Speaking of which, since Wu Zhi and Xiao'e left Qinghe County for the capital at the end of last autumn, Wu Xiu and Feng Niang have been thinking about it day and night, worrying about it day and night. Feng Niang is even more worried and has lost weight.
lock up.
It was not until the end of the twelfth lunar month that the two of them felt a little relieved after receiving a letter from Wu Zhi saying that he was safe. However, Wu Xiu and Feng Niang were still worried. They were worried about whether they would have good food and housing in the capital, and they were even more worried about Wu Zhi's future in the provincial examination.
Fortunately, during this period, Jin Lian came to visit them from time to time, and they seemed more relaxed and relieved.
The world is full of beauty in April, and the peach blossoms in the mountain temple are beginning to bloom.
By the beginning of April, at noon, the sun was shining brightly and the wind was clear. It was a rare good day. Since it was the busy farming season, Wu Xiu was away at work, and Feng Niang was doing needlework at home to support the family. At this time, the courtyard
Suddenly, there were sounds of gongs, drums, and suonas outside the door, accompanied by shouts. There was a huge bustle of people and a commotion. Because Feng Niang had something on her mind, she was too noisy to hear clearly, and she only felt it was like a commotion.
The sound was right in front of her door. Curious, she quickly stopped her sewing, walked out of the room, and looked outside.
When she walked through the hall and stepped into the small courtyard in front of the hall, she saw a dense crowd of people standing outside the door of her courtyard. At the front stood a middle-aged official in a green robe and a hat, holding a
There was a gilt post with red flowers, and next to him stood a master in green robes and brocade robes. Behind him stood a dozen yamen servants in soap clothes, beating gongs, drums, and suonas, and the yamen servants were already surrounding him.
A large group of villagers and neighbors were pointing and pointing noisily.
Feng Niang was frightened and at a loss when she saw such a formation. She stepped forward to open the courtyard door uneasily and came in front of everyone in panic. While she was panicking, the official saw Feng Niang coming out and quickly waved to the government officials.
He stopped playing and playing for an instant, and the master took a step forward, bowed and saluted, and then asked loudly: "Excuse me, madam, is this the residence of Lord Wu Zhi?"
"Master Wu Zhi Zhuangyuan Gong?" Feng Niang was shocked when she heard this, her blood surged, and she almost lost her footing. She was stunned for a while before she realized what she was doing, and she quickly responded: "Yes! Yes! This is Wu Zhi's home!"
After saying that, she quickly welcomed everyone into the courtyard.
The surprise came so suddenly that she couldn't handle it, so she had to ask a neighbor to help her go to the field to retrieve Wu Xiu.
"Congratulations, madam! Congratulations, madam! The first place in the Ding Chou Palace Examination, Wu Zhi of Qinghe County, Enzhou, is bestowed with the first prize!" When everyone entered the courtyard, the middle-aged official happily walked up to Feng Niang and raised his hands high.
With the gold-plated red post, he bowed and saluted, said loudly, and then handed it to Feng Niang respectfully.
This official is Liu Zonglin, the magistrate of Qinghe County. He is just one character different from the great writer Liu Zongyuan. He is just over forty years old. He got this magistrate by relying on the kindness of his ancestors and his hard work to fill the gap. He had already found out before he came.
Well, although this person in front of him is an aunt, she is better than Wu Zhi's mother, so of course he will try his best to fawn over her.
Qinghe County has very few people who can pass the Jinshi examination in this dynasty, especially the number one scholar. This has not happened for hundreds of years! This year, Qinghe County actually produced two Jinshi scholars, and both were among the top five. The number one scholar also went to Qinghe
County, this is a huge happy event for Qinghe County. As the parent official of Qinghe County, Liu Zonglin is very proud and proud. This is also one of his political achievements! Can he be unhappy? And the number one scholar is rare in his young age.
Because he has a bright future, how can he not form a good relationship and hug his thighs?
Feng Niang received the good news post and finally understood what was going on: Wu Zhi was admitted to the Jinshi Examination, and he was also the top scholar!
