The number of county examinations is determined by the county magistrate. According to the rules of Tongjiang County where Yan Chu is located, there are four county examinations held in February every year, one per day, and the results are announced the next day. Those who fail the previous one cannot participate in the next one. Usually, the number of people who pass the county examination is about twice that of the number of scholars.
The first one is the main one, and it is also the one with the widest range of admissions among all the exams. You can be admitted if the writing is fluent, and the pass rate is extremely high. The first exam was about four-character prose and five-character six-rhyme poems. Yan Chu skimmed through the questions before starting to write.
In the past, it was very difficult for accidents to happen in the first round of the county examination, but today was different. While answering the questions, Yan Chu heard a commotion from the examination room on the right, and many students who were concentrating on the scientific examination were attracted by the commotion.
He turned his head, and he couldn't see who the unlucky person was among the overlapping figures. He was not the kind of character who likes to join in the fun, so he quickly withdrew his eyes and concentrated on his article.
The county magistrate sitting at the top can basically scan the audience. As an official who has invigilated the county examination for many years, he is more accustomed to the accidents that may occur in the examination room than the candidates. , no longer pay attention to the movement of that piece. Instead, he began to observe the reactions of the candidates present.
During the county examination, it is very rare to see older candidates, most of them are teenagers in their teens and twenties. Children of this age are uncertain and will inevitably be affected by the commotion in the examination room. Before the candidates with sudden illness are carried out, In the examination room, there are very few candidates who concentrate on their own papers.
The county magistrate stroked his beard, and lingered for a moment to look at the candidates who answered the questions calmly and attentively. Among them, Yan Chu was the youngest, fair and handsome, and the county magistrate stayed the longest on him.
After the exam was over, candidates were released in batches. When Yan Chu walked out of the scientific research shed, he saw only his father standing outside holding a warm kettle and delicious pastries, but he did not see Uncle Yan Changxue.
"Hurry up and drink some hot water. Dad just put it in his arms to dry, and it's still warm."
The county examination was held in February, and it was very cold. Even if there was a charcoal stove in the scientific examination shed, it would not be enough for such a large place. The younger sister installed a pot of boiling water at home, and put it inside the cotton coat to keep it warm. It is estimated that when he opened his innermost clothes, he could still see a large piece of red-hot skin.
"Where are uncle and second cousin?"
Yan Chu took a sip of the warm hot water, put his hands outside the leather kettle, his numb fingers felt a little warmer at this moment, he breathed a sigh of relief and asked his father.
He vaguely remembered that Yan Fu was allocated a position, which should be near the dragon gate, and he estimated it earlier than him. Could it be that the uncle and Yan Fu went back first
"Hey, your second cousin fell ill shortly after entering the examination room and was sent out. Now at your aunt's house, let the doctor watch."
Yan Changxi sighed. Fortunately, it was nothing serious. The doctor said, maybe he just ate something raw and cold and had a stomachache. After he vomited out everything in his stomach, drink a bowl of medicine, sleep and sweat, it will be fine. up.
Originally, when such an accident happened, Yan Changxi should be worried for his elder brother, but for some reason, this time Yan Changxi actually felt a faint joy in his heart.
He knew that one of his son and his elder brother's son would not be able to go to school. If his parents hadn't given him this hope, maybe Yan Changxi would have endured it as before, but it is different now. His son is studying, and maybe he will be in the future. Become a scholar and become a master of Juren.
It doesn't matter if he spends his whole life digging in the fields, but Yan Changxi doesn't want his son to be like him. Why can the elder brother's son be able to wear new clothes comfortably, eat delicious food and drink spicy food, but his little treasure can't be successful? .
This time, Yan Yu was taken out of the county examination because of a sudden illness, which meant that the other party could not continue the scientific examination this time. As long as Xiaobao passed the county examination, it would be clear at a glance who should continue to study.
Yan Changxi didn't know if his idea was right or not, but the elder brother's family already had a younger brother, so it was fairest to leave the opportunity to go to school to their second wife, one family.
Facing his son, Yan Changxi didn't say what he thought, watching his son drink half a pot of water and eat two pieces of pastries, he quickly took a thick coat and put it on his son.
When you enter the examination room, you cannot wear interlayer clothes. In winter, even if you put on more than a dozen single clothes, you will not be able to resist the frost. Fortunately, the time of the county test is short. If it is longer, people will be frozen. .
