The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

Lord Lu sighed and turned his head to look at Bao Zheng. Bao Zheng's face was extremely ugly. He thought that Su Jin would jump up happily when he heard the news, but he didn't expect this guy to be completely unaware and pushed him away, making himself unable to get off the stage. .

Bao Zheng suppressed his anger and said in a relatively calm tone: "Young Master Su Yingtian Academy is not for everyone to enter. There are famous teachers and elites gathered there. , The best candidates in the imperial examinations over the years will also be given opportunities face-to-face; it is an opportunity for you, why do you refuse because of the long distance?"

Su Jin shook his head and said: "Master Bao, you don't know that my mother's family business is in Luzhou, and it is nothing to me to go to Yingtian Mansion to book, but who can I teach to take care of the trivial matters at home? Does it make my mother suffer? I don’t mind if I only study in Luzhou Prefecture; besides, if the imperial court pushes back and forth about the imperial examination, if it’s a waste of time to come back next year and put it off until the year after that, it’s a waste of time.”

Lu Tixue shook his head and looked disapproving and saddened: "Fame and fortune are too important, I can't see the slightest sense of fame and fortune from the few poems you wrote. I didn't expect that the face-to-face conversation at this moment will make me very disappointed. ;The trend in today's world is too strong and I can't blame you for having such thoughts; the old man just sighs that the ancients said, "cultivate one's body, regulate the family, govern the country, and bring peace to the world." Today's people are not as good as the ancients. The purpose is self-cultivation; how many people in ancient times are full of poems and books but retreated to the mountains and fields, but today people are flocking to them are really two extremes.”

Bao Zheng also shook his head slightly, feeling extremely disappointed.

Su Jin was so angry that these ancient pedants were so fucking weird, so he couldn't help but put his hat on at every turn, and said in his heart: "You two adults, don't be angry. Students naturally understand what you mean. The book is indeed an act of self-cultivation. It will indeed be of great benefit to personal cultivation, but the actual situation is not as easy as you said."

Lu Tixue said, "Then tell me what your concerns are."

Su Jin looked at Bao Zheng for a while and thought, "My lord Bao has some things and I don't know if I can speak up. I'm afraid that if I say it, it won't spread."

Bao Zheng frowned and said, "Master's good character is not what you think in your heart, but it doesn't matter."

Su Jin nodded and said: "Master Lu must have heard about the recent events in Luzhou Mansion. Who doesn't want to be like a hermit? But the question is where does the food and clothing come from? Do you eat books? Just self-cultivation can avoid Zhu Shiyong and his ilk. Is it framed? The student wants to be a grassroots person to live a leisurely life, but the Luzhou government and the chamber of commerce have colluded to suppress me. Su Ji not only wants my money, but also my life. The reason why I chose to take part in the imperial examination is to protect myself through my own efforts. I know a lot about it, so I won’t repeat it. In a word, my book is for the purpose of being an official. A lifetime is enough, so why go all the way to Yingtian Academy?"

Of course, Lu Tixue knew the grievances between Su Jin and the Chamber of Commerce, and Su Jin was almost exiled and imprisoned. Luzhou City is also well known. It is really difficult to think about it.

A sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy is supporting his family business, not to mention dealing with the chamber of commerce and the government that is secretly looking for faults. If he is not careful, his family will be ruined. Mr. Lu has seen many tragedies in the world. If one day Su Jin is arrested to do something Mr. Lu will not be surprised by the conclusive evidence of the crime.

The meaning expressed by Su Jin is very clear. I just became an official to protect myself and my family business. If it weren't for this, I wouldn't even bother to take part in the imperial examination.

"The old man has heard a little about the son's affairs, and it is understandable to think so from the son's position, but it is because of this that he recommends you to Yingtian Academy. First, you are a talent. Second, you come to Luzhou Prefecture to study. In fact, you are under the control of the magistrate. You have a relationship with him. It is better to study in Beppu during the holidays. My husband guarantees that the imperial examinations will be held normally next year, because since the Song Dynasty, there have been several times when the imperial examinations were suspended. However, after the first emperor ascended the throne, he started courses for three consecutive years to make up for his debts. This dynasty has never stopped paying tribute for two consecutive years. You don't have to worry about that, sir."

Speaking of these words, Lu Tixue himself felt a little bit like scolding himself for making himself seem to be begging this master to study at Yingtian Academy, and this guy also made it clear that his original intention of becoming an official was not to serve the country and the people; Mr. Lu For the first time in my life, I have a little doubt about my personality. Why should I ask this stunned young man?

Su Jin is hesitant to tell the truth that he really thinks that Yingtian Academy is too far away. This school has to learn things at home in August next year, but it is a bit out of reach. Besides, he will have to fight with the Chamber of Commerce in the next spring. One, what kind of academies don't let you go home and don't let you go home in private, you will be expelled from school, isn't it delaying the big event? This matter needs to be clarified.

"Student Lu, I want to ask if I can't come back to deal with private affairs after going to the academy. If I'm stuck in the academy every day and there's an important event at home, wouldn't it be impossible to take care of it?"

Lu Tixue smiled wryly and said: "You are free to come and go, but you have to take leave. You just have to pass the test. Every month, those who fail the test of what they learned that month will be expelled after one warning, two inspections and three times; It is convenient for Yingtianfu to ride a horse in Luzhou for three days and take a car for four to five days during school leave."

"Since that's the case, thank you, student." Su Jin got his satisfactory answer and was no longer hypocritical. He also saw that the two adults were sincere to him, so he got up and knelt down on the ground to thank him.

Lu Tixue hurriedly pulled him up and said, "This is the first time I've seen a student like you."

Bao Zheng kept his face tight and said nothing, he was really unpredictable about Su Jin, and also worried about his impure purpose for taking the imperial examination.

The three sat down, chatted about Su Jin, and called Xiao Zhuzi to bring a variety of cakes, gifts, big and small bags, and carry them in. Lu Tixue is not a hypocritical person who just shirks a few words and then accepts them. Anyway, they are all edible things. The gift of meeting.

Su Jin took the opportunity to ask about the imperial examination policy and poetry discussion, which made Bao Zheng and Master Lu panic again. Just a bobble cat.

This time Master Lu is really depressed, and he looks at Bao Zheng with blame. The recommender also has responsibilities. As for the penalty for promotion, the Ministry of Rites will give the quota to the audit according to the local state government's solution test meeting, which is to prevent the promotion officials from selecting unqualified candidates and using the qualification quota for incompetent individuals for personal gain.

This little official Su revealed his secrets when he responded, why didn't Lu Tixue feel very depressed; but fortunately, in this monarch's mansion, it seems that there are some people who often have some unique insights and arguments, making it difficult to figure out whether he is true I don't understand or I'm hiding my clumsiness.

In the end, Mr. Lu didn't think about whether this person was good or bad, and he could only ask the sky speechlessly, hoping that this person would not embarrass himself and Bao Zheng who recommended him.

On the way back, Bao Zheng didn't even want to look at Su Jin. Su Jin's performance today was really bad.

Bao Zheng secretly squeezed his sweat. Fortunately, the imperial examinations were suspended, otherwise, if Su Jin went to take the exam in August when the horse came, he and Mr. Lu, the two recommenders, didn't know how they would be thrown.

Su Jin leaned against the back of the car without realizing it, and hummed a little song. He understood why Bao Zheng gave him such a bad look, but Su Jin was unmoved. According to his words: This is the real me!