The Divine Decree of the Confused Son of Heaven soon spread throughout the entire Aolai Kingdom.

There is a county in Aolai country, and there is a scholar named Mei Zheren in the county. He was born with a short body, big ears, and a slightly chubby body. Because he ranks sixth in the family, people also call Mei Zheren Mei Liu.

On this day, Mei Zheren went to the city to buy medicine for his mother who suffered from wind and cold, and saw the list of the imperial examination at the gate of the county government.

Speaking of the Mei family, it is also somewhat well-known in Jian County. The Mei family was originally a wealthy family, and there were many books in the family, so the Mei Zhe people read poetry and books since childhood.

But the good times didn't last long, when Mei Zheren was thirteen years old, his father Mei Dayun died of illness, and the Mei family has been on a downward slope since then.

Mei Zheren began to take the imperial examination at the age of eighteen, and by the first year of the confused Son of Heaven, he had taken the examination five times in a row, and he did not rank every time.

Under normal circumstances, the imperial examination is held once every two years. When he took the fifth imperial examination, Mei Zheren was already twenty-six years old.

At this time, not only did he have no merit and fame, but because he was studying and taking the imperial examination, his family was getting poorer and poorer, and no daughter from any family was willing to marry him.

At the age of twenty-seven, Mei Zheren was still a single person, and he became a well-known older leftover man in Yan County.

When he saw the list text, Mei Zheren was waiting for the next year to take the sixth imperial examination, but he didn't expect that Enke was added in the middle of the two imperial examinations, and the subjects of the examination were completely different from previous years, and they had to test riddles, brain teasers and tongue twisters.

After reading the content of the list, Mei Zheren couldn't help but clap his hands and say:

"Good, good!"

Why Mei Zheren is so excited, this has to start from the failure of his scientific expedition a year ago. At that time, Mei Zheren fell off the list for the fifth time and was very depressed.

On the way back to Jian County, Mei Zheren was eating in a small restaurant when he met an old man.

Mei Zheren didn't know the old man, but the old man took the initiative to say to him:

"Young man, I see that you are extraordinary, you must be a dragon and a phoenix among people."

"This uncle, where did you see that I am the dragon and phoenix among people?" Mei Zheren said.

"From your big watermelon-like figure."

"I'm used to hearing people say I'm a dwarf winter melon, and this is the first time I've heard a big watermelon."

"Big watermelon, how about I accept you as an apprentice?"

"I'm not called Big Watermelon, I'm from Jianxian County, my surname is Mei, and I'm called Meizhe. Uncle, I don't even know what you do, why do you want to accept me as an apprentice? ”

"A few days ago, Dou Shengfu dragged a dream for me, saying that when he was taking care of the Pan Tao Garden in Heavenly Court, there was a watermelon garden next to the Pan Tao Garden, and the watermelons in it were big and sweet.

The person in charge of taking care of the watermelon garden is called Mei Liu, and he is the best friend of the fighting Buddha. Dou Shengfu said that Mei Liu was demoted to the mortal world due to a mistake, and he would pass by here at a certain time, so let me wait for him here and accept him as an apprentice.

Fighting over the Buddha also said that Mei Liu is a big watermelon figure, and he is surnamed Mei after going down to earth. ”

"Coincidentally, my surname is Mei, and I am the sixth in the family, and the people in my family call me Mei Liu. In this way, I am really the watermelon official of the heavenly court. ”

"That's right, you really don't have six children."

"Uncle, it's Mei Liu, it's not that there are no Liu'er."

"You're not tall, but your ears are pretty good."

"I just have too big ears to press."

"It's kind of interesting."

"Having said so much, uncle, who are you and what are you doing?"

"My surname is the West, and my single name is Shuo."

Western Shuo is known as the saint of quyi, and all kinds of quyi are all excellent. Mei Zhe people like to make friends, and several of them are artists who walk the rivers and lakes, and the name of Western Shuo has long filled his ears. After listening to the other party's words, Mei Zheren was very surprised:

"Western Shuo, you are the famous quyi sage Western Shuo?"

"Gods and horses are all floating clouds. Come and apprentice, after this village, there will be no more this shop. ”

Mei Zheren immediately apprenticed. Since that day, the West has accepted Mei Zheren as a closed disciple and taught him all his skills.

