Zhu Ping'an returned to the inn and began to study in retreat, and other candidates generally participated in some poetry clubs, poetry clubs, assemblies, etc., but Zhu Ping'an did not participate in this. ⊥，

Except for a few occasional visits by Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen, Zhu Ping'an has always been in retreat and studying in the inn room.

Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen took Zhu Ping'an to visit the capital several times, focusing on the Gongyuan in the southwest of the capital, and visited the Biguan Hutong, Liyu Hutong and Donkey Hoof Hutong. Pen Tube Hutong, as the name suggests, is a street that sells pen and paper; Liyu Hutong and Donkey Hoof Hutong are both places for candidates to stay.

Liyu Hutong was originally a small alley, first called 'Old Man Alley'. Most of the rich candidates who entered Beijing rode donkeys into Beijing to live in the donkey's hoof alley, and it is said that once a poor candidate had no money and was poor at home, he rushed to the exam day and night with two legs step by step. Because he came late, the residence was overcrowded, and an old man who lived in the old man's alley near the Gongyuan took him in. Three days before the imperial examination, it suddenly rained heavily. A thunderclap startled, and then a golden white carp burst out of the clouds and landed on the street where the candidates in Henan temporarily lived; After a while, the thunder rose again, and the carp soared into the air and flew straight towards the examination hall of the Gongyuan Society...... So an old man said, this is 'carp jumping over the dragon gate'.

The exam started three days later, and the poor candidates really went to high school. This candidate is very conscientious, and the first thing he did after the list was released was to visit the old man who helped him, and set up a big archway for the old man. Since then, this carp alley has become famous, and during each examination, people from all over the country gather in the carp alley. In order to please the lottery.

Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen lived in Liyu Hutong, and the two rented a separate courtyard. Of course, it cost a lot, and each person also brought two maids and a scholar to serve.

As the exam date draws closer. Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen are coming less and less. Especially inspired by Zhu Ping'an's retreat and reading, the two slowly pushed off the poetry meeting and concentrated on the preparation and review before the exam.

Zhu Ping'an seems to have returned to the era of the college entrance examination, staying at home, studying hard, three meals a day were sent by the store guy, this is the store guy took the initiative to ask, the three meals a day are provided very attentively, on time and on time. The combination of meat and vegetables is very good.

On this day, Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen came together again and invited Zhu Ping'an to go to the yamen to register their identities. Zhu Ping'an's retreat and study life lasted only half a month before it had to end, because the exam was about to begin. Zhu Ping'an miscalculated the time of the examination, the examination of the Ming Dynasty was held in February, and the March of the original record was the examination time after the change of the Qing Dynasty.

The general examination is presided over by the Ministry of Rites, and the process is similar to that of the township examination, first to register the identity, which is equivalent to the registration of the modern examination, and then take the exam. After all, the general examination is to concentrate people from all over the country to participate in the examination. If you don't register, you don't know how many people are participating.

"Have you heard, this time it is said that 400 people will be recruited, which is nearly 100 more than in previous years."

On the way to register your identity. Zhang Siwei suddenly looked mysterious and excited, and said to Zhu Ping'an and Wang Shizhen.

"Ziwei, the news is really well-informed." Zhu Ping'an heard this. I couldn't help but admire.

Zhang Siwei's family is a family of salt merchants, a wealthy family in Puzhou. His uncle is Wang Chonggu, a Jinshi who has been in Jiajing for 20 years. is also a fierce man, and now he should be the prefect of a certain place. Sure enough, there are people in the DPRK who are good officials, and they can even inquire about the number of places admitted to this kind of examination.

In previous years, there were about 300 people admitted to the entrance examination, but if the admission of 400 people in the examination this year is really 400, then I will be a little more sure.

Regarding this news, Zhu Ping'an is still quite happy to hear it.

"Well, yes, I've heard that too. This change is a blessing for you and me. Wouldn't it be very happy for you and me to be on the same list. ”

Wang Shizhen had heard the news for a long time, but when she heard it again, she still felt excited. Especially when I thought that if I passed the exam with Zhang Siwei and Zhu Ping'an, I was even more excited. Wouldn't it be nice to have similar interests, get acquainted before the exam, and win the list together.

"Wensheng this exam, I am relieved, Taicang Wang, well-dressed poetry and books, Wensheng is the best of the Wang, this exam, will inevitably be in one fell swoop; Zihou's exam is not a big problem, although Zihou is young, but he is quick-witted, rare in the world, and I am a convention, the test list is divided into north and south, south six and north four, this time there are many places, Zi Hou is in the south list, this exam, will inevitably have a big gain. ”

Zhang Siwei pointed at Wang Shizhen, and then looked at Zhu Ping'an, and had great hopes for the two of them in this test.

But speaking of this, Zhang Siwei's voice changed, pointed at himself again, and said with a wry smile, "My words, I'm afraid I'm going to hold you back." ”

Ziwei laughed again, others don't know, how can Zihou and I not know. Ziwei you articles, calligraphy and excellence, Bo Gu Tong Jin, Puzhou famous 'true naturalist gentleman', especially known for the eight strands of composition, I am good at poetry, but the eight strands are inferior to you for a long time. Zihou, don't believe his nonsense, Ziwei is dashing and loves to joke the most. ”

Wang Shizhen shook his head, pointed at Zhang Siwei, and smiled at Zhu Ping'an.

"Wensheng, you don't come to comfort me." Zhang Siwei smiled bitterly.

"I said, the two of you will definitely be on the high school list this time, believe me or not?" Zhu Ping'an looked at the two of them, hooked the corners of his lips and said.

"Zihou, you can also laugh."

"That's it, don't look at Zihou's honest face, and he is young, but in my opinion, Zihou's Ziwei is more than Ziwei, and the machine changes are as good as ever."

"That's because people are blinded by Zihou's honest face and lose their vigilance, I really hate my father and mother for giving birth to my handsome face, hehe."

When Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen heard this, they turned their heads around in unison, and laughed at Zhu Ping'an.

"Ten taels of silver, bet that the two of you will definitely be on the list." Zhu Ping'an hooked the corners of his lips and smiled confidently.

"Where do you get your confidence?" Wang Shizhen looked at Zhu Ping'an and asked.

"It's not confidence, it's faith in you." Zhu Ping'an smiled indifferently.

"Okay, just Chong Zihou's words, if I am the first, I will give you a hundred taels. However, if I fail to make the list, I will definitely eat you poorly. Zhang Siwei said with a smile.

"Seconded." Wang Shizhen chimed in.

Both of them are from famous families, and this money is really not in their eyes.

"That's a good feeling." Zhu Ping'an laughed and said, just kidding, brother knows history, and the two of you are on the list this time.

"Zihou, you just talk about us, why don't you talk about you." Wang Shizhen asked.

"If you don't say it, it's stable." Zhang Siwei replied for Zhu Ping'an with a smile.

The three of them laughed all the way to register, and after the registration, they went back separately to prepare for the exam. (To be continued......) u