An old lady's life

The announcement at the gate of the Gongyuan was around Si time, but many people had already come outside the Gongyuan early in the morning, and the tea shops and restaurants near this street were full. The innermost part of the crowd occupies the most favorable position, which will immediately be posted on the red list, and strive to see the results as soon as possible.

Jia Zheng's expression was calm now, but his heart was extremely nervous. His hands were behind his back and his fists were clenched tightly. It was obviously the late autumn of October, but his palms were wet with sweat.

Yu Qiu was not much better, but he was younger than Jia Zheng, but Jia Zheng came from a wealthy family and had already married and established a business, while he only had a mother. This is an opportunity to accomplish major events in life.

With the sound of gongs and drums, a few yamen servants walked out of the tribute courtyard, "Let's go, what do you think if we don't post?" As the yamen servant's words fell, the crowd around the innermost began to move out layer by layer, leaving behind the yamen servant stickers. The space of the red list.

One yamen servant was brushing paste on the curtain wall, and the other two yamen servants quickly pasted up the red list. Within a cup of tea time, three pieces of red paper were pasted up, and when the yamen servant left, the crowd crowded inside again.

Jia Zheng and Yu Qiu could only hear that some people were happy and some were crying, some people shouted loudly that so-and-so had been selected, and some people were named Sun Shan. They couldn't bear the stimulation and even fainted.

Candidates' ages fluctuated widely, ranging from teenagers to gray-haired old men. The one who happened to be standing under a tree with Jia Zheng and Yu Qiu was an old man with white beard. Cane, his eyes fell on the crowd, and he saw a man in his thirties squeezed out of it and went straight in their direction.

"Second Uncle, I don't have your name." The man's expression was very tangled. He said this sentence as if it was a big thing. When he finished his words, the old man who was still calm just now fell to the ground in an instant, and the man immediately picked it up. He stopped him, pinched him and called out a few times: "Second Uncle, Second Uncle..." While shouting, he looked for a doctor.

Jia Zheng and Yu Qiu looked at each other, with infinite sorrow in their hearts, they couldn't help but think of themselves, if they came to take the exam at a later age, they didn't know how to feel.

Just when the two were in a daze, long followers Zhou An and Jia Jun squeezed out from both ends of the crowd, both of them looked happy.

Zhou Anxian said: "Congratulations, master, you have won No. 70 eighth place."

Jia Juncai then said, "Congratulations, Mr. Yu, you won No. 40."

Jia Zheng couldn't help showing a smile, and looked at Yu Qiu, Yu Qiu couldn't help being excited, the two of them almost said in unison: "Congratulations."

After he calmed down, Jia Zheng asked, "How many people will be admitted this time?"

Zhou An said with a smile: "Master, there are 110 and eight people on the list. The first name is a student named Luo Zhong, and the last name is a student named Wang Chuan."

Jia Zheng and Yu Qiu sighed at the same time: "It turned out to be Brother Luo, and he got Jie Yuan, which is really convincing." Even if Jia Zheng and the others didn't know those people in this autumn exam, they knew everything they should know. It can be regarded as knowing oneself and knowing the enemy. Of course, this refers to those with the best grades. As for the last one such as Wang Chuan, I have never heard of it.

The faces of the two couldn't stop their joy, and Yu Qiu bowed his hands to Jia Zheng: "Second Master, I'll go home first. When the person who announces the good news arrives, only my mother will be there. I don't worry about her being alone. If there is something to do, I will send someone to come." My family is looking for me."

Jia Zheng replied with a salute: "Okay, see you later." He also hurried back to the house, where his mother and wife were still waiting for the result.

Watching Yu Qiu leave, Jia Zheng and the two elders casually headed towards Rongfu in their own carriages, but they didn't want the yamen servants who came to Rongfu to announce the good news so quickly.

Jia Zheng couldn't help smiling wryly, he wanted to announce the good news to his mother himself, hey, these yamen servants are really watching people play.

