Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 219 The Hero Returns
Over the next ten days, the marking work was carried out in full swing.

Over the past ten days, the marking of the papers started at the hour of Mao in the morning and ended at the end of the hour of You. After rushing around, I finally finished marking all the papers.

After completion, the examiner will seal the test papers and admit the top 400 students based on their scores, from high to low.

After doing all this, all we have to do is wait for the results to be announced, and then everything will be settled.

That evening, as soon as the list was released, County Magistrate Wei Ming hurried to find Zhang Yunxiu with the admission list.

The two met in the study. Wei Ming simply bowed and handed over the admission list without any nonsense: "Reader Zhang, these are the 400 students admitted for this subject. Please take a look."

Zhang Yunxiu took it, turned his eyes to scan the list, and found that many students on it were from Shandong. He couldn't help but click his tongue.

After reading it, Zhang Yunxiu put the list on the table with a smile.

Turning to look at Wei Ming: "Not bad."

Wei Ming nodded slightly and continued with Zhang Yunxiu's words: "Yes, especially Zhou Jin, who is proficient in arithmetic. Although he is from Shandong, he is also very familiar with Songjiang Prefecture and the Ming Dynasty."

"Well, he got first place in this subject, which is really good." Zhang Yunxiu chuckled and nodded, and then said, "Well, your Huating County is big, and two chief clerks may not be enough, so just add another chief clerk and let Zhou Jin fill the vacancy of the chief clerk."

"Mr. Zhang's move has solved my urgent need!"

Wei Ming narrowed his eyes and began to flatter Zhang Yunxiu in a fawning manner.

Although Zhang Yunxiu felt uncomfortable, this guy had helped him a lot, so he didn't want to interrupt him in person. He just made a few half-joking jokes and yawned, intending to send him away.

Wei Ming knew what to do. He stood up and found an excuse to leave. He turned around and walked towards the door. When he crossed the threshold, he did not forget to look back and said, "I will post the notice tomorrow. Three days later, I will host a banquet for the students at the restaurant. Please, Mr. Zhang, please come and have a chat."

"Don't worry, I will definitely go."

The next morning.

The gate of the county government office had not yet been opened, but it was already surrounded by students.

All of them had flushed faces, excited expressions, and were breathing heavily. They stared straight at the tightly closed gate of the magistrate's office, like a long-hungry beast.

About a quarter of an hour passed.

The gate of the county government office made a teeth-grinding "branch" sound, and then the two doors slowly opened, and an official wearing a black gauze hat walked out, followed by several minor clerks carrying large red lists.

Seeing this scene, the students outside held their breath and didn't dare to breathe.

The official glanced at these students. He knew that the anxious wait was the most unbearable, so he urged the clerk to quickly hang the list on the high wall west of the county government office.

The clerk did not dare to delay. He took a few steps forward and hung the list on the wall with ease.

Expand downward.

The students' eyes were fixed on the list as if they were under a spell.

They all tried their best to look for their names on the lottery ticket. Those who got the prize were overjoyed and clamored to go to the restaurant for a meal.

Those who failed sighed and consoled themselves that they still had the chance to take the imperial examination.

Zhou Jin was also in the crowd.

At this moment, he was staring at the first name on the list.

"Zhou Jin is from Qufu County, Yanzhou Prefecture, Shandong Province."

He couldn't believe it, so he wiped his eyes again.

On the big red list, his name became clearer and clearer. Suddenly, Zhou Jin shouted from the depths of his soul: "I got it, I got it, I got it!!"

Wang Neng, who was standing by, was also all smiles. He grasped Zhou Jin's hand and said excitedly, "You won. You're the first, Brother Zhou!! You won. Now you can become an official directly."

When the students around heard this, they all looked at Zhou Jin with envy in their eyes.

The first person can directly become an official of high rank, which is equivalent to a juren.

Faced with everyone's envy, Zhou Jin always maintained his composure until he and Wang Neng retreated to an alley near the county government office.

"Hahaha, I won, I won." Zhou Jin was so excited that he danced with joy and spoke incoherently. Suddenly, he thought of Wang Neng beside him, "By the way, Brother Wang, have you found your rank?"

Wang Neng waved his hands and smiled ashamedly: "I can't compare to you. I'm lucky to be ranked 270th."

"It's good if I win, it's good if I win, as long as I win, it doesn't matter what the ranking is."

Zhou Jin's cheeks flushed, and he grabbed Wang Neng's hand and walked out of the alley.

This brother had always taken care of him in the past, and today he was proud of himself, so he had to pretend to be a big shot even if he had to swell his face.

Wait for three days in joy.

Three days later in the evening, County Magistrate Wei Ming personally hosted a banquet at a restaurant in the city to entertain the students who had passed the exam.

As the best in this battle, Zhou Jin naturally had the honor to sit at the same table with Zhang Yunxiu.

The rest of the students sat on the first floor.

When the banquet began, Zhang Yunxiu glanced at the top scorer in this subject. Seeing that he was standing upright with a stiff look on his face, he couldn't help but laugh in his heart.

Smiling and shaking his head, Zhang Yunxiu looked at Zhou Jin, pointed at Wei Ming and the others and joked, "Zhou Zhubu, all the people sitting at this table are officials from your Huating. Zhubu Zhou has a stern face. Could it be that he looks down on these colleagues?"

"Ah, I, not you, your subordinate, I have absolutely no such intention." Zhou Jin was so scared that he spoke incoherently and even stuttered.

"Hahaha"

Everyone present burst into laughter, and the air was suddenly filled with joy.

Zhou Jin was even more nervous now, with beads of sweat on his wrinkled forehead. "This is my first time meeting you, superiors. I have given you a treat. I hope you will forgive me for my poor hospitality."

Zhang Yunxiu smiled warmly, signaling him not to be nervous, and then pointed at the officials present and introduced them one by one.

Every time Zhou Jin introduced someone, he would bow to that person and offer a glass of wine, just like a young wife meeting her parents-in-law.

After one round, Zhou Jin's face turned red and he was a little drunk.

Zhang Yunxiu saw that this guy couldn't drink much, so he winked at Wei Ming and others, telling them not to force him to drink. If he got drunk, it would be a lot of fun.

The scene upstairs was peaceful and harmonious.

The situation downstairs was not so good. These students had been suppressed for many years and today they got a good job, so the emotions that had been suppressed for many years suddenly burst out.

Just as we drink and sing, what is life?

After getting drunk, making up a couple of doggerel poems became the best game among literati.

While the students were having fun, before they knew it, it had gotten dark.

Han San rushed into the restaurant with an excited look on his face. Without even looking at the crazy student, he rushed straight to the second floor.

When he entered the private room and saw Zhang Yunxiu, Han San immediately shouted, "Sir, the fleet you sent out to search for treasure is back."

"Zhao Dalong, Li Erhu and their ships have already docked at the dock of Songjiang Prefecture."

"real?!"

"Ah."

After getting the confirmation, Zhang Yunxiu slapped his thigh and rushed out of the box as if in a hurry under the gaze of Wei Ming and others.

(End of this chapter)