Luoyang, the capital of the gods, is a city built on both sides of the Luoshui River. It is divided into two parts along the Luo River, north and south, and is divided into more than a dozen blocks of different sizes by Cao Canal, Yishui and other canals in the middle.

A number of workshops were built in each section for human habitation. At that time, a strict "fang market" system was implemented (the people lived in the fang, and the transactions were in the north and south cities), so each fang was surrounded by a wall, and the fang had four fang gates, and the fang was opening and closing the fang doors on time every day.

Wu Yanzhi lives in a hotel in Jishanfang on the south bank of Luoshui, which is facing the end gate of the imperial city, and after crossing the Tianjin Bridge, he came to the end gate of the imperial city.

Tianjin Bridge, the largest bridge in Luoyang, was one of the "Seven Great Buildings" at that time. The bridge is divided into three bridges, Tianjin Bridge is in the middle, its north is the Huangdao Bridge, and its south is the Xingjin Bridge.

He had just walked up the stone arch bridge, but he saw a large group of people and horses beating gongs and drums in front of him! Look at the sign being held, but it is the new science and technology scholars parading the streets.

"We can't afford to mess with these people from the Jinshi Regiment, hurry up and get out of the way!" Someone next to him shouted.

Jinshi Regiment? What is it?

He had no choice but to follow the passers-by and hide aside, but he had great doubts in his heart, so he had to ask a few words: "Uncle, where is this Jinshi Regiment sacred?" ”

The old man was about sixty years old, his hair was gray, but he was selling sugar gourds.

"Could it be that Xiaolang is from out of town? Don't even know about the famous 'Jinshi Group'? This jinshi group is specially for the new science and technology jinshi to handle matters such as thanking teachers, dignitaries and nobles.

Do you think, these moves come from all directions, and they are just in the first place, where do you know so many etiquette? This requires the people of the Jinshi Regiment to help take care of everything. Of course, every jinshi has to pay a lot of money! ”

When Wu Yan heard this, he secretly said in his heart, isn't this similar to the wedding company of later generations? This is indispensable to meet the teacher, the court to give a banquet and other activities, so naturally someone needs to take care of it.

In this case, the people of this Jinshi group are really not easy to mess with! Because the Jinshi Gate generally has to meet the prime minister, the leader of this Jinshi group must have the prime minister's door. (The Tang Dynasty Jinshi Regiment was a very famous organization)

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind him: "Brother Wu, how did I meet you here?" Didn't I see you in the morning to see the unveiling? ”

This person's name is Gu Zhiwen, twenty years old, two years older than Wu Yanzhi. He also applied for the Ming Jing Course, and like Wu Yanzhi, he was also named Sun Shan.

"I got up early in the morning, ran two laps by the river, exercised, and then rushed directly to see the ceremony, without waiting for Brother Gu." Wu Yanzhi replied.

In fact, he was half the truth. Running is a fact, but it is not exercise, the main thing is to avoid this Gu Zhiwen.

Because he invited himself to dinner these days, he only had a dozen yuan in his pocket, which was only enough to buy a few Hu cakes, and he had no money to invite him back!

I wanted to find a job as a teacher in a rich family, but after a few days, I got nothing! Seeing that the rent is still 400 yuan, I don't know what to do. So I thought about the law to avoid Gu Zhiwen.

Still haven't avoided it! Ay! In his previous life, he was also the chief engineer of a large energy group, with an annual salary of more than 2 million, but he didn't expect to be reborn in Wuzhou, but he didn't even have the money to invite someone for a meal, let alone owe room fees.

At this time, Gu Zhiwen said: "Brother Wu, you see, the person who walked in front is Cui Yu, the champion of Jinke. He is a five-surnamed Gaomen, Qinghe Cui's family.

This person is only twenty years old, but he is already the champion and the first! It's really more human than human, and it's infuriating. You and I, but we haven't even won a single scripture! It seems that you have to go back to 'head hanging beams, cones and piercing stocks', and you have to study the Five Classics hard. ”

Gu Zhiwen couldn't help but shake his head again and again.

Wu Yan thought to himself, if you really have this determination, don't explain the scriptures, even Jinshi has hope, but how many people can do it! The vast majority of people, just swearing, turn their heads and forget about it.

Just thinking about it, the procession organized by the Jinshi group to parade through the streets has arrived!

The champion Cui Yu saw Gu Zhiwen, he knew him, so he stopped and asked with a smile: "Brother Gu, didn't you say that you wanted to go back to Jinyang a few days ago?" How hasn't it gone yet? ”

Gu Zhiwen said: "Congratulations again to Brother Cui for winning the top prize, I will leave for Jinyang tomorrow and say goodbye!" ”

"Oh? Ay! How about a gathering tonight? I'll see Brother Gu off. He said.