Holding the wedding invitation in both hands, Feng Niang was so happy that she burst into tears.
The neighbors were also inexplicably excited, and came forward one after another to congratulate her. The Wu family village had a champion, and they were honored and proud.
After a while of tea, Wu Xiu finally hurried back home. When he took the good news post from Feng Niang, he opened it and read, "Ding Chou is the first place in the first class of the imperial examination, and Wu Zhi, Qinghe County, Enzhou, is awarded the number one scholar and the first place."
The red words of joy came into my eyes, and I was so excited that my hands trembled and I muttered to myself: "I got the No. 1 Scholar! I got the No. 1 Scholar!" Unknowingly, tears were streaming down my face.
The hard work of three generations of the Wu family has finally yielded such a perfect result, which can be said to be the end of all the hard work.
"Congratulations, master! Congratulations, master!" Liu Zonglin, who was standing by, quickly raised his hands and congratulated him. From the moment the martial arts cultivator came in, he knew that the real master was back.
"Who is this?" Upon hearing this, Wu Xiu quickly recovered from the surprise and bowed in return.
"This is our county honorable Master Liu Zonglin!" The master next to him quickly explained.
"Ah! I have met the county magistrate! Forgive me!" Wu Xiu was frightened and bowed again, but his heart was beating: "My dear, the county magistrate has come to congratulate us in person!" He suddenly felt that
I am full of courage and my waist is straighter.
When all the neighbors heard that the county magistrate came to announce the good news in person, they couldn't help but exclaimed: "The number one scholar is too proud!"
All the neighbors hurried forward to see the county magistrate, and at the same time they all congratulated Wu Xiu.
At this time, the gongs and drums sounded again, the suona sounded joyfully, and it was a joyous scene.
Wu Xiu slowly calmed down. After all, he had seen the world. When he was excited, he remembered that the wedding money had not been distributed yet, so he asked Feng Niang to go back to the room to take out ten coins, and he personally distributed them to all the government servants and everyone.
As a fellow villager, everyone suddenly beamed with joy and congratulated him again.
Liu Zonglin only took one copper coin to express his favor, but he did not dare to accept Wu Xiu's gift. Wu Zhi left twenty taels of silver for the two of them before leaving, and Wu Xiu exchanged them for
More than twenty copper coins. In Qinghe County and in the countryside, copper coins are more useful than broken silver. Now they come in handy.
After being noisy for a long time, after everyone left happily, the noisy courtyard finally became quiet.
Wu Xiu and Feng Niang looked at each other, overjoyed. Both of them were still in the state of surprise, neither sitting nor standing. Suddenly, Wu Xiu picked up the good news post with one hand, took Feng Niang's hand with the other and went to
Walk to the ancestral hall.
After entering the ancestral hall, Wu Xiu placed the message announcing the good news on the table, lit three incense sticks, paid homage respectfully, inserted them into the incense burner, and then knelt down on the ground. Feng Niang also knelt down and knelt down.
"The ancestors of the Wu family are on high, and there is hope for the rejuvenation of our Wu family! Brother, sister-in-law, our Zhi'er has finally become the number one scholar in high school! I hope that my brother and sister-in-law have spirits in the sky to protect our Zhi'er safely and prosperously!" Wu Xiu prayed while praying.
He and Feng Niang worshiped again and again devoutly.
A few days later, the Wu family became lively again. First of all, the county magistrate Liu Zonglin sent a gift, which was a lot of living expenses, which was almost a hundred dollars. He did not dare to give too heavy a gift.
Then some of the wealthy officials and gentry from Qinghe County came to visit one after another, bringing gifts. The master and his wife screamed happily, with cheerful and natural expressions, respectful and sincere.
Wu Xiu and Feng Niang were tired of coping. Although they felt elated, they were still exhausted.
Looking at the room full of gifts, Wu Xiu and Feng Niang were both surprised and helpless. They had no choice but to accept or not accept these gifts, so they had to register them one by one and save them for future gifts.
