The husband's son-in-law

In the Dali Dynasty, the local administration was divided. The highest level was the chief secretary and the military command post. The former was in charge of government affairs, such as civil affairs, finance, land, household registration, money and grain, and official assessment of several states below.

Chief envoy from the second grade.

There were a total of thirteen chief secretaries in the Dali Dynasty, and there were 120 and five prefectures at the bottom. The prefectures were official rank five officials, and then there were more than 500 prefectures and counties, county magistrates of seventh rank, and more than 1000 towns and villages after that.

The latter army command post is the local army stationed. There are a total of seven command posts, which are military power.The master of the supreme command post is also from the second rank, at the same level as the Chief Secretary.

Ningping County is one of the Wannan prefectures, and there are eight towns under its jurisdiction, and Ningsong Town is one of them.There are also some large and small villages under each town.

In the imperial examination, the first step is to take the examination for children, as long as they are in the town where their household registration is, they can take the examination.

For example, Zhao Ze, the grandson of Mr. Zhao in Xiping Village, took the exams in spring and drove to the town.After passing the Tongsheng exam, you are eligible for the next exam for scholar, and then you have to go to the prefecture.After being admitted as a scholar, if you want to take the exam, you have to go to the state capital, that is, Wannan Prefecture to take the exam.

Juren passed the exam, and then went to the capital to take the Jinshi exam.

Gu Zhao talked to Zhou Zhou about science in the mule cart.

"Sir, I thought Ningping Mansion is already very big, and there is a bigger state capital." Li Zhouzhou was surprised when he heard that there were too many people in the prefecture and the county, and there were also many people in the inn. was stolen.

In the past two days, my husband was taking the exam inside, so he waited outside the exam hall.

"With so many people, the exam must be very difficult." Li Zhouzhou became worried.

Gu Zhao was relaxed, he was a tester everywhere, he reached out and patted Zhou Zhou's hand, and said with a smile: "This time it's okay, I see that there are not many people in the examination room."

There are eight towns under Ninh Binh Mansion, and I don’t know how many villages there are, but if a village can produce a boy to take the exam for a scholar, it is the village’s ability. Most of the two or three villages have a boy.There are many children in the town.

There are a total of 150 five children in this exam, and the top [-] are selected.

Gu Zhao didn't say that the top [-] is considered a pass in the exam, but Zhou Zhou was worried about it.Then he changed the subject and asked the father who was driving the car in front, "Dad, should we use fertilizer on the dry fields when we go back?"

"I planted four acres, but I didn't make time for the rest. Farm officials from the prefecture and county came to register. They asked about when to plant and how to make fertilizer all day long, which took some time." Li Da said.

The agricultural officer sounds powerful and has an official character, but in fact, there is no grade, and it is not a formal examination of the imperial examination.

As soon as Li Zhouzhou and Gu Zhao went to the prefecture, the agricultural officials sent by the prefecture came, and brought four or five policemen with them.

"Unfortunately, the official, Li Da sent his brother-in-law Gu Zhao to the prefecture to take the exam before dawn."

When the agricultural officer came, he heard that the fertilizer was researched by Gu Shulang, so he nodded, first asked the village chief about the fertilizer, and took someone to see the situation in the field.In the evening of the second day, Li Da came back with a mule cart and met the agricultural officer.

In the beginning, Li Da, like the village head, tried his best to answer the agricultural officer's inquiries with sincerity, but the agricultural officer's questions were too detailed.

"How much ash to add, how much water to add, how to ferment in what weather..." Li Da learned from his brother-in-law and son in front of the car, "I said I will do it again, they just remember it, and they still have to ask me, why did you just do it?" When two buckets of water are full, this bucket is half full again, why is the half bucket missing?"

Because there was only a bottom left in the water tank, he thought about making do with it first.

When I was doing it at home, the hole I dug was in the backyard, how much plant ash and water to put in, how did he know, it was not enough to make a gesture, but it had to be accurate.

When fertilizing, there is also the weather, season, and how much to register. Li Da originally could fertilize two acres of land a day, but was watched and questioned by the people next to him.

So when the time came, Li Da hurriedly found an excuse to go to the prefecture to pick up his brother-in-law and son, drove the mule cart and left.

Gu Zhao heard it in the carriage, his father was being annoyed, he had been to Li's house for so long, and he had never seen his father talking so much.

"I'll talk to the agricultural officer when I go back."

Li Da breathed a sigh of relief, he also thought so, "Go back and accompany Mr. Huang, the remaining fields of our family have to be harvested quickly."