Unexpectedly, as soon as his voice fell, he was interrupted by the leader of the Jinshi group on the side: "Cui Zhuangyuan, there is something to do at night, I want to meet the official member Wailang, the mentor of Jinke!" ”

That Cui Yu suddenly woke up and patted his head: "Oh, I almost forgot!" Then I'm sorry, Brother Gu is the only one who will leave first, and we will meet again when we have time in the future. Hey? Is this brother also here to catch the exam? The result? ”

When he saw Wu Yanzhi, he couldn't help but ask.

"This ...... This is the martial brother of Wu Yan! This time, like the contemptible people, he did not play well, and he had to wait for next year. Gu Zhiwen replied on his behalf, and from his expression, he seemed to be very embarrassed.

"Well, alas! In fact, this imperial examination is not difficult, it is just to familiarize yourself with the Four Books and Five Classics, as well as the poetry books of the ancients. As long as the two brothers go back and study hard for another ten or twenty years, they may not be able to win, even if they are Jinshi and first, they are still very promising! "He's understated, but it's a little unpleasant.

As soon as these words came out, Gu Zhiwen even turned his neck red, and he didn't know how to speak! But Wu Yanzhi didn't care:

"What Brother Cui said is extremely true! We don't know how to read, but it's hard to get to the top. Brother Cui will win the champion if he is weak, and he will be crowned a marquis in the future, which is naturally just around the corner! I'll wait for some small things, farewell! ”

Wu Yanzhi didn't want to give him another chance to behave and show off, so he turned around and left.

Cui Yu was stunned for a moment, his earnest teachings didn't want to be regarded as a deaf ear, his expression was a little disappointed, and then he shook his head, it seemed that the two of them were "unteachable"!

After getting off the bridge, Gu Zhiwen was also full of anger: "Hey, you and I didn't win, after all, the family was proud." Let's go, find a place to drink! ”

Drink? As soon as he heard this, Wu Yanzhi's head suddenly became big again.

Seeing his rather embarrassed expression, Gu Zhiwen said: "I know that Brother Wu is struggling, what is the money for these meals?" I'll invite Brother Wu! Seeing that Brother Wu is extraordinary, he will definitely come and go, and his future is limitless.

By the way, I heard that Brother Wu's ancestral home is also the Shuiwen clan of Bingzhou, so it should be a royal family, right? How did you end up in such a situation? ”

As soon as he heard Gu Zhiwen ask, Wu Yanzhi had no choice but to tell the truth about such an upright person: "My great-grandfather's name is Shiliang, and he is the uncle of the saint today. However, since he had left several other rooms more than forty years ago, he had almost no friendship with the first room of the saint.

In fact, the Holy One has not forgotten us. Not long after she became the queen, she once sent someone to invite my second uncle to go out of the mountain, but the second uncle was determined to be in the mountains and rivers and did not go to Beijing.

In the decades that followed, it was even more forgotten. It was my turn to wait for juniors, and I was no longer humiliated and succumbed to the office, so I had to take the imperial examination in order to revive my family! ”

"Hmmm! Since Brother Wu is a royal family, there will always be a day to emerge. is not worse than me, and they all count on the imperial examination. Gu Zhiwen was a little helpless.

"What kind of royal family am I? Brother Gu did you see the royal family participating in the scientific expedition? Wu Yanzhi said with a smile.

The two talked and laughed, and went to a wine shop not far from the "Four Seas Hotel" to drink a bucket of wine, a few side dishes, and drank a lot.

After a full meal, the two returned to the hotel. As soon as he arrived at the gate, Wu Yanzhi saw Qiu Ruoyan, the proprietress of the "Black Fat Woman" who weighed twice as much as her husband, looking at him coldly.

This mother-in-law looks very unsightly, after all, she doesn't count what she said! But his temper is very strange, and he bullies his husband in every way on weekdays, and her husband is naturally like a mouse in front of her.

He treats the guests of the hotel like a sewing needle, "his eyes are on the buttocks, and he only recognizes clothes and not people." ”。

Isn't there a saying of "leaving a wife" in ancient times? Why didn't the boss Yang Gang "get out"? It seems that divorce was not so easy in ancient times!

The combination of this mother-in-law's appearance and temper made Wu Yanzhi feel that it was a pity for the two beautiful Chinese characters "Ruoyan". After this mother-in-law used these two characters, Wu Yanzhi already had a very bad impression of these two Chinese characters.

He secretly screamed in his heart, pretended not to see it, and insisted on breaking inside.

Unexpectedly, he just took a step, but was blocked by the "black fat woman".

"Wu Yanzhi, you haven't paid the room fee for two months. If you don't pay it today, please get out now! Of course, you have to pay the room fee and roll over! ”

A violent bad breath came, which made Wu Yanzhi, who was a little drunk, almost vomit! She's so fat, her stomach should be fine, huh? How can you breathe so much?

