Xiaoyaoshanjun

Chapter 31: The First Case

Three or four days later, when the results were announced, Tian Buli sneaked over.

Before he reached the courtyard wall, he was surrounded by Liu Menjing and several other candidates.

"Tian Buli! Where is your husband? Why can't I find you these days?" Fu Shuhong greeted happily, obviously there was good news.

Tian Buli smiled and said, "That restaurant is too expensive, so we changed to a cheaper inn, and with the money we saved we ate a pound of meat every day."

Liu Menjing quickly grabbed Tian Buli's hand and said, "Let's go! Let's go find your teacher and tell him the good news. He passed the exam and got first place! First place!"

Tian Buli looked at Liu Menjing in surprise, "Really?"

"You'll know if you go and take a look! Come!" Liu Menjing pulled him to see the list.

At this time, the first half hour had long passed, and many of the people who had squeezed in at the beginning left with sad faces.

There were only a few hundred people who could pass the imperial examination in Qitian Prefecture, but the huge list could not accommodate many names.

The more rich people there are in a place, the more places for scholars there are. The imperial court has always allocated places according to the amount of public grain paid.

Yanque City paid a lot of public grain, so all the quotas were used by Qitian Mansion, leaving only eight quotas for the lower levels.

Kang Biyong saw the two of them and walked over with a smile on his face.

No need to ask to know that he also won.

Liu Menjing was also a scholar, and a self-funded student. Because he was not in the first or second class, he was not eligible to take part in the subsequent imperial examinations.

Scholars are divided into several grades, and it seems that the Liu family spent a lot of money to secure this scholar quota.

I don’t know what specific relationship was used, but the name of Mr. Sick was definitely at the top of the list.

Tian Buli soon looked worried.

Scholars don’t get paid. Although the first place scholar can get some rice from the county government every month, studying is very expensive. After passing the college entrance examination, one has to study and take assessments in the official academy in the provincial capital.

Generally, the first place will be checked very strictly, and it is easy to attract attention. Without some strength, it is impossible to get the first place with connections and cause trouble.

When Tian Buli and the other two went to see Mr. Bing, he shamelessly borrowed money again.

"Master Liu, Master Kang, after the college entrance examination, the master will have to study here for a period of time. I... want to borrow some money from you for the master's use."

Liu Menjing said generously: "How difficult is that? I am willing to donate twenty taels of silver to Mr. Hu!"

Kang Biyong also smiled and said: "Brother Hu and I are from the same hometown, and we are both students of the same year. I am also willing to donate 15 taels to relieve my worries!"

"Thank you two heroes!" Tian Buli thanked them quickly.

Although a scholar is worthless and cannot support a family, if someone wins the first place in both the tongsheng and the scholar positions within a year, others will believe that it will not be difficult for him to pass the imperial examination.

If you pass the imperial examination, you will become an official!
The other candidates from other places also donated some money. Although some of them did not pass the exam, it would definitely be beneficial to have a good relationship with the first place.

After Fu Shuhong, who failed the exam more than a dozen times, donated the money, he also considered the difficulties of Mr. Bing.

"I have a few empty rooms at home, why don't you stay there? Brother Hu and I hit it off right away, and we are about the same age, so I can also learn from him."

Yu Zhongzheng, who won the title of Extra Scholar last year, took the initiative to say, "We can't make a decision even if we talk to him. Let's go find Hu Yuwei. He is the first in the case. I want to see his first-place essay."

Kang Biyong said quickly, "We should ask Brother Hu to go to the government office as soon as possible, lest the people in the government office fail to find the person and ruin things."

"Yes, yes! Let's go!"

Everyone hurriedly urged Tian Buli to lead the way and quickly went to see Mr. Bing.

A few people came to the inn, which looked like a shabby grocery store from the outside.

The entrance door is low, less than 1.6 meters high, and can only accommodate two people at a time. There are piles of wood, stones and other debris near the door, as well as clothes hanging out to dry.

The shopkeepers are an elderly couple. Their eldest son and daughter-in-law usually work as craftsmen in the city and can earn four or five taels of silver a month.

The shop is run by two elderly people and their youngest son. Due to the bad location and not very good business, they are simply making some money by using the empty shop.

Food and drink are provided these days, and the money charged is reasonable. It is quite comfortable for Tian Buli and Mr. Bing to live here.

When a group of scholars in long gowns and cloth robes came over, the old woman who was taking care of her grandson quickly stood up and looked at them in horror.

Tian Buli quickly comforted her, "Mrs. Qian, these are the scholars who came to see you. You passed the imperial examination and everyone came to congratulate you. Is you in the house today?"

After hearing what happened, Qian Po was relieved, but she was a little afraid of these people.

"The master went out and said that the list is almost out and he wants to go take a look."

