Perfumery

61-70

Chapter 61 Results Announced

Because he had drunk the day before, Bai Xin got up a little late the next day. Seeing that her son had woken up, Cao couldn't help but complain while preparing breakfast: "Your first time drinking was so unsuccessful. Last night, we invited guests to dinner, but the guests were not satisfied yet, but you got drunk, and in the end, Master Cheng was so tired that he had to send you back."

Bai Xin had just woken up from a hangover, his head was sore, and his energy was much shorter than usual. He didn't listen to her words carefully in his confusion. He just thought that the event yesterday was originally to thank Cheng Wenren for his previous care, but he couldn't control himself and the result was contrary to his wishes. He asked the other party to pay for the wine. Thinking of this, Bai Xin couldn't help but sigh twice, feeling annoyed and suddenly felt that he owed a lot.

Cao was still chattering, and she kept talking about Master Cheng's goodness.

Bai Xin was still a little depressed until he walked onto the street. He suddenly remembered that the whole Bai family had followed him to Beijing, which made him even more depressed. He looked around and saw unfamiliar faces coming and going. He was always afraid that someone would suddenly rush out from the crowd and shout his name. After the separation, he left Songshan Village and stayed away from those people. After a few days of relaxing, who would have thought that the entire Bai family would come to Beijing? Beijing is not big or small. Before yesterday, he guessed that Erlang would come back, but he never worried about running into him. But he could meet Master Cheng in the vast crowd, so why couldn't he meet the Bai family? And Cheng Wenren's family must not live nearby, but the Bai family is different. They want Erlang to be close to the examination hall and the rent is cheap. This area in the south of the city is the best choice.

Bai Xin was only thinking about Erlang that day, and he was not even in the mood to sell things. For various reasons, he wanted to pray to God to bless Erlang to fail. Otherwise, with the snobbishness of the second and third houses and the extent of the quarrel between the two sides before, if Erlang managed to get a position, they would definitely tease and insult them if they met in the future. Bai Xin actually did not think highly of Erlang's knowledge, but who can blame the current serious cheating in the imperial examinations, and there are ways to buy and sell test questions. Bai Xin could not help but worry that the Bai family sold all the land just to spend money to find a way out for Erlang. Bai Xin has been in

a low mood these days. Others have no idea that the Bai family has also come to the capital, and they think he is tired, and they keep asking about his well-being all day long.

Since Cheng Wenren knew that Bai Xin had a stall near Xinwazi Gate, he would come over from time to time, maybe just to say a few words, or to buy something from his stall.

...

As the day of the announcement of the results approached, countless candidates were restless, and it seemed that even the atmosphere in the capital became depressed.

In the courtyard rented by the Bai family, the whole family was really worried, praying to the gods all day long, or asking Erlang how the exam went.

Erlang was already under great pressure, and he was annoyed by the questions, so he couldn't help but curse, just like the two of them usually were. The Bai family was so scared that their faces changed, and they didn't dare to disturb him anymore. They had to run to the temple all day long, and the soles of their shoes were worn thin. In

early April, the results of the imperial examination were announced.

Bai Xin was very careful. That day, he asked his elder brother to set up the stall for him, and he went to the announcement site alone. Before he even got close, he was shocked by the huge crowd in front of him. It was so crowded that he couldn't squeeze in at all. Many people came with their whole family to see the list.

He just rushed up a few steps and was pushed back by a crowd. With the noisy shouts of "Ouch, my feet" one after another, his shoes were almost stepped on. Bai Xin was defeated and retreated step by step. He was still frightened and had to stand far away. His eyes were rolling around in the crowd, trying to find Erlang, but he was dizzy after just a while. Everyone looked like they were cast in the same mold.

He saw some people dancing and shouting "I got it, I got it", some people crying and behaving like crazy, and a few people were caught off guard and just screamed, their eyes rolled back, and fainted. The scene was chaotic and Bai Xin seemed to be infected by the atmosphere. When he thought of those scriptures and poems, he also felt anxious and short of breath.

Bai Xin's position was good, it was remote, but he could see the crowd in front of him. There were several people standing next to him who were in the same position as him. Their eyes were like candles. Sometimes they saw a student who was overjoyed and rushed over at lightning speed. Four or five people surrounded one person, talking about something. Bai Xin could vaguely hear that they were all introducing themselves. One said that his daughter was beautiful, and the other said that his daughter was well-educated. Bai Xin was

puzzled. He didn't understand what was going on. Why did someone mention his daughter's birthday in front of her, as if he was going to arrange a match.

After a while, someone came to answer for Bai Xin, as if he had no daughter at home, and said sourly, "This kind of 'hunting out a son-in-law', disregarding the reputation of a daughter, is simply a disgrace. These merchants, in order to get close to the officials and relatives, really do everything they can!"

Bai Xin was very surprised after hearing this. Looking at those people who surrounded him, they were indeed dressed in silk and satin. Looking at those successful students, some were not happy and left with a wave of their sleeves, while others were shabby and wished to marry a daughter of a rich family. They didn't care about the low status of the merchants and were happily taken away.

