In the second half of the ninth month of the lunar calendar, the winter is closed after the farm work is over. This is the only time of the year when Abi is the happiest, and his brother finally doesn't have to work every day to get up early and return late.

Chen Qing promised the village baby to go to the mountains to catch pheasants, while the weather was not cold, a few half-sized children followed behind Chen Qing, the farmer baby has its own wild skills, and after pondering, he also found a wild way to catch chickens.

No one hunts for a year, there are a lot of small animals in the mountains, and the village will organize the masters to go into the mountains to hunt some game in two days.

Chen Qing and they had a good harvest, caught three pheasants, and beat more than 20 chickadees, the sparrows were roasted on the spot and put into their stomachs, and the pheasants were slaughtered at home and divided into half according to the head.

After the stew was cooked that night, Chen Qing didn't catch a piece, it all went into Chen Ping's stomach, Chen Qing gave Ah Bi a piece of chicken breast with the white eyes of the eldest aunt, and urged her to eat it quickly.

On the second day, Chen Qing went to the town with the 10 sheep pens he had made. I said hello to Shopkeeper Lin and my aunt, and then took a car to the county seat to pick up the work.

The medicinal herb that promised the shopkeeper Lin was dug up when he went into the mountains to catch pheasants. The aunt only gave Abi the job, but he couldn't take it himself.

Because the document in the county was signed by Chen Qing, there will be a poor pool in the future, and the person who lost the money is also Chen Qing, but he is not afraid that Chen Bi will marry her in the future and cause her trouble.

Huan happily took the embroidery work, with his hand speed, the whole winter is the size of the embroidery, can also embroider two, before only dared to take a juanpa, embroidery clothes and other small jobs, now there is time Chen Qing also wants to challenge the high difficulty.

This time it was a screen, fine silk, and embroidery thread drawn by silk. There are many types of screens, such as hollow patterns carved from wood, landscapes painted with silk silk, and embroidery with embroidery thread has only recently become popular.

Translucent silk is indeed delicate and rich if embroidered with patterns.

This time when he came to the county seat, Chen Qing did not sell brushes, but planned to take a good look around the county to see if there were any fresh things to bring back to Abi, and Chen Qing did not dare to buy jewelry and other objects, for fear of being turned out by the eldest uncle, but he was not afraid of eating.

Inevitably the rough palms scraped the fabric, and Chen Qing also reluctantly bought facial oil handguards to wipe his face at a high price. In the past, before embroidery, he only applied the ointment configured by the shopkeeper Lin, which was originally a plaster for the prevention and treatment of chilblains and cracked hands, but it was used by Chen Qing as a hand cream, which could also prevent the calloused rough hands from scratching the base.

At this time, I took a big job, and it was a light and thin silk base, Chen Qing had to spend this early investment in case of emergency, but fortunately, I tested it to prevent hooking, and the money was not spent in vain.

went to the dim sum shop to wrap a few pastries, and bought two baked cakes for himself to satisfy his hunger, and there was still an hour before the appointed time, Chen Qing walked towards East Street while strolling.

"Isn't this the little brother who sells brushes?" Shen Shucheng was about to eat a bowl of somen noodles and go to the academy to warm his books, not wanting to see Chen Qing on the street.

"It's the boy who bought the wolf's pen, it's a coincidence" Chen Qing's eyebrows were crooked, and he greeted with a smile.

"You're also here to find food? It just so happens that I haven't had lunch either, why don't we go together?" Shen Shucheng invited, he got cheap last time, and this time he wanted to invite Chen Qing to a light meal.

"No, the croppers have two meals a day, and they don't have the habit of eating lunch" Chen Qing hurriedly refused, a meal in this county is not cheap.

"Strange? Even if it's two meals, it's not lunch, why don't you eat lunch in your village and eat dinner instead?" Shen Shucheng had lived in the county town since he was a child, and couldn't help but ask curiously.

