Accompanied by the family members of the gentry who have been traveling for a long time, Tao Qian's visit went very smoothly. Not to mention the people he was familiar with, even those he didn't know well before, for the sake of the old master, the guest and host were able to enjoy themselves.

After visiting several families, and having more gentry to rely on, the eldest son of the old master took Tao Qian to visit the master of a family in the county. This gentry was a close friend of the magistrate and registrar of the county.

With this person's words, even if you go to the county government, you can save a lot of trouble in many things.

Turn to the south and follow the official road straight to the county seat. Ruijin County is named because "gold is obtained by digging in the ground, and gold is auspiciousness". It was first established in the first year of Tianyou in the Tang Dynasty, when Ruijin Supervisor was established.

In the eleventh year of Baoda, the prison was promoted to a county, with Xianghu Town as the county seat. It has not changed for more than a thousand years.

Tao Qian was no stranger to this place. He came here several times when he was rushing to take exams. Each time he came in a hurry, but when he left he was sometimes high-spirited and sometimes discouraged, all because of fame.

Entering the county town, the guards in the city seemed lazy and not very energetic. They walked along the main road and came to an alley, turned in, knocked on the door, and sent greeting cards.

He was soon invited to the lobby for a chat.

"I'm asking an inappropriate question. I wonder if my good nephew has ever been married?"

When I met the Juren, I exchanged greetings, just like when visiting other gentry. They talked about age, fame, and classmates, and they were in the same year to get closer to each other. The Juren heard that he had also won the imperial examination when he was in Fujing, but he

I also took some exams. Fortunately, although Tao Qian has been living in a foreign country these past few years, he has not been delayed in preaching and receiving his vocation. After passing the exams, Juren was very satisfied and the smile on his face became heavier and heavier.

, he naturally agreed immediately to help speak to the magistrate.

At this point, Ju Ren suddenly asked this question, and Tao Qian had to answer truthfully. Unexpectedly, after hearing this answer, Ju Ren sighed.

"Hey, Brother Tian Shi from Rentian Town, I remember that we were both talented scholars in the same school back then. It turns out that my nephew is actually engaged to Brother Tian's daughter-in-law. What a coincidence."

Rentian Town is located to the north of Ruijin County. During the Tang Dynasty, the three surnames of Ren, Tian and Cai moved here, so it was called Rentian Cai. Later, when a village was built here, it was renamed Rentian Village. Until later, the town also got its name.

Now, the Tian family is a big family in the town, and Brother Tian is known as a scholar. He met Tao Qian because of the old master's relationship and betrothed his youngest daughter to him. At that time, Tao Qian was about to go to Fujing to take the imperial examination. He only said that he had finished the examination.

They got married when they returned to their hometown after taking the imperial examination.

Several years passed by, and when I came back, I heard from the old master that the Tian family went out to escape the military disaster a few years ago and never came back. Whether it was life or death, I really can’t tell. It’s just that the marriage was delayed, and there was nothing I could do about it.

of.

"Thinking about it, it was decades ago. We both became scholars at the same time, and we had a very happy relationship. He invited me to travel to Rentian, admire the scenery of Luohan Rock, and even stayed up all night at Haiyun Temple.

Let’s talk freely. Who could have imagined that there would be such changes in the past few years? It’s as if the world has been turned upside down.”

After sighing, Juren became even closer to Tao Qian. Not only did he agree to visit the county government office tomorrow morning, but he also said that he would entrust some capable people in the Ganzhou government or the Nangan governor's government office to track down the Tian family.

The scholar is looking for it. Tao Qian is asked to study peacefully and wait for the next exam.

They left the mansion with a lot of gratitude. It was already evening. They booked an inn and hurried there. After eating and washing up, while the two were chatting, the eldest son of the old master suddenly said, "Then

"A gentleman has a girl waiting for him in his boudoir," and said no more.

Tao Qian didn't pay too much attention to this matter, not to mention he didn't plan to do anything to Chen Shimei. When they arrived early the next morning, the lifting sedan had already arrived. As expected, it was as if the old master had mentioned it earlier, the county government

The yamen servant didn't even stop him, he just stepped forward to say hello, and then let the judge lead Tao Qian inside.

