In the 10th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty, the city of Nanjing suddenly became lively and noisy in April. As mentioned earlier, this year is the imperial examination year in Nanjing. In August, the Nanzhili Township Examination will be held in the spotlight.
It is no exaggeration to say that the Nanzhili Township Examination is the most brutal exam for scholars in the Ming Dynasty. Even the joint examination in the capital is not as brutal as the Nanzhili Township Examination.
Thinking about a certain waiting edict that failed nine times, to be honest, if it weren't for his lack of connections, Qin Dewei would have wanted to immigrate to other provinces.
There are still four months left before the provincial examination, and it is the best spring. Candidates who have some money have come to Nanjing in advance to prepare for the examination, in order to familiarize themselves with the market in advance and learn the inside story.
At the same time, it is also to make friends. Anyway, there is a high probability that you will fail the exam. It is also good to get to know a few more people and expand your network. After all, those who have the financial resources to go to Nanjing a few months in advance are all famous and wealthy families.
value communication object.
Moreover, there will be the Yingtianfu Prefectural Examination at the end of April, and the exam-taking boys from the other six counties will also come to Fucheng, and this time there will be thousands of people.
As a result, the rent prices near Nancheng Gongyuan and along the Qinhuai River in Nancheng have entered a rapid rising mode. The closer to the exam, the faster they rise. There is even a price but no market, and you can't rent it with money.
Across the Gongyuan River, on the south bank of the Inner Qinhuai River, the Xingyuan family has also entered a super peak season of booming business, with such a big market happening every three years.
Even the magistrate of Feng County in Jiangning County was hiding from people on the pretext of preparing for the county examination and marking the county examination papers.
Needless to say, he has been visited recently by relatives and friends from all walks of life. After all, his hometown Songjiang Prefecture is also a place where imperial examinations are held, and is the second richest place in the world after Suzhou.
Now that these children from their hometowns have come to Jiangning County to take exams, why don't they bother the already prosperous fellow magistrates? They might be able to live in an official apartment, and they will be well-regarded!
Zeng Xian, a young man from Yangzhou Prefecture, took a young fellow of 20 years old across the Huaiqing Bridge and walked by the Qingxi River.
While walking, he pointed and said: "Zishi, look, here is the ancient Jiuqu Qingxi. If you look to the southwest, the intersection of Qingxi and Qinhuai is where Wang Xizhi's Taoye Ferry was in the Six Dynasties."
The young fellow villager looked around curiously and nodded frequently. Zeng Mian pointed forward again: "Look, this is the newly built tribute to the two loyal martyrs of the previous dynasty."
Seeing Baozhong Temple means that the destination is coming soon. The young fellow was a little hesitant again and said to Zeng Mian: "Brother Zichong! I heard from others that the primary school student is proud of his talent and is a celebrity in the county government. He is very difficult to get along with.
Others secretly call him the little bully."
Zeng Mian waved his hand and said, "That's just spreading rumors based on word of mouth! As a junior, my behavior is indeed strange, and spreading rumors will inevitably add fuel to the fire."
Don’t worry, Zishi. It’s more useful to have me as a junior than to have parents as officials. Since your father has entrusted me to take care of you, I guarantee that you will be properly arranged!”
This fellow from Yangzhou Prefecture, whose surname is Li, is a new friend Zeng Mian made when he returned to Yangzhou last year.
It is said that in September last year, the great master of Nanzhili, Wen Renquan, came to Yangzhou to assess the students. Zeng Mian, a poor scholar who had been fooling around outside for several years, inexplicably got a top grade.
Then Xiao Li, who was brought by his father to take the examination, was also a top student, and he and Zeng Mian got to know each other. As a scholar, of course, he must talk about the provincial examination in the 10th year of Jiajing.
Xiao Li's father, Lao Li, heard that Zeng Mian had been traveling in Nanjing for several years, and then saw that Zeng Mian was of good character, heroic and righteous, and seemed to have some connection with the great master, so he deliberately made friends with him.
Xiao Li was young and had never been out of the hospital. This year he went to Nanjing to take the provincial examination. Old Li was worried, so he wrote a letter asking Zeng Mian, who was older and familiar with Nanjing, to take more care of Xiao Li.