When Xishuo was leaving, he handed over the peerless secret book of the music industry "Trumpet Flower Treasure Book" to Mei Zheren and asked him to study it carefully.

Besides, look at the list at the door of the county office.

There were also scholars among the people who watched the list around, and they all felt inexplicable that the imperial examination was actually tested for riddles, brain teasers and tongue twisters.

A scholar named Zhuge Yan and Mei Zheren are from the same village, and the two of them read books together. Zhuge secretly asked Mei Zheren:

"Brother Mei, we usually read the books of saints. Brain teasers, riddles, tongue twisters, what are these, not the way of a saint, nor the content that should be tested in the imperial examination. Why are you still applauding? ”

"It turned out to be Brother Dark." Mei Zheren said.

"Mei Liu, how many times have I told you, don't call me Brother Dark. I am Zhuge Liang's N descendant, call me Brother Zhuge . ”

"Yes, yes, Brother Zhuge . We grew up together, and because you look black, you named it dark. I called Brother Dark to be Shunzui, didn't you also call me a six-year-old? ”

"You have to listen carefully, I'm talking about Mei Liu, and there is no one behind."

"Nope. Brother Dark, no, it's Brother Zhuge , you just said that brain teasers and riddles are not the way of a sage, how do you know that a sage can't make brain teasers, guess riddles, and tongue twisters? ”

"Would a saint still do this?"

"Didn't you listen to what the person who asked for food, Confucius had no food and trapped Chen Cai, thanks to Fan Dan's ancestor to help him with food. I borrowed you to eat, I borrowed you to wear, I borrowed the rice mountain and the noodle mountain, and I haven't finished paying it back until now.

If the saint doesn't know how to count the treasures, brain teasers, or whatever, can he borrow food from the beggar grandfather? ”

"That's all nonsense. According to what you say, beggars can be champions. ”

"Zhu Yuanzhang is a beggar, and he has become an emperor. A beggar can even be an emperor, and it is not uncommon for him to be a champion. It's a pity that beggars can't read, and Jianghu artists can't read much, so they can't take the imperial examination. ”

"We're not even as good as beggars?"

"It's not necessarily comparable. I've got to buy medicine. ”

Mei Zheren turned to leave. Zhuge secretly looked at Mei Zheren's back and said:

"Mixing with beggars and artists every day, it's no wonder that the Mei family is getting poorer and poorer. Mei Liu, you really don't have six children. No matter what medicine you take, it won't work. ”

After buying medicine at the pharmacy, Mei Zheren returned home. After her mother drank the medicine, Mei Zheren said to her:

"Mother, the king of our Aolai Kingdom is now called the Foolish Son of Heaven, and Enke will hold the imperial examination next month."

"What's the king's name?" Mei Zheren's mother said.

"Foolish Son."

"It's the first time I've heard of it. However, he is quite confused, and the name is appropriate.

Imperial examinations, if you want to go, go there. But our family doesn't have much money, and all these years when you take the imperial examination, everything that should be sold at home has been sold. ”

"Mother, this year's imperial examination is very different from previous years, the examination subjects are different, and the number of admissions is more than in previous years, I will definitely be able to pass the examination.

If I can't pass the exam again, I won't take the exam in the future, and I will be a storyteller in Jian County, and I can support my family. ”

"And marrying a daughter-in-law and having children, you can't go on like this anymore. The Mei family is such a lone seedling as you, you can't cut off the incense. ”

"Mother, I know everything. When I come back from the scientific expedition, I will find a way. ”

There are few people in the country, and the imperial examination is not divided into levels, and all candidates are gathered in the capital to take the exam together. After making up his mind to go to Ethereal City to take the exam, Mei Zheren asked relatives and friends to scrape together some money for travel expenses.

After that, Mei Zheren took out the "Trumpet Flower Cheats" and studied hard every day.

It takes about seven days to walk from Xianxian County to Ethereal City. To take the exam, you need to register at the Ministry of Rites at least three days in advance.

Although Mei Zheren had been to Ethereal City five times for the exam and was already very familiar with the road, he still set off from home thirteen days in advance for the sake of insurance.

Mei Zheren stayed overnight all the way, and continued to study the "Trumpet Flower Treasure Book" while walking.

Seven days later, the Mei Zhe people successfully arrived in Ethereal City. At this time, the inns in Ethereal City were already full of candidates from all over the world. Mei Zheren stayed at the Shengcai Inn.