Chapter 11 Old Friends in the Old City (I)

Zhuo Siheng's mood of leaving his hometown this time is very different from last time.

Although they were all taking the exam, the last time his father took care of everything. When he got in the car, he was still thinking about the preparation for the exam. This time he became the head of the family and went on the road alone. Seeing his two sisters and a younger brother seeing each other in the snow, he felt reluctant to part with him, and he was worried no matter how he looked.

"Xiaohui, you have to watch your sister and brother's homework. After I leave, you will be in charge of the family, but don't be tired of yourself. Your health is important... Xiaoci, my sister takes care of my family, you can't just think about running out... Xiaoxi should remember what my elder brother told you, go out for a walk when I'm tired of studying, don't be bored all the time, and remember that the cooking work at home is yours. You should also love them for your two sisters. If you have any questions at home, you should ask your second sister first..."

"You are only twenty years old, why are you more noisy than me, an old man!" Hu Yansou couldn't listen to Zhuo Siheng's nagging and interrupted, "They are three big children who are lively, not little kids, and I and the Zhu family are watching me. My grandson will come back soon, so the four of them can take care of your family! A good man is determined to go all the way, don't delay it!"

Zhu Tong and his wife came to see him off and laughed at him as a mother-in-law, but Zhuo Siheng couldn't help it. He had to go a long way, and maybe he would not meet his family again until next year. All winter, I don't know if his sister and brother would be full and well-dressed. If he didn't have him, what should they do...

Zhuo Siheng remembered what Zhuo Yan said to him during his illness. His father said that you will be more beneficial to your younger brothers and sisters. If your family is really difficult in the future, family affairs and family affection will be the first priority. If your family is temporarily safe, you will definitely live up to what you have learned in your life and pass the exam and get fame.

Thinking of his father's hope for his future for fame and fortune and his mother's previous hope for his happy life, Zhuo Siheng mustered up the courage to jump on the snow plow cart pulled by a strong horse - this is the only available means of transportation for winter travel in Shuozhou.

"Brother should also eat on time, don't be reluctant to spend money. I stuffed some pills and prescriptions into your bag, as well as thick shoes and socks... I heard from my father that you have to wear thick clothes to stay overnight, and there must be a single layer of bedding... I have prepared all the items that my father has asked for before." Huiheng is the most soft on the outside and hard on the inside. At this time, he tried hard to hold back his tears and held his elder brother's hand, "Just leave it to my sister at home, don't worry too much and affect your study and review. If you have something to do, take your letter home quickly. There are three breathless cobblers at home, so I can definitely find a way to help my brother solve it. The three of us will definitely live a good life at home, just wait for your good news to come back..."

"Brother..." Ciheng was not as dignified as his sister, and tears had fallen to his cheeks, making his round little face turn red. "Brother, don't be ruthless when encountering bad guys. The dagger I gave you was used by Dr. Rong in the military camp. Cutting bones and flesh is like cutting melons and vegetables. Just greet those bad guys! Don't think that my needlework and thread are worse than my sister when I'm sleepy and tired from reading books. Take it out and smell it, which is refreshing... Brother... When you get to the place, ask someone to bring a message back..."

As he said that, Ciheng became more and more reluctant to let go of it. He sobbed and threw himself into Zhuo Siheng's arms and started crying.

Xiheng was silent all the time, his eyes were slightly red, as if he was trying hard to endure and suppress his worries and concerns. He spoke for a long time: "I copied a few books for my elder brother when I read on the road. My elder brother has a warm temper, but he must be careful when he goes out and guards others. He cannot just endure it."

Zhuo Siheng hugged two sisters and one younger brother in his arms, and tears had already frozen on his cheeks.

The other villagers who saw off were so deeply moved by the deep affection of this fatherless family. Some of them could not help but turn their backs and wipe away the tears at the corners of their eyes.

"Okay, go ahead, don't miss the time to spend the night in the car and horse artery. Now it's time to settle down very quickly." Zhu Tong's eyes were also crystal clear. He pulled three Zhuo family members and stuffed Zhuo Siheng a cloth bag and said, "I heard that you set out today. The things you asked me to bring to you with other villagers are all for food. They are all for food. They are poor and rich. You don't mind the lot outside. Your aunt drove you two sets of thick robes and used your fifth uncle's clothes to modify. Don't dislike the old ones. You are comfortable wearing old clothes! Also, your brother is right. You are so kind to be more careful outside."

Several other villagers who came to give it to him thought about Zhuo Yan's kindness and Zhuo Siheng's good fortune over the years, and they also prepared some dry food for food on the road. Zhuo Siheng jumped down again, thanked the villagers solemnly before returning to the sledge.

"All the things I gave you were put on the sled." Hu Yansou patted Zhuo Siheng's shoulder heavily, "Good boy! Be good!"

