Chapter 149: Jie Yuan
Gu Mingda listened to this and thought to himself, if there was such a good thing, who wouldn't want to do it.
But he took it to heart and sat there thinking carefully.
"Bugs... Who would like to study bugs..." Gu Mingda murmured softly.
Niuniu nestled in his arms, flipped through the Book of Songs on the table, and began to read in a low voice: "Bingbi... Dad, I don't recognize this word."
Gu Mingda stopped thinking, looked at his daughter's face full of shame, lowered his head, took the book, and smiled as he read: "Bing those insects, give them fire, which means to take advantage of the insects' nature of liking light at night, light a fire at night, and cause the insects to burn themselves."
Niuniu frowned, not understanding, and said, "Even though it's just a bug, why kill it for no reason?"
Gu Mingda explained: "The insects in this poem refer to locusts. There was a locust plague two years ago. Those locusts ate everything they saw. Many old and weak people died in the locust plague because of lack of food."
Niuniu said: "I remember! Two years ago, Niuniu was very hungry every day..."
Gu Mingda looked at his daughter distressedly and said, "Don't worry, my dear, it's all over. You won't be hungry anymore in the future."
After saying this, Gu Mingda suddenly realized something.
"The sages value agriculture and sericulture. If we can guide him to become familiar with insects and use them in farming, it might be a good idea," said Gu Mingda.
Niuniu tilted her head and asked, "Are there many books about insects in farming? Third brother only likes to read books about insects."
Gu Mingda shook his head and said, "There aren't many records related to insects in farming."
"Where are there more?" Niu Niu asked.
Gu Mingda continued to think deeply along the lines of his daughter's thoughts. Now Gu Zhao's biggest problem was that he didn't like to study and could barely recognize a few words. Naturally, he couldn't be an agricultural official. He had to focus on what he was interested in so that he could at least get rid of his illiterate status.
"Where are insects most useful?" Niuniu tilted her head and said, "Am I too stupid? I can't think of what insects are useful for."
"Many insects can be used as medicine!" Gu Mingda's eyes lit up.
Gu Zhao had never expected that he suddenly no longer had to read the classics, history, and literature, and instead was stuffed with a bunch of pharmacopoeias.
Gu Mingda even marked out the pages related to insects separately.
All of Gu Zhaolian's calligraphy works are related to insects.
With this method, Gu Zhao’s resistance to reading and calligraphy was indeed not so strong.
Time flies.
The three children were all very well-behaved, and even Gu Zhao was studying hard and practicing calligraphy. Zhang Yunniang felt that there would never be such an easy and carefree life again.
That day, the whole family got up early, dressed in new clothes and went to the Jiangzhou government office.
On the day when the results are announced, the area outside the government office is always very busy.
Now, even though the red list has not been posted yet, many people have already brought their own stools and are sitting under the list waiting.
The practice of capturing a son-in-law from the list did not start with the imperial examination in the capital. In addition to the provincial examinations where the candidates passed, many local wealthy families sent people to wait for the candidates.
When Gu Mingda first appeared, there were many servants from wealthy families who observed him for a long time after seeing his elegant demeanor. But when Zhang Yuniang appeared with the children a few steps behind him, these people had no choice but to give up on such a potential stock on the spot.
The roadside teahouse was already full of people, with not even a single empty seat left. Fortunately, the Gu family had made preparations, and Gu Mingda put down the small stool in his hand.
"Don't run around. I saw a vendor selling cakes with a shoulder pole. I'll go buy some for you." Gu Mingda instructed the three children.
Gu Yan's face was calm, like an elder brother. He stretched out a hand to hold down the restless Gu Zhao.
Niu Niu nodded obediently and stretched out a hand to hold Gu Zhao.
Zhang Yunniang's face was full of nervousness. She held her daughter in her arms and said, "I don't know if your father can pass the exam this time."
Regardless of whether Gu Mingda can pass the exam this time, the family will move to the capital and look for their second son.
But if he failed the exam, Gu Mingda would have to rush back from the capital for the next provincial examination. The travel back and forth would inevitably be tiring.
"Mom, we have to believe in Dad." Niu Niu's little hands clapped on Zhang Yunniang's palms.
Zhang Yunniang forced a smile, but her anxiety did not ease at all.
Gu Mingda came over with a box of various cakes. He took out the brown sugar cake and handed it to Zhang Yuniang: "You like it."
"This is the snow cloud pastry that Niuniu likes to eat, this is what Ayan likes to eat, and this is what Azhao likes to eat."
Gu Mingda remembers everyone's hobbies clearly and tries his best to ensure that everyone gets their favorite.
Gu Mingda picked up a piece of the remaining unappetizing pastry and ate it slowly.
"Dad, if you pass the exam this time, what will you reward us with?" Gu Zhao asked naively, tilting his head.
Gu Mingda chuckled and said, "I have to reward you for passing the exam? Shouldn't you be the one rewarding me?"
Gu Zhao quickly covered his purse: "Daddy is bullying children, I have no money!"
Niuniu suddenly jumped down from Zhang Yunniang's arms and threw herself on Gu Mingda: "Daddy, Niuniu still has some money. What do you want? Niuniu will buy it for you!"
Compared with his well-behaved and lovely daughter, Gu Mingda looked at Gu Zhao and felt that it was more difficult to compare goods.
He reached out and touched the hairpin on his head, and said, "The hairpin that Niuniu gave me is already very good. Daddy, I don't have anything special to ask for at the moment."
Niuniu looked regretful and said, "Why doesn't Daddy have what he wants?"
She seemed to feel deeply regretful for not being able to give a gift.
Gu Mingda tapped his daughter's head gently and said, "My little fool, why are you only thinking about spending money now?"
Zhang Yunniang taught Niu Niu how to spend money, and Liu Xiaoru and Sun Jiaxing taught Niu Niu how to spend money on the people she likes.
"Being able to spend money on the person you love makes Niu Niu feel warm all over." Niu Niu said happily with her little face raised.
Gu Mingda was so soft-hearted that he was about to say something when the crowd suddenly became agitated.
"The results are out! The results are out!"
"Don't squeeze me!"
"Who stepped on my foot?"
"Did I pass the imperial examination?"
The chaotic sounds from all around flooded into the Gu family's ears.
Gu Mingda protected Zhang Yuniang and the children at the first moment. Not only did he not push forward, but he and his people retreated backwards.
Fortunately, where they were sitting was originally far away from the red list, and now they moved back a few steps, finally completely away from the crowded crowd.
"Husband, I'll take care of the children, you go in and take a look." Zhang Yunniang urged Gu Mingda to look at the list.
Gu Mingda shook his head: "It doesn't matter whether you watch it earlier or later, the result will be the same."
“I won, I won!”
A man in his forties squeezed out of the crowd and jumped three feet high. Even though his hair was messy and his clothes were torn in several places, he looked crazy, and the eyes of the people around him were still full of envy.
Isn't this the day we have been studying hard for decades?
Juren was already able to be selected as an official.
Becoming an official means a change of family status, and the entire family will soar to success.
"Gu Mingda? This year's champion is Gu Mingda! He's from Guang'an County!" Someone in the crowd shouted.
First update
(End of this chapter)
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