Then when Xiao Li was in Nanjing, he went to the fellow villagers' guild hall to inquire, but there was no room available. After staying in a hotel for a few days, he felt that it was noisy and uncomfortable, so he had to find another apartment, but it was not available for rent nearby.
So today Zeng Mian brought some fellow students to visit Qin Dewei, a student from Jinling Primary School, and asked Qin Dewei to help arrange accommodation.
Because he had just finished the county examination yesterday, Mr. Zeng knew that Qin Dewei would be free today, so he could come and disturb him, which would not delay Qin Dewei's review.
Standing in front of the door of Qin's residence, Zeng Mian knocked on the door knocker and said to Xiao Li: "Don't look at the evil rumors outside, but I can guarantee you that Qin Dewei is still an upright person in essence.
Yesterday, during the Jiangning County Examination, because of my outstanding conduct, I was named as the head of the case by the county magistrate on the spot!"
For some reason, Zeng Mian felt inexplicably proud, and couldn't help bragging to the little fellow countryman.
A maid opened the courtyard door from the inside. When she saw Zeng Mian, she quickly saluted and said, "Mr. Zeng is here!" Then she added, "The young master is not at home right now."
This made Zeng Xian very unexpected. We just finished the exam yesterday. Shouldn't we rest and relax at home today? He quickly asked: "Where has he been? When will he be back?"
Liu Yue had nothing to hide from Mr. Zeng: "The young master went to the old courtyard to look for that beautiful lady! As for when he will come back, how can I know?
Mr. Zeng, go and take care of him. I can’t persuade this little slave, so I can only rely on you, Mr. Zeng. After all, he is also your disciple by name."
The honest and simple fellow Xiao Li looked at Brother Zeng and was a little speechless. Is this what it means to be upright and have outstanding conduct? He walked away from the exam the day after the exam. It was really cool.
Mr. Zeng felt that he was losing face, so he gritted his teeth and said: "Anyway, if you are free today, go find him!"
Fellow Xiao Li hesitated again: "Go to the old hospital? Isn't that bad?"
Zeng Mian said righteously: "If we are upright, we are not afraid of slanting shadows, so why should we be afraid? Even if we have tens of thousands of people with our awe-inspiring aura, we are just looking for them and nothing else!"
Besides, housing is really in short supply now. If we find someone early today, we will be able to place you properly earlier. Otherwise, when will we have to wait?"
So the two of them went south and crossed the Banqiao of the Inner Qinhuai River and came to the Qinhuai Old Courtyard area on the south bank. It was easy to find out about places with famous beauties like Wang Lianqing. There were many young men on the roadside doing business leading the way.
Xiao Li, who was not familiar with the city of Nanjing, was a little worried at first, fearing that a well-dressed man like himself would be too conspicuous walking in Huajieliu Lane. But after taking a few steps, he discovered that the streets and alleys here were full of scholars, and he was inconspicuous at all.
I really think too much.
When the two of them arrived at Wang Lianqing's house, they saw several poems written on the walls on both sides, and three or five people pointing at them.
Wangba at the door saw the two scholars dressed up and took the initiative to remind them: "My Miss Wang will not see any guests before dinner today."
Zeng Mian said with a dark face: "I'm not here to see Beauty Wang! May I ask if little brother Qin Dewei is here?"
Na Wangba opened his eyes and asked doubtfully: "Can you please tell me your surname and the younger one can help me pass along the message."
Zeng Mian then said: "Just say that Mr. Zeng is looking for him and ask him to come out and talk!"
Xiao Li stood under the wall and read the poems one by one. He couldn't help but marveled, and said to Zeng Mian: "Brother Zichong! I don't think this primary school student looks like your disciple. At least you can't write this kind of poems."
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He also commented: "This person should be the wild, evil and debauched way of Jiangnan, which is very different from the mellow scholarly style of our Jiangbei. How could Brother Zizhong recognize such a disciple? What are your difficulties?"
Zeng Mian had a hard time saying that no one could have imagined that such an upright sister Zhou would actually give birth to such a mutant. It must be all the fault of the paternal bloodline who died somewhere unknown!
