Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 50 North and South
……

"If you don't say anything, we'll take it as your consent!"

So the two aunts happily agreed to go watch the dragon boat race on the Dragon Boat Festival, accompanied by their eldest nephew.

After finishing the business, Xichun said with a smile: "Brother Rong, Miss Qin came here this afternoon. It's a pity that you are late again."

“It’s a pity.”

Lin Daiyu glanced at Jia Rong with a sidelong glance.

Jia Rong took a sip of tea and smiled faintly.

"What's so regrettable? I don't believe anyone can be prettier than my two aunts."

"whee."

Xichun really smiled again.

Lin Daiyu looked into the distance, as if she hadn't heard anything, but her face turned slightly red...

Xichun was afraid that Sister Lin would be angry again, so she smiled and said, "Shall we have dinner together tonight? I'll be the host to celebrate Rong'er's success in the exam."

Jia Rong naturally did not refuse.

Lin Daiyu was half-heartedly pulled by Xichun, and the three of them set up a table under the corridor in Xichun's yard, with more than a dozen side dishes, a fresh fruit plate, and two jugs of fruit wine.

Ruhua, Zijuan and Xiaoxiao were pouring wine and serving, while Qiaohua, Amber, Qingwen and Xueyan were chatting and laughing in the yard outside.

Xichun waved her hand and said, "I don't need you guys to serve me here anymore. Let's go downstairs and eat. If you like anything, just ask the kitchen for it."

Ruhua and the others all laughed and said, "The young lady gave us red envelopes the other day, and today she gave us a feast as well."

Xichun smiled and said, "I'm happy today. I'm giving this to you guys on behalf of Rong."

The maids hurriedly bowed: "Thank you, Miss, thank you, Master."

After saying that, you pushed me and I pulled you, and we went out to drink and have fun laughing.

Ruhua said: "I want to eat braised donkey fish."

Xiao Xiao said: "I want to eat braised duck!"

Amber said: "I want to eat elbow ham!"

Zijuan said weakly: "I'll eat... tofu skin."

Qiao Hua sneered and said, "Look at her useless look. She ordered tofu skin. This is a grown-up girl. Master Rong gave her a treat. Be bold - I want to eat goose feet and duck intestines!"

Qingwen secretly thanked herself that she didn't go to the poor house in the West Mansion. "I'll eat steamed crabs!"

……

After the college entrance examination, everyone went their separate ways.

Most of the students who did not pass the exam chose to stay in the college and continue their studies, looking forward to the next college examination.

Among the scholars who passed the list, some stayed to continue their studies, some went out to travel to broaden their horizons, some went to the Imperial College, and some returned home in glory.

"Shunzhi, Jiwen, have you two decided to go to the Imperial College?" Ye Mengshu's tone was somewhat melancholy.

Xie Jiwen smiled bitterly and said, "I don't want to go. I heard that the internal supervision is very strict and I can't go out easily. But there is no other way. The old man insists that I go."

Jia Rong said with a smile: "Why are you so sad? Whether it's the Imperial College or the Xishan Academy, they are both in the capital, not far away. Isn't it easy to meet each other?"

"That's true." Ye Mengshu raised his glass: "Let's get drunk today, brothers!"

"please!"

"please"

After three rounds of drinking, Song Yu finally arrived.

"The wine has already been drunk, and you just came!"

"Punish yourself first, the three seas!"

"Accept the punishment! Accept the punishment!"

Song Yu sat down, gulped down three bowls of food in a row, and then fell under the table with a crash.

The three of them were speechless.

"Oh my god, what are you doing here?"

"Did you run into a customer?"

"No!"

Song Yu climbed up from under the table, staggering but saying firmly: "I have decided to go to Jiangnan to study!

"The literary style in Jiangnan is flourishing. There are rumors that the Confucian students there can pass the imperial examinations here!" Ye Mengshu shook his head and said, "Not really. You are too ambitious and destroy the prestige of us northerners. There is indeed a gap between the north and the south, but in recent years, there are many outstanding scholars in the north, such as Shunzhi, Jiwen, Zhang Ming and others. They are not much worse than them!"

……

Jinling, on the banks of the Qinhuai River, on top of the Huajin Tower.

A group of handsome and elegant young men holding folding fans were drinking and chatting in the private room on the rooftop.

"I heard a few days ago that someone in the North almost won the first place. Have you heard about it?"

"The Jia Shunzhi from the Duke's Mansion? I've heard a little about it."

"Haha, do they deserve to be called the first place? In Jiangnan, any scholar can get the first place there."

"You can't say that."

A handsome young man was surrounded by people like the moon around him. He had a playful smile on his face and waved his fan from time to time, looking very cool.

It is Li Min’s grandson, who took first place in the imperial examination of Yingtian Prefecture in Jinling this year: Li Chun.

At this time, Li Chun gently waved his fan and said with a smile: "To be able to win the case, you still have some ability. But... not much."

"Hahaha……"

Everyone laughed.

One person laughed and said, "I heard that this case leader Jia is the grandson of the current Minister of War, Lord Jia."

"Ah."

Someone else chuckled, "Minister of War? He's just half a warrior. Brother Li's grandfather must have at least started out as the Minister of Rites when he came to the capital this time, right?"

Li Chun smiled faintly and said modestly, "I dare not say whether he will directly join the cabinet to assist in government affairs, but the Minister of Rites is a foregone conclusion."

The people around were immediately amazed and started to flatter him.

"congratulations."

"It is a blessing for scholars like us that Lord Li has returned to the court to take charge of the Ministry of Rites!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

"Brother Li, are you going to Kyoto with Lord Li this time? Let the people over there see for themselves what a real first-place winner is!"

"That's right. Isn't it a disgrace to call these two words the first place?"

"Haha, Brother Li, you better be merciful and don't scare the suspect."

Li Chun smiled modestly and said, "Jia Shunzhi? I won't compete with him."

"His grandfather was always suppressed by my grandfather. In the end, he barely passed the imperial examination and became a second-class scholar, while my grandfather was the top scholar in the imperial examination."

"If I compete with him, wouldn't that bring disgrace upon my grandfather's reputation?"

Everyone hurriedly said:

"That's true."

"Just find a random scholar to compete with."

"Minister Li's writing is the best in the world!"

……

In the evening, Li Chun returned home a little drunk.

Li Minzhi frowned slightly when she saw it.

"Chun Ge'er, why did you come back so late today? Where did you go for a drink again?"

Li Chun was a little dizzy from drinking, and he shook his head and laughed, "To answer grandfather's question, I had a drink with my classmates who passed the exam today, and I forgot the time, so I came back a little late."

Li Minzhi nodded.

"That's fine. It's good to relax a little after the exams."

"Just remember not to be proud. There are always people who are better than you. Not to mention the distant past, the last time I went to Beijing, I met two teenagers who were younger than you. Their writing skills were not inferior to yours."

Li Minzhi felt that her grandson was a little proud and complacent after he got the first place in the exam, and could not help but remind him.

Li Chun hurriedly said modestly: "Grandson understands."

What he understood more clearly was that his grandfather said this just to motivate him.

How could anyone possibly beat him?
……

(End of this chapter)