When he met the magistrate, Tao Qian didn't recognize him. The magistrate's name was Qian Jiang, a native of Jiaxing, Zhejiang. He succeeded the previous magistrate in the fourth year of Yongli, that is, in the seventh year of Shunzhi. He wanted to come to his hometown after leaving his hometown for many years, so he paid a visit to the magistrate before leaving.

Xiong Wenmeng, the county magistrate, spoke with a Sichuan accent, and his words of encouragement still echoed in his ears.

Things are different, so people should be polite. Tao Qian behaved very respectfully, especially after shaving his hair. Qian Zhixian also found it pleasing to the eye. Coupled with the kind words of the judge, after half an hour, he

Already seems quite familiar.

"It's a pity. If my dear brother had come back a year and a half earlier, he might still be able to participate in this year's imperial examination."

The Qing court recognized the merits of the Ming court, but the imperial examinations of the Longwu Dynasty were a bit strange. Not only did they examine candidates, but they also awarded the new title of Cui Shi. The Qing court probably would not recognize this, and Magistrate Qian estimated that this was the case.

, but I’m not sure. However, this year is the year of the big exam. It seems that the Qing government has changed the system and divided the rankings between Manchu and Han. Although there are two top picks, it will not increase the chance of Han scholar-bureaucrats passing the exam, but what can I say?

This was also the time for the exam. Seeing that a potential stock in the county that had been over-emphasized in the Ming Dynasty could not be used as a reference, Zhixian Qian always felt a little pity.

"Thank you, Mr. County Elder, for thinking about me. The student has been living abroad for many years. Now that he is returning to his hometown, his heart is surging. It is really not appropriate to take the imperial examination. But please don't worry. The student plans to take the exam again in three years. He will also study hard in the past two years.

of."

"So good, so good."

Literary governance is also a part of the assessment of local officials. If there are more candidates and the title of Jinshi, it doesn't matter what the relationship is. It is just that it will look better in the performance evaluation.

The magistrate of Qian County was very satisfied with Tao Qian's attitude, and the governor seemed to be willing to support the young man. After a good conversation, the host and guest had a great time, and after parting ways, Tao Qian felt confident and returned to the old master's house with his eldest son.

"That's good, I finally have a solution. When the competition comes, with your talent and learning, you can always be named on the gold medal list." At this point, the old master couldn't help but sigh: "The Ming Dynasty is still the Qing Dynasty.

After all, it's not us little people who can have the final say. It's good to live your own life well and pass on the knowledge passed down by the saints."

Since the Qing army occupied Ganzhou, the old master stopped teaching and spent his old age at home. But for the younger members of the family, for his sons and students, he still hopes that they can achieve fame. At least, no matter which dynasty they are, they must always use it.

Confucians who govern the country must study hard even if it is just for the purpose of "carrying on the unique learning to the saints".

After bidding farewell to the old master, Tao Qian returned to the village. The old house had been renovated. He went to express his gratitude and returned to the old house. However, the father's kindness, his son's filial piety, and his brothers, friends, and brothers were respectful.

No matter how old it is, even if the house is restored to look exactly like it once was, it will still lose some of its popularity.

"Stay calmly for a few months first, let those guys think that I am the same kind, and no longer have any suspicion before doing anything."

Recalling Chen Kai's instructions, Tao Qian couldn't help but sigh in his heart about the feeling that "they may be the same kind, but they are not the same kind after all." He knew very well what it meant to not be the same kind, and the results of the things he wanted to do would definitely be the same.

It's like a dead end. Perhaps, death will happen in the near future.

Thinking of this, Tao Qian couldn't help but sigh. But after sighing, he suddenly remembered what Chen Kai said before he left. He quickly ran to the study, spread out the white paper, and studied ink with trembling hands.

, even little bits of ink are constantly splashing, but there is not even the slightest stagnation.
Chapter completed!