The husband is the future chief [infrastructure]

After leaving the bookstore, I went to Dongshi again. There was a shop here that sold very good caramel. Jiang Ziyan thought that there were still a few half-grown children at home, so he bought it for them.

The days of July passed quickly, fleeting like a meteor, and it entered August in a blink of an eye, and there were less than ten days left before the start of the college examination.

During this period of time, Lin Zhao has been nestling in the room to study, and Jiang Ziyan, apart from settling home affairs, also visited the neighbors who live on both sides.

The family they lived in before this house was also in business, and later the whole family moved to the south because of business affairs.It was late at night when they moved here, so they didn't have time to get to know their new neighbors.

The family on the left, surnamed Zhang, opened a wonton shop two streets away and also sold other foods.The family on the right, surnamed Li, opened a noodle restaurant on Nanhe Street.

The house that Jiang Ziyan bought used his surname, which was called Jiang's house.There are many people living in their family, but basically there are no female relatives. Except for Han Yuxiu, the others are all elders, so the neighbors who moved here these days did not dare to come to say hello, and they don't know exactly what business they do.

Jiang Ziyan brought a jug of wine and a bag of sugar to visit a few neighbors who were nearby, and briefly talked about the situation of his own house, thinking that he should first establish a good relationship with the neighbors, so that it would be more convenient for him to help with anything in the future.

On No.12 of August, the hospital examination began.

Just like Lin Zhao went to take the exam before, Jiang Ziyan went to the kitchen to cook for him early in the morning.Fortunately, the weather is not cold now. It is still very hot in August, but it is better than cold. If it is hot, it will be hot. Just drink a few more bowls of water and endure it.If it is too cold, even the hand holding the pen will freeze and affect it.

The hospital examination lasted for five days. Jiang Ziyan was afraid of Lin Zhao's heatstroke, so he waited for him in front of the dragon gate early every time.Lin Zhao's progress in poetry and poetry in the past six months has been very obvious. After he finished answering the questions, he still had time to copy them down.

The weather was hot, so Jiang Ziyan didn't let Chang Lin come with him, Feng Ke followed him.

Holding a bamboo basket in his hand, there is a cup of fruit tea with ice in it, and a clean cotton handkerchief, which is convenient for Lin Zhao to cool down and wipe his sweat after the exam.

Lin Zhao answered the questions very quickly. His seat in the examination room was on the west side, facing the sun in the afternoon. Although he sat under the examination booth, part of him was exposed to the sun.

After the test, his arms were flushed from the sun, and the color of his neck, which was exposed outside the clothes, was obviously different from the rest of his body. After only two days in the sun, there was a clear dividing line.

Outside the examination room, Lin Zhao saw Jiang Ziyan as soon as he left Longmen.He stepped forward, stood in the shade, and said, "Brother, how many times have I told you that you don't need to come pick me up. It's too hot today, be careful of heatstroke."

Jiang Ziyan took out fruit tea from the bamboo basket and handed it to him, and then took out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat, "You candidates are the hardest, sitting in the sun for a whole day, I think some people just fainted and were carried out , I'm worried that you'll get sunburned too."

Maybe Jiang Ziyan wiped his sweat too gently. Lin Zhao's ears were red. Jiang Ziyan thought he was sunburned when he saw it. He pulled his arm and said, "It's too hot here, let's go back and talk about it."

It was a hot day for five days in a row, except for a fan, they were not allowed to bring in the examination room, for fear that candidates would cheat.To pass the imperial examinations and gain fame requires not only a bright mind, but also a strong body.

Fortunately, Lin Zhao's physique is quite strong, but after the five-day exam, he was completely tanned.It will take a few days for the list to be released. Jiang Ziyan and the others live in Fucheng now. When the name comes out, just go to the list.Those whose families are far away are either renting a house in the city, and then go home after the rankings are released and the grades are obtained.Or just go home and hire someone to report.

……

There are about [-] families living in the alleys and alleys of Hulu Lane. After living here for half a month, people in the yard of the Jiang family seldom go out.One is because of the hot weather, and the other is that the paper mill and brewery that Jiang Ziyan plans to open are not yet ready.

The temperature dropped a little before dinner, and there was a soft wind blowing. This is the most comfortable time of the day.

