The daily routine of the ancient imperial examination

The next day, after dinner, Lu Xiuyuan walked around the garden and went to the street through the back door along the path he explored yesterday.

Because it was sneaking out, and it was inconvenient to take others with him, he brought some money by himself and came to the street.

Lu Xiuyuan had been living in the town before, and he was very familiar with the bustle of the town, but now that he came to the capital, the bustling streets were naturally the Batiao Street of Ping'an Town.

The bluestone slabs under your feet are flat and smooth, and the street is wide enough for three or four carriages to drive side by side. The vendors on both sides are neatly arranged with a variety of items, which is dazzling to watch.

In addition to these, there are also many food sellers. The air is filled with the rich aroma of roasted chestnuts and roasted sweet potatoes, which smells mouth-watering.

Lu Xiuyuan didn't eat much for breakfast, and now that he smelled the aroma of the food, he didn't feel wronged, so he just bought a bag of chestnuts and ate while walking.

When he went out this time, his destination was the fellow countrymen's guild hall, which was built by the people who had passed the examination in the provincial capital to support the fellow countrymen, and it was specially provided for the children of poor families who didn't have a lot of money to live in.

He went there to observe how other students study, how their review is going, and how everyone is doing when they are newcomers.

The location where the guild hall was established was a bit remote. Lu Xiuyuan walked for a long time to get there. He saw a large house with many small rooms built like a small bungalow.

When Lu Xiuyuan arrived, there were many students cooking lunch there, and some people were holding books and shaking their heads to endorse. They were already used to the arrival of strangers, and those people continued to do their own things without raising their eyes.

He simply found a cool place to sit aside and observe carefully.

Although the environment here is large, there are many sundries in the yard. Occasionally, a gust of hot wind blows over, and you can still smell some bad smells of drunkenness.

After sitting like this for a long time, Lu Xiuyuan waited until the afternoon and went shopping around the nearby streets, and finally returned with a sigh.

During this half a day, he roughly figured out the life trajectories of those scholars. Many people lost themselves when they came to the bustling capital, eating, drinking, drinking and singing, and some read books desperately. No matter what, the experience of those people Nothing to refer to him.

If you want to pass the general examination, you can't just rely on memorization and reading. The reason why he passed the provincial examination is because the original owner has a good reserve of basic knowledge. He only needs to understand and master it, and he imitated the excellent essays of previous rural examinations, so he passed by luck.

But I will try this set, and the articles that Shi Yunchen's big hall brother gave him, although they are intended to hurt him, but Lu Xiuyuan is quite grateful, thanks to the articles that let him see it so early The gap between him and the students in the capital was reached.

Back on the nearby streets, he randomly found a tea stand and sat down to drink a bowl of mung bean soup to relieve the heat and cool off for a while.

Although it was already evening, the residual temperature of noon was still there. After walking for a while, the clothes on his body were already soaked, sticky and uncomfortable.

Lu Xiuyuan sat down and took the cattail leaf fan provided by the stall owner, while drinking mung bean soup, he fanned himself to enjoy the cool.

After pouring two large bowls in one breath, he finally regained his strength, and only then did he have the time to look around.

Although the corner here is remote, because it is a shady place, many people brought their own benches to enjoy the shade. Hearing other people's gossip, his previously anxious and depressed mood calmed down.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw an old beggar not far behind him, who was half-sitting on the ground and looking at him.

Although the other party's clothes were shabby, they were still clean and tidy. Lu Xiuyuan saw that the other party's lips were chapped, and thought it was a pain to sit all the time in such a hot day, so he got up and asked the other party to drink two bowls of mung bean soup to relieve the heat.

Anyway, the mung bean soup with added sugar is only a penny and a bowl, and it is not worth much. On such a hot day, the other party is so old, so don't get dehydrated.

"Old man, there is no air circulation where you are sitting, it is really hot and humid, why don't you come here and drink two bowls of mung bean soup to relieve the heat?"

Hearing his invitation, the other party looked up at him, then licked his chapped lips and said, "Thank you for your kindness, boy, but I don't drink mung bean soup, I want to drink."

The man's answer made Lu Xiuyuan startled, he wanted to drink in such a hot day?

The owner of the nearby tea stand frowned when he heard this, "Young master kindly invites you to drink water, you old beggar has too many things to do, and you still need to drink, how shameless you are!"

The beggar turned a deaf ear to the boss's words and just stared at him with bright eyes.

"There is a new tavern in the south of the city, and you can get a big bowl for only ten renminbi. The wine tastes clear and sweet, and I really can't forget the old beggar."

Lu Xiuyuan didn't care about these things. He just felt that the other party was nestled by the wall and was a bit unbearable to be steamed by the heat wave. Since the other party wanted to drink, it wasn't too difficult for him, so he could just do a good deed that day if he was satisfied. .

Following the old beggar to the tavern in the south of the city, he also tasted a bowl. It tasted really good, even better than the one he drank in Pingan Town. After drinking two bowls in one go, he shook his head, and then Thinking of Shi Yunchen at home, he simply picked up two jars, ready to take them back for the other party to taste.

When he returned to the yard, the sun had already set outside. Nan Xing put the food in the yard. It was hot today, and the ice cubes in the room had run out, so dinner could only be eaten outside.

