When they reached the door, the tributes did not disperse.

I saw a person come forward and arch his hand and said: "Now we are once a tribute, the fate is not shallow, although tomorrow will face the saint, but also to celebrate, but not to drink excessively, a certain talent, I would like to invite the brothers of the year to congratulate." ”

Fang Xin looked at it, but it was Cao Feibai, the top of the tribute list this time.

This person's article, Fang Xin doesn't know, but when it comes to qi, it may not be good, but this is normal, and he can use jade Ruyi to gain insight into some mysteries, if everyone in this world is like this, this world will long be no longer a normal world - don't learn other skills, just look good.

All the tributes nodded in agreement at the moment, saying, "That's it, that's it!" ”

August golden autumn, the history is Jinshihe, now August 11, it is almost time, there is Bibo Lake outside the imperial capital, by the tributary Liujiang and gather, before and after as long as 16 miles, the smoke and waves ripple, between the spring and autumn is particularly bright, known as famous.

Of course, along the river, there are Qinglou, but there are not many Qinglou that can have several floors and painting boats, and there are not many Qinglou that can accommodate hundreds of people, and there are relatively many flower boats that can accommodate more than a dozen people, and generally Qinglou only has a small boat that can accommodate a few people.

Sixty tributes, naturally going to the painting boat, only to arrive at the location, has heard the sound of silk and bamboo, the singer on the deck, singing a welcome song, skirts fluttering, clever smiles, looking forward to life, let the tributes happy.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is our honor to come to my Dongxiao Pavilion!" A woman in her thirties stepped forward to greet her.

Sixty tributes immediately went up to the second floor of the painting boat, and then they found out. This space is very large, the spacious lobby can accommodate 100 people, and when I saw the ceremony, Cao Feibai said: "Everyone is the same year, the little brother is polite here!" Kindness. It was already noon, but we just ate some noodles. Presumably, everyone has not eaten enough, so how about a feast now? ”

Of course, the tributes did not object, in fact, the bowl of Xie Shi noodles. Someone just meant to take a bite. Shout right now.

Since this is the case, the banquet will be served immediately, in fact, the dishes have been prepared, and after a while, the pretty maid came up like a cloud, carrying a sumptuous wine and food, and Cao Feibai invited all the tributes to sit down one by one according to the rules.

This rule is very heavy, first of all. It is the first ten people as the center, the second, the second first, and the third, the third. But in every a. It is also considered comprehensively based on ranking and age, and it is also very thoughtful.

Banquet. Naturally, it is a single-table system, one table per person.

However, after a while, some pretty women entered the table one by one and sat with them, not only to pour wine and serve food for the tributes, but also to play with Mei Ji at will. Lin Lei

More than a dozen maiko floated out of the side door like butterflies, singing and dancing to the melodious sound of drums.

One of the women, singing and dancing lightly, with a sweet voice, has a moving charm, everyone watched it and shouted again and again, Fang Xin was a little strange, and asked, "Who is this woman?" "Brother Li Nian, it seems that you really don't understand the matter of Hualiu, you have to come more in the future, this person is Liu Yanwen, one of the three red cards of Dongxiao Pavilion, if you can invite her to dance on the spot, it can be regarded as welcoming us." The next Gongshi Qi Zhi's achievements haha said.

"Little brother really doesn't know, and I still ask Brother Qi Nian for guidance, who are these three red cards?" In the world, the social atmosphere is open, and literati are proud of their romance, drinking and playing with beauties, which is really an elegant thing, Fang Xin can naturally say it frankly.

"Liu Yanwen and Luo Ziyan have the same name, the famous shock is sixteen miles of blue waves, and Yu Lingyu is even more on it, Liu Yanwen and Luo Ziyan, the pillars of Dongxiao Pavilion, but Shangming Building, Xia Yonglou, and Dongping Pavilion also have red cards to compete with, only Yu Lingyu, no matter how good he looks or talents, he can overwhelm the flowers alone, he is the first in these sixteen miles of Bibo Lake, and when he sees it, he is also a daughter!" Qi Zhicheng said with relish.

"Oh, it's just a woman, can there be such a scene, this Kyoto is so big, there are many hidden dragons and crouching tigers, how can this woman be self-sustaining by this?" Fang Xin asked, even if this woman is just a prostitute, why is she so proud?

"It's also said that in Kyoto, the emperor's relatives and purple-clothed officials are all in the land, but I heard that even if they are strong, they can't be strong? I don't know how this wind blows. Qi Zhicheng was also a little confused, and said: "I heard that she is very close to King An, maybe it is the work of King An's protection!" ”

Fang Xin didn't believe it, Kyoto is so big, it is difficult for King An to cover the sky with one hand, if this girl is really a national beauty, it is difficult to preserve.

But this is not much to say, at the moment everyone is boating to listen to music, chanting poems and endowments, and the tributes are familiar with each other because of this, after all, they will be officials in the same dynasty in the future, and the relationship in the same year is also a relationship that can be developed.

However, though everyone was very happy, the morning of the morrow was to face the saints, so that after an hour the priests had dispersed, and no one was drunk—it would be miserable if it were affected tomorrow.

returned to the post house, but saw that everyone was busy relocating, Zheng Chengyi and Fang Xin couldn't help but be dumbfounded when they saw this, and the excitement just now faded.

