Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 440

This day's dinner was served by Cao Yong and Chu Yu in Zhao Jia's house.Because Cao Shuo and Cao Xiangming'er were going to leave, Zhao Jia asked people to set up a banquet specially, which was regarded as a warm-up for their brothers.

These two little brothers, one sixteen and one fourteen, will end tomorrow for the first time, and it would be a lie to say that they are not nervous.It's just that Cao Shuo has always been prudent and doesn't like to talk. Because of his status as a bastard, Cao Xiang has always had a low eyebrow and a pleasing eye in front of Zhao Jia.Therefore, I can't see any difference between these two little brothers.

On the round table, Mrs. Zhao Jia sat in the middle, with four brothers Cao Yong and Cao Song in their left hands, and Chu Yu, fourth sister, and fifth son in their right hands.

Seeing his sons growing up and reaching the age of being an errand and marrying a wife, Zhao Jia's eye circles couldn't help turning red, he wiped his eyes with a handkerchief, and said to Cao Yong: "Brother Yong, when your second uncle beat us up a lot. , just nagging about the sons taking the exams and marrying wives. Now you brothers are older, but your second uncle is not here..."

Seeing her feeling sad, Cao Yong persuaded: "Tomorrow is a good day for the younger brothers. Even if the second uncle saves it underground, he will protect the two younger brothers. The second aunt should be happy."

Chu Yu was at the side, and also persuaded: "Yes, the second aunt, the third brother, and the fourth brother have devoted themselves to learning for the past two years. After this game, they will be able to raise people. It will not be difficult for Jinshi and the degree in the future. Let's do it like this. For a family like this, fame is just icing on the cake, with a good-looking picture on the surface. The second aunt will be the old Fengjun when the time comes."

After speaking, Zhao Jia's face was flushed, he nodded, and said: "Yes, the third child has always been diligent, and the fourth child is also praised by beating the elementary school." Then, he looked at the second son Cao Shuo, and then at the concubine Cao Xiang also showed some joy in his eyes.

Cao Xiang just lowered his eyebrows more and more pleasing to the eye, but Cao Shuo's scalp was a little numb from his mother's look, and he wanted to turn around and go out immediately, but after all, he didn't dare in front of his brothers.He had no choice but to clenched his fists, endured it, and bowed his head in silence.

Although Zhao Jia said happily, Cao Yong couldn't help worrying.After all, these two are still half-grown children, and it's their first time to end up, so don't be burdened by such expectations.

Cao Song, however, seemed to add fuel to the fire, turned around, patted Cao Shuo on the shoulder, and said, "Third brother, I won't take the martial arts exam, so I'll look at your literary exam. You are the elder brother. Give Xiao Si and Xiao Wu a good start."

Cao Shuo froze and didn't reply right away. After a while, he nodded and said, "Yes, my brother can save it!"

"Okay, okay, let's eat quickly! The third child and the fourth child are only a little older. Others are at their age, and they still have to take the boy's test. The end is just to see the world, don't be stage fright, teach Mr. Ping Su Just do the stereotyped essay. In the future, among the partners of the same age, this will be a lot of talking points." Cao Yong saw that Cao Shuo's face was not right, so he changed the subject.

After Cao Shuo heard this, he let out a long breath, and heard Zhao Jia say again: "You brothers have reached the age of marriage. If you have fame, it will be different. Tomorrow, you will be more careful. , I am a mother, I only count on your brothers to make me look good!"

This time it was not only Cao Shuo, but even Cao Xiang's expression became heavy.

Cao Yong turned around and saw him, feeling a little worried.It's just that in front of Mrs. Zhao Jia, it's not easy to say too much. The old people pay attention to a taboo.The exam hasn't started yet, so if she keeps saying that she can't pass the exam, it's okay, she will definitely not be happy in her heart.Therefore, Cao Yong greeted everyone to eat first.

After dinner, Mrs. Zhao Jia babbled on, saying that he still wanted his sons to take the exam carefully, so that they could talk about a good marriage, etc., and so on.

Cao Yong was listening and watching. Seeing that Cao Shuo and Cao Xiang were worried, they stood up and said, "Second Aunt, I will end tomorrow, and today I have to go to the front yard to ask Mr. Cao to explain the rules of breaking the problem. Today It's getting dark too, and my younger brothers have to go to bed early, so I don't want to delay too long, so I'll take my younger brothers to the front yard first."

