Rise From the Humble

Zhu Pingan returned to the inn and began a life of studying in seclusion. Other candidates usually participated in some poetry societies, poetry societies, gatherings, etc. to make a name for themselves, but Zhu Pingan did not participate in any of these. .

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

Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen took Zhu Pingan around the capital during several visits, focusing on Gongyuan in the southwest of the capital. Then they took Zhu Pingan to visit Biguan Hutong and Liyu Hutong. As you can tell from its name, Penguan Alley, there are many pens, inks, paper and inkstones sold in this alley. Liyu Hutong, as can be concluded from its name, Carp Leaps over the Dragon Gate, Liyu Hutong is the alley where candidates stay.

The carp leaping over the dragon gate is a good sign. There are so many people who come to stay just because of this name.

In fact, Liyu Hutong was not called Liyu Hutong at the beginning. Its original name was Old Man Hutong, and there were many elderly people. How it changed its name starts with a general examination. It is said that the exams for the annual meeting are about to begin. One after another, candidates from all over the country have come to the capital to prepare for the exams. Those outside the capital who do not have a house in the capital have to find a place to stay. Those who came early will find a place to stay. . It is said that there was a poor man who lived far away and could not afford a horse, so he walked to the capital to participate in the examination. Walking is definitely not as fast as others riding a horse or a donkey. 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. The impoverished man had no choice but to stay somewhere further away, and then he came to this old man's alley.

There was an old man in the old man's alley who saw how pitiful he was, so he took the poor man in and let him live in his home. The day before the examination, a violent storm suddenly started to fall. It was a coincidence that a live carp fell from the dark clouds in the violent storm. The carp happened to land in front of the poor scholar's window, and then a flash of lightning came down. The carp swished up from the ground again, and flew directly in the direction of the examination room.

Carp leaps over the dragon's 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 were released in the exam, 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 approached, Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen came less and less often. 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 Pingan 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. Zhu Ping'an was invited 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 Ping'an initially misestimated the time of the examination. The Ming Dynasty's examination was held in February. The March originally recorded was the time of the examination after the Qing Dynasty changed it.

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. I don't know how many people participated.

"Have you heard? It is said that Enke will recruit 400 people for this exam, which is nearly a hundred more than in previous years."

On the way to register. Zhang Siwei suddenly looked mysterious and excited, and said to Zhu Pingan and Wang Shizhen.

"Ziwei, you are really well-informed." Zhu Pingan couldn't help but admired after hearing this.

Zhang Siwei's family was a wealthy family of salt merchants in Puzhou, and his uncle was Wang Chonggu. A Jinshi who lived in Jiajing for 20 years was also a fierce man. He should be a prefect somewhere now. Sure enough, there is someone in the court who likes to be an official, and he can even find out the admission quota for this kind of examination.

In previous years, about 300 people were admitted to the examination. If this year's examination admitted 400 people, then I would be a little more sure.

Zhu Ping'an was quite happy to hear this news.

"Well, yes, I heard about it too. This change is a blessing for you and me. It's very satisfying for you and me to pass the same list."

Wang Shizhen had heard the news for a long time, but when she heard it again, she still felt excited. Especially when I think about it, if I pass the exam together with Zhang Siwei and Zhu Pingan, I feel even more excited. Wouldn't it be great if we have similar interests, get to know each other before taking the exam, and win the exam together?

"I am relieved that Wen Sheng will take the exam. The Wang family of Taicang is the best in the world in clothes, poetry and writing, and Wen Sheng is the best in the Wang family. He will definitely pass the exam in one fell swoop. The questions in Zi Hou's exam are not big. Although Hou is young, he has quick thinking, which is rare in the world. Moreover, as is the custom of our dynasty, the examination results are divided into North and South, six from South and four from North. There are many places this time, and Zihou is ranked in the South. This exam will definitely be a big one. There is a gain.”

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

But when it came to this, Zhang Siwei changed his words, pointed at himself again, and said with a wry smile, "My words may hold you back."

"Ziwei is joking again. If others don't know it, how can Zihou and I not know it? Ziwei, you are excellent in articles and calligraphy. You are knowledgeable about the past and the present. You are a famous 'true naturalist' in Puzhou. You are especially famous for your eight-legged composition. I am good at poetry." , but the Eight-gut has been inferior to you for a long time. Zihou, don’t believe his nonsense, Ziwei is a cool person and loves to joke."

Wang Shizhen shook her head, pointed at Zhang Siwei, and smiled at Zhu Pingan.

"Wen Sheng, please don't come to comfort me." Zhang Siwei said with a bitter smile.

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

"Zihou, come and laugh too."

"That's right, despite Zi Hou's honest face and his youth, in my opinion, Zi Hou is more clever than Zi Wei."

"That's because people were blinded by Zihou's honest face and lost their vigilance. They really hate my parents for giving me such a handsome face, haha."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen turned around and started laughing at Zhu Ping'an.

"Ten taels of tattooed silver, I bet you two will be on the list." Zhu Pingan curled his lips and said with a confident smile.

"Where do you get your confidence?" Wang Shizhen looked at Zhu Pingan and asked.

"It's not about confidence, it's about trusting you." Zhu Pingan smiled lightly.

"Okay, just as Zihou said, if I win, I will give you a hundred taels. However, if I fail, you will be destitute." Zhang Siwei said with a smile.

"Second." Wang Shizhen followed suit.

Both of them come from well-known families, so they really don't take this money seriously.

"That's a good relationship." Zhu Ping'an laughed and said, joking, I know history, you two will definitely make the list this time.

"Zihou, you just talk about us, why don't you talk about you?" Wang Shizhen asked.

"If Zihou doesn't say anything, it's stable." Zhang Siwei answered for Zhu Ping'an with a smile.

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