The four hundred and tenth chapter autumn wind (six) 200
As soon as the sound of the chaotic clapper came, Jiuru Curie had already set off a light.
Today is the big day for Shen Rui’s provincial examination. Liu Ya and Chunyan both got up, and the two little maids, Shaoyao, Kapok, and other maids who were on duty in Jiuruyuan also came up to show their attention.
Liu Ya suppressed her anxiety, and her cheeks were filled with joy, and said, "Second brother, the rain has stopped..."
Chunyan also said happily: "Although it is still cloudy, you can see stars in the west..."
Shen Rui didn't close his eyes all night, and only felt stuffy in the house. He heard that it was raining outside, so he came out of the house.
It was still black outside. Shen Rui raised his head and looked at the quiet and distant night sky. He saw a few stars scattered in the west, and the sky was indeed clear.
He closed his eyes, took a heavy breath, and then vomited it out again, feeling that the turbid air in his chest had dissipated.
The sound of footsteps came from afar, and then it was Zhou's mother who brought a few servants over.
Seeing Shen Rui standing at the door wearing only the middle clothes, Zhou's mother hurriedly said, "Why is the second brother standing here? It's hard at night, so I ate it carefully and it's cold."
Shen Rui looked at the food box in the servant's hand and said, "I'm sorry, mom..."
He took the exam alone, and the whole family was uneasy. Even if no one dared to complain, Shen Rui still signaled Liu Ya to give it to him.
The servants stood up and thanked him, saying auspicious words.
Liu Ya and Chunyan served Shen Rui to wash, and Zhou's mother cleaned her hands and set the table in person.
In addition to a few dishes of hunger-resistant pastry, there are two cans of porridge, one is the chicken, rice, seaweed porridge that Shen Rui usually likes to eat, and the other is the pork porridge that looks familiar.
Seeing Shen Rui looking at this, Zhou's mother served a bowl and said, "This is the popular 'top congee and the first prize in Beijing in the past two years. Second brother, try it and get a good taste."
Shen Rui often lived in the Harbor City in his previous life, so he naturally ate the bowl of porridge in front of him; but this was the first time in the Ming Dynasty.
Shen Rui vaguely remembers the origin of this "top scholar and the first prize" which is related to the Gonglun literary narration of the top scholar in the 12th year of Hongzhi.
According to unofficial history, this Lun Wenxu is a poor child. When he was young, he couldn't eat enough food. He was helped by a porridge shop owner and got a bowl of porridge every day. When the top scholar in high school returned to his hometown to visit his relatives, Lun Wenxu would
I went to the porridge shop to give thanks, and added pork, pork liver and pork cereal noodles to the "Zhuangzi and No. 1 punctuation".
This "top scholar and number one" has a good reputation, not only spread throughout Guangdong, but also spread to the north and south with the exchanges between officials and merchants from north to south. Even the capital has become popular in the past two years.
Although Shen Rui did not like the meaty smell of pork, he still took the porridge bowl and ate the bowl of "Zhuangyuan Jidi Porridge" Yu Jing.
Zhou's mother knew Shen Rui's taste, and she was still thinking about persuasion. Seeing that he was not picky and used this bowl of porridge, she was so sensible and well-behaved. Thinking of the master's illness, she couldn't help but turn red in her eyes and said with a forced smile:
"Okay, my second brother will definitely be the leader in Qiuwei High School..."
Shen Rui ate another bowl of pumpkin porridge, half a dish of vegetarian steamed dumplings, half a dish of gold and silver steamed buns, and then he put down his chopsticks.
Zhou's mother took the servants down, and Liu Ya and Chunyan held up their clothes, shoes and socks.
According to regulations, only single clothes, trousers and shoes can be worn in the next exam, and cotton clothes or jackets are not allowed to be worn, so as to prevent entrainment. However, there are no regulations on how many layers to wear.
The shoes are specially made, using thick cotton cloth, the soles are directly made of half-inch thick beef tendon soles, and the socks are three pairs, one layer after another, so as to save the cold from the soles.