We were talking all the way, and it was about to start to rain lightly. On the way, we stopped for a while, took out the door curtain that originally covered the carriage, and put it on our body, probably to cover it from the rain.Fortunately, it didn't rain heavily, but the meeting was delayed, and it was already late at night when we got home.

Going back and opening the door, the three of them did their own thing, the one who started the fire started the fire, and the one who put away the luggage put away the things.Li Da felt sorry for the mule, so he drove the mule to the backyard and entered the shed, fed the mule with forage and water first, and then returned to the front yard when he saw the mule lying down after eating.

The hot water in the front is ready, the three of them wash up, and they barely deal with it, let's go to bed first.

On the kang.

Gu Zhao hugged his wife's waist and deliberately rubbed his head against Zhou Zhou's chest to make a fuss.Li Zhouzhou just laughed, feeling itchy from being rubbed, the strings that were tense in the prefecture and county days relaxed, hugged Xianggong's head, and gently stroked it.

"Go to sleep." Gu Zhao raised his head and kissed Zhou Zhou's lips.

In the past few days, Zhou Zhou accompanied him to the exam, and he was not relaxed after being tired, not to mention physically, Zhou Zhou had money on his body, there were people coming and going in the county inn, and he was afraid that the money would be stolen by thieves. Fortunately, he went to the exam, so he probably couldn't sleep well every night.

This sleep was solid, deep and long, and when I woke up, it was already bright outside.

Li Zhouzhou put on his clothes in a hurry, he had never woke up so late before, and he didn't hear the rooster crowing in the backyard, could it be that something happened to the rooster?

The husband also got up, and he was just sleeping in.

Li Zhouzhou was anxious and annoyed. No one in the village slept until the sun was high.After getting dressed, he tied his hair with a cloth band, and hurried outside. The yard was empty, and neither Xianggong nor father was there. He went to the stove house, and there was a piece of firewood under the stove. Hot multigrain porridge, with a small bowl of pickles on the table, steamed buns in the rear stove pot, and hot water underneath.

I don't know if it was done by my father or my husband.

Li Zhouzhou first washed his face with hot water, and when he heard movement at the door, he saw that Mr. Gong still had a few faces when he came out of the kitchen—he couldn't help but think of the agricultural officer that his father said, he froze in place, not knowing what to do to salute .

"Guard Huang, this is Gu's wife, Li Zhouzhou." Gu Zhao introduced a sentence to the agricultural officer, and said, "Please go to the backyard first, everyone."

The agricultural officer led the four of them around the backyard.

"Sir, is that your lord?" Li Zhouzhou asked in a low voice when he saw the person walking away: "Did I be rude? I should have been polite just now."

Gu Zhao: "Don't worry, you can make a bow when you meet in the future, I'll teach you."

The agricultural officer has no rank, but to the white peasants in the village, he is also a big shot from the prefecture and county, but there is no need to kneel and kowtow.The agricultural officer cannot afford such a heavy gift.

Earlier, Steward Huang came with a messenger, reported his identity and took his badge, and just handed it to the village head, the village chief knelt down to kowtow, and Steward Huang was also startled, and immediately helped him up and said no, which frightened him. up.Later, the village head Sansan didn't know how to deal with him, so he bent over when he saw him.

Just make a bow and that's it.

"Have you eaten yet? Daddy cooked the porridge in the morning, and I got up late too. I made the pickles. Daddy drank a bowl of porridge and ate a steamed bun before going to the field." Gu Zhaoqian couldn't eat the steamed bun porridge. , I cut some pickles to serve with porridge.

Li Zhouzhou: "Master, why didn't you call me when I got up so late?"

"It's nothing serious at home, and it's okay to sleep too much." Gu Zhao still has work to do, and hurriedly explained to Zhou Zhou, "You obediently eat your breakfast, and Manager Huang is recording fertilizers in the backyard. If you don't feel used to being restrained, Then do some other work in the hall."

"I know Xianggong."

Li Zhouzhou didn't delay his husband's work, so he nodded obediently.

Gu Zhao went to the backyard, and Manager Huang was waiting. After chatting for a while, he knew that Manager Huang is also a pragmatic person. One side of the land supports one person, and if he wants to promote the development of fertilizers in the villages under the Ningping Mansion, of course he can't Feel free to mess around, register carefully, and make adjustments.

