Zhu Pingan returned to the inn and began a life of studying in seclusion. Other candidates usually participated in some poetry societies, poetry societies, gatherings, etc. to make a name for themselves, but Zhu Pingan did not participate in any of these.
Except for the occasional visits by Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen, Zhu Ping'an has always been studying in seclusion in the inn room.
Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen took Zhu Ping'an around the capital during several visits, focusing on the Gongyuan in the southwest of the capital, and visited Biguan Hutong, Liyu Hutong and Donutizi Hutong. Penguan Hutong, as the name suggests, is a street selling pens and paper; Liyu Hutong and Donutizi Hutong are places where candidates can stay.
Liyu Hutong was originally a small alley, first called "Old Man's Hutong". Most of the rich candidates who came to Beijing rode donkeys to Beijing and lived in Donutizi Hutong. It is said that once during the examination, a poor candidate had no money and his family was poor, so he rushed to take the exam day and night, step by step, on his own two legs. Because he arrived late and all the residences were overcrowded, an old man who lived in Laoren Hutong near Gongyuan took him in. Three days before the imperial examination, it suddenly started raining heavily. There was an explosion of thunder, and then a shining white carp jumped out of the clouds and landed on the street where the Henan candidates were temporarily staying. After a while, the thunder started again, and the carp jumped into the sky and flew straight towards the examination room of the Gongyuan Examination... ...So some old people said, this is 'carp jumping over the dragon's gate'.
The exam started in three days, and the poor candidates turned out to be in high school. This candidate was very conscientious. The first thing he did after the results were announced was to visit the old man who helped him and build a large archway for him. From then on, Liyu Hutong became famous far and wide. During each examination period, candidates from all over the country gathered in Liyu Hutong to seek good luck.
Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen lived in Liyu Hutong. They rented a private house, which cost a lot of money. Each of them also brought two maids and a bookboy to serve them.
As the exam period approaches, Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen come less and less frequently. Especially inspired by Zhu Ping'an's retreat to study, the two of them gradually put off the poetry meeting and concentrated on preparing for the exam.
Zhu Pingan seemed to have returned to the college entrance examination era. I stayed at home and studied hard. Three meals a day were provided by the store clerk. This was the request of the store clerk. The three meals a day are provided with great care, on time and on time, and the combination of meat and vegetables is excellent.
On this day, Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen came together again and invited Zhu Pingan to go to the Yamen to register his identity. Zhu Ping'an's life of studying in seclusion only lasted half a month before it had to end because the examination was about to begin. Zhu Ping'an miscalculated the time of the test. The Ming Dynasty's examination was held in February. The March originally recorded was the time of the examination after the Qing Dynasty changed it.
The examination is hosted by the Ministry of Rites, and the process is similar to that of the provincial examination. You must first register your identity, which is equivalent to registering for a modern examination, and then take the exam. After all, the examination is a centralized examination for people from all over the country. If you don't register, you don't know how many people will take part.
"Have you heard? It is said that Enke will recruit 400 people for this exam, which is nearly a hundred more than in previous years."
On the way to register. Zhang Siwei suddenly looked mysterious and excited, and said to Zhu Pingan and Wang Shizhen.
"Ziwei, you are really well-informed." Zhu Pingan couldn't help but admired after hearing this.
Zhang Siwei's family is a wealthy family of salt merchants in Puzhou. His uncle is Wang Chonggu. He was a Jinshi in Jiajing for 20 years. He is also a fierce man. He should be a magistrate somewhere now. Sure enough, there is someone in the court who likes to be an official, and he can even find out the admission quota for this kind of examination.
In previous years, about 300 people were admitted to the examination. If there are really 400 people admitted in this year's general examination, then I will have a little more confidence.
Zhu Ping'an was quite happy to hear this news.
"Well, yes. I've heard about it too. This change is a blessing for you and me. It's very satisfying for you and me to pass the list together."
Wang Shizhen had heard the news for a long time, but when she heard it again, she still felt excited. Especially thinking about it. If I passed the exam together with Zhang Siwei and Zhu Pingan, I would be even more excited. Wouldn't it be great if we have similar interests, get to know each other before taking the exam, and win the exam together?
"I am relieved that Wen Sheng will take the exam. The Wang family of Taicang is the best in the world in clothes, poetry and writing, and Wen Sheng is the best in the Wang family. He will definitely pass the exam in one fell swoop. The questions in Zi Hou's exam are not big. Although Hou is young, he has quick thinking, which is rare in the world. Moreover, as is the custom of our dynasty, the examination results are divided into North and South, six from South and four from North. There are many places this time, and Zihou is ranked in the South. This exam will definitely be a big one. There is a gain.”
Zhang Siwei pointed at Wang Shizhen and then looked at Zhu Pingan, both of whom had high hopes for this interview.
But when it came to this, Zhang Siwei changed his words, pointed at himself again, and said with a wry smile, "My words may hold you back."
"Ziwei is joking again. If others don't know it, Zihou and I don't know it. Ziwei, you are excellent in articles and calligraphy, and you are knowledgeable about the past and the present. You are a famous 'true naturalist' in Puzhou. You are especially famous for your eight-legged composition. I am good at poetry. , but the Eight-gut has been inferior to you for a long time. Zihou, don’t believe his nonsense, Ziwei is a cool person and loves to joke."
Wang Shizhen shook her head, pointed at Zhang Siwei, and smiled at Zhu Pingan.
"Wen Sheng, please don't come to comfort me." Zhang Siwei said with a bitter smile.
"I said, you two will definitely be on the high school ranking list this time, believe me or not?" Zhu Pingan looked at the two of them and said with raised lips.
"Zihou, come and laugh too."
"That's right, despite Zi Hou's honest face and his youth, in my opinion, Zi Hou is more clever than Zi Wei."
"That's because people were blinded by Zihou's honest face and lost their vigilance. They really hate my parents for giving me such a handsome face, haha."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen turned around and started laughing at Zhu Ping'an.
"Ten taels of tattooed silver, I bet you two will be on the list." Zhu Pingan curled his lips and said with a confident smile.
"Where do you get your confidence?" Wang Shizhen looked at Zhu Pingan and asked.
"It's not about confidence, it's about trusting you." Zhu Pingan smiled lightly.
"Okay, just as Zihou said, if I win, I will give you a hundred taels. However, if I fail, you will be destitute." Zhang Siwei said with a smile.
"Second." Wang Shizhen agreed.
Both of them come from well-known families, so they really don't take this money seriously.
"That's a good relationship." Zhu Ping'an laughed and said, joking, I know history, you two will definitely make the list this time.
"Zihou, you just talk about us, why don't you talk about you?" Wang Shizhen asked.
"If Zihou doesn't say anything, it's stable." Zhang Siwei answered for Zhu Ping'an with a smile.
The three of them just chatted and laughed all the way to the registration. After the registration was completed, they went back to prepare for the test. (To be continued.)
