Good son-in-law of the Ming Dynasty

There are about 20 scholars from Baoding Prefecture who went to Tongzhou to participate in the township examination this time. On average, there are about a dozen or [-] scholars in each county, which is not too many.This is still good, Baoding Prefecture is also a place where the literary style is at its peak. In remote areas such as Gansu and Ningxia, it is difficult to get ten people from each county for the triennial rural examination.

This shows how difficult it was to become a famous scholar in ancient times.

Of course, in affluent areas such as Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Changzhou, it is not uncommon for a county to have hundreds of scholars.Things like reading have a lot to do with the wealth of the place.

This time Baoding Mansion came to see the examinees off was the academic official of the prefectural school, that is, Qin Xuezheng who had been the deputy chief examiner of Su Mu.

The ceremony was quite grand, and they brought wine. After the cup was full, Qin Xuezheng raised his glass and said, "Today is an auspicious day. I have prepared water and wine to express my gratitude. Everyone, please show your energy and use it in the township examination field." Come up with the means."

All the students hurriedly responded and drank their wine.Then, a scribe arranged flowers and colors for all the students, and all the students kowtowed to Qin Xuezheng, and Xuezheng saluted Qin Xuezheng.After saluting, all sentient beings line up.In the lead of the drum music, pass through the dragon gate with colorful tie, and take the carp to jump the dragon gate, which symbolizes that everyone can be high on the imperial list.

After passing through Longmen, each of them got a letter of silver as a package.

Because Su Mu was the first name, he won the lottery and walked in the front.

Strange to say, Qin Xuezheng treated him rather coldly, and didn't say any words of encouragement. Maybe he still remembers that scene in the examination room?

Severe lack of sleep kept Su Mu's head in chaos, and he couldn't see anything unusual about Qin Xuezheng, so he just walked forward like a wooden man.

After passing through the Longmen, he took the silver and weighed it, about four taels.

I was taken aback in my heart, this time Baoding Mansion's handwriting is really not small.For two hundred students, four taels per person is eight thousand.

However, after thinking about it, Baoding is a sub-provincial city and has always been rich, so the money can still be spent.

After passing through the Dragon Gate, the ceremony was considered complete, and the scholars dispersed in chariots and horses.

At the same time, ceremonies in several other state capitals in Hebei were also being held, which was very lively.

Coming out of the Caizha Dragon Gate and seeing the silver in Su Mu's hand, Wu's second son paid attention and greeted him salivating, "I didn't expect Mr. Su to be the first name in the courtyard test. Disrespect and disrespect. You are the first to enter the Dragon Gate this time. Really So majestic!"

But the eyeballs rolled around and fell on Su Mu's burden.

Su Mu was so tired that he didn't have the energy to answer, he gave a grace, nodded, and went back to the car.

Mu Sheng, Sun Chen and the others also came over with their coils, and crowded together in the car.

The second Wu refused to give up, so he chased after him, sat down beside Su Mu, and asked with a smile, "Mr. Su, is he sure to pass the provincial examination?" Look at my stinky mouth, the young master must be stable."

Su Mu said angrily: "Who can say for sure about the exam, but this time, one out of ten is selected, and everything that should be prepared has been prepared. I have studied hard for a month, and God will reward me. I hope I can have a good result. "

"That's it, that's it." Wu Laoer laughed: "Since he won, then next year, Mr. Chunwei will definitely participate. The yard of my house is comfortable to live in. Anyway, you got money today, how about Pay the rent for the next few months as well!"

After finishing speaking, he snatched the money with one hand.

Su Mu's head was not sober at all, and he caught him unexpectedly when he was caught off guard.

Annoyed, he was about to speak when he heard someone shouting, "Where is Su Mu, Su Ziqiao, an examinee from Qingyuan County, Baoding Prefecture?"

Su Mu heard the shout, looked up, but saw a bullock cart coming from there, the handlebars were asking loudly to the scholars on the side of the road.

