Rise From the Humble

In ancient times, transportation was inconvenient and information transmission was very slow.

It was said that it had been a few days since the results were released, and while the capital city was still immersed in the glory of the number one scholar boasting about the street, most places outside the capital did not know the results of the palace examination. More than a hundred messengers riding out from the capital, although Quickly and quickly, the results of the announcement of the results are still on the way.

In the southwest of the vast land of Ming Dynasty, there is Woniu Mountain rising from the ground, stretching for hundreds of miles. At the foot of Woniu Mountain, there is a small mountain village with beautiful scenery surrounded by mountains and rivers. There is a fence in front of the village and a wall behind it. Loquat trees, melons and beans are planted in front of and behind the house.

The village is like a paradise. Behind the village is Woniu Mountain, in front of the village is a clear stream, with lush trees on the mountain and abundant fish and shrimp in the water. However, despite the beautiful scenery, judging from the fence walls, thatched houses and adobe houses in the village, life in the village is still far from affluent.

There is a huge old banyan tree in the center of the village, with many branches, winding and towering, blocking out the sky and the sun.

There are two stone tablets under the old banyan tree. One was built several months ago, and the other was just erected a few days ago. The marks on the stone tablets are all freshly carved. The old stele is inscribed with the words "Zhu Ping'an, a member of the Xinhai Enke Examination in the 30th year of Jiajing", and the new stele is inscribed with "Zhu Ping'an, a member of the Xinhai Enkexu in the 30th year of Jiajing".

Although it has been several days since the announcement of the imperial examination was announced, the news has not yet reached this small mountain village. The small mountain village is still immersed in the news of Zhu Ping'an's success in Huiyuan.

There are many people standing under the old banyan tree in the center of the village, chatting. While they are chatting, from time to time, tall horses pulling carriages pass by, either entering or leaving the village. Continuously.

"Well, this is the eighteenth car today. Tsk tsk, this horse deserves at least this number. It's such a pity to pull a cart." An old farmer who squatted on the ground to smoke dry cigarettes knocked the pot of his pipe against the roots of a tree. Looking at the back of a carriage entering the village, I felt a little pity for the tall horse pulling the carriage.

"Uncle Liu, what's this? The day before yesterday, I saw two big horses with pure white fur pulling a cart." Another villager leaned against a tree trunk and showed off, "Uncle, I'm not bragging to you. There are many people on that day. , Brother Zhu asked me to help, and I went to the carriage to see it, and there was really not a single hair on it."

"Lao Zhu's family is going to be prosperous. Ping'an Lang is so impressive. Hui Yuan is the only one in the country. We can't even dream of it."

Under the old banyan tree, there was a strong black man polishing farm tools. He looked at the west end of the village and said with envy.

"You are overthinking. I am Ping'an Lang. Who are you? If you don't want to talk about anything else, let's talk about Xuegu, which Ping'an Lang recommended to our village a few years ago. Tsk tsk. Even the county magistrate has praised our village. Ping'an Lang was only thirteen at the time." The old farmer who had previously been knocking the pot of his pipe under the root of the tree put a new pipe of tobacco leaves, sat on the root of the tree and leaned against the trunk and took a nice puff.

After the old farmer finished speaking, everyone responded unanimously.

"That's right, that's right, my boy went to Master Sun this year to study, and our village gave him a load of millet. He said there was still a load for him in summer."

"No, my two boys have gone to elementary school, and they have two loads at a time. The family has also saved a lot of things, and they can also learn something. If they can't become a big man like Pian Lang, if they can read and count, they can also be in the school. Got a good job in town.”

Just as people were talking about it, another old farmer came to the west of the village, followed by a big, fat dog.

Seeing the visitor, the people under the old banyan tree became energetic. The old farmer who came was Uncle Li from the west end of the village. Uncle Li's family lived next door to Zhu Pingan's house, and they were old neighbors.

"Uncle Li, why are you here? Why don't you take a nap?" There was a young man under the banyan tree, looking at Uncle Li and asked.

"Why are you taking a lunch break? As soon as I lay down, a group of people came to Shouyi's house. Just when I wanted to take a nap, another group of people came to Shouyi's house. I had finished dinner two days ago, and there were still people coming. I can't sleep at all." Uncle Li came over, rubbing his forehead a little tiredly, but his face had a showy expression, as if he couldn't sleep and was too proud.

"Hahaha, Uncle Li, why don't you switch your house with mine? My house will be safe and sound, and I will ensure that you sleep well." The young man under the banyan tree joked with a smile.

"It's a beautiful idea. I won't change it no matter how much money I give. Have you ever seen the master of Juren? Have you seen the county magistrate? Have you seen the eldest gentleman from Anqing Mansion?" Uncle Li blew his gray beard and rushed with pride. asked the young man.

The young man shook his head.

"I've never seen this great old man. I'm telling you, sitting on the roof of my house, you can see it for real. Don't tell me, you can't learn the magnanimity of this great old man in your lifetime." Uncle Li said. His face was all red, and he even learned to walk two steps. He felt like he was possessed by the old man, and he looked at himself calmly.

"Hahaha, Grandpa Li is walking like an old bastard." A naughty boy wearing crotchless pants under the banyan tree pointed at Uncle Li and laughed.

In the end, his father pushed him to the ground and slapped him twice.

"Okay, okay, just wait until you are old enough and send him to school. Anyway, our village has a school valley, and several neighboring villages are so greedy that they are dumbfounded." Someone advised the naughty child's father.

"Uncle Li, I think you don't want to change houses with me because the Shouyi family always sends things to your house, such as snacks and fruits. I think you have a lot of them," someone said with a smile.

Uncle Li blew his beard and said, "Why, the Shouyi family didn't send it to your house? Didn't everyone in our village send it?"

"That's right, that's right, the Shouyi family has nothing to say." People nodded one after another.

After chatting for a while, I saw that the large carriage that had just gone to Zhu Ping'an's house in the east end of the village came out of the west end of the village, and the driver driving the carriage drove the carriage out of the village.

When the big fat dog following Uncle Li saw this unfamiliar carriage, he couldn't help but get excited. The momentum of Ley Yangyang also eased. He raised his ears and took two steps forward on four legs. He stretched his neck and made a howling gesture.

Then

In the eyes of everyone, the big fat dog had a full posture, its neck was stretched, and its mouth was opened, but even when the dog's mouth was opened wide, it did not make a sound.

Open your mouth and bite, but there will be no sound.

After two silent barks, the big fat dog drooped its ears and lay down at Uncle Li's feet.

"Uncle Li, what's wrong with this idiot in your family? I used to have to scream for a long time when there was a stranger. Why is it that it's thundering but not raining today?" When people saw this, they couldn't help but ask curiously.

"It's nothing, it's just that there have been a lot of people coming recently, and the dog is tired from the bites and can't bark anymore."

Uncle Li looked at the big fat dog at his feet, shook his head indifferently, and explained.