After saying that, he urged the carriageman not to delay the time and set off quickly.

Two deep traces slowly appeared on the snow, and Zhuo Siheng couldn't help looking back, but the person he wanted to see was getting smaller and smaller until he disappeared from sight.

He stood up straight, but in the end he saw only the snow trees in the town and the frozen stream. When he walked away, the familiar scenery would disappear.

Zhuo Siheng fell down, and the pain of separating the suspense and chasing the pursuit of Tao quickly tear him in half.

Perhaps because he had shed tears for a long time, he fell asleep on the snow sled with a felt blanket. When he woke up, he had arrived at the Chemayi. He stayed overnight and left for Ningshuo City to transfer to the official stairs to walk the official road.

Unlike the last time I went to Ningshuo, the road was difficult to walk in winter, and the journey of a day would turn into two days. The carriage and groom comforted him not to worry. After changing the official road, even if you spend ten or half a month traveling through the entire Weizhou to Ningxing Mansion, the time will definitely be up.

In fact, Zhuo Siheng was not in a hurry. He had carefully calculated the time. In mid-September, Ningxing Prefecture's examination was scheduled to be completed in early November. Nearly two months from Shuozhou to Beidu Yunzhong, there was even more time to adjust and prepare for the exam. I was just afraid that something would happen in the middle of the journey, or delaying the procedures in Ningshuo, and reserved some space in advance was also the key to not fighting an unprepared battle.

These key points were what Zhuo Yan told him when he was there, but now he has used it, but his father is no longer there.

This trip seemed to be in the dark and it was particularly smooth. After arriving in Ningshuo City, it was very fast to stamp documents and apply for clearance documents. After staying for only one day, I took a spacious and warm official stage coach. Zhuo Siheng felt that there was really no one here to solve the test. There was only one idle official in the yamen, and there was no such thing as efficiency.

Although it was still autumn, Shuozhou was no different from the middle of winter. There were very few people going out. Half of the goods and postage were piled in the stagecoach. The remaining three men seemed to be visiting relatives. They wrapped them in the carriage and were drowsy. Some people saw that he was a student who took the imperial examination and even gave him a few blessings. Zhuo Siheng also thanked him politely.

The official artisan carriage was stopped and stopped. Although it was convenient for rest, it was not fast. It was especially necessary to travel to some villages. Therefore, when it arrived at the chariot, Zhuo Siheng had to pull up his own pile of things and get out of the car and ask where to go next. If it was just right, if it was not going along the way, he could only rest in place, wait for the next car to pass by, or had a private cargo team and a carriage to take a ride. Sometimes after waiting for a long time, he could only follow the pictures drawn by the postman, carrying a bow and hiking to the next pass.

It was much slower than expected to go out to Shuozhou after waiting for a walk like this.

Fortunately, when we arrived in Weizhou, the climate was no longer so severe, and the small towns and counties we passed by also increased to the naked eye. After all, it was a prefecture under the military administration. There were more people and more checkpoints, and it took a lot of time to stop and stop.

When Zhuo Siheng finally entered the territory of Ningxing Mansion after a long journey, it was already halfway through October.

I heard on the road that it had just snowed in Ningxing Mansion and it was not cold yet. Zhuo Siheng originally wanted to go to the city quickly and spend time to repair it, so he didn't stop on the road. These days, his beard had grown and his full set of plush fur on his body. Zhuo Siheng had been blocked and interrogated by the level sergeant on the road several times, and he had a document before letting him go.

Since he entered Ningxing Mansion, he went on Shangguan Yi's carriage and sat far away from him, and occasionally looked at him with fearful eyes.

He estimated that his honor was already between hunters and bandits, and his deterrence was comparable to the previous ones that showed his flower arm and wore a gold chain. My sister and brother really didn't have to worry about his safety when he went out.

It's strange that although Ningxing Mansion had snowed again in the north, it seemed like late autumn, and the brown-red leaves fell all the way with his itinerary. The cool northwest wind blew the world, the autumn was clear and clear, and the clouds were clear, and there was a fresh and bright voice in the lonely and desolate mood. The wind was strong on the road, but it was cold but not cold. Even if I was wearing too much and sweating all over the heat, Zhuo Siheng was still excited to linger in the bright autumn scenery that I had never seen before. He was in a sparse and open mood, and he didn't feel that he had to work hard and hard along the way. He even thought that he would definitely take his younger brother and sister here to enjoy it in the future.