After hearing what his father said, Yan Chu knew that there was a commotion in the examination room at that time, and the candidate who was resisted was his cousin in the next room, but in Yuan's memory, did such a thing happen
Yan Chu thought for a moment, then walked with his father towards Aunt Yan's house, where they would stay at Aunt Yan's husband's house during the scientific research days.
Yan Mudan's husband's surname is Jiang, and he is somewhat distantly related to Yan Jiang's family. Yan Mudan's father-in-law is a distant relative of Yan Jiang's family, and the old lady wasted a lot of thought on seeing this girl's marriage. The two have good temperaments, and since the two families are close relatives, they don't worry that the other party will bully her daughter, and Yan Mudan's man, Jiang Datong, is also smart and competitive. Both parties are very satisfied with this marriage.
Now Jiang Datong is really prosperous as the old lady expected, Yan Mudan doesn't have to worry about food and drink, and there is a little maid to serve, but the two concubines in the family are a little troublesome, but there is nothing good in this world that everything goes smoothly.
Perhaps because of Yan Yu's matter, when Yan Changxi and Yan Chu came back, there was no one walking around in the outer yard, and Yan Changxi didn't take his son back to the room directly, but took him directly to Yan Yu's room.
At this time, Yan Fu had already taken medicine and fell asleep, and Yan Changxue, Yan Mudan and others were also coming out of his room.
"Xiaobao, how is it? This time the exam is not bad, but it's a pity that your second cousin, the original master said that this time the boy's exam, he should be sure."
Yan Changxue showed regret, as if he was joking: "It's just that this time your second cousin has no reference, so it's impossible to tell the difference between the two of you."
His son was carried out not long after the exam started, so he must have no grades. If Yan Chu did not pass the boy's exam, there may not be no room for change, but if Yan Chu passed the boy's exam, the nine-year-old Tongsheng, and his The eldest son is at the same level. I am afraid not to mention the parents, but even the younger sister will be tempted. How could Yan Changxue allow part of the bet that was originally placed on the eldest son to be placed on the second brother's child.
"How did you do in the exam? You have to ask the magistrate of the county, and ask Xiaobao where it counts." Yan Changxi understood the elder brother's words and acted as if he didn't understand them.
"How's Erbao?" He glanced into Yan Fu's room and asked the younger sister beside him.
"The doctor said it's nothing serious, just take the medicine and sleep."
Yan Mudan originally favored the eldest brother, but now the second brother has the faint intention of getting up because of Yan Chu, so there is no big bias now on the surface, and she will wait until the end of the county examination and the results come out. make plans.
As Yan Changxue thought, if Yan Chu can pass the county examination this time, her attitude towards her second brother will definitely change 180 degrees.
Yan Fu has been tested as a scholar for many years, and failed repeatedly. Yan Mudan was disappointed again and again by the elder nephew who had placed high hopes on her. It is so difficult to test a scholar, and when the other party is admitted to Juren, she can drink her granddaughter-in-law's tea. Now her focus is on Yan Yu and Yan Chu, and she hopes that these two young ones can have a little bit of competition.
Yan Chu still had to prepare for the next few exams, so a group of people didn't stay outside Yan Xuan's room for a long time before returning to their respective rooms.
Dinner is eaten separately. The old couple of the Jiang family are old, and they like to eat soft and sweet food, which is not suitable for the taste of the younger generation. Jiang Datong is busy with his own business, and sometimes he simply lives in the shop. If you don't come back, you won't come back for dinner.
Considering that the two nephews came to take the county exam this time, in order not to disturb their study, Yan Mudan ordered the servants in the kitchen to bring each meal to the two nephews before they came. In this way, all kinds of troublesome custom of eating together as a family are left.
Yan Mudan was very polite this time, and asked the aunt in the kitchen to cook five dishes for her nephew, Yan Changxi ate with his son, and when the aunt in the kitchen brought the dishes, there was an extra pot on top Roasted duck and a pot of stewed chicken in oil are obviously not among the items that Yan Mudan prepared for his nephew.
Jiang's family is rich now, but Jiang Datong is afraid that his daughter-in-law will stick to his mother's family, so he is quite tight withholding the money, and all expenses of the family have to be settled with Jiang Datong once.
The nephew of her natal family came home to prepare for the county test. It doesn't matter if she has some meat and vegetables, but all of a sudden it is a whole chicken and a whole duck. Before Yan Chu's county test results come out, she will not be so generous. Subsidies from private house money.
"This is what my uncle in-law asked me to send."
The in-law uncle mentioned by the aunt who delivered the meal was Yan Changxue.
