Chapter 2 Chapter two

After all, the time has been delayed, and the first month has passed in a blink of an eye.On this day, when Chen Jing left for the exam, his family members were busy carrying boxes and burdens to the mule cart.The old lady endlessly told Dashun to be careful when going out, the young master didn't know how to take care of himself.Dashun nodded and hummed non-stop.Shuxian suddenly wanted to vomit, so she took out a handkerchief and covered her mouth.When the mother-in-law saw it, she was overjoyed, and stepped forward to say hello: "I'm afraid you have it?" Shuxian lowered her head, her face flushed.The old lady asked again: "Jing'er, does he know?"

Shuxian shook her head again, the red cloud was still hard to dissipate on her face. The old lady laughed and said, "Why is Jing'er so lacking in understanding? Why hasn't he come out yet?" Shuxian hesitated for a while and said, "Let me go and have a look inside." Chen Jing was clearing books in the study room, followed by his three-year-old son Qianji.Chen Jing shouted: "Don't move around, Dad will be cleared!" But Qianji said: "Father, I want to go to the exam with you!" Chen Jing smiled and said, "You, let's take another twenty years."

Shuxian came in, Qianji called her mother, and flew over.Chen Jing looked at Shuxian, didn't say much, just said: "Don't rush, I'll come." Shuxian said: "His father, I have it." Chen Jing didn't seem to hear it, he still looked down and cleaned the books.Shuxian stood at the door, a little embarrassed.Chen Jing seemed to feel something, looked back at his wife, and asked, "Shuxian, what did you say?" Shuxian didn't answer, and went out with her head bowed. After Chen Jing packed up, he followed his father to the main room to burn incense and offer wine, worshiped his ancestors, and then went out to get in the car.The father put his hand on the shaft of the car and told him again: "Jing'er, after you enter Beijing, you have to be careful in everything!"

Mother burst into tears early, and said: "Taiyuan Township Examination, you almost lost your life. Jinger, mother is worried." Before Chen Jing could speak, his father said again: "Just read the books by yourself, take the exam well, and don't say a word that is superfluous. Don't be like in Taiyuan again. You can't do it like a young bird!" Chen Jingdao: "Father and mother, you can rest assured." In a world of ice and snow, the mule cart moved very slowly.Chen Jing was not in a hurry, he just read the book in the car.After walking for more than a month, I arrived at the border of Hebei.Suddenly I saw a man who looked like a scholar walking on foot with a book bag on his shoulders, very tired.The mule cart slowed down, and Dashun shouted loudly to make way.Chen Jing raised the curtain of the car, looked at the scholar, and told Dashun to stop.Chen Jing felt that this person looked familiar, suddenly remembered, hurriedly got out of the car and bowed his hands and said: "Dare to ask this brother, are you Brother Zhang Qian from Gao Pingju?"

Zhang Qian stopped and asked doubtfully, "Who are you?" It turned out that Zhang Qian won the first place in the provincial examination ten years ago. At that time, Chen Jing was only eleven years old, and his father took him to visit the Zhang family in Gaoping.Chen Jing said with a smile: "Chen Jing from Zezhou, my junior, was led by my father to visit my senior when I was a child. My family offended me just now, I hope you will forgive me." Zhang Jian was overjoyed, and said: "So it's Xinke Jieyuan! Your heroism is spread all over the Jin Dynasty!" Chen Jingdao: "Brother, thank you! How about you, brother, come with me? It's a good time to ask for advice along the way! Please get in the car."

Zhang Qian hurriedly waved his hands and said, "Thank you, I'd better go by myself." As Chen Jing said that, he went to grab Zhang Qian's book bag, and said, "Brother, you are welcome!" Dashun couldn't help but say, took Zhang Qian's bag and put it on the car, saying: "Sir, you can get in the car. My son just read books all the way, and no one spoke to him, so he is almost bored. With you as a companion, it's time to talk!" Zhang Bang had no choice but to obey Chen Jing, got into the mule cart, and asked, "Brother Chen Xian, why did you just go on the road!"

Chen Jingdao: "It's more than two months away from Chunwei. We need to walk another month on the road. Is it too late?" Zhang Qian said: "Brother Yu, I'm ashamed, I'm the one who didn't pass the exam three times, but I know a little bit about the way of the examination hall. The son of a rich family, just after the autumn, he went to Beijing to wait for the exam." Chen Jingdao: "Is it necessary to rush there so early? I really want to study the books, and stay quiet at home. I think the capital must be dazzled!" Zhang Qian said: "Your virtuous brother, you don't know something! Where are people going to study? They are going to give away money and get away with it!"

Chen Jing sighed: "Of course I know this. However, the blood in the Taiyuan examination room case is still not dry. Does anyone dare to bet on their own lives?" Zhang Jian said: "This time the imperial court is really strict in dealing with the case in the examination room. So many people were killed, and the governor Wu Daoyi was also dismissed as a footman. But because of fame and fame, there are many people in the world who are not afraid of death!" Chen Jing believed this, but he still said: "I don't believe that all the fame is given by silver. Xiongtai used to be the leader of the rural examination, and he was cited as a model after the three Jin Dynasties. This time, Xiongtai will definitely be in the Toad Palace. Fold the laurels and be on the imperial list." Zhang Qian smiled wryly and shook his head, looking up to the sky and sighing.

