Republic of China: Guandong Ginseng King

Chapter 381 Scholar

Qu Shaoyang was anxious about his elder brother's college entrance examination results, so he arranged for someone to go to Kuandian to get information.

Just two days after the people sent out left, Gao Jiangcheng returned from Phoenix.

As soon as they met, Gao Jiangcheng immediately reported the good news.

"Congratulations, sir. Congratulations, sir. Uncle Chen passed the exam and ranked first in the college exam."

"Really? Big brother not only passed the exam, but also ranked first?"

When Qu Shaoyang heard this, he asked in disbelief.

It’s not that Qu Shaoyang doubted his brother-in-law’s talent, but mainly because he had heard from others that there were a lot of things involved in the imperial examination.

There's some kind of division between Manchus and Han people, and it seems like it's based on some ratio. Anyway, it's harder for Han people to pass the exam, and it's even harder to get first place.

"Sir, there is no mistake, this is what the Daotai said himself.

My uncle told me that the Daotai and the Xuezheng were close friends, and he even recommended Uncle Chen to the Xuezheng." Gao Jiangcheng hurriedly explained.

When Qu Shaoyang heard this, he probably understood, "Oh, this is a great joyous event."

If you pass the examination to become a scholar, you will be officially qualified to take the imperial examination. Even if you fail to become a juren, your social status will be very different.

For example, you don't have to kneel when you see the county magistrate, and you are exempted from corvée and land tax, which makes you different from the common people.

Moreover, Chen Yunzhe was the top scorer in the exam, so he could enter the state, prefecture, or county schools, and would be given rice every month, becoming a student on government stipend.

"Jiang Cheng, wait a moment. I'll send someone home to tell you the news."

Qu Shaoyang knew that Gao Jiangcheng must have brought a letter or official letter from the governor when he rushed back from Phoenix City.

But Qu Shaoyang couldn't take care of that at the moment, he had to hurry and inform his family.

Chen Xiuyun has been as anxious as an ant on hot pan at home these days.

Chen Yunzhe passed the examination and became a scholar. This was a great event, so he had to inform his family immediately so that Chen Xiuyun could rest assured.

Qu Shaoyang quickly called a runner and sent him home to report the news. Then he turned around and continued talking to Gao Jiangcheng.

Gao Jiangcheng took out the letter from the Taotai in reply to Qu Shaoyang and handed it to Qu Shaoyang.

"Sir, when the Taotai learned that you personally went to float the rafts and inspect the water flow of the Yalu River, he praised you highly and praised your concern for the people and your dedication to the public.

However, the governor also asked me to give a message to the man who beat him, telling him not to take risks easily in the future.

Your Excellency is responsible for the timber tax collection in the East Region, and also has the duty to maintain local stability.

If there is any mistake, the Daotai will lose his most capable assistant."

Qu Shaoyang smiled when he heard this, but did not respond and just opened the letter.

Daotai Yuliang praised Qu Shaoyang in his letter.

At the same time, Yuliang also believed that Qu Shaoyang's proposal to blow up the sentry post in Beiliu Shui was feasible.

So Yuliang agreed to Qu Shaoyang's proposal and allowed Qu Shaoyang to use the three-year wood tax in the area around Shuangdianzi to purchase explosives and hire specialized blasting personnel.

It is hoped that Qu Shaoyang can complete the cleaning and remediation of the south-flowing and north-flowing river channels within three years.

The result of the Taotai's reply was similar to what Qu Shaoyang expected.

Three years of wood tax was not a small sum, and it was more than enough to buy explosives and hire workers.

With the instructions from the governor, Qu Shaoyang felt relieved and the next step was to hurry up and order explosives from the foreign company.

The wealthy family at the other end of Dianzi Street also wants to order guns and ammunition, so we can do it together.

"Jiang Cheng, you've been running back and forth, it must be hard.

