At about the hour, Hu Xingshan and Ma Fushan came to the West Flower Hall.

Jia Rui looked behind the two and didn't find Chen Wenxiang.

"Where's Mr. Chen?"

The two of them immediately looked gloomy.

"Gone."

Ma Fushan said softly.

"Didn't you say that you didn't leave until after participating in the Luming Banquet, and you finally came to the capital, but you were only a day or two away, why were you in such a hurry?"

"It's not the one who left, it's the one who died."

He's dead?

Jia Rui was stunned for a moment.

"After the list was released yesterday, the emperor rewarded him with the fictitious title of the editor of the Hanlin Academy, drank a little wine at night, and left when he went to sleep."

Jia Rui couldn't help but feel a pain in his heart, and it took a while for him to recover.

"Where is the body? I'm going to give him a ride. Alone in the capital, strange and lonely. The Tieji Temple outside the city is the family temple of the Jia family, where you can stop your spirit. When the time is right, I will send it back to my hometown. ”

"No need, early this morning, they will come to Jia Yu Village. Collect the old gentleman and take him back to his hometown, and he is already on the ship at this moment. ”

Chen Wenxiang, you old thing, just left quietly, and said that you would eat and drink together to celebrate after the exam.

You said that you are eighty-eight, a rare old birthday star, what are you doing with these bastards in Jia Yucun? The false name of a Hanlin Academy editor, is it so important?

If you don't add ten years to yourself, you're overdrawing your life.

Your ten-year life has been taken back for you in advance.

Unconsciously, Jia Rui's eyes were a little moist.

The voice and smile of the old man who loves to cheat appear in front of him from time to time.

"Tianxiang doesn't have to be sad, the old gentleman was very happy last night, and when he found him this morning, he left with a smile on his face."

Hu Xingshan persuaded.

"Tianxiang doesn't have to be sad, every year after the scientific expedition, there will be such a thing. Last night, there was a loser who hanged himself in the inn. Compared with him, Mr. Chen is at the end of his life. ”

Ma Fushan didn't seem to care about what he said, but he couldn't hide the sadness.

"Don't mention these unhappy things, Tianxiang, take the two of us to see your provincial villa. I don't know if I'll ever have the chance to see this in the future. ”

"Okay, I'll show you."

The dead are gone, so what's the use of being sad? I can't do anything about it, it's just adding to my troubles.

While walking on the construction site, Jia Rui introduced the two of them.

"Tianxiang, your method of construction is unheard of."

"Actually, there is nothing strange about it, but it is more concerned about safety and let the project have a good order."

"Give the craftsmen and laborers better food, more full, and better housing, and they will have a good mood, and they will have the strength to work, and they will not be fooled."

Today's construction projects, such as river embankments, city walls, royal palaces, cemeteries, etc., are almost a disaster for laborers.

A large number of laborers did not have enough to eat and wear, and under the drive of the soldiers' whips, they carried out heavy labor with excessive physical strength, super ability, and more time.

Many laborers and slaves died of starvation, exhaustion, and disease on the construction site.

When they couldn't bear it anymore, the people began to rebel, or they fled, or killed the overseers and soldiers, and joined the ranks of the homeless people.

Many people even run away from their hometowns to escape the heavy conscription.

"If you can be like you, there will be homeless people everywhere."

Hu Xingshan said with emotion.

"Well, when it comes to the homeless, it's about us. There are rumors that the displaced people in the northwest are in turmoil, and many places have ten rooms and nine empty rooms, and most of the local officials have been killed by the displaced people, and those who have not been killed have fled. ”

"Nowadays, there is a lack of a large number of officials in the northwest. Our group of tribute students, after the palace examination, I am afraid that many people will go to the northwest and northwest to be officials and clean up the mess. ”

Ma Fushan paused and continued.

"Someone said last night that they didn't want to participate in the palace examination, and would rather not be an official than go to the northwest to die."

"When the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Officials came out, anyone who did not obey the dispatch would be stripped of his reputation. It's really sad to fall off the list, and I'm also worried about being in the middle. ”

"Hahaha, Fukuyama, let you say this, I, a fallen person, am in a better mood. At least you don't have to go to the northwest and the frontier to die. ”

Hu Xingshan finally felt a little more balanced in his heart.

"Hehe, Xingshan, don't be too happy. Although you are not a tribute, you still raise people. When Jinshi is almost dead, it will be your turn to raise people to be officials. ”

"It's okay, there are still so many donors waiting to fill the vacancy."

"Hmph, anyone who can spend money to buy officials is mostly for money and fame. If there is a shortage of fat, the peace officials, they rush to go, in a place like the northwest, if they want money or not, maybe they will die one day, who would want to go? ”

"To be honest, I regret it a little now, I knew that this was the case, and I wouldn't have taken the exam this year. The rich land in the south of the Yangtze River is peaceful and peaceful, and I would rather live a peaceful life in my hometown than go to a dangerous place in the northwest. ”

Ma Fushan really regretted it, and the news he heard in the past two days swept away the joy he felt after the middle school.

"Fukuyama, if you are really asked to go to the northwest to be an official, will you go?"

Hu Xingshan commanded an army.

Ma Fushan pondered for a moment.

"You are not outsiders, so I will tell you what I want to say, I am naturally reluctant to go. But now when it comes to employing people, I have to go. Do your best to obey the destiny of heaven. ”

"The saint gave him a body of learning, and the emperor gave him a meritorious name, so it's a big deal to give them back my life."

As soon as Ma Fushan's words came out, Jia Rui and Hu Xingshan were silent.

Scholars have always boasted that their ideals are self-cultivation, family harmony, governing the country, and leveling the world.

But when death is on the verge of death, how many people can stand up when they are in danger?

There are actually not many people like Ma Fushan. Many people gain fame, in fact, just to get promoted and get rich, and enjoy privileges.

As for their responsibilities, in many cases, they are not in the scope of their consideration.

After taking a turn on the construction site, Jia Rui took the two to the house to say goodbye.

The old ancestor also specially asked about Chen Wenxiang, and when he heard that Chen Wenxiang was dead, he couldn't help but sigh for a while.

Leaving Rongguo Mansion, a few people went to the inn.

After all, the number one is a minority, and the vast majority of them are losers.

Some of these people who failed to make the list went to the Ministry of Officials for the record, and they will have the opportunity to return to the local government to be officials in the future.

Others contacted to go to Guozijian.

They can go to Guozijian as inmates, continue their studies, and then take the examination in the future, or become some low-level officials.

Of course, the cost of studying in Guozijian such as room and board is also a large expense for many people. There are not many people who can afford this expense.

After all, the families of wealthy businessmen and tycoons are a minority, and more of them are still commoners' homes. Ten years of hard study is actually a big investment for a family, and economic benefits must always be considered.

If you go back to the place, a man who lifts people can still eat more openly. As long as it is not too bad, it is not difficult to achieve a well-off life.

So, more lifts, have packed up and gone home.

Ma Fushan and Hu Xingshan packed their luggage, Jia Rui went to the market to buy wine and food, and went to the steamed bun workshop of Shuiyue Temple together.