Chapter 63 Homecoming
On the way to see him off, Wen Zhu was still trying to persuade Su Fengzhang to change his mind: "Fengzhang, do you really want to go back? It would be so much better to stay in Qingzhou Prefecture. We could go to the prefectural academy together and maybe even pass the imperial examination and become a student of the imperial academy."
Su Fengzhang shook his head and firmly refused: "I've been away for over half a year. When my second uncle returned before, there was no clear news. Now that the college entrance examination is over, if I don't go back, I'm afraid my family will be worried sick."
Wen Zhu still regretted, "If you had gone to the provincial academy, you would have definitely passed the exam and become a student on government stipend. Not only would you have been given six dou of rice a month, but you would also have had famous teachers teaching you. If you missed out, you would have lost all that."
In the previous dynasty, anyone who ranked at the top of the academy examination would directly become a student on government stipend and receive rice and silver from the court. However, in the late period of the previous dynasty, the number of students on government stipend increased, and gradually became a burden.
In this dynasty, Emperor Taizu simply reformed the system of students on government stipends.
Nowadays, even if you get first place in the academy examination, you cannot become a student on government stipend directly. Instead, you have to enter the prefectural school, state school or county school and take part in the annual examinations and imperial examinations there, so that you can compete for a place on government stipend.
The provincial school can have a maximum of 40 students on government stipend, the state school can have 30, and the county school can only have 20. This quota is fixed.
Just like Mr. Wen, if he wants to keep his place as a student on government stipend, he actually has to come to Qingzhou Prefecture every year to take part in the unified examination of the prefectural school here. It is impossible for him to just sit back and enjoy the results.
Of course, for scholars, entering the provincial school to study is a rare opportunity. The level of teachers here is definitely higher than that of some private schools.
However, Su Fengzhang had more things to consider. Not to mention the expenses of staying in Qingzhou Prefecture, living in the Wen family all the time was not a good idea after all. This would not take one or two days, but one or two years. If he failed the exam next year, would he have to stay there forever?
Although Mr. Wen and Wen Zhu wouldn't care, he should have his own thoughts in mind.
Another thing is that after he returns, he can go to the county school. The county magistrate, Mr. Cai, has a high opinion of him. After entering the county school, the teaching staff may not be as good as the provincial school, but other things may be better.
The county school also has quotas for students on government stipend. Although the number of quotas in the prefectural school is more than double that of the county school, the competition pressure is definitely greater.
Su Fengzhang was not without hesitation, but he still rejected Wen Zhu's kindness: "I have made up my mind. After I go back, I will go to the county school. I can learn something by then, and it is not far from home."
Wenzhu didn't quite understand his thoughts. She just thought he was worried about his family. She sighed and said, "If my uncle and Brother Zongzhang were still alive, you wouldn't have to worry so much."
Su Fengzhang laughed and said, "If they were still alive, I would eat, drink, play and have fun every day, and I would never think about studying."
Thinking about it this way, Wenzhu recalled the days when they traveled around the world with swords together, and felt quite nostalgic.
"Then you can stay for a few more days. Once I'm settled, my father will definitely go back too." Wen Zhu said again.
Now that he has not yet entered the provincial school, Mr. Wen is worried about his lively son, so he has to stay to help. However, Mr. Wen's private school is still there, and it is not easy to be away for such a long time. It is impossible for him to stay and accompany his son all the time. He will have to go back sooner or later.
"I'm afraid that if I don't go back, my mother will come out to look for me." Su Fengzhang joked half-seriously.
He patted Wenzhu's shoulder and said with a smile, "Alright, I'm just going home. Why bother with all the romantic drama? I have to come back next autumn to take the provincial examination. We'll see each other again then."
Wen Zhu was still a little reluctant. God knew how sad he was when Su Fengzhang was not around and he could not see his father face to face.
He even said worriedly: "The way here was so dangerous, and you won't even have anyone to look after you when you go back alone."
"Hahaha." Su Fengzhang couldn't help laughing out loud, saying, "I won't be that unlucky. Besides, after that pirate incident, the imperial court sent troops to sweep the area. Now, let alone pirates, there aren't even any petty thieves left in Qingzhou."
"Okay, I'm leaving. See you later in the world of martial arts." Su Fengzhang shouted deliberately.
As expected, Wenzhu laughed heartily when he said that, and also shouted: "The green mountains remain unchanged, and the green water flows forever. See you next year."
Su Fengzhang jumped onto the boat. This time he went back alone with no one to take care of him, but he felt much safer than on the way here.
The boatman knew that he was a scholar with a degree, so he treated him politely. Although there were no scholars on the same boat, the others were easy to get along with and not the kind that would be annoying.
The journey was calm and peaceful, with not even a few ripples on the Qingjiang River. Su Fengzhang felt relieved and even had the illusion that he was in another world.
When getting off the boat, he couldn't help but look back. He could still vaguely remember the blood splattering that day, and the feeling of his arms aching from overexertion.
