Chapter 142: Sleeping for a Day Before the Provincial Examination
Zhu Lan looked at the IOU and said hesitantly, "Brother Duan, you gave me all the money you had, so what are you going to do?"
Candidates from other counties can only stay in inns unless they have relatives in Zhaoping County to lend a hand with.
Duan Wenqing was walking around with such a heavy bag on his back, obviously he had no relatives in the city.
I have no money left, where should I live and what should I eat?
Duan Wenqing looked embarrassed. "So, I was just about to ask the girls if there are any dilapidated temples or other places in the city where I can stay..."
Zhu Lan shook his head, pushed back Duan Wenqing's money and the IOU, and took out some change from his purse to give to him.
"Brother Duan, the provincial examination is a major event that takes place every three years. If you stay overnight in a dilapidated temple and catch a cold or something, I'm afraid it will greatly affect your condition.
I don't have much money with me, so you can use this first, at least to find an inn to stay in."
Duan Wenqing took the money, his face full of gratitude and emotion, and he immediately wrote a new IOU.
Zhu Lan did not stop him. She could see that Duan Wenqing was a man of integrity. If she didn't write an IOU, he would not accept her kindness in vain.
Qiao Youyou on the side was a little anxious: "Hey, scholar, you haven't answered my question yet.
Long'an County is so far from here, is this the only amount of money your county magistrate will give? You are so stingy, are you a corrupt official?"
Zhu Lan and Xiao Wan also looked at him curiously.
Duan Wenqing sighed heavily, "Actually, it's not easy for our county magistrate either...
The three girls should remember that Jiangzhou was dry for a long time last year. Finally, it rained, and everyone was happy. But who would have thought that the rain would never stop and last for a month!
Zhu Lan and the others nodded. They naturally had an impression of this.
Duan Wenqing looked up at the gloomy sky and continued with a bitter face: "We don't know what disaster happened in Long'an County. It started raining again since the month before last. It didn't stop until the day I left."
Qiao Youyou was puzzled: "But what does this have to do with your county magistrate being stingy?"
"During the heavy rain last year, a dam in our county broke, flooding a lot of farmland. It was only with great difficulty that we managed to repair it.
This year's rain is even heavier than last year's. Our county magistrate is almost worried to death. Almost all the money in the county has been used to strengthen the dam, so this is all the money left for us candidates to pay for the guest's stay."
"I see." Zhu Lan nodded and symbolically comforted Duan Wenqing with a few words.
There is nothing we can do when faced with such a natural disaster, and the county magistrate cannot be blamed.
The three of them and Duan Wenqing just met by chance, and everyone was thinking about the autumn examination, so they didn't continue chatting.
Duan Wenqing asked about Zhu Lan's residence, repeatedly assured that he would return all the money owed, and after congratulating Zhu Lan and others on their success in the imperial examination, he left.
…
On the seventh day of August, the fragrance of osmanthus flowers in Jiangzhou City became even stronger.
Tomorrow is the day when candidates will enter the examination room. Most of the thousands of candidates gathered in Zhaoping County cannot contain their excitement or nervousness. Most of them lock themselves in the room to review, hoping to read a few more pages of books to relieve their anxiety.
In the past, before the start of the autumn examination, night watchmen would walk the streets and alleys, knocking on gongs to remind candidates of the time to enter.
However, ever since Zhou Da really invented gunpowder and achieved a stable effect after several experiments, Yan Yuze stepped forward to promote "firecrackers".
The way of telling time before the autumn examination also changed from the backward night watchman's drum to the more efficient cannon salute.
At this time, the autumn sun was shining brightly outside the window, but Zhu Lan and others were sleeping soundly under their quilts in the study.
The reason is simple. According to modern time, the first signal cannon will be fired in the city at midnight tonight, followed by two more half an hour later, and the last one at around one o'clock.
The three signal cannon shots were loud enough for all the examinees in Zhaoping County to hear, reminding everyone not to miss the time.
Therefore, instead of cramming to relieve anxiety, Zhu Lan and others who were not very anxious chose to conserve their energy and face the autumn examination in the best mental state.
…
Inside the Zhu residence, Old Man Zhu was like an ant on a hot pan, fidgeting and pacing back and forth in the yard.
"I told you to take Lan'er home today. The food and accommodation in the academy are not as comfortable as at home. What if other students' memorization affects Lan'er's preparation for the exam? What should we do?"
Pei Yue smiled and comforted him, "Dad, think about it, in every exam in the past, wasn't Lan'er calmer than you?
If my daughter-in-law were to tell me, Lan'er would choose to live in the academy, so that she wouldn't be nervous even if you were nagging her."
Zhu Yuanou smiled and sighed, having to admit that Pei Yue was right.
The atmosphere in the second room was also quite solemn at this time.
Zhu Hongming opened the door holding his son Zhu Chao and saw Du Lanfang sitting alone in the room, looking unhappy.
"What's wrong, are you unhappy?"
Du Lanfang sneered, "Yes, I am not happy. I am not like some people who don't worry about anything every day and are very happy!"
Zhu Hongming heard her words full of sarcasm, but he didn't bother to pay attention and just continued to play with his son.
Du Lanfang got angry and refused to give in. He stood up and said:
"You are also a scholar, why don't you go to the autumn examination?
I really misjudged you at first. I didn't expect that you would be nothing more than a poor scholar for the rest of your life!"
Zhu Hongming pretended not to hear and said nothing.
Du Lanfang kicked the cotton and became even angrier.
"Your father is only a juren in his life, and now Zhu Lan is also going to take part in the autumn examination. If he is lucky enough to pass the examination, he will be on equal footing with your father in the future!
Zhu Hongming, think about how you can still stay in this house! ? "
"What do you mean by being on equal footing with Dad?" Zhu Hongming finally couldn't help but retort, "No matter how powerful Sister Lan is, Dad is still her grandfather, and I am still her second uncle.
I'm not saying anything, why are you always so anxious about the world being in chaos?
If she does become successful in the future, it won't be bad for us. When our son grows up, she can still help us."
"Help?" Du Lanfang thought Zhu Hongming was crazy. "You are my father's biological son, but do you know as well as Pei Yue how much wealth your father has saved over the years?
You know that Pei Yue has been at odds with me for many years!
If her daughter really gets powerful, then wouldn't the entire Zhu family be controlled by them? It's good enough that they're still helping us and not being kicked out!"
Zhu Hongming knew that his wife came from the countryside and was confused about some things. Once she made up her mind about something, it would be useless to explain it to her again.
He was upset and simply walked out with his sleeves swung. Du Lanfang's sharp voice came from behind him:
"Zhu Lao Er, go ahead, if you have the guts, go ahead!
If you dare to leave, I will take Chaoer back to my parents' home tonight!"
Zhu Hongming's figure disappeared outside the door.
Seeing that this trick didn't work, Du Lanfang called Chunzhi, the maid who came with her as a dowry, and said, "Go, take Chao'er with you and go back to Long'an County tonight. Come back when you get my news!"
She originally wanted to take Chao'er back to her parents' home, but once she left, the Zhu family would be under the control of Pei Yue, so she had to stay and keep an eye on it.
It just so happened that my mother's family received a letter a few days ago saying that Chao'er's grandparents missed their grandson, so I might as well take this opportunity to let Chao'er go back, so that Zhu Hongming will know that he can do what he says!
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