After the imperial examinations, all the scholars who passed were overjoyed. Those who didn't and those who wanted to take the examinations next year stayed in the capital.
These people immediately caused the capital to become much more lively. After the imperial examinations, the brothels and restaurants everywhere became places they frequented. They would either drink alone or invite three to five friends to drink to their heart's content.
The rich were naturally easy to deal with. They could spend as much as they wanted. However, those who didn't have a lot of money, and even those who were poor, found that if they didn't think of a way, they wouldn't be able to wait until next year.
Every time this happened, there would always be people who sent invitations to the various residences. They wanted to be a teacher for the people in the residences, or at least become an advisor.
However, there were too many people in the imperial examinations this year. Only a small portion of people obtained such a position. The rest of the people had no other choice but to write letters or copy books.
Even more people would go to the brothels and help recite a poem or two. They would eat and play for free. Perhaps they would even be appreciated by the brothels and be given some money.
However, if the poem wasn't good, then no one would care. Those who were thin-skinned would think of a way to make a living. Those who were thick-skinned would follow beside the rich scholars and help them grind ink, pass the brush, and wait for them to finish writing before flattering them.
There were also some that had nothing to do with being thick-skinned. Instead, the rich young masters would do such things for the poor people, admiring talent. There were also some people who had good relationships with each other. Regardless of whether they were rich or poor, they ate, drank, and slept together. They talked about the big and small classics and talked about poetry.
All of this showed the various states of life. Happiness and melancholy intertwined together. Life was just repeating these things.
At this time, Zhang Xiaobao was busy dealing with the people on the boats, so he still had time to think about this matter. The Zhang family once again made their move.
On Vermillion Bird Avenue, when the sun had just risen in the morning, a procession appeared. The entire procession was made up of twenty carriages. Originally, the carriages were used to carry goods, but large signs were erected on both sides. There were large words written on the signs. This wasn't for the common people who didn't know how to read, but for the scholars.
As a result, the calligraphy was flamboyant and flamboyant. There were also some landscape paintings, accompanied by the sound of gongs and drums. The grand procession slowly moved from one end to the other. Twenty carriages lined up in a row. It was difficult not to attract attention.
The commoners were curious. Since they couldn't read, they could only ask around. Those who could read started to tell the people around them.
"Xiao Qing, I heard that you got into the second grade exam this time. What did you write? Read it to your auntie. It looks really good. "
In the capital, a female shopkeeper asked a man who was sitting by the window and eating when the procession passed by her. This man was around 25 or 26 years old. He had taken the Bright Classics Examination this year and had passed. His position was a little behind, but he was still a Secondary class, Rank 8 official.
The people who knew him in the past were more respectful when they saw him. Only this female shopkeeper in the shop was the same as before. She kept calling him Xiao Qing, but he didn't feel angry at all. All these years, the money for his studies was all given by this female shopkeeper. He only had one mother at home, so he couldn't make ends meet.
If it wasn't for this female shopkeeper, he wouldn't have been able to study. He would have been lucky if he didn't starve to death. He didn't want to and didn't dare to disrespect this female shopkeeper. When he heard the question, he respectfully said,
"Auntie, this is prepared for some students. It's said that Huayuan County and Sanshui County are going to hold a competition and invite all the scholars from all over. They can help Huayuan County or Sanshui County. The side that wins the most will get the first prize of this competition.
This prize is given to everyone. Also, everyone who gets first place will get a good prize. They will be selected one by one, just like the imperial examinations. "
After saying this, the man stopped and waited for the female shopkeeper's reaction.
"Oh! So it's like this. Xiao Qing, are you going? What's the prize? "The female shopkeeper looked at Xiao Qing and asked.
"Starting from 10 days later, all the students can go by boat without spending money as long as they take out their documents. The meals for the next few days will be taken care of by the two counties. First, you have to tell which county you are going to help. Then, you can board the boat of that county. I will ask later if I have any work to do in 10 days. If I do, I can't go. If I don't, I can go and have a look.
The prize is worth a lot of money. The first place of a single person will get a set of the Four Treasures of Black Bamboo Pavilion. It costs 50 strings of silver. That's the one that everyone has. It's also a set of the Four Treasures of Black Bamboo Pavilion. However, it's the last one.
It costs 50 strings of silver. "Xiao Qing explained in detail. He was a little tempted. He felt that it was better to compete than to stay in the capital. It was not far away.
The female shopkeeper nodded and asked again, "What else is there?"
