After this money incident, he and his father seemed to be even more loving. Even during dinner, his mother, Chen, picked up some food for his father several times, which was rare.
The days at home were warm and plain. Zhu Ping'an never stopped practicing calligraphy early in the morning. After practicing calligraphy, he would go to a nearby place to read for a while, and then come back to enjoy his mother's loving breakfast. After dinner, he would read and copy books. The day was so plain but fulfilling.
In this way, days passed and Zhu Ping'an finished copying all the books he borrowed from the rich man Li. After breakfast, when Zhu Ping'an was about to return the books to the rich man Li's house, there was a knock on the door.
Zhu Ping'an went to open the door with his schoolbag slung across his shoulder. The moment he opened the door, he could hardly believe his eyes.
"Teacher, you are back."
Afterwards, Zhu Ping'an immediately bowed deeply and said, "When did my teacher arrive home? I am unworthy and was unable to go and greet you."
Standing outside the door was Zhu Ping'an's mentor, Old Man Sun. Old Man Sun had a ruddy face and looked energetic. He was holding a cloth bag, stroking his beard with a smile, and he seemed to be a dozen years younger.
"No thanks, no thanks. I come and go in a hurry, I'm used to it."
When Zhu Ping'an was bowing, Old Man Sun immediately gave him a light support with one hand.
"Teacher, please come in quickly."
Zhu Ping'an persisted in pushing forward until the end, then he stood up with a silly smile and opened the door wide.
Old Man Sun walked in holding a cloth bag.
At this time, Zhu's father had been driving the ox cart out for a while, and his eldest brother was also gone, leaving only his mother, Chen, at home.
"His husband is here, please take a seat. Pig, treat him well."
Mother Chen made a pot of hot tea, brought it to the main room, then went back to her room, leaving the main room to Zhu Ping'an and Old Man Sun.
"Thank you." Old Man Sun said politely.
"I am very pleased with the performance of Zhu Ping'an in this Tongsheng exam." Old Man Sun stroked his beard. His face was flushed, and he was very satisfied with Zhu Ping'an's performance in this Tongsheng exam.
"It's all thanks to my teacher's good teaching. I just happened to be born at the right time." Zhu Ping'an replied with a simple smile.
"I am quite pleased that you are able to remain humble despite having achieved the top score. However, your performance in this examination is worthy of my praise." Old Man Sun is quite pleased that Zhu Ping'an remains humble after achieving the result. He is even more satisfied with this student whom he discovered.
Zhu Ping'an could only smile foolishly.
"This time I came here because I have something to tell you." Old Man Sun looked at Zhu Ping'an, stroked his beard and smiled.
Good news
Well
What good news would that be? They would see me as a promising young man like in the novels. They would introduce me to a date? But Mr. Sun’s granddaughters and granddaughters have already started families, and the great-granddaughters are probably just beginning to run around, so they are not suitable.
For a moment, Zhu Ping'an didn't know what the good news that Old Man Sun was talking about was.
Old Master Sun looked at his favorite student's bewildered expression and felt relieved. "This year coincides with the tenth anniversary of His Majesty's accession to the throne. There was also an official report that a unicorn had appeared in the northwest to patrol the mountains. His Majesty was very happy and delighted. He granted a special imperial decree for the examination."
Enke
The emperor is going to hold a special examination. The provincial examination was originally held once a year, and the last provincial examination was held last year. I originally thought that I would have to wait another two years before I could take the provincial examination, but I didn't expect that the emperor would hold a special examination. Doesn't that mean that I can take the provincial examination this year
Well
By the way, when was the Enke exam held? It wouldn't be held in winter, would it? The provincial exam was not like the child exam, but you had to stay in the exam room for several days in a row. It was a bit scary to think that you would have to stay in the cramped cells of the Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall for several days in the middle of winter without being able to leave.
When Old Man Sun saw Zhu Ping'an's expression, he thought that Zhu Ping'an was extremely happy.
