Chapter 210: The Township Test Finally Begins

After Sun Dan and Bi Yun arrived in the capital, it was finally time for the city gate to be opened.

It has been more than a year and almost two years since he came to the Ming Dynasty, and Sun Dan has never been able to understand the work and rest time of the ancients. For example, although the sky in Beijing is bright early, and the sun rises at five o'clock in the morning, it is only four o'clock in the morning, and the sky is still dark. At this time, if it is the Hereafter, everyone will still be sleeping.

But at this time, the whole city of Beijing has woken up, and officials above the sixth rank in Beijing have to go to the morning court at this time, and the major organs of the "government" have to open their doors to work. At the gates of the city, hundreds of vendors were waiting to bring firewood, rice, and vegetables into the city, and the eunuchs and servants in the palace had to pull carts of manure and garbage out of the city.

Sun Dan and Bi Yunmen also blocked the city gate for a long time, and finally entered the city.

Then, Bi Yun went to prepare, and Sun Dan didn't dare to delay, so he hurriedly took Feng Zhen and rushed to the Tribute Courtyard in Shuntian Mansion in a car.

When he arrived at the small square outside the Beijing Gongyuan, Sun Dan couldn't help but be taken aback by the situation in front of him: there were too many people.

Speaking of which, Shuntianfu is not big, there are only a dozen counties, and it stands to reason that the scale of the township test is much smaller than that of the provinces. However, Shuntianfu is the capital teacher, a place where humanities gather, and there is no one in the city who does not have more than 100 children to study. Every township exam, there are thousands of talents in Shuntianfu who come to take the exam. As far as the Shuntianfu Gongyuan is concerned, it is also the second largest examination hall in the country, with more than 9,000 rooms in its heyday, second only to Nanjing's more than 20,000.

This time, because it is Enke, the scale is smaller than the previous one, but there are also a staggering more than 5,000 people.

With so many candidates, plus their families can follow, there are at least more than 10,000 people in the entire small square, which makes people panic.

Although it is not hot in the summer morning, dozens of lanterns and so many people are so hot that people are covered in sweat.

Sun Dan came a little late, the Gongyuan had already opened the gates, and people kept rushing forward, and the order was a little chaotic. There are constantly Xiucai who are squeezed to the ground, and the four treasures of the study that they carry with them are scattered all over the ground.

The officials who maintained order at the door were also shouting hoarsely, if it weren't for the fact that the talents who came to the exam were famous, I was afraid that the whip in their hands would have been drawn long ago. However, even with basic restraint, the officials were still very unkind, and they were much more rude when they searched up.

Feng Zhen is a big man, and he has martial arts, Sun Dan has practiced boxing for more than a year, and his body is also very good.

Two boys from Sun Dan's mansion rushed over and handed a big bamboo basket to Sun Dan, which contained the four treasures of the study and more than ten big steamed buns. Not to mention him, these more than ten big steamed buns are Sun Dan's food in the past few days. The township examination is generally three consecutive examinations, each three days, when the examination begins, the candidates carry the examination basket into the tribute courtyard, put various supplies in the basket, and sit down after the inspection. Then the gate of the Gongyuan was closed, and he was not allowed to leave until the end of the three-day examination period, and he had to eat, drink, and sleep in the number house.

With Sun Dan's appetite, these fifteen steamed buns should be saved and eaten, and there should be no problem in dealing with them for three days. Of course, there are also candidates who have a large amount of food, because the capacity of the test basket is limited, the food is not enough, and there are also candidates who faint from hunger.

Fortunately, Sun Dan never thought of staying in the examination room for three days in this exam, and whether the food was enough or not didn't mean anything to him.

Sun Dan took the basket and asked the two boys, "Where is Madame now?" ”

The boy replied respectfully: "If you go back to the master, the lady didn't sleep at all last night, and personally cooked this drawer of steamed buns for the master." Originally, the lady planned to come over in person to send the old man into the examination room. But I heard that it was too crowded here, so I didn't come. Now, Mrs. is burning incense and praying in front of the ancestral tablet at home with Sister Tinglan, saying that they are going to pray in front of the tablet for three days, and they will not get up if the master does not go out of the examination room. ”

Sun Dan's heart was moved: "Go back and tell Madame, don't pray." ”

The kid shook his head again and again: "I'm afraid that Madame won't agree." ”

Sun Dan was about to say more, but he thought that he was afraid that he would come out in less than an hour after he went in, so he didn't say more. He only said: "Then you go back and prepare some cold drinks for the people, and get some ice out of the cellar." It's a hot day, don't spoil them. ”

As he spoke, he squeezed towards the front. Another family member squeezed over, but it was someone from the Hou Sun family of Huichang: "Brother Dan, this is for you." The visitor was holding a bamboo basket in his hand.

"What is this?" Sun Dan was very curious.

"This is the dry food that Miss Jia prepared for you."

Sun Dan scratched his head and said with a wry smile: "No need, I have preparations here, so many things, I'm just afraid I won't be able to bring them." By the way, what about the other children in the house? Speaking of this, he was stunned to find that there were talented and famous children in the Sun family of the Marquis of Huichang, and Sun Yue, Sun Hao and Sun Gui, who were qualified to participate in the Shuntianfu Township Examination, did not come.

