The county examination of this dynasty was held in February, on the ninth day of the second month. The imperial examination was quite strict. One needed to be recommended by four villagers and a scholar at the same time in order to take the examination.
In the past two years, Han Ze has successively bought two farms and several hundred acres of land. So far, he privately owns nearly a thousand acres of land. Many families in this village and several nearby villages are renting his land. He is quite prestigious in this area.
When the villagers heard that Han Ze's son Han Shubo was going to take the county exam and needed recommendations from the villagers, many families were eager to try. Although there were so many people willing to recommend their sons, Han Ze couldn't just pick a few people. The village head had to be selected, and the other three were picked from those with whom he had a good relationship.
As for the scholar's recommender, it was the teacher in the Book Museum. The scholar had to pay money for guaranteeing someone, but for Han Ze, it was not much, only five taels of silver.
But Han Chengming couldn't afford it. He was so anxious that he was scratching his head. He had only studied in the village school for two years. He had never asked about the procedures for the imperial examination, nor did he know what was needed for the examination. He only wanted his son to take the examination for a scholar, but he didn't expect that the county examination would require a scholar to recommend him. That would be fine, but the scholar would charge five taels of silver for the recommendation, so his two sons would have to pay ten taels of silver.
The money for the children's education was saved by the family through frugality. Since Han Chengming gave little money, the two children could only eat the lowest quality food in the school, and they were not full. Before entering the school, the original body would occasionally bring them a piece of meat to supplement them. Although the two children were not chubby, they had red lips, white teeth, and flesh on their faces, and they looked like spoiled children.
Looking at these two children now, they look pale, walk weakly, and their clothes are patched up. If they were not washed clean, they would be no different from beggars wandering on the street.
In Han Ze's opinion, the family was really poor, and it didn't matter if the children's clothes were a little worn out, as long as the children had enough to eat, even if they had to eat worse. A student in the school received two taels of silver in tuition per year, and for two sons, that was only four taels of silver. Han Chengming and his wife must have had some private savings, and during the slack season they would go to the town to find work, and the couple would at least earn four taels of silver in a year, so the children would not go hungry. In the final analysis, it was just laziness.
Han Ze always had a kind heart towards children, but Shubo came back and told him that the two brothers Han Jixue and Han Jiwen and several unlearned students in the academy had blackmailed him, and they were seen by his classmates in the dormitory, who gave them a severe lesson and said that they would ask the teacher to help them if they did it again. Only then did they dare not do anything again.
Han Ze frowned. Children are not all innocent. These two children are so vicious at such a young age. It must be for a reason that they would do such ungrateful things in the future. The only softness he had towards the two children disappeared.
Finding someone to recommend was an easy task for Han Ze, but Han Chengming was very distressed. At this time, he could see the importance of knowing how to deal with people. After searching the whole village, he couldn't find four villagers who were willing to recommend his two children.
Logically speaking, Han Xingwang had many brothers, so he should have been able to find four recommenders. However, even Han Xingwang's brothers were unwilling to recommend Han Xingwang's grandson, let alone the villagers who had no blood relationship with him.
Han Chengming complained, "Dad, why do my uncles hate our family so much? How important is it to pass the exams for the next academic and literary examinations? They passed the exams and became scholars, so as the great grandfathers and second grandfathers, they can at least benefit from it. Why don't they want to be the recommenders?"
Han Xingwang's face darkened, and he squinted his eyes and said, "If you don't want to, forget it. There are so many families in the village, I don't believe that we can't find four people."
Han Chengming said dejectedly: "I asked every household, and they clearly said they didn't want to."
Han Xingwang snorted coldly: "They are all villains who climb up the social ladder and bully the weak."
Seeing that they had offended Han Maode's family, he was unwilling to recommend them in order to curry favor with Han Maode. What else could he be but a villain
"When our Jixue and Jiwen pass the imperial examination, they will beg us for help." Liu Juhua also looked angry.
Han Chengming frowned and said dissatisfiedly: "The key point is that now it is time for us to ask for help. If we can't find a recommender, Jixue and Jiwen can't take the imperial examination at all, so why should we take the examination for the title of scholar?"
Liu Juhua was also annoyed: "Then what do you say we should do?"
Han Chengming stopped talking. If he knew what to do, would he still come to ask his parents
Han Xingwang said hesitantly: "His mother, if it really doesn't work, you should go and ask Han Ze for help. You can't delay the child's scientific examination."
Liu Juhua paused, her face darkened, and she said angrily, "I won't go to ask him, if you want to go, go ahead."
Han Xingwang advised: "You are Han Zeniang, it is not appropriate for us to go."
