Good luck with koi carp

Chapter 136
It was rare for a friend to come to his home as a guest. Zhang Dabao was always reluctant to let him go. He kept asking Chi Li to stay a little longer, and even wanted to keep her for dinner. However, Chi Li declined politely, but in the end she stayed at Zhang's house. It wasn't until evening that he said goodbye and went home.


After that, Chi Li would occasionally make appointments with Zhang Dabao to have tea or go shopping in the city. Zhang Dabao also handed in invitations and came to Chi's house as a guest, receiving warm hospitality from Mrs. Xu.


After getting along with each other for a long time, Chi Li was not surprised to find that Zhang Dabao was the kind of girl who had been pampered by her family since she was a child and had a somewhat naive temperament.


It's just that Jiaohan is Jiaohan, and this girl has a spirit of unwillingness to admit defeat. Otherwise, she would not run out to take part in the imperial examination as a woman. Isn't it because of the unwillingness in her heart?

"The person I admire the most is Your Majesty. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have had this opportunity to stand in the examination room and compete openly with other men for knowledge. Even if I win, I will be able to gain fame and become a high official! All of this is It is His Majesty who gave us girls the opportunity, so I have sworn a long time ago that if one day I can go to high school, I will do my best to serve Your Majesty!"


When he mentioned this dream, Zhang Dabao's whole body was almost shining, and Chi Li couldn't help but be touched.


She smiled encouragingly and said, "Then we have to study harder."


When two people make friends, it is inevitable to mention some things related to themselves, such as personal preferences, family situations, etc.


Zhang Dabao finally found a friend of the same age. He was quite open-minded when getting along with Chi Li. He would talk to her about almost everything. Occasionally, he couldn't help but confide in her some troubles in life.


So Chi Li passively learned about the Zhang family's situation.


Zhang Juren and his wife have been supporting each other since they were young. Thinking back to the time when Zhang Juren had not obtained fame through examinations, the family's livelihood was almost entirely supported by Mrs. Zhang alone. It just happened that the Zhang family was different from the Chi family. Wealth, so in order to support the Zhang family when she was young, Mrs. Zhang did almost everything that could make money, including washing people's clothes, selling embroidery, etc.


Fortunately, she finally got through it. After Zhang Juren was elected as a scholar, the family situation began to gradually improve. Later, Zhang Juren won the imperial examination, and they became even richer.


However, although Mrs. Zhang is well-maintained now, her body bones have been worn out by the hardships of her early life.


Chili heard from Zhang Dabao that she now has four brothers and sisters in her family, three of whom are not her mother's biological children but concubines.


Mrs. Zhang had previously been pregnant with a male fetus, but she aborted it a long time ago due to overwork from housework. At that time, the fetus was still a five-month-old baby that had basically formed, which caused considerable harm to Mrs. Zhang's body.


It was also because of this that after her life got better at home, she asked the doctor to take care of her for a long time before she finally became pregnant with Zhang Dabao. Even though she was a girl, she still loved her like a jewel.


"Do you know why I am called Dabao?" Zhang Dabao asked.


Logically speaking, this kind of name is not suitable for a girl, let alone used as a famous name, especially since her family is strictly an educated person, how could they name their child so casually.


Chi Li thought for a while and tentatively replied: "Is it easy to make a living with a bad name?"


"Yes." Zhang Dabao nodded, with a smile on his face: "Because I was a little weak when I was born, and I always got sick easily. My mother was afraid that I would die, so she gave me a nickname. I hope I can Grow up in peace.”


"Mrs. Zhang's love for her daughter is really touching."


Just seeing that Zhang Dabao is not only healthy now, but also has a visibly high physical fitness, we know that Zhang's mother has put in a lot of effort for this daughter.


It also makes Zhang's father's behavior of taking concubines into the family a bit scumbag once he becomes rich.


However, in the eyes of people nowadays, after becoming rich, Zhang's father did not abandon his wife who was a loser, but still respected her as a real wife. He was already a good and responsible man.


It's just two concubines. How can a man be ungrateful? This trivial matter is not worth mentioning.


Even Zhang's mother actually didn't show any jealousy towards her husband's concubinage behavior, and she felt like she had looked away from it a long time ago.


Perhaps the only thing that bothers her is that she has no children and only has one daughter. She is worried that the family property will be divided up by the bastards in the future, so she has been trying her best to save a dowry for her daughter. At the same time, she also wants to find a good husband for her daughter. Let her have someone to rely on in the future.


