Chapter 127 Chapter 127 Returning Home
In the days that followed, except for the first day when he went with Xiaolin to take a look at the places he had written down for the exam, Huo Xiaobao stayed in the house studying. Xiaolin asked the aunt who was in charge of cleaning in the escort agency and learned that he could use the kitchen. He then started cooking for Huo Xiaobao himself, because the taste of the food in the capital was a little different from that in his home, and he was worried that Huo Xiaobao would not be used to it.
Seeing that he was not needed, Huo Xing went out to do some work during the day, and came back in the evening to check on Huo Xiaobao's studies, and then had a meal with them. Time was soon approaching the eve of the end.
Xiao Lin was preparing things for Huo Xiaobao in the room. He often went out these days, and when he went out to buy groceries, he would hear about the imperial examination. He knew that the examination would last for three days, and that he would have to eat and sleep in that small compartment for these three days, which was very uncomfortable. I heard that he was not even allowed to go to the toilet.
Huo Xiaobao was stoking a fire in front of the stove, while Xiaolin was making pancakes for him. As he did so, he said, "I heard the inspections are very strict. They even have to break the pancakes apart."
Huo Xiaobao nodded: "Of course. This is an imperial examination after all, and His Majesty takes it very seriously."
Xiao Lin smiled and said, "I don't understand these things, I just know how painful it must be."
Huo Xiaobao stood up, put his hand on Xiaolin's shoulder, and pulled Wen up in a mean voice: "Brother, when God wants to give a man a great responsibility, he must first make his heart and mind suffer..."
Xiao Lin pulled his hand away and continued making pancakes. "I don't understand. I just know that without pancakes, you'd be starving." He was a skilled cook, and the pancakes were perfectly dry. Even in this weather, they wouldn't go bad. "They're a little hard, but there's nothing you can do about it. Just soak them in water and let them sit."
Xiaobao nodded, looked at the cake, then looked at Xiaolin's face: "I know, brother."
On the day of the exam, Xiaolin and Huo Xing went to see Huo Xiaobao off. A long line had already formed outside the Imperial Examination Hall. There were so many people coming to take the exam that even though they came early enough, they were still a little behind in the queue.
The age range of the references was also very large. Some were the same age as Huo Xiaobao, some were nearly forty, and some were white-haired elders. Xiao Lin stood with Huo Xing and asked with a worried look on his face, "Brother, can they hold on?"
Huo Xing also admired him very much: "It should be possible."
After waiting in line for half an hour, it was finally Huo Xiaobao's turn. He took out the documents for inspection, and other yamen runners began to check the things he brought. Huo Xiaobao didn't bring much, just an outer coat, a small bundle containing Xiaolin's baked cakes, and a water bag. Just as Xiaolin said, the yamen runners broke the cakes into pieces and looked at the clothes over and over again many times before they finally passed the inspection. A yamen runner took him to his seat.
Only when Huo Xiaobao was out of sight did Huo Xing take Xiao Lin back. This exam would last for three days, so they could just come and pick him up on the third day.
But Xiao Lin was worried. For the next few days, he would walk outside the Imperial Examination Hall every day. However, the area was heavily guarded, so he couldn't get close. So he would sit far away for the whole morning. The next day, he saw several people being carried out. Every time this happened, Xiao Lin's heart would hang in the balance.
Especially on the second night, it started raining and they didn't know if they would catch a cold inside. Xiaolin was glad that Brother Xiaoying had prepared a coat, otherwise Xiaobao would definitely catch a cold.
On the third day, Xiao Lin went to wait early in the morning again. This time, they only had to wait until the afternoon for Huo Xiaobao to come out. Huo Xing also waited with him. It was almost dark when they saw the gate of the Imperial Examination Hall open. People came out one after another. Xiao Lin immediately stood up and ran to the front of the crowd.
Huo Xiaobao came out neither too early nor too late. Xiaolin saw him the first time and hurried over to him: "How are you? Did you catch a cold?"
Although Huo Xiaobao's face didn't look too good, he looked in good spirits: "I'm in good health, I'll definitely be fine."
They walked out of the crowd, and Huo Xing also glanced at him: "How is it? Did you get cold last night?"
"I'm fine, brother. I'm still young." Seeing that the two were genuinely worried, he became a little more serious. "I'm just a little greedy. I want to eat meat. Dry biscuits are too hard to swallow."
He was afraid that he would need to go to the bathroom during the exam. In fact, he had not eaten or drunk much in the past three days. He didn't feel it during the exam, but now he felt hungry and thirsty as soon as he came out.
Huo Xing smiled and said, "Your brother knows that you are greedy, so he told Aunt Shen to make you something delicious before he left."
It is said that a young boy can eat his father out of money. Huo Xiaobao's appetite is indeed huge now. When they arrived at the escort agency, the aunt who was in charge of cooking had already prepared meals for them.
Huo Xiaobao didn't care about anything else and just ate it up. Xiaolin put all the meat into his bowl. After watching him finish three big bowls, he finally stopped and touched his stomach.
"Have a good sleep tonight. We'll buy some food for Xuetuan tomorrow and then go home." Huo Xing started eating with Xiao Lin. "Hurry up and wash up and go to bed."
Huo Xiaobao yawned: "Are we leaving tomorrow?"
"Do you want to go home for Mid-Autumn Festival?" Huo Xing asked, "Mid-Autumn Festival is in a few days."
