The Red Mansions

Chapter 91 The Eve of the County Exam
Since the county examination was held in February, Jia Yun began to study hard behind closed doors after returning from Xue's house.

There is a saying that sharpens the gun in front of the battle, and it is light when you are unhappy.

Since returning from Qingshan Academy at the end of last year, Jia Yun has been in a state of relaxation. As a result, even her mind has relaxed.

So in order to calm down, Jia Yun moved out all the Four Books and Five Classics and various materials at home, and planned to read them carefully from beginning to end, trying not to leave any dead ends.

He actually memorized all these books by heart, but Jia Yun thought it was necessary to go through the textbooks before the exam.

The children's test is a basic test held at the county and government levels, and the pass rate is relatively high.

The Tongsheng Examination, also known as the Tongsheng Examination, is the lowest level of the imperial examination and can be regarded as the beginning of the promotion of scholars. It is mainly divided into two stages: the county examination and the government examination.

If you are lucky enough to pass the two-stage exams, you will be awarded the title of Tongsheng.

At the same time, it also proves that candidates have obtained the qualifications to formally participate in the imperial examination, and can further participate in the hospital examination held by the provincial level.

In addition, Tongsheng also has some other privileges, such as not having to kneel down during litigation, and being able to eat at the same table with officials during wedding and funeral ceremonies, etc.

The content of the exam is nothing more than four scriptures, test post poems, five scriptures, poems, fu, policies, treatises, sexual theories, oracles, etc. It mainly tests the candidates' basic cultural knowledge and writing ability.

The county examination is mainly held in each county, usually presided over by the county magistrate and serves as the chief examiner, and the examination is proctored by the instruction and discipline of the Confucianism Department.

One month before the exam, each county will post a notice announcing the specific exam time. At this time, candidates should go to the county government's ceremony room to register as soon as possible.

It is still Chinese New Year, and the announcement of Daxing County has not yet been posted, but according to the practice of previous years, Daxing County has the first county examination every year on February [-]th, and there is still more than a month to spare. .

There are usually four or five county examinations, which are determined by each county.

After all the exams are completed, the county magistrate will rank the passers. No.1 is called the "county leader".

Jia Yun is very confident about passing the county examination, but she is a little uncertain about her ranking.

But he still hopes to fight to see if he can directly obtain the county case.

After all, relying on my memory and comprehension ability, I have laid a relatively solid foundation. If I can turn a bicycle into a motorcycle, if I really win the case, I can directly get the title of scholar.

This may save a lot of time and put more energy on the future rural examinations.

In the study room, Jia Yun was extremely concentrated, her mind was completely immersed in the ocean of knowledge, the desk was full of books, and the fragrance of ink was overflowing.

Outside the study room, Xi Ren, Mei Ren, Li Ren, Keren, and Lai Pigou were also busy reading and writing.

Especially Laipigou, who studied very seriously, because not far away, Aunt Miao was waiting with bamboo sticks. If he dared to half-heartedly, he would be able to enjoy a free meal of fried pork with bamboo shoots.

Don't look at the mischievous, smoky, and disinterested students in Jia's Academy, in fact, in this day and age, it is not easy to have the opportunity to study.

Time passed slowly, and it was the sixteenth day of the first lunar month in a blink of an eye. Daxing County finally posted an announcement that the start of the county examination this year was still scheduled for February sixteenth.

On the morning of the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, when Jia Yun went to see the announcement, she registered at the county government office.

When registering, you must fill in a personal statement, mutual bond, and bond.

The personal confession is his name, age, place of origin, physique, and appearance.

At the same time, it is necessary to fill in the life and death history of the great-grandparents, grandparents, and parents of the three generations. The adoptive person must write the three generations of his biological parents.

Mutual knot means that the examinee takes five people who are taking the same exam and writes a five-child mutual bond insurance policy, and the cheaters sit together with five people.