Guanshi Huang and Gu Shulang had been dealing with each other all morning. He didn't know how well Gu Shulang studied, but his seriousness in farming was commendable, but sometimes he spoke too fast, and Gu Shulang kept saying words he didn't understand, and then changed his words. .

"...Dry manure water, plant ash and manure, ten to one to one, I mean the dry manure we make now, ten buckets of water, one bucket of burnt wheat straw ash and one bucket of manure."

"In the first year, the wheat straw in our house was almost gone. At that time, we used rotten vegetation in the mountains, which were burned to ashes. If the manure was scarce, it would be like a place where livestock and poultry shit all the year round. The soil can also be used. , very fat."

……

After Li Zhouzhou had breakfast, he washed the pots and bowls, removed the set of quilts he took to the prefecture, and took them to the riverside to wash them in the afternoon. In the inn in the prefecture, it was always unclean after being drenched in the rain on the way back. .

I got up late this morning, and I didn't have enough time, so I hurried to cook after removing the bedding.

Thinking that there will be a manager in the back, Li Zhouzhou stewed a pot of multigrain rice, cut up what he had at home, and sausages and pot meat made during the Chinese New Year can be fried into two bowls of meat dishes.

Lunch was ready, and Li Da, who was fat all morning, came back. First, he took off the old clothes outside, washed his hands and face with water, and Li Zhouzhou changed his father to a new pot of hot water. After a while, it was clean and tasteless.

"The table is moved to the yard to eat."

The tables and stools in the main room were moved to the yard, and the agricultural officer and the four messengers had lunch at Li's house. After eating, the five of them stayed at the village head's house, but they had to go to the fields to have a look. Get fat and see how.

In the afternoon, Li Zhouzhou went to wash clothes by the river with a basin. There were only two of them when he went, but after a while, uncles and aunts all came out with one or two laundry items in their hands. Just washed it in the morning.

"Zhou Zhou, are you back? How is the prefecture?"

"How did Gu Shulang do in the exam? Can he pass?"

"What do you mean, why do Zhou Zhou pick it up? It's up to God whether it's good or not, but if it doesn't work out, there will be a next time. What's the matter?"

"Bah, what you said is not as good as mine."

The aunt who just said that she was taking the test next time slapped her mouth lightly with an apologetic smile, and said, "Auntie can't speak, Gu Shulang will definitely succeed, Zhou Zhou don't take it to heart."

"I know that everyone is kind enough to care about Mr. Li." Li Zhou replied one by one: "I came back late last night, and it rained while walking. Fortunately, the rain was not heavy. There are many people in the prefecture and county, and the expenses are also high. I don't know how the exam is going. ..."

He thought about his husband saying that there were too many people, so there was naturally some worry on his brows.

Aunt and uncle saw it, and knew in their hearts that it might not be very good, hey, what should I do, Gu Shulang is such a good person, but it turned out——ah.

God open your eyes.

Afterwards they all dispersed, and other people in the village asked how they were doing. The uncles and aunts who answered said that Gu Shulang is a very good person and must be blessed.The big guy knew what was going on in his heart.

This exam is estimated to be suspended.

Gu Shulang thinks about the cost of fertilizers, so he may be less educated.

The agricultural officer has been rooted in Li's family for two days, and no one in the village easily goes to Li's house - the big guys are still in awe of the adults from the prefecture and county, and dare not approach.

On the third day, the agricultural officer went back to the prefecture first, and the remaining four messengers went to Dongping Village, Shili Village, and Datian Village to teach how to make fertilizer—first promote the villages around Ningsong Town.The fertilizer for the paddy fields also includes stone powder, and the prefecture and county will send people to increase the burning of stone powder.

The field is the root of farmers. Some people don't believe it, so they want to wait for other people in the village to fertilize it for a year to see how the harvest is before planting it the next year.It will take at least three years for these fertilizers to spread to the villages under the jurisdiction of Ningping County.

As soon as the agricultural officer left, Brother Xing came over with Yuan Yuan in his arms.

"I didn't dare to come here to ask before, how is it?" Brother Xing asked.

Li Zhouzhou was doing the work in hand, shook his head and said: "I don't know, my husband said that there are not many people going to take the exam, but I am waiting outside, and there are about [-] people who just accompany the exam. Said that only the top twenty will be recorded."

Xianggong didn't say anything, he inquired about it outside the examination institute.

Brother Xing was stunned, "It's too little, why not even half of it." Seeing Zhou Zhou's worried expression, he quickly changed the subject: "Have you gone to the prefecture to play? What kind of clothes do people in the prefecture wear? , what jewelry do you wear, what do you wear?"

