After ten years of studying hard in a cold window, success or failure can be rushed to the exam.
It took Liu Anjiang nearly 20 years to go from being a scholar to being a scholar and then taking part in the examination.
In 1894, it was the year of the triennial examination again.
After the Spring Festival, everyone in the Liu family was busy with Liu Anjiang's trip to Beijing to take the exam.
Liu Yong said to Liu Anjiang: Going to Beijing to take the exam is a long and long journey. Although we are conveniently located on land and water, it often takes half a month. We can first go to Yangzhou, turn the ship around, enter the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, and then enter the canal in Shandong.
section, then enter the Hebei section of the Grand Canal, arrive at Tongzhou, and then ride on mules and horses into Beijing.
Liu Anjiang smiled and said: Dad is relieved, my son is now an adult and has his own route.
Liu Yong said again: "The road is long and long. You might as well hire a book boy to get on and off the boat to help carry your luggage, so that you can have someone to look after you on the way."
Liu Anjiang smiled and said: It doesn't matter, the chief envoy has received the "examination fee silver", "fire card" and "post coupon". I have inquired clearly that with this fire card, you can receive a coupon at the inn along the way.
Take this carriage and you can go to the next station. On the carriage, there is also a yellow flag with the words "Etiquette Examination" written on it. The checkpoint guards and thieves along the way of this kind of carriage will see the yellow flag.
, they don’t dare to mess with him. Furthermore, candidates from all over the country are flocking to the capital, and perhaps they will meet fellow students along the way.
Liu Yong said again: "Then bring more silver, so you don't have to scrimp on food and clothing on the road."
...
In the early morning, everyone from the Liu family came to see him off. Yu Yaqing took Liu Anjiang's hand and said: Husband, I don't know when I will return from Beijing this time, so please be careful on the journey. Please be safe when it is convenient, so as not to worry about your wife.
No matter how famous you are, if you have a wife, children, and children at home, you should leave early and return early.
Liu Anjiang smiled and said: As a husband, you know. As a wife, you should respect yourself at home.
...
Liu Anjiang hired a boat and sailed out of Xun River, passed through Gulou Port, and then out of Taihu Lake.
Liu Anjiang stood on the bow of the boat, looking at the vast Taihu Lake in the distance, the line of sky and water, the fishing sails, and his heart was filled with emotion. Then he looked back at his hometown and town that was gradually getting away. This time he went north, and he didn’t know when he would return.
Feelings of nostalgia.
After a day of sailing, people inevitably feel a little tired. Liu Anjiang returned to the cabin and took a nap there. Unknowingly, in the evening, the boat had passed Taihu Lake and arrived at Dongcaozi, entering the boundary of Suzhou. Suddenly a small stream sprang out from the reeds.
On the wooden boat, there were five or six people on the boat, holding big swords in their hands, shouting: The boatman brings the boat closer and leaves money to buy the passage. Otherwise, you will be thrown into Taihu Lake to feed the fish.
When the boatman heard this, he knew that he had met a strong man. He was panicked and at a loss.
Liu Anjiang heard the commotion and asked why. He came to the bow of the ship calmly and said with a smile: "Good guys, thank you for your hard work. I am Liu Anjiang of Gui'an County. He is in Beijing to take the exam. This is a certificate issued by the Chief Envoy."
If you don’t believe the “fire card”, just take it and see.
It didn't matter what Liu Anjiang said, but it shocked several strong men.
Since ancient times, Chinese robbers have always adhered to moral principles and do not rob orphans and widows, monks and Taoist priests, upright officials returning to their hometowns, and imperial examination candidates. If they do, they will be looked down upon by their peers.
Besides, once the Juren master learns about it and informs the state government to investigate and deal with it, it will be a crime of murder. How can it be repaid?
As soon as they heard that Liu Anjiang was bringing people to Beijing to take the exam, several strong men immediately smiled. The leader said: Master, this is completely a misunderstanding. The villain has eyes but cannot recognize the mountain. You, the master, do not remember the fault of the villain. Xiao
People will never dare to do it again, never again.
Liu Anjiang smiled and said: "Do you want a lot of money? I have some broken silver here. You can take some and the brothers can buy some wine."
The leader said: No, no. I wish you good luck and promotion.
After saying that, he turned the bow of the boat and got into the reed marsh.
...
The boatman was so frightened that he broke into a cold sweat. He didn't know how Liu Anjiang dispatched this group of strong men. Fortunately, it was a false alarm.