Because there were so many gifts, Su Fengzhang had to hire a porter at the dock. It was not that he was unwilling to hire a horse-drawn carriage or an ox-drawn cart, but the former could only be found at a carriage dealership or a wealthy family, and was generally not available, and the latter was even rarer.
In comparison, porters are everywhere at the dock, and they are all locals from nearby villages who know the people well.
Before leaving, Su Fengzhang bought a lot of food and daily necessities in Qingzhou Prefecture, filling two full baskets. However, the porter named Liu he hired walked steadily and even said, "Mr. Su, why don't you put the bag on your back in here too? It won't be in the way."
Su Fengzhang looked at the two filled baskets and said quickly, "This isn't heavy. I can carry it myself."
Otherwise, he always felt like he was exploiting his labor: "Brother Liu, are you tired? If so, we can walk for a while and rest for a while. There's no need to rush."
The porter surnamed Liu chuckled and said in a hoarse voice, "How can I be tired? Both baskets are so light. In previous years, when we paid the public grain, the baskets were much larger than this. I can carry them for more than ten miles without taking a break."
Su Fengzhang looked at his exposed tendon muscles and expressed his envy: "I am quite strong, but I am not stable when carrying a load."
Brother Liu laughed and said, "How can we compare? You are a scholar, and I am just a farmer."
The two chatted until they were almost at the village entrance. Brother Liu asked a little embarrassedly, "Scholar, can I ask you for a favor?"
Su Fengzhang was a little surprised, but still asked, "Tell me about it?"
Brother Liu laughed again and said, "My fourth child was born a few days ago, and he hasn't been named yet. I thought that you, the scholar, could help me choose a name, so that I can also share in your blessings."
Su Fengzhang thought it was a troublesome matter, but he was happy to hear this: "What's so difficult about it? It's autumn now, and the child is the fourth child in the family. Why not name him Liu Jixian? I hope he can become famous in the future."
Brother Liu seemed to understand what was said, but he still thought that this name was good, much better than the names he had casually come up with, such as "Lao Da" and "Lao Er".
Su Fengzhang also said: "Brother, uncle, uncle, and younger brother, if Brother Liu is willing, the sons above can also change their names in the same way."
"Okay, okay, I'll change it when I get back. This name sounds elegant and like a scholar. When I have money in the future, I'll send my son to school. I don't ask him to pass the imperial examination, but just being able to read is good enough."
The naming was just a casual thing for Su Fengzhang, but he didn't know that many years later, a farmer scholar named Liu Jixian would come from Hushan County and eventually become his right-hand man.
"Second brother!" The joy in this voice could not be concealed. Su Fengzhang looked into the village and saw Su Lanzhang running towards him as if he was riding on a Hot Wheels.
Su Fengzhang caught the small cannonball with one hand, but if he wasn't strong enough, he would have been knocked over.
Su Lanzhang probably played outside often, so his face was tanned. His eyes narrowed with a smile. "Second brother, you're finally back. I missed you so much."
"You don't look like you miss me. You must have been running around outside a lot these days."
Su Lanzhang chuckled, reached out to help him carry the bag, and shouted, "I missed you so much that I ran out. If I ran faster, I wouldn't miss you so much. It's not just me, mother and sister miss you too, auntie misses you too, Madam Wei and Zao'er miss you too."
"Feng'er!" Su Zhaoshi walked out the door after hearing the noise, and tears fell when she saw her son.
She took two or three steps forward, looked at him and said repeatedly, "How did you become so thin and dark? You must have suffered a lot."
Seeing that the situation was not good, Su Fengzhang quickly said, "Mom, I passed the imperial examination and ranked first. Are you happy?"
Su Zhaoshi was ready to cry, but she was shocked when she heard this and was subconsciously led away: "First place in the college exam?!"
"Yes, your son has done well this time." Su Fengzhang said with a smile.
At this time, Aunt Bai also came out with Su Huihui. When she heard this, her face was full of smiles, and she shouted, "Madam, this is great news. Erlang is now a man of honor."
Su Zhaoshi's face was filled with both joy and heartache. For a moment, she didn't know what attitude to adopt, but in the end, joy prevailed: "God bless you, Master, my Su family has finally produced another scholar."
Su Fengzhang took the opportunity to take out the commendation order and said with a smile, "Mother, look what this is. We helped Qingzhou manage the river before. His Royal Highness the Fifth Prince and Prefect Fang are grateful for your hard work and specially issued a commendation order, as well as a reward of ten taels of silver."
Just as Su Fengzhang guessed, this commendation order, which was meaningless to him, was more valuable than a scholar in the eyes of Su Zhaoshi and others.
That commendation letter was no longer just an ordinary piece of paper. In their eyes, it was shining with gold and had its own halo!
Su Zhao subconsciously wiped her palms and took out a clean handkerchief to receive it. Tears welled in her eyes as she cried out, "This is a commendation from the prince and the prefect. Feng'er, you have finally brought honor to our family today!"
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