The pants are four layers and the clothes are four layers, all of which are thick cotton fabric.
Shen Rui put on layers of clothes, his body looked a little bloated, and there was also fine sweat on his forehead.
Even during the Mid-Autumn Festival, it is cold in the morning and evening, so there are too many such wears. Fortunately, you don’t have to wear it all the time. After the examination is finished, you can take off two layers and leave it for bedding and extra clothes at night.
When Shen Rui was dressed neatly, it was already Yinchu (3 a.m.).
Shen Rui went to the room.
The upper room was brightly lit, and Xu and Chen Cang had already gotten up. The couple sat on the arhat couch and talked. Sister Yu was also there, right on the brocade stool where Xu was headed.
Chen Cang did not cough, his face was still rosy, but the blue light could not be covered at the moment.
Seeing that Shen Rui was coming, Hongyun put the brocade on the ground. Yu Jie'er had already gotten up to avoid it. Shen Rui knelt down to Chen Cang and his wife: "Father, mother, son is gone..."
Chen Cang touched his beard and said, "Thank you for your hard work in the past few years, and now it's time for the fragrance of golden osmanthus...
Xu got off the Luohan couch and came to help Shen Rui himself: "I don't ask my son to be Xianda, I just want to go safely and return safely. Don't let the master care about me."
"Abide by my father and mother's teachings." Shen Rui kowtowed again, and then helped Xu's arm to get up.
The "click" footsteps outside started to sound, and the third master and the third wife came.
"Although I can't see Brother Rui'er's fate with my own eyes, I still have to send him these steps in the mansion." The third master said happily: "The rain has been falling for a few days, and it's finally raining today, which is a good omen."
The third wife also said: "It's good to stay completely. The weather is getting warmer, so Rui Ge'er is also suffering from the exam room...
I had already explained what I should say yesterday. Seeing that it was getting late, Chen Cang waved his hand and said, "Go, there are many people entering the court outside the Gongyuan. Go and leave early, so I can save myself waiting behind..."
"No." Shen Rui responded and came out of the room.
Except for Chen Cang who stayed in the room and did not come out, the other four people sent it out.
At the gate, the carriage was already ready.
In addition to the second housekeeper and several healthy servants, longevity and long blessings are also there. The basket exams are prepared early, exactly the same two parts for emergency use.
With everyone's expectant eyes, Shen Rui got on the carriage. The servants rode horses and followed them, and the group left the entrance of the alley.
It was not until the person was not seen and the sound of carriages gradually faded, and the third master and the third wife helped Xu turn around.
Everyone's faces were very heavy, and the third master said, "Sister-in-law, Brother Rui has already come to the scene, let Brother Rui take leave and rest. Even if Brother Rui wants to come to the house during each event, he will return to the morning and ask his servants to hide it from him. ...
Xu shook his head and said, "Your elder brother's complaint has been prepared. You have to wait for fifteen before you can hand it over..."
So what if I hide it from Shen Rui? Others don’t care so much. Here, the father of his father was sick, and the son of his son continued the provincial examination, but he couldn’t explain it clearly afterwards.
The third master clenched his fists, sighed heavily, and said, "I just hope Brother Rui'er's grades will be better, which will make my brother happy..."
There is still some time before dawn. The third master and the third wife went back to the east courtyard. Sister Yu helped Xu back to the main room.
When he was about to go to the room, Yu Jie'er whispered: "Mother, my second brother feels so guilty because of the third brother's affairs; now my father's illness is hidden from my second brother, and my second brother will definitely be uneasy after I know it..."
"This is the master's decision, I don't want to go against his thoughts." Xu clapped Yu Jie'er's hand and said, "I will comfort you after your second brother's place, but you're just suffering..."
Although the elders are orderly, marriage is not a must.