It was also because Zhang's mother had been picking and choosing for a long time that Zhang Baoer had not decided to get married at the "advanced age" of 17 years old. As a result, her future husband was nowhere to be seen and actually made her wait for the empress to ascend to the throne. Zhang Baoer was extremely happy when the imperial court opened the imperial examination for women. She immediately begged her mother to convince her father to allow her to register.


Zhang Baoer has been smart since he was a child, and he has seen a lot of troubles in his family. He still hates those brothers who secretly say, "From now on, everything in the Zhang family belongs to us. You, a woman, have to rely on us to live. It's best to come early now to please me." "We, otherwise we won't care if you are bullied at your husband's house in the future," your arrogant face said.


Therefore, she refused to admit defeat, even though she knew that it would be useless for a girl like her to study too much, she still insisted on running to the study room every day to listen to her father giving lessons to her brothers.


Fortunately, Zhang Baoer's father did not chase her away, but also taught his daughter a lesson. Now that she has the opportunity, Zhang Baoer's accumulated knowledge over the years can support her to climb up.


"Li'er, you don't know. When they learned that I passed the county examination, the expressions on the faces of my brothers were really funny. I'm afraid they never expected that after studying for so many years, they didn't even get half a name. I failed to pass the exam, but was overtaken by me as a latecomer. Now my father has started to give me special treatment and takes time out to give me private lessons every day."


Zhang Dabao was so proud every time he mentioned this matter, and Chi Li also praised her a few times, making the little girl even happier.


The two of them made an appointment to go out to bookstores together today and have lunch outside. The place was booked by Zhang Dabao in a private room of a teahouse.


One side of the box was empty and connected to the stage in the middle. On the stage stood a storyteller in a gray gown, speaking eloquently.


However, Chili just went to eat the melons from the Zhang family and did not listen carefully to what the storyteller was saying. She could only vaguely hear what seemed to be a story about a female general.


"Are you full? When we are full, let's check out and go to the book store. I ordered some books with the book store manager last time. Calculating the time, it should be here today." Chili saw that the food on the table was almost eaten. , and asked Zhang Dabao if he could leave.


Zhang Dabao happened to be full. She picked up the handkerchief and wiped her mouth. She turned around and motioned to the maid behind her to pay, but was stopped by Chi Li's maid.


"Miss Zhang, my girl has already paid the bill for this meal, so there is no need to go any further."


"Didn't you agree to let me invite you? Li'er, how could you go to check out secretly!" Zhang Dabao stamped his foot angrily.


"When did we say we asked you to invite us? And we asked you to invite me last time. This time I should be the host. It's only fair that we have some interactions."


Perhaps he was persuaded by Chi Li's words "What comes, what comes," finally made Zhang Dabao not so angry. He just muttered something: "Then it will be my turn next time, and you must let me treat you." .”


"Okay, okay, then I'll have to choose something more expensive next time." Chili teased Zhang Dabao in a funny way.


"Okay, let's go to Hexiang Restaurant to eat next time." Zhang Dabao said grandly.


Hexianglou is the most famous restaurant in this city. The dishes are delicious and exquisite, but the prices are not cheap. Even if you just go in for a simple meal, you will have to spend more than ten taels of silver at least.


"Forget it, I think this teahouse is good. Let's continue coming here next time." Chili was just joking and didn't really want to kill the big customers.


It's not that it's not worth spending so much money on a meal, it's just that people enjoy a certain level of consumption according to their status. It's not appropriate and unnecessary to go beyond that. If she were rich now, Chili wouldn't care about such a small meal. Money, but now her family is just a small landowner family, and they still can't spend too much money.


Seeing that Chi Li really didn't want to go to Hexiang Tower, Zhang Dabao stopped insisting. She continued to hold Chi Li's arm happily, and the two sisters went shopping together and walked towards the bookstore.


The place they chose to eat was not far from the bookstore, and it was only a few steps away. Once inside, the shopkeeper saw a familiar face and immediately came out from the back to greet the guests.


"I've seen Miss Chi and Miss Zhang. The book Miss Chi ordered a few days ago has arrived. Are you here to pick up the book?"


"Yes, please ask the shopkeeper to bring the book to me. Thank you very much."


"Please wait a moment."


After the shopkeeper said this, he turned around and ordered the store clerk to bring out the books ordered by the customer.


"What book did you buy?" Zhang Dabao asked curiously.


"They are some pamphlets about current political news released by the imperial court." Chi Li did not hide anything, and directly told Zhang Dabao: "Xue Shibo said that if you have time, you can read more of these books, which can help us better understand national events and the people. people’s livelihood.”


