After all, time has been delayed, and the first month has passed in a blink of an eye. On this day, Chen Jing set off to take the exam, and his family was busy carrying boxes and burdens to the mule cart. The old lady endlessly told Dashun to be careful when he went out, the young master didn't know how to take care of himself. Dashun nodded more than once, and kept humming in his mouth. Sookhyun suddenly wanted to vomit, so she hurriedly took out a handkerchief and covered her mouth. When the mother-in-law saw it, she was overjoyed and stepped forward to greet: "I'm afraid there is, right?" ”

Sookhyun lowered her head, her face crimson. The old lady asked again, "Jing'er, does he know?" ”

Sookhyun shook her head again, her face still red.

The old lady smiled: "Why does Jing'er lack a heart? Why hasn't he come out yet? ”

Sookhyun hesitated for a moment and said, "I'll go and have a look in the house." ”

Chen Jing was cleaning up books in his study, and his three-year-old son, Qianji, was following behind to make trouble. Chen Jing shouted: "Don't move, dad is clear!" ”

Qian Ji said, "Dad, I want to go with you to catch the exam!" ”

Chen Jing smiled: "You, in another twenty years." ”

Sookhyun came in, and Kyunji called for his mother and flew over. Chen Jing glanced at Shuxian, didn't say much, just said: "Don't rush, I'll come." ”

Shuxian hesitated, and only said after a long time: "His father, I have it." ”

Chen Jing lowered his head to clean up the books, and ignored them for a while. Sookhyun stood in the doorway, a little embarrassed. Chen Jing seemed to feel something, looked back at his wife, and asked, "Shuxian, what did you say?" Sookhyun didn't answer, and bowed his head and went out.

Chen Jing packed up, followed his father to the hall to burn incense and sacrifice wine, worshiped his ancestors, and then went out to get in the car. The father stroked the wheel of the car and told again: "Jing'er, after entering Beijing, you have to be careful in everything!" ”

The mother's tears came out early and said, "Taiyuan Township Test, you almost gave up your life." Jing'er, my mother can't rest assured. ”

Before Chen Jing could speak, his father said, "You just read by yourself, take the exam well, and don't say anything superfluous." Don't be like in Taiyuan, you can't do it! ”

Chen Jing said: "Daddy, you can rest assured." ”

It was cold and snowy, and the mule cart went very slowly. Chen Jing was not in a hurry, and only read books in the car. After walking for more than a month, I arrived at the border of Hebei. Suddenly, I saw a man who looked like a scholar carrying a book bag on his shoulder, walking on foot, very tired. The mule cart slowed down, and Dashun shouted to give way. Chen Jing lifted the curtain, looked at the scholar, and told Dashun to stop. Chen Jing felt that this person was familiar, and suddenly remembered, and hurriedly got out of the car and bowed his hands: "Dare to ask this brother, are you Senior Brother Zhang Wang, a person from Gaoping?" ”

Zhang Wang stopped and wondered, "Who are you?" ”

It turned out that Zhang Wang won the first place in the township examination ten years ago, when Chen Jing was only eleven years old, and his father led him to visit Zhang's house in Gaoping. Chen Jing said with a smile: "Senior brother Zezhou Chen Jing, when I was a child, I was led by my father to visit my senior brother. Just now, the family was offended, and I hope to forgive the sins. ”

Zhang Wang was overjoyed and said, "It turned out to be Xinke Jieyuan!" Your heroic spirit is spread all over the world! ”

Chen Jingdao: "Brother has won the prize!" How about asking my brother to come with me? Just ask for advice along the way! Please get on the bus. ”

Zhang Wei hurriedly shook his hand and said, "Thank you, I'd better go by myself." ”

Chen Jing said that he went to grab Zhang Wang's book bag and said, "Brother Tai doesn't have to be polite!" ”

Dashun couldn't help but say, took Zhang Wang's bag and put it in the car, and said, "Sir, just get in the car." My son-in-law just read books all the way, and no one accosted him, so he was about to become a dumb man. With you as a companion, it's time to talk! ”