It can be said that you are poor in the busy city and no one cares about you, but you are rich in the mountains and have distant relatives, and one person can ascend to heaven with chickens and dogs! Wu Xiu sighed in his heart.
Just when Wu Xiu and Feng Niang were in a state of surprise and helplessness, Huanghuangzhuang, not far from Wujiana Village, was also a lively scene with lights, colors and joy and guests filling the door.
It turned out that a few days ago, after reporting the good news to the Wu family, the county official Liu Zonglin immediately led the crowd to Huanghuangzhuang to report the good news to Pan Zhai. How could he allow others to be left behind when he was trying to please his superior Enzhou Zhizhou?
Where is the hand?
After Pan Zhai learned the good news that his eldest grandson Pan Wei was a Jinshi in high school and was the fifth Jinshi, the whole Golden Village was excited. Everyone was smiling from top to bottom. Mr. Pan and Jinlian's grandma Qin were so excited that they almost memorized their memories.
Get over it.
A father and a son, two Jinshi! Ever since Pan Weimin passed the Jinshi exam and became the magistrate of the state, Mr. Pan and Mr. Qin never thought that their grandchildren could pass the Jinshi exam. Because in their opinion, the qualifications of the three grandsons are worse than his son
It’s too far away. In the past, Pan Weimin was still the last to pass the top four Jinshi exams!
So when Pan Wei followed Wu Zhi to the capital to take the exam, they didn't have much hope at all. They just wanted to let their eldest grandson go out and see the world. But who knew that now he was ranked second in the second class of the high school Jinshi and passed the Jinshi?
Much better than his father! So when they heard the good news, Mr. Pan and Mrs. Qin almost died due to excessive excitement. Fortunately, the housekeeper and the maid were nearby. Seeing this, they slapped the two of them on the back repeatedly, and the two of them calmed down.
The spirit has returned after the anger has passed, and the happy event has not been turned into a funeral.
Jin Lian was also overjoyed. She was happy that her brother was a Jinshi in high school. But she was also worried about the result of the Wu Zhi exam. When she saw that her brother was ranked fifth in the Jinshi exam, she was happy but also had a vague feeling.
A glimmer of hope.
Seeing the lively atmosphere of the room full of people congratulating Pan Wei High School for being a Jinshi, Jin Lian couldn't hold back anymore, so she had to be brave. Pingting walked up to Liu Zonglin, bowed and saluted, and asked in a crisp voice: "Hello, Mr. County Lord."
! May I ask, sir, how did Brother Wu Zhi do in the exam?" After asking, she looked at Liu Zonglin expectantly.
"Who is this?" Liu Zonglin was stunned. He didn't expect that someone would ask about Wu Zhi's situation here.
"This is Pan Zhizhou's daughter, Mr. Pan's granddaughter!" Seeing this, the housekeeper next to him hurriedly explained.
"Oh! Hello, little lady!" Hearing that he was the daughter of Zhizhou, Liu Zonglin didn't dare to neglect him and quickly responded. Then he remembered her question and immediately added excitedly: "Master Wu Zhi? That's amazing.
! The number one scholar!" He could see that the daughter of the Pan family cared deeply for Wu Zhi and was full of affection!
"The No. 1 Scholar?!" In an instant, everyone in Pan's house seemed to have been cast a restraining spell. They fell silent. The whole room was so quiet that the sound of falling leaves could be heard. Jin Lian was also completely stunned and did not come back to his senses for a long time.
.
"Hahaha! Okay! Great! Wu Zhi is a good boy!" A burst of laughter broke the silence of the moment. Mr. Pan, who was standing in the middle of the room, laughed heartily. Wu Zhi, whom he cared about and followed, was also in high school.
Jinshi, and the number one scholar in high school, he was so happy for his granddaughter! Next to him, Grandma Qin of Jinlian was also smiling.