Chili also learned some time ago that the imperial court of this era would regularly publish a pamphlet similar to a newspaper, which recorded some convenient current events such as the country's politics, economy, education and people's livelihood, as well as national policies. Everything down to the people's livelihood is almost included. Just by reading these brochures, you can understand the entire country without leaving home.


Reading more about these will be beneficial to their imperial examinations.


At least when I write policy papers in the future, I won’t be so futile.


So as soon as she learned that there was such a good thing, she searched all the bookstores in the house and tried to buy every issue of the booklet, but there were still a few missing.


Fortunately, after the shopkeeper of this bookstore learned that Chi Li was interested in collecting such pamphlets, he took the initiative to mention that his bookstore branches in other areas might have stocks and could help find them.


Then there is this scene.


In fact, it can be seen from the number of collections that these pamphlets recording current political news have not been around for a long time. One volume is released every other month. Now there are only 53 volumes in total. Counting the time, it is less than five years. .


And its popularity is not high, and it is basically only circulated among some scholars. As for ordinary people who are illiterate, they have no idea that such a thing exists.


In fact, let alone them, Chi Li wouldn't have known about it unless someone pointed it out.


But after learning about it, she quickly learned that it turned out that Her Majesty the Empress had pushed the late Emperor to order it to be made when she was still the Princess. However, the late Emperor only ordered it to be done to make her daughter happy, and did not itself. I didn't take it seriously, so I didn't deliberately promote it, which led to its low popularity.


Chili guessed that maybe one day in the future, Her Majesty the Empress would expand and promote it. After all, she had already experienced how powerful the power of public opinion was in the entertainment industry.


But these had nothing to do with her for the time being, so she didn't pay much attention to them.


Anyway, just remember to subscribe to the booklet every issue in the future.


There are a total of fifteen issues of Chili's missing booklet, all of which were published earlier, so they are not easy to find.


Fortunately, no one bought this thing. Although the bookstore printed some according to the imperial court's requirements, it still had a backlog of inventory. At this time, it happened to clear some of it for Chi Li and Zhang Dabao.


Seeing Chi Li buying these, she was keenly aware of the benefits and immediately bought a whole set.


It happened that the bookstore brought in some extra books when they were arranging them, and they were all bought for her.


"Li'er, I took advantage of you today, and I will definitely pay it back if I have the chance in the future."


Zhang Dabao knew that her behavior of buying books with Chi Li was like taking advantage. Even though she bought those books with her own money, if Chi Li had not reminded her, she would not have known that these useful extracurricular books existed, so as a In return, she promised Chili a favor.


Chi Li deserved this favor, and she did not refuse hypocritically. She nodded and agreed, then said goodbye to Zhang Dabao and boarded the carriage home.
The Zhang family's carriage also came to pick up Zhang Dabao, and the two separated at the door of the bookstore.


Counting the time, tomorrow should be the day when the government examination results will be released.


Chi Li doesn't feel any pressure on her own. She should eat, drink, study, and attend classes as usual. However, everyone in her family is more nervous than the other. Even Chi Xiucai, who is far away in Dayan County, specially wrote a letter. Ask about your daughter.


At the dinner table, seeing that her mother and cousin's family were all unable to eat, Chi Li persuaded in a funny and helpless manner: "Mom, the results will be released tomorrow. If you can't eat today, why don't you eat tonight?" Go to sleep?"


Not to mention, Xu really didn't plan to sleep tonight.


It's not that she wants to stay up until the time when the results are released, it's mainly that she understands that it's impossible to sleep in her current state.


"You kid, why are you not nervous at all?"


Seeing her daughter's indifferent expression, Mrs. Xu felt a little anxious and angry.


"What's the use of being nervous? The results have been decided and my daughter can't change it. Whether it's a win or a failure, let's wait and see tomorrow." Chili is not saying that she's not nervous, but she understands that being nervous is of no use, so she might as well do her best first. Well, just wait patiently.


Perhaps influenced by her attitude, Mrs. Xu relaxed a little and picked up her chopsticks to take two more bites.


At night, Chili, who was supposed to be resting in her own room, walked into her mother's room with a quilt in her arms. When she met her mother's surprised gaze, she said naturally: "I want my mother to sleep with me tonight. "


In fact, she was afraid that her mother would not be able to sleep, so she acted as a humanoid sleep device.


Knowing that her daughter was showing filial piety, Mrs. Xu felt soft at the same time and could no longer refuse. She had to make room on the bed for her daughter to crawl in and sleep.