Liu Anjiang returned to the cabin, smiled and said to the boatman: It's okay, it's okay. I have a "fire card" issued by the chief envoy, which is equivalent to the court's "Sword of Shangfang". Anyone who dares to offend will be punished with death. Therefore, the boatman
Feel free to worry.
The boatman was relieved.
...
On the way, the boat moved fairly smoothly.
When he arrived in Yangzhou Prefecture, Liu Anjiang proposed to stay one night in Yangzhou Prefecture. The boatman lived on the boat, and Liu Anjiang could live in the "Inn" anyway, where he didn't need to spend money on food and accommodation with the "Fire Card" and "Floating".
Yangzhoufu Station is located in Guangling, Jiangdu County, Yangzhou Prefecture. It is adjacent to the Yangtze River and has convenient water transportation. It is a hub for northward water transportation.
The remaining cold gradually recedes, the willow trees by the river have sprouted new buds, and the asparagus has emerged from the weeds and its leaves are green. The calm water in the river has awakened from the pureness of winter and has been dressed up green by nature.
As night falls, the lights in the distance are like fireflies flying far away, flickering and getting darker and darker, and the whole city seems to be shrouded in a dream. Yangzhou, this ancient city, begins to rest. She lies quietly in the embrace of the canal,
Like a water lily in a silver river bed.
Liu Anjiang wanted to relax his mind and prepared to go for a walk in the courtyard alone. Passing by the front desk, he saw a scholar carrying a suitcase and cage talking to the waiter: I would like to ask if there are any Hakkas who are going to the capital, and I would like to make an appointment with you.
The waiter smiled and said: There must be someone who just died here. Whether we have an appointment or not, I don’t know.
When Liu Anjiang heard their conversation, it was a common thing for him to meet up in Beijing to take the exam. First, by renting a vehicle together, he could save a lot of travel expenses. Furthermore, he could also take care of each other on the road. He saw that he was the one who was young.
The chief, so he stepped forward and said: This dear friend, is he going to Beijing to take the exam?
The other party replied: Exactly. I would like to make an appointment.
Liu Anjiang smiled and said: "Me too, my dear brother. May I ask your surname?"
The other party smiled and said: I am a person from Tongzhou, Zhang Jian.
Liu Anjiang smiled and said: My younger brother Liu Anjiang is from Nanxun, Gui'an County, Huzhou Prefecture. We are both going to Beijing to take the exam. And my younger brother has called the helm of the boat. If you don't mind, you can accompany me.
Zhang Jian smiled and said, "That's a dream come true. Anyway, we will share the shipping fee equally."
Liu Anjiang laughed and said: My dear brother, this is not what I want to hear. How can I ask you to share the shipping fare equally?
Zhang Jian said: That is a matter of course.
Liu Anjiang smiled and said: "Then if you accompany my little brother, I will have to pay you some money."
The two laughed.
Finally, Liu Anjiang said: It seems that my dear brother has not eaten yet. Please settle down first and I will have a drink with you.
Zhang Jian smiled and said: That makes sense.
...
The bright moon, which is not yet full, gradually rises into the sky, and a transparent gray cloud barely covers the moonlight. On the field, a light smoke seems to be enveloped, and the strands are falling off, as if falling into a dream. After the evening clouds drift over
, the smoke disappeared on the fields, and the water-like clear light washed away the soft spring light.
Under the pomegranate tree in the yard of the "Inn", Liu Anjiang and Zhang Jian sat opposite each other, drinking wine and laughing and chatting.
Zhang Jian laughed and asked: Dear brother, Gui'an County should know someone who works closely with the doctor Liu Yong.
Liu Anjiang laughed and said: I wonder what my dear brother asked him to do?
Zhang Jian smiled and said: This man has helped the poor in disasters and accumulated good deeds. He has also reclaimed hundreds of hectares of land from the sea in Tongzhou. He is a household name and no one knows about him.
Liu Anjiang smiled and said: Liu Yong is the father of my younger brother.
Zhang Jian stood up, bowed his hands and said with a smile: "I'm glad to meet you. Like father, like son. No wonder my good brother is so kind."
Liu Anjiang smiled and said, "That's a compliment, my dear brother. Some of them are basic principles of human conduct."
The two of them talked, and before they knew it, the moon was setting in the west. They had to continue their journey tomorrow, so they went to bed and rested.