It had been about ten days since the examination, and Ma Liang went to the chess and card room to drink tea and play chess as usual. After the exam, there were also a lot of scholars who came here to relax and play. Today, in addition to Meng Huo and Zhu Rong, Ma Liang has another guest.
"Senior Brother Zhuoyang, it's your turn."
Ma Liang smiled and placed a piece on the chessboard. The middle-aged man opposite him suddenly frowned and was undecided. This man's name is Zhuo Yang, who came from the same college as Ma Liang and is much older than Ma Liang.
"Junior Brother Ji Chang's chess skills are still so superb. No wonder the teacher always talks about you."
Zhuo Yang smiled bitterly, Ma Liang's move made his situation dangerous, and he would lose the game if he was not careful. Ma Liang drank tea carefully, while Meng Huo watched the two men's chessboard attack and defense carefully. Only Zhu Rong was bored, leaning against the fence and watching the passers-by on the road.
"The list is released, the list is released."
Suddenly a voice shouted from the street. This simple sentence made all the scholars who came to Beijing to take the exam jump in their hearts and look downstairs.
I saw crowds of people surging on the street corner. A large number of people rushed to the chess hall, and some people walked all the way downstairs beating gongs.
"Is Mr. Ma Liang here? Is Mr. Ma Liang here? Congratulations on becoming a high school student!"
The officer who announced the good news went to the post house arranged by the government but could not find Ma Liang. After asking around, he found this chess and card room. There were many people around him who were watching the fun.
"Brother Ma, you won first place!"
Everyone looked at Ma Liang in surprise. Although Ma Liang is much more mature and steady than his peers, he is also beaming with joy when facing such a happy event.
"A Dong, go downstairs and ask the shopkeeper to exchange for five ounces of copper coins to give to the person bringing the good news. If you don't have enough, exchange for another five ounces of copper coins."
Ma Liang called the book boy next to him and handed him ten taels of silver. The book boy didn't dare to neglect. Seeing that the whole chess and card room started to become commotion, he quickly went downstairs with his money.
Some people asked, and the first place the officer reported for the general examination was Ma Liang, the second place was Kan Ze, and the third place was Sun Yu.
"Congratulations, junior brother, but I have to go and see the ranking first. I'll have a drink with you later."
Zhuo Yang no longer wanted to play chess at this moment. He knew that people who announced good news usually only looked at the top three, and just wanted to go and see if he was on the list.
Ma Liang quickly grabbed Zhuo Yang, who was not ready to stay any longer.
"Senior brother, don't worry, we will go take a look with you."
"That's fine, that's fine."
At this moment, in addition to a group of people watching the excitement at the door, there were also many people who came over to get to know Ma Liang or send greetings to the master of the family. Meanwhile, a group of scholars upstairs were anxious to go downstairs to look at the rankings. It was already a mess. one slice.
"Go this way."
Fortunately, Ma Liang often came to play chess and already knew the boss, so he took a few people through the side door of the kitchen and went downstairs, which was much smoother.
Looking at the door again, I saw the book boy A Dong carrying a big box and grabbing a lot of copper coins to give out money to everyone congratulating him. The scene of throwing money was quite enjoyable.
Meng Huo muttered.
"I usually feel nothing when holding these few taels of silver in my arms. It feels good to change them all into copper coins and throw them away in handfuls."
The few people didn't waste any time, got on the carriage and quickly arrived at the place where the results were released outside the examination room.
It was a very long and large open space, and there were already candidates gathered there in twos and threes, checking their names step by step. Zhuoyang ignored Ma Liang and others and hurried to the end of the list to start checking.
Ma Liang was not in a hurry. He already knew his ranking. He came here simply to see his name hanging on the list with his own eyes.
Like every candidate here, he has also been studying since he was a child. He has studied hard for ten years, isn't it just for this day?
Surrounded by those hurried figures, seeing his own name written on the first name on the list, as if a ritual had been completed, Ma Liang felt joy in his heart.
"It's you! How about it? The first place is Brother Ma Liang. You lost, why don't you learn to bark like a dog?"
"Hmph, who are we competing to win the top prize? Little girl, don't get too happy too early. The literary competition is not like the martial arts competition. After all, it depends on who evaluates the papers. The first place in the general examination may not necessarily lead to the first place in the palace examination. name!"
Ma Liang came to his senses and found that Zhu Rong behind him was quarreling with others again. The man who was quarreling with her had rye-colored skin, and his strong muscles could be seen through his thick winter clothes. His tiger eyes were glaring at Zhu Rong, and he was obviously a martial artist with extraordinary strength.
Ma Liang suddenly thought that this person was Sun Jiao, who had a bet with Zhu Rong. Thinking of Zhuge Jin's words a few days ago, he secretly screamed and was about to speak.
"Third brother, don't be rude!"
A man walked out from the crowd of people looking at the rankings. He was wearing Confucian clothes, but he was different from other weak Confucian students. He was tall and walked with great momentum. He walked to Sun Jiao and frowned.
"I told you before that the bet cannot count, and I told you to apologize when you meet that girl. Did you turn a deaf ear to my words? Have you forgotten the patriarch's daily admonitions? I raised you to be such a domineering general! "
I think this person is Sun Yu.
Sun Yu was so angry that he almost raised his fist to greet Sun Jiao, which made Sun Jiao silent for a moment.
After saying this, Sun Yu bowed deeply to Zhu Rong.
"Girl, I'm really sorry. My brother is used to being competitive. In the next generation, my third brother will apologize. Please don't worry, girl."
Seeing the man's gentle apology, Zhu Rong looked at Meng Huo and Ma Liang beside him. He felt a little embarrassed, scratched his cheek and said.
"This brother's words are serious. We don't know each other even if we don't fight. Let's forget this matter."
"Haha, you little girl has a bit of a harsh mouth, but it's quite refreshing to be a human being."
Just as Sun Jiao said something, he immediately shut his mouth when he saw Sun Yu staring at him.
Only then did Ma Liang find a chance to speak, and then he stepped forward and cupped his hands.
"But Mr. Sun Yu? I've heard of him for a long time."
Sun Yu saw that the man who spoke was coming together with Zhu Rong and others, and he looked very talented, so he quickly returned the gesture with his hand.
"I'm ashamed. Good things don't go out, and bad things spread thousands of miles. It's better that Mr. Ma Liang is famous in Jiangdong this time. I don't know how many aristocratic families want to invite Mr. Ma Liang to a banquet to get acquainted."
Ma Liang laughed.
"Then I have to take the opportunity to get acquainted with Brother Sun."
"What's so difficult about this? When the palace examination is over, I will hold a banquet and invite Brother Ma over for a drink."
The two parties turned their hostility into friendship, and soon they agreed to go drinking together after the imperial examination.
Seeing Sun Yu and Sun Jiao saying goodbye and leaving, Ma Liang was suddenly in a daze. Thinking of how hesitant about the future when he was in Zhuge Mansion, things went surprisingly smoothly. There is no evil person, nor does he use his power to bully others. It seems that as long as he passes the palace examination, the road will be smooth.
Ma Liang was stunned, Zhuo Yang was back, but his expression was a bit sad.
"Failed again."
Seeing that Ma Liang was about to speak but hesitated, Zhuo Yang spoke first. Everyone didn't know how to comfort him for a while, so they could only take the car back in despair.
