When I come to Qujiang Pond to relax, I have to eat fish. I have told my wife many times that she should eat less fish, meat and eggs due to her current physical condition. This will only make her bloating more uncomfortable.
If I squeeze her a few more times at night, I will only make myself more tired.
"Master, when will we go to Lishan again?" Xiao Wu asked in a low voice.
Xu Hui on the side is also full of expectations.
Zhang Yang threw the fish's entrails into the lake, "After the imperial examination is over and the court is done with these days, we will go to Lishan to build a new home."
"Hmm, I also want to help Master." Xu Hui made a fist with her little hand to cheer herself up.
They are at the age when they are most playful, and studying with their daughter-in-law at home all day long is really boring for them.
Li Yue is also concerned about Lishan's accounts and should really find time to go back.
The aunt handed the little bear some hawthorns. He ate them in his mouth and stared at the fish grilled on the shelf.
Zhang Yang looked at Li Yue. She crushed the pepper with a medicinal twist, mixed it with salt, and then sprinkled it on the grilled fish.
Look at her slender fingers, spreading the finely ground pepper and salt, layer after layer, and then start grinding the next ones.
Xiao Wu looked at this scene and whispered: "Master, it will be very salty to eat like this."
Zhang Yang nodded, "Your teacher has been eating plain food for a year, but lately he always wants to eat something with strong taste."
Seeing that she still looked troubled, Zhang Yang looked at the boiling rice porridge in the pot and said, "Take two more mouthfuls of porridge when eating."
After hearing the suggestion, Xiao Wu nodded secretly.
Then bake some small fish until crispy. These crispy fish are the little bear’s favorite.
Zhang Yang picked up the warm porridge placed aside.
I tasted the porridge myself to see how warm it was before feeding it to my daughter.
Xiao Wu and Xu Hui ate grilled fish together, taking a big mouthful of porridge with each bite, their cheeks bulging.
Their eyes looked at the teacher from time to time.
Not surprisingly, these grilled fish were extremely salty, but the teacher was still very satisfied.
"It seems a little salty." Li Yue finished eating a piece of fish and took another sip of water.
Looking at the two little girls, she asked warmly: "Isn't it salty?"
Xiao Wu swallowed the porridge in his mouth, "It's quite delicious."
Xu Hui also smiled reluctantly, "Well, the fish baked by the teacher is delicious."
Li Yue nodded with satisfaction.
The two little girls obviously spoke very reluctantly, but the wife was still content. Could it be possible that she was pregnant for three years?
With little experience, Zhang Yang could only rely on his own feelings to understand.
But when it comes to math problems and teaching her disciples, her thinking is still very clear, and she is not completely stupid.
Zhang Yang patiently fed the child porridge. From the beginning, he was a little resistant to it, but now he can eat a few mouthfuls.
After feeding less than half a bowl, she began to resist.
Zhang Yang finished his daughter's remaining porridge.
The warm breeze blows, which always makes people sleepy in the afternoon at this time of year.
Li Yue, Xiao Wu and Xiao Hui are taking a nap in the waterside pavilion.
Picking up the toolbox he brought, Zhang Yang took out two bullets, which were one of the latest achievements of the Lishan Blacksmith Workshop.
The elastic is wound into a circle the size of a little finger.
The quality looks pretty good.
After Master Jiang and the others repeatedly forged the iron material, before calcining it to cool down, they wound it up and tightened it while forging it to achieve the current result.
It was a very laborious and clumsy method, and it was the only way to do it when the casting technology was still backward.
Sitting cross-legged in front of the waterside pavilion, he took out the sleeve arrows he had made.
Take out two more small wood chips and sand them carefully.
Use two pieces of wood to make a button, then press the elastic tightly and put it into the sleeve of the Xiujian.
Aiming at the wooden stake in the distance, he clicked the button of the wooden piece, and under the push of the bullet, the sleeve arrow came out.
Under this kind of elasticity, many parts above the sleeve arrow were broken apart.
The arrow was lost not far away
There was no wooden stake hit.
Zhang Yang packed up the parts on the floor and let out a long sigh. The sleeve itself was still not stable enough.
He took out a stack of drawings and revised them carefully.
The two aunts stood aside and observed quietly. What the magistrate wanted to make was a hidden weapon hidden in his cuffs.
It's a very insidious weapon, and as a warrior, I don't approve of it.
If you want to hurt someone, why use such a hidden weapon? Just throw a knife and you can hurt someone.
Xiaohui woke up. She carried her skirt and came to the lake. She washed her face with lake water and felt refreshed.
Seeing the drawings one after another, Xu Hui asked curiously: "Is the teacher improving this weapon again?"
Zhang Yang modified the drawing and nodded, "I need to replace the wooden parts with iron. However, according to current expectations, changing most of the parts to iron will increase the weight and make it not so light to use."
