The entrance exam was only one day long. As for the other subjects, it would depend on the results of the exam.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan waited for their father to enter the examination hall. They brought their servants along with them and prepared to wait here for a day. If they want to eat, they would need someone to send them food.
Zhang Zhong entered the examination hall and looked at the things he brought. The weather was still cold, so he took out a blanket and put it under his butt. He also took out the smokeless charcoal and lit it in the brazier.
Only then did he start to answer the questions. Everyone else also did the same. Only the poor scholars did not have so many things.
The soldiers patrolled from time to time. There were people who dared to bring their notes. They were caught and thrown out. It would be difficult for them to make a name for themselves in the future.
Zhang Zhong felt that he had learned enough and did not prepare any notes. Furthermore, he was unable to prepare any notes. This time, the examination was about poetry, prose, scripture, and Laozi's essay.
First, he wrote the essay. Zhang Zhong's father finished writing the essay in the morning. When it was time for lunch, the smell of various dishes floated in the examination hall. The poor scholars only drank some water and ate some dry food. The rich people naturally served all kinds of delicacies.
Zhang Zhong's father opened his lunch box. There were not many dishes in it. There were only some small steamed buns and garlic sauce. It seemed that the servants prepared for him to eat this. There was also a tightly wrapped bamboo tube with soup on top. The steamed buns were still warm.
Seeing that there were only these two things, Zhang Zhong did not complain. He picked up the steamed buns and ate them. This kind of steamed buns were not sold outside. Only his family often made them. The stuffing inside the steamed buns was frozen before it was wrapped. When it was time to eat, there would be juice inside.
He quickly finished the steamed buns and drank the soup. He leaned back and began to rest. After he finished writing the poems and prose, he would wait for the results.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan also ate steamed buns outside. The rest of the servants also did the same. There were also people who came from other families. The entire area outside was almost full. Everyone looked at the entrance of the examination hall anxiously from time to time.
When the sky gradually darkened, Zhang Zhong's figure finally appeared at the entrance of the examination hall. He carried the things he brought in. When he went out, he was stunned.
"Dad ~! You're finally out. Quick, let's go back and celebrate. When the results are released, we'll go back and become officials with real power. "Xiao Bao pulled Wang Juan and ran over from the other side. He immediately threw himself into his father's arms and said happily.
Zhang Zhong touched his son's head and said, "Why are you here? Does your mother know? "
"I missed you, so I came over. My mother should know by now. Originally, she only knew that we went to Zhouzhong. Father, don't talk about it anymore. Let's go back. We only had some buns for lunch. We'll eat something good when we get back."
Zhang Xiaobao held his father's hand and walked back. A servant came over to take the things. Along the way, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan kept talking to Zhang Zhong about what they saw.
Zhang Zhong was originally a little worried that he would not do well in the examination this time. After listening to his son and daughter-in-law's words, his mood gradually calmed down. He did not expect to meet the person he wanted to meet right after the examination in Beijing.
The three of them talked as they walked. This time, they directly went to Savant's Restaurant. A table full of dishes was placed on the table. Zhang Xiaobao poured wine for his father and began to change the topic. He did not mention the imperial examination anymore.
Zhang Zhong was also happy to chat with his son and daughter-in-law. He talked about the scenery here and talked about what the foreign merchants were selling. After eating for more than two hours, the sky was completely dark. Only then did the three of them drink some tea and go back to sleep.
The next few days were waiting for the results to be released. Zhang Xiaobao did not have much to do. He dragged Wang Juan to the east and west markets all day long and bought a lot of small things. Those cotton balls had already been sent back home and the bottom was covered with mud. When the time came, as long as one could survive, he would buy another one. After all, it was cheap.
This wait lasted for more than ten days. Seeing that a new round of official appointments was about to be released, it was finally time to release the results.
Early in the morning, there were servants who went to watch. Zhang Xiaobao, Wang Juan, and Zhang Zhong also went to the nearest small restaurant. It was a place where ordinary people ate. It was also bought in the beginning. At this time, it was already full of people. Only a seat by the window was left for them.
"Father, I have already thought about it. When you become the top scorer, we will not be an official in Beijing. Instead, we will be in Hua Yuan County. After you experience there for a few years, we will return to Beijing. Don't worry, you will definitely have achievements. Every year, during the selection, you will be in the upper middle class. You will not even be in the middle class."
Zhang Xiaobao and the other two sat down. Zhang Xiaobao began to talk to his father.
Zhang Zhong was still a little nervous. He did not know if he would become the top scorer. He did not expect to become the top scorer. As long as he could become the Jinshi, it would be fine. When he heard his son's words, he felt that his greatest ability in life was to have a good son. If it was someone else who said this, he would definitely think that person was stupid. But if it was his son who said it, it would definitely not be bad.