There is a very tall locust tree at the entrance of the alley.But this pagoda tree grows tall and strong, and many people enjoy the shade under the tree every summer.The most important thing is that the trees are full of Sophora japonica every year. People in the alleys are scrambling to smash the Sophora japonica, and after picking up a basket full, go home and steam it for food.

Jiang Ziyan's yard is full of elders and children, and Han Yuxiu is the only female family member.At first, the people in the alley thought she was a girl waiting to be married. After a long time, they heard the crying of a child in the Jiang family's house. Then everyone knew that this young lady was married and had a child.

It was still early after dinner, and the summer days were long. The women in the alley had nothing to do for entertainment, so they all came out to cool off under the old locust tree, discussing the latest news with each other.

Among them, the most talked about is Jiang Ziyan's family who have just moved to Hulu Alley.

"Do you think that little lady is Jiang Langjun's wife?"

"I don't think so."

"How do you say that?"

"I heard them talking in the yard a few days ago, so Mr. Jiang Lang called him Miss Xiu!"

"Could it be that Lin Langjun's wife?"

"This is even more impossible. I took a look at Mr. Lin from a distance. He is younger than Mr. Jiang, and both of them call her Miss Xiu."

"So they are siblings! Whose child is that?"

The cheap-mouthed one said, "Who knows, there are several men coming and going in and out of the Jiang family, who knows whose seed it is."

As soon as the words came out, several people around laughed. They were saying that the little lady was indiscreet, but they were not talking about anyone in their family. After all, they had nothing to do with their own family, and no one refuted .

Originally, it was difficult for Han Yuxiu to bring a child by herself, and she was a young widow. This world is not friendly to widows, just look at the little widow in Qingping Village before.

Han Yuxiu doesn't go out very often, so it stands to reason that these gossips wouldn't reach her ears.But she doesn't go out. Mother Liu around her always has to go out on weekdays.

Mama Liu had a very good impression of Han Yuxiu. Although her words were gentle and gentle, she was very assertive, and she couldn't be treated like the current person at all.

There are all kinds of gossip outside, and sometimes she is too angry to argue.But she only had one mouth, and she couldn't speak to so many people in front of her. Sometimes she couldn't help complaining to Han Yuxiu after hearing the angrily returned.

However, Han Yuxiu, who is only 19 years old, is no longer as impulsive as she was back then. She is a fool who believes what other people say.After experiencing major events in her life, she doesn't care about the gossip outside.

It was released five days later.

Jiang Ziyan thought it was too hot, so he didn't go to see the list himself, but he wanted to know the news early, so he asked Feng Ke to stay in the place where the list was released in advance.

He looked even more nervous than Lin Zhao, and would ask Feng Ke every quarter of an hour if he was back.

After repeating it five or six times, Feng Ke came back.

"How? How?" Jiang Ziyan asked repeatedly.

Feng Ke made a gesture, two.

"Master No. 2."

Jiang Ziyan was very happy. Although he was not the top of the case, the second place was already very good.The second place in the hospital examination is equivalent to the second place in the province before!

"Tell this news to Master Cen quickly. Mama Sun, go and buy more meat and vegetables and come back. Let Daqiao go with you so that you can get things conveniently. Today we will make a few tables of dishes to celebrate!"

In addition, Jiang Ziyan also asked Liu's mother to go out and buy melon seeds, peanuts and sugar, and distributed them to the neighbors in the alley to make them happy.

It was only from the people in the alley that I found out that Lin Langjun, the newly moved family, was admitted as a scholar.

The daughter-in-law of the Zhang family on the left, Mrs. Zhang, was shocked. Seeing Han Yuxiu taking Mother Liu out to scatter melon seeds and peanuts for them, she wanted to say hello and go back. Now that they heard that their family has been selected as a scholar, her face is full of enthusiasm. , not only said hello with a smile, but also took the initiative to say: "It's hot, little lady is going to stand in the shade, don't bask in the sun. Our neighbors, if there is anything to do in the future, just say hello, come and walk around when you have nothing to do on weekdays." .”

Mrs. Zhang's words were true, and she completely forgot the gossip she said a few days ago when she was enjoying the coolness under the old locust tree.There is only a wall between her yard and the west wing where Han Yuxiu lives, and she can hear the child's cries most clearly.

Han Yuxiu smiled, and said, "Hello Mrs. Zhang, my surname is Han, just call me Mrs. Han."

"Hey, Mrs. Han. Our family runs a wonton shop on the street. I'll bring you some later. Try it!"