Few younger brothers marry their elder brother first, but younger sisters don’t have to wait until their elder brother gets married before they get married. In addition, the Shen family is in a special situation, and the two brothers and sisters are only one year apart, but Shen Rui is determined to be a young man. If a fiancée waits until Shen Rui gets married after marrying Yujie'er, it will have to wait until three years later. Her daughter's youth is limited, so it will be too late.
Mao Chi is the eldest son, and he is nineteen years old this year. He is not young. The Mao family hopes that his eldest daughter-in-law will come in as soon as possible. The winter of the previous year before Mao Chi returned to the south to take the boy exam, the two families had already agreed, regardless of whether Mao Chi can participate in the village exam. The wedding date is scheduled this year, and Sister Yu will get married after she is in the hairpin.
Sister Yu’s birthday is at the end of August, and she will be in her hairpin for half a month.
Mao Chi is still in the south now and will be over this autumn exam this year. When he returns to Beijing, he will say that it will be the end of October and early November.
Whether Chen Cang is ill or... it is not the time to talk about marriage now.
Yu Jie'er's tears have come out, but it's not for herself, but because of her heart. She held Xu's arm tightly and choked and said, "If my daughter doesn't marry, my daughter will accompany her mother in the future..."
"Silly child" Xu sighed and said, "Go back and rest quickly. Sister Yu has worked hard these days..." After that, he wiped his tears for Sister Yu and ordered Hongyun to send Sister Yu back in person.
When Xu entered the house, Chen Cang was already leaning on the Arhat couch and fell asleep in a drowsy way.
Chen Cang coughed for half a night last night and didn't close his eyes.
Xu felt sorry for her husband and did not ask him to get up. She just went inside to hold a quilt and covered Chen Cang.
She tiptoed out the lights and did not return to the inner room, but sat next to her husband.
Listening to her husband's slightly heavy breathing, Xu's restless mood gradually calmed down.
Young couples know each other and stay with each other, without regrets in this life. After forty years of marriage, they have been merciful to God. What else can I complain about?
Praying in front of the Buddha every day, Xu will not imagine self-deception such as "I wish to sacrifice my life and prolong my life" and other long-lasting wishes. First, I wish Shen Rui to be famous on the list and achieve success in his career, so that his husband can feel at ease; second, I don't care. My husband has so many days left, I hope he will suffer less and leave peacefully...
Outside Huang Huafang, the second housekeeper rode his horse to Shen Rui's carriage and said, "Second brother, are you calling me old slave? Do you have any instructions?"
Although the Gongyuan is in the southeast corner of Huanghuafang and is still quite far from Fangbei Street, candidates and their families from all directions rushed to the Gongyuan, and the streets are filled with lanterns and crowds.
"Don't go to the front desk, the carriage will stop next to you first." Shen Rui lifted the curtain and ordered.
When the second housekeeper heard this, he was stunned and said in confusion: "Second brother, Mao Chu (5 a.m.) started entering the market. Don't you go in line now?"
"If you don't have a queue, please avoid the side for a while and give your debut to the people behind you." Shen Rui said.
Although the second housekeeper was puzzled, he knew that Shen Rui had an idea and did not dare to disobey his thoughts. He hurriedly ordered the coachman to drive the carriage aside and move the street away.
The sky is still dark, but the clouds are getting thinner in the west, and the stars are getting more and more clear.
The sound of a buzz came from a distance, and it was already the fifth day of the year.
Seeing that Shen Rui had not given instructions to go on the road, the second housekeeper was anxious and stepped forward and said, "Second brother, you are about to enter the venue. Should you rush over?"
Shen Rui said through the carriage curtain: "Get in the car and talk"
The second butler felt something was wrong and took care of getting on the carriage.
A glass lamp was hung on the carriage. Shen Rui sat under the lamp, his little face tightly and his face was as heavy as water.
Seeing Shen Rui's expression, the second housekeeper trembled and hurriedly said, "Second brother, what's wrong?"
Shen Rui looked at the second housekeeper and said for a while: "I won't take the exam today..."