"Well, in the villages around us, we have one meal in the morning and one meal in the evening, but we don't eat at noon, otherwise we won't be able to sleep hungry after work in the afternoon," Chen Qing explained with a smile.

"That's the case, no wonder I said that it is better to travel thousands of miles than to read thousands of books, the customs and customs are different from place to place, I don't even know the situation in the surrounding towns and villages, I am really ashamed and ashamed" Shen Shucheng blamed himself with annoyance, which made Chen Qing smile.

opened his mouth and said, "It's just that the time of eating is different, and it's not worth the son's self-pity."

"No, no, people who don't know the people's livelihood will be officials in the future, the people's livelihood is not only a trivial matter, but also related to the fortune of the country, if the people are not happy, how can we talk about stabilizing the dynasty, and the people live and work in peace and contentment?" Shen Shucheng retorted.

"Childe is ambitious, I believe that you will be able to be the champion in high school, and if you have this mind, if you can be an official, you will definitely be able to benefit the people," Chen Qing said sincerely.

In this world, just looking at the fate of an entire county and town can be controlled by just looking at a county official, you know that if you are not a good official, how can you summarize it if the people are not happy?

"Brother said and laughed, how can the champion be so easy to test, I am still just a showman, I have not even made a name for myself, what is an official? I have a lot of ambition in the sky, but I have no way to get acquainted with nobles, not to mention entering the court as an official, it is empty talk to be a local official for the benefit of one party" Shen Shuchen looked depressed.

Chen Qing saw that there were people coming and going around him, and it was not a place to talk, so he had the heart to explain him, so he opened his mouth and invited, "Why don't we find a place to sit down and talk?"

"Huh, that's a good relationship, little brother doesn't have to worry about money, I got cheap last time, this time I'll let my brother treat you to a meal, but it's not a good food" Shen Shucheng swept away his depression and pulled Chen Qing to a noodle restaurant in the back street.

Chen Qingyuan wanted to refuse, but he was so enthusiastic that he had to order a bowl of somen noodles, and the two sat down and chatted.

Waiting for the face, Chen Qing also asked his doubts, the croppers were closed to news, and they didn't understand the imperial examination system, although Chen Qing didn't have the imperial examination, he also wanted to understand.

"Gongzi is already a talented master, why are you still worried about the imperial examination?" asked Chen Qing.

"Brother doesn't know the difficulty of this imperial examination, I have passed the boys' examination since I was 10 years old, and I got the talent at the age of 12.

In the college, he never talked about this matter with his classmates, and he also wanted to save face. He was a talented man at a young age, he was a talented and intelligent person, and he had to meet the guidance of his teacher, so he thought that he would be able to take the exam at the age of 13, and then slowly enter the exam, but he didn't want to miss the fame.

He was not discouraged, thinking that he was still shallow in knowledge, and he thought very highly of himself as soon as he got the show, and studied hard in self-cultivation and logistics. At the age of 16, he was recommended by his teacher again for the township examination, but he was replaced by someone else, and his place was replaced.

A trick fell from a high altitude, attracting countless ridicule, after the second defeat, the whole person was depressed, and the teacher enlightened him several times could not rekindle his fighting spirit, and today he can tell his peers about his depression and relieve a lot of sorrow.

"This imperial examination system, can Shen Gongzi tell me one or two?" is such a genius, he took the township examination twice at the age of 16, although he did not win the examination, but it also shows that he is talented.

"The township examination is a big competition for three years, and you can only participate in the show talent who has passed the provincial scientific examination. If the township examination is a person, he will participate in the general examination in the spring of the second year, and if he passes the re-examination, he can participate in the palace examination. If the tribute can be collectively called Jinshi, it will be admitted into three grades, the first will be given to Jinshi and the first, the second will be given to Jinshi, and the third will be given to the same Jinshi.

