The four masters and apprentices continued to go up, and came to the side of the middle-aged scribe, and there were quite a few people on the mountain road who were shocked by the middle-aged scribe.
Then many people cried.
Some were even older than the middle-aged scribes, and they just sat down on the mountain path and cried loudly, "It's bitter, it's bitter—"
Man Bao, who was rummaging for wine in Bai Shan's back basket on tiptoe, was taken aback for a moment, turned his head to look at the many literati on the mountain road who were crying and sighing, and couldn't help asking: "What's wrong?"
Neither Bai Shan nor Bai Erlang knew.
Mr. Zhuang said: "This year's big exam is over. This year's year is not good, and next year the imperial court may not hold the imperial examination. They are sad."
Unlike Bai Shanbai Erlang, the two of them went to the Imperial College, and now they are students of Chongwenguan. In the future, even if they don't take the imperial examination, they can go to the Ministry of Officials to take the exam.
But other non-Guozijian students, even non-government scholars, if they want to become officials, they can only pass the imperial examination first, then pass the examination of the Ministry of Officials, and finally queue up to select officials.
The imperial examinations were only officially launched in the previous dynasty, but the selection of officials was mainly based on fixed products. In this dynasty, the number of imperial examinations has increased, but the examinations will always be suspended for various reasons.
Enke was opened this year, and the exam was taken again in the autumn. A lot of officials were selected, and basically all the vacancies were filled. This year is not good, so there is a high probability that the exam will not be taken next year.
After the list was released last month, the Guozijian has released such rumors. The scholars who originally wanted to stay in the capital to continue next year were very disappointed, and many of them were already planning to leave the capital to go home.
Mr. Zhuang told the three disciples the inside story, then shook his head slightly and said, "I wanted to climb up the Chongyang Festival, but I didn't expect to encounter these things. Forget it, let's go up the mountain after the wine."
Man Bao stopped his hands, and looked at the middle-aged scribe who was sitting on a stone not far away and weeping silently, "Sir, he is so sad, what if he gets drunk and falls down the mountain?"
Bai Shan also said: "The mountain road is rough, if he accidentally falls or falls, it will be our fault."
Mr. Zhuang: "... Dukang wine can make people intoxicated?"
The three of them, overwhelmed by alcohol, nodded together, "Yes."
The four masters and apprentices stared at each other, but Mr. Zhuang, who was too small in number, was defeated in the end. He could only sigh, "Then shall I have a drink with him?"
Anyway, he likes to drink when he is unhappy.
But Man Bao found the needle bag in his waist bag, "Why don't I give him a few needles."
Man Bao said: "He is too sad now, easily hurts his mind, and he will be refreshed after two injections."
Mr. Zhuang was very curious, "Didn't it mean that heart disease is difficult to cure? Your acupuncture can also cure frustration?"
Frustration is of course impossible to cure, but it is still possible to let him forget the pain in his heart for a while. Man Bao took the needle bag and went forward, first saluted the middle-aged scribe who was crying sadly, and then said: "Sir, my husband is worried about you, uh, uh, don't be too sad, I see you You are still young, and there will be opportunities in the future.”
Mr. Zhuang has three mentors and apprentices:...
Onlookers: …
Man Bao continued to comfort the other party lamely, "If you don't think about yourself, you have to think about your family. The mountain road is rough and you are so sad. What if something happens?"
She finally stated her purpose and said: "How about this, I will give you two injections to cheer you up, you go down the mountain to eat a good meal, and sleep again, and you will feel much better tomorrow .”
The middle-aged scribe looked at the young Man Bao and said that he was still young, and felt even more sad.
As a result, before he had time to express his sadness, seeing that he did not object, Man Bao reached out and took his hand, rolled up his sleeves, exposing one of his arms, and then took out a needle from the needle bag and stabbed it went in...
The middle-aged scribe didn't expect it, and his eyes widened instantly. Before he could react, Man Bao took out a needle and pierced him in another place, and he immediately yelled "Ah—".
The pain of the sound startled all the onlookers and those who did not.
Man Bao gently supported his arm, and the middle-aged scribe who wanted to pull his hand back found that he couldn't use his arm at all, but—it hurts!
Seeing that he was crying so much that he was about to burst into tears, Man Bao took out the needle, and after she removed the needle, his arm slowly regained consciousness.
He pointed at Man Bao "you you you..." speechless.
Man Bao comforted him and said, "How about it, do you feel better?"
The middle-aged scribe who yelled for a while found that he had stopped crying, and he didn't seem to be so depressed anymore.
He couldn't help but be silent.
The onlookers also noticed this, and Qiqi heaved a sigh of relief. It sounded rather scary, and it was as good as killing someone.
Seeing that he was well, Man Bao put away the needle bag, then reached out and patted him on the shoulder to comfort him: "Take care, sir, I think you are not very old, as long as you live long enough, there will always be a chance. For things like imperial examinations, you can just come and take the exam when the time comes, but you can still do other things on weekdays."
Anyway, there is no age limit in the imperial examination, and you can take the exam whenever you want.
Middle-aged scribe: …
He felt no comfort.
Mr. Zhuang finally stepped forward. He asked Manbao to go aside, and then introduced himself with a smile, "I am in Xiamianzhou Zhuangxun. I am here to climb the Chongyang Festival today. We are destined to meet each other. Why don't you climb to the top of the mountain with me, brother?" ?”
He pointed to his three disciples and said with a smile: "I asked my three disciples to bring two jugs of wine, just to drink with Xiongtai."
When the other party heard this, he was silent for a while, then got up, patted the dust on his body, and then replied: "Zhang Chen in Cangzhou, sir, you are very polite."
But he didn't decline his invitation, and he could tell that they were afraid that something would happen to him on the mountain. Although he felt like breaking the pot just now when he was frustrated, he didn't think about committing suicide.
That's a crime, he can't do it.
But he still accepted Mr. Zhuang's kindness, so he simply lifted his robe and went up the mountain with them.
He was in good health and much younger than Mr. Zhuang. Although he was very disappointed, he still walked steadily. Mr. Zhuang had to rely on Bai Shan and Bai Erlang to support him in the second half of the journey.
Zhang Chen looked back at their masters and apprentices, and couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Zhuang also came to Beijing for the exam?"
Mr. Zhuang laughed and said, "No, I came to accompany some disciples to study."
Zhang Chen's eyes fell on Bai Shan and Bai Cheng, and he praised: "Sir, these two disciples are very handsome, and they look like good boys. Which academy do they study in?"
Mr. Zhuang paused and said, "Study in the Chongwen Library."
Zhang Chen was slightly stunned, then lost two points of enthusiasm, smiled and asked: "So that's the case, I wonder whose family the two young masters are disciples from?"