When Father Zhang left home, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan originally wanted to follow him, but Jang Wong Clan held them in her arms, so they had no choice but to give up.
Madam Zhang had originally prepared Pomegranate and another maidservant for Father Zhang to take care of him. In the end, Father Zhang refused and chose a few clever male servants to take care of him.
Zhang Xiaobao also sent Erniu and Huzi out. One was in charge of small matters, and the other was in charge of protection. There were four carriages and fourteen people. Including Father Zhang, there was a total of nineteen people.
There weren't many people, and the team wasn't big, but there were thirty horses. Of the four carriages, only one was for Father Zhang, and the other three were filled with all kinds of things.
Father Zhang's own preparations were simple, only the four treasures of the study. Jang Wong Clan prepared a change of clothes and some convenient food.
The rest was taken care of by Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan. The weather was still cold, so they put ice in the carriages. There were venison, beef, and other things that weren't easy to preserve. They also specially arranged a chef from Between the Clouds and the Water. Then there were the vegetables. There were still no vegetables, and it was almost time for them to run out.
Other than cucumbers, which took up a little space, the other vegetables could be gathered together. The vegetables were not picked and brought back, but were brought together with the soil. A carriage was specially filled with cucumber seedlings. The selected seedlings were dug out, and the outside of the carriage was wrapped with some anti-cold things.
Zhang Xiaobao told the people following them to take them out to dry every day. When they were drying, they had to remember to light a pot so that they wouldn't freeze to death. There were also the seedlings. They would probably eat until they reached the capital, so they had to pack some charcoal.
These weren't all. Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan taught the doctors a few massage methods to relieve fatigue. There were also some medicines, pots, pans, and bowls. The grains they brought were all the kind that could be used as seeds. Each grain was plump, and the steamed rice was delicious.
Li Xun took out a few letters when Father Zhang was on the trip, and asked him to deliver the letters when he reached the prefecture. Zhang Xiaobao had already spent more than forty thousand taels of silver, just for the first place of the township tribute, the partnership with Li Xun, Zhangjia Zhuangzi's method of growing vegetables in winter, and the auspicious sign for the prefecture.
Father Zhang's own standards were not bad. In the entire prefecture, Zhang Xiaobao used money to pave the way. In all the restaurants and inns, Father Zhang's poems were written by Father Zhang. In the capital and the surrounding areas, Father Zhang had basically infiltrated. In the capital, it was County Magistrate Cheng who helped. In the other prefectures, he could only use money.
Father Zhang traveled for half a month and finally arrived at the prefecture. He was originally going to deliver the letters according to Li Xun's instructions, but in the end, Li Xun's father directly went to find him and set up a banquet. Those who were supposed to deliver the letters also went.
This saved a lot of trouble. The Emperor's brother didn't say too much to Father Zhang. He only asked about Zhuangzi and how Li Xun was doing over there. Then, he got up and left. Naturally, there were other people accompanying him in the manor.
Although it was only a short chat, Father Zhang's status suddenly changed. Among the thousands of people in the prefecture who were going to take the provincial examination, they had no chance of getting first place. No matter who graded the papers during the examination, Father Zhang was always first. Zhang Xiaobao had already given enough money to anyone who could help with this matter.
In addition to money, he also gave out fungus and tremella. For those who had children at home, he dyed their roosters and other toys and gave them batches after batches.
This examination tested three subjects and lasted for three days. After Father Zhang finished answering all of them, he began to rest in his family's restaurant in the prefecture, waiting for the results to be released. In the prefecture, the Zhang family only had one restaurant. Zhang Xiaobao had bought it in advance. The reason was that sleeping in other people's houses was not as comfortable as sleeping in one's own house.
Today was the day of the release of the results. The other anxious people were waiting over there to see the results. Father Zhang sat in a room in the restaurant facing the place where the results were being released. Someone was in charge of looking at the window. As long as it was the first place at the top of the list, the word would be the biggest and could be seen from here.
Father Zhang sat at the table and looked at the dishes in front of him. He also looked at the wine that Erniu had poured for him. Then, he looked at the crowded situation below. He didn't know what to feel. All of this was arranged by Zhang Xiaobao. Along the way, it was not as difficult as other people who were going to take the examination. It was simply a blessing.
With his son's arrangements, he didn't have to worry. Everything was taken care of. He only had to take the examination in peace.
"Old Master, you drink. We are not in a hurry. Old Master will definitely be first. It's just that Old Master will be more tired when we reach the capital. Let's go there in advance. Old Master will participate in many poetry and wine parties. This little one will remember."
Erniu put the dishes in front of Father Zhang. He took out a small book from his chest and flipped it open. It recorded all the steps, roughly who they would meet, how to deal with them, where to hold a wine party, what to eat according to the changes in the weather, what to wear, what to eat, what wine to use, and what to wear. The small book recorded all of these steps.
Father Zhang looked at the book that his son and daughter-in-law had summarized. He knew that this was only a part. Erniu was in charge of this. When they reached the capital, there would be someone to take care of the other part.