Zhang Wei had no choice but to follow Chen Jing, get into the mule cart, and asked, "Brother Chen Xian, why did you just go on the road?" ”

Chen Jingdao: "Now that we are more than two months away from the Spring Festival, we need to walk for another month on the road, is it too late?" ”

Zhang Wei said: "Foolish brother is ashamed, I am a person who failed to pass the three attempts, but I know a little bit about the way of the science field." The children of rich families, just after the autumn season, entered Beijing to wait for the exam. ”

Chen Jing said: "Do you need to rush there so early?" If you really want to warm up your books, be quiet at home, and think that Jingshi must be dazzled! ”

Zhang Wang said: "Brother Xian doesn't know anything! Where do people go to study? It's to send silver and go to the door! ”

Chen Jing sighed: "I naturally know this. However, the bloodstains in the Taiyuan Kechang case have not dried, do anyone dare to gamble their lives? ”

Zhang Wang said: "This time, the imperial court's handling of the case is really severe, killing so many people, and the governor Wu Daoyi was also dismissed. For the word 'fame', there are many people in the world who are not afraid of death! ”

Chen Jing went through this hometown test, and he believed this word, but he still said: "I don't believe that all fame is given away by silver." Brother Tai once lived in the township to test the leader, and after the three Jin Dynasty, he was cited as a model. In this examination, Brother Tai must be crowned in the Toad Palace and be on the emperor's list. Zhang Wang shook his head with a wry smile, looking up to the sky and sighing.

One day I entered the capital and went straight to the Shanxi Hall. When I asked, it turned out that the hall was already full. The manager of the hall was an old man, and he looked very embarrassed, and said, "It turned out to be two Xie Yuan!" It is said that Chen Jieyuan is not coming, and the people who live here are talking about you every day! "Da Shun is a small person, but he is sophisticated in speaking and doing things, and he pesters the steward to ask him to think of ideas. The steward really didn't have a problem, saying that only the guest hall was empty, but it didn't look like it lived there.

The three of them had no choice but to leave the guild hall and go to find an inn near the Shuntianfu Gongyuan. I voted for several stores in a row, but they were all full. It turned out that the shops next to the Gongyuan were full, and most of them were people who went to Beijing to take the exam. Seeing that it was getting late, seeing that there was a Happy Forest Inn in front of him, Chen Jing smiled and said: "We have all arrived at Liangshan in the Water Margin, and there is no place to go, so we can only sleep on the streets." ”

At this moment, the door creaked open, and a little second came out with a smile and asked, "Yo, the three dare to live in the hotel, right?" The three of them agreed, and entered the inn. The shopkeeper hurriedly came out to greet and told Xiao Er to take the luggage.

The shopkeeper said: "Every spring, the children of rich families come early, and those who can live in the guild hall will live in the guild hall, otherwise they will crowd to the east to live, which is close to the tribute courtyard!" ”

As he was talking, he saw a man come in with a calm face. The shopkeeper immediately greeted him with a smile: "Mr. Gao, you're back!" The person who called Gao Gongzi sighed in his nose, didn't raise his eyes, and lowered his head and went in.

The shopkeeper turned around and greeted Chen Jing and them, and said, "Three of you, please sit down and drink tea first, and then go and wash." Whatever you want to eat, just ask! ”

When the tea came up, the shopkeeper looked inside and whispered: "That Gao Gongzi just now, the Qiantang people's family, is called Gao Shiqi." Every time he went to Beijing to take the exam, he lived in our store, and he took the exam four times! The family also has no money, and he sets up a stall in front of Baiyun Temple all day to tell fortunes, otherwise he won't be able to live in this shop. I look at his spirit, one time is not as good as one time, this year I am afraid that he will lose his name again! ”

Chen Jing saw that Zhang Wang's face was red, so he said, "Shopkeeper, you are a crow's mouth!" The shopkeeper hurriedly slapped his mouth: "The little mouth stinks, offended!" ”

