Li Zhongming's mother and son happened to fry and stew the big fish they caught, and the two of them were happy for Li Zhongming to be on the list. Drinking the stewed white and thick fragrant fish soup, and then swallowing a piece of stewed white tofu, the mother and son were really happy to eat.

After eating, Li's mother asked Li Zhongming to quickly take the big fish left behind and go to inform Zhu Fuzi of the news, and she would clean up the dishes and bowls in the house. Seeing that it was not early, in order to go early and return early, Li Zhongming listened to his mother's words very obediently.

Carrying the big fish that was still swimming in the water, he went out of the house and walked towards Zhu Fuzi's house. Familiar with it, Li Zhongming soon came to Zhu Fuzi's house. Before entering the door, Li Zhongming shouted: "Master, are you at home?" ”

knocked on the door, and felt that the door was not closed, so Li Zhongming directly pushed the door and walked inside. Li Zhongming walked inside, Zhu Xu went out of the hall to greet him, the two brothers met and greeted each other, Zhu Xu took the big fish in Li Zhongming's hand, and asked Li Zhongming to go to the hall first, he put the big fish away, and then came.

When he came to the hall, Zhu Fuzi was sitting in the hall, and when he saw Li Zhongming coming in, he asked Li Zhongming to sit at will, not too polite. After Li Zhongming bowed and saluted, he sat down unceremoniously.

"Zhongming, every time you come, you have to take a gift. Actually, there is no need to go through such trouble. Don't we need these things for the friendship between our two families? Zhu Fuzi complains about Li Zhongming's behavior of taking gifts every time.

"Master, that's too polite. It's not a valuable, it's just some fresh fish and shrimp from the river, it's not expensive, it's just a little bit of a taste at home. I still need a master, don't blame me for coming too late. Li Zhongming comforted Zhu Fuzi while making amends.

"I guessed you were going to visit today. But just now Zhu Xu was arguing with me, saying that it was not too early, and it is estimated that you may not come today. I said, with my understanding of Zhongming, I will definitely visit today. Sure enough, I guessed right. Zhu Fuzi didn't care, and said happily.

With that, Zhu Xu also entered the house and sat down. Seeing that Zhu Xu had already sat down, Li Zhongming went straight in and said directly: "Master, Ming will come here to disturb me, there is news to tell you." You should know that today is the day of the release of the list of the state city, and Zhang Langjun, who is familiar with him in the state city tomorrow, went to see the list early in the morning. As soon as he learned the result, he arranged for the servants at home to inform Minglai non-stop. That's why I'll bother at this hour. Li Zhongming explained.

Hearing that, Li Zhongming already knew the news of the state's middle school test, "Oh, I don't know what the news in the state is?" ", Zhu Fuzi asked eagerly. Yes, Zhongming, if you have something to say, just say it directly, don't be afraid that we will not be attacked. Zhu Xu also confessed.

Seeing that the Zhu family's father and son were already prepared in their hearts, Li Zhongming said: "Okay, I asked the servant who came over, saying that he saw the name of the senior brother on the list, but he still needs the master to go to the county to find the list post in the next few days to confirm." However, judging from Mingming, it should be eight or nine without ten. And I'm lucky enough to be on the list. ”

After listening to Li Zhongming's words, the master of the Zhu family seemed to be frozen, and was blinded by the sudden good news, "Zhongming, you, you, can you be sure that Zhu Xu's name is on the list?" Zhu Fuzi asked incredulously.

"yes, you, you, can you be sure of me, am I on the list?" , Zhu Xu also hurriedly asked.

"Master, senior brother, your name is indeed on the list, but you still have to check the family status and other information through the list sticker, so that you can be completely sure. However, from what I know about you, senior brother, 80 or 90 percent of that person is you. Li Zhongming replied.

"So, I said, I still have to ask the master, in recent days, I have inquired about the news from the state, and I can feel at ease after seeing the family situation completely." Li Zhongming continued to explain.

"Okay, Zhongming, I see, thank you for telling me the news in advance. Congratulations on being on the list. Zhu Fuzi was in tears.

"Yes, congratulations, Zhongming, now on the list, it's really worth all these years of hard work." Zhu Xu also sincerely congratulated his junior brother.

"Thank you, Master, and thank you, Senior Brother. Here, I also congratulate my brother in advance on being on the list. I believe that the provincial examination of this subject, the two of us can still go to Beijing together. Li Zhongming was humble and encouraged the Zhu family.