Jia Zheng got out of the carriage, surrounded by the butler and others, and entered through the middle door.The middle door of a wealthy family is generally not opened, unless it is a major event, Jia Zheng Zhongju is a first-class event in the Rong Mansion, this is the glory of the ancestors, and he deserves to be treated like this.

Looking at the smiling faces of the servants on the left and right, Jia Zheng felt a surge of joy in his heart. His eyes fell on the mother, wife and children in the hall. There was a faint smile on the mother's face, and the wife and son even more Unstoppable joy, the flutter in his heart suddenly fell to the ground.

"The son is grateful for his mother's kindness in nurturing." If it weren't for his mother's help, he would never have thought of being born in the imperial examination in his life. Jia Zheng bowed heavily to his mother.

Hongye nodded and smiled, "This is also the reward for your hard work." Hongye helped Jia Zheng up. He is not the most talented scholar, but he is persistent enough.

Jia Zheng took advantage of the moment when he got up to wipe the moisture from his eyes, and when he raised his head again, he showed a rare smile.

Jia Zhu was still a little ignorant. When he saw his grandmother and father finished talking, he pulled his father's sleeve and asked curiously, "Daddy, you passed the examination, will you be able to become an official in the future?"

Hong Ye couldn't help laughing, and everyone in the hall laughed for it. Jia Zheng rubbed his son's head, shook his head and said, "Not yet, Daddy still has to continue the exam."

Jia Zhu suddenly wrinkled her small face into a ball, and said melancholy: "I still have to take the exam." In his memory, his father was often away from home for a long time during the exam, and he could only spend one or two hours a day with him. The time to accompany him is limited in the future, and he has been raised by his father playing with them for a long time during this period, and he wishes his father would take them to play every day.

Everyone burst into laughter, Jia Zhu blushed, he knew he was shy now, so he turned his head and pulled Jia Lian to hide behind his cousin and elder brother.

In the Ning Mansion, Jia Daihua was thinking about his nephew's scientific examination and wanted to know the result in advance, so just after the time passed, he woke up and was rinsing his mouth under the service of his servants when he heard the sound of firecrackers However, Jia Daihua's heart was shocked, and he raised his trembling hand and told his servants: "Go and ask if the second master of Rongfu won the exam? What rank did he win? How many people will be admitted in this autumn exam?"

There were quite a few servants waiting on Jia Daihua in the house, and some of them went out immediately, and came back within a quarter of an hour, and said with a happy face: "Old Master, it is true that the Second Master of Political Science was selected, and he passed the No. 70 eighth exam." , This time the township examination admitted 110 eight candidates."

Jia Daihua squinted his eyes for a while before letting out a long sigh: "My cousin should die in peace." It's just a pity that he didn't see this scene before he died, otherwise he should have walked more safely.

The granddaughter-in-law already has a great-grandson in her belly. Jia Daihua knew that he would not see the great-grandson grow up, but with Jia Zheng's good start, he must tell his son and grandson to train the great-grandson to study well from an early age. In the future, instead of seeking Huiyuan and Ji, only Jinshi's background will be sought. After two or three generations, Ningfu will be transformed successfully.

Jia Daihua ordered someone to open his private treasury, took a set of the Four Treasures of the Study from his collection, called Mrs. Xu, and asked her to bring it to Jia Zheng when she went to Rongfu. This was his uncle's reward to his nephew.

Mrs. Xu and Mrs. Hu came together. Jia Daihua took a look at his daughter-in-law and grandson-in-law. He was very satisfied with them. Although they couldn't help the man in his career, they were indeed good helpers. The future is still for men to fight for themselves, and a woman with a long-term vision may not be subdued by his son and grandson, so it is very good now.

Naturally, Mrs. Xu obeyed her father-in-law's orders, and she brought Mrs. Hu to Rongfu after her father-in-law had finished eating and closed her eyes to rest her mind.Seeing that everyone was in the hall with unstoppable smiles on their faces, happiness is always contagious, so she also laughed unconsciously.After presenting the gift and saying a few beautiful and auspicious words, Jia Zheng said: "Thank you uncle, I will go to thank uncle personally later."

