In Wang Liangtian's respectful and joyful farewell, Zhou Bai left the contiguous fields in a carriage and embarked on the road to Bei'an County.
"Master Bai, is twenty taels too much? We, Pingcang, belong to the north and produce livestock. The prices of horses and cattle are not high. If you buy a cow and dig two ditches, the old farmer can earn at least five taels." Not long after driving out, the veteran driver finally spoke up.
Zhou Bai opened the curtain in front of the car, sat out and said, "Just let him earn. When I have more acres behind me, will more people be willing to farm for me?"
Laobashi was stunned, looked at Zhou Bai deeply and said, "I haven't asked Master Bai why he fell in love with me as a groom."
"Of course you have served in the army and have rich experience." Zhou Bai was still observing the terrain and scenery along the way, seemingly casually.
Not long after the enemy of the grassland was swept out of the Northern Territory of Daxu, they may come back at any time. Cangshan hides too many restless factors.
Even the caravan carrying the Zhou flag was actually peeped by gangsters.
"I thought I hid it well and the master didn't notice it. Aren't you afraid of getting into trouble?"
"Not afraid, no, I should still be a little afraid, after all, I didn't even ask your name."
…
The Daxu area is extremely vast, with many border prefectures and counties. Zhou Bai set out on February 20th and only checked into the county inn on the evening of February 21st.
Although the Zhou family is just a rural family, many of them do business in the county and county towns, so they can't help with big things, so it's okay not to help them book a guest room.
Yuelai Inn, in the room with the local name, the windows were bright and clean. Zhou Bai looked around and was very satisfied.
"Master Bai, please forgive me, the Tianzihao room has been booked one month in advance." A young and capable clerk touched his head and said sheepishly.
"That's good. Thank you Uncle Fifth for me." Zhou Bai smiled slightly and stuffed another piece of broken silver into the waiter's hand.
"Then you rest first? I'll take him to the guest room below." The young man was very happy and became more energetic in his work. He was about to move into another separate room with Lao Tie.
The county examination was just held on February 27th, so there was plenty of time to register and adapt.
In the county town, the Zhou family is not considered a local coward and does not have any privileges, but the memory of Zhou Bai's two lives is still there, and some procedures will not go wrong.
As usual, it is personal guarantee, mutual insurance, and guaranteed insurance. The three policy documents have not changed, but the insured insurance requires an additional resident guarantee.
Earlier, when Zhou Baizhong won the first place, a junior student from the county school took the initiative to come to the door. This has also been perfected.
Finally, with the documents of a child student, Zhou Bai received the exam number plate and was told that there were several locations where free meals would be provided to out-of-town candidates. If they had any difficulties, they could apply for temporary accommodation.
Holding the student's documents and placing them in a normal place means showing more respect, or gaining trust when applying for a first-year teacher, but there is no substantial benefit.
However, during the period when the county examination is held, children who take the examination are privileged. Governments at the county level and below are not allowed to make things difficult for children. If they need assistance if they have difficulties.
Therefore, as in the Mandarin novel, the situation where rural scholars were embarrassed when they went to big cities to take exams did not happen, and there was no sign of the usual ruffians or domineering young men on the streets.
Zhou Bai went to see the help mentioned by the clerk. The food was only steamed buns and porridge, and the accommodation was a bungalow with bungalows, and the conditions were extremely rough.
This kind of examination assistance measure is of no use to most children. After all, if they can study for the imperial examination, their families will not be too poor. However, Zhou Bai also has to admit that it is such small favors that give the lower class scholars a glimmer of hope.
A poor family can produce Jinshi, a peasant family can produce a scholar, and there is a way to rise, and intensified conflicts can be alleviated.
A few days before the exam, Zhou Bai did not study behind closed doors, but took the initiative to participate in literary and poetry gatherings organized by candidates during the same period.
After relying on his extraordinary conversation and a few short poems, Zhou Bai became famous and gained a certain reputation in the county.
These short poems spread to the ears of the scholars in the county and city, and they all concluded that they were all red poems. Some families also took out special utensils to test the literary quality. Finally, one poem detected a line of golden aura.
Although it is still a red poem, it already has the atmosphere of a golden poem. If more time is given to write poems, maybe a golden poem will be born.
More and more people heard about the talent of Pingcang County's No. 1 child, and invited her out one after another. Even in several brothels, there were rumors that a certain famous prostitute wanted to spend the night with her.
Of course Zhou Bai knew that this prostitute was just seeking fame for her poetry, so he didn't go there. He hadn't even settled down yet.
The last poetry meeting before the exam was held at Canglan Pavilion, thirty miles outside Bei'an City. This pavilion has a long history, a unique and simple shape, and stands tall. From a distance, it might look like a building.
Even the mountain on which Canglan Pavilion sits is named Tingshan because of this, but it can be said that they are mutual achievements. This Tingshan is backed by a gurgling stream, and the peaks are beautiful and tall, and everyone who comes to visit is amazed.
Zhou Bai climbed up the stairs and looked at the tall pavilion not far away, thinking silently in his mind.
The preparation for becoming famous in the past few days was just to invite him to the Tingshan Poetry Festival. This was related to a chance in my memory.
The Qi-watching technique cannot measure one's own Qi, so Zhou Bai often uses the figure on the first page of the Book of Luck to observe his own Qi. Since the county examination, his external luck has been decreasing.
Even with the luck brought by being the first child, there is no trace of red energy in his current luck, and the effect of the first luck string incense has been exhausted.
Zhou Bai had inquired and found out that several county magnates in Bei'an County would have direct descendants to participate in the county examination. Plus the direct descendants of county magnates from other counties, his luck would only be at the bottom.
The county spirit is red and the county spirit is yellow. Which of the county geniuses is not the son of luck?
One lucky string incense can barely make him top the county examination, but it does not mean that two can reach the top of the county examination. It is difficult to be in the top ten of the youth examination.
Qingwen requires the right time, place and people. It is difficult to write a topic for you, and Zhou Bai's two generations of accumulation cannot guarantee that it will be completed overnight.
What's more, the talents of scholars are limited, and it often takes a long time to save up to write a youthful essay. He also wants to rely on youthful essays to impact people's success, so how can he freely overdraw his talents?
Tongsheng and scholars are not yet familiar with the Taoist scriptures, but when they pass the provincial examination, they will have to read more about the Taoist scriptures, and when they reach the Jinshi level, they will test the entire Taoist scriptures.
This is the Tao first and then the Dharma, learning the Tao first and then learning the specific Dharma. Once a Jinshi begins to study Dharma, their cultivation level will often increase greatly within a few years, surpassing the Taoist priests who have studied Taoism for decades.
Qing Wen, who was tainted with the content of Taoist scriptures, could help him practice, but Zhou Bai didn't want to dry up the lake.
Inside the Canglan Pavilion, there are many people and the music of the piano is playing, as if there is a lively party.
Zhou Bai did not go in immediately, but stopped in front of a stone tablet and looked at the records of Canglan Pavilion.
In the fifteenth year of Emperor Yuanguang's reign, Xingwu Bo set up a pavilion here to offer sacrifices to the mountain god of Tingshan Mountain, to protect his family, and to promote martial arts in Bei'an...
Uncle Xingwu, a hero in Kaibian, advocated martial arts, and set up a pavilion to worship God. Did he want to promote martial arts in Bei'an County?
Zhou Bai was dumbfounded, but now Canglan Pavilion has become a gathering place for literati and refined scholars, and the promotion of martial arts has become the promotion of literature.
"Hey, our great Zhou poet is here. Come on, let me introduce you..."
