The day of the exam is getting closer, Zhang Fan is relaxed, the book is almost finished, and it is not good to read it again. Guozijian also knew about Zhang Fan's situation, but allowed Zhang Fan to return home.

Since the conversation with Xu Jie at Zhang Juzheng's house that day, Zhang Fan can be regarded as deeply offended this Shoufu Lord. Of course, Zhang Fan will not have any trouble now, if he really wins the examination and obtains the qualification of Gongsheng, he knows that there will be no trouble before the palace examination. But Xu Jie's words clearly told Zhang Fan that there would be big trouble waiting for him in the palace examination.

It is said that this will be tested once every three years, and the examination will be held every Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei years, and it will be presided over by the Ministry of Rites, and the emperor will appoint the president and vice president, and the giants from all over the country and the supervisors of the Guozijian will be qualified for the examination. This test was supposed to be scheduled for February, also known as "Spring Moon", but this year was the first time the new emperor ascended the throne, and with the war at the beginning of this year and the "sick leave" of the first assistant Gao Gong in the cabinet, it was brought forward. However, those who are waiting for the exam have no complaints, and at least they can read more books in half a year.

This exam is divided into three sessions, each of which is three days long. The candidates were to live in the hut. In the past, most of the candidates were afraid of the cold, but this year it seems that they are afraid of the heat.

Zhang Fan is not very worried about the exam, at least he has put a lot of effort into his homework. He also heard that the imperial examination in the Ming Dynasty was very dark, and the trend of buying questions, omitting questions, and covering up was very strong, but he was not too worried. I don't want to think about who recommended him, Zhang Juzheng, the Ministry of Rites, this exam is presided over by the Ministry of Rites, if someone plays any heart at this juncture, with Zhang Juzheng's character and temper, it is not as simple as "double track".

Zhao was very worried about her son, and it was nothing to take the three-day test, but there was no one to take care of her for three days, which made her very worried. Xiao Xiangmei, this girl can now recognize some words and understand some truths, she knows that her young master is a lifter, not to mention how much she admired at that time, now Zhang Fan is going to take the highest level of exam, the little girl is also very excited, even when she goes out to buy vegetables, the expression on her face is also a little proud.

"Mother, don't worry about me, it's not like I haven't encountered this kind of day." Zhang Fan said helplessly, "It's a hot day, Xiangmei, just prepare some vegetarian dry food for me." ”

Although Zhang Fan said this, it was just that the Zhao family would give up, and he was still instructing.

Everything was ready, and Zhang Fan came to the examination room. It is said that the output of Jinshi is 300 every three years, but there are very few people who can pass the exam, and how many people stay in the position of lifting people for a lifetime. There are many candidates at the entrance of the examination room, and Zhang Fan also sees that there are old and young, and the age span is very large. After the examinees were examined one by one, they were locked up in the hut, and when everyone had entered, the chief examiner came to the courtyard and read the oracle and gave some encouragement, and then began to hand out the examination papers and begin the examination.

Zhang Fan roughly skimmed through the test papers, and there was nothing too difficult about his illness, but some of the basic things were some of the more partial things in the books, but fortunately, he read a lot of books during this time. And this exam is also different from the previous pure eight-share test questions, probably because this year's president is Zhang Juzheng himself, and the direction of the questions is also a little different.

This kind of exam lasted for a month, and on the day of the final appearance, some people were really happy and some were worried, and the epitome of life can be seen here.

Zhang Fan returned home and still lived the same life as before. Sometimes Zhang Juzheng would talk to him, and the two became more and more speculative, and Zhang Fan even became his student. Zhang Juzheng also likes himself as a student very much, not to mention his flexible brain, but also a little ahead of his time.

Half a month later, the day of the release of the list came, and the place where the list was released was full of people, all wanting to see who was the lucky star. Those who took the exam were waiting in their own homes, some confident, some anxious.

On this day, the sound of gongs, drums and firecrackers was constantly heard in the city of Beijing, from morning to afternoon. Zhao also knew what day it was, but he waited for a day and didn't see anyone come to the door, so he was very anxious. Xiangmei also went to see Zhang Fan from time to time, and when she saw that her son-in-law was calm, she was also relieved.

Zhang Fan was very sure of himself, and as expected, a faint sound of gongs and drums came. Zhao was very nervous when he heard this voice, and he didn't dare to go out to watch. It wasn't until the sound stopped in front of his house that he stopped his nervousness, and then there was another burst of ecstasy. Her own son was admitted to the Jinshi, which meant a lot to her.