Xu Hui picked up the sleeve arrow on the ground and looked at the sharp arrow carefully. "The teacher said that Lishan's technology can only be used in production."
He had indeed said this himself, and Zhang Yang explained in a low voice: "Technical improvement is often not just about raising a level. If this sleeve arrow can be successfully made, it means that Lishan's casting level has risen to another level."
"This is a joint improvement in precision and quality. Technological changes can be applied in more places. For example, when we create spring, it means that our forging process has reached a new level, whether it is the expansion of the hardness of iron. Sexuality can be greatly improved."
Xu Hui supported her chin with one hand and was digesting these words, "Just like if a person has talent and knowledge, his understanding of world affairs can also be improved?"
Zhang Yang smiled and did not deny it, "Assemble the parts of Xiujian and put them into a small box."
"Yeah." Xu Hui obediently picked up the small parts on the ground.
The child in the stroller also woke up. She looked at her father beside her with clear eyes and reached out to grab the ribbon floating down from the stroller.
The little bear's ears moved. When he heard the child making some noise, he immediately sat up. First he scanned the surroundings vigilantly, then made sure the child was still fine and sniffed carefully.
Then he lay down on the ground very enchantingly and scratched his belly comfortably.
As evening approached, the blowing wind brought a chill, and Li Yue and Xiao Wu woke up from their nap.
Stretching comfortably, Li Yue picked up the child from the stroller again. Looking at the child's clear eyes and tender cheeks, her eyes became gentle.
Zhang Yang cleaned up the place and then the family left.
Zhongshu Province was busy for three days. During these three days, many officials stayed up all night, and finally arranged everything on the eve of the imperial examination.
In the examination room next to Chongwen Hall, a group of students lined up to enter the examination room.
Xu Jingzong and Zhang Xiangxiang stood on the roadside, looking at the group of people who were going to take part in the imperial examination, and their eyes fell on Xue Rengui and Pei Xingjian.
"Brother Elephant saw that the tall one and the short one were Pei Xingjian and Xue Rengui. The tall one was Xue Rengui, and the fifteen-year-old young man was Pei Xingjian."
Zhang Elephant asked in confusion: "Zhang Shangshu has taken a fancy to these two people?"
Xu Jingzong nodded and said, "Exactly?"
How much experience does a fifteen-year-old young man have? Can he do good things in the Diplomatic Academy?
And that Xue Rengui looks like a stupid guy with big, dumbfounded eyes.
Zhang Elephant looked confused, "Are these two people Zhang Shangshu's relatives or acquaintances?"
Xu Jingzong struggled and said, "I asked Zhang Shangshu and inquired about them, but I don't know them at all."
"Do you want the Foreign Ministry to accept these two people? What does he think?"
"The instructor asked who is going?"
There were many officers and soldiers guarding the imperial examination room.
In the past half month, Zhang Yang devoted all his thoughts to building a new home. He went to Lishan in the morning and showed an attitude of not being concerned about political affairs.
In more than 13 villages and counties in Shannan Road, Xiangzhou, six official schools have been built.
This is a big step forward for official education.
It is also the biggest achievement since His Royal Highness the Crown Prince presided over the official school.
There will be more official schools to be opened in the future. Despite the great resistance, Li Chengqian firmly stated that he had no intention of retreating.
The imperial examination lasted for five days, and all the examinations including Ming Jing, policy theory, arithmetic, and martial arts examinations were completed.
Half a month passed before the results of this imperial examination were announced.
Xue Rengui stood in the crowd and looked at the name on the list. He searched three times and found Pei Xingjian's name, but not himself.
This time, Pei Xingjian's imperial examination results were not good, and he was only in the bottom few.
The servant could see clearly that this was done deliberately by the young master. With his current knowledge, he could compete for the first place in the ranking.
How could it be possible that there are only a few at the end.
It's okay for the young master to be willful. Fortunately, he is on the list and can finally become an official.
The servant whispered: "With my current ranking, the young master can join the Hongwen Hall as an editor."
Pei Xingjian didn't pay attention to the servant beside him. Seeing Xue Rengui was about to leave quickly, he followed up with three steps and two steps, "Brother Xue, what are you going to do now?"
Xue Rengui's eyes became more decisive, "I already have a plan."
Pei Xingjian stopped him quickly, "Brother Xue, if you go back to Hedong now and leave with the Liu family, Yuan Liu will definitely let the officers and soldiers arrest you for kidnapping his daughter."
"You don't have to worry."
Xue Rengui's tone was firm, and with a slight push from the tall man, Pei Xingjian fell to the ground.
He carried the burden and walked faster and faster.
If you fail the imperial examination once, you will still fail the second imperial examination.