"Also, the two counties will be recruiting teachers at the same time. It will only last until the imperial examinations next year. Depending on the professor, the teachers will get 40 to 100 strings of silver per month. The food and lodging will be taken care of by the Zhang Family and Wang Family in Zhuangzi. There will be meat for one meal every day, and there will be holidays every ten days."
Xiao Qing explained another thing. He didn't care about this, but those who couldn't make a living should consider it.
"The Zhang Family and Wang Family in Zhuangzi? Are you talking about the Zhang Family and Wang Family in Sanshui County? "The female shopkeeper didn't pay much attention to other things, but she knew about the two Zhuangzi.
Xiao Qing nodded. "It's the two Zhuangzi. If it were someone else, no one would believe it. But the words of the two Zhuangzi are naturally not ordinary. It seems that people like me have a place to go now. No matter what, eating and sleeping is not a big problem."
Xiao Qing was right. Now, there were many students on the streets who had spent their money and didn't know what to do. They were preparing to work in the two counties. Of course, they also wanted to participate in the competition. They could choose one of the two opportunities. As long as they were on the right team, they would get a lot of money.
To them, this was not a small sum. They could save up the money and spend this year without any worries. Next year, they would be able to take the imperial examinations again.
In addition to those who wanted to find something to do, those who were rich also wanted to participate. It wasn't for the reward, but fame. If people remembered them, they would have some fame in the future. Otherwise, why would they insist on treating others to a meal? They drank all day and had a splitting headache. Wasn't it just to be famous?
The sound of gongs and drums was not small. Even people who had a hangover last night would be awakened by the noise as long as they were on the two sides of the Vermilion Bird Avenue.
Some officials' mansions were also here. When they heard the noise outside, they asked the servants in their mansions to investigate. When they returned, they said that it was a matter of two counties and involved the Zhang Family and Wang Family. Many people pretended that this matter didn't happen. Only a few people complained.
Some people praised this matter. These people were basically wholeheartedly devoted to the country and the people. They knew what was involved in this matter. The students who were in dire straits could finally settle down.
In addition to the attention of these students, there were also some businessmen and families who lacked manpower in their mansions. The businessmen wanted to go to the competition venue to take a look. It would be better if they could sell something. If they couldn't, perhaps they could find a talented person and betroth their daughters to him.
The families who lacked manpower were naturally unable to judge the number of invitations sent by so many students. They didn't look for people, not because they didn't want people, but because they didn't know how talented they were. Those invitations might have been written by others.
At this time, knowing that there was going to be a competition, they sent people from their mansions. Countless students, as long as they competed, they would naturally know who was good and who wasn't. At that time, they would recruit people, even if it cost more.
This was also the purpose that Zhang Xiaobao wanted to achieve. He wanted more people to pay attention to the two counties.
He and Wang Juan had already set off. They took a boat and went to Little Luoshui. Today was the second day that those businessmen stayed in the first house near the water. Fast horses passed back and forth. After all, it would take some time, so it was better to go there in person.
The two of them set off from the dock of Huayuan County. On the way to Between the Clouds and the Water, they didn't receive much attention. But when they arrived between the Clouds and the Water, when the people there saw the two rice seedling flags on the boat, they directly sent a boat to welcome them.
"This is the real home. In this small piece of land, we finally don't have to worry." Wang Juan saw the boat coming and said with relief.
"Yes, this is our home field. If we go further, the people on the boat will have less to worry about." Zhang Xiaobao also relaxed. He looked at the restaurants and waved his hand vigorously at the ships that were coming towards him.
Immediately, there was a wave of greetings on the boat.
When Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan's boat joined the boat Between the Clouds and the Water, the people in the restaurant Between the Clouds and the Water who could see this place were all shocked.
What a big show! Even the Marquis's escort boat was surrounded. There were only two children on the bow of a small boat, but so many people were alarmed. On the boat that greeted them, there were even managers of restaurants.
Those who knew the situation could only sigh at the power of the Zhang Family and Wang Family here. Those who didn't know the situation asked the waiter. The waiter's answer was simple. The people on the boat were the young master and young lady of the main family. As long as they weren't stupid, they would know who the main family was.
After passing the restaurant Between the Clouds and the Water, when Zhang Xiaobao looked at his home again, he found that it was different from when he left. It was really like what he thought at the beginning. The two of them only learned about it in the letter, but they didn't see it with their own eyes.
"If it weren't for my father's urging, I would go back and stay for a few days and play with the children on Zhuangzi. When I move in the future, I must bring them with me. It's comfortable to look at them."
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan didn't intend to keep a low profile at this time. The main family's people came here not only to show their dignity, but also to show their recognition of this place.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