Recognizance refers to asking the county clerk to provide insurance, which is called "guaranteed insurance".

Guarantee that he does not pretend to be a fake identity, does not hide in funerals, does not have a substitute, does not use a false name, and guarantees that he is innocent, that he is not the descendant of a prostitute, and he has not committed any crimes.

Regardless of whether it is a mutual bond or a bond, it is very simple for students studying in Qingshan Academy. In addition, Jia Yun's identity is innocent, so she signed up smoothly and obtained the qualification for the county examination.

After signing up in the morning, Jia Yun packed up and saluted when she returned home, planning to live at Zhao Jin's house outside the city for a while.

Now that he has re-read the Four Books and Five Classics, he will not make much progress if he works behind closed doors, so he needs his master to guide him.

It was Zhao Jin's request that Jia Yun live in Zhao Jin's house. I heard that he will take the exam next year and he will pass the exam. If he passes the Jinshi exam, he will not be teaching at Qingshan Academy in the future.

Therefore, before leaving the academy, Zhao Jin also wanted to work hard to get a few more talented students under his name, which was also his reputation.

Xiren, Meiren and Laipigou went to Zhao Jin's house with Jia Yun.

They followed, and they could help Jia Yun deal with the trivial matters of life, allowing Jia Yun to focus all her energy on studying.

After saluting and tidying up, Jia Yun knelt down to pay respects to Mrs. Bu, and then went straight to Zhao Jin's house outside the city in a bullock cart.

On the carriage, Xiren and Charming smiled happily.

Mei Ren smiled and said, "It's been a long time since I've been out of the city, let alone the countryside. Just thinking about it makes me excited."

"What's there to get excited about? There's really nothing to see in the countryside this month except for a wider view." Jia Yun shook her head and laughed.

Xiren nodded in agreement and said, "Brother Yun is right. A few days ago, I went to the countryside with my brother when I went back to my mother's house. Everywhere was bare and desolate. At first glance, it seemed fresh, but staying for two more days would make people feel irritable. gone."

Jia Yun said: "By the way Xiren, this time you go back to your mother's house, did your brother say anything?"

Xiren shook his head and smiled, "Don't worry, I've made it clear to him, besides, I'm yours now, can he still kidnap me?"

"That's good. After I finish the county exam, I'll take some time to go to your house!" Jia Yun said.

Xiren nodded and said: "I'm going there, so that my mother and brother can rest assured. In fact, my brother knows you and has heard of your name, but he is not familiar with it."

Jia Yun shook her head and said, "I don't have any name, I'm not as famous as my father."

This is the truth. Since he came to this world, he has not done any major things other than increasing his contacts with his tribe, so he can't talk about his name or anything.

However, if he can pass the imperial examination this time as a scholar, with the influence of the Jia family, his reputation will definitely be greatly shaken by then, and it will be difficult to keep such a low profile.

After the bullock cart left the city, Meiren couldn't wait to open the curtain, and the cold wind came in immediately.

However, Meiren was not as excited as she imagined. Instead, she fell silent and looked outside in a daze.

Jia Yun was playing with Xi Ren's hand and was talking, when she saw that Xi Ren hadn't moved for a long time, she looked out.

From time to time, on both sides of the road outside the city, one could see a frozen corpse. It must have died not long ago, or it would have been moved away by the yamen and buried.

After all, people are still very afraid of the plague, let alone in the capital's most benign place, they pay more attention to preventing the plague from happening.

The carriage moved forward slowly, and within less than one kilometer, Jia Yun saw nearly a hundred corpses. This was what he saw on the side of the road. In places he couldn't see, there were probably more dead.

Sighing, Jia Yun saw that the charming woman's face was flushed with cold, she gently pulled her into her arms to cover her, and put down the car curtain.

Mei Ren's mood was a little low. She was already emotional and kind-hearted, so seeing such a bleak thing now, she was naturally sad.