Thinking of his son and daughter-in-law waiting at home, Qiao 'er, and his parents, Father Zhang calmed down and stopped thinking about whether he could get first place this time. He decided that even if he didn't get first place, he would go to the capital to take the examination and become a Jinshi.
Along with the sound of the gong, the person holding the notice walked out. The students who were waiting to see the results rushed forward. The yamen runners were like they were facing a great enemy. From time to time, they shouted for people to stand properly and not push blindly.
When the notice was posted, the person guarding the window saw Father Zhang's name at a glance. He shouted happily, "Old Master, you got first place. Old Master, you are first."
"En, good. Then we will go to the capital tomorrow." Father Zhang was also very happy. However, he wasn't like the other students who went crazy as long as they were on the list. It seemed that everything was logical. He didn't know whether to complain that he didn't have that kind of excitement or to sigh at his son's ability. He said he would get first place and didn't want second place.
The next day, Father Zhang and his group took a boat. This boat was also their family's. They left it by the river and didn't do anything. They just waited to send Father Zhang and his group to the capital. They walked along the Wei River, which was not too far from the capital. From the tributary, they entered the Cao Canal. There was no need to disembark.
At this time, it was spring. The river water was almost melted, but it was a little cold.
Even the carriages and other things were all on the boat. The boatman shouted a number and the boat began to move slowly, faster and faster. The boat was also equipped with small boats and life jackets made of bamboo. As long as there was danger, they could wear them.
Because of the smooth water. The boat was very fast. It only took seven days to reach the Cao Canal. In order to prevent seasickness, Zhang Xiaobao also prepared some ginger slices, mint, and dandelion roots. However, Father Zhang didn't get seasick and was in good health.
When the boat arrived, it traveled in the Cao Canal for a distance and began to dock at the dock.
There were always many people at the dock. Some were waiting to receive goods, while others were waiting to receive people.
A group of people might have received the news in advance. They had been waiting here for three days, but they still didn't see a shadow. They were a little impatient, but they didn't dare to leave casually. Their eyes were fixed on the boats coming over.
"Steward Wang, are you sure it will arrive in these few days?" There were twenty or so people waiting at the dock. They even brought two cars with them. One of them asked a woman who was older than the rest.
This Steward Wang was the one who rushed back from the Zhang family. When he came back, he had people send Jujube and Jujube's things to them. The Wang family had also considered this. It wasn't a big deal to send two servant girls to their daughter. Moreover, there was a noble person supporting them.
"They said it will be in these few days. Wait well. Don't weaken our Wang family's momentum. This time, let him see what the Wang family is like. He actually drove me back. When he arrives in the capital, if he doesn't rely on the Wang family, does he plan to stay in an inn? Now that the good inns are all full, the space left is not something that a person like him can get. "
Steward Wang scolded the person who asked the question. She had always looked down on Zhang Zhong. She looked down on him in the past, and it was the same now. This time, he was going to the capital to take the exam. She had never been to the Wang family before, so she finally had a chance to let him see it.
Don't think that he can do whatever he wants in Sanshui County. Here, he can't do anything. Hmph! He even dared to order me not to pay a New Year's visit. He caused himself to be whipped when he came back.
Steward Wang thought. She was looking forward to Zhang Zhong's arrival early so that she could vent her anger. When he arrived at the Wang family's residence, she would let him know his weight.
With this thought, Steward Wang's mood improved. Just as she was about to return to a carriage to rest for a while, someone with sharp eyes pointed at a boat coming from the river and shouted, "Look, it's here. What a big boat. That's right, there's a flag that looks like a seedling on it."
When it got closer, Steward Wang and the others also saw it. However, they didn't go to the disembarkation area. They were ready to see Zhang Zhong's embarrassment of not being able to hire a carriage.
They didn't go over, but someone went over. They heard a person in a luxurious convoy of twelve carriages shout, "Master's boat is here. It's the boat with a seedling flag on it. Follow me."
There were more than a hundred people in this group. Together with the twelve two-horse carriages, they walked majestically towards the place where they disembarked from the ship. Some of them were carrying rolled-up carpets, while others were holding large umbrellas.
Steward Wang was stunned. She didn't know where these people came from. Could it be that they were also here to pick someone up? Then it could be that Zhang Zhong was on someone else's boat and hung his own flag so that others could recognize him. She wanted to see who was coming. With such a big lineup, she called out and the two carriages followed.
While waiting, the boat slowly approached the shore. As soon as it stopped, someone set up a gangplank. With a whoosh, a carpet was spread out from the gangplank and extended directly to the dock. As soon as the carpet was spread out, the carpet carried by the people on this side was also spread out. It just happened to connect with the carpet on the other side. This end reached the door of a carriage.
Under the protection of a group of people, Father Zhang came to the end of the gangplank. As soon as he appeared, more than a hundred people on the shore saluted at the same time and shouted, "Welcome to the capital for the imperial examination, Master."
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