Hong Ye nodded and said: "This is what it should be." Her eyes fell on Hu's body. Hu's abdomen was not obvious at this time, and he was pestered by his younger siblings to talk, and he was very patient. Jia Lian didn't know anything, and his older brothers and sisters explained The sister-in-law has a baby in her belly, and they want to love the baby and protect the sister-in-law. Hu's cousin and cousins ​​can't stop laughing.

While talking and laughing, a woman happened to come back and report that the fourth aunt's wife was back, and she saw Jia Min's figure as soon as she finished speaking.Not long after Jia Min arrived, Jia Siyao took her son back to her mother's house to congratulate her in person, but because Jia Xiyao was pregnant, she sent her mother and maid to bring congratulatory gifts.

Then someone came to send congratulatory gifts, and in the following time, all relatives, friends and old friends in Rong Mansion sent housekeepers to send congratulatory gifts.It's just that there are quite a few old friends in Rongfu, and they sent congratulatory gifts, and Rongfu couldn't fail to say something, so Hongye made a decision to have a big banquet in Rongfu at noon the next day.

The Rong Mansion was so lively and lively throughout the day, and around Shen time, Lin Hai and Tian Gaojie came together, Shi Mei also came, Jia Jing, Jia Amnesty and Jia Zhen also came back from work, and the dinner was naturally placed in the front hall of the Rong Mansion and In the flower hall, Jia Hu and the other three children ran back and forth between the two halls. Under the teasing of the adults, Jia Lian and Jia Zhu even announced that they would definitely pass the Jinshi examination in the future.No matter how aggressive his uncle was, Jia Hu would not be fooled, but he also secretly made up his mind that he would definitely pass the Jinshi examination, and he aimed for the top three in the imperial examination.

Lin Hai looked at Tian Gaojie bullying the children, his eyes were full of teasing, "It's rare for the third brother-in-law to be childlike."

Tian Gaojie raised his eyebrows and said proudly: "I am very happy to see children these days, and I can't help but want to tease them when I see Lian'er and Zhu'er. In the future, when my child is born, I hope to be as smart as them cute."

Lin Hai nodded and smiled, but said in his heart that his children would be the smartest and cutest in the future.

Shi Nai smiled slightly, feeling a little sad in his heart. He had been married for more than ten years, and the relationship between the husband and wife was harmonious. The imperial doctor also diagnosed that the husband and wife were in good health, but they still had no children. Could it be that he committed too many crimes in his previous life, and God forbade him to have children? ?

The dinner was over, everyone went back to their houses, and the Rong Mansion was quiet. Jia Jing and Mrs. Xu also returned to the Ning Mansion. About half an hour later, the Ning Mansion sent someone to report back, saying that the old man would wake up now. Jia She and Jia Zheng He immediately got up and went to Ningfu to see his uncle.

Jia Daihua first gave Jia Zheng affirmative admiration, his eyes full of satisfaction: "Zheng'er, you have taken the first step if you can pass the exam. After a few days of excitement, calm down and continue studying. Next year's spring will be even more exciting." You can't be careless and try to pass the Jinshi exam once." He knew that his health would not get better, and he would definitely not pass it next year, but he had to get through May no matter what, and he couldn't delay his nephew's exam because of him.

Now the only elders on Jia's pardon and Jia Zheng's head are his uncle and his mother. After his father passed away, his uncle was just like his father. When he saw his uncle, his eyes were like his father's. He finally got his father's approval. Jia Zheng stabilized his emotions and just now Said: "Uncle, I will work hard."

In the past, he didn't dare to think of being able to pass the Juren examination, and he also hoped to be able to pass the Jinshi examination next year, but this time his grades were a little behind the middle. There are so many students in the country, and Chunwei only admits more than 100 people each time. It's really only five or five in the exam, but he will do his best.

Jia Daihua's eyes fell on Jia Amnesty and Jia Jing again, and glanced at his grandson Jia Zhen, before he said slowly: "I also know about the matter of the emperor's grandson living in our house before, you have done a good job, no matter you Everyone must keep in mind that in the officialdom, one must not be slack, one must not have the heart of harming others, and one must not have the heart of guarding against others. Any conspiracies and tricks cannot be seen in the light, so you must beware of conspiracies, but you must be good at using ulterior motives."