He couldn't help but take a step back and responded: "Boss, let's not hide it, before I got sick, the money bag was stolen." There are only a few dozen dollars left in the luggage, where is the room fee paid?

However, please rest assured that the proprietress will make a note and ensure that after half a year, I will pay off the principal with interest! ”

He drank and didn't want to hide it anymore, so he told the truth.

As soon as she heard this, the proprietress Qiu Ruoyan sneered: "It's really good, I know you don't have money!" Then you just get out of here, right?

The old lady sees that there are more than a dozen books in your house, which are also worth four or five hundred yuan, which is just enough for two months' store money. Your clothes, the old lady has already asked the subordinates to pack up, hello, it's over there! ”

After speaking, she pointed to a low table not far from Wu Yanzhi's side.

Wu Yanzhi turned his head to look, and sure enough, he saw a cloth bag placed on top of the low table.

This proprietress is too dark, and her dozen or so books, although they are a little old, are worth the money.

I also wonder when I will take this as a living expense before I get a job! This amount of money is not enough to pay for the journey home, and you have to find a job and earn some money.

"Boss, you're doing a good job. Are my twelve books only worth four hundred dollars? After all, Wu Yanzhi is in his thirties, but he is not so excited.

"Then you bring the store money now, and the old lady will return the book to you immediately, but looking at you like this, it's useless for you to take this book back!

I'm afraid that I will never think about it for the rest of my life! Do you think anyone can be admitted to the Jinshi Ming Sutra? Can anyone be an official? She pursed her lips with a sneering expression.

Nima! Isn't there a saying of "Shinong Industry and Commerce"? Wu Yanyi listened, he can be regarded as a scholar anyway! How can this business lady dare to be so rude to herself? Sure enough, it's a shameless shrew!

He has no money in his pocket, and he owes people two months' expenses, and he wants to get angry, but he feels that it is inappropriate. At this time, Gu Zhiwen couldn't look at it, he rushed over and said loudly:

"Isn't it just 400 yuan for Ququ? I paid for Brother Wu! By the way, I'm leaving tomorrow, you can calculate my store money! ”

When Wu Yanyi heard this, he couldn't help but have a sour nose and was moved. However, he was also a person who had seen strong winds and waves in his previous life, and it was impossible for him to shed tears for hundreds of articles!

So he said: "Great grace is not grateful! Today, with the grace of Brother Gu's hundreds of dollars, if Wu Mou has a bright future, he will definitely return it a thousand times! Please remember! ”

"No, you don't! Although I am not a rich and noble family, these hundreds of dollars are also a trivial matter! With that, he took out his money bag and took out a golden object and placed it on the table next to the proprietress .

"These eight taels of tou stones should be enough for the two of us, right?" He added.

When the proprietress saw the yellow thing, her face was much better. She picked up the stone, looked at it carefully, and said, "It's almost, there should be eight taels, wait for me to weigh it, and then find money for you." ”

After that, he stared at Wu Yan with an extremely disdainful expression, and seemed to look down on him! Wu Yanzhi said darkly: It's really a penny that stumps a hero! was bullied by this ugly woman today, and he will definitely get it back one day!

But at this moment, the golden thing that Gu Zhiwen took out made Wu Yanzhi very surprised! Isn't this brass? What is it called? This thing seems to be much more expensive than ordinary copper.

If it is ordinary copper, it is only eight taels, just half a catty, that is, it is only worth eighty Wen! (This book is still exchanged for one tael of silver for 800 wen)

Odd! Brass should be about the same price as bronze, but why is it twenty times more expensive?

However, in an instant, he suddenly understood the reason: brass is a copper-zinc alloy, and it must have not been mass-produced at this time. This piece of brass, if it was not refined by an alchemist, it was obtained from the Western Regions.

Because according to the history of metal smelting that he learned in his previous life, he knew that at this time, there were already people in Central Asia who had mastered the technology of zinc smelting.

It turned out that Wu Yan was the chief engineer of a company with a state-owned energy group in his previous life.

He majored in mining engineering as an undergraduate, and later obtained a master's degree in metallurgical engineering from the university through the recommendation of his teacher. After graduating, he joined a large energy group.

The group operates in a number of industries such as coal mining, coking, iron and steel, non-ferrous metals, and later in the oil industry. Through his own efforts and good luck, he became the deputy general manager and chief engineer of the group company after graduating thirteen years ago.

However, in the era when coal prices were skyrocketing, the company, led by the boss and the person in charge, spent more than 10 billion yuan to acquire five or six coal mines.

However, the price was later assessed and was only worth less than 200 million. Although he was not involved in the acquisition process, he only arranged for a deputy chief engineer to participate. But in the end, he also signed the contract.

Unfortunately, he ended up being betrayed and made a scapegoat! Someone didn't want him to live, and then he came here.