"Then thank you Mrs. Zhang." With a smile on her face, Han Yuxiu exchanged greetings with Mrs. Zhang for a while.

In the past, Han Yuxiu was a straightforward person, she showed her mood all over her face, and others could tell what she was thinking just by looking at her face, she suffered a lot for this, and now she has learned to behave well.

Han Yuxiu didn't say who her husband's family was, and when she introduced herself, she also called herself Miss Han, and she had a child with her, which further confirmed Zhang's guess that she was a young widow.

The world was difficult, and it was even more harsh on women. Although Zhang didn't have any malice towards Han Yuxiu, she just talked a little bit, and she also contributed a lot of content to the rumors outside.

But now that the Jiang family has a scholar, it made her restrain herself a lot.

Originally thought that Han Yuxiu would hide her status as a widow, Zhang did not dare to ask his husband's family.Unexpectedly, she took the initiative to mention her past.

"Sister-in-law Zhang, you don't know something. I was born with a hard life. My parents died early and I married a scholar. I didn't expect to be deceived by him. He had a family but kept it from me. In the end, his wife came to the door and made a fuss." Everyone knows, but he didn't come out like a turtle. I was pregnant at the time, so I went to my grandfather with all my heart."

Mrs. Zhang did not expect that Han Yuxiu's life was so rough at such a young age. Both women, especially the other party's life was not as good as hers. This greatly aroused Zhang's sympathy and pity.

She cursed: "Bah, this man is really not a thing!"

"Well, fortunately, the difficult days are over." Han Yuxiu said, "Oh, by the way, my grandfather is Lin Xiucai's teacher in our family. He took one to live in. My grandfather was worried about Xiaobao and me, but thanks to the kindness of Jiang Langjun's family, he let us all move here."

After saying this, Mrs. Zhang finally understood the relationship of Jiang Zhai's family, so he said how could this young widow live with several big men.

After Han Yuxiu's explanation, Mrs. Zhang knew that Zhang Qiu in the courtyard was Jiang Ziyan's sworn brother, and Feng Ke was his hired guard.Besides, Lin Zhao, who is a scholar, took care of his elderly teacher, and it was reasonable for him to bring his family members to live with him. Filial piety and teacher morality are both good things to talk about.

Han Yuxiu told Mrs. Zhang so much in order to let people outside know clearly that it doesn't matter if she insults her reputation, and she can't even insult Jiang Langjun and Lin Xiucai's reputation.

Mrs. Zhang is a talkative person. What Han Yuxiu said to him and her today will surely be known by everyone in the alley in a few days. This is the power of public opinion.

Han Yuxiu clarified this time that although others' prejudice against her could not be completely eliminated, it was still much less, and a large part of people sympathized with her experience.It is important to be able to allow others to insult the reputation of other members of the family.

Mrs. Zhang returned home, holding a bag of melon seeds and a bag of peanuts in her hand. The family's son was four or five years old, and when he saw something to eat, he clamored for it.

Mrs. Zhang scolded him with a sullen face, "Eat, eat, eat, you know how to eat all day long, don't you know what to do besides eating?"

As soon as her man came back, she heard her mother-in-law scolding her son, and said, "What's wrong?"

"Head of the family, let me tell you, our new neighbor next door has been admitted as a scholar. Today's list was released, and the little widow in the family even gave us melon seeds and peanuts, saying it was a joy."

If it was in the village, Lin Zhao would have to set up several banquet tables if he passed the examination as a scholar.But they had just moved to Fucheng, and the neighbors around them were not familiar with them, so they only invited melon seeds and peanuts, and there was no banquet.Jiang Ziyan planned to wait for Zhou Xing and the veterans to come and then make a few tables.

The man was surprised when he heard Mrs. Zhang's words. He knew that he had been busy in the shop all day today, and there were people around him. His relatives were selected as scholars, but they lived next to his house. He was a scholar so close to their house. It's the first time I've encountered it.

The man was surprised and said: "I didn't expect that our Hulu Lane also produced a scholar, and he is our neighbor."

"And I heard that the grandfather of the little widow next door is the teacher of Lin Xiucai." Zhang said again.

"Really? A teacher who can teach talents must be a good teacher. In the future, you will visit their house more often, and you will help if you need help. Our eldest child is also at the age of school, and maybe you can Follow the old gentleman in their family to study, and you will be tested as a scholar in the future!"