The man replied: "Because the second master is the deputy examiner of the Shuntian Mansion of the undergraduate, in order to avoid suspicion, the young master of the third room did not take the exam. ”

"That's right." Sun Dan felt a little sorry for Sun Yue in his heart, although he had some trouble with Sun Yue, but it was just a contradiction between children in the past. Sun Yue was arrogant, if he couldn't participate in this autumn festival, he didn't know what kind of pain he would become. As for Sun Gui and Sun Hao, even if they take the exam, they won't be able to win, but they don't feel lost.

"Brother Tan, a few days ago, after the second master's decree to be the deputy chief examiner came down, the second master also sent a villain to your house to invite you. However, I heard from the people in your house that you were not at home during this time, and you did not find anyone. ”

"Yes, I just heard it, and I don't know what the second master is looking for me?" Sun Dan felt curious, he also pondered for a long time after he came down, and he couldn't figure out what Sun Henian was doing with him at that time?

The man replied: "I don't know what the second master is looking for you, but I heard that Mrs. Hong and Mrs. Liu talked to the second master for a long time that day, and they were very unhappy. I heard from the maids of the two ladies that Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Hong quarreled over the second master's refusal to allow the children of the Sun family to participate in this township test, saying that the second master let the young masters in each room give up this autumn festival for the sake of his own little vanity. Mrs. Liu is naturally for Brother Yue'er's business, and Mrs. Hong is for Brother Dan'er's business. ”

"For me?"

"It's for you." The man replied: "Mrs. Hong said that Sun Hao was originally a person with no ability, and now he has an errand envoy, so it doesn't matter if he takes the test or not." But Brother Dan is now a talented man in the capital, and he is favored by the Son of Heaven, but you don't let people take the test, isn't this thinking about the future of the bad family? ”

Only then did Sun Dan understand that Sun Henian called himself over that day to make himself give up this township test.

For the sake of his own so-called false reputation as a political gentleman, he is going to ruin the future of his Sun Dan and the children of the Sun family, this Sun Henian is really a hypocrite!

As soon as he thought of this, Sun Dan was full of anger, and he didn't say more, and walked forward with a gloomy face.

"Shuntianfu, Chen Rong." One of the officials straightened his voice and shouted. Before dawn, more than a dozen lanterns were lit in front of the Gongyuan, illuminating the gate as if it were daylight, and more than a dozen officials and a civil official were taking the roll call there.

"It's here, it's here." I don't know when, this Chen Xiucai squeezed out of the crowd and shouted loudly with one hand.

As soon as he walked out of the crowd, Chen Rong found Sun Dan, turned his head in surprise, and shouted: "Jingyuan, Jingyuan, it's really you." I haven't seen you in over a day, and I thought you weren't coming! I'm in a hurry, but it's okay! ”

As he spoke, he kept patting his chest as if he was worried.

Hearing Chen Rong shouting "Jingyuan", the scholars crowded around Sun Dan were quiet, and then moved slightly: "Jingyuan, is it Sun Jingyuan?" ”

"No, there are many people named Jingyuan in this world, it can't be so coincidental, right?"

"It's hard to say."

"It's Sun Jingyuan."

"However, I heard that Sun Jingyuan is a beautiful son, this person looks ordinary, not like Sun Jingyuan, a peerless countryman!"

Hearing the talents next to him talking about his ordinary appearance, Sun Dancai found that he had hurriedly fought back and forth between Beijing and Changping, and his body was dusty and sweaty, looking very embarrassed.

He smiled slightly, "Thank you Brother Shuzhi for your concern, I'm a little anxious." Haven't I come, though? ”

"You're all quiet, roll call." The little officials snorted, stared at Chen Rong fiercely, and then looked at the booklet in his hand: "Chen Rong, a native of Shuntianfu, is four feet two inches tall, with a Chinese character face, and a slightly dark face, yes, let's go in." ”

Chen Rong breathed a sigh of relief, and while walking towards the tribute courtyard, he turned his head and shouted to Sun Dan: "Brother Sun Dan, I went in first, waiting to see the title of your gold list." ”

Sun Dan also said: "Shuzhi, you have to work hard!" ”

"Definitely, definitely."

Hearing Chen Rong shout Sun Dan's name, everyone was "Hum!" A fuss will rise: "Sure enough, it's Sun Jingyuan." ”

"Hey, I was originally a late student who wanted to take the first place Xie Yuan this time. Now, with Sun Jingyuan here, this Xie Yuan is naturally in his pocket. Hey, that is, Shengyu and He Shengliang? ”

As he spoke, the talents around Sun Dan bowed their hands one after another: "I've seen Sun Jingyuan." ”

For a time, there were people bending over to read everywhere.

Sun Dan's head swelled a little, so he had to maintain a calm smile, and returned the salute one by one: "Ashamed, ashamed, in the next Sun Dan, I have seen all the young brothers." ”

A Ya shouted impatiently: "What Sun Jingyuan, what is great, give me silence." Continue roll call, Tongxian Honka. ”

"It's coming, it's coming." The Xiucai named Gu Song who was named was unhappy: "Let Sun Jingyuan go in first, let's wait." ”

"Yes, let Sun Jingyuan go in first. If Mr. Jingyuan doesn't enter the Tribute Academy, we are not qualified to enter first! And the crowd stirred up again.