The old woman told me that the sick man was not there.

Kang Biyong quickly asked, "How long ago did it happen?"

The old woman answered carefully: "Not long ago, I just washed two pieces of clothes." Yu Zhongzheng said: "I must have missed it on the way!"

Kang Biyong didn't believe it. "There are so many of us coming here directly from the main road. How could we not see it?"

Yu Zhongzheng explained helplessly: "When I first looked at the list, I didn't dare to walk too fast, so I took a detour! You are young and don't understand this, and you won't understand even if I tell you."

The other scholars, whether they passed the exam or not, all understood this mentality.

"Everyone, go back and take a look. Let's take a detour on the road! Hu Yuwei must not be able to walk fast. Let's look for him!"

"it is good!"

Most of the scholars were young people, and there was nothing urgent today, so they all went out to look for people quickly.

Tian Buli followed him out and searched for more than an hour. Finally, he saw Hu Yuwei standing quietly in front of the list in the government office, looking up at the list.

The rest of the people also gathered together to congratulate Hu Yuwei.

"Congratulations, sir, on getting high school!"

Tian Buli came over happily to congratulate Hu Yuwei.

Hu Yuwei had been standing there for more than ten minutes. He had calmed down his inner excitement and clasped his hands and bowed in return.

"Thank you for your help. If it weren't for your care and encouragement over the past few months, I wouldn't be where I am today."

"You are too polite, sir!" Tian Buli said with a smile, "People say that passing the imperial examination is like a carp leaping over the dragon gate."

"How can golden scales be just a thing in a pond? They turn into dragons when encountering wind and clouds!"

"Sir, I did help you get to where you are today, but it's more because you have the strength. Because you never gave up, I was able to inspire your fighting spirit."

"If it were a stone from a toilet, even gods wouldn't be able to save it!"

Fu Shuhong looked at Tian Buli, "Brother Hu, your book boy is really good at talking!"

Hu Yuwei's face suddenly turned bad.

"Mr. Fu, you have a bad memory." Tian Buli quickly said with a smile: "I am not a book boy, but a county student. I passed the exam once this year. The main reason I didn't take the exam this time was that I didn't have the money to find a guarantor."

"But you don't have to worry about this in the future. Sir, you have won the first place in the case, so I can save money when I find someone to be a guarantor in the future."

Hu Yuwei agreed with a smile.

At this time, many people were watching this side. Yu Zhongzheng saw it and said quickly: "Let's go to the restaurant to celebrate quickly, otherwise it will be bad if he is caught and used as a son-in-law."

"Brother Hu, have you ever married?"

Hu Yuwei said: "He has a wife and children, and three naughty and stupid sons."

"I was thinking of introducing my sister to you! But now I have no chance!" Yu Zhongzheng quickly took everyone to a restaurant to celebrate, and also sent someone home to ask for some money.

After passing the imperial examination, you don't need to rush home to have dinner with your family. Instead, you should get to know other people who have also passed the imperial examination.

It is not easy for a scholar to pass the imperial examination. Only one out of a hundred can do it, but there is probably one scholar out of a dozen who will pass. Making friends at this time is very meaningful.

In the time it takes to eat a meal, Hu Yuwei had settled all the expenses and accommodation for the next few months in Qi Tian Mansion.

***
After finishing his meal, Tian Buli and Hu Yuwei went to the toilet together as they had to visit the government office of Qi Tian Mansion later.

Ordinary scholars do not have this treatment. The first place candidate must meet the chief examiner and high-ranking officials of the county government to establish a student-student relationship.

If you perform well or are noticed, it will be very beneficial for your future.

Tian Buli felt that he had nothing to do, so he said while peeing: "Sir, everyone has donated a lot of money this time, and we have arranged a place to stay. I should go back too."

Hu Yuwei really wanted Tian Buli to stay. After all, there was no one more trustworthy than Tian Buli.

Although Tian Buli did not provide any academic help in this exam, he has always provided great help in life and on the road to progress.

Without Tian Buli, Hu Yuwei knew very well that he would not be able to reach Qitian Mansion.

"Okay, you take some of the money back, and I'll just keep some."

"No, there's not much to spend at home, and I can make money by selling tofu. I sold the cart while you were having dinner just now, and I'll buy a new one when I get back."

Tian Buli pulled up his trousers, tied his belt and said, "Then I'll go back now. If I run faster, I might be able to reach the inn before the city gates close at night."

Hu Yuwei said, "Why don't you leave tomorrow morning? I'll give you some silver."

"No, I'll go back and congratulate you now. Take care, sir!"

Tian Buli left very quickly, and Hu Yuwei had no choice but to leave. He had just taken a few steps when he was pulled away by the scholars to discuss the article.

(End of this chapter)