Jia Yun was thinking about how to persuade her, when Mei Ren whispered in his arms: "Brother Yun, it's a good thing you took me in."

While talking, he hugged Jia Yun even tighter.

"Hehe, silly girl, after all, we have to sum up the past, look to the future, and think about the best in everything, you know?" Jia Yun said with a smile.

There was heavy snow on the road, the road was muddy, and the ox carts went slower and slower. It was not until evening that Jia Yun and his party arrived at Zhao Jin's farm.

In front of the stone ladder, Jia Yun told Xiren and the others to wait while she climbed up the mountain with presents, planning to meet Zhao Jin first.

On the way, Jia Yun ran into a classmate who had just visited Zhao Jin.

I heard from them that there were sixteen people who came to Zhao Jin's home to make up lessons. Usually, everyone lived in the village at the foot of the mountain, but they went to school halfway up the mountain next to where Zhao Jin lived.

Zhao Jin specially set aside a room as a classroom for students to study and review.

When he went up the mountain to meet Zhao Jin, he asked Jia Yun a few questions, and Jia Yun answered them all.

Zhao Jin was quite satisfied, and urged: "During this period, don't be distracted by other things, and you must go all out, and just fight for it."

"Even if you don't pass the examination as a scholar, you still have to obtain the status of a child student, so that you can concentrate on studying stereotyped arts in the future."

"At your age, as long as you study hard, you will be expected to become a scholar in the future, and it is not impossible to be a Jinshi."

"So Jia Yun, I have high expectations for you. Please study steadily, cultivate your moral character, and set your ambitions early. Don't waste your talent and spirituality by coveting ease and ease!"

Jia Yun bowed and said: "Thank you, Master, for your teaching. The students will definitely remember it in their hearts, and they dare not forget it for a moment."

Zhao Jin said solemnly: "Not only do you have to remember, but you also have to practice it and persevere!"

"Yes, students, please remember." Jia Yun bowed again.

Zhao Jin nodded and reminded: "It's getting late, you go down the mountain, I have someone prepare a small farmyard, although it is not as comfortable as in the city, it will not be less for you, but you have to do it." Prepare hard."

……

Bisha cabinet.

Lin Daiyu took a few glances at the book and put it down again.

Although there is no snow today, the weather is still gloomy.

Thinking of her coming back from Jiamu's place just now, she accidentally heard two maidservants muttering that she is such an adult, she is still hanging out with Jia Baoyu, and she doesn't pay attention to the defense between men and women, Lin Daiyu's mood is agitated for a while.

In this case, she had never heard of it before, nor had she thought about it.

She was sent to her grandmother's house by her father when she was very young, and was raised and educated by Jia's mother. She grew up with Jia Baoyu and Jia Tanchun, and after a long time, she got used to it.

However, after hearing what the two maids said today, Lin Daiyu woke up suddenly, only to realize that she had grown up and could no longer get along with Jia Baoyu as casually as before.

At this time, she thought of Xue Baochai again, she was a beautiful and spiritual woman.

Even people like that bumped into Jia Yun's arms because of mistakes.

Even though Xue Baochai never knew Jia Yun, she had to marry Jia Yun, which shows how much the world attaches importance to the defense between men and women.

Moreover, Lin Daiyu saw the incident in Lixiangyuan with her own eyes, but at that time she just watched it as a show, and didn't think about herself.

"Fortunately, I woke up early. Otherwise, after a while, I really don't know what people in the mansion will tell me." Lin Daiyu bit her lip and thought to herself.

She is already very intelligent, but she likes to hide something in her heart, but it doesn't mean she doesn't understand anything, it's just that she didn't think about it before.

At this time, she thought of the Jia Yun she saw in Lixiangyuan that day. Although she used to hear Jia Baoyu and Xiren chanting Jia Yun's name, it was the first time she saw a real person that day.

