After the banquet ended, even the county magistrate, who had been frowning and looking unhappy, looked much better.
The host, the instructor, was naturally very satisfied and had his servants summon Meng Zhao.
With a smile, she said, "Miss Meng, thank you for your trouble. Today's banquet was absolutely wonderful. Here is the remaining silver, please keep it safe."
Meng Zhao bent down slightly and reached out to take it, roughly feeling its weight. Although it wasn't as much as the money given by the Zhao family, it wasn't a small amount either, and it was worth all the hard work she had put in these past few days.
"Instructor Gu, I have a favor to ask of you."
Instructor Gu was a kind person by nature; it was just that he appeared somewhat serious and rigid because he had to teach and educate people on a daily basis.
He was quite satisfied with the delicious meal he had enjoyed that day, and upon hearing Meng Zhao's words, he wasn't angry at all, and generously replied:
"Please tell me, young lady, and I will help if I can."
“My family has a younger brother who is currently studying at Yunjin Academy. He is fourteen years old this year and should have taken the exam last year, but due to a sudden change in the family, he had to follow the custom of observing three years of mourning, so he did not participate in the county exam last year.”
“But my younger brother has always been very good at his studies and also wants to go to the county school to listen to the instructors’ teachings. He has always been troubled by not having the opportunity. This time, by chance, he met the instructors and wanted to ask if there are any other ways to enroll in the county school.”
After hearing Shen Qinghe mention the county school, she inquired about it as well.
Those who can obtain special admission quotas are either recommended by local officials or are merchants who can invest money in the county. There is no clear application channel. Ordinary people like them have no money or connections, so the possibility of them being admitted to the county school through special means is very small.
Meng Zhao was so interested in this banquet not only because he wanted to make money, but also because he wanted to find out about it for Shen Qinghe.
Instructor Gu smiled and said, "This is quite a coincidence. Just before the banquet, the county magistrate mentioned that our county is lagging behind in the imperial examinations and is preparing to expand the county school to cultivate talents. He asked me and other instructors to select students for him. Please wait a moment."
After saying this, he went into the inner room. When he came out, he was holding a letter and handed it to Meng Zhao.
"Seven days later, take this notice to the back gate of the county government office and wait in line. Someone will take your brother in to participate in the assessment."
Meng Zhao accepted the invitation and quickly expressed his gratitude, "Thank you very much, Instructor Gu."
Instructor Gu said solemnly, "Don't rush to thank me. I'm just giving you a chance. Whether you can enroll or not will depend on the results of the assessment."
Meng Zhao bowed in thanks, "Regardless of the circumstances, I must thank the instructor for the recommendation."
After finishing his business, Meng Zhao didn't bother him any longer, thanked him, and left.
After leaving the instructor's house, Meng Zhao inquired about the place with the invitation in his pocket and went directly to the place where livestock were sold.
The market was crowded with people, all trading their goods. After walking a few steps, Meng Zhao saw a tall, magnificent horse.
These days, very few people own horses. As soon as this horse was brought out, several circles of people gathered around it. Even in modern times, she rarely saw a horse. Curious, she leaned closer to listen for a few words, then turned and left.
She's doing quite well financially these days, practically middle class, but the horse was asking for over ninety taels, practically emptying her wallet.
Not to mention that these horses are extremely expensive to maintain; buying one is like bringing a god home.
Meng Zhao had no choice but to turn around and head back to his original destination.
Finally, they found the stall selling donkeys. Sure enough, you have to compare these things. The donkey in front of them was much shorter than the horse they had just seen, and Meng Zhao felt a little uncomfortable.
"Young lady, are you looking to buy a donkey? Our donkeys are all very strong and healthy. You can bring them home and they'll be ready to pull the millstone without any training."
Unfortunately, with his wallet tight, Meng Zhao had no choice but to recall some information he had seen in modern times about how to choose a donkey.
Its fur must be glossy, its teeth must be straight and strong, and its limbs must be robust.
Seeing that Meng Zhao was looking at it intently, the man said, "Young lady, I won't ask you for a high price. This one you're looking at is eight taels of silver. You can take it home and start working right away."
Meng Zhao glanced at him and said, "You're kidding me. This donkey looks like it's only a little over a year old. What kind of work can I do with it? I'll have to raise it for a few more months, and then I'll have to pay for its feed."
The stall owner felt a little guilty. He had thought he could fool her since she was a woman, but he didn't expect her to be an expert.
“Young lady, what are you saying? What can a donkey eat? Just feed it some straw. How about this, I'll give you a discount, seven and a half ounces, this is the lowest price.”
"Five taels, I'll take it," Meng Zhao said, glancing at the vendor.
“Young lady, that’s not how you bargain. Ask around, where can you buy a donkey for five taels? Seven taels, the lowest is seven taels.”
“If you’re not going to sell, I’ll look elsewhere. When I came here, I saw a place selling mules. Mules can pull much better than donkeys.” Meng Zhao said, turning to leave.
The vendor quickly stopped her, "Wait, young lady, if you raise the price any further, I really can't sell it for five taels of silver."
Meng Zhao: "One price, six taels. If it's okay, I'll take it. If not, I'll look elsewhere."
"Alright, six taels it is. It's only because you're a pretty young lady that I'm offering this price. Otherwise, it would definitely not be this price." The vendor gritted his teeth and stamped his foot, agreeing.
Meng Zhao was secretly delighted. If he hadn't sold it for six taels, she might have added a little more. Although the donkey was a bit small and couldn't be pulled by a mule, it was easy to train. Her family consisted of women and children, and if she bought a mule, she might not be able to control it properly and could hurt someone.
The donkey's eyes were bright, and it looked quite healthy. Moreover, Meng Zhao touched it a few times, and it didn't get angry. It also had a gentle temperament.
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