On the tenth day, Lu Yanzhao went to the academy, but he still went back and forth between the academy and his home, and sometimes he even helped with chores at home.
The scientific expedition was about to begin, but he acted as if nothing was wrong and wasn't nervous at all.
Gu Nanjiao couldn't help but ask, "The exams are coming up soon, aren't you nervous?" She remembered that when she was in school, she was most afraid of exams. Whether it was a midterm or the eve of a final exam, she would frantically cram for the exams, afraid of failing.
"I passed the preliminary examination when I was eight years old. Although I was delayed for eight or nine years, what difficulty is there in passing the county-level examination?" Lu Yanzhao said confidently.
Yes, if it weren't for the misfortune that befell his family and left him without money to study, Lu Yanzhao would probably have already become a scholar.
Although the original owner of the body had previously disqualified him from the exam, Lu Yanzhao was lucky enough to save a government-subsidized student. Now that the student had vouched for him, the imperial examination was just a ladder for him to climb.
Gu Nanjiao stopped talking. She was afraid that if she continued the topic, Lu Yanzhao would remember that he had been disqualified from the exam for misconduct and would resent her again.
She looked up at the sky; the weather was nice, spring had arrived, and it was getting warmer. It was time to get the house repaired, as the collapse before the New Year was too much of a hassle to keep sharing a bed with Lu Yanzhao. This couldn't go on.
Lu Yanzhao looked up and saw Gu Nanjiao staring thoughtfully at the half-collapsed house, and a bad feeling immediately arose in his heart.
Sure enough, the next day, Gu Nanjiao told Lu's mother about it.
After a moment of silence, Lu's mother slowly spoke: "Jiaojiao, look, Yanzhao is about to take the imperial examination. Let's put the house repair on hold and focus on the examination. After a while, I'll have saved up enough money. Then we can build a few new houses. What do you think?"
Gu Nanjiao could only nod. Thinking about it, it made sense. Lu Yanzhao was about to take his exams, and her mother and she were busy with their business. They really didn't have time to find someone to fix it. Finding someone would mean providing meals, and the noise would disrupt his studies. She'd have to bear with it for now. After a while, once Lu Yanzhao passed the imperial examinations and became a scholar, he would go to study in the county town, and might only come home once in a long while. By then, whether the house was repaired or rebuilt, she wouldn't be living with him anymore.
In early March, the spring breeze brought warmth, and the willows grew lush and green. Lu Yanzhao's exam day had arrived.
I heard that the exam will be held in Yuzhou City, which is 20 kilometers away from the county seat.
Lu Yanzhao originally planned to go with the academy's people, but his mother was worried that he would be left without anyone to take care of him, so she insisted that Gu Nanjiao go along and take the opportunity to cultivate their relationship.
Gu Nanjiao didn't really want to go; she had a lot of things to do. Lu Yanzhao, whether intentionally or unintentionally, said, "I heard that Yuzhou City is very lively, with clothing shops, restaurants, and pharmacies packed with people. It's more than ten times more prosperous than the county town. After the exams, I can go and have a look around."
Hearing him say that, Gu Nanjiao felt a surge of desire.
Lu Yanzhao called Lin Ji to join him, and the three of them rode in an oxcart to the county town. There were special horse-drawn carriages in the county town that went to Yuzhou City. Seven or eight people could share a carriage, and each person would pay two hundred coins.
The carriage traveled slowly, stopping and starting, with people constantly getting on and off. It took them a whole day to finally reach Yuzhou City.
Pointing to the three large characters of the bustling Yuzhou City, Lin Ji was very excited: "Look, this is Yuzhou City. Once I pass the imperial examination, I can go to the capital. I heard that it is more than a hundred times more prosperous than Yuzhou City."
Following Lin Ji's words, Lu Yanzhao looked up and stared at the three large characters of Yuzhou City for a long time.
Gu Nanjiao enjoyed the scenery along the way. Upon hearing the words "capital city," she couldn't help but feel a longing for it. If she were to live her whole life in ancient times, it wouldn't be bad to earn more money and spend her later years indulging in the beauty of nature.