Go back and have some rest first, and then come to my house in the evening and have some fun together." The list was published in Fengtian, spread to Phoenix City, and then from Phoenix City to Maoer Mountain.

Qu Shaoyang estimated the time and thought that Gao Jiangcheng must have rushed back in a hurry, so he asked Gao Jiangcheng to go back and have a good rest first.

Afterwards, Qu Shaoyang notified everyone in the yamen and asked them to come to Qu's house in the evening for a drink.

When everyone heard that Chen Yunzhe had passed the examination and ranked first, they were happy for him and congratulated Qu Shaoyang.

After arranging the affairs of the yamen, Qu Shaoyang hurried back home.

At this time, Chen Xiuyun had already known the news that her brother had passed the imperial examination, and she was so happy that she didn't know what to do.

"Shaoyang, did our eldest brother really win? Oh, I can't believe it. It feels like a dream."

Seeing Qu Shaoyang come in, Chen Xiuyun hurried forward and said with a happy face.

"Yes, Gao Jiangcheng came back from Phoenix City on horseback just to give us the news.

My dear wife, please tell the kitchen to prepare two tables of banquets. I want to invite my colleagues in the government office to have dinner together in the evening.

Then, you prepare a gift.

My eldest brother passed the imperial examination and became a scholar. This is a great joy for our family. In a couple of days, we will take our children to Kuandian to celebrate. "

The weather was too cold during the Chinese New Year and Chen Xiuyun was unable to return to her parents' home. Now that the weather is warmer, it's just right to take the children out for some fun.

"Really? That's great. I just want to go back to see my parents and sister-in-law." Chen Xiuyun was overjoyed when she heard that and hurried to prepare.

Qu Shaoyang also quickly sent someone to send a letter to the gold field to inform Liu Dongshan and Qu Laokouer.

For ordinary families, if someone in the family could pass the imperial examination and become a scholar, it was a remarkable thing. Such a happy event would definitely be notified to everyone.

That evening, Qu Shaoyang set up several tables of banquet at home to entertain everyone in the yamen.

During the banquet, Gao Jiangcheng and several other officers who came from Phoenix City offered wine to Qu Shaoyang one after another, and kept saying flattering words as if they were free.

To be honest, Gao Jiangcheng and others have been working in Maoer Mountain for more than a year.

These people usually respect Qu Shaoyang, but they all have backers, so they can't help but act with some arrogance.

It is very rare to see people praising Qu Shaoyang blindly like they did today.

But if you think about it, you will know what is going on.

Chen Yunzhe passed the examination to become a scholar, and he will probably go to the state or county school to study and prepare for the provincial examination the following year.

In this way, the position of assistant secretary will be vacant, and then someone will be chosen from the general office.

Although Gao Jiangcheng is also an assistant and has the same position, he is working under Qu Shaoyang's supervision and has many restrictions.

Over there is a branch office of the Wood Tax Office. What the assistant director says counts. This is totally different.

Furthermore, Gao Jiangcheng's family is all in Phoenix, and Anton lives close by, so he naturally wants to transfer there.

How could Qu Shaoyang not see what these people were thinking? Because of this, Qu Shaoyang was also worried.

Chen Yunzhe’s future is important, so he must not be allowed to stay in the Andong Wood Tax Office any longer.

However, Qu Shaoyang was a little embarrassed about who would take over Chen Yunzhe's position.

The most important thing is that there are not many people around Qu Shaoyang who are both educated and capable and who share the same mind as him.

This is also one of the reasons why Qu Shaoyang wanted to accompany Chen Xiuyun back to Kuandian. He had to find Chen Yunzhe to discuss and see who would be more suitable to take over Chen Yunzhe's position.

Although Qu Shaoyang was full of thoughts, he did not show it on his face and continued to drink and chat with everyone.

After the banquet was over and everyone left, Qu Shaoyang returned to the backyard reeking of alcohol.

(End of this chapter)