He also lowered his voice and said: "Xiao Bao, the matter of being in the outside world is not that simple, right? I believe in your ability. As long as you are outside, you will be able to have a good political achievement. "
"It's simple. The arrangements for officials below the sixth rank will be made by the Ministry of Personnel. This time, the person in charge of the Imperial Examination is only a small sixth rank official. In the future, it might be someone with a higher status. As long as you spend the money, you will be able to do it."
Zhang Xiaobao was very confident in this. Now, it all depended on his father's results.
Most of the other people in the store were also waiting for news from the other side. Zhang Xiaobao thought that there would be people riding horses to various places to report the good news. In the end, after waiting for a while, there was no one who came to report the good news.
The three of them placed all of their attention on the ranking board and ate the dishes one mouthful at a time. When it was difficult to endure, someone finally ran over. As soon as he entered the store, he shouted loudly toward a scholar sitting there, "Young master, you won, young master, Ming Jingyi, wait 15."
Everyone in the store turned to look at that scholar. A B grade meant that there were some questions that he did not answer correctly. Or he did not answer the examiner's questions properly. But after all, he had made it. His good days had come, and his family would also benefit from it.
When that scholar heard that he had made it, he stopped eating. He threw some money on the table, turned around, and ran out, shouting as he ran. Zhang Xiaobao looked at this man who was in his forties and shook his head. Was there a need to be like this for a B grade? Moreover, it was not for the Advanced Section.
Just as that person ran out, another person came in. However, this person's complexion was not good. He walked to the side of a table and said to that person, "Brother, your name is not on the list. Let's go back."
"Ah? Not there? How could it not be? "The scholar was dumbfounded. He sat there and repeatedly muttered a few words.
Perhaps it was because they had seen too much of this. Everyone turned their gaze elsewhere. Zhang Zhong's hand that was holding the chopsticks trembled. It was as if he was the one who did not make it.
Zhang Xiaobao stood up and stepped on the stool to look outside. He did not see the person he sent out come back. After a while, just as Zhang Xiaobao was about to go and take a look himself, the person he sent out ran back in disheveled clothes. He cried and shouted at the same time, "I made it! Master made it! I'm first in Jinshi Grade A! Master, I'm the top scorer!"
"Wow!" Accompanied by a clamor, everyone's eyes were focused on Zhang Zhong. At this time, Zhang Zhong was already stunned. He sat there motionless. Zhang Xiaobao hugged Wang Juan and kissed her on the cheek. He whispered, "Money and connections finally worked."
Wang Juan raised her hand and pushed Zhang Xiaobao's face away. She said happily, "Look, it's like this. I'll ask my father to come and take the exam. After two more days, we can go back. Hurry up, tell this good news to the family."
"Father, let's go back. You have a busy day tomorrow. How did you get your clothes? Why did you come back so late?" Zhang Xiaobao said to his father. He then turned to the person who reported the news and asked.
"Replying to Little Young Master, just now, this one saw that the Old Master had been hit, so this one shouted. As a result, many people surrounded this one and asked this one about this one. This one managed to break free with great difficulty, so this one came back late." The person who reported the news did not look unhappy at all. It was as if being surrounded by people was also a happy thing.
The few of them left the store under countless envious gazes. Zhang Xiaobao immediately asked someone to send the news back to his family as fast as possible. His family was still worried about it.
On this day, the Savant's Restaurant and the Joy House held a banquet. Anyone who could find people came to the two restaurants. From this day on, the two restaurants became more popular and their business became more prosperous.
*****
The next day, Zhang Zhong went out. He had to report the news and go to the Apricot Garden to eat and drink. If he had a good idea, he could meet the emperor. After that, he went to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. After a busy day, he was tired enough. Of course, he also had to ride a horse and parade through the streets.
Zhang Zhong rode a horse with flowers. He was dressed like a bridegroom. He rode the horse around Chang 'an City. Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan also squeezed into the crowd to watch. It was a pity that there was no camera. Otherwise, they would definitely take a picture of this scene.
The servants who protected them behind them also puffed out their chests and raised their heads. This time, their identities were different. They were servants of the Savant's family, not ordinary servants.
After this matter was over, it was time to start the official selection. Zhang Xiaobao's mediation was effective again. Zhang Zhong, who was supposed to stay in the capital, was arranged to be the county magistrate of Huayuan County. He was also given a goldfish bag to press his lapel.
"Let's set sail!" Zhang Xiaobao stood at the bow of the ship and shouted. Looking at the water in front of him, he felt high-spirited.
This time, they did not follow the way they came. Instead, they took another waterway. It was the one that the old man's nephew had taken. From that waterway, they could directly reach the capital.
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