Mu Zhenzhen and Fanghua took Jinglan and Jinghui sisters to see the manjing first, Qi Biaojia followed closely behind Jinglan like a shadow, Zhang Lianfang said with a smile: "Qi Huzi is inseparable from his little wife, just get married next month, early marriage everywhere." ”

Zhang Dai smiled: "The tiger's body hasn't grown yet." ”

"There's a strange anecdote that will give you a little more insight—"

Zhang Lianfang, the president of the Gims Society, began to joke again: "There is a bad custom in the border area of Huguang, when a man is ten years old, his father will marry an older wife for him, and his father will first have sex with his son and daughter-in-law, and give birth to a son who thinks it is a grandson, so the people over there are in their twenties when they are fathers, and their sons are in their teens, but they are actually brothers, but the locals do not think it is strange." ”

Zhang Dai and Zhang Yuan both shook their heads and laughed, and Xiao Jinghui by the pavilion was also laughing, turning back to beckon to Zhang Yuan: "Brother Zhang Gongzi, come and see, this well is really strange." ”

Zhang Lianfang said strangely: "Jiezi, why does your wife and niece call you like that?" ”

Zhang Yuan smiled and said: "I used to be obedient in Huiji, and I couldn't change it, but in front of my brother-in-law, she called me Uncle Zhang Gongzi." ”

Zhang Lianfang looked at the lively and lovely Shang Jinglan and Shang Jinghui's little sisters, and teased slightly: "The Shang girls are not bound by their feet, hey." ”

Zhang Dai knew that Uncle Zhong had a golden lotus fetish, and didn't want Jie Zi to argue with Uncle Zhong, so he diverted the topic and asked Zhang Yuan: "Jie Zi is also about to become a father, how many months will he be born?" ”

Zhang Yuan said: "It should be next month." ”

Zhang Lianfang said: "Jie Zi first fasted for three days, and then went to Daci Yanfu Palace to pray for your wife and children. ”

Zhang Yuan said: "Okay, tomorrow will start fasting." ”

Because Zhang Yuan was about to give birth to a child, Zhang Lianfang thought of his son Zhang Cao and Zhang Cao and his son, and said: "My grandson is almost a year old, and I, as a grandfather, have not seen him yet. ”

Zhang Dai said with a smile: "Uncle Zhong will be successful this time, but there are only three things, Uncle Zhong This is the third time he has jumped into the Dragon Gate, and it will definitely be done." ”

Talking and laughing, Zhang Lianfang's uncle and nephew approached the octagonal pavilion, there were nearly 100 people around the pavilion to watch the well water, there were eunuchs and nobles, gentry and female dependents, around the well, a family sat on the grass and persuaded to pay everywhere, and the hawkers shouted: Good fire! Wine! What a meal! Good fruit!

Zhang Yuan listened with a smile, these shouts are no different from what Mr. Wang Siren wrote in "The Story of You Manjing", Mr. Wang should have traveled to Manjing four or five years ago, and time seemed to freeze in this shouting - the sleeves of his shirt were lightly pulled, and when he looked down, it was Xiao Jinghui's bright eyes, grinning, and pointed to the pavilion and said: "Brother Zhang Gongzi, look, the well water keeps filling up, and it can't be finished." ”

Shang Jinglan said: "It's just that the water is not full when it comes out." ”

When Zhang Yuan fixed his eyes on the well in the pavilion, he saw that the edge of the well surrounded by bluestone was three feet higher than the ground, but the spring water in the well still overflowed from the edge of the well, bubbling and flowing, and converged into a clear stream in the west of the pavilion, the stream water was clear to the bottom, and it seemed that there was no flow.

