Chapter 115

After finishing the three township examinations, most of August has passed.

However, candidates who have completed the rural examination generally will not leave, and have to wait for the release of the results in early September.

The time to release the rankings is not fixed, but usually the rankings will be released before the tenth day of September, which means that candidates will have to wait for more than half a month.

During this period of time, groups of scholars can often be seen haunting various restaurants and teahouses, and naturally there are quite a few brothels and Chuguan. They stayed up all night, singing and singing every night, as if they were in the last state of madness.

And Xue Tingxiang fell ill after leaving the examination room after the third test.

It was also rainy days in those few days, even though he was well prepared, he still caught a cold. Not to mention recuperating during this period, Yue Buyian also came to visit Xue Tingxiang.

By the time Xue Tingxiang recovered from his illness, September had already entered.

In the blink of an eye, it was time to fill in the rankings, and every time this day came, even though they knew that the rankings would be released tomorrow, all the candidates were very excited.

Many people even went to the Gongyuan to inquire about the news. Mao Badou thought that Xue Ting had been bored in the room for many days, so he wanted to take him with him, but he refused.

Knowing that nothing can be found out, it is not in vain to go, it is better to wait for the day tomorrow.

On the second day, early in the morning, the people of Beilu Academy got dressed and prepared to go out. Lin Miao didn't intend to go, he had seen too many joys and sorrows in front of Guibang, so he didn't intend to join in the fun this time.

When Xue Tingxiang and the others arrived at the Gongyuan, the Gongyuan Street was already full of people.

The needle can't go in, the water can't get in, even with Mao Badou's skill, he can only look at the ocean and sigh.

"Well, let's go back. Just squeeze in like this, and you won't die or peel off your skin."

So all the people had to go back.

After returning home, Lin Miao saw the students all slumped, and couldn't help shaking their heads and smiling: "Just wait quietly." If you really hit it, you don't need to go to know it.

After a while, Yue Butian also came.

From his appearance, he seemed to have also gone to the Gongyuan, but he didn't squeeze in and turn back.

"Why didn't you go, it's fine if you don't go like me, you should join in the fun."

Yue Buyian also knew that it was the first time for Xue Tingxiang and others to take part in the provincial examination, and the stunned young man who passed the test for the first time was always full of confidence, wishing to see his name appear on the list, how could he sit still.

"Brother Yue didn't go either?"

Yue Buyian laughed and scratched his head: "I'll forget it, anyway, I don't have much hope."

"Brother Yue shouldn't have said that. Your talent will win the exam sooner or later. It's better not to be discouraged."

Yue Buyian chuckled and said nothing, Xue Tingxiang naturally wouldn't say anything more.

The room was too stuffy, so a few of them went to sit in the lobby of the inn together. There were many scholars like them, and most of them couldn't squeeze in and turned back to wait for the good news.

There were people coming and going on the street, and there was a sense of restlessness in the air. They were obviously drinking tea and talking and laughing happily, but their eyes were all looking outside the door intentionally or unintentionally.

Suddenly, there seemed to be the sound of beating gongs and drums in the distance, accompanied by a burst of restlessness.

Because it was a little too far away, I couldn't hear it clearly. After a while, I heard someone saying who had won the prize, and the announcer came to ask for a reward.

Everyone was talking about it, even the common people in the past seemed to be equally happy for the person who was selected.

There was another sound of beating gongs and drums, as well as crackling firecrackers, and the scholar who couldn't bear it had already gone out, and after a while, he turned back and discussed with his friends about the person Zhongju.

It seems that Taiyuan City is extremely small today, since the two bursts of beating of gongs and drums, there have been one after another, which can be heard endlessly. It's no wonder that the bustle comes here, it's because there are a lot of inns here, and they are not far from the Gongyuan, and there are the most candidates for the exam living here.

There was the sound of gongs and drums entering the street, as if the membrane covering people's ears was suddenly lifted off, and everything became extremely clear.

