Chapter 270 The Examination Arrives Unexpectedly

Zhu Ping'an returned to the inn, and began to study in seclusion. Other candidates usually participated in some poetry clubs, poetry clubs, gatherings, etc. to become famous, but Zhu Ping'an did not participate in it at all. .

Except for occasional joint visits by Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen, Zhu Ping'an has always been studying in retreat in the inn room.

Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen took Zhu Pingan on a tour of the capital for several visits, focusing on the Gongyuan in the southwest of the capital, and then took Zhu Pingan to visit the Biguan Hutong and Liyu Hutong. Pen Tube Alley, as you can tell from its name, there are more pens, inks, papers and inkstones sold in this alley. Carp alley, from its name, can almost be concluded, carp leaps over the dragon gate, and carp alley is the alley where candidates live.

Carp jumping over the dragon gate, what a good omen, there are so many people who come to stay just because of this name.

In fact, at the beginning, Liyu Hutong was not called Liyu Hutong. Its original name was Old Man's Hutong, where there are more elderly people. How did it change its name? It started with an exam. It is said that one year will be when the exam is about to start. Juren from all over the country will go to the capital to prepare for the exam one after another. Juren outside the capital do not have a house in the capital, so they have to find a place to stay. Those who come early will find a place to stay. up. It is said that there was a poor man who lived far away and couldn't afford a horse, so he walked to the capital to take part in the examination. Walking is definitely not as fast as others riding horses and donkeys. When he arrived in the capital, he found that the inns near the examination room were full of people, and even the woodshed was occupied. This poor man had no choice but to go to a place farther away to stay, and then he came to this old man's alley.

There was an old man in the alley of the old man, seeing him as pitiful, he took this poor man in and let him live in his home. The day before the exam, there was a sudden storm. Coincidentally, a live carp fell from the dark clouds in the storm. The carp just landed in front of the window of the poor scholar. The carp swished up from the ground again, and flew directly in the direction of the examination room.

The carp jumps over the dragon gate! The old man who took in the poor scholar was stunned, murmured again and again, and then told the scholar that you will pass the exam this time.

Sure enough, the old man was right, and when the rankings will be released, the scholar really won the first place in the high school rankings. In order to thank the old man for taking him in, and to thank the old man for his prophecy, this poor scholar was the first one to go to the old man's house to express his gratitude after high school. Therefore, for a while, Liyu Hutong became famous. Every year, many scholars scrambled to live in Liyu Hutong during the exam.

Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen lived in Liyu Alley. The two rented a private courtyard, which of course cost a lot, and each brought two maids and a book boy to serve them.

As the exam period drew closer, Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen came less and less frequently. Especially inspired by Zhu Pingan's closed-door reading, the two also slowly turned down the poetry gathering and devoted themselves to the preparation and review before the exam.

Zhu Ping'an seems to have returned to the era of the college entrance examination, staying at home. Study hard, and three meals a day are delivered by the store clerk. This was requested by the store clerk on his own initiative. The three meals a day are provided with great care, on time, and the combination of meat and vegetables is excellent.

On this day, Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen came together again. Invite Zhu Pingan to go to the Yamen to register his identity. Zhu Ping'an's retreat study life only lasted for half a month and had to end, because the examination was about to begin. Zhu Pingan wrongly estimated the time of the examination at the beginning. The examination of the Ming Dynasty was held in February. The March that was originally recorded was the time of the examination after the change of the Qing Dynasty.

The general examination is hosted by the Ministry of Rites. It is similar to the rural examination process. You must first register your identity, which is equivalent to registering for a modern examination, and then take the examination. After all, the guild examination is a collection of candidates from all over the country to take the examination, so there is no need to register. People do not know exactly how many people participated.

"Have you heard that Enke is said to be recruiting 400 people for this exam, nearly a hundred more than in previous years?"

On the way to register your identity. Zhang Siwei suddenly looked mysterious and excited, and said to Zhu Ping'an and Wang Shizhen.