One day after entering the capital, I went straight to the Shanxi Guild Hall.When I asked, it turned out that the hall was already full.The steward of the guild hall was an old man, looking extremely troubled, said: "So it's the two Jieyuans! They say that Chen Jieyuan is not coming, and the Juren who live here talk about you every day!" Dashun is a small man, but he is experienced in speaking and doing things. The manager pestered him to find a way.The person in charge really has nothing to do with it, saying that only the living room is empty, and it doesn't make sense to live there.

The three of them had no choice but to leave the guild hall and look for an inn near the Gongyuan in Shuntian Prefecture.I voted for several stores in a row, but they were all full.It turned out that the shops next to the Gongyuan were full, and most of them were Juren who came to Beijing to catch the exam.Seeing that it was getting late, Chen Jing smiled and said, "We have all arrived at Shuihu Liangshan, and we have nowhere to go, so we have to sleep on the street." Just at this time, the door creaked open, and a waiter came out with a smile, and asked, "Hey, are the three of you staying at the inn?" The three agreed and entered the inn.The shopkeeper hurriedly came out to say hello, and told Xiaoer to take the luggage.

The shopkeeper said: "Every spring, the children of rich families come early, and those who can live in the guild hall will live in the guild hall, otherwise they will live in the east, which is closer to the Gongyuan!" Just as he was talking, he saw a person come in with a sullen face, and the storekeeper immediately greeted him with a smile: "Master Gao, you are back!" The man called Mr. Gao groaned, without raising his eyes, and went in with his head down. The shopkeeper turned around and greeted Chen Jing and the others, saying: "You three, please sit down and drink tea first, and then go wash up. What do you want to eat? Just order!" When the tea was served, the innkeeper looked inside, turned around and said softly, "Just now that Mr. Gao, a native of Qiantang, is called Gao Shiqi. Every time he comes to Beijing to take the exam, he lives in our shop, and he has passed the exam four times! At home He also has no money, and he set up a fortune-telling stall in front of the Baiyun Temple all day long, otherwise he would not be able to live in this shop. I think he is energetic, and he is not as good as once, and I am afraid that he will lose his name again this year!" Seeing that Zhang Qian's face turned red, Chen Jing said: "Shopkeeper, you have a crow's mouth!" The storekeeper hurriedly slapped his mouth: "Young mouth smells bad, I'm offended!" Chen Jing and Zhang Jian are very congenial, they talk together in bed at night, until dawn.Early in the morning, Chen Jing washed up and came out, and when he heard someone reading aloud, he stepped forward to say hello: "Dare to ask your senior's name." The man put down the book, and said humbly: "My surname is Li, and the single name is Jin! A native of Shangqiu, Henan!" Chen Jing arched his hands and said, "My servant is Chen Jing, a native of Zezhou, Shanxi." Li Jin's eyes widened immediately, and he said, "It turned out to be Brother Chen Jing! Before you came to Beijing, your reputation came first! The Shanxi Juren who came to the capital first said that last year, you lost a lot of heads in the provincial examination in Guizhou. They all said that you were a failure. Zi Zhengyi spoke up and saved his life from the knife! Brothers admire!" Chen Jing quickly shook his head, and said: "Brother Li is boasting! I won't mention these things. Seeing that you are so handsome, brother, you will definitely pass high school! Let me congratulate you first!" However, Li Jin sighed: "You don't know, the champion, the second place, and the third prize have already been sold out! We are still studying dead books here, what's the use of it!" At this time, Zhang Qian came over and answered, "My family made me poor at school, and there is no money to send me. Let's try my luck!" Li Jin sighed again: "Isn't it? I won't pass the exam this time, so I have to beg for food and go back to my hometown!" The three of them were talking when a bundle was thrown over with a bang.It turned out to be the owner of the store. He was looking at Li Jin and shouted: "Mr. Li, there is no other way. I have exhausted my benevolence. I let you eat for free, but can you not let you live for free? You already owe me ten days' bed money." ! I have to let you go!" Li Jin looked ashamed, and said: "Shopkeeper, can you give me a few more days, please do it!" The store owner is very arrogant, not talking too much, just driving people away.Chen Jing couldn't stand it anymore, and said: "Shopkeeper, this brother Li's board and lodging should be charged to my account!" Li Jin quickly picked up the burden and said: "Brother Chen, how can this be done! I'll find another way to go." Chen Jing stopped Li Jin and said, "Brother Li, you don't have to be polite! Just let me lend it to you!" The storekeeper immediately seemed to be a different person, nodded and smiled at Chen Jing, and hurriedly took Li Jin's bag and sent it in. Chen Jing invited Zhang Qian to visit some sages in Shanxi, and then left Li Jin and went out.It turned out that Master Wei Xiangshu introduced several Shanxi fellows in Beijing in his letter, and asked Chen Jing to visit him when he came to Beijing, so that he could take care of him if he had something to do.I happened to meet Zhang Qian on the road and agreed to go together.The two of them prepared the student posts and went to Mr. Wei Xiangshu's residence first.After asking at the door, I found out that Master Wei had been ordered by the emperor for Chun Wei