Xu Jinyu didn't know that the old man who made him feel a little baffled was the headmaster of the famous Dongchen Academy.
At this moment, he looked at the empty shadow under the century-old tree at the city gate, couldn't help but sigh, and then walked towards home honestly.
However, for Xu Jinyu today, this journey is nothing.
During this month, Xu Jinyu basically came to the capital on foot. Although he was a little tired, it was not without its benefits.
He was no longer out of breath like when he just woke up. He couldn't take a few steps and was coughing non-stop. Since you are going to take the imperial examination, a healthy body is also the top priority!
After Xu Jinyu came in, she discovered that this body was actually far from being as bad as Xu's mother and others thought. In fact, it was more due to lack of exercise.
After all, although the original owner had some congenital deficiencies, the Xu family raised her with all their heart, and gave her the best food and everything they could.
The most difficult period after the birth of a premature baby has long passed, but the original owner's family still treats the original owner as a glass man. He is obviously a farmer's son, but since the beginning of the year, he has not even seen the sun a few times.
Even during this literary debate, Xu's mother wanted to accompany Xu Jinyu in person, but Xu Jinyu refused.
The literary debate lasted for a month, and all the thin fields at home had been rented out because they were both women and children. On weekdays, Xu's mother relied on the embroidery skills she learned from Mrs. Xu, and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law supported the entire household together.
Xu Jinyu had no shame in asking Xu's mother to put aside her family's livelihood to focus on him. After all, her current status had caused a lot of trouble to her family.
The moon rose in the east and crows flew south. Bathed in the bright moonlight, Xu Jinyu finally saw the entrance to the village.
When Xu Jinyu got closer, he saw three people squatting from tall to short at the entrance of the village. Xu Jinyu hesitated and said:
"Mistress, eldest sister, little sister?"
Mrs. Xu rubbed her old eyes and looked at Xu Jinyu in surprise:
"Jin Yu! Jin Yu, is that you?!"
Xu Jinyu took a few steps closer to let Mrs. Xu see more clearly. Mrs. Xu leaned on a bamboo branch to stand steady, and then patted her chest:
"It's time to wait. If you come home a little later, your mother will go to the city to find you in person! Dani, go and tell your mother!"
"Hey, grandma, I'm going right now!"
After Dani left, Xu Jinyu quickly stepped forward to hold Mrs. Xu's arm. The wind was still chilly in the early summer night, and the back of Mrs. Xu's hands was extremely cold.
Xu Jinyu said with shame:
"Nai, it's my fault. I was delayed for a while in the city due to some trivial matters, and I didn't see the bullock cart. I won't do it next time."
Mrs. Xu patted Xu Jinyu's arm comfortingly:
"It's okay, it's okay, just come back, just come back!"
The little sister also said crisply:
"Brother, mother made delicious food today! But brother came back so late, I almost fell asleep!"
"It's my fault. How about I come back later and bring a candied haws to my little sister to make up for it?"
"Hey, Xiaoni is a greedy little cat. She jumps up and down when she smells the fragrance, which annoys your mother. You must give her some soup!"
Mrs. Xu directly exposed the younger sister's bottom, and the younger sister pouted angrily:
"No way! You are wronged! Brother, you can't forget the candied haws!"
"Okay, okay!"
Xu Jinyu agreed with a smile on her face, and the three of them returned home leisurely. At the door of the house, Xu's mother was wearing an apron and looking up. When she saw Xu Jinyu, her eyes suddenly lit up:
"Da Lang is back! Come in quickly, it's very cold at night."
"It smells so good. What delicious food did mommy make today?!"
As soon as Xu Jinyu entered the door, she smelled a strong aroma of food, and her saliva began to secrete subconsciously.
The tiredness of walking for an hour seemed to be gently soothed by an invisible hand at this moment.
"There are two winter melons ripe in the field today. Mom just went to the city to do some work, and went to Pork Liu to buy some big bones. Da Lang has been extremely thin these past two days, so he needs to make up for it!"
Mother Xu said with a distressed look on her face, and then brought up a pot of milky white winter melon bone soup.
Xu Jinyu has been immersed in it during this period, and he can be considered to have some understanding of the general structure of the capital.
The embroidery workshop where my mother goes to do embroidery work is in the south of the city, while the pork belly that my mother talks about is in the north of the city, and the two are the farthest in a straight line.
But because Pork Liu gives more meat each time, Xu's mother always likes to go there.
"It's a long way from the south of the city to the north of the city. Thank you for your hard work, mother."
Xu Jinyu sighed inwardly, saying that her mother was doing it all for him.
"Nothing, nothing. Pork Liu's pork is the freshest. Dalang, can you try the bone soup made by my mother? Is it right?"
Xu's mother said with a smile, and gave the largest and meatiest bone to Xu Jinyu, looking at it expectantly.
"You can tell it tastes good just by smelling it!"
As Xu Jinyu spoke, he took a sip of the bone soup. The rich and fragrant taste conquered people's taste buds at once.
Different from the modern pork that is specially cultivated with feed for fattening, every inch of meat and every flake of pork now is grown from pig grass, and the taste of the real meat is different.
The rich and compelling oily fragrance made Xu Jinyu squint her eyes in pleasure:
"Fragrant! It's thick and yet sweet, fragrant but not greasy. It's so delicious!"
Especially today, when Xu Jinyu came back late, when the soup was simmered enough, the winter melon was smooth and delicious. It melted in the mouth with just a sip. The winter melon was full of broth, and it felt like eating meat.