Mother and daughter had not slept together like this for a long time. They lay side by side with their eyes closed and didn't say much, just enjoying the warmth of this moment quietly.


After a while, she heard steady breathing in her ears. Chili opened her eyes and saw that Mrs. Xu was already asleep. She smiled silently, turned over and snuggled gently into Mr. Xu's arms, and fell asleep peacefully.


On the day when the results of the government examination were released, the whole government office was more lively than going to the market, and it was crowded with people. They were all scholars who were rarely seen on weekdays. Many people passing by outside stretched their necks to look in curiously, and they were a little confused. Why are these people gathered here?


"You don't know this yet? Today is the day when the government examination results will be released!"

"Release the results of the government examination? Have you finished all the government examinations?"

"The exam has been completed long ago, why do you only know now?"

"I can't read a word, so how can I understand these important things that only scholars can understand."

……


Similar conversations happen constantly. For ordinary people who are busy running around for life all day long, the government examination is something that is quite far away from them. Therefore, they neither care about nor care about it on weekdays. They only encounter what they see in front of them. Only when I got there would I be a little more curious to ask a few questions, but that was all.


Turning around, it won't change anything as to how we live our lives.


The only thing that changed in the government examination was the group of students who took the exam. For them, success or failure depended on this.


After passing it, they will be able to have the qualification of being a child. Even if it is not a serious achievement, it is a kind of recognition and reward for their years of hard work. And only after passing the government examination can they take the college examination. This is the most important thing. .


There were too many people outside. As girls, it was difficult for Chi Li and Zhang Dabao to squeeze in with others, and they couldn't reserve seats in the various restaurants and teahouses opposite the government office. There were even no rouge shops there. It was packed with people.


So the two of them didn't go out at all, and they didn't even send anyone to look at the results. Anyway, if they won, the official would come to announce the good news. If they didn't, it wouldn't be too late to take a look after the crowd dispersed.


Just like the return to the county examination, on the day when the results were released, Mrs. Xu could not stay on the stool for more than half a stick of incense. She kept wandering back and forth in the room, which made Chili dizzy.


But she couldn't stop her mother, at least when she fully learned about her daughter's results, it was absolutely impossible for Xu to stop this anxious behavior.


"Crackling..."

"Dong dong dong..."


The joyful sound of firecrackers and gongs and drums gradually came from outside. Mrs. Xu immediately raised her head and looked out the door with bright eyes. She even had her hands on the hem of her skirt, ready to lift it up and rush out.


However, just as she was about to take a step forward, the resonant voice of the congratulatory officer also penetrated the courtyard wall and came in: "Congratulations to Zhou Youliang, a student from Hexia County, Nanhuai Prefecture, for winning the 45th place in the Zhongfu Examination!"


"Zhou Youliang..."


Mrs. Xu was stunned for a moment when she heard the sound, looking a little dazed. It took her a while to realize that there was indeed a family named Zhou next door to her house. She didn't expect that a student from that family also participated in the government examination and won.


"That's great." She murmured enviously, and continued to fall into the same state of anxiety as before. No matter how much Chili tried to persuade her, she couldn't stop it.


Helpless, Chi Li had no choice but to follow her mother.


After the Zhou family announced the good news, the street here was quiet for a long time. It was so long that Chi Li thought that she should have failed the exam, but suddenly she heard another sound of gongs and drums coming from outside.


It was clear that they were still far away, and the singing voice could not be heard clearly, but Xu seemed to have sensed something with her heart. She suddenly pulled Chili and rushed out, shouting loudly: "Come here, come on." Take out the wedding money I have prepared!"


After hearing the Madam's instructions, the servants immediately took action. Among them, Zhang's mother was the fastest. She carried two heavy purses in her arms, quickly caught up with her Madam, and followed her out of the gate of Chi's house.


As soon as they walked out, they happened to bump into the team announcing the good news, and heard the name shouted by the official announcing the good news: "Congratulations to Chi Li, a student from Da'an County, Nanhuai Prefecture, for winning No. 3 in the middle school examination. Which student is Chi? "


The official glanced around at several women of different ages at the door of Chi's house, but could not find anyone who met the requirements. He heard that Mr. Chi was not old, he was only [-] years old this year, so he should be a young boy. ?


He was thinking this, but unexpectedly he saw the youngest girl in front of Chi's house take a step forward and said bluntly: "I am Chi Li. Thank you very much, Mr. Cha, for coming here to express your happiness. Mother Chen, give me a reward."


