The old woman died, and the funeral could not be done in a big way, after all, there were some inconvenient places.

Su Tiancheng wore linen and filial piety, and according to the etiquette of the younger generation, he kept a vigil for the old woman all night.

Xiong Zijian's eyes were already red from crying, and in such a situation, Su Tiancheng had no way to comfort him.

Su Huawen and Su Tianran didn't ask, since Su Tiancheng didn't say it, they wouldn't go back to the source, Su Tiancheng was already very bold and far-sighted in doing things, they didn't need to interfere.

Three days later, the old woman was buried.

Su Tiancheng and Xiong Zijian talked secretly for more than an hour, and after that, Xiong Zijian left Pingyang Mansion City.

Su Tiancheng then found Su Pingyang and arranged a lot of things, when Su Pingyang left the study, he looked very serious, it seems that what Su Tiancheng said is definitely not a trivial matter.

On July 24, Su Tiancheng officially set off for Taiyuan Fucheng.

Because I met Xiong Tingbi's original wife, she had been delayed for three days, and she couldn't continue to delay, and if she missed the township test, it would be difficult to do the rest of the matter.

Taiyuan Mansion is more than 500 miles away from Pingyang Mansion City, and it takes two to three days for fast horses, but fortunately, Qu Qingze left ten Mongolian horses, Su Tiancheng took Su Jun, Su Ertong and Wang Dazhi, and hurried to Taiyuan Mansion City.

At noon on July 26, the group finally saw the tall and majestic city wall of Taiyuan City.

Taiyuan is the head of the nine border towns, the hometown of Jin merchants, known as the dragon city. The Han Dynasty is one of the thirteen states in the country, known as the state, the Tang Dynasty was named the northern capital, and the capital Chang'an, the eastern capital Luoyang, together with the three capitals, three capitals.

Su Tiancheng came to Taiyuan for the first time, and after dismounting, he stopped outside the city gate, looking at the tall and thick city wall, and had a different feeling.

Because of the invasion of Shanxi, the sergeants at the city gate were very strict, Su Tiancheng and others rode Mongolian horses, wearing silk brocade robes, and their bearing was not ordinary. During this time, there were many students who rushed to Taiyuan to prepare to participate in the township examination, and among these students, there were even Guozi prison students, whose identities were unusual, and the sergeants of the inspection department could not afford to offend.

The prosperity of Taiyuan is different from Kaifeng, if Kaifeng reveals that it is heavy, then, Taiyuan is delicate. This feeling is closer to life and makes people feel comfortable.

When he came to Taiyuan, Su Tiancheng naturally wanted to go home, and it was impossible to stay in the inn, which was unreasonable, although there was a lot of unhappiness between him and the eldest mother.

In the nursing courtyard in front of the mansion, when they saw Su Tiancheng and others, one nursing home hurriedly entered the door to report, and the other three nursing homes came up, and they naturally knew Su Tiancheng.

If in the past, these nursing homes would not care at all, Su Tiancheng's status in the mansion, they were clear. Today, however, the situation has changed dramatically.

Handing the reins in his hand to the nursing home, Su Tiancheng slowly walked towards the door of the mansion.

After a while, a young man hurriedly walked out.

"Third brother, why did you go home, the township test is coming, I have to wait in a hurry."

"When did the eldest brother come back from the capital, I haven't seen him for almost two years."

"Yes, come inside the house and clean up, the room is already ready."

It was Su Tianhao who came out to greet him, the prisoner of Guozi, and Su Tiancheng's eldest brother.

Su Jun, Su Ertong and Wang Dazhi behind Su Tiancheng all saluted Su Tianhao.

Su Tianhao didn't know Wang Dazhi, so he took a look at it and didn't say anything.

Su Tianhao personally came out to greet him, indicating that Su Tiancheng's status in the Su family was completely different, and it was impossible for Su Tianhao not to know what happened in Pingyang Mansion.

The accommodation is arranged in a small courtyard in the east, and the subordinates who followed Su Tiancheng also stayed here.

The house where Su Tiancheng stayed was a suite.

A quarter of an hour later, Su Tianhao came over.

Su Tiancheng has finished washing up and returned home, he must go to see the eldest mother, this is the rule.

The two brothers talked slowly, walked towards the house where the Wang family lived, and after a brief conversation, Su Tiancheng knew that Su Tianhao had been back for almost two months, and as a student of Guozi Prison, he could have taken the township test in the capital, but he could also have returned to Taiyuan.

Wang sat in the wing room outside the bedroom.

"The child meets the eldest mother."

"Kun Yuan, it's been hard along the way, I've returned home, take a good rest, your brothers haven't seen each other for a long time, and you have to take the township test."

"The child knows the Tao, and he must ask the eldest brother for advice."

"Alright, go ahead, I'm a little tired."

When Su Tiancheng said goodbye, he had a smile on his face, and there was no expression on Su Tianhao's face.

