"There are ten questions in the current affairs examination. They will ask about the situation around the Tang dynasty. They might ask about Tubo or Tujue. They might even ask about the Abbasid Caliphate and Tujue. They might even ask about the southwest barbarians."
On the first floor of the Ruoxiang Inn in the south of the city, a student picked up the newspaper from a few days ago and read about the imperial examination.
He had just rushed to Chang 'an and was delayed by illness on the way.
Along with him were three people from the provincial government. Four people were selected.
The three companions took care of him when he was sick and didn't dare to leave him alone.
They had 'examination tickets' in their hands to prove that they were examinees.
The examination tickets were proof of their identity and the recommendation letter from the provincial government.
If Meng Haoran got first place in the county, the county would give him a recommendation letter and he would take it to the provincial government. If he did well, the provincial government would allow him to take the imperial examination.
"Who wrote it? I don't see any literary talent. "The student's classmate next to him frowned.
Can't the things written in the newspaper be more literary? It's too white. It's embarrassing.
"You know how to deal with the Tujue just by being literary?" The person eating at the next table looked up at the four students.
The four of them had already noticed this person when he came in. He was in his forties and wore clothes made of fine hemp.
Small stalks of straw could be seen through the fine hemp, which meant that the clothes were filled with straw for warmth.
This person came in to eat boxed meals, which were free to eat for one coin.
During the day, boxed meals were sold in the south of the city. At night, the leftovers would be sent to the Li Family Zhuangzi inns in the south of the city.
Whoever wanted to eat could spend one coin and eat as much as they could.
Then some people who did manual labor and wanted to drink some wine would come in to eat.
Wine was naturally bought from the inn at the same price as the others. Only the dishes were cheaper.
If you wanted to eat the staple food, it was different. The boxed meals were not free.
Some scholars obviously looked down on manual labor. If it weren't for the fact that they had just come to Chang 'an, the student who spoke just now would have scolded them.
"How can we not know? Our Tang dynasty has repeatedly used troops. Although Tubo occupies a large area, we have spent a lot of money.
At this time, we should prioritize peace and ease the imperial court's financial crisis.
If we don't do this, where will the troops come from? All the soldiers who can fight are stored in Tibet. The northern part of the Tang dynasty is practically undefended. "
After the examinee finished speaking, a mocking expression appeared on his face. He looked at the laborer as if asking, "Do you understand?"
The person who was eating the leftovers glanced at the examinee. "The Turks are having internal strife and seeking peace. In the northern part of the Tang dynasty, Hengye could fight. The tribes of the grassland gathered and dispersed because of the momentum. If he were to slow down for a while, he would definitely become a problem in the future. The imperial court is not wealthy enough, so an ordinary man donates. "
After the man finished speaking, he reached into his bosom and took out a stack of coupons of different denominations and slapped them on the table.
"Shopkeeper Xiaodong, ask Li Dongzhu if the imperial court is short on money. If there's a shortage, those of us who work at the docks in the summer and pull carts along the river bank in the winter will donate ten carts each. "
The surroundings were silent. The four new students did the same thing. Their mouths were slightly open, and their eyes were fixed on the person carrying the work on the dock.
After a few breaths, one of the examinees who had just arrived at another table mumbled, "Are the requirements for working at the docks now so high?"
His friends nodded their heads vigorously. They felt that the shock they had just received was too great.
"Chang 'an is indeed different. Yesterday, I heard that a street sweeper composed a poem called" Ode to the Clear Dust ". I thought it was funny, but today I know that it must be true."
One of his friends sighed and admitted his mistake.
"You used the wrong words. What do you mean by Hengye could fight? Hengye could lie in the wilderness? "The examinee who had looked down on the examinee found fault with him.
"Hengye army." This time, several people spoke at the same time. Then, they looked at the examinee in surprise. "You don't even know about the Hengye army?"
"Old Du, you're talking nonsense. The imperial court has a lot of money. Moreover, if they need money, Dongzhu will find a way. They haven't arrived yet, so I'll boil the wine. "
The person in charge of the inn, Xiaodong from the Li Family Zhuangzi, walked over with four bundles of wine in one hand and a glass wine bottle with a capacity of more than 500 milliliters in the other.
"Xiaodong, I can't afford to drink this white wine." The person carrying the work saw the wine bottle and waved his hands.
"Other people's leftovers will be included in that one coin."
Xiaodong smiled and put the things on the table. The waiter immediately went to boil the wine bowls and water.
Xiaodong picked up the money on the table and stuffed it into Old Du's hands. "60% alcohol. The five of you can drink slowly."
Another waiter came out from the kitchen with a plate of cucumber mixed with pig's ears. There was chili oil on top.
"How can this be?" Old Du smiled bitterly.
He knew very well that because of his words, Xiaodong decided to send him wine and dishes. "Yes, it's fine.
Old Du, at least you know the situation at the border. It doesn't matter if your literary talent is lacking. After all, we don't take the imperial examination. "Xiaodong narrowed his eyes and looked at the examinee.
He was mocking him. If the person carrying the work was lacking in literary talent, then the examinee's literary talent just now …
The examinee: "…"
He felt guilty and felt that he might not be able to take the imperial examination this year.
It was too scary. The people in Chang 'an didn't have any literary talent or grasp of the country's affairs. They couldn't even do a job carrying the work?
The person who was mumbling just now had the same thought as him. He looked a little nervous. "Manager Xiaodong, I didn't take the imperial examination this year. I want to find a job as a waiter in your inn. Do I need to write? Are the questions difficult? "
"You can't be a waiter. Oh, it has nothing to do with literary talent. You examinees have noble statuses. How can you be a waiter?"
Xiaodong spoke honestly. The examinees wouldn't lower themselves to be a waiter. Only Dongzhu could do anything.
The examinees felt that his words were harsh. Were they being scolded?
"Old Du, you came first. Did you eat secretly? Aiya, Old Du, did you get rich? "
The curtains were lifted and four people came in. The one in the lead spoke as he walked. When he saw the wine on the table, he was puzzled.
"Manager Xiaodong, this is a gift from you. There's also cucumber mixed with pig's ears." Old Du pointed at the four wine bundles.
There weren't five bundles, but one for each examinee to set the atmosphere.
If each examinee had a wine bundle, they would drink their own.
Four out of the five examinees had to pour wine back and forth. Whoever poured more or less wine for the other examinees would appear closer.
The four newcomers cupped their fists to Xiaodong to express their gratitude. As for why, they would ask when they were eating.
They carried the trays to the place where the leftovers were placed. They would either scoop up the leftovers with a spoon or use tweezers to pick up the leftovers.
The good stuff in the leftovers were usually picked away. The leftovers were some radishes, cabbage, pig liver, chicken liver, and so on.
Those who were rich would still have leftover pork knuckles. These would be taken to the Grief Field Square.
Those who were too good wouldn't be able to eat them for a single coin.
Those that could be eaten for a single coin were vegetables after all. Even if it was cabbage, there would still be some oil in it.
Radishes and cabbages were rich in vitamins and chlorophyll. They worked hard and drank soup with oil. It was a good deal to spend a single coin.
Most importantly, it was warm to eat in an inn.
After that, each of them took out half a piece of black bread and prepared to dip it in the vegetable soup.
"Manager, see what other dishes can be added to their table. I'll treat them to the main dishes, including wine and rice."
A person who was dressed like a merchant sitting in the corner suddenly spoke.
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