"Ziwei, the news is really well-informed." Zhu Pingan couldn't help admiring when he heard this.

Zhang Siwei's family is a family of salt merchants, rich in Puzhou, and his uncle is Wang Chonggu. The twenty-year Jinshi in Jiajing is also a fierce man. He should be a magistrate in a certain place now. Sure enough, there are people in the court who are good at being officials, and they can even inquire about the number of admissions in this kind of general examination.

In previous years, more than 300 people were admitted in the general examination. If the admission of this year's general examination is really 400 people, then I have a little more confidence.

Regarding this news, Zhu Ping'an is quite happy to hear it.

"Well, yes, I've heard that too. This change is a blessing for you and me. Wouldn't it be a great satisfaction for the three of you to pass the same list."

Wang Shizhen had heard the news a long time ago, but after hearing it again, she still felt very excited. Especially thinking that if I pass the exam with Zhang Siwei and Zhu Ping'an, I feel even more excited. Wouldn't it be nice to share similar interests, get to know each other before the exam, and win the list together.

"Wen Sheng's exam this time, I don't worry. Taicang Wang's family is the best in the world, and Wen Sheng is the best of Wang's family. This time, he will definitely get the first place in this exam. Zihou's exam is not a big problem. Although Hou is young, he is quick-witted and quick-witted, which is rare in the world, and it is the custom in our dynasty that the examination rankings are divided into north and south, six in the south and four in the north. There are gains."

Zhang Siwei pointed to Wang Shizhen, and then looked at Zhu Pingan, both of whom had great hopes for this meeting.

But speaking of this, Zhang Siwei changed his voice, pointed to himself again, and said with a wry smile, "I'm afraid I will hold you back."

"Ziwei is joking again. Others don't know, but Zihou and I don't know. Ziwei, you are excellent in both writing and calligraphy. You are a well-known "true gentleman" in Puzhou. You are especially famous for stereotyped composition. I am good at poetry and prose. , but stereotypes have been inferior to you for a long time. Zihou, don't believe his nonsense, Ziwei is chic and loves to joke.

Wang Shizhen shook his head, pointed at Zhang Siwei, and smiled at Zhu Ping'an.

"Wen Sheng, don't come to comfort me." Zhang Siwei smiled wryly.

"I said, the two of you will definitely be on the high school list this time, believe me or not?" Zhu Pingan looked at the two and said with the corners of his lips curled up.

"Zihou, come and laugh."

"That's right, don't look at Zi Hou's simple and honest face, and he's young, but in my opinion, Zi Hou is as good as Zi Wei, and even worse."

"That's because people are blinded by Zihou's simple and honest face and lose their vigilance. I really hate my parents for giving birth to me with this handsome face, haha."

Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen both turned around when they heard the words, and started talking and laughing at Zhu Ping'an.

"Ten taels of silver, I bet you two will be on the list." Zhu Ping'an smiled confidently, curling the corners of his lips.

"Where did you get the confidence?" Wang Shizhen looked at Zhu Ping'an and asked.

"It's not self-confidence, it's trust in you." Zhu Ping'an smiled lightly.

"Okay, let's go to Zihou's words. If I win the ranking, I will give you a hundred taels. However, if I fail the ranking, I will definitely make you poor." Zhang Siwei laughed.

"Second." Wang Shizhen followed suit.

Both of them come from famous families, so this little money is really not in their eyes.

"That's a good relationship." Zhu Pingan followed with a smile, jokingly, brother knows the history, and the two of you are firmly in the list this time.

"Zi Hou, you only talk about us, why not you." Wang Shizhen asked.

"Don't say anything about Zihou, it's just stable." Zhang Siwei replied with a smile for Zhu Ping'an.

The three of them talked and laughed all the way to register. After the registration was completed, they went back separately to prepare for the test.

(end of this chapter)