"I can't tell, I didn't pay attention to this." Li Zhouzhou said honestly.

Brother Xing: "When will the results come out? Are you still going to the prefecture?"

"I asked for errands to report the results. My husband said it's not good. I'm tired. Dad will drive the mule cart to go again. The family field needs to be fertilized, so just spend some money. The results will be out in one day." Li Zhouzhou said nervously Woke up.

Brother Xing was curious about the cost this time, and said that reading was expensive, and he had seen it before when Li Zhouzhou bought paper and pens last time, but now that the harvest in the fields is good, his originally suppressed thoughts are a little fuzzy, so he just pays for it. For a child, let’s not mention whether to send him to study or not, just ask the general manager?

"How much did it cost this time?"

"The inn I stayed in on the first day was cheap, but it was far away from the examination institute. It was 25 Wen a night, and I asked for two rooms. The next day I went to a nearby one. This inn is good, [-] Wen a night—"

"Fifty Wen!! Or just sleep for one night?" Brother Xing stared round, why is it such a big expense, and said: "No wonder uncle got up in the middle of the night to drive to the prefecture. Didn't rush back in the dark."

Fifty cents a room for one night's sleep, it requires him, and he is not willing to sleep for an extra night.What a precious bed.

Brother Xing still counted with his fingers, "I slept for six nights in total, and even the two 350 Wen rooms from the previous night, I got [-] Wen for nothing."

"The food is slightly more expensive than the town's one or two pennies." Li Zhouzhou also thinks it is expensive.

These foods are still available at small stalls, such as plain noodles, steamed buns, steamed buns, etc. I dare not go to restaurants, let alone go to restaurants.

"The exam is really expensive. If you don't pass the exam, it's not a waste of money..." Brother Xing realized that he didn't speak well, and quickly explained to Zhou Zhou: "I'm not talking about your husband, I'm saying it's too expensive , I had a little thought of sending Yuan Yuan to study, but now I'm gone."

Well, his family Yuan Yuan can't read books anymore.Every time I just thought of it, I fell again.

In the courtyard of the Li family, Li Zhou and Zhou Xing chatted with each other, and Gu Zhao went to Mrs. Zhao's house in Dongping Village after breakfast early in the morning.After he finished the exam, he went to visit his master's house out of reason.

In the courtyard of Zhao's house, although no one spoke loudly, they could feel that everyone in the house was nervous.

Zhao Ze was ten years old in early spring, and went to the town to take the examination for the children's students. The children's results were one day late.

"Zhao'er is here." Mistress wiped her hands on the apron, she was always able to talk and laugh, but now she didn't know what to say, she opened her mouth and said, "You go to the room and have a meeting."

Gu Zhao went into the back room.Mrs. Zhao paced back and forth with a ruler in his hand. Zhao Ze stood in the middle of the main room, as if he had just cried, with his hands behind his back and his palms flushed.

Master Zhao slapped Zhao Ze's palm.

"Master." Gu Zhao bowed and explained why he came a few days late.Master Zhao also knew that there was an agricultural officer in Xiping Village, so of course he didn't pay much attention to Gu Zhao, and focused all his energy on his grandson.

Gu Zhao didn't pass the exam, and the Li family could take the exam a few more times for a hundred taels of silver.

"En." Mrs. Zhao nodded, looked at his grandson again, and said in a solemn voice, "I memorized it well at home, why did I forget it when I went to the exam? Is that a sentence that can't be answered wrong?"

Zhao Ze was stunned. It was already the third day since the exam, and he had forgotten more than half of the exam questions. He really didn't know which answer was right and which one was wrong.

When Gu Zhao saw Mrs. Zhao training his grandson, he said a few words politely, implying that he would postpone his return for a few days—the news of the exam will come down soon.Master Zhao waved his hand, got it, then stared at Zhao Ze and continued to ask.

Coming out of Zhao's house courtyard, I could still hear the sound of the ruler falling on the palm of my hand, Zhao Ze was crying, Zhao Ze's mother's eyes were red outside, but she didn't dare to go in to stop her.

Unlike Zhu Xiucai's poor family, the Zhao family's situation is better, but Mr. Zhao put all his life's imperial examination hopes on Zhao Ze, who was only nine years old. He got up before dawn and practiced calligraphy every day. The scorching heat didn't stop.

Hope to pass the exam.