Lin Daiyu had to admit that Jia Yun was indeed a first-class handsome man in the world. Maybe Xue Baochai would not be sad when she married Jia Yun, but it might be lucky.

"It's interesting." Thinking of Xue Baochai's panic-stricken appearance that day, Lin Daiyu covered her mouth and let out a chuckle.

Although she has only known Xue Baochai for a few days, they are like natural sisters, you come and go, bickering with each other while admiring each other.

Xue Baochai usually looks like a big sister, stable and generous, but she didn't expect to show her little daughter that day. Every time Lin Daiyu thought of that scene, she would find it funny.

Then, she thought of Jia Baoyu again, subconsciously compared with Jia Yun, and suddenly frowned, feeling an indescribably uncomfortable feeling in her heart.

She didn't know what this emotion meant, but she suddenly realized that the rouge smell on Jia Baoyu's body was too strong.

Moreover, he doesn't like reading, and after skipping class, he always finds out a bunch of fallacies, plausible, but in essence he is not responsible.

Then, she thought of Jia Yun who came from a poor background but had great ambitions and desperately wanted to take the imperial examination. .

"Why do I always like to compare Brother Bao with that Jia Yun?" Lin Daiyu frowned, thinking to herself.

After pondering for a moment, she smiled dumbly, and suddenly realized that in her field of vision, she only knew Jia Baoyu and Jia Yun a little deeper.

After taking a deep breath, Lin Daiyu turned around and cast her eyes out of the window, looking up at the heavy dark clouds in the sky, feeling suddenly depressed and panicked.

"Now that I have grown up, do you want to tell my grandmother to leave the green yarn cabinet and find a small independent courtyard to live in?" Lin Daiyu thought to herself.

In fact, the Lin family had a house in the capital. Although they hadn't lived in it for a long time, her father still arranged servants to take care of it.

It's just that Lin Daiyu knew in her heart that if she wanted to go home to live, she probably wouldn't agree with Jia's mother. Another thing, she was used to living in Jia's house, and she couldn't bear to leave easily.

However, the defense between men and women is the top priority, and she has to pay attention to it, especially after seeing what happened to Xue Baochai, she has a deep understanding.

……

On Zhuangzi, Jia Yun led Xi Ren and Mei Ren to the place on foot, and familiarized themselves with the surrounding environment by the way.

As for the bullock cart, let the rascal dog drive behind it.

This Zhuangzi belonged to the Zhao family a long time ago, so it is also called Zhaojiazhuang.

There are many households in Zhaojiazhuang. It is said that there are three or four hundred households, but only thirty or forty households live at the foot of the mountain.

Because it was late, Jia Yun walked around and looked around, then found the steward of the farm, asked for the key to the residence, and then led Xiren and the others to the southwest of Zhuangzi.

The farmhouse assigned to Jia Yun lived in a small courtyard, surrounded by mountains and rivers, with five main rooms and four side rooms, surrounded by a fence made of bamboo poles in front of the house.

In the small courtyard dam, there are even a few vegetable fields, in which Chinese cabbage, radish and some garlic sprouts are planted.

When Jia Yun and the others came to the yard, before they unloaded the things, the steward of the farm arranged for someone to bring a load of oil, salt, soy sauce and vinegar, various grains and some daily necessities.

Most of these things are produced by the farm itself, and they don't cost much, but even so, Zhao Jin is very generous.

Jia Yun looked around, and then ordered Laipigou to chop wood and light the fire, Xiren to cook, Meiren to tidy up and salute, and he himself took the books he brought into the house and found a suitable place to arrange them one by one.

Everyone performed their duties, but it was lively and lively, with a sense of fireworks.

In a room, Jia Yun moved the books to the desk and put them away, and said to the charming woman who was laying the quilt, "Fortunately, the room was cleaned, otherwise I might be very busy today."

Charming turned her head and said with a smile: "Even if no one has cleaned it, left and right have nothing to do with you. We are not here for leisure."

(End of this chapter)