Chen Jing and Zhang Wang are very similar, and the two talk together at night, and the sky is bright. Early in the morning, Chen Jing freshened up, and when he heard a person reading loudly, he stepped forward to say hello: "Dare to ask the senior brother's name?" ”

The man put down the book and said humbly: "Under the surname Li, there is a single name!" Henan Shangqiu people's! ”

Chen Jing arched his hand and said, "Under Chen Jing, a native of Zezhou, Shanxi." ”

Li Jin's eyes widened suddenly, and he said, "It turned out to be Senior Brother Chen Jing!" Before you arrive in Beijing, your reputation comes first! People from Shanxi, who first went to the capital, said that last year's Guidi Township test, they lost a lot of heads. It is said that you speak up for the fallen soldier and pick up a life from the knife! Brother admire! ”

Chen Jing hurriedly shook his head and said, "Senior Brother Li is boasting! These words are not mentioned. Brother, seeing that you are extraordinary, you will definitely go to high school! I'm here to say hello! ”

Li Jin sighed: "You don't know, the champion, Bangyan, and Tanhua have already been bought!" We're still here to read the dead, what's the use! ”

At this time, Zhang Wei came over and answered: "My family is poor for me to study, and I don't have any money to give, so try your luck!" ”

Li Jin sighed again: "Isn't it? I couldn't pass the exam again this time, so I had to go back to my hometown for dinner! ”

As the three of them were talking, a burden was thrown over with a bang. It turned out to be the shopkeeper, and he was looking at Li Jin with a sideways face and shouted: "Li Gongzi, there is no way, I have done my best to be benevolent and righteous, let you eat for nothing, can I let you live for nothing?" You owe me ten days of bed! I'm going to ask you to leave! ”

Li Jin's face was ashamed, and he said, "Shop, can you give a few days, you can do it!" ”

The store is very arrogant, not talking much, just driving people. Chen Jing couldn't stand it, and said, "Shopkeeper, this Brother Li's food and lodging should be recorded in my account!" ”

Li Jin hurriedly picked up the burden and said, "Brother Chen, how can this be done!" I'll find another way to go. ”

Chen Jing stopped Li Jin and said, "Brother Li doesn't have to be polite!" Just let me lend it to you! ”

The shopkeeper immediately seemed to have changed, nodded and smiled at Chen Jing, and hurriedly took Li Jin's burden and sent it in.

Chen Jing asked Zhang Wang to visit a few Shanxi villagers, so he said goodbye to Li Jin and went out. It turned out that Master Wei Xiangshu introduced several Shanxi compatriots in Beijing in the letter, and instructed Chen Jing to take time to visit after entering Beijing, and to take care of him if he had something. happened to meet Zhang Wei on the road, so he said that he would go together. The two prepared a protégé post and went to Lord Wei Xiangshu's house first. When I came to ask, I learned that Lord Wei was ordered by the emperor when he returned to Beijing half a month ago, and now he has locked the hospital. Master Wei expected that Chen Jing would come to the door, and had already instructed his family to treat him warmly, but he refused to accept the ceremony. After inquiring carefully, Chen Jingfang knew that several villagers he wanted to visit had entered the entrance examination, and the hospital had been locked as usual. There is only one Mr. Li Zuwang, because he is a former Ming Ju person, and there is no official mission, so he must be at home. The two resigned from the Wei family and went to Li Zuwang's mansion.

Inquire left and right about the place mentioned in Lord Zhaowei's letter, and it turns out that Li Zuwang's house is very close to the Happy Forest Inn. The wall of the Li family courtyard is tall, and there is an old plum tree slanting out next to the gatehouse. Chen Jing stepped forward and knocked on the door, and a middle-aged man poked his head out to question. I heard that it was a fellow villager from Shanxi who was introduced by Wei Xiangshu, so he hurriedly invited him in. This man called himself Dagui and helped Mr. Li take care of the house. The two of them bypassed the Xiao Wall, and when they raised their eyes, they saw an ancient plaque hanging at the head of the main house, with four big characters written on it: Generations of meritorious service. If you look closely, it is actually the imperial pen of Emperor Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty. Chen Jing thought that the Li family must have been very prominent in the former Ming Dynasty, but Master Wei did not mention it in the letter. Dagui first led the two to the guest hall to sit down, and then took Wei Xiangshu's letter to pass the word inside. Not long after, Mr. Li came out and was rude.