"Is Zhang Fan and Zhang Gongzi here?" A voice came from outside the door.

Xiangmei, the girl, hurriedly opened the door and said, "Here, how many places has my son-in-law won?" "The door is also full of people.

The reporter didn't blame a little girl for being like this, he had seen a lot of this kind of thing, but the expression on his face was also very festive, even a little respectful: "Congratulations to Zhang Gongzi for the high school Jinke Examination Yuan!" ”

Xiangmei, where did this girl know what Huiyuan was, she was very puzzled, and when she was about to ask, several reporters in red robes also walked in and began to arrange.

As soon as Zhang Fan came out, people saw it. Now he is in the spotlight, and many people are looking at him.

"The Lord is coming." When the reporter saw Zhang Fan, he hurriedly came over and said with a smile, "Congratulations to Zhang Gongzi, you won the first place in the middle school examination." I heard that Zhang Gongzi is also the first place in the township test, and now he has won two yuan, congratulations! ”

Before Zhang Fan could speak, someone came in from outside the door, led by an official uniform. Zhang Fan saw that it was an official of the Ministry of Rites.

"Congratulations to Gongzi Zhang High School." The official first greeted Zhang Fan and said, "Please also ask Zhang Gongzi to report to the Ministry of Rites with us." ”

"This is nature, and I have to bother adults to lead the way." Zhang Fan said.

Here, the Zhao family doesn't know what Huanxi has become, and the little girl Xiangmei is also very happy to hear that her son has won the first place, but she doesn't know what these mean, but it's not too much. reminded the Zhao family, and the Zhao family came back to his senses and hurriedly instructed Xiangmei to take out the gift money that had been prepared and give it to the reporter.

Zhang Fan followed a few people to the Ministry of Rites, there were already a few people here, and it seemed that they were also candidates who would take the first few exams and came to the Ministry of Rites to report. Zhang Fan greeted a few people, and these people also greeted Zhang Fan happily, but there was always a little different atmosphere in their words. Zhang Fan was also very relieved, since ancient times, there is no first, if a reader can completely convince another reader, it is really a strange talk.

At that moment, the officials of the Ministry of Rites naturally came to register a few people, and when everything was done, an official came to report: "Master Zhang, the scholar of the Ministry of Rites and the scholar of Wuyingdian University, wants to meet you." ”

Zhang Fan walked in very calmly, but a few people beside him trembled as if they had been beaten with chicken blood, and they didn't know if they were excited or something else, especially when Zhang Fan saw that there were older ones among them, he was afraid that he would faint with joy.

There is nothing to hide about Zhang Juzheng's being Zhang Fan's teacher, but some people don't know it, of course, Zhang Fan will not go all over the world to publicize it by himself. When I saw the teacher, I saluted, and I didn't pay attention to the eyes of the other people on the side. Zhang Juzheng encouraged everyone very much and let Zhang Fan stay.

"Yuande, this time you have won the Zhonghuiyuan, I am very relieved to be a teacher!" Zhang Juzheng is also very happy, at least the person he likes is not only good at reading, after a period of time, he found that Zhang Fan's character is also very good, how can he not be happy if he can find a like-minded person.

"Thank you for your compliment." Zhang Fan said.

"Now that you have won the membership, it is estimated that there will be half a month before the palace exam." Zhang Juzheng said, "The temple exam is made by the saint himself, but I don't know what the saint wants to test, maybe it's not a book at all." You can also take a break during this time, don't get too tired. ”

"Teacher Xie's point, Zhang Fan understands." Zhang Fan said, then remembered something, and asked, "Teacher, I have heard a few old lifters who have taken the exam before, but how do the test questions of this exam feel very different from the past?" ”

"This time, the emperor asked me to participate in the paper, and I also tried my best to disagree with the public, and even played it to the emperor, so I gave the general direction of this test question." Zhang Juzheng said, "Although this time is very difficult, but this has strengthened my determination to reform, and if the court continues like this, something will happen sooner or later." ”

Zhang Fan was a little indifferent, what Zhang Juzheng said was not bad at all, although the feudal society is rotten, but it also has its bright side, at least he is a good emperor who is sitting on the throne now, at least the current Ming Dynasty still has to save!

"It's just that when the palace test is ......," Zhang Juzheng said with some worry.

"The teacher doesn't have to worry, aren't the test papers of the palace exam all vague?" Zhang Fan said.