The ox cart looked very dilapidated, the shed was full of holes, and the inside was patched with bamboo, which was as ugly as a scab.

Su Mu felt strange, seeing this posture should be to see him off.But all my acquaintances in the capital are in this car, so who is it?

Wu Er Er just got the rent, he was happy in his heart, but he was afraid that Su Mu would repent, so he quickly raised his hand and shouted: "Here, Su Mu is here... Ah, old man, why are you here?"

This shout was full of surprise.

The bullock cart stopped beside Su Mu.

Su Mu looked intently, but saw a scholar in his early forties slowly getting off the bullock cart, holding a wine jar with difficulty in his hand, and two small pottery bowls on the mouth of the wine jar.

If not Wu Juren, then who?

The old Juren still had that pale face, but his body was tidied up neatly, and he looked quite refined.

However, because he couldn't see the wind or light, he was wearing a thick winter coat, and his eyes blinked constantly because of the strong light.

Old man Wu opened his mouth wide and said after a long time: "I'm just going to Tongzhou, but it's only seven or eight miles away, and it's not life and death, so there's no need to make such a big fuss? Old man, hurry up, go back quickly, You can’t see the wind, you’re really cold, why didn’t your son pay for your treatment?”

Wu Juren looked at his son coldly, and cursed in a low voice: "Who will send you off, you little bastard? If you die, I will be relieved."

Wu Er was surprised: "Then what are you doing here?"

Wu Juren: "I came to see Su Mu, just ask a few words?"

Su Mu was stunned, but he didn't expect that Wu Juren would come to him, so he hurriedly jumped out of the car and bowed: "Xiaosheng Su Mu, I have met Master Wu." Wu Juren is a senior scholar, and his moral articles are very admirable.

Sun Chen and others hurriedly got down to the ground and bowed, calling them "senior".

Wu Juren ignored him, he already had a social barrier, so he stretched out his hand to pull Su Mu up, walked aside, and asked in a low voice: "Su Mu, let me ask you, whether you can pass the township examination this time, and what are your plans for the future?" ?” The attitude was arrogant and rude.

If it were any other scholar, he would have left long ago if he asked him such a question.

Su Mu was also unhappy, but he owed Miss Wu's kindness. If it wasn't for her guidance this time, he would have been in the exam room, and he didn't know what he would have been in.

Seeing Ms. Wu's face, Su Mu had no choice but to say: "Go back to Mr. Wu, who can explain clearly what happened in the imperial examination field."

"Nonsense, what you are talking about is all nonsense." Wu Juren roared, his face flushed purple: "If this person wants to take the imperial examination, he has worked hard for ten years, and he has already mastered Shiwen. Some numbers, answer honestly."

Su Mu's evil fire suddenly ignited: "Old Juren's question is really strange, so what if Su Mu is not selected? Could it be that I, Su Mu, really won Juren, and the old man will be disappointed?"

Wu Juren was not angry, but thoughtful: "It seems that you are somewhat sure."

Seeing that he didn't answer, Su Mu had no place to vent his anger, and said, "There are more than 2000 candidates in this round of the township examination, and only about [-] candidates will be selected, and one out of ten will be selected. Although Su Mu can't guarantee anything, but if he works hard, there will still be success." It may be in the top two hundred."

"That's good, that's good..." Strange to say, Wu Juren seemed relieved when he heard Su Mu's answer, and asked again: "If you win, do you want to participate in Chunwei?"

"I am very sure of that."

"If Chunwei doesn't win, do you want to go to the Ministry of Officials to be a candidate? Do you have the money to go through the door? Or, when you win the Juren, you can go back to your hometown. With the fame of Juren, you will have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of your life."

The question became more and more strange, and Su Mu found that he really couldn't understand Wu Juren's thinking.A few days ago, because he suspected that he had an affair with his daughter, he even shouted and killed him, and even said that he was going to report to the police.But at this moment, he talked freely with himself about life. This change is too big, right?