Gu Zhao sighed, then saw Aunt Dongping looking at him, cupped her hands, and left.

As soon as he left, the aunt on the back foot said: I saw Gu Zhaogang from the Li family in Xiping Village just came out of Mrs. Zhao's house, with a sad face and sighed.

It was passed around, and the four members of the Gu family knew about it before it was dark.

No play again this time.

The aunt of the second room said to the man: "Gu Zhao is not material for studying. Now that he is the son-in-law of Li's family, thirty cash is fine this time. If there is another time, you listen to what Auntie said and ask me to give money. I am It is absolutely impossible to agree."

Thirty cents to buy a piece of candy to sweeten your baby's mouth, isn't it good? Giving it to Gu Zhaona is a waste of money.

The two villages were not optimistic about Gu Shulang's test results this time. They talked a lot in private, and they were afraid that there would be no news. The next test would have to wait until the next year.

Naturally, no one took Li Da and Li Zhouzhou to say these words face to face.

When it was the day when the grades were released, Li Zhouzhou looked at the work, but he kept forgetting what he was doing and felt restless.Li Da didn't go to the fields anymore, he just wandered around the village entrance. Seeing Li Da and his son like this, the villagers knew that today's grades were released, and when no one came after dark, they knew it was really bad food and failed.

Every family sighed with their doors closed, and finally said it was a pity, or maybe the Li family had money to pay for it.

Aunt Wang's home cooked dinner well. When I saw Hun Xing, I heard the man say that Li Da would not go back until late at night, and no outsider came here today. I am afraid that Gu Shulang missed this time——

"What's the matter? It's getting dark, but I didn't win this time." Aunt Wang corrected, "If anyone wants to come, they will come long ago. If today is too long, they should have arrived long ago."

That's true.

Aunt Wang said while eating, "If you want me to say that you shouldn't spend that money to take the exam for a scholar, even if you pass the exam, you see that there is nothing good about Zhao Xiucai's family in Dongping Village. You should just go to the fields and work honestly." Live well."

"Before, Gu Shulang didn't see him reading every day in the village. He was either thinking about fertilizers or stoves. I don't think he is a scholar at all."

Talk about that routine.

"Mother, the crops in our field are good, that was also Gu Shulang's idea, now that Gu Shulang failed the exam, let's stop talking about it." Aunt Wang's eldest son said.

The main reason is that I am tired of listening, and it is because of the ten-cent money stove that I have remembered it until now.

Even if Gu Shulang failed the exam, the Li family still has a plaque in the village.

In Li's courtyard.

Li Zhouzhou secretly wiped his tears away from his husband, and when he heard footsteps outside, he quickly wiped away his tears.

"Crying for me?" Gu Zhaogang poured the footwashing water.

Li Zhouzhou didn't lie, he hummed, and cheered up and said, "It's not a big deal. It just so happens that I have experience this time, and the family has saved up money. Let's take the exam next time. Don't be sad, my husband. Don't be discouraged."

"I know." Gu Zhao went to sit on the kang, and confessed honestly: "I think I answered well. After so many years of experience in the exam, I remanded a big question. The short answer in the front is also correct. It doesn't make sense."

Of course he would be more modest if his grades didn't come out outside, and he was afraid of being slapped in the face, but Gu Zhao didn't have so many scruples in front of Zhou Zhou, and his family Zhou Zhou wouldn't laugh at him.

Li Zhouzhou didn't know much about learning, so he could only hear the puzzlement in Xianggong's voice, so he hugged Xianggong and comforted him and said, "Maybe I was delayed on the way to deliver the letter, I'll wait and see tomorrow."

"I think so too." Gu Zhao rubbed his wife's chest muscles.

If he didn't pass the exam this time, he really doubted himself.

As a result, I waited another day the next day, but good news came from Mr. Zhao's family in Dongping Village. Zhao Ze had passed the exam and is now a ten-year-old boy.

Speaking of the ten-year-old child prodigy, Gu Zhao couldn't help but mention it.Gu Zhao used to be ten years old, and every household in the village boasted and boasted, but now he is still not like that.

Becoming a son-in-law at home, this time the scholar did not pass the exam.

Sigh.

That night, Gu Zhao doubted life, and Li Zhouzhou felt uncomfortable when he saw it, so he didn't care about his reserve and shyness, and took the initiative to untie Xiang Kilometer's clothes, wanting to warm him with tenderness and tenderness.

Gu Zhao: ...

It didn't take long for the doubt to be lost, but it didn't take long to be happy.