Zhang Dai said: "How about I go and taste this water, can I make tea?" Squeezed over, to the pavilion to pluck water and drink, Zhang Yuan also took a sip of water with the past, the spring water is cold, there is a trace of sweetness, the ice is sweet and refreshing, listen to the big brother around him said: "This spring water is acceptable, the water quality is not as good as our Shanyin Spring, but the victory is in the abundance of water." ”

Zhang Lianfang, who then came up, said with a smile: "Yanjing people are pitiful, it is rare to see a spring, so such a full well has become a scenic spot, and Yuan Shigong's "Travels to a Full Well" has become famous. ”

Jing Lan, Jing Hui and Qi Biaojia also went to the pavilion to hold water to drink, and at this moment, I heard a hao slave shouting: "Let one go, let one let go." ”

When Zhang Yuan turned to look, he saw that it was a rich and noble son in fresh clothes and angry horses in a group of wealthy slaves and Qingke who rode a horse to the side of Manjing, and the wealthy slave who opened the road asked the onlookers on this side to let go, and his son wanted to come to see Manjing, Zhang Yuanxin said: "Listen to the accent, these people are from Suzhou Mansion, I don't know which high-ranking official's son, in Yanjing City, he is also so sloppy, I am afraid that I will touch the nail." ”

Zhang Yuan motioned to Mu Zhenzhen and Fanghua to pull Jinglan and Jinghui sisters to the side, but saw the rich and noble son about thirty years old jump off the horse and scolded the Hao Nu first: "Ignorant and stupid, do you dare to drink casually in this Jingshi, maybe you will meet a noble relative, a high-ranking official and a celebrity, and give you a good beating." ”

When the onlookers heard this, they all laughed, and their bad feelings for these slaves faded.

There were too many people at the well, and Zhang Yuan said to Sister Jinglan: "Let's go elsewhere first." As soon as he took a step, he heard someone behind him laugh and said: "Is Jie Zi also coming to swim in Manjing, ah, Brother Baosheng is also there, as well as Zongzi and Huzi, haha." ”

When Zhang Yuan turned his head to look, it was Fan Wenruo, as well as Wen Zhenmeng, a few Suzhou townsmen, who immediately returned the salute and laughed, at this time, the rich and noble son turned around and said: "Brother Fan, and Brother Wen, can you also come to try, why didn't I see you in the Gongyuan, fortunately, fortunately." ”

Fan Wenruo's brows furrowed slightly, and he arched his hand: "It turned out to be Brother Shen, oh, and Brother Zhao, it's rare to see." ”

This Shen Gongzi looked at Zhang Yuan and the others, and asked Fan Wenruo: "I heard that Brother Fan has joined the Shanyin Han Society, I don't know which one is the head of the Zhang Society, who has been admired for a long time?" ”

Fan Wenruo introduced Zhang Yuan and the four to Shen Gongzi, and then introduced this Shen Gongzi to Zhang Yuan and the four of them: "Shen Gongzi was born in a famous family in Wujiang, and his father is the left deputy capital of Yushi and the governor of Henan. ”

The left deputy capital imperial history is the third product, and it is the deputy position of the Metropolitan Inspectorate, which is two levels higher than the left imperial history merchant Zhou Zuo of the fourth product, and he is a high and powerful person, and he is really the head figure who can be expelled in the Beijing Division.

This Shen Gongzi bowed his hand to Zhang Yuan and the others: "Wujiang Shen is polite and polite. ”

Shen Tong and a young scholar beside him also bowed his hand and said, "Wujiang Zhao Mingyang is polite." ”

Shen Tonghe looked at Zhang Yuan and said with a smile: "I have heard for a long time that Zhang is the head of the society, and this department is none other than the head of the Zhang Society." ”

Zhang Yuan said lightly: "How dare you, do your best." "Because I had to take care of the sisters Jinglan and Jinghui, I didn't talk much with this Shen Tonghe, and I said goodbye and went to other places to enjoy the scenery.