"Yes, this is a double happiness!" Everyone finally realized what was going on and teased Jin Lian one after another, laughing loudly. Jin Lian's heart was sweeter than honey, she blinked her pretty eyes and did not quarrel with everyone, she was shy but full of joy.
"Congratulations, Grandpa! Congratulations, Grandpa! Double happiness is coming to our door!" Upon seeing this, Liu Zonglin understood, and quickly shouted flattery. He finally figured out that this Wu Zhi was inseparably the grandson-in-law of Mr. Pan. He
I am envious in my heart!
"Haha!" Mr. Pan smiled from ear to ear. The words of the county magistrate helped him a lot. Pan Wei and Wu Zhi really made him look good. People are in high spirits during happy events. The old man felt that he seemed to be several years younger.
age.
Within two cups of tea, Pan Weimin, his wife, and Pan Weijun returned to Huanghuangzhuang hand in hand. As soon as they arrived, the lively atmosphere was instantly pushed to a peak, and everyone rejoiced again. Pan Weimin and his wife were really overjoyed, and the two of them simply fell in love with each other.
I didn't expect that my eldest son would be ranked fifth in the imperial examination in high school. I was so surprised.
After distributing the wedding money, Mr. Pan decided to decorate the house with lanterns and festoons and hold a grand banquet for three days. Liu Zonglin and all the officials were left to attend Pan's house dinner.
Liu Zonglin and all the government officials were very excited and honored. Not everyone had the opportunity to attend the family banquet of the Zhizhou family.
During the banquet, Pan Weimin got a deeper understanding of Liu Zonglin, who was at the same table. Although this person liked to flatter others, he had a good nature and was cunning but not treacherous. For the sake of his support for Pan Wei and Wu Zhian, it would be helpful to give him some support.
No problem. Liu Zonglin was very happy and proud when he saw Master Zhizhou smiling at him.
In the past few days, there was an endless stream of people visiting Pan Zhai in Huanghuangzhuang with gifts. Almost all the wealthy officials and gentry in Qinghe County came to visit. Pan Zhai was reluctant to receive gifts and the gifts piled up like mountains.
Mr. Pan and Mr. Qin were all smiles all day long, and they gave more rewards to their servants. All the servants were also overjoyed and felt very cordial.
After the commotion, at noon that day, Jin Lian took a few servants and maids, and drove an ox cart with gifts to visit Wu Xiu and Feng Niang.
As soon as she entered the courtyard, Jin Lian gave Wu Xiu and Feng Niang a bow: "I've seen my second uncle! I've seen my aunt!" and then directed the servants to carry the gifts down the car.
Feng Niang hurriedly helped her up and asked doubtfully: "Daughter, what are you doing?"
"This is a congratulatory gift from my eldest father after he heard that brother Dalang was the top pick in high school. Please don't shirk it, please accept it!" Jin Lian hugged Feng Niang's arm and said with a smile.
In the Song Dynasty, "big daddy" meant grandpa.
"Oh, you all know. Thank you! So how did your brother do in the exam?" Feng Niang looked at Jin Lian helplessly, remembering that Pan Wei also followed Wu Zhi to rush for the exam, and asked casually.
"My brother? He also passed the Jinshi examination and ranked fifth!" Jin Lian said proudly.
"Fifth place? Okay, congratulations!" Feng Niang and Wu Xiu were very happy after hearing this. From now on, everyone will become a family. When they heard that their brother-in-law also won the Jinshi, she and Wu Xiu were also happy.
.
Seeing that she could not refuse, Feng Niang had to instruct the Pan family servants to carry the gifts to the room, and then rewarded each of them with one hundred pence. The servants were very happy.
Jin Lian arrived just in time today, and everyone in Pan's house already knew the results of the scientific examination, saving her and Wu Xiu from having to inform them.
Wu Xiu and Feng Niang left Jin Lian to have lunch with everyone. She fell more and more in love with Jin Lian, her seventeen-year-old niece-in-law-to-be. Not only was she dignified and beautiful, but she was also well-educated, gentle and virtuous, and she carried a lantern.