Dagui's daughter-in-law Tian Ma brought tea, Li Zuwang invited the two of them to tea, and said: "I also heard that there was an accident in Shanxi last year, and Chen Jing almost lost his life, but fortunately, Master Wei was able to make it from it." Master Wei is loyal and loves talents, and the Shanxi scholars in Beijing respect him very much. ”

Chen Jingdao: "Lord Wei praised your old knowledge and prestige, and asked me to come to visit you when I entered Beijing. ”

Zhang Wang also said: "I still hope that my seniors will give me some advice." ”

Li Zuwang shook his head and said with a smile: "How dare you, you are old, you are old." I and Lord Wei are both people in Chongzhen's fifteen years, and the ancestors were originally the old family of the former Ming Dynasty, and they have been officials for generations. The father left a message, telling the descendants to only study, to be knowledgeable and courteous, and not to be officials. After entering the Qing Dynasty, I didn't end up again. Alas, it's all old things, so let's not talk about it. ”

Chen Jing looked very sorry and said: "The country has changed hands, the old and the new are really the reincarnation of heaven, and all things have to go with the sky." Forgive Wansheng for saying a word of collision, senior, you are hidden in the alley, and the court will have one less virtuous minister! ”

Li Zuwang didn't feel offended when he heard this, but laughed and said, "The old man is counting on you two to soar and benefit the common people." Well, I'd better be a former dynasty Yimin. ”

As she spoke, a little woman called out to her father and ran out of the back room. When she saw the living person, the girl immediately blushed and stood there. Mr. Li said with a smile: "Yueyuan, I've seen the two eldest brothers. This is Brother Zhang Wang, this is Brother Chen Jing, they are all people who went to the city to take the exam, and they are fellow villagers in Shanxi. ”

The girl was still standing there. Mr. Li said again: "This is the old man's daughter, called Yueyuan, eleven years old, still so unruly!" ”

Yueyuan smiled: "As long as my father comes to the guest, he will say that I have no rules." People are here to let you see if my words have grown. ”

It turned out that Yueyuan was holding the words she had just written behind her back. Mr. Li said with a smile: "Dad won't look at it now, you can show it to the two brothers." ”

Yueyuan was shy after all, standing there with a smile on her lips, but she didn't dare to step forward. Chen Jing stood up and said, "I'll come and see my sister's words." ”

Chen Jing took Yueyuan's words and said straight. Zhang Wang went up to see it, and he was full of praise. Mr. Li smiled: "Don't praise her, otherwise she won't know the sky is high." My daughter refuses to bind her feet since she was a child, and she refuses to learn needlework if you want her, but she likes to read and write. It's a woman, otherwise she would have taken the top prize. ”

Yueyuan said mischievously: "When I grow up, I will learn from that female concubine, and I will also take the championship exam, and I will marry you a princess back." ”

Mr. Li pretended to be angry and scolded: "More and more nonsense! Come on in, Daddy wants to talk to your two big brothers! ”

At this time, Tian's mother came over, took Yueyuan to the inner room, and said with a smile: "Come back to the house with me, you are a young lady, the first time you see the living person, there are so many words!" ”

Yueyuan entered, and Mr. Li shook his head and smiled: "The old man has such a daughter under his knees, she has been pampered since she was a child, and she has been raised like a naughty son." Her mother went early, and no one taught her daughter the rules of the house, which made the two laugh. She has some wisdom in reading and writing. ”

Chen Jingdao: "It's all taught well by the seniors, and the talent of the little sister will definitely not let the eyebrows be learned in the future." ”