The reason for taking the imperial examination is to let the family live a better life, not to let Zhou Zhou and his father worry about his sorrow and happiness for him, so we can't put the cart before the horse.After Gu Zhao figured it out, he encouraged himself.

Of course it was fun tonight.

My wife is so nice.

On the second day before lunch, Uncle Wang at the entrance of the village saw that a stranger had come, and thought it was a messenger, so he hurriedly told Xiao Tian not to eat, and ran errands to Li's house to say that a stranger had come.

When Li Da heard this, he left his job and hurried out.

The same goes for Li Zhouzhou and Gu Zhao.Aunt Wang next door saw it, and murmured in her heart, could it be that she came to deliver a letter?But it's two days too late...

Looking over, it turned out that there was an oolong.

Where did the stranger come from the prefecture to deliver news and errands, but to deliver stone tablets.Everyone in Li got a tablet a few years ago, and Gu Zhao told the village head that his family paid for a stone tablet. Everyone in the village knew about it. Later, when they didn’t start work during the Chinese New Year, they were busy fertilizing the fields again, which has been delayed until now.

People pushed the shelf cart and delivered the stele in person.

Uncle Wang was embarrassed, and apologized to Zhou Zhou, "I saw it was a stranger's face, and thought it was someone from the prefecture to deliver a letter, so Xiaotian hurried away, but I didn't expect it to be a stone tablet..."

"It's okay, Uncle Wang." Gu Zhao said.

Uncle Wang is also kind-hearted. Although there are a large group of villagers watching now, I am afraid that this joke will be passed on for ten days and a half months, but the heavens have given them a big mandate--

Gu Zhao didn't want to comfort himself like this, saying that it was impossible not to lose, but he was thick-skinned and able to regulate himself, so it was nothing but making Zhou Zhoukong happy.

Just after listening to the sound, I put the bowl and came over.Thinking of this, Gu Zhao held Zhou Zhou's hand and patted it, meaning don't be sad.

The big guys watching at the entrance of the village said a few words of relief, it’s okay, I’ll take the exam next time, I heard it’s difficult, and now the crops are harvested well, it’s okay to farm.The village chief drove the big guys back to their respective homes, don't be silly, these words poked the heart of Li's father and son.

Everyone was about to disperse, when someone shouted from a distance: "Is Master Li of Xiping Village here? Master Li of Xiping Village, Gu Zhaozhong, has been hit."

What's the matter, why are there still people who don't open which pot and which pot to lift, medium, medium, medium or something.

Isn't it enough to make fun of Gu Shulang?

The village head became angry, and looked around with a suspenseful face. The villagers waved their hands quickly after being stared at, meaning that he didn't mean what he said.

Who said that?

Everyone saw a young man at the entrance of the village, about 20 years old.

"Is this Xiping Village, Ningsong Town? May I ask if everyone, Li, is here? I'm looking for Gu Shulang and Gu Zhao. He passed the examination for a scholar."

The mouth of the messenger running errands was dry, and when he saw a group of people staring at him, he swallowed dryly, and spoke halfway again, but this time, the village head reacted before he finished speaking.

"Yes, yes, you are from the prefecture? Li Da, come quickly, your family, Gu Shulang, passed the exam."

This is great news.

After that, I stopped mentioning it, and the onlookers in the village exploded, happily asking around the young man who was running errands.Originally, the villagers gathered around to confirm the good news. After a while, the whole village knew that Gu Shulang of Master Li had passed the exam.

"It's been two days since you released your grades, why did you only get the news today? Don't be fake and deceive people, right?"

"That's right. The grandson of Mr. Zhao's family in Dongping Village said that his grades were one day late in the exam. They knew about it yesterday. The scholar's grades were one day earlier, and they didn't say that the delay was so far."

The face of the messenger smiled happily, and said: "This young man who runs errands walks on his feet. You can't see two or three days when you walk from the prefecture to our village. You forgot to ask about this when Zhou Zhou paid the money. I thought it was driving a mule cart, but the young man said it himself, just to earn hard money, how could he be willing to buy a mule cart?"

"If you win, you win. Who dares to lie and deceive people in this matter? When the time comes, go to the prefecture and county to check. If not, the young man who runs errands will sue the official, and he will have to go to jail. Zhou Zhou knows where his family lives." , can’t be wrong.”

"Hey, hey, you said it was a mess, then you really hit it."

"I hit the hit, it's a great thing, and it's still the third."