As the movement got closer and closer, the people sitting in the lobby felt apprehensive, and some people couldn't help poking their heads out to look forward to it, until the band that announced the good news stopped in front of the inn.

A festive man in a red dress strode in from the door with a smile on his face: "Great news, Master He from Hebichuan, Qingyuan County, Xizhong is the 42nd place in the Shanxi Township Examination in the sixth year of Jiacheng .”

"I won?" Following the voice, a short and thin middle-aged man in his forties fell off the chair with a plop. Faster than he fell, he jumped up again in an instant.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that he was dancing, he limped and ran to the announcer and asked, "I have won? My surname is He, and my first name is Bi Chuan. Is it true that I have won?"

The announcer said: "If you are Master He Bichuan He, then you have won."

"I am He Bichuan, I am He Bichuan..."

The people sitting at the same table with him all stepped forward to congratulate him: "Congratulations, Brother He."

"congratulations."

"Ten years of studying hard in the cold window is finally not in vain."

Here, Xue Tingxiang and the others looked at He Bichuan with a half-hearted smile, not only finding him ridiculous, but also empathizing with him.

If it were them who won, I am afraid it would not be any better than him.

"This person is considered to be in his early years." Yue Buyian said.

"That's not the case."

"On such a festive day, it's not enough to drink tea without wine. Boy, bring some wine."

The buddy who had been standing on the sidelines to watch the excitement, went to get the wine in a hurry, and waited for the announcer to be sent away over there, so he also drank it here.

Not only did Yue Buyian drink, Xue Tingxiang and the others also poured it for himself, as if drinking could suppress the restlessness in his heart.

The entire lobby was extremely lively, but the center of it all revolved around Nahe Bichuan. Ten years of studying hard in the cold window, and today he has won the imperial examination, which is also in line with other people's glory.

The scenery!

Afterwards, the sound of good news came repeatedly, but they did not stop in front of the inn, but the bustle outside never stopped.

The busier it was outside, it meant that the chances of winning the exam had dropped a lot, and many scholars were out of their minds. Some also wanted wine and drank it by themselves, some spoke sarcasticly, and some were already planning to have lunch.

For example Xue Tingxiang et al.

Their actions also seemed to remind other college entrance examination candidates who were waiting for the results that it was really boring to sit like this all the time, so they should find something to do.

The inn guys got busy again, ordering and serving each table, and everyone was drinking and talking while eating. It seems that they are not idle, but in fact they are a little bit out of their minds.

There was another sound of beating gongs and drums. By this time, no one would be too excited, but at this moment, the announcer stopped at the entrance of the inn.

"Great news, Mr. Liu Changyan, Leping County, is the 21st place in the Shanxi Township Examination in the sixth year of Jiacheng."

Liu Changyan stood up, he was from Beilu Academy.

"Congratulations brother Liu, congratulations."

Liu Changyan couldn't help laughing a few times, stepped forward and took out the silver taels as a reward. This money is absolutely indispensable, if there are too few rewards, there may be news that so-and-so won the Juren the next day, but they are extremely stingy.

Next, Beilu Academy seemed to be opened, and there were three good news, all of which were given to them.

Others didn't know that they belonged to the same academy, they just thought they were walking together, and they were all envious. Some people even asked whether the courtyard they lived in had good Fengshui. There were only a few places for exams, and they already took four of them.

Afterwards, it seemed that their words were verified, and another good news came, this time it was Mao Badou's.

Don't look at Mao Badou's ambitious appearance, in fact, he didn't expect that he could hit it, but he just came to the end to practice his hands, and he didn't expect to hit it.

He hit it.

When this guy just laughed at others, he laughed very well, but now it's his turn, and he is no better than others. He couldn't even speak smoothly, and even forgot to reward him with money. In the end, Xue Tingxiang came forward to help him reward the person who announced the good news.

"Okay, okay, you can sit down quickly, if you can't help it, why don't you just go back to the room and laugh for a while?"

"I'm going to announce the good news to the teacher."

Li Datian grabbed him and said, "Come on, don't go anywhere, just sit down."

