Ordinary happy life

Chapter 171 Tong Sheng's Trial

"I'm back!!!" Zhang Dayong shouted loudly as soon as he arrived home and didn't wait for the bullock cart to be parked.

Lin Qin and Zhang Qiong'an hurried out when they heard Zhang Dayong's voice. Lin Qin said in surprise, "Why are you back so early? It's not even dark yet." Lin Qin originally thought that Zhang Dayong would not get home until after dinner at the earliest. , but I didn't expect that there would be no black people coming back.

Zhang Dayong handed the three one hundred taels of silver notes and the seventy taels of silver in his arms to Lin Qin, and then said with a smile, "The dean's family not only owns a pharmacy but also a restaurant, so he took me there." All the prey has been collected, and he also said that if there are good things in the future, he can send them directly to him."

Lin Qin carefully folded the banknotes and put them in the silver bag, and then said gratefully, "This is really great. Okay, the dean and his boss are really good people."

Zhang Dayong nodded and said to Zhang Qiong'an beside him, "Brother An, the dean has helped me so much and we don't have any regrets at all. You'll have to worry about it tomorrow. I'll try to embroider a nicer handkerchief, and then write a letter of thanks and send it to the dean."

"Okay, father," Zhang Qiong'an responded.

Lin Qin said with some tangle, "Would it be too simple to just give a handkerchief? Should I add something else???"

"The dean's husband's family is so rich, he has never seen anything good. It's such a good thing." We can't get it. Not to mention whether the dean is interested in it, we are too embarrassed to give it to ourselves. We might as well give it some of our own thoughts, but just giving a veil is indeed a bit less. In this way, the family can still enjoy it. Some smoked rabbit meat and dried vegetables will be packed and sent together when the time comes." Zhang Dayong thought for a while and said.

Lin Qin responded, calculating in his mind how many smoked rabbit meats he still had at home, wondering if it would be too late to smoke a few more at the last minute.

The next day, Zhang Qiong'an spent a whole day embroidering, embroidering a carp leaping over the dragon gate for the dean. Over there, Lin Qin also wrapped the remaining smoked rabbit meat tightly in oil paper. On the third day, Zhang Dayong took the letter written by Zhang Qiongan and all the items packed by Lin Qin and went to the town to find a courier to deliver it.

The dean was stunned for a moment when he received the big package from Zhang Dayong. After reading the letter Zhang Qiong'an wrote to him, he understood what was going on and felt moved and funny. The dean also didn't expect that Zhang Dayong's family would be so grateful to him for just such a small help. Although the things Zhang Dayong sent were not valuable, they could see their thoughts.

Not to mention that Lin Qinxun's smoked rabbit meat tastes quite good. Not only the dean loves it, but his boss also likes it, and he even wants to add it to the restaurant as a dish. It's just that there are only two people, Zhang Dayong and Lin Qin. They have to go up and down the mountain on weekdays and have no time to make smoked rabbit meat for the restaurant, so they can only regretfully refuse.

In the end, the head of the dean made an order for Zhang Dayong to deliver ten pieces of smoked rabbit meat to their residence every half month. After all, no matter how delicious smoked rabbit meat is, you can't eat it every day, so the family can eat ten pieces every half month. .

Originally, Zhang Dayong was thinking about the dean's help to him, and Rabbit didn't want to accept the money, but neither the dean nor his boss agreed, and even said that if Zhang Dayong didn't accept the money, they wouldn't want Rabbit. In the end, Zhang Dayong had no choice but to take it. a cost price.

In this way, Zhang Dayong goes to the county every half a month to deliver smoked rabbit meat. Occasionally, he will bring it with him if he catches large prey. Every time, the restaurant will give a satisfactory price. Now Zhang Dayong will only go there if he catches small prey. Sold in the town, larger and better prey will be sent to the county. The distance is longer, but the price is much higher.

Zhang Qiong'an's wedding dress has begun to be finalized, and his dowry Lin Qin has also been prepared one by one. They can't afford the Qiangong bed, but Lin Qin has prepared all the wardrobe, tables, chairs and benches for Zhang Qiong'an. Lin Qin even helped Zhang Qiong'an to buy some pieces of silver jewelry. Lin Qin originally planned to keep the fine cotton cloth sent by the Zheng family as a dowry for Zhang Qiong'an. But cloth will become old even if it is not used after being stored for a long time, so Lin Qin could only make new clothes for the family. As for the cloth in Zhang Qiong'an's trousseau, he would buy new ones before the wedding.

I originally thought that life would be so ordinary until I happily sent Zhang Qiong'an out. But who knew that six months before Zhang Qiong'an's wedding, Zhang Hong'an, who had always been well-behaved, suddenly wanted to take the childbirth examination.

"I want to know why you want to take the exam now. You are only eleven years old this year. Don't you think it's too much?" Zhang Dayong did not scold Zhang Hongan for his whims. He just wondered why Zhang Hongan suddenly wanted to take the child exam.

Zhang Hongan's reading talent is indeed much better than Zhang Jingcheng, but it is still far behind those prodigies. However, Zhang Hongan is very diligent on weekdays, so his grades in school are still good.

"My husband said that with my current results, I can give it a try. If I'm lucky, I should be able to pass. If I'm not, I'll just treat it as an experience accumulation," Zhang Hong'an said.

Zhang Dayong said with some surprise, "It was your husband who asked you to try to take the Tongsheng Examination???"

"Yes." Zhang Hongan said.