"Don't mention the happy face on Li Da's face. He said that there is a banquet, and the Li family has a happy event again."

"It's a coincidence that the stone tablet in the village arrived at the front, and there was a happy event at the back. This tablet is an auspicious monument. The village chief said that it happened to be buried in the entrance of the village for a good omen on the day when Li's family held a wedding banquet. .”

"That's good, that's good."

"The money for the stele was paid by everyone from Li. It's a good deed. No wonder God blesses you."

After that, things will be handled.Ding Le, a man from the village, went to Dongping Village to report good news to Gu’s family when the banquet would be held. He also went to the public housing to get the tables, chairs, bowls and chopsticks for the banquet. The women washed and dried them. Everyone in Li has also organized banquets, so they are all experienced.

The young man who delivered the letter didn't leave either, and sat in the yard of Li's house to drink water and take a rest.

The errand fee was [-] Wen, now that I got the good news, Li Zhouzhou wrapped another [-] Wen in red paper and sent it over.

Li Dale patted the young man on the shoulder, and said lovingly: "Drink slowly, don't be in a hurry, I've had dinner at my house today, and I'll set up a banquet tomorrow before leaving."

"No, no, if I go back late, Auntie will worry about me." The young man touched the thickness of the red paper bag, and his face was also happy.He was lucky this year, accepted the job and got auspicious money.

In previous years, if I sent someone who didn't pass the exam, I didn't say it for nothing, and I didn't even give it to someone who had saliva, thinking that he was unlucky.

"Then stay overnight tonight. It will be easier for me to drive you to the town tomorrow." Li Da didn't hold back much.

This should be good for the younger generation.

Li Zhouzhou was so happy that he didn't know what to say, Xianggong really passed the exam.

In the second half of the day, the threshold of the yard of Li's house was almost broken. Every family in the village came to the door, bringing things, whether it was eggs or money, and Li Da refused to accept them. The villagers were not happy, saying that they were pleased with Gu Shulang's joy.

No, it's time to change the name to Gu Xiucai.

Zhou Zhou is also a talented husband.

Li Da suddenly became the father of a scholar.

Li Zhouzhou blushed from embarrassment, but his eyes sparkled with joy.

The next day, it was inconvenient for Li Da to go to the town. He was the host and couldn’t run away. His in-laws from Dongping Village came to congratulate him. Running errands.

Li Zhouzhou steamed meat buns yesterday, and brought three more for the errand runners.

Sitting on the mule cart with buns in his arms, the young man thought that this family has a good heart this year, which is great.With steamed stuffed buns, you can save a few pennies for meals on the road, and you can save the eighty pennies.

Yesterday, a man from Xiping Village ran errands to report to Gu's family in Dongping Village.

Gu's father was putting fertilizer on the field, only Li Guihua was at home, and Tie Dan Hutou went to the field.Seeing someone from Xiping Village say that Gu Zhao had passed the exam, Li Guihua still didn't believe it. After asking and asking, she found out that she had really passed the exam, and she was stunned for a while.

Why, why did you pass the exam?

After passing the exam, Gu Zhao will be a scholar?

The messenger didn't think it was strange when he saw Gu Shulang's stepmother. He was stunned when he heard the news. The main reason was that no one in Xiping Village had passed the exam. It was sent under a guise, and I was really stunned when I first heard it.

Afterwards, the Gu family sent letters to each other. Those who worked in the fields, those who worked in the house, men and women, old and young, all knew about it, not to mention that the faces of the four families were different, and there was only one thought in their hearts.

Gu Zhaozhen really passed the exam!

But after passing the exam, now Gu Zhao is not from the Gu family, but from the Li family.

How can the old lady feel uncomfortable in her heart, this is the face of the Gu family, but now she can only sigh in her heart, and finally said: "It should be the blessing of the Li family."

Xiping Village also talked about it, and then the village chief’s wife said: If the two fates get together, they will prosper, otherwise why Gu Shulang didn’t come, everything went wrong every week, and Gu Shulang was also in Dongping Village Every time they failed the exam, why did the two of them get married and get along smoothly? This is fate.

The big guy thought it was true, and the word spread.

The Gu family heard this and thought about it for a while, and felt that it made sense, so they comforted themselves, if Gu Zhao was in the Gu family, it might still be a bad luck to fail again and again...

If you don't think this way, what else can you think about? When Gu Si Li Guihua was having a banquet, seeing the smiles of Li Da and his son made her heart sour, especially in the village where everyone had a talented father.