Liu Juhua turned her face away: "I'm not going anyway. It would be useless if I went. I'd be an ungrateful person and useless."
After so many things, she now has a clear understanding. No matter what she asks, Han Ze will not agree. Even if she threatens him that she is unfilial, he will not take it to heart. What else can she do
Han Xingwang sighed, "If you don't want to, forget it. Jixue and Jiwen don't have to take the imperial examination. Just study for two years and learn some words. It's not bad to find a job as an accountant in the future. At least it's better than his grandfather and father."
Han Chengming had high expectations for his two sons. After hearing what his father said, he immediately looked at Liu Juhua and said, "Mom, for Jixue and Jiwen, can you go and ask Han Ze for help again? Just this once. If he doesn't want to, we won't ask him again in the future, okay?"
Liu Juhua still didn't want to go, but for the sake of her grandson, what was wrong with her giving up her reputation
"Okay, I'll go."
I just hope Han Ze will remember our old friendship and be willing to help.
...
"You want me to be the recommender for Jixue Jiwen?" Han Ze looked at Liu Juhua in surprise.
"Just tell me whether you are willing or not?" Liu Juhua said expressionlessly.
Han Ze stood up straight, and did not say whether he was willing or not, but said seriously: "You can't just be a recommender casually. If they make mistakes in the future, the recommender will also be responsible."
As soon as he said this, Liu Juhua couldn't stop getting angry. What did Han Ze mean? It was fine if he didn't want to be the recommender, but what about cursing people
"You make a mistake, but Jixue and Jiwen will never make a mistake." She said loudly with a gloomy face.
Han Ze was not angry, but said: "Mom, this is not an argument, let's talk about the matter. You want me to recommend Jixue and Jiwen, that's fine. But I have to test them to see if they are suitable to take the imperial examination."
"If they are not suitable, you won't recommend them?"
"That's for sure."
"You bastard." Liu Juhua roared, obviously very angry.
Han Ze spread his hands and said helplessly: "Forget it then."
Liu Juhua: "What does it count for? You have to recommend them."
Han Ze smiled and said, "I don't want to be a sucker and be implicated by them."
Liu Juhua was so angry that she was shaking all over. Her grandson would never make a mistake, but she still held back her anger and said, "How about you be willing to recommend them?"
Han Ze said bluntly: "I said I wanted to test them and see their character. If mother really believes in her grandson, why would she be unwilling?"
In Liu Juhua's heart, Jixue and Jiwen are smart, quick-witted, and filial, much better than Han Zesheng's granddaughters and grandsons. She wants Han Ze to take the test, even if it means shutting his mouth. She snorted disdainfully, "Okay, if you want to take the test, then take it. After the test, you'll know that little idiot Xiao Liuzi can never catch up with Jixue and Jiwen, and you may have to rely on Jixue and Jiwen in the future."
Han Ze's expression calmed down: "Mom, if you still want me to be the recommender of Jixue Jiwen, you'd better stop talking about my son."
Liu Juhua suddenly felt embarrassed. She had forgotten that the little fool was fine now and Han Ze loved her very much.
Han Ze reminded her unhappily: "Xiao Liuzi has already changed his name to Han Shubo. As Shubo's grandmother, although we don't live together, I can't remember my grandson's name. Whose fault is this?"
"Are you blaming me?"
Liu Juhua was a little annoyed. She knew, of course, that Han Ze had changed the names of his children, Big Girl, Second Girl... Little Six, she was used to calling them that, so she didn't bother to change it. Besides, there were six names for six children, and she really couldn't remember them all. Thinking that she would have to ask Han Ze to be the recommender for Jixue and Jiwen, she endured the anger.
Han Ze said: "Mom, there is unfilial and unkindness. You are the grandmother of the children, and you can't even remember the names of your grandchildren. What if someone says you are unkind..."
Liu Juhua shuddered and looked at Han Ze sinisterly: "Are you threatening me?"
Han Ze said: "I am just telling the truth."
Liu Juhua took a deep breath and said, "Okay, I understand."
Han Ze smiled and said, "That makes me feel relieved."
Liu Juhua felt cold in her heart again. This son really didn't recognize her and treated her even worse than a stranger.
After Liu Juhua returned, she told Han Xingwang and his son that Han Ze wanted to test the two children. Han Chengming felt that Han Ze was making trouble out of nothing, but he was needed to be a recommender. Even though he was unwilling, he took the two children to Han Ze's home. On the way, he kept telling them to talk nicely, otherwise Han Ze would be unwilling to be their recommender.
When Han Ze saw them, he didn't say much and asked the two children directly: "Why do you study?"
Jixue and Jiwen looked at each other. Jixue pursed his lips and thought for a moment: "To take the exam for the scholar."