Huo Xiaobao nodded quickly: "Yes, yes. Otherwise, it would be so lonely with only Brother Ying, Mom, and Xuetuan at home."
"Then go to bed."
Huo Xiaobao was indeed sleepy. After washing up, he quickly fell asleep on the bed. Xiaolin was cleaning up the dishes, and Huo Xing was going to say goodbye to Lin Biaotou.
After Huo Xing explained his purpose, Lin Biaotou was a little disappointed: "I thought you could stay here for the holiday. Are you in such a hurry to go back?"
Huo Xing nodded somewhat embarrassedly: "I have my husband and young son at home, and I don't want them to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival alone."
Lin Biaotou could understand that Huo Xing was a man of few words. He would only say a few words when talking about his husband and children. Naturally, he could understand how important his husband was to him.
"Then I wish you a safe journey." After saying this, Lin Biaotou thought of something else, "I don't know how your brother's grades are. If he passes the exam, he can come to the capital to study in the future. When that happens, you really must bring your husband and children to meet us."
"If there is an opportunity, then of course."
Lin Biaotou said, "Then you don't have to rush to leave tomorrow. You can go to the academy first to ask about the situation. If nothing else, our Ruoming Academy in the prefecture has produced many outstanding students."
Huo Xing was stunned for a moment, then expressed his gratitude to Lin Biaotou and said that he would go to the academy tomorrow. After all, Huo Xiaobao was determined to take the imperial examination. If there was a better learning environment, they would definitely support him with all their strength. However, this was also an unknown. After all, he had to pass the examination to become a scholar to be eligible to enter the academy.
The next day, Huo Xiaobao slept until noon. When he woke up, it was almost time for lunch. He jumped up and saw that Huo Xing and Xiaolin had already bought things to take home, including several ready-made clothes for his mother, Miao Ying, and Xuetuan. Xiaolin didn't want any and bought the cloth himself, saying that he wanted to learn how to make clothes with his mother. He also bought a lot of snacks that could be stored for Xuetuan.
"Why didn't you call me?" Looking at the packed carriage, Huo Xiaobao scratched his head.
"I'll take you out later. There's something going on." Huo Xing put his things away.
Xiaolin came out of the room and took a comb to help him tie his hair.
"Where are you going?" Huo Xiaobao asked curiously.
When he arrived at Ruoming Academy, Huo Xiaobao was stunned. Of course he knew about Ruoming Academy. When he was at Yunshan Academy, the teacher often said that there were three academies in the world that all students wanted to enter. The first was Shuming Academy, which had produced two prime ministers. The second was Qiyue Academy, which had produced three top scorers. The third was Cheng'an Academy, which had also produced many excellent students in previous imperial examinations.
The Ruoming Academy in their capital city is a branch of the Shuming Academy, and every year teachers from the Shuming Academy come to give lectures.
It would definitely be a good thing for him if he could enter Ruoming Academy.
They couldn't go in, but there were people at the gatehouse who were specifically responsible for introducing the situation to the students. Huo Xing and Huo Xiaobao listened carefully to the requirements. They were not harsh, but definitely not simple. At least those who could enter the academy had to be scholars, and they also had to be among the top students. In addition, they needed introductions, and finally, a tuition of ten taels of silver per year. If one came from an ordinary family, it was indeed difficult for them to afford it.
"If you meet the requirements, you will be admitted on February 15th of next spring. Just bring your documents to the academy."
After understanding the situation, Huo Xing looked at Huo Xiaobao and said, "The recommendation documents and tuition are not a problem. The most important thing is you yourself."
Huo Xiaobao originally didn't care about his grades, but when he heard the academy's requirements, he became a little nervous.
"But the exam has already been taken." Xiao Lin said softly, "You can't change the result by worrying about it."
Huo Xiaobao hit Xiaolin's back with his head, causing Xiaolin to almost slip. He then held Xiaolin firmly and said, "Brother Mu!"
Xiao Lin hadn't heard the name "Brother Mu" for a long time. He was a little uncomfortable hearing it now, and his cheeks turned red.
Huo Xing kicked Huo Xiaobao and said, "You almost knocked your brother down. Don't be so careless."
When they returned from the academy, it was already dark. Today was the eighth day of the eighth month, so they needed to ride as fast as they could to get back in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Huo Xing took Huo Xiaobao and Xiaolin to thank the people from the escort agency for their care over the past few days. They also said that they would leave early the next morning and would not say goodbye to them then.
Lin Biaotou said that if Huo Xiaobao could come to Ruoming Academy to study, they would meet again in the future and there was no need to worry. He also told Huo Xing and others to bring their husband and children with them when they sent Huo Xiaobao to the provincial capital.
Huo Xing and his companions left the escort agency early the next morning. As soon as the city gate opened, they drove their carriages home at full speed.
But the more eager I was to go home, the more problems I encountered on the way.
The weather was sunny on the way here, but it rained almost every day on the way back, making it difficult for the carriage to travel and wasting a lot of time. Finally, on August 15th, the sky cleared up, but they were still some distance away from home.
All three of them looked a little disheveled. When they reached the village entrance, the moonlight poured down, but the carriage and the people were in a mess.
Miao Ying was standing at the entrance of the village holding Xuetuan. They saw the carriage from afar. Xuetuan was so excited that he couldn't control himself. He jumped off Miao Ying's body and ran straight to the front of the carriage.
"Daddy is back!"
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