Chapter two hundred and sixty-eight will try unexpectedly
Zhu Pingan returned to the inn and began to study in seclusion. Other candidates usually participated in some poetry societies, poetry clubs, gatherings, etc. to make a name for themselves, but Zhu Pingan did not participate in any of these.
Except for the occasional visits by Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen, Zhu Ping'an has always been studying in seclusion in the inn room.
Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen took Zhu Ping'an around the capital during their several visits, focusing on Gongyuan in the southwest of the capital, and visited Bi Guan Hutong, Carp Hutong and Donkey Hoozi Hutong. Bi Guan Hutong, as the name suggests, is a street that sells pens and paper.
; Liyu Hutong and Lutizi Hutong are both accommodation places for candidates.
Carp Hutong was originally a small alley, and was first called "Old Man's Hutong". Most of the rich candidates who came to Beijing rode donkeys to Beijing and lived in Donutizi Hutong. It is said that once during the examination, a poor candidate had no money and his family was poor.
Step by step, he rushed day and night to rush for the exam. Because he arrived late and all the places he lived in were overcrowded, an old man who lived in Lao Laorong Hutong near Gongyuan took him in. Three days before the imperial exam, it suddenly started pouring rain. A loud bang of thunder startled people.
, and then a shining white carp jumped out of the clouds and landed on the street where the Henan candidates were temporarily staying. After a while, thunder broke out again, and the carp jumped into the sky and flew straight towards the examination room of the Gongyuan Examination... Then there was an old man
Said, this is 'carp jumping over the dragon's gate'.
The exam started three days later, and the poor candidate turned out to be a high school student. This candidate was very conscientious, and the first thing he did after the exam was announced was to visit the old man who helped him, and built a big archway for the old man. From then on, this Carp Alley became famous, and every day
During this examination, candidates from all over the country gathered in Liyu Hutong to seek good luck.
Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen lived in Liyu Hutong. They rented a private house, which cost a lot of money. Each of them also brought two maids and a bookboy to serve them.
As the exam period drew closer, Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen came less and less frequently. Especially inspired by Zhu Ping'an's study in seclusion, they gradually put off the poetry meeting and concentrated on the poetry meeting before the exam.
Prepare to review.
Zhu Ping'an seemed to have returned to the college entrance examination era, without leaving home. He studied hard and had three meals a day delivered by the store clerk. This was the request of the store clerk, and the three meals a day were provided.
It's very attentive, ordered on time, and the combination of meat and vegetables is excellent.
On this day, Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen came together again and invited Zhu Pingan to go to the Yamen to register his identity. Zhu Pingan's life of studying in seclusion only lasted half a month and had to end because the examination was about to begin. Zhu Pingan had originally
I misestimated the time of the examination. The examination in the Ming Dynasty was held in February. The March originally recorded was the time of the examination after the Qing Dynasty changed it.
The National Examination is hosted by the Ministry of Rites, and the process is similar to that of the Provincial Examination. You must first register your identity, which is equivalent to registering for a modern examination, and then take the exam. After all, the National Examination gathers people from all over the country to take the exam, and you don’t have to register. People don’t know what’s going on.
It's not how many people attend.
"Have you heard? It is said that Enke will recruit 400 people for this exam, which is nearly a hundred more than in previous years."
On the way to register his identity, Zhang Siwei suddenly looked mysterious and excited, and said to Zhu Pingan and Wang Shizhen.
"Ziwei, you are really well-informed." Zhu Pingan couldn't help but admired after hearing this.
Zhang Siwei's family belongs to a family of salt merchants and wealthy merchants in Puzhou. His uncle is Wang Chonggu. He was a Jinshi in Jiajing for 20 years and is also a fierce man. He should be a prefect somewhere now. Sure enough, there is someone in the court who likes to be an official.
You can even find out the admission quota for this kind of examination.
In previous years, around 300 people were admitted for the general examination. If this year's general examination admitted 400 people, then I would have a little more confidence.
Zhu Ping'an was quite happy to hear this news.
"Well, yes, I've heard about it too. This change is a blessing for you and me. It's very satisfying for you and me to pass the same ranking."
Wang Shizhen had heard the news for a long time, but after hearing it again, she still felt excited. Especially when she thought that she, Zhang Siwei and Zhu Pingan would pass the exam together, she would be even more excited. They had similar interests and got to know each other before the exam.
Wouldn't it be great to win the ranking together?
"I am relieved that Wen Sheng will take the exam this time. The Wang family of Taicang is the best in the world in clothes, poetry and writing, and Wen Sheng is the best in the Wang family. He will definitely pass the exam in one fell swoop. The questions in Zi Hou's exam are not big either.
Although Hou is young, he has quick thinking, which is rare in the world. Moreover, as is the custom of our dynasty, the examination results are divided into North and South, six from South and four from North. There are many places this time, and Zihou is ranked in the South. This exam will definitely be a big one.
There is something gained."
Zhang Siwei pointed at Wang Shizhen and then looked at Zhu Pingan, both of whom had high hopes for this interview.
But when it came to this, Zhang Siwei changed his words, pointed at himself again, and said with a wry smile, "My words may hold you back."
"Ziwei is joking again. If others don't know it, how can Zihou and I not know it? Ziwei, your articles are excellent in calligraphy, and you are knowledgeable about the past and present. You are a famous "true naturalist" in Puzhou. You are especially famous for your eight-legged composition. I am good at poetry.
, but Eight-gut has been inferior to you for a long time. Zihou, don’t believe his nonsense, Ziwei is a cool person and loves to joke."
Wang Shizhen shook her head, pointed at Zhang Siwei, and smiled at Zhu Pingan.
"Wen Sheng, please don't come to comfort me." Zhang Siwei said with a bitter smile.
"I said, you two will definitely be on the high school ranking list this time, believe me or not?" Zhu Pingan looked at the two of them and said with raised lips.
"Zihou, come and laugh too."
"That's right, despite Zihou's honest face and young age, in my opinion, Zihou is more clever than Ziwei."
"That's because people were blinded by Zi Hou's honest face and lost their vigilance. They really hate my parents for giving me such a handsome face, haha."
When Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen heard this, they unanimously changed their conversation and started laughing at Zhu Ping'an.
"Ten taels of tattooed silver, I bet you two will be on the list." Zhu Pingan curled his lips and said with a confident smile.
"Where do you get your confidence?" Wang Shizhen looked at Zhu Pingan and asked.
"It's not about confidence, it's about trusting you." Zhu Pingan smiled lightly.
"Okay, just as Zihou said, if I win, I will give you a hundred taels. However, if I fail, you will definitely be poor." Zhang Siwei said with a smile.
"Second." Wang Shizhen agreed.
Both of them come from well-known families, so they really don't take this little money seriously.
"That's a good relationship." Zhu Ping'an laughed and said, joking, I know history, you two will definitely make the list this time.
"Zihou, you only talk about us, why don't you talk about you?" Wang Shizhen asked.
"If Zihou doesn't say anything, it's stable." Zhang Siwei smiled and answered for Zhu Ping'an.
The three of them chatted and laughed all the way to the registration. After the registration was completed, they went back to prepare for the test. (To be continued)