when he returned to Beijing half a month ago, and now the courtyard has been locked.Master Wei expected that Chen Jing would come to his house, and he had asked his family members to treat him with kindness, but he refused to accept the ceremony.After further inquiring, Chen Jingfang knew that the few village sages who wanted to visit had all passed the examination, and as usual they were locked up.There is only one Mr. Li Zuwang, who must be at home because he was a Juren in the Ming Dynasty and had no official appointments.The two left Wei's house and went to Li Zuwang's house. According to Master Wei's letter, he inquired around and found that Li Zuwang's house is very close to Happy Forest Inn.The wall of Li's courtyard is tall, and there is an old plum tree slanting out beside the gatehouse.Chen Jing knocked on the door, and a middle-aged man poked his head out to ask questions.Hearing that it was a fellow from Shanxi introduced by Mr. Wei Xiangshu, he hurriedly invited him in.This person called himself Dagui, and he was the housekeeper for Mr. Li.The two walked around Xiaoqiang, and when they raised their eyes, they saw an ancient plaque hanging on the door of the main room, with four large characters written on it: Generations of meritorious service.Taking a closer look, it turned out to be the imperial pen of Emperor Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty.Chen Jing thought that the Li family must have been very prominent in the early Ming Dynasty, Master Wei did not mention it in the letter.Dagui led the two of them to the living room to sit down, and then took Wei Xiangshu's letter to spread the word there.Not long after, Mr. Li came out clapping his hands, and said that he was rude. Tian Ma, Dagui's daughter-in-law, served tea, Li Zuwang invited the two of them to drink tea, and said, "I also heard that last year in Shanxi, there was an accident in the examination room, and Chen Jing almost lost his life. Your Excellency is loyal and loyal, and the Shanxi scholars in Beijing respect him very much." Chen Jingdao: "Master Wei praised your old knowledge and virtue, and asked me to visit you when I come to Beijing." Zhang Qian also said: "I still hope that senior can give me some pointers." Li Zuwang shook his head and said with a smile: "How dare you, I'm old, I'm old. My lord Wei and I were both Juren in the fifteenth year of Chongzhen. Our ancestors were originally from the old family of the Ming Dynasty, and they were officials for generations. My father left a message, Tell the future generations to just study, to be a person who knows the book and the rites, and does not need to be an official. After entering the Qing Dynasty, I will never end up in trouble. Alas, it is all old affairs, so I won’t talk about it.” Chen Jing looked very regretful, and said: "The change of the country, the change of the old and the new, it is the reincarnation of heaven, and all living beings have to follow the heavens. Forgive me for saying something offensive, senior, if you hide in the alley, the court will lose a good minister. !" Li Zuwang didn't feel offended when he heard this, but he laughed and said, "I hope that you two will be prosperous and benefit the common people. I'd better just be a former Yimin." While talking, a little girl called dad repeatedly and ran out from the back room.Seeing a stranger, the girl immediately blushed and stood there.Old Mr. Li smiled and said, "Yueyuan, I've met the two big brothers soon. This is big brother Zhang Qian, and this is big brother Chen Jing. They are both candidates who went to the city to catch the exam, and they are from Shanxi." The girl saw Li, but still stood there.Mr. Li said again: "This is the old man's daughter, called Yueyuan, she is eleven years old, and she is still so unruly!" Yueyuan smiled and said, "As long as father has guests, he will say that I have no rules. They are here to let you see if my writing has improved." It turned out that Yueyuan had her hands behind her back, and she was holding the words she had just written.Mr. Li laughed and said, "Father won't read it right now, you can show it to the two Juren." Yueyuan was shy after all, she stood there pursing her lips and smiling, but she didn't dare to go forward.Chen Jing stood up and said, "Let me take a look at my sister's handwriting." Chen Jing took Yueyuan's words and straightened it up.Zhang Qian went up to look at it, and was full of praise.Mr. Li smiled and said: "Don't praise her, or she will not know the heights of the world. My daughter refuses to bind her feet. If you want her to learn needlework, she will refuse to die. She just likes to read and write. She is a woman, otherwise she will not know how to do it." Go to the champion exam." Yueyuan mischievously said: "When I grow up, I will learn from that female son-in-law, and I will also go to take the exam for the first prize, and I will marry you a princess when I come back." Mr. Li pretended to be angry, and scolded: "You are talking nonsense! Come in quickly, Dad wants to talk to your two elder brothers!" At this time, Tian Ma came over, led Yueyuan to the back room, and said with a smile: "Come back to the room with me, you are a rich lady, the first time you meet a stranger, you talk so much!" When Yueyuan entered, Mr. Li shook his head and said with a smile: "I have such a daughter under my knees. She has been spoiled and spoiled since she was a child, and she was raised like a naughty son. Her mother left early, and no one taught her daughter's house rules. Let the two That's funny. She has a bit of wisdom in reading and writing." Chen Jingdao: "It's all taught well by the seniors. In the future, the talent and learning of the little sister will definitely not let the eyebrows."