Chi Li glanced at her, and Mother Chen immediately understood. With a smile on her face, she stuffed the two bags she had prepared into the hands of the two officials who came to deliver the good news.


Holding the heavy purses that were obviously full of silver in their hands, the two officials quickly suppressed the surprise on their faces when they saw that Chi Li was actually a woman. They smiled and said all kinds of obedient things to Chi Li and Xu. After making everyone smile, he excused himself to go to another house to deliver the good news, said goodbye and left.


In fact, where else is there any good news to send?


There are only fifty people in total who can be on the list. The government office is big and there are many officials there. In order to grab this good job, everyone saw the address of the home of the student who needed to send a gift and hurried there. You can still see so clearly.


If not, the two brothers wouldn't have made such a fuss today. They originally thought that someone's son named their daughter, but they didn't expect that it was a daughter's family.


but……


"For being able to pass the government examination as a woman, this girl from the Chi family is also extraordinary. If you meet her in the future, you need to be more polite to others."


Unbeknownst to others, they, the officials, knew a thing or two. The chief examiner of the government examination this time was a person who opposed women's participation in the imperial examination. Although all papers would be anonymous, no one knew which paper was from which before the final ranking was finalized. It was written by an old student, but in fact anyone who knows calligraphy can easily see the difference between women's writing and men's writing.


Even if His Majesty issued a fatal order, requiring the examiners to mark the papers only based on talent and academics, and not to differentiate based on gender, so what? It is impossible for Your Majesty to personally mark every paper. As long as the examiner does not go too far, no one can criticize him. What.


After all, liberal arts exams are mainly more subjective, so the examiner's preference is actually something that students need to pay attention to when taking exams.


The degree of excess here refers to the fact that if there are two papers of the same level, and if one of them is seen to be written by a woman, then the other paper written by a man must be ranked ahead of it.


Very infuriating, isn't it?


It also feels very unfair. However, this examiner's behavior is actually considered restrained. If it were for those who were more excessive, no woman would be able to pass the exams administered by him.


Even if someone uses this to question the other party, they can still drink tea calmly. The old god defended himself:


The women's imperial examination has only just started less than a year ago, and nowadays people believe that it is a virtue for a woman to have no talent. Many families simply do not let their daughters study and study. Most women do not even know a single big character. The time for this year's Enke Examination is to be held. And tight, even if women really want to study and take the imperial examination, how can they get there in time?Even if he reluctantly took the exam, how likely would he be to pass those men who had studied hard for ten years?

In the end, this kind of doubt could only be ignored.


One thing Chi Li didn't know was that although she met a chief examiner who was opposed to women's imperial examinations, the deputy examiner was a die-hard fan of the empress. All the decrees of the empress would be regarded as holy scriptures by the deputy examiner. Execute with all your might.


It was precisely because of his close attention that the examiner did not dare to go too far. It was also precisely because he happened to mark the paper that belonged to Chi Li and was amazed by her talent and academic views, so he tried his best to fight for her. Only then did she get a good ranking of No. 3.


At the same time, those papers written by women that might have been rejected by the examiners were able to barely keep their qualifications to compete with other men.


At least, for those who should be on the list, the deputy examiner worked hard to get them on the list. Even if the ranking may not be very good, at least they got it.


Chi Li won No. 3 in the Central Government Examination, which was obviously great news for the Chi family.


After Mrs. Xu saw off the two official messengers who brought the good news, she immediately happily asked someone to bring a frame of copper coins and scattered the wedding coins at the door of her house, making the onlookers feel happy.

People who are touched by joy are also sensible. Even if they are shocked that the person who came third in the Zhongfu Examination is actually a woman, they are short-handed and willing to say some festive words to make the host happy.


Occasionally, there were some discordant voices in the crowd that were full of sourness and jealousy, but they were all covered up by the more lively congratulations around her. Even if Chili, who has sensitive senses, heard one or two of those words, she simply ignored them. I won't say it to make Mrs. Xu feel bad.


There are always some people who don't like the good things of others. Such people are not kind-hearted and are easily influenced by the darkness in their hearts. In the long run, their own fortune will also be affected.


There is no need to worry about Chili, there will always be times when they are unlucky.


"I have to write a letter quickly to tell your father about this happy event." After her extremely excited mind cooled down a little, Mrs. Xu remembered that she had to tell her husband about it, and immediately went back to find paper and pen to write a letter, and also informed Chi Li also went to write a family letter to her father.


"it is good."


Chi Li happened to have something to say to her father, so she went back to the house and wrote a letter.

(End of this chapter)