After delivering the good news, Li Zhongming did not sit down, and then returned home.

Soon, through Zhu Fuzi's constant attention, when the list was posted to the county seat, Zhu Fuzi quickly went to check and confirm. As Li Zhongming said, Zhu Xu was impressively on the list, and his ranking was a few places below Li Zhongming.

And this good news has also been circulated and concerned, after all, in this countryside, two tribute students have been taught from the hands of a very ordinary old school teacher, which has to attract attention. This also made Zhu Fuzi very brilliant, and the depression accumulated over the years was swept away.

Since Li and Zhu both passed the exam, the two families also celebrated together in private. After that, the two families got together and began to discuss their trip to the capital.

According to the regulations of the imperial court, candidates who are admitted to the state examination need to gather at the Provincial Ministry of Rites in the capital in winter, and must truthfully indicate their family history, age, place of origin, and the number of times they have participated in the imperial examination for verification.

Therefore, for the trip to the capital, it is best for Zhu and Li to arrive in the capital in advance. After all, they are not familiar with each other, and the two have never been out of the door so far, so it takes a long time to be familiar with the personnel and customs of the capital.

In the end, the two families decided to prepare their affairs at home, and then agreed on a date for their departure.

When Li Zhongming was taking care of his family's affairs and preparing for the examination in the capital, he suddenly received a letter from Zhang Yuan, and it turned out that Zhang Yuan had become a tribute student as expected. In order to let Zhang Yuan prepare for the provincial examination with confidence, the Zhang family decided to send him to Beijing in the near future. And Zhang Yuan thought that Li Zhongming was also going to Beijing, so he invited him to travel with his family's team. In this way, not only can Li Zhongming's safety be guaranteed, but for Zhang Yuan, there is someone to talk to, and the journey is no longer lonely.

Seeing such a good opportunity, Li Zhongming immediately made it clear to his mother and Zhu Fuzi, and decided to visit Zhang's mansion with Zhu Xu to see if they could both enter Beijing with the Zhang family's team. If they can't make the trip, then the two of them will recruit some brave warriors in the state or travel with some caravans to the capital.

Li Zhu and the others packed their belongings, put the bookcase on their backs, packed all the documents, and hurriedly rushed towards Zhang's mansion. When they came to Zhangfu, because there was a letter from Zhangyuan, it was easy to be introduced by the people of Zhangfu, put the items in the storage place, and the two of them went inside with the people.

After a while, he came to a hall, and Zhang Yuan was reading poetry and books, and when he saw someone coming, he got up to greet him.

"Brother Zhongming, why is Shanshan late, Yuan is already looking forward to it at home. I wonder who this brother is? Zhang Yuan asked.

"Brother Yuan, blame me, blame me, this family always has to be placed. That's why it's a few days late, don't blame, don't blame. Oh, I was about to introduce you, this is my senior brother Zhu Xu, who is also on the list in today's examination, and he is the same as me. Come, senior brother, this is Zhang Yuan Langjun, who I met in the later period of the state city. Li Zhongming succinctly introduced each other.

"Oh, Xu, the first time we met, I visited with Zhongming rashly, it's polite here, Zhang Yuan Langjun." , Zhu Xu bowed and saluted, and did not say much.

Zhang Yuan also thanked him in return, and while letting Li and Zhu sit down, he arranged for his subordinates to serve tea. In this way, the three of them gradually got acquainted with each other, and gradually talked about going to Beijing.

Li Zhongming asked: "Brother Yuan, can you allow my senior brother to set off with us when you go to Beijing this time." The two of us have been studying together since childhood, and they have been under the door of Zhu Fuzi together. Zhu Fuzi and I have helped a lot, and we lived together in this subject. This trip to the provincial examination, can you also allow me to ask? ”

"Ah, these little things, you don't need to care, I promise. My original intention was to avoid danger and loneliness along the way, so I invited Zhongming to go with me. Now that Brother Xu can also join, it would be great. After all, they are all good talents in a state, and they are also Zhongming's senior brothers, so they can't be wrong in terms of character. In addition, when there are more people, it will be more lively, and the journey can be more appropriate. Zhang Yuan said indifferently.

Hearing Zhang Yuan's promise, Li Zhu and the others hurriedly saluted and thanked them.

Next, Zhang Yuan let the two of them stay in Zhangfu, and the departure date will soon come, and they will leave in the next two days.