Can Gu Si be happy?

Everyone's banquet was held for a whole day, and it was lively and lively.When the crowd dispersed in the evening and the three of them cleaned up, Li Zhouzhou still had a smile on his face and his eyes were still a little dazed, "Sir, did you really pass the exam?"

"Really." Gu Zhao pinched his wife's face, and Zhou Zhou's bright-eyed person was dazed. The wife who blushed after drinking a few more glasses of beer wine was so cute, "Are you tired? You sit and rest, and the rest of me Come and do it."

Li Zhouzhou smiled and shook his head, "I'm not tired, I'm happy."

Li Da was also happy, this time he was given too much alcohol, and laughed out loud from time to time while doing his work.

The atmosphere at home is cheerful, and the work is not too tiring.

Afterwards, I took gifts and went to Mr. Zhao's house in Dongping Village to thank the teacher. Although Mr. Zhao's family sat at the main table to eat at the banquet yesterday, there are still some rules that should be followed.

After sending the thank-you ceremony, I went to Dongping Village to entertain politely.

When the couple arrived home, they wanted to discuss the future.Gu Zhao passed the examination as a scholar, with a good grade of No.3. It is no surprise to enter the government school in the county. First, he must go to the county to register within one month in April. It is like a file book. After stamping, he will enter the government school later. You can report smoothly with the file booklet.

Now that Gu Zhao is a scholar, he has more benefits, [-] mu of land is tax-free, and he doesn't have to bow down when he sees an official.There is no tuition fee for entering government schools, and the monthly rice grains are first-class, which is more than half a bucket of rice for ordinary scholars who are behind in grades.

Putting these aside, the most important thing right now is to enter the official school.

If the official school is in the prefecture or county, then it has to be separated.

Li Da didn't speak when he heard this, but the smile on his face faded. He was worried about Zhou Zhou next week, but he also knew that Zhao'er was going to study in the prefecture and county government school, so Zhou Zhou must go if he was worried.

"Go, pay more attention to the door when you are outside, don't—"

"Father, let's move our family to the prefecture." Gu Zhao knew that his father had misunderstood, thinking that he and Zhou Zhou were going to the prefecture, so he said his own idea: "Father, listen to me first, I go to a government school to study, even It’s a daytime study, go there during the day, and come back in the evening, and during the daytime, it’s always unsafe to have a brother at home every week, and there are many people in the prefecture and county, and they don’t know the background of every household in the village.”

This is true.Li Da felt worried, but he couldn't let go of the crops in the field.

If you don’t farm anymore, what will you do with food and drink in the future?

That 100 taels of silver can't be dead water, right?As the old saying goes, stagnant water is afraid of scooping, and there will always be a day when scooping and scooping will see the bottom. If you stay in the village and plant crops, it will be running water, and you will have a harvest every year. Even if you spend money on studying, you can save money and have a solid foundation.

Gu Zhao knew his father's worries, and said: "Our family doesn't have to pay grain tax now, so we can let the villagers buy our land for free. From now on, every November when the farming is slack, my father will come back with a mule cart to pull grain. As long as the family has enough to eat, Dad can still chat with the villagers."

The grain tax is only so much a year, and the ten mu of paddy fields can harvest more than 5000 catties. The three big men of the Li family eat and drink a lot. In the past, the old farmers would not sell all of them. They like to keep some grain for self-defense. The [-] catties of rice left by his family last year could not be eaten in a year.

Now it is given to the villagers for free, and they only need to receive an "interest grain", which is mixed with rice, noodles, and yellow rice, and the villagers are willing to take care of it.This is a great thing to take advantage of.

"You don't have to worry about what to eat. We take care of the bulk of the expenses. We only buy vegetables and meat on weekdays, and government schools also distribute food. It's okay to be tight on living expenses." Gu Zhao said.

Their family does not move their households, and they are still farmers, so they don't have to pay poll tax.

Li Zhouzhou thought, maybe he is raising some chickens, so he can save himself from eating meat and eggs.

Seeing that his father was loose, Gu Zhao made another final blow: "You can rest assured that Zhou Zhou and I are in the prefecture. If I open my eyes in the prefecture, my studies fail, and Zhou Zhou is wronged—"

"Sanggong will not." Li Zhouzhou retorted first.Why is Xianggong talking nonsense in front of father, what if father has a bad impression of Xianggong?

Who knew that Li Da nodded and simply said, "Let's go together."

Gu Zhao was right, he had to watch this kid.

Originally