Fortunately, there are big trees and bamboo forests here, so it's not too hot, and it's cool to eat outside.

Lu Xiuyuan put the two jars of wine he bought in the afternoon on the dining table, "This is the wine I bought in the south of the city today. I drink it very well. I want to bring it back for you to taste."

Shi Yunchen opened the plug and smelled it, "It's pretty good."

Nan Xing went back to the room to find two wine bowls, picked up the wine jar and filled the bowls for both of them.

When Shi Yunchen saw that his brows were slightly frowned, and the corners of his mouth no longer had the usual smile, he couldn't help asking with concern: "Why do you suddenly want to drink? Is there something bothering you?"

Lu Xiuyuan took a sip from the wine bowl, and then sighed. The two of them had nothing to hide before, so they simply told each other what they saw on the street today.

Shi Yunchen put vegetables in his bowl, "Drinking today is because of worrying about this?"

"Drinking is just a coincidence, but it's true to worry about it." He looked at the other party with a helpless look, "The education class is too rigid, and it is really difficult for ordinary people to get ahead by studying."

What he saw today, most of the scholars who came here to prepare for the exam can only study hard, and no one can teach them. Yes, not to mention Jiangnan talents with a stronger style of study.

Hearing this, the other party lowered their eyes and pondered for a moment, and then said: "I brought a lot of good things when I went out this time. If I can't get in too much, maybe we can spend a lot of money to hire a master to teach you?"

"Don't, don't." Lu Xiuyuan quickly waved his hand and refused, "It's not worth the money, not to mention that the teacher's teaching level may not be very high. Normally, those who are good, they may not be able to hire with money."

The capital is the most prosperous capital city, the markets are all fake, and the level of masters must also vary. They are newcomers and don't understand the market, so forget it.

Seeing that this trick didn't work, Shi Yunchen comforted him: "If it doesn't work, then I'll just take the exam this time. It's all about accumulating experience for you. After it's over, we'll go to Jiangnan for a study tour. There's a lot of learning style, and the bureaucracy isn't too strong. , as long as you have the ability, you can always find a good teacher who teaches articles, what do you think?"

The other party's words directly hit Lu Xiuyuan's soft heart, he couldn't hold back his hand and gently kissed him, "It's okay, don't be too nervous, I'll think of a way later."

Think of ways to?What else can I think of?Shi Yunchen was not very optimistic about it, because Lu Xiuyuan worshiped Dr. Xu as his teacher before, and now it is not easy for him to find a master who teaches articles. After all, how could a talented Confucian agree.

It's just that I can't intervene in this matter myself, so I have to go back after the trial and go to Jiangnan to find out the situation.

Last night, after drinking with Shi Yunchen until late at night, Lu Xiuyuan was still in a trance when he woke up in the morning.

After washing with cold water, he finally woke up a little bit, and after he finished his breakfast, he continued to go out to explore the road.

He only observed it for one day yesterday, and the conclusions he drew may be somewhat one-sided. He plans to observe for two more days before arranging his own study plan.

After wandering around like this for a few days, when Lu Xiuyuan was sitting at the tea stand to rest, he met the old beggar again. He was bored anyway, so why not invite him to drink and ask for some news by the way.

Invited the other party to sit down in the previous tavern. Before he could ask, the old beggar over there opened his mouth.

"Are you also a candidate for the general examination this year?" The old beggar took a sip of wine and began to say, "Your students from the countryside have no hope. You should give up early and go home."

Although Lu Xiuyuan didn't know where the other party figured out his background, he disagreed with some of the old beggar's words.

He also took a sip of wine, and then talked about those famous people in history who counterattacked from poor families, and gave them examples to demonstrate.

The old beggar laughed all the time, "Young man, these things are too simple for you to think about, it's all about talent."

Seeing the other party dry up the wine in the bowl, Lu Xiuyuan took the jar and filled the old beggar's bowl.

The other party rubbed the wine bowl, and began to explain to him with long sighs: "The children of officials and eunuchs have famous teachers in their families, no matter how bad they are, they can still make up for their weaknesses with diligence, and the children of poor families, as long as they are less talented, they will be completely good." There's no hope."

Lu Xiuyuan was also a little surprised when he heard this. He didn't expect an old beggar to understand this. He quickly refilled his wine bowl and then toasted him.

"Old man, you might as well go into more detail."

Hearing this, the other party shook his head, "There's nothing to say."

The old beggar has been begging for food in the capital all his life. He has seen this kind of thing countless times, and it is nothing new.

But seeing Lu Xiuyuan's sincere gaze, and thinking of drinking so much wine from him, he felt a little sorry, so he spoke.

"Master Wu, a great Confucian in the capital, will give lectures and studies to the students of the Taixue tomorrow. If you want to listen, you can take a seat early in the morning to listen."

Lecture?He had never heard of this, so he hurriedly asked the other party, "Can anyone go? Where is the location?"

Big places pay more attention, don't offend them unintentionally, then the loss outweighs the gain.

Hearing this question, the old beggar drank the wine in the bowl in one go, and Lu Xiuyuan quickly filled it up again, and the other party then said with a smile: "This is what the old beggar heard from the students of Taixue when he was begging, it's nothing Conditions, if you want to go, just go."