Chapter 215 Embarrassment
Chen Lie was right in his guess a month ago. The Lu family was going to pick up the eldest son of the family, because they had sent the person quite deep at that time, and it took two months to go in and out. Even if there were Lu family members to help, it would be too late for the farming season if they didn't come out.
Before the Xu family father and son had finished their conversation, Lu Erlang went to talk to Chen Lie and Chen Dashan about the matter and asked them for some arrow poison for emergency use.
Lu Erlang and Lu Sanlang have been training a lot in the past few years, especially Lu Sanlang, who has made great progress. The two brothers have long been familiar with various traces of mountains and wild animals. If they go into the mountains by themselves, they just need to be careful to avoid wild beasts. With the poison arrow, it should be no problem for them to bring back only a few people from the eldest branch.
On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, the Lu brothers left the village and went into the mountains. Wei Qinghe also notified each family and called everyone in the village who wanted to take the provincial school entrance examination to come together for the test.
Almost all the children who had learned did not have to go to the fields that day. They all carried their own slates, brushes, and bowls and dishes of water to Xu's house. In the living room of Xu's house, Manager Xu had already borrowed tables and chairs and set up the place.
The parents and grandparents all came along now, not wanting to leave, not caring about the land, just watching from the side.
Without paper and ink, Wei Qinghe had to memorize most of the questions and then write the answers on the slate with a brush dipped in water.
Water marks on the stone slabs dry easily, so Wei Qinghe, Wang Yunzheng and Sang Luo did the examination at the same time. The rules were also explained early on. Anyone who could answer 15 out of 30 questions correctly should give it a try. In A Xu's words, it would be good to write something with real paper and ink to see the scene.
After more than half an hour of testing, it goes without saying that Wei Qinghe and Wang Yunzheng, who could directly serve as half-teachers, had the best scores among the group of candidates, followed by Shen Lie and Xu Wenhong, and then the ten-year-old Zhou Changhe and A Xu. The last one who got 15, 16, and 17 questions right out of 30 was Xu Wenqing.
As for the three brothers of the Shi family, Zhou Sanlang, Zhou Silang, and Chen Ershan, they were unable to answer half of the questions.
Among the parents who were watching, some were happy, some sighed, and of course some encouraged their children to try harder.
While her three brothers were answering questions, Shi Qiaoer stood behind their desks and watched quietly for a long time. If she wasn't afraid of disturbing her brothers, she would have jumped up and down.
Now that the results were out, the little girl went to the group of girls and whispered to Xu Wenyin, Shen Ning and Chen Xiaoya: "Why can't girls take the exam? I think I answered better than my brother."
Chen Xiaoya also stood behind Chen Ershan and watched for a long time, frowning: "Isn't it? I calculated, I can answer 18 questions correctly."
Shen Ning usually follows Sang Luo, and his two brothers at home are also very hardworking, so he is also quite influenced by them. He said, "I calculated it, and I should be able to answer twenty-one questions correctly."
Xu Wenyin looked at Shen Ning, "What a coincidence, I also have twenty-one questions."
It turned out that I had quietly answered the questions in my mind.
Xu Wenyin pouted, "I've never seen a woman serve as an official, let alone go to school. The legitimate wives of the Wang family do have female teachers to teach them, but what they teach is different from what we learn. My mother also learned some when she was a child, and she taught me, but I don't like to learn that anyway."
Shopkeeper Xu smiled and said, "Okay, the results are out. My family and the Shen family have collected some paper and ink. A few days ago, Yun Zheng's uncle heard that many people in our village were going to take the exam, so he asked the steward to send a box of pens, ink, paper and inkstone. Those who have studied hard in the past few years can come and get one. Those who are going to take the exam should go to the state government to register first, and then come back to learn how to use ink and inkstone. You can practice at home in the next few days."
After he finished speaking, Uncle Xu had already asked Xu Wenqing to help him carry out a box that was originally placed in the corner of the hall, and opened it in the hall.