What Zhang Hongan didn't say was that his husband just gave him such a proposal, and he was the one who really made the decision. After Zheng Qizhi got engaged to Zhang Qiong'an, he successfully passed the college examination and became a scholar. Unlike Tong Sheng, scholars did not have to kneel down when meeting the housekeeper. The Zheng family has been on a high since Zheng Qizhi was admitted as a scholar, but the Zhang family is obviously not as good as it is. If he can pass the Tongsheng examination and become a Tongsheng, even if he is still not as good as the Zheng family, he will not be looked down upon too low. After all, he is still young. The child student who passed the exam is younger than Zheng Qizhi back then. Who can guarantee that he will not be the second Zheng Qizhi.

Zhang Dayong fell into deep thought after hearing this, but Zhang Qiong'an on the side took a deep look at Zhang Hong'an. He always felt that the reason why Zhang Hong'an suddenly wanted to take the child examination was not that simple, but Zhang Hong'an refused to say that Zhang Qiong'an had nothing to do. In fact, he could vaguely guess Got some of Zhang Hongan's thoughts.

Zhang Qiong'an saw that everyone in his family was working so hard for his marriage, and suddenly thought if it would be better if he did not get engaged to Zheng Qizhi, but chose an ordinary family. Zhang Dayong would not have to work hard to earn money to buy a dowry for him. Zhang Hongan didn't have to study hard to take the Children's Student Examination at a young age. But Zhang Qiong'an also knew that Zhang Dayong and Lin Qin's hope was that he could marry into a slightly wealthier family and not have to work like them every day.

Zhang Dayong finally agreed to Zhang Hongan's proposal and said, "Okay, since you want to take the exam, my father will definitely support you. When the time comes, my father will accompany you to the county to take the exam. But you also promise your father not to put too much pressure on yourself. We are all happy for you if you can pass, but if you really can't, don't give up on yourself."

Zhang Hongan said with firm eyes, "Father, don't worry, if I really fail, I will not give up on myself, I will only work harder to get into Tongsheng next year. ."

Zhang Hongan has known since he was a child that his body is not as good as that of a normal boy. When others are running around and playing outside, he can only stay at home quietly. Although he would not be bored with Lin Qin by his side, he was still a little disappointed sometimes. It was not until he went to school that Zhang Hongan felt happy. It was also from that time that Zhang Hongan knew that his way out was to study.

Registration for the Tongsheng Examination can be directly handled by the school, so Zhang Dayong sent Zhang Hongan to the school the next day, took out fifty yuan from his arms and handed it to him, saying, "This is your registration fee. Remember to give it to your husband." ."

"I understand, Father." Zhang Hongan answered.

Zhang Dayong touched Zhang Hongan's head, watched him enter the school, and then turned around and left.

Since signing up for the Tongsheng Examination, Zhang Hongan has been studying harder on weekdays, and from time to time he will go to his teacher with books to answer his questions.

Lin Qin looked at Zhang Hongan's serious look and couldn't say anything to let him rest. He could only try his best to make Zhang Hongan something to replenish his body so that he wouldn't be unable to bear it.

The first test of the Tongsheng Examination was held in the county town. Zhang Dayong and Lin Qin took Zhang Hongan to live in the county town one day in advance. Originally, Zhang Dayong wanted to take Zhang Hongan there by himself, but Lin Qin was worried about Zhang Hongan, and Zhang Dayong's cooking skills were average. Lin Qin was worried that Zhang Hongan would not be able to eat well, so he followed him.

During the Tongsheng Examination period, the price of the hotel was twice as high as usual. Zhang Dayong asked for a medium-sized room, which cost one tael of silver for just one night. No wonder people say that reading is an activity for the rich. If there is no money, then I really can't even take the exam.

Zhang Hongan did not study the night before the exam, but went to bed early to make the most of his life.

The first test for children is very simple. It is just a test paper. The contents of the test paper are all the contents in the four books. You also need to write a poem by yourself, and the assessment can be completed in one day.

Zhang Dayong and Lin Qin did not leave after sending Zhang Hongan into the examination room. Instead, they found a corner to sit down. They did not speak but looked anxiously at the examination room, imagining Zhang Hongan writing with chalk in the examination room.

Zhang Hong'an didn't go out to play much because of his health. He basically read with his hands in his arms. He knew the contents of the Four Books by heart and remembered them very clearly. If it weren't for this, his husband would not have suggested that he take the junior college entrance examination. Therefore, this test paper was very easy for Zhang Hongan. He could fill it out in one morning. In the afternoon, he had an entire afternoon to think about poetry. Composing poetry was always a weak point for Zhang Hongan.

It wasn't until the examination time was about to come that Zhang Hongan figured out the poem. However, Zhang Hongan knew that this poem could only be regarded as mediocre. Whether it could pass or not would depend on whether it could pass the examiner's eyes.

As soon as Zhang Dayong and Lin Qin saw the door of the examination room open, they hurriedly squeezed to the front hand in hand to ensure that Zhang Hongan could see them as soon as he came out.

Zhang Hongan did indeed see Zhang Dayong and Lin Qin who were looking anxiously as soon as he left the examination room. He waved his arms happily and ran towards them.

Lin Qin took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from Zhang Hongan's forehead. Neither of them asked how Zhang Hongan did in the exam. They just asked, "Are you tired? Do you want to rest or eat first when you get back?" "

First ?" Let's eat, Dad, you don't know that the food in the examination room is terrible." Zhang Hongan said coquettishly like a child.

In the past, students had to bring their own meals for the Tongsheng Examination, but many people put cheat sheets with their meals. Later, the imperial court was furious and required all candidates to have their meals distributed by the county government during the exam, and the candidates paid a certain meal fee. At noon, the official gave the candidates two steamed buns and a bowl of broth, but it was gone. The broth was so greasy that Zhang Qiong'an didn't know how he ate it.