When I returned to the dormitory, I saw Zhu Mingyi and Zou Lixing, both of whom had already put away their things and moved out waiting to say goodbye.

"Why are you so fast?"

"No way, there is an order from the imperial court, and those who are not in the middle must move out of the post house tonight, rather than waiting to be driven out, it is unseemly, otherwise go out now." Zhu Mingyi seemed to have recovered, he smiled and said, "The two of us are waiting, just to say goodbye to the two of us." ”

Although the sun was shining, it felt like the whole post house was gray, and a sense of sadness filled everyone, even every courtyard—every year, there were 3,000 people in the big exam, and only 60 of them were successful, and the other 2,900 people were all going from where they came from and where they were going back.

"Brother Zhu doesn't have to take it to heart, there is New Year's luck in the examination room, and if you come back in three years, you can be on the list." Fang Xin said comfortingly.

"Haha, in less than three years, I will be ready to live in the imperial capital, the house has been found, and I have also found some people to live with him, in the imperial capital Dongkangfang, where the environment is good." Zhu Mingyi said with a smile, and then said goodbye.

Zou Lixing didn't say anything, just smiled reluctantly, Fang Xin saw that his expression was a little wrong, so he paid special attention to it, found some things, sent Zheng Chengyi, and talked to him.

The two walked a little way, and Zou Lixing suddenly said: "I'm going back to my hometown, I'll leave tomorrow, and in the future, I probably won't come to the imperial capital again to take this jinshi." ”

Fang Xin was silent, and heard Zou Lixing sigh and say: "Actually, talking to the three thousand people from all over the country here, I have some feelings, those who can come here are all the heroes of a province and a county, that is, in our hospital, half of the humanities are above me, and now I grit my teeth for the exam, but just in case, I hope to be successful, and now I am on the list, and I am sober, besides, if I come to Beijing once, I will pour his brother into it for a year, how can it be like this again and again?" My brother also has a wife and children! ”

Fang Xin had no choice but to say: "Brother Zou, why worry about the problem of money and land, a gentleman has the righteousness of scattering wealth, not to mention that we are friends, you just come to my house to get it, read more in the coming year, and you will definitely get it." ”

Zou Lixing shook his head, his tone was gloomy, and said: "If it's really just for money, if it's really just a high eight buckets, it's just a moment of bad luck, then I'll be cheeky to take it, but, I have limited talent, I study hard every day, and even read blood vomiting a few years ago, and now at this level, I've done my best, and it's difficult to get in again, even if I have money to go to Beijing, once every three years, it's a waste, really have to wait for this ethereal luck?" Every three years, among the three thousand lifters in Beijing, which one of them is not lucky, and when will it be my turn? ”

This, Fang Xin really has nothing to say, indeed, Zou Lixing's hardships in reading are really from the first place in Jiangfu, he knows that every time he reads a book, his mother and wife come with hard work, and he also knows how much sacrifice his brother has paid, so he has read to the extent of vomiting blood, this degree has indeed reached his limit, and it is in vain to read it again.

"Then what are you going to do when you go back?" Fang Xin asked.

"After all, I am a person, I will go to receive a nine-grade teaching, there must still be something, the court is kind to the scholars, I am not afraid of losing decency, and teaching students in the future is also a great good, if you are successful in reading, you can write a book in a few decades, and it will be considered a speech." Zou Lixing's spirit was shocked, and he said: "I can only study, if I am another official, I am afraid that I will not be able to do it, it is better to follow this road." ”

Da Chu Lixue, there are school officials at the county level, basically teaching two people, the official residence from the nine products, teaching one person, is the nine products, managing the study of the county middle school students, and also the host of the children's examination.

At the county (government) level, there is one person in the school and seven products, and at the provincial level, there is one person in the school and the five products, and it is subordinate to the Ministry of Rites.

Zou Lixing is a person, in a government, there are six or seven counties, and more than ten counties, so it is not difficult to make up for the teachings of the nine counties, but according to the rules, once it is made up, it will not be able to take the imperial examination, and it is very difficult to be promoted, and some even for a lifetime, but when they are old, they will be given a hat of seven grades to support the elderly, which is also the reason why many people would rather waste than make up for this official body.

Fang Xin listened, sighed, and immediately took out a letter of fifty taels of silver, and said: "Brother Zou is hypocritical, I know that you have no money now, and you have to spend a dozen taels of silver on the way back to your hometown. ”

At this time, Zou Lixing did not shirk, took it, and said thank you.

In fact, he has no money in his pocket until now, if he wins the tribute, naturally he doesn't have to worry, some people are willing to lend him money, but now, there is no such way, after all, in the imperial capital, not locally.

I really have no money, how can I go back? So he accepted it, and after accepting it, he was a little shameless, said a few words, and took his leave.

Looking at him in the distance, Fang Xin was a little emotional, but he was also a little relieved, finally Zou Lixing has not yet reached a dead end, some people, rather know that their literary talent is not high, and they have no background, but they always hope to meet their luck, so they have been taking the exam for decades, so why bother?

Even if you are lucky enough to succeed in the future, what is the point of life being over?

Zou Lixing's move was, to a certain extent, very wise.