Zhou Man took out the bottle of sauce and handed it to Bai Shan, and also thoughtfully wrote about the function of this bottle of sauce and how to use it. Mr. Zhuang also wrote a letter to him, and Bai Shan then gave the things to the servant, so that They took them back to the capital together.
In a few days, the things were delivered to Kong Jijiu.
Kong Jijiu opened it and looked at the bottle of sauce, with a troubled expression on his face. Although he really wanted it, he moved it aside and wrote a letter to Mr. Zhuang.
Kong Jijiu rejected Mr. Zhuang.
The exchange of letters was very fast, especially when the servants of the Bai family knew that the masters were waiting for the letter, so water and land met, and it was delivered to Qili Village in only three days.
At this time, the Zhou family had just repaired the tomb and finished worshiping the ancestors. When Mr. Zhuang received the letter, his heart tightened, and he suppressed the letter with a sigh.
Bai Shan waited at the side, saw this and asked: "Sir, did Kong Jijiu refuse to agree?"
Mr. Zhuang nodded.
Bai Shan frowned, "It's not difficult, why shouldn't Kong Jijiu?"
Mr. Zhuang: "There are too many officials' children entering this year, and Kong Jijiu refused to reduce the number of places admitted in the entrance examination, so the admission of officials' children is very tight, and many officials' children who just reached the upper age limit were suppressed. , failed to enroll."
Bai Shan frowned, turned around twice and said: "No, if my nephew can't enroll this time, he will be over age next year."
Mr. Zhuang said: "Of course I know, but even if we set off today, we will have at least eight days to arrive in Beijing. Since we have to register, we have to go to the Ministry of Officials and the Ministry of Rites to get the documents. Even if we make it in time, we are in the capital. Since the wine said that this year's candidates will be under the upper age limit, then they will not be recruited."
To put it bluntly, it was bad luck, just in time for too many people entering this year, and the Imperial College was trying to reduce the number of candidates.
Bai Shan lowered his eyes and thought for a while, then turned his head and smiled with Mr. Zhuang: "Forget it, it depends on luck, why don't you give me the official post and seal, and I will try it at the end."
Mr. Zhuang was stunned for a moment, then turned around and gave him the official post and seal, and said: "You can't go to the East Palace for this matter."
He knew that Bai Shan and Zhou Man had a lot of connections, many times stronger than him. He didn't ask who he was looking for, but he couldn't find Donggong. As for whether things will work out, it depends on luck.
After a while, Mr. Zhuang became calm, and said with a smile to Bai Shan: "There are many good academies in the capital. I am lucky to have them, but I have lost my life. Ji Ran also knows this. You and Ziqian should not push too much."
Bai Shan responded, took the official post and seal and left.
This time, he was looking for Yang and Shu.
He sealed the official post and seal and handed it to the servants, and asked them to send it back to the capital immediately. After the servants left, he glanced at the bottle of sauce on the table, smiled and stuffed it into his sleeve to find Zhou Man.
"I'll cook you soup tonight, okay?"
Zhou Man: "You?" She asked suspiciously: "Is our cook not at home?"
Bai Shan: "I've made a lot of preparations for letting you have a taste of my craft. Don't you appreciate it?"
"Let's take a lead." It was a rare time for Bai Shan to cook, and Zhou Man became excited, "What kind of soup? No matter what kind of soup, as long as it is made by you, I will drink it."
Bai Shan smiled and said, "You will know in the evening."
In the evening, the whole family, including Mr. Zhuang, drank a bowl of chicken soup. Mrs. Zheng was surprised, "I don't see any mushrooms in this soup. How come it smells like mushrooms?"
Mrs. Liu and Mr. Zhuang also looked relieved, "Zhi Shan is getting better and better, and even his cooking skills have improved."
Zhou Man took several sips, and the more she drank, the more familiar the taste became, so she sipped several sips, her eyes widened slightly, and she looked at Bai Shan, "This, this, this..."
Bai Shan: "That, that... don't stutter, I just used your baby sauce, I added half a teaspoon, not to mention, it tastes really good."
The chicken soup that was originally mediocre tasted much better in an instant.
Zhou Man: "Isn't that given to Kong as a sacrificial wine?"
Bai Shan said indifferently: "He returned it, so I thought, as expected, although Kong Jijiu is good for the appetite, it is not enough for the itching in his heart."
"A treasured sword goes well with a hero, and a good horse goes well with a general. Kong Jijiu doesn't know what to buy. It would be a waste to give it to him. Why don't we leave it to us?"
Zhou Man couldn't help looking at Mr. Zhuang, "Then..."
Bai Shan smiled slightly and said: "I have my own idea, come on, just a pot of soup, if you don't drink it, Yin He and the two children will drink it up."
Zhou Man turned his head to look, only to find that Yin or and the two children had already filled the second bowl. Although Yin or tasted it carefully, he drank a lot from each spoonful, and the two children even held the bowl and gurgled. drink up.
Zhou Man: "Drink less..."
Registration for the Guozijian began in June, and the entrance examination was on the ninth day of August. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the list of admissions for the entrance examination was announced.
The list of the children of officials and eunuchs was announced on August 25th, and after the announcement, they entered the school on August 29th.
Mr. Zhuang just wanted to add Zhuang Jiran's name before the announcement on the 25th day. After the announcement, he only needed to submit a letter of leave to delay enrollment.
Who knew that this year's children of officials and eunuchs would be so stuck in admission
After the letter was delivered to the capital, Yang Heshu smiled after opening the letter, and then took the letter to the princess mansion.
Liu Gui, who was staying in the princess' mansion, immediately came out to greet him, and Yang Heshu handed him a letter, "Your master asked me to pick up the "Sage and Worthy Lao Tzu Picture"."
After reading the letter, Liu Gui led Yang Heshu to the study in the front yard.
Outsiders were not allowed to enter the study rooms of Bai Shan and Zhou Man, so after Liu Gui opened the door, he stepped aside and stood bowed.
Yang Heshu pushed the door open and went in. With a glance, he saw the "Sage and Worthy Lao Tzu" hanging on the wall.
He stepped forward to look at it, although it was not the first time he saw it, but goodbye, he still couldn't help but admire in his heart, it was indeed a good painting.
Yang Heshu took down the painting, slowly rolled it up, put it into the box he brought, and left with it.
Liu Gui locked the door and sent Yang Heshu out respectfully.
Yang Heshu got into the carriage with the painting in his arms, and said to the coachman, "Go to the Confucian Mansion."
Kong Jijiu has been crowded with people in the past month, but he is not happy at all. Every time he comes to the door to report who is coming to visit, he can't help frowning.
It was the same this time. When he heard that Yang Heshu came to visit, he frowned, "Isn't Yang's disciples who are going to enroll this year already on the list? Could it be another unruly disciple?"
Chang Sui bent down and said: "Master Yang is upright, he doesn't seem like someone who wants to go through the back door, why doesn't the Lord invite him in to ask?"
"Please." After all, Yang Heshu was one of his most satisfied disciples, and Kong Jijiu was unwilling to be turned away, so he was invited in after sitting upright.
Yang Heshu walked in slowly, and performed the student salute, "See you sir."
Kong Jijiu waved his hand and asked directly, "Why did Changbo come to see you?"
Yang Heshu said with a smile: "The student has just got a good painting, and I want to ask you to appreciate it."
Kong Jijiu became more interested, "Oh, what painting is it?"
Yang Heshu took the painting box from Wan Tian's hand sideways, opened it and took out the painting, Kong Jijiu also got up, and the two of them gathered around the table, "What painting is worth sending me?"