Freezing three feet is not a day's cold, the relationship between Su Tiancheng and the eldest mother cannot be particularly harmonious, but after such a long time, it is a fait accompli, and the eldest mother is estimated to accept it.

"Third brother, yesterday Lord Tixue sent someone to send a letter, and I accepted it on my behalf, I don't know what the content of Lu Dao is."

"Oh, the prefect recommended me to Lord Tixue, I don't need to participate in the county exam, I can directly participate in the township exam, I guess this is what the letter says."

"Oh, the third brother is really not simple, I got the recommendation of the prefect, directly participate in the township test, such a good thing, it is worth celebrating, tomorrow I will invite the third brother to the restaurant to have a drink."

In fact, Su Tianhao does not have to participate in the county examination, as a student of the Guozi Prison, he directly participates in the township examination.

After having lunch and visiting his sister-in-law Duan, Su Tiancheng returned to the room and opened the letter.

This is actually an official letter, which means that Su Tiancheng can directly participate in the township examination, and with this official letter, he will go to the yamen to go through the relevant procedures, receive the number plate, and go directly to the Gongyuan for the examination on the ninth day of August.

After reading the letter, Su Tiancheng felt tired, and it was still very hard to travel for more than two days in a row, and when he arrived at the destination, he felt a little unbearable.

When he woke up, it was already two o'clock in the morning, and he had slept for more than an hour, and Su Tiancheng felt that his spirit was much better.

Su Ertong rubbed his eyes and came in to report, it seemed that he had slept for a while.

"Young Master, Gongzi Liu is here to visit."

Su Tianhao came in next.

"Third brother, Liu Gongzi came to visit almost every day, to see if you have arrived in Taiyuan, I asked him to move to the house to live, but he just didn't agree, he still lives in the inn, just learned that you have arrived, very happy, is waiting in the hall."

Seeing that Su Tiancheng's spirit was very good, Su Tianhao then spoke.

"Third brother, if your body can bear it, why don't we go to the restaurant with Liu Gongzi in a while."

Su Tiancheng nodded, he was young, in good health, he had slept well, he had recovered most of the time, and there was no problem in going to the restaurant.

Liu Zhongji was waiting in the hall, and after seeing Su Tiancheng come in, he hurriedly stepped forward, looked at Su Tiancheng carefully, and saluted with his fists.

"Brother Su, I've always been anxious, why haven't you arrived yet, the classmates who came to participate in the township test have organized many gatherings, but it's a pity that you haven't been able to participate."

Students from all over the world, before the exam, there are always some gatherings, such as going to the restaurant to eat and drink together, participating in the so-called Wenlin gatherings together, discussing knowledge together, etc., everyone needs to be familiar with the relationship, or to make friends, such gatherings are often very lively.

Don't underestimate such gatherings, scholars are usually at home, or in the academy, rarely have the opportunity to get together, participating in the township examination is the best opportunity, can carp jump the dragon gate of the reader, after all, there are not many, in this kind of occasion, to be able to make a good relationship, for the future development, is very important.

For example, in the whole territory of Shanxi, more than 500 people were able to participate in the township examination after the county examination, but only 65 people were finally admitted, which was the index set by the imperial court, and the vast majority of candidates had no chance.

It is impossible for a scholar to engage in heavy physical labor, and the student already has a certain identity, if the township test is fruitless, relying on the rice given by the imperial court, life is very difficult, and the best way is to find some high school classmates, to be a staff member or master, to get an errand, to solve the embarrassment of life.

Of course, most of those who do this are students from poor families.

Su Tiancheng was concerned about the examiner's affairs.

The chief examiner is divided into the inner curtain officer and the outer curtain officer, the inner curtain officer is the examiner and the same examiner in the examination room, and the outer curtain officer is the promotion officer and the monitoring officer outside the examination room.

The inner curtain officials were directly appointed by the imperial court, and as for the outer curtain officials, they were generally officials appointed by the political envoy and the yamen.

The inner curtain officer is divided into the chief examiner and the same examiner, two chief examiners and four same examiners.

According to the usual practice, the chief examiner of the Shanxi Township Examination is generally a subordinate official of the six departments, or a subordinate officer of the six subjects, and the same examiner is also a Beijing official, the chief examiner and the same examiner, all of whom are from Jinshi.

The chief examiner and fellow examiners have a lot of power.

The township examination begins on the ninth day of August, and on the seventh day of August, the chief examiner and the same examiner enter the Gongyuan and produce the examination questions, and the officials in the Gongyuan rush to make the test papers overnight.

At the end of the township examination, the examiner and the examiner began to read the papers, and the examiner first read the excellent test papers, and handed them over to the examiner for review, and the examiner finally determined the admitted candidates.

Su Tiancheng is already very clear about this set of procedures, he didn't think of befriending the examiner, that would have little effect, after all, he doesn't have a strong background, and it is impossible to attract special attention from others.

There are only ten days for the township examination papers, the examiner and the same examiner are not ironclad, so many test papers, it is impossible to read each one carefully, they fancy the first test paper, as long as the first test paper is brilliant, they will be admitted.