When Zhao Jia heard this, he waved his hands for fear of delaying his sons' obedience to the rules, and said, "Look at my nagging, it's important to get down to business, then Brother Yong, hurry up and take their brothers there, don't delay any longer!"

Cao Yong came out with brothers Cao Shuo and Cao Xiang. When Cao Song saw him, he also came to join in the fun.

When he arrived at the front yard, Cao Yong didn't send someone to invite Mr. Zhuang.Regarding how to do stereotyped writing, the two brothers have been studying for several years, so why don't they know the rules of solving the problem?

It is the process of the township examination. Although I have not experienced it personally, the two brothers Cao Shuo and Cao Xiang have already inquired clearly and know everything about it.

There are three exams in total, and each exam takes three days.After leaving the court, they are not allowed to leave the Gongyuan within three days, eating, drinking and lazing are all included.

In order to prevent cheating in the imperial examination, examinees must wear detached clothes and single-layer shoes and socks. They only need to carry baskets, small stools, food, pens and inkstones, and nothing else is allowed.

Cao Song wondered if he would invite Mr. Zhuang, and said, "Where is Mr.? Don't you need someone to invite you?"

Cao Yong pointed to the chairs in the study, let Cao Shuo and Cao Xiang sit down, and said: "I asked you to come here, and I have something to tell you."

After hearing this, Cao Shuo and Cao Xiang hurriedly stood up and listened solemnly.

Cao Yong said: "Your sister-in-law is right. For people like us, the imperial examination is just a icing on the cake. You two, don't think too much. Are you a little older? The children of other families in Beijing, the second In my teens, there are still many students studying in the school. Don’t be afraid tomorrow, you two, just treat it as a game, and try your best with your grades. Don’t think about it. Although the Mid-Autumn Festival has passed, it is just During the time of Qiuhu. It is hot during the day and cold at night, and you two have never suffered since you were young, so you should take care of your body."

Cao Shuo and Cao Xiang were very moved by these words.

Although the two brothers also wanted to do their best to take the exam, they also knew that the imperial examination was not easy, and neither of them dared to guarantee that they could pass the exam according to their size.Bisheng Zhaojia's eager anticipation made the two brothers feel panic, fearing that if they fail the exam, their mother will not be able to pass the test.

Hearing what his brother said, Cao Song knew it was because he was afraid that his two thoughts would affect the exam, so he said with a smile: "Brother is right, you are only a little older, and if you pass the exam, it is certainly good; There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Didn’t I also get off the ground the year before my senior year? Those exams, who didn’t study hard in the cold window? This is a matter of picking one out of ten, and it’s difficult.”

Cao Shuo nodded, and said, "Understood, tomorrow I will just treat it as an ordinary study."

Cao Xiang said: "I'm not afraid, it won't work this time, I'll go after three years."

Seeing that the two younger ones were much happier, Cao Yong turned his head to look at the sky outside, and said, "Well, we have to get up early tomorrow, so you go to bed early today, so as not to be tired during the exam."

The two brothers agreed and went back together.

Cao Song looked at the backs of the two brothers, and said to Cao Yong embarrassingly: "Brother, in fact, my brother doesn't think about participating in the martial arts because I feel guilty."

It was the first time Cao Yong heard him say this, and asked: "What? It was because of the toothache last time. I am afraid that something will happen this time?"

Cao Song scratched his head and said with a naive smile: "Part of it is because of this, I am afraid that my brother will be unlucky and there will be some accidents; the other half is because I am afraid that I have tried hard and failed the exam. Face... I'm afraid that Jinghui will find out, and look down on me in my heart..." At the end of the speech, the volume gradually decreased.

Seeing Cao Song like this, Cao Yong didn't know what to say.Now that the news of Miss Shi Lang's Mansion is ill, Zhao Jia seldom talks about marrying her elder brother's family, but if she wants Jinghui to get married, it's not so cheap.

I have already told Yi Duli today that I will not go to the yamen tomorrow morning, but will send my two younger brothers into the arena.It seems that we should go to Fucha's house.Among Jinghui's relatives, this aunt is the closest to her niece.

Thinking of this, Cao Yong asked: "Jinghui, have you asked about the tone? Even if you have this thought, it's a matter between the two of you. We can only plan other things if Jinghui is willing to marry you. Otherwise If you talk to yourself like this, no matter how unhappy she is, can we marry by force?"