When they heard that the Wang family had also sent pens, ink, paper and inkstone, everyone was a little surprised. Many people had never seen these things before, so they all came over to take a look. The pens, ink, paper and inkstone were neatly classified and arranged.
Mrs. Chen took a look and touched the inkstone: "Why is it so exquisitely carved? Is it used to grind ink? It doesn't look like the one in your house."
The person she was asking about was Zhou Cunzheng's wife. Mrs. Chen had only seen inkstones at Zhou Cunzheng's and Zhou Lizheng's former homes.
Zhou Cunzheng and his wife leaned over to take a look and shook their heads in unison: "Ours is not as good as this one. This one is much more expensive."
The inkstone they use at home is the cheapest one.
Sang Luo also took a look and had to admire the thoughtfulness of the Wang family's master. No wonder he could run the business so successfully.
If the Wang family didn't send these things today, the people who were sure to take the exam would actually go to the city in the afternoon to buy pens, ink, paper and inkstones. He and the Xu family could provide paper and ink, but where could they get inkstones? They couldn't bring a bowl and a plate with the ground ink into the examination room.
This gift was given at the right time. Who wouldn't be grateful?
But she immediately thought of Wang Yunzheng and couldn't help but look at the young man. Sang Luo still remembered the scene when Manager Xu brought back the news of his grandparents' death.
At the age of fourteen, he was more calm now. This time he came back and was able to talk to the old man of the Wang family calmly. He only went back to the Wang family once, and then he stayed in the manor with Wei Qinghe. I don't know how they negotiated, but the Wang family didn't interfere.
Old man Chen didn't think so much about it. The only paper he had used in his life was the window paper at home. Now looking at the ones sent by the Wang family, he didn't even dare to touch them with his hands, which were so rough that they had tiny cracks on them.
"How much does this cost? Mr. Wang, this is too expensive. We don't even know each other, how can you accept this?"
Shopkeeper Xu glanced at Wang Yunzheng. He knew his boss very well. This was to mend some rifts between the Wang family and Yunzheng. Fortunately, this thing was delivered to Yunzheng. The kid took it himself, so he was not embarrassed. He smiled and said, "How can we not be familiar with each other? Everyone has taken good care of Yunzheng over the years. Come on, share it."
Wang Yunzheng also smiled and nodded, then went upstairs to pack up the things.
Farmers are all frugal, and they all know that this thing is precious. Shi Dalang subconsciously said, "Give it to someone who is going to take an exam? Use it more in the next few days so that it will be more convenient for you to use it in the exam room."
Wang Yunzheng shook his head and said, "Uncle Shi, there are enough things. After studying for so many years, it is better to touch these things in person. Even if I can't use them this time, I can use them in the future."
Together with brothers Xu Wenqing, we sorted out the documents one by one and handed them directly to our classmates over the years.
Wang Yunzheng gave it to Chen Lie first, and directly gave him a double portion: "Master, this is for you and Master's wife."
Chen Lie looked at his expression and saw that he was not depressed, so he took it and said with a smile: "Thank you."
With a smile in his eyes, Wang Yunzheng turned around and took two more copies, one for Shen An and the other for Shen Ning who was not far from Shen An.
Shen Ning was stunned: "I have it too?"
Wang Yunzheng curled his lips and said, "You didn't study with them?"
Chen Ning's eyes curved immediately, and he leaned over to look at the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on the table over there, and asked Wang Yunzheng: "Is it really enough? Didn't your uncle prepare these things? Do we girls have them too?"
"Yes." The things were prepared by his uncle, but there were actually two large boxes, and there was also his share inside. He sorted out this box himself, so naturally he could have as many copies as he wanted.
Shen Ning took it with a smile: "Thank you."
"No need." Wang Yunzheng smiled, turned around and got another one, this time handing it to Chen Ershan next to him.
"Where's mine?" Xu Wenyin, who was a few steps away, came over and turned to wave at Chen Xiaoya and Shi Qiaoer: "Xiaoya, Qiaoer, come here quickly."
If Aning has it, then they must have it too, so I just called them without thinking.
