Shen Rui could imagine that Shen Quan was in a bad state if he continued to be in such a bad state. How could Guo not think of it? He didn't notice it before. He just thought that his son had become more stable as he got older, and he didn't think that failing the second college examination was a big deal.
Shen Quan's age is shown here. He passed the county examination and the government examination at the age of fourteen and became a boy student. He is already considered a leader among his peers. Let's not talk about the government examination, just the county examination. Although it is held every year, it is There are only about twenty students admitted to each subject. There are many people who have passed the exam several times.
When it comes to the prefectural examination, students from the same province are admitted, and there is a certain admission ratio. When it comes to the college examination, all children in the province take the examination. If one person out of fifty is selected, failure is nothing. I'm not joking. There are many people in the Shen family's houses who have studied all their lives and became a student at the age of 40 or 50.
If Shen Quan was really determined to take the imperial examination, he wouldn't have to worry about getting stuck in the college examination. As long as he paid the salary and entered the prison and obtained the qualifications of a prisoner, he could also take the provincial examination.
The reason why Shen Quan is so anxious is not only that there are two Jinshi and Juren brothers in front of him, but also the pressure brought by Shen Jin next door. The two of them were classmates in Geng, one has entered the government school to become a junior student, and the other is still studying in the clan school. The brothers are mixed in the same class, so one can imagine the huge gap.
Guo and Shen Rui looked at each other, obviously thinking of Shen Jin and understanding what was wrong with Shen Rui.
Guo did not teach his son in person, but thought of Shen Rui from his son. Shen Quan was just Shen Jin's brother from the next generation, and they were all affected by him. The pressure from Shen Rui, a biological brother, must have been even greater.
Therefore, Mrs. Guo said: "I will keep an eye on your third brother, and Brother Rui should also cherish himself. I will ask Dong Xi to keep an eye on you, but I won't allow you to suffer. Even if you end up in the next year, you are only fourteen, so don't worry if you are serious. "
"Auntie, don't worry. My nephew has managed to take care of his body so that he won't lose his weight. A good body is fundamental. If your body is damaged, everything will be in vain." Shen Rui glanced at Shen Quan and replied. road.
Shen Quan babbled and muttered: "Why do you say this? I'm not a weak scholar with no power to restrain a chicken?"
Shen Rui said: "If Third Brother continues like this, he will be almost helpless..."
Because Dongxi came over during the day and told Shen Rui to come over in the evening, Mrs. Guo had already ordered the kitchen to prepare the banquet, leaving Shen Rui to have dinner.
Although the old man of the fifth house has passed away, his eldest son has become a commoner, and his second son has won the imperial examination. The house is prosperous, and the old man Shen Hong, who was originally weak, is in good spirits. Although his wife helps manage Shen Rui's property It's a bit hard, and it's easy to get into trouble, which is inconsistent with Wufang's low-key and cautious attitude. However, Sun's kindness comes first, and Shen Rui's friendship for several clan brothers comes second. Shen Hong also cares for Shen Rui like a nephew. .
Together with the lively and lively Sister Fu, the meal was a pleasant one.
Before Shen Ruilin left, Mrs. Guo ordered: "Brother Rui will go to school by carriage tomorrow. I will send someone to the school to ask for leave for your third brother. He stopped going to school because of something at home a year ago."
After hearing this, Shen Quan looked anxious and wanted to speak, but Guo stopped him with a snort. Shen Hong was also a little surprised, but he always relied on his wife, so even if he had doubts, he did not interrupt.
Shen Rui, however, agreed with Guo's arrangement, thinking that Shen Quan's current situation was just a good time to take a break, so he nodded in agreement.
Back home, Dong Xi carefully reported what she said when she met Guo today. Shen Rui knew that he was too self-righteous because of his shortcomings before. With his status, he could only be a grandson or a son in this family, rather than being able to speak out. .
Regardless of whether he is willing to rely on others or not, at least he cannot be the one confronting Zhang Lao'an and Shen Juren in front of others, otherwise he would be right and wrong.
"There's no need to worry about it anymore. Let's live our own lives from now on. If you have any difficulties, just go ask your aunt." Shen Rui waved his hand.
My aunt is also my mother, so I feel like someone is protecting me, which makes me feel at ease.
Five rooms, upper room in the inner courtyard.
Shen Quan was not there. He had just begged Mrs. Guo to go to school tomorrow, but Mrs. Guo scolded him and drove him back to his yard. Mrs. Guo sent his wife and maids away, and only the husband and wife talked.
Mrs. Guo sighed and said with a look of luck, "Fortunately, brother Rui reminded me. If the third brother had not continued to study hard like this, he would have really broken his body. It was also my negligence. I just thought that when he got older, he loved to study without being urged. , I didn’t expect the third brother to feel bitter. He is the youngest son, and the master and I doted on him, and developed a strong temper. Now, not to mention his two brothers, there is also Shen Jin who is the same age as him. No wonder he is anxious. It’s just that he is studying There's no need to be anxious. You're just a little older now. It's not too late to settle down and wait for three to five years before ending up." At this point, he paused and said, "I was thinking about it. Let him take a break and find some excuse to send him to Beijing after the New Year, which is just a good time to relax, sir, what do you think?"
Shen Hong had gone through the hardships of the imperial examination. He was selected as a scholar when he was in his twenties, but failed the provincial examination for the third time. He only passed the imperial examination when he was in his thirties, only two subjects ahead of his eldest son. Due to poor health, he did not go to Beijing to participate in the imperial examination.