Liu Yuanwai can wait for one year, but cannot wait for the second year.
His daughter is getting older every year.
A woman always has to get married, and she won't always wait for him.
Pei Xingjian got up again and said, "Brother Xue, I know you will miss her, but why should a man suffer without a wife? Why should you suffer!"
"I have enough regrets in this life." Xue Rengui continued to stride towards the east city gate.
"Brother Xue, if you think about it again, I can use the elders in the family to find a way for you. At least let me try. Maybe there is room for mediation."
[In view of the general environment,
Xue Rengui kept walking, "You have helped me enough."
As they approached the city gate, a group of officials blocked their way.
Xue Rengui walked away with a low expression.
"Xue Rengui, Pei Xingjian, please stay." Xu Jingzong said loudly.
Xue Rengui stopped when he heard the other party calling his name, and he was wearing official uniform. "What's the matter?"
Pei Xingjian was also stunned, looking at the opponent's large number of men and menacing appearance, "Have we committed a crime?"
Xu Jingzong looked at the people following him, "Look at what you all look like. Who did you learn that fierce look from?"
Several strong men grinned and showed a friendly attitude.
He was already a big-faced and unshaven man, but his smile became even more distorted.
Xu Jingzong looked at the two people in front of him again, "Can you two take a moment to talk?"
Xue Rengui frowned and looked at Pei Xingjian. He usually made the decision on such things.
If something really happened, he could at least keep Brother Xue for a while. Pei Xingjian quickly bowed and followed him.
Xu Jingzong smiled and nodded, "This way, please."
He led them to a secluded house. This house was very dilapidated. Anyan Yan was imprisoned here before, but now it has been thrown into a black workshop.
Xu Jingzong looked around and said, "Although it's a bit dilapidated, it can still be inhabited after being tidied up."
"What do you mean by face to face? How do you address me?" Pei Xingjian was alert.
"The lower official is Xu Jingzong, the Minister of Rites, who helps Zhang Shangshu in charge of the Foreign Affairs Academy."
You can hear many of Zhang Yang's deeds in Chang'an City.
Pei Xingjian was filled with doubts.
Since his early years, he had heard that Zhang Yang had people come to ask about his current situation, and now it was Xu Jingzong who brought him to such a place.
It is said that Xu Jingzong is Zhang Yang's right-hand man. There are five ministers in the Ministry of Rites, four of whom serve in the Foreign Affairs Academy.
This Xu Jingzong was the first person to follow Zhang Yang.
Since Zhang Yang stopped caring about political affairs, Xu Jingzong was in charge of all affairs in the Foreign Affairs Council.
"I've met Mr. Xu." Pei Xingjian bowed slightly.
Xue Rengui also saluted, his movements a little clumsy.
Xu Jingzong smiled and said: "The results of the imperial examination have been produced. Last year, you, Xue Rengui, came to Chang'an City to take part in the imperial examination. That time, you were not hired by the imperial court. This time, you were still not hired by the imperial court."
Xue Rengui cupped his hands and said, "I am not knowledgeable enough and my skills are not as good as others. I have nothing to say."
Xu Jingzong sighed: "What are your plans for the future?"
Pei Xingjian was still thinking about the current situation.
Xue Rengui replied: "Go back home."
Xu Jingzong took out a brochure and handed it to him, "It is better to stay in Chang'an City than to return home. Our Diplomatic Academy is short of manpower. If Brother Xue is willing, you can come to the Diplomatic Academy as an official."
Xue Rengui took the booklet, which stated that he was appointed as the guard of the Foreign Affairs Academy.
Xu Jingzong added: "If Brother Xue is unwilling, you can just pretend that you didn't see this acceptance of fate."
"I have failed the imperial examination, can I still be an official?"
Xu Jingzong explained: "Brother Xue didn't know that in addition to the three provinces and six ministries of the imperial court, there are also the Imperial College, the Hongwen Hall, the Sifang Hall, and the Chongwen Hall. These official residences can accept people from the city, that is, people who fail the imperial examination can have a place."
"The same goes for our Diplomatic Corps. In addition to the officials approved by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, our Diplomatic Corps can also recruit its own staff from the public. For this purpose, we also purchased this residence. This was purchased by the Foreign College at the beginning of the year."
The other party gave me an appointment and a place to stay, and everything was already arranged.
Being able to serve as an official in Chang'an City, Liu Yuanwai must not have dared to worry about anything.
Seeing the two young men in front of him being in trouble, Xu Jingzong asked again: "What do you two think?"
Pei Xingjian asked, "These things were arranged by Zhang Shangshu. Can I see him?"
Xu Jingzong looked at Pei Xingjian. The fifteen-year-old boy was not tall, but his eyes were full of energy. Why did he want to see the Minister of Rites when he opened his mouth?