Jia Jing suddenly lowered his head in shame. It's not that he didn't meet Zhizhi during this period of time, it's just that he knew that Feng Susu was gone, and the imperial granddaughter was taken away by the royal family, so he knew that his plan had failed, maybe it was because of anger Still ashamed, his attitude towards him was no longer the same enthusiasm as before.

After Jia Amnesty and Jia Zheng left, Jia Daihua educated his son and grandson again, and also emphasized to Jia Jing and Jia Zhen that the next generation must educate them from an early age. The Ning Mansion has no military power, only some connections in the army. Although it is said that people go to tea, but this kind of connections is also feared by the royal family, so the Ning Mansion has no other way out, only to study.

On the second day, Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Wang sent invitations to their old friends, asking them to come to the Rong Mansion for a banquet at noon tomorrow, to thank everyone for their concern about Jia Zheng's scientific examination.

Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Wang prepared the banquet, Hongye just listened to them read the menu and let them make their own decisions.Hearing that his head is getting big, he has prepared no less than fifty tables of banquets, and the budget alone is more than 1000 taels. I'm afraid it won't count if you don't spend two or three thousand taels.

After such a busy day, after dawn, the middle door of the Rong Mansion opened wide, and the red silk paved the road, extending from the steps to the front hall of the mansion.

Both Jia Jing and Jia Amnesty asked for leave to entertain guests at home. They entertained male guests, while Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Wang entertained their female relatives. As for the children brought by the guests, the boys were entertained by Jia Hu and the others, and the girls were entertained by Zhang Ying and Zhang Lihu. With such an orderly distribution, no one is idle.

Hey, there is an idler, that is Hongye, she is now the old Fengjun of the mansion, staying in the garden pavilion waiting for the arrival of guests.Among the guests who came this time, only Concubine Nan'an and Concubine Beijing were the elders. Princess Xining County and Princess Dongping County belonged to the same generation as Zhang and Wang. Bring it to Hongye.

Hongye had already met them last time when she was a filial piety, and Concubine Nan'an was teasing Hongye again: "Shi Qiongying, look at your face full of spring breeze today, but it's just your son's ambition. Night." It's a pity that her son has soft ears, although he is filial to her, but this character prevents him from going far in the officialdom.

Hong Ye glanced at Concubine Nan'an, nodded and admitted with a smile: "I'm very happy, the second child was able to pass the imperial examination, and it is also the blessing of the ancestors of the Jia family."

Concubine Nan'an rolled her eyes at Hongye, she doesn't like to show off her husband now.

Concubine Bei Jing smiled gently: "Mi'er still likes to argue with Qiongying, we are so old in a blink of an eye."

"You are the least qualified to say old things among us." Concubine Nan'an also gave Concubine Bei Jing a white look. Since she was young, she couldn't get used to this pretentious woman. If it wasn't for her cousin and Qiongying to mediate, She will not be friends with her reluctantly.

Hongye smiled again: "That's right, Xiuyu is the youngest among us, I am the oldest, and Mier is next." She looked at Concubine Nan'an, and said with a smile: "It's been a long time since I saw your cousin, next time Mier sees Pingyang Concubine, remember to do it for me." Mother Jia's three best handkerchiefs are Concubine Nan'an and Concubine Beijing, and the wife of a general who guards the frontier with her husband and has not been in the capital for many years.Concubine Pingyang is the cousin of Concubine Nan'an, she knows her, but she has no deep friendship with her.

Of course, the wives did not neglect the Princess of Xining County and the Princess of Dongping County. These years, the Palace of the Palace of Xining County and the Palace of Dongping County have been very low-key. Fell on their own children. Now the Xining County Prince's Mansion only has a weak son-in-law, and the Dongping County Prince's Mansion only has a daughter-in-law. If there is no son-in-law, the title of the family will be taken back. For this reason, the two families have no intention of stirring up trouble outside. rain.