After listening to his wife's suggestion, Shen Hong nodded and said: "It's exactly what the lady said. This knowledge cannot be suppressed. It is better to travel thousands of miles than to study thousands of books. It is good to go out and see the world."
We have arrangements for the new year, and for the past two months before this, Guo also has arrangements.
So, Shen Quan, who was restless in the yard, waited for Guo, followed by many women and maids carrying boxes.
Mrs. Guo knew her son's nature and answered nicely, but she had a good idea in her heart, so she ordered her mother-in-law: "Clean up the third brother's study. Not a single book or piece of paper is allowed to be left behind. Pack it up and carry it away." "
Shen Quan was shocked when he heard this and said, "Mother, what are you doing?"
Guo said with a straight face: "You are not allowed to study again before New Year's Eve. During these fifty days before the New Year, you should take good care of your spirit and body."
The ladies and maids had already followed Guo's instructions and started packing the books into boxes.
Shen Quan didn't dare to stop him, so he could only grimace and took Guo's arm and said: "Mom, Brother Rui just said it, why is this the case? Isn't it okay for the stepmother to make soup for her son? This study is like this If you're sailing against the current, if you don't advance, you'll retreat. How can you delay this for so long?"
Mrs. Guo wiped Shen Jin's wrist and felt that the bones were protruding from his diaphragm hand. Tears welled up in his eyes: "My son has always been smart, how come he is so far behind? Why do you want to compare with Shen Jin? What if he is really good? Strong, just like Shen Li. If my son is running for the top prize, even if he is exhausted, my mother can still praise my son's high spirits. How can a student be anxious to make my son look like this? From now on, it will still be the provincial examination. There will be an examination, but what should I do? All the scholars in the world have gone through it all the way, and who has not failed? I can’t bear this setback, so I’d better stop worrying about the imperial examination as soon as possible, donate to a supervisor as soon as possible, and honestly be a country squire. master."
Shen Quan's eyes were red, his head drooped, and he said after a while: "Mom, my son has never felt that he is any worse than others... Even though he was naughty when he was young, he was very down-to-earth in his studies, and he has never been lazy... Brother Jin is still there, even Brother Zhu passed the exam, but his son failed..."
The Shen family has many descendants, and many have become talented. There are three Jinshi, five candidates, and more than ten students. The members of the Shen family are more and more confident, and it is because of their grandchildren that they have become talented, and the family is prosperous.
Guo said: "It's just a college examination, so what does it count? I heard from your elder brother that now you get six out of 100 in the provincial examination, and eight out of 100 in the general examination. Even if you pass the college examination, how many can pass the provincial examination, and how many can pass the provincial examination?" ?That’s your eldest brother. He has always been excellent at studying. He was also the first in the class back then. When he came from Yayuan, he failed in the first subject. But there are many outstanding talents in your generation, so the exam seems to be easy. It’s you. My father's generation of brothers and scholarly children have studied for half their lives, but there are many who have been born as children. If you are determined to make a career, relax your mind. Are you afraid of the college examination? If you want to take the provincial examination, you will be sent to prison directly. .When the time comes, will it be the honorable person who is a successful candidate, or will it be the honorable person who has failed? If you have no intention of starting a career, there is no need to fight for this sooner or later."
After Guo's repeated lectures and scoldings, Shen Quan finally changed his mind and said with a red face: "My son is impetuous and my tired mother is worried."
He was under so much pressure. In addition to feeling embarrassed in front of his clan brothers, the main reason was that he was worried about disappointing his parents. Now after hearing this explanation, he knew that he had thought wrong and was ashamed.
Mrs. Guo saw her son listening and smiled on her face, but she did not ask anyone to stop packing the boxes.
The mother and son went to the north room to talk. Mrs. Guo said: "The college examination will be the year after tomorrow. There is no rush whether you want to take part or not. I told your father that next year you will go to Beijing to visit your two brothers. You can also Let’s see the market. Your sister-in-law is pregnant again and hopes to have a baby girl this time.”
When Shen Quan heard this, he couldn't help but feel excited: "Do you really want your son to go to the capital?"
"What are you doing to coax you? The in-laws will send people to Beijing to deliver birth induction gifts, and you will be with them," said Guo.
Shen Quan felt a little hopeful, and he was not that resistant to the fact that all the books in the study were taken away.
Mrs. Guo smiled slightly, called the two maids standing behind her, and said to Shen Quan: "According to the rules of your eldest brother and second brother, they only give money to the people in the house before they get married. This time it is an advantage for you. Don't be naughty. You must know how to take good care of your body. I will ask your mother in the courtyard to keep an eye on you. Don’t ask me to talk about you."
According to the rules of the five-room house, all the maids around the younger brother must be let out and not kept in the house. This is because they are afraid that the old friendship between master and servant will affect the relationship between the future master and the mistress. They wait until before marriage, and the elders will arrange two maids. He was taught about sexual intercourse, and when he got married, he was married off with the same makeup, and all the concubines and concubines in the future were promoted by his wife.
Because of this rule, the five-bedroom house is very quiet, and there are few disputes between wives and concubines. Even the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are closer than ordinary families.
When Shen Quan was a young man, he had just kept mourning for his grandfather a few years ago, and when he was full, he was depressed because of his failure in the college entrance examination. He could not have imagined this. Now when he heard Guo mention it, he immediately felt his face burning, but his eyes were still involuntarily. Look at the two pretty maids.
That night, Shen Rui let go of the fear in his heart, and fell into a deep dream with physical and mental relief. The scenery in the dream was as if he had experienced it personally, with his mother's smile... Next door, Shen Quan, was sinking into the tenderness of the female body, completely forgetting the pain of losing his place. back……,