"Don't get too excited. You are still young. Just do your best in this special examination." Old Man Sun picked up the teacup, blew on it slightly, took a sip slowly, and encouraged Zhu Ping'an.
"Oh, thank you for the reminder, Master." Zhu Ping'an bowed and thanked him respectfully.
"Well, although you are young, you make me feel most at ease." Old Man Sun nodded with satisfaction.
After a while, Old Man Sun put down the teacup in his hand and pushed the cloth bag on the table towards Zhu Ping'an.
Well
This is
Zhu Ping'an was a little confused.
"Although you are still young, I am very pleased that you have won the first place in the Tongsheng Examination. This time, it is also an honorary examination. If nothing unexpected happens, you will definitely be able to go. Therefore, I decided to crown you in advance, which is also in accordance with etiquette. This package is a gift from your teacher's wife. Tomorrow, you wear this dress and come to my house, and I will crown you."
After Old Man Sun pushed the cloth bag to Zhu Ping'an, he told him the main purpose of this trip.
Getting a crown, so soon, isn’t it only for adults
The capping ceremony is a kind of Chinese national ceremony, and it is the coming-of-age ceremony for ancient Chinese Han men. The capping ceremony was almost abolished during the Yuan Dynasty, but the Ming Dynasty quickly restored the damaged Chinese etiquette system, and the capping ceremony achieved a second revival. In the first year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, the capping ceremony was decreed by imperial decree. From the emperor and the officials to the common people, the capping ceremony was formulated. Generally speaking, the capping ceremony was more popular in the Ming Dynasty.
Of course, the ceremony of capping is mainly taken seriously by the upper class, and is less important in the countryside. However, for scholars, the ceremony of capping is also very important, and is mostly performed by elders and teachers. There are basically few people who perform the ceremony of capping in Xiahe Village, and no one takes it seriously, so Mr. Sun was responsible for capping Zhu Pingan himself.
"Thank you, my teacher, and thank you, my teacher's wife." Zhu Ping'an took the cloth bag, stood up from the table, and bowed deeply.
After Old Man Sun finished speaking, he stayed for a while, explained the key points of the Four Books and Five Classics to Zhu Ping'an, and then left. Zhu Ping'an accompanied Old Man Sun to the entrance of the village before returning.
"Tell me quickly, what is Enko?"
As soon as Zhu Ping'an entered the house, he was stopped by his mother Chen, who asked curiously and excitedly.
Well
It's not good to eavesdrop, mother.
"Ordinary provincial examinations are held once a year, but the special examinations are when there is a big happy event in the court, and the emperor specially issues an imperial decree to hold an extra special examination. It means there is one more test, so my son can take part in the provincial examination this year." Zhu Ping'an explained to his mother Chen.
"What is the provincial examination?" Mother Chen became even more curious.
"The provincial examination is an examination that only scholars can take, and those who pass it become juren." Zhu Ping'an went on to explain.
"Is the juren a high-ranking official?" Mother Chen was extremely excited.
Zhu Ping'an had no choice but to explain to his mother Chen. However, after listening to Zhu Ping'an's explanation of the Juren, his mother Chen went on to ask what benefits the Juren had and so on.
When Chen heard Zhu Ping'an talk about the generous treatment of Juren, especially when she heard that Juren meant she had almost set foot on the door to becoming an official, her mother Chen's eyes lit up and she urged Zhu Ping'an to go to school.
"Go read a book, read it carefully..."
Mother Chen pushed Zhu Pingan into the room without explanation and told him to read. Zhu Pingan had no choice but to smile bitterly with his cloth bag slung over his shoulder. He said that he was just about to go to Li's house to return the book, so he had to go again in the afternoon. (To be continued)
ps: It seems that the monthly ticket rules have changed. There is a guaranteed monthly ticket. I would like to ask all book friends to help vote for the guaranteed monthly ticket~