The first class admits three people, namely the champion, the top eye, and the tanhua, which are collectively known as the three tripod first. The second first name is passed on. In addition to the top three of the first class, the rest of the Jinshi then participated in the court examination, examined the edict and discussed the poetry, selected those who were good at literature and calligraphy as Shu Jishi, and the rest were awarded official positions such as chief minister and county magistrate. Shen Shucheng said slowly.

Chen Qing was dizzy when he heard this, this ancient imperial examination system was much more cumbersome than the college entrance examination, and after the examination again and again, he had to shed his skin if he didn't die. Chen Qing mostly didn't understand, it seems that this Shen Gongzi is also understandable.

"Since it is so cumbersome and strict, why should Shen Gongzi be discouraged after only taking the exam twice? You are still young, it is not a blessing to enter the officialdom early" Even if the genius has outstanding knowledge, he has not enough mental experience, and if he is not in the dark of officialdom, he will lose his head, and it is a good thing to sharpen it for a few more years. Chen Qing didn't say anything in the second half of the sentence, but the worried expression on his face also relieved Shen Shucheng a lot.

"I didn't expect that although my brother is a child of the Zhuang family, he also understands a lot of big truths, and my teacher also said so. It's just that I don't have enough knowledge to pass the exam, and if I am impersonated, how can I not hate it if I change the exam papers?"

"That's the case, no wonder the son is so discouraged" Chen Qing silently slandered in his heart, no matter when, cheating is the most shameful means. In modern times, it is impossible to avoid it, and in ancient times, the legal system was incomplete, officials protected each other, and corruption and perversion of the law were not uncommon. Fortunately, the farmer is closed to news and only works with the field, but he has never encountered such an injustice.

"If I can also be favored by the governor, how can I suffer from this situation? Lu Xiucai, who was in the government-run school at the same time as me, spoke to the governor because of his family relationship, and he had to ask about his homework, and since then he has been advancing all the way, hey~" Shen Shucheng said with envy and jealousy.

"We people who have no way out can only rely on our own efforts to forge ahead, and we can't envy ourselves," Chen Qing sighed that no matter what time he goes, connections are very important.

"What my brother said is exactly because my brother is narrow-minded, and a scholar should be self-reliant and study hard, and use his strength to break all the falsehoods" Chen Qing said bluntly, but Shen Shucheng suddenly opened his mouth, which is much more effective than the great truth that Mr. Zhi has said countless times.

Seeing Shen Gongzi's sudden epiphany, Chen Qing felt inexplicable, obviously just now he looked like he couldn't devote himself to a rich and noble family, but now he has a clear face, and everything is dust.

"Childe can figure out the key is the best, there is no need to disturb mehrism, I think I will be able to go to high school next time" Although Chen Qing felt inexplicable, he still sincerely blessed him.

"You have to be a brother to become a brother to completely wake up, but all kinds of stupidity before are as mediocre as you said, and I am grateful for my brother's teaching" Shen Shucheng stood up and bowed respectfully. The frightened Chen Qing hurriedly got up and grabbed him, and muttered in a low voice, "Shen Gongzi, this is unacceptable, there are so many people, isn't it torturing me for you to give a mud-legged salute!"

Shen Shuying smiled, took Chen Qing's hand and said, "Don't care what my name is, you will call me Brother Shen in the future, today is a good day, and you and I will be brothers in the future, okay?"

Chen Qing blinked, this chat also recognized a talented old man as his brother? But Shen Shucheng is a decent person, and it is also a good thing to be able to make friends with him" If Brother Shen doesn't dislike his brother's mud-legged background, he should be extremely happy."

"This mud leg can stabilize the state, even the officers and soldiers are unable to defend the country without food, and the younger brother must not be arrogant. In this way, I don't know my brother's name yet, my name is Shen Shucheng, and the word is Anzhi," Shen Shucheng said seriously.

"Brother Shen can call me Chen Qing and Ah Qing," Chen Qing smiled and recognized this brother.

"Ah Qing is also kind, come, eat noodles first" It happened that the noodles were delivered, and Shen Shucheng beckoned Chen Qing to eat first.