Aunt Wang rushed into the house and dragged Cheng Wanwan up.
Cheng Wanwan quickly smoothed her hair and walked out of the yard. It was still dark, and most of the people in the village were awake and gathered around the big locust tree to watch the excitement.
She thought it was Widow Zhang who came back to cause trouble, otherwise why would there be so many people surrounding her on the three floors outside.
"It's Granny Zhang who is scolding Master Zheng." Aunt Wang looked disgusted, "Master Zheng and Master Qian are living well in Li Zheng's house. Granny Zhang insists on letting her niece take the two young masters to live in Zhang's house. This It’s only the first night, but something happened already.”
Cheng Wanwan turned around and saw that the two carriages parked at the entrance of the village were gone. In other words, Zheng Wangfeng and Qian Hui left Dahe Village overnight.
"You are a shameless bastard. You put on your pants and leave. You really think my family is easy to bully." Mrs. Zhang sat on the ground and cursed, "I am kind enough to take you here to live in my house. I will serve you delicious food and drink." You actually attacked my niece. My niece, a girl who is like a fairy, was ruined like this. What a crime!"
No one in Dahe Village stood in Mrs. Zhang's position.
"The eldest daughter of the Li family wears fancy clothes every day. Isn't it obvious that she is trying to seduce a young master from a wealthy family?"
"I also saw her talking to Master Shen. We, Master Shen, don't look down on this kind of thing, otherwise we would end up like Mrs. Zhang."
"To be honest, Granny Zhang is really brave. She dared to plot against Master Zheng, the son of the Fenghuang Town Magistrate. If Magistrate Zheng knew that his son had been slept with by a country girl, he would be very angry."
Mrs. Zhang got up from the ground with a cry and said angrily: "The Zheng family slept with a young girl in vain. What's wrong with him? The person who should be angry is my eldest brother and sister-in-law! If Zheng Wangfeng dares to be irresponsible, twenty people in our Li family will be killed." Many people went to the county government office in Fenghuang Town to ask for an explanation! Didn’t Zheng Wangfeng still have to take the imperial examination? If the court knew that he had done such a shameless thing, he would definitely not be allowed to be a scholar!"
The people in the village were speechless.
Although they didn't like Master Zheng's noble demeanor, they still silently sympathized with Master Zheng in their hearts.
Cheng Wanwan pressed his temples.
She specifically reminded her, but she didn't expect such a thing to happen. She could only say that people who want to die can't hold back.
She had no interest in this kind of excitement and went home to help prepare breakfast.
Several children in the family were also discussing this matter.
Shen Zheng sneered and said: "Don't look at Zheng Wangfeng's humble and polite demeanor. In fact, he already has two concubines and often visits brothels. Now, there will be a third concubine soon. Zheng It’s so lively at home.”
Zhao Sidan asked curiously: "What is a brothel, and what is a concubine?"
"Don't ask too much about your children." Shen Zheng changed the subject and said, "Today we are preparing for the exam. You should review it quickly. I will invigilate the exam. Anyone who dares to cheat will be kicked out."
After the autumn harvest during this period, every household had stored grain, and more children came to study. There were already more than 70 people. There was no table at the entrance of the Zhao family ancestral hall, so some younger children sat on the steps to listen to the class. A very serious person.
It has been more than a month since the class started, and this is the first exam.
After breakfast, all students gathered at the entrance of the ancestral hall, with a sand table in front of each person.
Because there are no extra pens, inks, paper and inkstones, the exam is also very simple. It is divided into two major sections, dictation, recitation and arithmetic.
Cheng Zhao set the questions on the spot and recorded the scores, while Shen Zheng inspected and invigilated the exams.
"The first part, write a single word silently." Cheng Zhao said loudly, "People."
As soon as he finished speaking, the students below wrote the word "人" on the sand table.
This is the simplest word and the first word everyone learns. Basically everyone writes it correctly.
"early."
This word is more difficult, half of the people died on the second question.
Cheng Zhao lowered his head and took notes on the paper.
