It's the time for the annual government examination again. It's not even midnight and it's not bright yet. The outside of the Gongyuan examination shed in Xiping Prefecture, Liangzhou is crowded with all kinds of people. There were minor officials on duty to maintain order, family members and relatives taking exams, passers-by and neighbors watching the excitement, and servants and servants accompanying them. Thousands of people were busy.
Of course, the largest number of candidates are all kinds of candidates, including confident and high-spirited students, ignorant and ignorant first-time children who follow suit, calm and silent examination room veterans, and even old scholars with white hair and beard who still have illusions.
Among all these people, whether they were anxious, pretending to be careless, or talking loudly with others, all of them, without exception, were always paying attention to the gate of Gongyuan. This opportunity only comes once a year, and it's about to start, so we can't delay the business.
There was only one person in the entire scene who didn't care about this. Instead, he looked left and right, walking back and forth among the crowd, as if looking for an opportunity to strike. This is a young man of fifteen or sixteen years old. He wears a worn-out Taoist robe that doesn't fit well. He has a delicate face and a slightly thin figure. His big eyes seem to be full of aura, which makes people feel close to him.
Suddenly, he seemed to have discovered his target. He walked a few steps forward and came to a fat scholar in rich clothes. He bowed his head and said, "Xiao Dao Qingyang is polite."
Next to the fat scholar was a servant with a squinting look. When he saw someone standing in front of him, he reached out and pushed him: "Go, go, don't block our way into the venue. If it delays our young master's exam, You, a bad Taoist priest, cannot afford to suffer."
After finally encountering a big fat sheep, how could we just let him run away? The little Taoist priest Qingyang stood there without moving, just looking at the fat scholar.
The fat scholar didn't have any prejudice against the little Taoist Qingyang. He looked at him sideways for a long time and said, "Why are you blocking my way?"
The little Taoist priest Qingyang took out a yellow talisman from his arms, held it in his hand and said, "I think this young master is extremely talented and wealthy. He must come from a famous family. There is a lucky charm here, which is just right for the young master." Because of his status, this talisman can increase the owner's luck and bless his wishes to come true. You can get it with only fifty big coins."
Increase your luck and make your wishes come true? How can there be such a good thing in the world? The servant next to him stood up again and said: "You little liar, you have deceived and tricked our young master. If you don't get out, believe it or not, I will take you to the government?"
Seeing that the man was about to take action, the fat scholar grabbed him, turned to the little Taoist priest Qingyang and said, "This talisman can really increase my luck and help my wishes come true?"
After being scolded by the servant, the young Taoist priest Qingyang thought that this business was going to be ruined. After hearing the fat scholar's words, he was overjoyed and said quickly: "Of course, this talisman is my master Songhe Zhenren who spent seventy-seven or forty dollars." It took nine days to refine it. It is extremely effective and can be used by both children and adults."
After receiving the confirmation from the little Taoist Qingyang, the fat scholar also looked happy. He reached out to take Lin Yang's magic talisman and hid it close to his body. Then he winked at his servant and asked him to pay. The servant didn't believe that the magic talisman was useful, but judging from the young master's thoughts, he knew that he couldn't buy it, so he reluctantly took out fifty pieces of money and threw it to Lin Yang.
This business was done so easily. The little Taoist Qingyang was ready to continue his efforts. He took out another crude jade talisman from his arms, then took a small step forward and whispered: "Except for that talisman, I There is a better treasure, which is this No. 1 Scholar Talisman. As long as you get this Jade Talisman, you will be able to think quickly in future exams. If you have divine help in writing, it is not impossible to become the No. 1 Scholar in every high school. "
The fat scholar seemed a little moved and said, "How much does this jade talisman cost?"
The little Taoist priest Qingyang stretched out two fingers and said: "I will only charge you a cost price for this Number One Scholar Talisman, which is twenty taels of silver! It's not that I am a big talker, but this Number One Scholar Talisman is too precious. This is my master's Song It took Zhenren He several years to refine it, and after it was consecrated, it was enshrined in front of the founder of the Three Qing Dynasties for decades. The entire Liangzhou is just like this, and it is priceless. If it is really sold cheaply, it will not Doesn’t it fit your identity?”
The young Taoist priest Qingyang was talking eloquently, but the fat scholar frowned and snorted coldly: "Do you think I am really stupid? To me, fifty pieces of big money is nothing at all. I will buy it." Your magic talisman is just to seek good luck, but in the end, you still trick me alone, which is really unreasonable. Get out of here, before this young master gets angry, get out of here quickly."
The servant next to him had long been displeased with the little Taoist priest, and finally found an opportunity to get angry. He pushed him and said, "You little bastard, if you don't get out of here, I'll do it."
Seeing that the other party turned against him, the little Taoist Qingyang knew that this was the only way to go. He didn't know how many times he had experienced this kind of thing. He was not angry at others' pushing. He just smiled and turned around and left the crowd. , moving towards the next goal.
However, after getting out of the crowd, the little Taoist Qingyang already had a piece of broken silver weighing half a pound in his hand. This was obtained from the servant by using his empty hand before leaving. Qingyang learned a lot of crooked ways from his master, but he didn't use them easily. This time, the servant repeatedly pushed and scolded him, and then he taught him a lesson. The servant was in charge of the fat scholar's money, and the money in his pocket There must be more than that.
At a quarter past two o'clock, the candidates began to enter the examination booth, and the number of people outside gradually became sparse. When the sun rose three o'clock, the candidates had entered the venue, and even the spectators left one after another. The little Taoist Qingyang completely lost his business.
It's just that this kind of opportunity to make money is rare. Academicians only get it once a year. I don't know when the next time will be. He touched his arms. All the dozen or so spiritual talismans he brought this time were sold out, and only one of the five jade talismans was sold. But overall, the income was pretty good. At least the master's drinking money this year was enough.
He turned his head and looked at Gongyuan behind him, and then reluctantly left the city. In order to earn this little money, the young Taoist priest Qingyang set out for Fucheng yesterday afternoon and slept on the street outside Gongyuan all night. Seeing the sun getting higher and higher, if he didn't walk faster, he wouldn't be able to get home at noon.
The young Taoist priest Qingyang and his master Songhe Zhenren depend on each other. They live in a small Taoist temple behind a hill not far from Fucheng. It is not too far from Fucheng, but the mountain road is rugged and difficult, and it takes at least more than an hour to walk.