Fan Wenruo continued to talk with Shen Tonghe for a while, and then said goodbye to Shen Tonghe and walked to Zhang Yuan's side, Wen Zhenmeng also followed, Zhang Yuan said with a smile: "Brother Wen doesn't seem to be very kind to this Shen Gongzi." ”

Wen Zhenmeng sneered: "Sven scum, I don't pay attention." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "Is this person so bad, he doesn't look arrogant." ”

Fan Wenruo said with a smile: "Shen Tonghe has a bad reputation in Suzhou, don't say anything else, I will cite one thing, in Wujiang, all new arrivals to remember the girl, must first be promoted to Shen Tonghe, and the three days of the bed, otherwise you will not be able to gain a foothold, there was a girl named Mu Suwei, a new girl in Wujiang, follow the instructions of others to meet Shen Tonghe, because Mu Suwei is beautiful and talented, Shen Tonghe left her in the house and did not let her out, and the Ji family did not dare to pursue it, one said, Shen Tonghe and friends gathered to drink, let Mu Suwei drink, there was a young celebrity named Yuan Yuling on the seat, The beauty and celebrity fell in love at first sight, and when the whisper moved, Shen Tonghe was annoyed and drove Yuan Yuling out, Yuan had a doorman surnamed Feng, happy to be a hero, courageous, and knew Yuan Yuling's mind, once took advantage of Shen Tonghe and Mu Suwei to visit Tiger Hill, he actually boarded Shen Zhou, took Mu Suwei and sent it to Yuan Yuling, Yuan Yuling was overjoyed, Mu Suwei was also like getting out of the cage, Yuan's father knew that the disaster was coming, and hurriedly sent Mu Suwei back to Shen's house, but it was too late, Shen Tonghe had already litigated, Yuan Yuling suffered a year in prison, In prison, based on his own experience, he wrote the legendary "The Story of the West Building"——"

Zhang Dai said: ""The Story of the West Building" I know that the scholar in the play, Yu Juan and Uncle Yu, won the champion after being released from prison, defeated the wicked, and finally became a family with Mu Suwei, but what is the truth? ”

"How can the champion be so good, in the opera, this champion and that champion-"

Fan Wenruo shook his head and smiled bitterly: "The fact is that the Yuan family was defeated, Yuan Yuling went away to work as a tutor, and that Mu Suwei was already dead, less than twenty years old when he died. ”

Zhang Yuanxin said: "Only the weak and the frustrated can be happy/silver, Shen Tonghe is still so high-spirited." ”

But he heard Wen Zhenmeng say: "What's even more shameless is that Shen Tonghe's fame was tested by others, and it was Zhao Mingyang next to him." ”

Wen Zhenmeng has always been cautious, and he will not spread hearsay nonsense - Zhang Yuan frowned and said: "There is such a thing? ”

Fan Wenruo said: "This matter is not a secret in Suzhou, that Zhao Mingyang's family is poor, and the eight-strand essay is indeed done well, two years ago, my Fushui Mountain House Club asked him to comment on the eight-strand text, Shen Tonghe's bottom line We know better, the eight-strand can not be completed, from the child to the show, and then to the lifter, it was Zhao Mingyang who gave him the test, and now he was admitted to Yanjing." ”

Zhang Dai was surprised: "Are the examination room searches and prisons all fictitious?" ”

Fan Wenruo said: "Wujiang Shen's wealth is strong in the township, and it is an official family, these joints can be opened, four years ago, Shen Tonghe and Zhao Mingyang were assigned to the same room, the number house is adjacent, and this Zhao Mingyang is really a fast hand, not only to compose himself, but also to write on behalf of Shen Tonghe, and even to be able to hand in the paper before the candle is helped, but I don't know why I didn't come to participate in the Gui Chou Ke exam, but delayed for three years? ”

Wen Zhenmeng said: "The fraud of Shen and Zhao Lian was reported and exposed at that time, but in the end, it was not resolved, and it was not so easy to set off the imperial examination case. ”

"Zhao Mingyang is still associated with Shen Tonghe?" Fan Wenruo asked in surprise, he didn't know about it.

Wen Zhenmeng is well-informed and well-informed in Beijing, and nodded and said: "Exactly, Shen is the third room of the sword character, and Zhao is the fourth room of the sword character." ”

Fan Wenruo, Zhang Dai, and Qi Biaojia were all dumbfounded.