Wang Yunzheng smiled and gave her three copies directly: "We have them all. Please help divide them."
Shi Qiaoer and Chen Xiaoya, who were just mumbling about girls not being able to take exams, were overjoyed: "Are you really giving it to me?"
Le Dian Dian took one from Xu Wenyin, holding it in one hand and touching the paper with the other, she was so curious that she leaned over to look at Chen Ning's. Soon the four little girls were huddled together again.
Seeing that Wang Yunzheng seemed to have indeed found a good balance in getting along with the Wang family, Sang Luo felt relieved and took a piece of paper from Chen Lie's hand and took a look at it.
Tsk, there is also good craftsmanship at this time. Sang Luo touched the texture of the paper in her hand, thought about the things she had soaked in the mountain stream, connected some key information she knew, and racked her brains for more than a month before she came up with a solution. She just had to wait for a while until she had time to try it out.
She had no other thoughts. Being able to shape it, even if it was just a piece of straw paper, would be a victory.
I sighed again at the wealth of the wealthy families. How many things have they gone through? I'm afraid they are much richer than the current state government offices.
…
When Sang Luo was holding the paper in her hand and feeling such emotion, in the largest public room in the provincial government office, a young man who looked quite heroic had just put down his pen and was waiting for the ink to dry. When he started to roll up the document, he saw the word "Da Gan" on the back of the document. He paused and his face became even gloomier.
"The Zheng family is still unwilling to come to Renzhouxue Doctorate?"
The middle-aged scholar below, the Shezhou Chief Secretary, smiled bitterly and shook his head: "I've come to your house three times, and you're still claiming to be sick."
"You still don't think highly of our Great Qi." The young man said with a hint of sarcasm, "Then let him stay ill. Who says that a provincial doctorate must be from a famous family? Go find the old man from the Lin family."
When the middle-aged scholar heard this, he laughed and said, "That's great. I'll go to the Lin family this afternoon."
Seeing the young man continue to roll up the document, he could not help but remind him, "Sir, this is to be sent to His Majesty for review. Change the paper. The provincial school will have an exam in a few days. The head of the Wang family sent more than 50 boxes of paper when he sent his son to register today. He said that most of the collection in his family has been found."
The young man was none other than the current governor of Shezhou. Hearing what the chief official said, he paused for a moment, then continued: "All states are in the same situation now, and His Majesty knows it. As for the paper, you can move thirty boxes and send them to His Majesty with the letter."
The Great Qi that they had taken over was a mess, so why would he, a governor of a lower state, be afraid of being embarrassed?
He called the messenger and handed over the matter, then asked the chief secretary: "How many people have applied for the provincial school now?"
The chief official sighed, "I came here to talk about this. I'm afraid we won't be able to recruit forty people this year. Since the notice was posted, only twenty-seven people have signed up."
"Twenty-seven people?" The young man frowned. "Where's the list?"
The chief secretary of Shezhou handed over a list that he had prepared long ago. The young man unfolded it and took a quick look. All the names’ backgrounds were listed behind them.
The Wang family, the Lin family, and the rest are all children from small and medium-sized wealthy families.
The young man sneered at what he saw, and slammed the list on the table with his backhand: "What a great Zheng family, with over a hundred young men, but not a single scholar?"
"Go, and have someone intensify the propaganda, go around the city gates, the two markets, and all the neighborhoods. The Great Qi is seeking talents, and learning does not depend on age. Even those in their forties or fifties can come if they want."
The chief secretary was originally from a prominent family in the previous dynasty. He had never seen such a provincial school before. He was speechless for a moment. Just as he was about to say something, an official came in with a somewhat happy look on his face: "Sir, some people have come to apply for the provincial school entrance examination! There are nine people!"
The two highest officials in Shezhou looked over at once: "How much?"
“Nine people!”
As soon as he finished speaking, the two chief officers had already rushed out like the wind. The Chief Clerk was a scholar, and he didn't react until he was out of the public housing door. He chased after the Governor, who was a military officer, and almost grabbed him: "Sir, don't go out! Just look at the window, just look at the window."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
