Chang Zhi is young and has the best chance of getting the top three honors in the imperial examination. Many people in Pingzhou City are paying attention to him, and Zhou Shuren, his father, has also become famous.
In particular, the neighbors who had always looked down on the Zhou family came to their house frequently and asked them in various ways how they taught their children.
Zhulan felt happy. At the same time, she realized that the ancients were quite thick-skinned. They did not mention the cold reception Zhulan received when she visited them. They treated her as warmly as if she were a long-time neighbor.
Zhulan didn't forget that after moving here this time, there were more children in the family and it was very lively. How could the neighbors who lived just across the wall not hear them? They gossiped about the Zhou family a lot!
Zhulan is not the type of person who doesn't bear grudges. She knows nothing about anything no matter how many times she asks. The neighbors didn't come even after she registered the door several times. Why didn't she tell her? Didn't she know it
During the days leading up to the college entrance examination, gambling started in Pingzhou City, and the game was still about betting on the small three yuan.
Zhulan was not panicking at first, but she could not help but feel panicky as Dong and Xuemei at home kept muttering to themselves, and Zhulan also became panicky.
Zhulan was panicking but had to keep her daughter-in-law and daughter calm, so she could only nag Zhou Shuren at night. Zhulan nagging so much that Zhou Shuren became uneasy!
The college entrance examination is over, Zhulan breathed a sigh of relief, it was finally over, it was more stressful and tiring than when she took the college entrance examination herself!
When the results of the college entrance examination were announced, before anyone could come to announce the good news, the servant of Sister Dong's house came and announced the good news in advance, "Our master asked me to wait for the results early in the morning, and I came to announce the good news as soon as the results came out. Young Master Changzhi ranked first, and Young Master Changlian ranked twelfth, also passed."
Dong grinned, "Mother, my husband is a scholar now."
Zhulan took out a silver coin from her purse and gave it to the servant. "Thank you for your hard work. Take this with your tea."
The servant took it with both hands. Many people were vying to go to guard the list today. All of them knew that Pingzhou City was going to produce a junior top three scholar. Even if he was not a junior top three scholar, he would still be a junior scholar, and the reward would definitely not be small.
If he wasn't the housekeeper's nephew, he wouldn't have been able to get the job!
Mrs. Dong also hurriedly took out a silver coin and handed it to the servant, "Use this silver coin to drink some wine and warm yourself up."
The servant still remembered the master's instructions, that if the lady's brother-in-law passed, he should invite someone over. "The master said that in three days, the family will prepare wine and food, and invite Mr. Zhou Xiucai, Mr. Chang Lian and the students of the imperial academy to come over for a drink."
Mrs. Dong was proud because this time they did not come to visit on their own initiative but were invited.
Zhulan replied, "I will definitely be there in three days."
"The younger one will go back first."
Not long after the servant left, the person who brought the good news arrived. The Zhou family had another student who was admitted to the imperial academy. Zhulan prepared a lot of wedding money, not only for the person who brought the good news, but also for the people nearby who came to congratulate her.
After that, the Zhou family kept announcing good news. Jiang Sheng ranked better than Chang Lian, sixth. Xuemei cried with joy, and kept saying, "Finally passed, finally passed the exam."
Chang Lian was the last one to report the good news. The other two clan members were unlucky and only ranked in the top 20 this year. One of them was 25th and the other 30th. If the rankings had been the same as in previous years, they would have almost all made the list, but they were just unlucky.
However, the two students of the Ming generation have a good attitude. They are envious, but they are also confident that they will pass the exam next time.
The Zhou family produced three scholars today, and the whole street was in an uproar, especially because of the youngest scholar. Including the son-in-law, the Zhou family has four scholars. The three of them are not very old, and even if their luck is bad, they will at least have a juren. Everyone knows that the Zhou family is no longer just a family of scholars.
Zhulan did not wait for Zhou Shuren to come back with his son and son-in-law, but instead entertained people who kept coming to her house to congratulate her.
Wu Lishi also came and said, "Congratulations."
Zhulan's smile was a little stiff, "Congratulations."
Mrs. Wu and Mrs. Li envied Mrs. Yang. The Zhou family now had two more sons who were successful. The Zhou family would be different in the future. The Wu family would still have to rely on their eldest grandson!
At noon, the Zhou family didn't have time to eat, as they saw off wave after wave of people who came to congratulate and express their curiosity.
In the afternoon, Zhou Shuren came back with his two sons and son-in-law. Zhou Shuren was very happy. He felt a great sense of accomplishment as a father today. No matter how many sour words were said, he was still cheerful. Today, Changzhi made him proud.
