"Did we really win? That's wonderful! Xiaoyue, quickly go and get everything we prepared earlier. The messenger to deliver the good news will be here soon." Xichun walked in just in time to hear this and was also overwhelmed with excitement.
"Did I really win? Zhu Nian, what's my ranking?" Even though Fu Changfeng was very confident in private, he was still shocked to hear that he was actually on the list, and for a moment he even doubted himself.
“It’s true, I saw it clearly. He’s ranked twentieth, young master. You’re now a genuine scholar.” Zhu Nian nodded. He had checked it several times and counted it several times before daring to come back and report.
"Alright, hurry up and get everything ready. Soon, everyone around will come over to congratulate you. By the way, Brother Zeng, I'm afraid your good news will arrive soon too. Should you go home and prepare?" Fu Changjin saw Zeng Xiucai standing to the side and thought that he also had a good chance of winning, so he reminded him.
"I'm afraid I don't have Brother Changfeng's abilities, but you all keep busy, I'll come back later." Zeng Xiucai felt a little disappointed when he saw that his servant hadn't returned yet.
"Young master, young master, you've passed! I just ran home. Madam said you're here. Please go home quickly." He was about to step out of the room when his servant rushed over in a panic.
"Me? I passed too?" Zeng Xiucai asked in disbelief.
"Yes, I saw your name Zeng Guanglian on the list with my own eyes. Young master, isn't that your name?" The servant's words amused everyone.
"Congratulations, Brother Zeng, on passing the imperial examination. You are now officially a scholar who has passed the provincial examination."
"Hehe, congratulations to you too! I'll head back now, see you tonight." At this moment, Scholar Zeng's smile was much brighter.
The messenger bringing good news arrived at the house quickly. Xi Chun gave the largest red envelope to several people, offered food to the neighbors who came to congratulate her, and sprinkled lucky money on the children.
"Oh, oh, now we have money to buy steamed buns!" One child grabbed the most, but this made his father unhappy.
"I told you to study hard, but all you think about is eating steamed buns. Get back to your books! We finally managed to buy this house. When you grow up, you should be like Scholar Fu and pass the imperial examinations."
Xi Chun's face was stiff from smiling all day, but she was still very happy. She wanted to share this joyful feeling with her family. She wondered if A Zhao missed her parents. If they went back, would A Zhao still recognize them?
The tranquility that followed the commotion felt even more profound. Fu Changfeng noticed the change in Xichun's expression and patted her on the shoulder.
"Big brother, now that I've seen the Deer Cry Banquet, let's hurry back. Parents must be waiting for this good news at home."
"Okay, let's go back early. I've been away for so long, I miss home too." He was also thinking about his pregnant wife and wanted to get back before she gave birth.
Fu Changfeng put on the scholar's robes that his wife had made before his departure, which expressed her hopes for her son's success in the imperial examination and his longing for his return home. He then went with the scholar to the venue where the chief examiner of the provincial examination was holding the Deer Cry Banquet.
Zeng, the successful candidate in the provincial examination, ranked eighty-third. Naturally, neither of them were the main characters of this banquet. So they sat together, chatted with friends they knew, and drank tea, which was a pleasant way to end this banquet that was mainly for the top scholar and the chief examiner.
"Please wait, Scholar Fu. The examiner wishes to speak with you privately." Just as the two were about to leave, the examiner's servant called out to Fu Changfeng.
"Brother Fu, I'll wait for you outside." For some reason, Zeng Juren went out first.
Fu Changfeng was not familiar with this servant, and suppressing his doubts, he arrived at the residence where the chief examiner lived.
"Master, this is the scholar Fu Changfeng you mentioned." The servant knocked on the door.
"Let him in." This year's chief examiner is surnamed Yang, and I heard he is an official sent by the Ministry of Rites.
"This student greets Your Excellency." Fu Changfeng said respectfully as he entered. The examiner hadn't said a word to him in public, so why was he seeking him out in private?
"I heard you studied under Master Hu, is that true?" Lord Yang was practicing calligraphy, and after glancing at him, he continued practicing intently.
"I dare not say that I am his disciple, but I have consulted with Master Hu about some matters concerning reading. Master Hu said that he is too old and no longer wishes to take on disciples." Over the years, Fu Changfeng has learned a little about Master Hu's background, but he does not know his specific identity. The fact that this gentleman in front of him knows Master Hu shows that Master Hu's status is even higher than he imagined.
"That's true. The old man prefers to live a secluded life among the common people. Hehe, sit down and talk. You can be considered my half-junior brother. I also studied under Grandpa Hu."
"You flatter me, sir. I have already benefited greatly from the guidance I received from Master Hu. You are now in a high position, yet you still study and practice so diligently. This is what I admire most."
Fu Changfeng dared not accept the title of "junior brother." Historically, scholars in the provincial examinations had to refer to themselves as "students" in front of the chief examiner; how could he dare to be so presumptuous?
"Hehe, it's getting late, you should go back now. We'll meet again someday." Lord Yang didn't say much, but simply told the servant to take Fu Changfeng away.
Scholar Zeng was still waiting outside. When he saw that Fu Changfeng had come out so soon, he couldn't help but walk up to him.
"Brother Changfeng, I'm here. Let's go back." Zeng Juren didn't ask directly. Everyone has their own secrets, and if others don't want to talk about them, he won't pry.
“Brother Zeng, let’s go. I was wondering why the lord wanted to see me. It turns out that an old friend of yours is living in seclusion in my hometown, so he came to ask me about it.” Fu Changfeng said half-truthfully. He didn’t know what the lord Yang wanted to see him about. However, if he really revealed his relationship with the lord Yang now, then someone with ulterior motives would probably use that as leverage to control them.
"Is that so? Lord Yang's old friend must be no ordinary person either. He's probably in officialdom. I didn't expect there to be such a master in Brother Changfeng's hometown. If you go and pay him a visit to learn from him, wouldn't you be much more successful in the upcoming imperial examinations?"
"Hehe, it's not so easy to meet a master. Our status as a mere scholar is not enough in the eyes of those high-ranking officials. If we really have such an opportunity, it would be a good thing."
Fu Changfeng naturally told Fu Changjin and Xichun about this, but the two of them didn't understand Lord Yang's intentions. They just guessed that he might be trying to recruit talented people, which would be helpful if Fu Changfeng passed the imperial examination in the future.
The three of them are now packing their luggage and will set off after arranging a passenger ship to Guangming Prefecture.
The Zeng family was in the same situation, but they traveled by land, so the two families naturally didn't go near each other.
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