"That's right, but when the name is decided, the emperor will definitely be with several scholars in the cabinet." Zhang Juzheng is still very worried, "I'm just afraid that the time will come." As a teacher, I also want to help, but I also mentioned you to the emperor, and the emperor also appreciates you, alas, everything can only depend on the will of God. If the teacher insists on obstructing it, he is powerless as a teacher. ”

It was already late when Zhang Fan returned home, and the people had already dispersed. Mother Zhao was still immersed in great joy, and Xiangmei also made dinner early and waited for Zhang Fan's return. When Zhao saw his son come back, he happily talked to him, and after dinner, he calmed down excitedly, and then he felt extremely tired, so he went back to the room early to rest. Xiao Xiangmei was already late after cleaning up, and found that the light in Zhang Fan's study was still on, so she couldn't help but go over to check.

"Childe, you haven't rested so late, don't get tired." The little girl seems to care about Zhang Fan very much.

"It doesn't matter, I'm used to it, I can't sleep earlier." Zhang Fan said with a smile. In fact, he is not reading now, he is just thinking about things and can't sleep.

"By the way, you are from Zhangjiakou, I don't know what your surname is." Zhang Fan suddenly found that he didn't know much about the little girl in front of him.

"My original surname was Li." Xiangmei probably didn't expect Zhang Fan to ask herself this, and she was a little caught off guard, but she still answered truthfully.

"I know your parents are dead, but there are no more relatives in the family?" Zhang Fan asked again.

"There is ......" Xiangmei was a little embarrassed to speak, and after a while, she gritted her teeth and said, "There is an uncle at home." ”

"Then why didn't you go to him, and you were almost sold...... There. Zhang Fan was embarrassed to say that word in front of the girl, and was vague.

When Xiangmei heard this, she couldn't help it and burst into tears, and Zhang Fan, who was crying, was at a loss.

"Stop crying!" Zhang Fan hurriedly persuaded him, but Xiangmei had no intention of stopping, Zhang Fan was afraid of waking up his mother, if he saw Xiangmei crying in front of him, he didn't know what to misunderstand, so he was ruthless and took the little girl with tears in front of him into his arms.

Xiangmei, a girl, has been hugged by a man since she was a child, and this time it really made her stop crying.

Zhang Fan saw that his actions were effective, so he let go of the girl in his arms. The little girl blushed with shame, and lowered her head very embarrassedly, not daring to look at Zhang Fan.

Zhang Fan also felt that his actions just now were indeed a little too much, and he wanted to skip this embarrassment, so he said softly: "Xiangmei, no one here will force you to do anything, tell me, what happened?" ”

The little girl struggled for a long time, and then said: "After my parents died, my sister and I were left, and there was a lack of income in the family, so I had to ask my uncle for help." It's just that...... It's just that my aunt and aunt are ...... She's trying to sell me! ”

Zhang Fan really didn't expect this to be the case, and asked again: "Then your uncle didn't speak?" ”

Xiangmei shook her head and said, tears lingering again.

Zhang Fan was very speechless about this situation, he couldn't do anything, and he couldn't change anything by scolding these beast-like characters here.

"What about your sister?" Zhang Fan asked.

"My sister is too young to work, so I have to ask my neighbor Aunt Sun to help take care of her." Xiangmei said, "Fortunately, the housekeeper Li who bought me arranged for me. ”

"That's right." Zhang Fan thought for a while and said, "I don't think it's better to be like this, how about you go and bring your sister to live with you?" ”

"This ......" Xiangmei was very happy to hear Zhang Fan say this at first, but then it dimmed again, "My sister is too young to do anything, and what if she quarrels with her wife?" ”

"Don't worry, my mother likes children very much." Zhang Fan said, "Besides, you two sisters live together, so you can take care of her, and you will worry about her every day." ”

"But......" The little girl seemed a little worried.

Zhang Fan saw it and immediately said, "Don't worry, I'll talk about it over there." ”

On the second day, Zhang Fan and Zhao talked about Xiangmei, where did Zhao disagree, and asked Xiangmei to pick up her sister immediately.

Xiangmei's sister is called Xue'er, the little girl is only six years old, and she looks very cute, but long-term malnutrition makes her look very thin. As soon as Zhao saw the little girl, he held her in his arms and refused to let go, and Xiangmei saw that Zhao liked her sister so much, so she was relieved.

This little episode in the family has passed, and the days are still going by day by day. On this day, another official from the Ministry of Rites came to the door and informed Zhang Fan that the day of the palace examination was coming.