prepare for the exam, and by the way, he can do something for him.However, based on the results of the two, as long as there is no accident, it will definitely not be a problem to be admitted to Jinshi two years later. Su Yuan's performance in the examination room has always been more stable than Shen Zijing, it just depends on where their rankings are.

After going through the cruel selection of talents in the imperial examination, Li Wen knew that the imperial examination was not the end, but another starting point.But the height of the starting point determines the level of your starting point, so naturally, the higher the ranking in the test, the more choices you will have in the future.

Not knowing when the next time the four of them would meet again, Li Wen felt a little melancholy, and missed his good friends very much.

books

At this time, Lu Zhishu, who was far away in Sanjiang County, Huai River, looked at the white snow falling outside the window, wondering what Master Lu was thinking.

This place is different from the prosperity and bustle of the capital, and it can even be said to be very poor and backward, much poorer than Qingping Town where he grew up.Although he had already thought about many possibilities on the way here, it was far less shocking than what he felt when he came to this place and saw it with his own eyes.

He also had a moment when he asked himself why he came to this place instead of the bustling capital.

Later, he spent more time studying and carefully reading the thing written by his friend, and slowly found some different insights from it.In the next three months, Lu Zhishu led his men over many mountains, entered the mountains to learn about the life and customs of the people living in the mountains, and learned about the crops in this place.

Plants, and people's source of life and so on.

At the beginning, Lu Zhishu also felt that the current life was miserable. After he gradually adapted to life, he found that the life here was not as sad as he imagined.He began to have a clue and knew what to do next, but in the process, he encountered many difficulties.

At the same time, Lu Zhishu also took the time to review the case files sentenced over the years, pick out the problematic files for retrial, clear the grievances of the wronged people, and arrest the criminals who are at large.Just because of this, it is inevitable that you will offend some local dignitaries.

But it gained a good reputation among the people.

However, he did not do these things because of fame.

"Master Lu, it's cold outside, why do you still open the window, be careful of catching cold." A hand stretched out from behind him, and closed the window in front of him on his own initiative.

Lu Zhishu turned his head and looked at the man who closed the window, but seeing the smile on the man's face, he couldn't get angry anymore, so he shook his head, so he had to give up.Seeing the adult who turned his head away, the tall man followed, poured a cup of hot tea for Master Lu himself, and said, "Master Lu, drink a cup of hot tea."

"Thank you." Lu Zhishu smiled, reached out to take the teacup, lifted the lid, blew on the tea in the cup, and took a sip.The tea is the tea he brought from the capital. It tastes sweet, unlike the local tea, which has a bitter taste.

He was used to drinking good tea, but it seemed a bit difficult to drink the bitter local tea, he said in his heart that he was picky.

But it is true.

The man opposite saw the smile on Lu Zhishu's face, and watched the young man gently blowing a sip of the tea in the cup. In his eyes, these actions all carried an indescribable beauty.

"Huh?" Lu Zhishu seemed to feel that he was looking at him strangely. He raised his eyes and looked at the man opposite him.

The usual gentle smile returned to the man's face, Mr. Lu didn't see anything, he lowered his head and continued to drink his tea.