The northern capital Yunzhong is located at the center of Ningxing Prefecture. The Mitu Ridge in the west is protected and blocked the coldness of the north. The Jingning Canal in Nantong brings wealth to the other side. The city walls here are even higher than Ningshuo that Zhuo Siheng had seen. The walls of Yunzhong City are all made of dark gray and hard rocks. Looking up at the falling hat, the neck is sore and swollen, and it is like a mountain. It easily overwhelms the momentum of building a city in Ningshuo's earth walls, giving people a sense of solemnity that they cannot be deceived. The three gates are lined up in sequence, and the largest one can pass by three cars and horses.

Even though Zhuo Siheng was much more mature than when he entered Ningshuo City, he was still driven by curiosity and novelty. He looked around and looked at him. When he was questioned by the defenders, he still had a surprised look on his face.

However, he still maintained his constant care and found that there were many scholars and students in the team entering the city, and I thought they would all gather here to try it out.

Suddenly, he had an unknown premonition. So many people came here to take the exam, so they wouldn't be able to book a suitable room now...

Zhuo Siheng's heart sank, and he didn't care about appreciating the prosperity of the metropolis anymore. He rushed into the city and asked about the road to find the neighborhood of Gongyuan. He asked about many inns and shops that opened here, but there were no rooms. He was a little anxious at first, but soon had an idea and walked a few streets away to continue asking.

In fact, he didn't want to ask about the inns that looked more luxurious and expensive, but now he doesn't care much about it. It's important to find a place to stay first, so he walked into a inn called Dongwanglou nearby.

This place is indeed different from the shop I have been to before. There are at least thirty simple square tables in the carved Liangkuan Hall, which are almost full of seats. A small courtyard in the atrium is planted with nine-curved maple maple trees, and the red leaves fall into the hall with the wind, and they are all rich and elegant.

At this time, there were already guests sitting there looking at him - it was really impossible not to attract attention from this outfit.

Zhuo Siheng just glanced over and knew that he could not afford to live here for too long, but he did not spend much money along the way and was rich in money. He had to repair it for a while and then think about his method again. So he asked the waiter in front of the cabinet: "Is there any ordinary room?"

The waiter looked at him and asked, "Is the guest official... a traveler who runs?"

"I'm here to take the exam."

As soon as he finished speaking, a burst of laughter suddenly broke out when a table approached.

"Dear brothers, I will say that now my pilgrimage is a state-owned government and the style of learning has gradually risen thousands of miles away. Look, even the bears in the mountains have climbed out to take the imperial examination."

This person's voice was loud and the door was high. After saying that, he laughed unscrupulously. The guests in the hall looked here. Seeing Zhuo Siheng dressed like this, he also understood what the speaker was laughing. Some of them could not help laughing, and some of them sighed and shook their heads without saying a word.

Of course, Zhuo Siheng knew that he was being laughed at, but he didn't feel humiliated in his heart.

If you have seen the wind and snow in Shuozhou, you will know how warm and comfortable this outfit is.

It's still vision that determines insight.

He secretly reminded himself that he must remember to go to a new place and new atmosphere in the future and never comment on the vulgarities that he does not understand or see, so as not to put himself in a short-sighted and develop a narrow mind.

"This... I'm afraid this is an ordinary house that no one can live in..." The waiter was also very obedient. He could see that Zhuo Siheng was worth a lot of money. He estimated that the house he could pay was really pitiful, so he thanked the guest in a more polite way and said, "Keep, the weather is not that cold here, so he doesn't have to sweat and get sick. Find a place to rest and change the cloak first."

Although he refused, he had good intentions. Zhuo Siheng smiled and thanked the waiter to walk out. The laughter and guidance were still following him. He just took a step and seemed to be unaware of it when he heard it.

There were bustling cars and horses on the street, and Zhuo Siheng stood by the road, looking a little miserable.

It took a lot of calculations to delay some time. He had no acquaintances in Beidu Yunzhong, so he couldn't sleep on the road, right? He looked up and saw that this place was a certain distance from the Gongyuan, and there were many more houses around him crowded in the alleyways.

He suddenly had an idea, carried his package and rushed into one of the alleys.

Sure enough, many houses near the Gongyuan can rent idle houses for candidates to temporarily live in. The price is much more reasonable than staying in a hotel and they also care about food. However, most of the houses are narrow and old, and the orientation is not good. Many of them are temporarily changed into utility rooms. However, for candidates who have to live for a month, it is the most cost-effective choice.

He chose a quiet family far from the street. There were only two old men living here with their grandsons. The price was fair. He paid a month's rent and moved his things into a narrow house on the second floor. This room was clean and bright, with a comfortable bed, and thoughtfully prepared old tables and chairs.

Zhuo Siheng sighed in his heart: No matter which dynasty or the age, school district housing is always the first choice for real estate investment.

The place where he settled was settled, he finally took off his thick plush, took a very comfortable bath, and fell asleep with the exhaustion of dust and dust, falling asleep peacefully.
Chapter completed!