Zhang Yuanxin said: "At the beginning, Dong Qichang taught Zong Yishan the eight-strand essay 'Nine-character Formula', didn't he just want Zong Yishan to take the test for Dong Zuchang, Dong Zuchang's talent and fame were taken by Zong Yishan, if it weren't for those things that happened later, Zong Yishan would definitely give Dong Zuchang a person to take the exam, as for whether he dared to take the test in the examination room, it is unknown, but cheating like Shen and Zhao is more stable than hiring a gunman." ”

Fan Wenruo said: "Let's look at the results of the twenty-seventh release list, if Shen Tonghe is in high school, it is really insulting, what kind of justice is there in the imperial examination!" ”

Wen Zhenmeng said: "The room officials and examiners only look at the papers, if Zhao Mingyang is excellent in the craftsmanship of Shen Tonghe, it is very likely that he will be in high school." ”

Zhang Lianfang came over to hear about this, frowned, and said: "This Shen Tonghe has been in and out of Dong Xuanzai's mansion many times, if it is really fraud, the Dong family will definitely make a big move." ”

In this way, Zhang Yuan was also shocked, and the shady curtain of the science field slowly opened.

……

On February 24th, Zhang Yuan, who had fasted for three days, bathed in the morning and came to the nearby Daci Yanfu Palace with five sacrifices, praying to the three emperors to protect and give birth safely, and the manpower was powerless, only to pray to the ghosts and gods, after praying, when he came out, he saw that the people of Qingmo Mountain were setting up a hexagram stall in front of the Yanfu Palace, and Dong Milk Tea sat quietly beside him - seeing Zhang Yuan, the people of Qingmo Mountain hurriedly got up and made a move, Dong Milk Tea also blessed Zhang Yuan, Dong Milk Tea was much more beautiful, it seems that the people of Qingmo Mountain took good care of her - Zhang Yuan smiled and asked: "Qingmo Mountain people, How have you been lately? ”

Qingmo Mountain said: "Fortunately, the reputation of the mountain people is slowly spreading. ”

Zhang Yuan looked at the delicate Dong Milk Tea, thought to himself, and said: "It's not easy to make a living in another country, if there are scoundrels who bluff and bully you, just come to me." ”

Qingmo Shanren said with a smile: "The world's lamas are the same, bullying the soft and afraid of the hard, afraid of power, the mountain people claim to be relatives of Shang Yushi, and no one dares to bully me." As he spoke, he said loudly to the vendors selling wine and fruits at the hexagram stalls: "Have you seen it, this is the sister-in-law of Shang Yushi, Zhang Jieyuan, the first in the Zhejiang Township Test, and he is the champion of today's department——"

Zhang Yuan hurriedly said: "Don't talk nonsense about mountain people, how can the champion be set by the emperor." ”

Qingmo Mountain said: "The champion is Wenqu Xing, it is determined by the sky, the emperor is the Son of Heaven, and the champion is appointed by the heavens, Zhang Gongzi has great benevolence and great talent, that is, Wenqu Xing goes down to earth, the mountain people are straight to the point, Zhang Gongzi will be the champion in this department, if he does not win, Zhang Gongzi will come to smash the hexagram stall of the mountain people." ”

Zhang Yuan shook his head and smiled, and said in his heart: "I will smash your hexagram stall when I am full." "Arch your hands and go back to the courtyard.

……

On the evening of February 26, the square in front of the Gongyuan of Shuntianfu is crowded with people, although the official list will be posted in front of the gate of the Ministry of Rites, but the list is filled out from the Gongyuan and sent to the Ministry of Rites, and the results can be known earlier before the Gongyuan is completed.

According to the usual practice, the main list will be written and sent out before three o'clock on the twenty-seventh day, but the candidates are impatient, they gathered at the Gongyuan at dusk, and waited all night, but the Bingchen Branch will try to write the list very slowly, and it has already passed the Zhengchou time, the dragon gate of the Gongyuan is still closed, and the short-tempered candidates will throw tiles and stones at the gate of the Gongyuan, shouting and scolding, and they are about to break in————————————————————

(To be continued)