After a long day of travel, we planned to find an inn to rest for the night.
The registration process at the city gate was very strict; not only did they have to register their travel permits, but they also had to consider various other issues.
After all, it's a prefecture-level city, which is equivalent to a provincial capital in modern times, so it's normal to be strict.
Yuzhou City was indeed bustling, with a large number of people. Even the eaves on the rooftops were exquisitely carved.
The shops were decorated in a grand and luxurious style, the people were dressed in exquisite clothes of various colors, and there was hardly any pudding on their clothes. Horse-drawn carriages were everywhere.
"After the exam, I'll take you sightseeing," Lu Yanzhao said, seeing Gu Nanjiao staring at the scenery.
"Okay!" Gu Nanjiao replied casually, continuing to admire the bustling scenery of Yuzhou.
I looked at several guesthouses, but they were all too expensive, costing a tael or two of silver per night, which was not worth it. So I just found a cheap, ordinary guesthouse and made do for two nights.
As the scientific expedition approached, Yuzhou City became increasingly bustling.
Whether it was restaurants, teahouses, inns, or bookstores, they were all packed with people. As Gu Nanjiao walked by, she couldn't help but sigh, thinking that if she opened a restaurant here, the business would be booming.
Wang Fugang had just come out of a clothing shop and had to admit that the fabrics in Yuzhou City were truly excellent; they were smooth to the touch and made of the finest brocade.
"Miss, look who that is?" The maid pointed, and Wang Fu looked up. Wasn't that the country woman he had met at Jiao Niang Pavilion?
"Is that you, that country bumpkin?" Gu Nanjiao heard someone calling her as she walked past a clothing store.
"Miss Wang?" Gu Nanjiao saw Wang Fu, tall and graceful, standing at the entrance of the clothing shop, supported by her maid.
She wasn't annoyed when Wang Fu called her a country bumpkin, after all, this was the big fish she was after.
Why did Wang Fu come to Yuzhou City? In ancient times, wasn't it customary for young ladies of noble families to stay within their own homes?
Thinking that this was one of her most important clients, Gu Nanjiao forced a smile and said, "Miss Wang, what brings you to Yuzhou?"
Wang Fu glanced at Gu Nanjiao indifferently: "Naturally, it's because my younger brother is taking the imperial examination, and our whole family has come to cheer him on."
Is it really necessary for the whole family to come out and cheer you on for just one exam?
"sister-"
"Have you chosen the fabric? Mother told me to urge you to go over quickly, saying that Young Master Bai is here."
Hearing someone call her name, Wang Fu looked up and saw her younger brother running towards her, panting. Upon hearing the words "Young Master Bai," her cheeks flushed.
Gu Nanjiao recognized the voice, but when she saw the fat face, she felt a chill. It was Wang Sang.
Lu Yanzhao was about to take her exam, and she didn't want to cause trouble at this crucial moment, so she covered her face and ran away.
"Gu Nanjiao, why are you running?"
Suddenly, her arm was grabbed, and Wang Sang was looking at Gu Nanjiao with an angry expression.
Wang Fu frowned: "Brother, do you know this country woman?"
Wang Sang gritted his teeth and said, "It's more than just knowing each other!"
Gu Nanjiao laughed awkwardly, "How could a country bumpkin like me know Young Master Wang?" After saying that, she turned to look at Wang Fu, "Miss Wang, I just heard that Young Master Bai has arrived and is waiting for you. Don't keep him waiting."
Upon hearing this, Wang Fu immediately stopped Wang Sang: "Brother, what are you doing? Pulling at a country woman in public, aren't you ashamed of yourself? Our parents are waiting for us. Let's hurry over and not keep Young Master Bai waiting."
Wang Sang glared at Gu Nanjiao with hatred, reluctantly releasing her grip: "I'll let you go today, but don't let me catch you again, or else..."
Gu Nanjiao quickly took a few steps back, too lazy to argue with them, and turned to leave.
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