Zhulan laughed, "Look how happy you are."
"Have it?"
"Of course, you've been smiling all the time."
Zhou Shuren laughed, "I am indeed happy. Mr. Xu will also meet the two boys tomorrow."
These two guys are so lucky. They got him and Zhulan as their parents for free, which changed their fate. Now they have caught the eye of Mr. Xu!
Zhu Lan asked, "Didn't you say you wanted to see Jiang Sheng?"
Zhou Shuren wiped his face and shook his head. "There is an age limit for Xu Jinshi to select apprentices. Jiang Sheng is over the age limit, and Jiang Sheng also wants to go back to the county. I wrote a letter to my in-laws. Considering that Chang Lian became a scholar and there are three scholars in our family, they should be able to accept Jiang Sheng."
Zhulan, "I hope to accept Jiang Sheng. He will be taken care of by our in-laws in the future. We don't have to worry about Xuemei wherever we go."
"kindness."
At dinner that night, Jiang Sheng drank too much. He had been holding it in for so many years, under so much pressure, all for the title of scholar. He had experienced too much, and he started crying after drinking too much.
Zhulan felt sad when she heard Jiang Sheng laughing. It was not easy for Jiang Sheng to change his parents' attitude for the title of scholar. Fortunately, he passed the exam this year. If not, the Zhou family would go further away, and Jiang Sheng would face more and more pressure in the future.
Xuemei couldn't help wiping away her tears. She was the one who understood best how hard her husband had worked. Now everything was fine and over.
The next morning, Jiang Sheng felt embarrassed, "I ruined the atmosphere of the celebration yesterday. I want to apologize to Chang Lian and Chang Zhi."
Chang Lian waved his hands quickly, "Brother-in-law, please stop talking here. I understand."
He really didn't care, but was glad that he passed.
Chang Zhi said: "We all know that my brother-in-law is crying for joy, so how can he ruin the atmosphere?"
Jiang Sheng felt warm in his heart. The Yue family gave him warmth and support. Without the Yue family, there would be no Jiang Xiucai today. People should be content. He is very content now. As for whether he can become a juren in the future, he is very tired after the great joy and does not have the energy to support himself to take the exam.
He wanted to wait for a few years until someone from Yue's family became a juren, and it would not be too late for him to take the exam slowly. This time he finally didn't have to push himself too hard, and he wanted to live a leisurely life.
After dinner, Zhou Shuren took his two sons to the academy.
Jiang Sheng was not envious. Instead, he smiled and went out to shop with Xuemei.
The two young men of the Ming generation in the clan had to go home first. Zhou Shuren was not at home, so Zhulan took Zhou the eldest brother to see them off. Zhulan also brought back some wine and cloth for Zhou Wangshi.
Li also bought some things for her parents and brought them back. To express her gratitude, Li made meat-filled buns for the two boys as dry food.
After seeing off the carriage, Zhulan felt relieved. Finally, she had nothing to worry about. She hadn't gotten a good rest in these days and was going to go back to sleep.
When Zhulan woke up, Zhou Shuren was lying on his side reading a book. Zhulan turned to the side and asked, "Why did you come back so early?"
Zhou Shuren put down the book in his hand and said, "Mr. Xu left Chang Zhi behind, and Chang Lian and I returned."
Zhulan perked up, "Mr. Xu accepted Changzhi?"
Zhou Shuren had long guessed that Changzhi would be kept. "Changzhi is very smart and focused on his studies. Xu Jinshi thought that Changzhi has the potential to become a great scholar. Xu Jinshi loves talents and accepted Changzhi without waiting for me to ask. He also said that Changzhi was already a great scholar at the age of thirteen and did not need to take part in the provincial examination too early. Even if Changzhi could pass, he would be too young and would easily waste his time. It would be better for him to stay in the academy and study hard."
Zhulan sighed, "Mr. Xu has really considered everything for Changzhi."
Zhou Shuren hugged Zhulan and said, "Mr. Xu is indifferent to fame and wealth. Compared with Wu Ming, he likes Changzhi more. Moreover, Mr. Xu has the habit of traveling around. He will take Changzhi to study around. With Mr. Xu's guidance, Changzhi will get the most suitable education for him."
These are what he could not give. He could teach Chang Lian but not Chang Zhi, because he was utilitarian and ignorant, and had no artistic conception for books and poems.
Zhu Lan asked, "What about Chang Lian?"
He must be very disappointed. Although he doesn't say it, he is eager to study under a famous teacher.