The provincial capital is lively and prosperous.
From dawn to night, the streets are full of people. There is no curfew here, and there are also shops operating at dawn.
In the teahouses and restaurants on the street, literati can be seen everywhere. The literati who have just become literati spend money here just to find a good future.
In a high-end wine shop, Shen Zheng was sitting at a table with a group of literati, talking loudly, which was very comfortable.
"Brother Shen, you are so lucky this time. I heard that you also ranked before Sun Shan in the college examination. What kind of god have you worshiped?"
Shen Zheng waved his fan proudly: "That's because our ancestors of the Shen family have accumulated good deeds, so I have such good luck. You can't envy me."
One person sighed and said: "You can rely on luck in the college and rural examinations, but not so lucky in the general examination. The entire country's literati gathered in the capital, and those of us who are ranked last have no hope at all."
If students from a province who are ranked among the bottom take national exams, they will definitely be crushed and no scum will be left.
Although you are very lucky to become a Juren, who doesn't want to go further? Juren can only be the lowest official. If you become a Jinshi, you can find a formal official position. If you accidentally participate in the palace examination, this will Life is considered complete...
Shen Zheng was shaking his fan and seemed a little absent-minded.
At the beginning of the year, he felt that he was very lucky to be admitted as a scholar. Now that he has become a scholar, it stands to reason that the old Shen family is already burning high incense.
Perhaps under the influence of such an atmosphere, he actually wanted to go further.
A scholar next to him whispered: "Have you heard? Tonight, the academic official is hosting a banquet for the top twenty students who ranked in the provincial examination. If the rest of the people also want to participate in tonight's banquet, they must give gifts. The gifts they give can Only when you satisfy the concierge can you enter the banquet."
"Can those of us at the bottom also give gifts and attend the banquet?"
"Since there is such a rule, it should be possible. Seeing that it is getting late, I have to go back quickly to prepare gifts."
"Wait, let's make it clear first, how much is this gift worth at least?"
"Master Academician's banquets never disappoint. There are delicious food and fine wine, and maybe some news about the exams will be revealed on the spot. A gift of several hundred taels of silver is not too much."
"Hey, a few hundred taels..."
Some people gave up immediately.
Many of them, disciples from poor families, had been in the provincial capital for such a long time and had almost spent all their money. How could they still have a few hundred taels of silver left to spare.
Shen Zheng weighed his purse. When he came, his father gave him one hundred taels of silver, his grandmother gave him two hundred taels, and his godmother gave him five hundred taels. The total amount was eight hundred taels. It was unbelievable that he had spent so much money. I only have more than one hundred taels left... why don't I just go out to drink and chat every day? Why do I spend it so fast?
He got up to check out and then went back.
After arriving in the provincial capital at the end of August, he and Cheng Zhao did not stay in an inn. Instead, they rented a small courtyard in a small alley behind the bustling downtown. This courtyard only had four rooms. Because it was not far from the market, the prices of the surrounding small courtyards were very low. They were all coaxed up, and the monthly rent was as high as more than 20 taels of silver. Although it was expensive, it was cheaper than an inn, and it was better than being clean.
As he walked back, he met an acquaintance on the street.
"Hey, isn't this Master Zheng?"
Shen Zheng walked over with a smile, looked at Zheng Wangfeng, and couldn't help laughing when he saw the book boy behind Zheng Wangfeng holding a precious coral bonsai.
"Brother Zheng lost all face in front of the governor last time. I don't think the academic officer wants to see you. Your gift is in vain."
Zheng Wangfeng looked ugly.
He really didn't expect that Shen Zheng, a bastard, could be admitted to the Juren Examination. God was so unfair.
Shen Zheng, the last one, is very popular among the literati, and because he was set up at the last banquet, people in the circle sneered at him. He had to find a way to go further. Tonight was his only chance Chance.
"It's a pity, it's a pity. You are only the 21st, and you are still a little short of receiving the invitation letter from the academic officer." Shen Zheng tutted, "You might as well give this gift to the academic officer. This is for Brother Cheng. This time Brother Cheng came first and is very popular with the governor and academic officials. Isn’t it better for Brother Cheng to say a few kind words for you than to go there in person?"
Zheng Wangfeng's face turned livid with anger.
Many literati walked by and gave him strange looks. If he entered the residence of the academic officer, there would only be more such looks.
Among these people, many are jealous of him, and if he comes there, he will definitely cause trouble.
Shen Zheng is right, perhaps, this generous gift can be given to Cheng Zhao.
He suppressed his emotions and said, "Brother Shen is right. While it's still early, let's go visit Brother Cheng."
"Brother Zheng, you are a busy man, I just need to tell Brother Cheng for you." Shen Zheng brought the coral bonsai over without politeness, "Brother Zheng, don't worry, with me helping out, this matter will definitely be settled, Zheng Brother is just waiting for news at the inn."
He hugged the bonsai and left quickly.
Zheng Wangfeng's book boy frowned and said, "Master, why does this Master Shen look so unreliable?"
"Cheng Zhao is more reliable than him, but Cheng Zhao doesn't know how to accept gifts." Zheng Wangfeng pursed his lips and said, "Cheng Zhao and I have always been at odds. He was able to save me in front of so many people last time, which shows that he has good character. . This time Shen Zheng accepted my gift, which means he accepted the gift. He will definitely handle this matter well. Let's go back to the inn and wait."
Shen Zheng hugged the coral and returned to the yard triumphantly.
He has done some research on this aspect. This coral bonsai costs at least four hundred taels of silver to buy. Zheng Wangfeng is really rich.
He walked into the yard. Cheng Ding was sweeping the yard, and Ah Fu was cutting vegetables to prepare the evening meal. Originally, he meant to just come back from selling food in the restaurant every day, but Brother Cheng said that the food in the nearby restaurant was too much at this stage. It was expensive. Dishes that usually cost several hundred pennies could skyrocket during this period, so we finally decided unanimously to cook at home.
Fortunately, Ah Fu can cook some home-cooked dishes. If he gets greedy, he will go to the restaurant to buy some food and wine for the toothpaste.
"Brother Cheng, where are you? Why are you still reading?" Shen Zheng rushed into the study room, "The banquet will start in half an hour. Please change your clothes quickly and let's leave quickly."
Cheng Zhao put down his book and frowned slightly: "What kind of banquet? Where are you going?"
"Hey, aren't you the first place? You should have received an invitation letter from the academic officer. I heard that the top twenty in the provincial examination are all invited."
Ah Fu's head came closer, holding a dark black invitation in his hand: "Master, is it this? Mr. Cheng asked me to use it to start a fire..."
Shen Zheng's eyes suddenly widened: "Good guy, you want Ah Fu to burn an invitation letter that no one else can even dream of getting! Look what I have in my hand. It's what Zheng Wangfeng is preparing to give to the students. The gift from Master Guan was just to sneak into the banquet hall. But I promised him that you would say a nice word for him in front of Master Guan, so he gave this thing to you. I plan to borrow this thing to sneak in... …”
Cheng Zhao stood up with a serious look on his face: "We can't go."