He was amazed at himself. After watching for a long time, this kind of situation was not uncommon.

Bai Xin waited from morning till night, and the crowds were endless, as if they had never dwindled. He could not find a chance to rush over, so he waited for a while longer. As it got darker, people began to disperse, revealing the post on which the notice was posted. Bai Xin went over and used the lantern held by others to try to discern the tiny characters on the notice. From time to time, one or two Bai Erlang's names popped up, which startled him.

After a closer look, he was relieved to find that they were not Bai Erlang's names. He quickly looked through them, but he did not see Bai Erlang's name. He felt relieved, but he was still worried, afraid that he had missed one. He looked again. After he finished, snowflakes appeared in front of his eyes, and his eyes were sore and bitter, but his heart was relieved. The corners of his mouth could not help but rise, and he even laughed softly.

Just as he was about to leave, he was surrounded by a man. The man took his hand and said very quickly: "I am from the Song family in the south of the city. I have a wine house. My daughter is in her prime, with outstanding appearance and virtuous character. I wonder how many years have you passed the imperial examination and whether you have been engaged?"

Bai Xin was stunned. Fortunately, he heard people talking about it before and knew what was going on. Otherwise, he would have been confused and might have agreed without knowing it. For a moment, he was extremely embarrassed and wanted to pull his hand away, but the other party's hand was really strong, like a clamp, holding him tightly, not letting him get away.

"I didn't pass the imperial examination, old man, don't misunderstand me." Bai Xin didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and he exerted some more strength.

The man didn't suspect why he was smiling instead, and looked at him again.

"I really didn't win. I just came to watch the fun."

The old man hesitated and let go of some of the strength in his hands. Bai Xin took the opportunity to pull his arm free and ran away like the wind.

Bai Xin ran home and thought about what happened just now and found it funny. He wondered if someone had made a mistake in choosing a son-in-law from the list. After all, no one had a name on his face.

Seeing him in a panic, Cao couldn't help but nag at him, "Where have you been all day? Why did you come back so late? Even if you really went somewhere, tell your family so that you don't worry about it."

Bai Xin didn't want to tell them about the announcement of the imperial examination results. Once he told them, Cao would guess that Erlang had come to Beijing and couldn't help but think more. It was better for her mother to be carefree and oblivious to what was happening outside.

"Young Master Cheng asked me out for dinner. I asked him to pay for the drinks last time, so I'll treat you back this time." After he finished speaking, he was stunned. From the past to now, he had always used Cheng Wenren as an excuse. He just said it without thinking, which made him feel guilty.

Upon hearing this, Cao sniffed her son's scent first, and seeing that there was no smell of alcohol, she felt relieved and nodded, saying, "Master Cheng helped us through the difficult times before, we should thank him very much."

...

Speaking of the second and third rooms of the Bai family, the house was filled with gloom at this time. They heard the sound of ping-pong from the room, accompanied by Erlang's scolding, "Those blind dog officials, what do they know? The people they flatter are just bought in advance, and their crappy articles can also pass the exam."

Ding sat in the hall angrily, rolled her eyes fiercely, and deliberately said loudly, "Oh, now we have sold all the land, and now all the money is spent. How can we live when we go back?"

As soon as she finished speaking, there was a loud bang from inside, and then she heard Hearing Grandma Bai's out-of-tune shout, "Erlang, don't burn things. These pens, ink, paper, and inkstone, which one of them was not bought with money?"

Ding spat unhappily, "You are still so angry after not passing the exam. It would be better to use the money to buy a few acres of land instead of this bottomless pit."

Third Uncle squatted on the doorstep, already gritting his teeth in frustration. Hearing her nagging, his anger rose even more. He shouted a few words, "Alright, just say less!"

This time is different from the past. Ding still refused to give in, "How can I not be anxious? I originally thought that since he could get into high school, I could also benefit from it. I even sold my land. Will I have to starve after returning to the village? Especially since I did such a ruthless thing this time, I will go back in disgrace and be laughed at by others!"

Before she finished her words, Grandma Bai came out angrily with a sullen face. She walked a few steps to her, raised her hand and slapped her, "You gossipy woman, I will twist your tongue when I come back."

Five finger marks appeared on Ding's face and it swelled up. She looked at the other party with wide eyes and didn't accept it. She screamed. "What did I say wrong? Now there is not much money left, what should we do?"

Grandma Bai was so angry that she almost died. She pointed at her and her hands were shaking. Then she pointed the spearhead at Uncle San and shouted: "You are rebellious. You dare to talk back to me. Third brother, why don't you take care of your wife?"

Ding's neck stiffened and she looked at her husband with tears in her eyes. She felt a little sorry for him. Uncle San couldn't say what was on his lips. He could only glare at her and said, "Say less."

Ding covered her face and ran into the house. Uncle San followed a few steps and wanted to chase her.

Seeing this, Grandma Bai sighed in her heart that he really forgot his mother after marrying a wife. She howled and sat on the ground crying.