The wine is golden, transparent and slightly green in color, accompanied by the unique aroma formed by the infusion of medicinal materials. The fragrant and mellow taste lingers on everyone's nose.
After Gu Lingze filled the wine jug, he poured a cup for everyone.
The old lady looked at the wine in the glass and said, "The color of this wine is so crystal clear. It is pleasing to the eyes."
It was still Mr. Xie who raised the glass. After everyone toasted the old man and the old lady, they raised their glasses and drank together.
As soon as Xie Xiru took a sip of the wine, he tasted a mellow, slightly sweet, cool taste, followed by a mellow, slightly bitter, gentle and pure taste in his mouth.
After swallowing it, there is still a faint fragrance of bamboo leaves in your mouth, and the aftertaste is endless.
After drinking a cup, when Xie Xiru opened his eyes after savoring the drink, he found that the table had become completely lively.
As for wine, everyone loves it, from royal relatives, civil officials and generals to ordinary people and peddlers.
Although Xie Xiru and Xie Luocheng don't like drinking as much as the three people from the Gu family, they also like to have a drink or two on weekdays.
Xie Xiru would vouch for this wine today with his career as even the emperor had never drunk it.
"Brother-in-law, drink less this time. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future." After saying that, Xie Luocheng pressed his hand on the wine jug even harder.
"Gu Feirui, I remember that mother taught you to respect your elder brothers since you were young."
"I'm your younger brother, why don't you ever give in to me? Last time, when Dad confiscated the jar of wine from Grandpa, you also got a share of it. Don't think I don't know!"
“…”
The scene suddenly became quiet.
Xie Xiru narrowed his eyes, "Gu Feirui, repeat what you just said to me again."
Gu Tianhua cleared his throat at this time, "Father-in-law, I suddenly remembered that the Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War has something to discuss, so I will leave first."
“…”
In the end, the incident ended with the Gu family, father and son, copying the Book of Filial Piety in the study until late at night.
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye it is the day when Xu Mingyan is going to take part in the imperial examination.
If it were in modern times, Gu Lingze would almost suspect that Gu Feirui had installed surveillance cameras in their house. Why did this person come to report as soon as he cooked?
The freshly cooked beef soup is ready to be cooled and then frozen with saltpeter.
Gu Feirui smelled the aroma and walked into the kitchen. He picked up the noodles beside him, broke off a piece and stuffed it into his mouth.
"Pah, pah, what is this?"
Gu Lingze said with a smile: "Who told you to eat like this?"
She turned around and cooked him a bowl of beef noodle soup on the stove. Gu Feirui picked it up and ate it up with relish.
Gu Lingze looked at him while he was eating and said, "Why don't you call me brother from now on? I'll make delicious food for you every day."
Gu Feirui immediately shook his head and said, "No, no, this is our bottom line. We must not give in."
Gu Lingze smiled. It was just a joke anyway, so he didn't take it seriously.
"Why is this noodle like that before it's put into the pot?"
"This is dried noodles." Then she explained to him the production process of dried noodles and their easy storage properties.
Gu Feirui suddenly became serious, "Can I take some of this back to show Dad and the others?"
Gu Lingze tilted his head and said, "Of course."
Gu Feirui immediately took the noodles and left in a hurry.
On the day of the imperial examination, the three of them got up before four o'clock.
After busy work, have breakfast.
Gu Lingze checked the luggage carefully again. The carriage was also prepared in advance. After loading all the items onto the carriage, the three of them headed straight for the Imperial Examination Hall.
There is no difference between the Imperial Examination Hall in the capital and that in the provincial capital.
It just looked a little more grand, so Xu Mingyan was not unfamiliar with it.
Gu Lingze and Zhao Chengmo helped Xu Mingyan carry the luggage, trying to save his energy as much as possible.
When it was time to go in, the two handed all their things to Xu Mingyan.
Then he didn't say anything, just patted his shoulder gently.
Xu Mingyan nodded at them, then turned and walked in.
The procedures for the provincial and municipal examinations were similar: roll call, body search, and division of labor.
But this time, the existence of saltpeter was explained again.
"These are herbs that my family members prepared for my students because they are worried about the heat in the summer. If they feel unwell, they can drink it with water."
The soldier in charge of the inspection nodded, and the matter was over.
The imperial examination still consists of three consecutive tests, each lasting three days.
On the final day, Gu Lingze and Zhao Chengmo arrived at the gate of the Imperial Examination Hall early to wait.
This time Xu Mingyan was unlucky and was assigned to a cell that was leaking.
Fortunately, Gu Lingze made preparations in advance and brought him a rain cloth, otherwise the test paper would be dirty and he would not be able to finish the test.
After picking up the person, the three of them hurried home. After Xu Mingyan had his meal, he fell asleep.
The next day, after waking up and taking a shower, the three of them had breakfast and then sat in the hall to talk.
Gu Lingze asked him how the examination went.
"The questions are pretty good, but..." At this point, Xu Mingyan frowned in hesitation.
"What? Did something happen in the Imperial Examination Hall?"
"During the exam, I always felt that there was something wrong with a patrolling soldier."
"Tell me about it." Zhao Chengmo said seriously.
"He always looked at me furtively. I didn't take it seriously before, but one time when I was about to go out of the cell to get some water, I looked up and found him looking at me again."
"So I became more cautious and hid the test paper under the noodles when I went out. When I came back, I saw him standing at the door of my dormitory."
The three of them thought silently. If this was a big deal, that person didn't do anything in the end. If it was a small matter, there were many strange things in it.
Strange things need to be solved with unusual methods, so Gu Lingze decided to tell fortunes.
The heavenly masters of the past and present are all proficient in the Book of Changes, know Feng Shui, and can perform incantations.
If you understand the contents of the five arts, you will understand everything.
The five arts among them refer to the five meridians of metaphysics - mountain medicine, fortune-telling, and divination.
Divination is a method that focuses on inferring the good or bad luck of an event. It is divided into four categories: Yi, Liuren, Qimen Dunjia and Taiyishu.
Divination, choosing auspicious days, and calculating the situation all originate from these four categories.
Gu Lingze looked up at the sky. It was now roughly the 9:00 p.m. He rehearsed it using the year, month, day and time method. The current time was right in front of the Astronomical Palace.
After calculating Xu Mingyan's innate horoscope, Gu Lingze used Guiguzi's finger-pinching divination technique, constantly pinching and pressing in the palm of his hand. It looked like the legendary finger-pinching divination.
If the year and month are Chou and Wei in conflict, Jia and Yi wood are used, Zi and Mao are in conflict, and Chen and Xu are in conflict.
This divination was extremely complicated and contradictory. In order not to increase Xu Mingyan's psychological burden, Gu Lingze said a few words in a neutral tone without changing his expression.
Xu Mingyan was a little worried at first, but after hearing his words, he felt relieved.
"Teacher Xie has told me to go to the mansion to see him after I finish the imperial examination. Can you two go with me?"
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