Cao Song listened, nodded, and said: "Well, I will go to find her tomorrow and ask her to understand. It's not good to procrastinate like this. I heard that her aunt has also started to arrange marriage for her. .”

Cao Yong thought of Zhao Jia's temper, and said: "No matter what, since you are going to bear the life of another girl, you have to think clearly. That girl Jinghui is different from others. She is lonely. It's pitiful. If you are that kind It's fresh in three days, so let it go as soon as possible."

Cao Song hurriedly patted his chest, and said: "Look at what brother said, am I that kind of person? Brother, look at me, I'm already grown up, men must take responsibility!"

Cao Yong glanced at him and said: "Once a word is spoken, it is hard to follow. This is what you said by yourself, and you remember it in your heart..."

The two brothers chatted a few more gossips and went back to the inner courtyard.

Chu Yu had already returned to Wutong Garden, when Cao Yong entered, she was tidying up the needles and threads on the kang.This is a small hat sewn for Tianheng, and it is only half sewn.

A few days ago, Hang Seng caught Zhou, and what he caught was a small wooden sword, a small wooden knife and so on.

Heng grows older than a one-year-old child and can already walk.Although he still couldn't walk steadily, he kept falling, or sitting on his buttocks or something, but he was very naughty, and he ran all over the ground without seeing him.

As the weather was getting colder, Chu Yu was afraid that he would accidentally catch the wind, so she found a piece of soft material and planned to sew him a small hat.Because he was looking at Hang Seng and Tianhui, he didn't have much time to calm down, so the work was done slowly.

Cao Yong sat on the edge of the kang, looked at the girl in the cradle, and said to Chu Yu: "The child is young and afraid of the cold, why don't we burn the kang earlier this year?"

Chu Yu hesitated for a moment, and said, "Isn't there a point? It's against the rules. What kind of point is it? Although the child is afraid of the cold, if it gets dry and develops a fever rash, it's enough to suffer."

"But if you only put a charcoal basin in the house, how about the children fuming?" Cao Yong remembered that last winter, the East House was built with geothermal heating like Yizhou because of the Hengsheng: "Otherwise, the East House should be upgraded earlier. Huo, the two of us are going to live in the East House with our daughter?"

Chu Yu loves her daughter dearly, so naturally she has no objection.

Regarding Jinghui's matter, Cao Yong still hopes that Cao Song can take more care of it, and doesn't want the couple to get involved too much.So I briefly mentioned a few words to Chu Yu, saying that I was waiting for news from Cao Song.If Jinghui is willing to marry, then they will help her and make it work; if Jinghui doesn't have that thought, then they can only persuade Cao Song to stop thinking about it as soon as possible.

From now on, if Mrs. Zhao Jia feels uncomfortable, Cao Song is his own son, so it's easy to talk about it.After all, they are one level away, easy to complain, and the life of the family will be difficult.

Chu Yu mentioned Ru Hui, who would have thought that such a lively girl who loves to laugh would suffer from such a painful disease.

Asthma, Cao Yong's neighbor's uncle suffered from this disease in his previous life. He only knew that he had taken a lot of medicine, and it was good and bad, but it was difficult to get rid of it. Don't be too angry, otherwise you will not get sick easily.Others, I don't know.

However, as the word was passed around, it changed, and Ruhui's illness was even described as tuberculosis.

Cao Yong couldn't help but feel a little confused. In his cognition, isn't this "pulmonary tuberculosis" tuberculosis?That is a serious disease, not only easy to infect people around you, but also bad for children.

*
Shaoyuan, go to the room.

Zhao Jia was lying on the kang with a cigarette pouch in his mouth, puffing on and off.Although she had said enough in front of her son, she still had some doubts in her heart and was somewhat worried.

Although she doesn't read and can't read, she still remembers that her husband praised the fourth child and the fifth child when he was alive. When he mentioned the third child, he just said that he was not a material for reading.

It happened that Cao Shuo was the elder brother and Cao Xiang was the younger brother. The two brothers took the exam together. If the younger brother passed the exam and the older brother failed, the child would feel very sad.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help sighing.It seems that the second child's errand has just been found, and it seems that the third child is also begging Cao Yong.Let's see if I can send it to the Eight Banners Academy, even if I don't take the imperial examination in the future, it is still a way to get promoted.

On the side of the Shangshu Mansion, her natal nephews walked the same way...
-
(End of this chapter)