Han Ze nodded, and Han Jixue was delighted.
Han Ze didn't look at him again, turned his head to look at Jiwen, and asked, "What about you?"
Han Jiwen was a little nervous. Han Chengming glared at him angrily. Han Jiwen became even more nervous. His mind was in a mess. He stumbled and said, "I read... books, but I can... have enough food..."
After saying that, he lowered his head. If there was a crack in the ground, he would have wanted to hide in it.
Han Ze chuckled, and Han Chengming heard his laughter and felt ashamed for his disappointing son.
Han Ze asked Han Jixue again: "Are you studying just to pass the exam to become a scholar?"
Han Jixue said loudly: "I want to be a high-ranking official too."
Han Ze asked: "Why do you want to be an official?"
Han Jixue said without thinking: "If I become an official, I will have endless money to spend, and I don't have to care about other people's faces anymore."
Han Ze raised his eyebrows: "Why do officials have endless money to spend? Who told you?"
Han Jixue thought to himself, "How foolish! He didn't even know this. "If I become an official, people will give me money. Of course, I will have more money than I can spend."
After saying this, he subconsciously felt that something was wrong, but he didn't know what was wrong. After thinking about it, he felt that it was correct.
Han Chengming also felt that his son was right. If you become an official, you will have endless money to spend. Take the village headman for example. If the villagers come to him for work and don't give him something, how can he do it to their satisfaction? A small village official can make a fortune like this, let alone a high-ranking official.
Han Ze looked at Han Chengming with a half-smile and said, "It seems that I can't be the recommender anymore."
"Why?" Han Chengming frowned. Was Han Ze deliberately making things difficult for them
Han Ze looked at Han Jixue and said, "So you became an official just to collect money from others and become a corrupt official? If that's the case, you'll end up in jail sooner or later. So you'd better not be an official anymore and stop studying, so as not to hurt others and yourself."
Han Jixue was startled and opened his mouth, "I, I..."
Han Chengming was stunned at first, then became annoyed, and said with a red face: "How can it be related to corrupt officials? It's just collecting some money..."
Meeting Han Ze's gloomy gaze, he couldn't say any more. After listening to Han Ze's words, he actually knew that it was wrong for an official to collect money.
Han Ze snorted, "You can ask someone else to be the recommender. I won't give Han Jixue the opportunity to harm others."
Han Jixue looked at Han Ze in confusion. How could he have harmed someone? He didn't know.
Han Jiwen was delighted. If he didn't want to recommend him, then he didn't want to take part in the county examination anyway. If he passed, it would be fine. If he failed, his father would scold him again.
Han Chengming was furious: "If you don't want to be one, then don't be one. Do you think we are precious?"
After saying this, he took Han Jixue and Han Jiwen's hands and left.
No one knew how he found the recommender, but Han Jixue and Han Jiwen took part in the county examination. Later, Han Ze heard from the villagers that he paid money and the villagers were willing to recommend him.
The county exam was held in the county, presided over by the county magistrate, and lasted five sessions, that is, five days. There were twelve students from the town school taking the exam, and Han Shubo was the youngest.
Considering that Shubo would study in the county academy in the future, Han Ze bought a house near the official school in the county last year. As soon as February arrived, Han Ze planned to go to the county in advance to let his son get familiar with the environment. His son was going to take an exam, and Ge Hongbu was worried and wanted to go with him. Han Ze had no objection.
So Han Ze took Ge Hongbu and his mother and two servants to the county town a few days in advance.
When they arrived at the county town, Han Ze took Han Shubo around and they visited two famous temples in the county town. Ge Hongbu looked anxious from behind and said, "Should we let Shubo read some books?"
After all, there are exams to come, right
Han Ze smiled and looked at Han Shubo. Han Shubo said, "Mom, I have memorized everything the teacher taught me. Even if the teacher didn't teach me, I have also read a lot of the poems and essays that Dad asked me to read. Reading is a matter of accumulation. Let me take a break for the next two days. Even if I sit there and read, I can't concentrate. It makes me nervous."
Ge Hongbu frowned: "Mother has never been to school, so she doesn't understand those things."
Han Ze smiled and said, "With Shubo's knowledge, it will be no problem for him to pass the examination if nothing unexpected happens."
Ge Hongbu pursed his lips and thought, you haven't even taken the exam to become a scholar, so how do you know that Shu Bo has no problem
Han Ze saw what Ge Hongbu was thinking but didn't explain. However, since his son said he had learned everything he should, he decided to let him do as he pleased. After all, his son was young and if he didn't pass the exam this year, he could just take it again next time.
The author has something to say:
Thank you little angels for irrigating me with nutrient solution~
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