"It was originally prepared for the second cousin, but now he can't eat this, so the uncle asked me to bring it to the third cousin." The woman in the kitchen left after delivering the dishes. After waiting for half an hour, she will come Take away these dishes.
"Your uncle still misses you very much."
Yan Changxi looked at the two pots of chickens and ducks, and was a little moved, thinking that he was relieved that his second nephew was sick and couldn't take the exam just now, isn't it too unreasonable.
"Eat chicken legs, eat more, you will have the energy to take the exam tomorrow." He filled a bowl full of rice for his son, and put a big chicken leg in for him to eat more while the food was hot.
Now the family has two or three children studying, and the cost is a lot tighter. Yan Yan and Yan Yan are fine, and they live in the town most of the time, because the job of the elder brother is not short of lucrative, and they live with the elders, almost two or three months They never saw any meat in the house. That day they could cook an egg at home, which was enough for them to be happy. This time, when they suddenly saw a few pots full of meat and vegetables, Yan Changxi naturally followed his son, thinking that the weather is cold now. Do you want to take the unfinished food home and give it to the three daughters.
"I haven't had oil or water in my stomach for two or three months. If I eat too much of this kind of meat and oil all at once, I'm prone to stomach upset."
Yan Chu put the chicken legs that his father had given him into his bowl, and then started to eat a bowl of dry rice with some crispy and refreshing side dishes.
Yan Changxue didn't have the guts to directly use laxatives to harm him. Those who gave these big chickens and ducks probably thought that their father and son hadn't eaten anything good, and they might eat hard all of a sudden. Children with poor spleen and stomach are very likely If he eats his stomach badly, he will be the same as Yan Xuan.
This kind of thinking is not enough compared to Liu Fuchun, but if he is really a child now, he may still be tricked.
Yan Changxi was stunned when he heard his son's words, looking at the oily chicken legs lying in his bowl at the moment, he suddenly felt uncomfortable.
His big brother probably didn't mean that.
"How is it, is there a crime?"
In the next few days of exams, Yan Chu went smoothly, and passed all the way to the end. Today is the day when the final results of the county exam will come out. Yan Mudan, the aunt, looks more anxious than Yan Changxi, the father.
"Little Treasure is still young after all, it's already quite remarkable to be able to get to this point, little sister and second brother, don't put so much pressure on Little Treasure, even if he doesn't pass this time, he can take the exam with Li'er next time."
Yan Changxue was smiling. Although Yan Yan was unable to continue the exam due to an accident, the father and son did not choose to go back, but stayed in the county seat and waited for the county exam to release the results. Yan Yu has been hiding in her room these days and has not come out. It is estimated that apart from poor health, it is also caused by the feeling of failing the exam and not wanting to see people.
Now the two father and son are probably the last ones who want Yan Chu to pass the county test.
"I'm coming."
Several circles of people crowded in and out of the place where the list was released. Yan Mudan took his brothers to sit at a nearby herbal tea stand, and asked his servants to watch. A criminal group came out, posted it on the bulletin board, fired cannons in unison, and it was a crime.
The crowd suddenly became commotion, and everyone began to squeeze in.
If Yan Mudan hadn't stopped him, Yan Changxi couldn't help but rush in.
"I hit it!"
"Hey, I don't have my name."
There were joyful and mournful voices, and it lasted a long time before seeing the Jiang family boy who was squeezed out of a shoe come out from the crowd.
"First place, the young master of Sanbiao is the first place, the county case leader."
The boy looked happy, that was the case, how much money should Madam give him.
"what!"
Yan Mudan and Yan Changxue couldn't sit still, so they stood up. Yan Changxi's eyes widened, and he rushed directly into the crowd, wanting to see for himself.
"Are you sure the young master Sanbiao is the leader of the case?" Yan Changxue couldn't believe it. His eldest son had already ranked in the twenties when he passed the county examination. How could Yan Chu be the leader of the case? grades.
"It's true, the villain has read it several times."
The boy said firmly, at this time Yan Changxi had already read the list and came out, he grinned like a fool, rushed over and hugged his son and wanted to throw it into the sky.
"Second brother, be gentle, don't hurt our little treasure."
Yan Mudan changed his face so quickly, at this moment, Yan Chu was her most beloved nephew, bar none.
Others probably don't understand, even if it is the chief of the case, a mere county examination, and has not yet passed the government examination, is it worth her being so happy? Here I have to talk about the gold content of the county examination.
The head of the county examination case is also the first name, there is no need to take the government examination, and it goes directly to the hospital examination. If there is no accident, he is also a sure talent.