Not long after, Ai Cao was escorted by Jia Min. Jia Min saluted the elders and the two princesses of the county, and went to entertain the guests for the two sister-in-laws.

"It's late, don't blame your mother-in-law." She smiled at Concubine Nan'an: "We just met a few days ago, so don't be so polite."

Concubine Nan'an couldn't help laughing, pointed at the wormwood for a while before saying, "Don't expect me to introduce you."

Ai Cao raised her brows, looked at Princess Beijing and smiled at the three of them, and Hongye smiled and said, "Mother-in-law, please sit down, don't worry about Mier being crazy. Xiuyu and the two concubines are from the Lin family, the mother-in-law of my four daughters." Old madam." She smiled at Ai Cao again, "Mother-in-law, this is Princess Beijing, Princess Dongping and Princess Xining."

Ai Cao clapped her palms and smiled: "I wanted to know Princess Beijing for a long time, but today I got my wish." Isn't the only person in the Red Mansion who has ever appeared in front of Prince Jing's Palace a famous person?

"I understand why the old lady is familiar with Mi'er. You two share similar tastes." Concubine Bei Jing joked for a while. This way, the relationship became closer and the atmosphere became more harmonious.

During the conversation, there were many female relatives coming. Fortunately, they didn't need the red leaves to entertain them. The Zhang family and Jia Min were qualified to entertain them. It's just that these old women couldn't help calling these lively girls when they saw young girls. Ask around.

Hongye took a closer look at the families in the equally famous "Four Kings and Eight Dukes". Only half of them still have titles. The titles of the Gongliu family were confiscated because of the matter of the crown prince and the eldest prince, and no one in the family was an official, so they didn't come this time, they just sent someone to send congratulatory gifts.

On the contrary, the newly entered Duke's or Hou's mansions have never been to each other because they have no friendship with each other.Some people's business is booming, while others are constantly retreating.

It was not long before the banquet was over, and many people took their leave and left. Concubine Nan'an and the others did not stay long, and soon the guests almost left. Even the two elder brothers of the Wang family did not stay long, but at the banquet They did not drink less, but fortunately they were ready to learn about alcohol and medicine, otherwise Jia Zheng might make another fool of himself today.

After these two or three days of bustle and bustle, the Zhang family and Wang family have had enough tossing. Before Haishi, the Zhang family and the Wang family went to bed early. The red leaves originally just glanced at the Rongfu, but they did not expect to find it. Jia Amnesty and Jia Zheng hid in the study in the front hall and drank. The two brothers respected each other and respected each other until they were so drunk that they were escorted back to their respective yards by servants.

Hongye raised her eyebrows, would the two brothers still form an alliance behind her back?

The extension of Jia Zheng's examination is not over yet. He wants to arrange time with Yu Qiu to go to Zhang's house to thank Mrs. Zhang, as well as participate in the teacher's banquet and communicate with other students who have passed the examination. After several days of busy work, the bustle brought about by Zhongju gradually subsided, and the Rong Mansion also returned to normal life. Jia Zheng continued to study according to the previous plan, preparing for the next year's Spring Festival.

I learned from Jia Zheng that Mrs. Zhang introduced a gentleman to Yu Qiu as a teacher. He taught Jia Zheng and Yu Qiu their homework and knew Jia Zheng and Yu Qiu very well. Jia Zheng was old and had no talent for reading. It all depends on his hard work.Yu Qiu is quite talented in reading. In the past, it was due to the constraints of his family. With the guidance of a good teacher, he would be able to go a longer distance.

As for Jia Zheng, Mrs. Zhang also made it clear that other people's methods may not be suitable for him, so let him study according to the current method, and just show him his homework every few days.

Hongye didn't know about this, Mr. Zhang wholeheartedly thought that she was a hidden person, back then he also thought that Jia Zheng was stubborn and had no value in teaching, but now that Jia Zheng has been promoted, all of this is She is credited with teaching well, so others cannot teach Jia Zheng well, and only she can teach him well.

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