After writing word by word silently, more and more students began to feel overwhelmed.
There are a total of thirty words in dictation. After the dictation is completed, it is recited. Cheng Zhao reads one sentence, and the people below collectively read the next sentence. Points will be deducted for those who do not open their mouths. Shen Zheng is responsible for keeping track. He does not study seriously, and he is especially good when invigilating the exam. Heart, whoever is cheating in it will be caught out in a flash.
The last section is arithmetic questions. Cheng Zhao poses the questions and the students write the answers on the sand table.
The exam lasted for nearly two hours before it ended.
The students can leave after taking the exam. Cheng Zhao and Shen Zheng stayed behind to tally the scores and divide them into classes.
There are seventy-two people in total, thirty-six people each in Class A and Class B. After the headcount statistics are written, they are posted at the entrance of the ancestral hall.
The students who had just finished the exam did not leave, they all gathered around to watch.
"I'm actually in Class A, am I so powerful?"
"I'm in Class B and I'm pretty good. I thought Cousin Cheng didn't want me anymore. I'm too stupid."
"My name is written first in class A, does it mean I am number one?"
Zhao Tiezhu asked, blinking his eyes, his big eyes full of expectation. Cousin Cheng said that the first place can be rewarded with a set of the four treasures of the study.
Cheng Zhao opened his mouth and said: "This exam is a preliminary test, there is no specific ranking. In order to distribute rewards, only the top three students in the two classes are announced. Class A, the first place is Zhao Sidan, the second place is Zhao Ergou, and the second place is Zhao Sidan, and the second place is Zhao Ergou. Three Zhao Tiezhu. Class B, the first place is Zhao Dawang, the second place is Zhu Huzi..."
The students jumped three feet high with joy when their names were called.
Cheng Zhao continued, "In addition to setting up awards for the top three, students who have made the most progress will also receive awards in the future. Everyone must study hard."
"We will!"
The children shouted loudly, and their voices echoed in the valley for a long time.
Zhao Ergou was a little unconvinced here: "Cousin, why are there only three arithmetic questions?"
He is the best at arithmetic. If there were twenty questions, he would definitely get the first place.
Cheng Zhao was asked. Because this dynasty did not attach much importance to arithmetic, arithmetic was always regarded as an additional question in the imperial examination. There was only one question. Nanfu Academy also did not attach much importance to arithmetic education. The book "Nine Chapters of Arithmetic" The gentleman just mentioned it and didn't force them to read it.
He did not pay much attention to arithmetic due to the influence, and instinctively lowered the proportion of arithmetic questions when asking questions.
But actually think about it carefully, how many students in Dahe Village can actually take the road of imperial examination? After they are almost able to read, arithmetic should be more important to them. If they learn arithmetic and can calculate accounts, they can go to town. It's better to be a little apprentice in a shop than to dig food in the fields.
Cheng Zhao said: "In the next exam, we will add some arithmetic questions."
Zhao Ergou bumped Zhao Sidan's arm: "Next time I will be the first, don't be happy too early."
Not to be outdone, Zhao Sidan said: "I'm not bad at arithmetic either, just wait and see."
Cheng Zhao silently decided to review "Nine Chapters of Arithmetic" when he went back later. In fact, he could only use arithmetic beads, and he didn't know much about some application theories in arithmetic. In order for himself to be able to assume the role of a gentleman, he had to draw Take the time to read through this book.
While a group of people were standing at the door of the ancestral hall chatting, not far away, a group of women suddenly surrounded the ancestral hall, each holding a bag of grain in their hands.
"Cheng Tongsheng, this is the repair fee paid by our family, ten pounds of white rice."
"Last time I came to my house, I gave you two loads of dry firewood. It was too little. I brought eight more pounds of rice. You must accept it."
"My grandson can even write the names of his whole family. It's all thanks to Cheng Tongsheng. You must accept these big steamed buns."
"Our family saved three eggs. Cheng Tongsheng took them back and cooked them to nourish his body."