After all, the head of the county examination case represents the highest level of the same batch of students in a county, and the county magistrate personally learned it. If such a person fails to rank in the college examination, it does not mean that the county magistrate is blind, but also The backwardness of the local education level.
Therefore, it is almost an unspoken rule of the scientific examination that the head of the county examination government can obtain the title of scholar. After all, absolute fairness does not exist in any dynasty or generation.
Yan Mudan's joy comes from this. The nine-year-old quasi-scholar, their old Yan family's ancestral grave is smoking, even her man, for the sake of this promising natal nephew, he has to give her a high look. Don't dare to get away with her.
Yan Chu is an old cucumber who has been painted with tender paint several times. He is not surprised that he can achieve such a result, and he is still a bit invincible. Suddenly there is a bit of refreshment.
The news quickly spread back to the Jiang residence. When the Yan family returned happily, Jiang Datong, who hadn't shown his face in so many days, was already waiting in the residence. Old Mrs. Jiang was also sitting in the main room. Seeing Yan Chu's expression was extremely affectionate.
"I've said long ago that the children of my in-laws are very promising. Back then, Dalang became a child at the age of nine, and Sanlang was even more powerful. He was the leader of the case, a quasi-talented gentleman."
Jiang Datong is a businessman, he is obedient and jumps out one after another.
"This uncle of yours has no other ability except to be able to make some money. This is a little bit of my uncle's wish. After that, my uncle will pay for your study and examination fees, so you can study with peace of mind."
His vision is quite vicious. Back then, the elder nephew of his wife's natal family went up to the sky as soon as he was admitted as a child student. He was praised a few times and even didn't know who his parents were.
The little nephew in front of him is different. He is still so calm when he becomes the chief of the case. He can calm down at a young age. The future is limitless. Jiang Datong is willing to place a bet on this nephew, not asking the other party to pass the exam. As a Jinshi, as long as he can pass the exam for one Juren, in the boundary of Tongjiang County, it is enough to give the Jiang family asylum.
Watching her husband praise her nephew, Yan Mudan and You Rong Yan.
The county chief can be exempted from the government examination, but the three chiefs of the county examination, the government examination, and the court examination are called Xiao Sanyuan. Most county examination chiefs will still take the government examination.
Yan Chu feels that he is too young now, and being too popular is not a good thing. Moreover, the existence of Yan Yan always makes him a little strange. The other party's temper "Congratulations, third cousin."
Sitting on the bullock cart back to the village, Yan Yan, who hadn't come out of the room for many days, looked into Yan Chu's eyes and congratulated him.
"I remember when we were young, we went to the river to dig reed roots together, and went up the mountain to pick red fruits. In the blink of an eye, you were a quasi-scholar." Yan Xi never took his eyes off Yan Chu.
Yan Changxi was driving the ox cart in front, Yan Changxue was still immersed in the shock of the second room's nephew being admitted to the top of the case, and no one noticed the conversation between the two children.
"Second cousin lived with uncle in the town when he was a child, when did he dig reed roots with me?" Yan Chu thought about it carefully, but couldn't figure it out, and asked him with some doubts.
"Maybe my memory is wrong. The third brother rarely eats fish eyes since he was a child. I think it is true what the elders said about eating fish eyes to improve eyesight and refresh the mind. This time I will eat more when I go back."
Yan Yu did not let go of his doubts because of this, and spoke again.
"Actually, I don't like eating fish eyes, but everyone says it's good. If the second cousin doesn't mind the taste, you can try it." Yan Chu smiled and said it very affectionately.
"Yan Chu" heaved a sigh of relief. The person in front of him was not wrong with him when he was a child. Everyone in the family thought he just loved eating fish eyes. Only he knew that he didn't like the taste. He just heard that eating fish eyes was good. That's what forced me to eat.
The one in front of him was really his young self, so where did the soul of the cousin he possessed go at this moment
That's right, the person staying in Yan Yu's body at this time is no longer himself, and "Yan Chu" himself doesn't understand why he, who was on the way to exile, came back more than 20 years ago, and was possessed in the hall next door. brother's body.
At this time, he looked at his young self and wanted to tell himself what would happen to him in the future.
For him, that is also himself, the self who has not made mistakes.
At this time, Zhen Zhen should have come to Yan's house, and she is his child bride-in-law.
"Yan Chu" was a little confused, how should he correct this mistake again.
The moment he bowed his head, a thoughtful flash of thought flashed in Yan Chu's eyes.