This may be the wisdom of an ordinary woman like Xu's mother to ensure that her children can eat and drink well.
The family sat together and drank a pot of winter melon and bone soup in a lively manner.
"Dalang, what do you think of this argument? Are you sure about it?"
After eating, Xu's mother finally couldn't hold back and asked cautiously.
"Okay, the child has been tired for a day, you mother-in-law, don't let him worry!"
Old Mrs. Xu interrupted Xu's mother. Although Jin Yu was extremely talented, he was not like an ordinary child from a wealthy family. He was enlightened at a young age. If he could get one in the Dongchen Academy's student selection examination three days later, The quota has already been burned in the ancestral graves of the Xu family!
"Isn't it, isn't it that taking care of children these days is too hard? If this doesn't work, we should make plans in advance, right?"
Xu's mother said, her eye circles a little red. These days, she heard her mother-in-law talk about Da Lang's talent at home, and then she knew what Da Lang had become because of their delay.
Especially seeing the child gradually losing weight over the past month, the mother's heart felt like a knife!
When Mrs. Xu heard this, she also sighed. She was so shocked by Jin Yu's talent that she made a hasty decision.
Now, I am tired of my children and worried about my family.
Xu Jinyu listened patiently to what Xu's mother and Mrs. Xu said, thinking about the "admission notice" still attached to her chest, and hesitated for a moment.
If so, it was just a teasing move by the old man. If he said it rashly, wouldn't it make the family happy in vain?
He can be reckless with outsiders, but he is extremely careful with his own family.
"Mom, don't worry. I have also benefited a lot from this literary debate. I will definitely get results in this Dongchen Academy's student selection examination!"
Although Xu Jinyu had doubts about the "admission notice", he was quite confident in himself.
This time, he not only benefited a lot, he did not attend any of those essay debates, but also pondered the "answering skills" in his mind. Therefore, no matter whether this "admission notice" was true or false, he had something to gain. The confidence of Chen Academy!
Although Mrs. Xu felt a little relieved after hearing Xu Jinyu's words, that was just relief.
After a month of thinking about it, she still felt that she was a little too impulsive.
Jin Yu is only twelve years old!
Why did she put such a heavy burden on him?
Mrs. Xu pursed her lips and patted Xu Jinyu on the shoulder:
"Okay, Jin Yu, just try your best. If it doesn't work, we have another way!"
Xu Jinyu wanted to say something else, but she was quickly interrupted by Mrs. Xu, and Xu Jinyu couldn't help but smile.
It seems that he still has to wait for the day when he is actually admitted to Dongchen Academy.
The three-day period passed by in a flash.
When he got up in the morning, Xu Jinyu copied his own Tai Chi skills meticulously, and slowly finished each set, sweating all over his body.
"Da Lang, wipe it quickly!"
Dani quickly handed over a hot towel, Xu Jinyu took it and smiled:
"Thank you, eldest sister!"
Dani shook her head and couldn't help but hold her breath when she looked at Xu Jinyu's jade face that was shining in the sun after practicing Tai Chi.
She had known since she was a child that her brother was born well, and she was proud of him, but she never imagined that his brother was not her brother, but someone else.
And her real brother is greedy for glory and wealth, and she has never seen him before.
"Da Lang, I wish you were really my brother."
Dani said softly and softly. Xu Jinyu had a good ear and curled her lips after listening:
"What did eldest sister say? We are relatives to begin with."
When Dani heard the words, she opened her mouth, but didn't spit out a word.
Last night, Nai and Niang had already quietly packed their things. If Dalang was her biological brother, then they wouldn't have to leave as a family in a hurry.
I really hope that Dalang can be admitted to Dongchen Academy. However, Dani heard Liu Xiucai say that Dongchen Academy recruits talented people from all over the world. Not to mention the capital, there are countless people who are studying in other cities.
And Dalang only knew a few words before this, how could he make it?
Dani had a lot of thoughts in her heart, but in the end they all turned into a sigh:
"Da Lang, take the exam well, we will wait for you at home."
"I will!"
In the dim light of the morning, the young man finally faced the rising sun and embarked on the road to study. He stood upright, fearless, and strode forward. There was a smooth road ahead.
…
Today, at the foot of Xiangshan Mountain, there was a surging crowd. Xu Jinyu finally squeezed through the crowd and arrived at the registration office with a thin body of sweat.
"Name, age."
Dongchen Academy seems to be good at catching young men, and the ones taking the notes now are also students from Dongchen Academy.
However, perhaps because there were too many people today, the student was a little impatient.
Registration at Dongchen Academy requires a certain paper and pen fee. Xu Jinyu knew that money at home was hard to come by, so she was prepared to ask whether the "admission notice" was authentic.
"My surname is Xu, my given name is Jinyu, I am twelve years old. This brother, I came here to ask..."
"What? Twelve years old? Are you mistaken? Can anyone enter our Dongchen Academy?
After all the calculations, among the students admitted to Dongchen Academy, the youngest is Gao Wuya and Wuya Langjun, the top three talents in the capital, and he originally entered the school as a scholar! But you...it's better not to waste your money! "
Student Dongchen looked at Xu Jinyu with contempt. He had seen so many students like this. He thought he had learned a few words and dared to sign up. He didn't mind bothering others?
Xu Jinyu's hand touching the "admission notice" on his chest paused slightly and said expressionlessly:
"How did you know I was just wasting money?"