In fact, it is better to say that Xue Tingxiang and the other four are waiting for happiness for themselves, rather than for Lin Miao. They are still young, whether they are in the middle or not, even if they may feel sad in their hearts, they will come back in three years at most. But Lin Miao has already taken the test many times, if he fails this time.

In the following time, everyone's heart was heavy.

Those who have already registered in the top 20, and the further they go, the higher the ranking. Those who know their own level know that they will not be able to reach the top, and they look dejected and sigh again and again.

However, Beilu Academy consecrated several times in a row, and then they died down again. It was not until the end of the day that another one came.

This time it was Chen Jian.

"Great news, Mr. Chen Jian from Xia County, he is the fifth place in the Shanxi Township Examination in the sixth year of Jiacheng."

"Ajian, congratulations."

After a while of congratulations, the announcer was sent away, and the candidates who were waiting had already returned to their rooms. Already in fifth place.

The Five Classics Chief is not someone like them.

"Ting Xing, you can definitely win." Chen Jian said.

Xue Tingxiang smiled, but said nothing.

Wu Jingkui, if there hadn't been this fight between the Wu and Chen families, he would have been sure of it. But now—

Don't look at Xue Tingxiang's calm and self-control all the time, but in fact, he is very unreasonable in his heart. He even prepared for the worst. If she didn't pass the exam, she would go back to her hometown to study, and she would just be able to take advantage of the free time to accompany her to recruit children, so as not to go to the capital to catch the exam by herself like in the dream, and had to leave her at home alone.

Thinking about it this way, my heart sank.

Just then, the good news came again.

"Good news, Mr. Yuebu Dianyue, Yangqu County, is the third place in the Shanxi Township Examination in the sixth year of Jiacheng."

Yue Buyian, who had been drinking all the time, suddenly raised his head, his eyes were sleepy, but there was a very bright light hidden in them.

"Brother Yue, congratulations."

Everyone here is saying congratulations, and there is another sound of beating gongs and drums outside the door.

At this time, even the innkeeper couldn't bear it any longer, standing by the door and laughing so hard that his mouth was about to bloom.

What kind of luck is he, he won seven in one inn, presumably his store will be overcrowded in the next township test.

"Great news, Mr. Lin Miaolin of Xia County, the winner is Yayuan, the second place in the Shanxi Township Examination in the sixth year of Jiacheng."

"Teacher, teacher..." Mao Badou wailed and howled, and ran to the back. Before he could leave the lobby, Lin Miao came out.

I saw that his clothes were fluttering, he had the demeanor of a great Confucian, he was calm and relaxed, unlike other people, he was full of ugly behaviors.

"What are you panicking about?"

"Teacher, you have won."

Lin Miao nodded, and went forward to talk to the announcer.

Yayuan, but only the existence of Xieyuan.

The scholars who had gone back to the house a long time ago were sad, but now they heard that there were three Wujingkui in the inn, so they couldn't help running out to watch the excitement. Seeing that the teacher and the students were in the same middle school, the teacher was still Yayuan, and they all came forward to make friends, wanting to know who this Yayuan was, and taught two students.

They regarded Yue Butian as Lin Miao's student.

The lobby was extremely lively, even people from other inns came to see Yayuan's demeanor.

Xue Tingxiang, who was standing aside, smiled, and Chen Jian, who had been looking at him, said, "Tingxiang, don't..."

He originally wanted to say don't be sad, but this kind of words really didn't fit Xue Tingxiang. After thousands of words, he finally turned it into one sentence: "You are also unlucky. The draft was wet in the first scene, and the next two scenes encountered rain. After the exam, I got seriously ill again. If I don’t pass this time, I’ll take another exam after the exam, absolutely…”

He spoke a little incoherently, Chen Jian was not as talkative as Mao Badou, nor as good at words as Xue Tingxiang, he was not good at words, and usually he didn't talk much, at this time he was comforting people, and he wanted to cover his face and sigh.

"Okay, Jian, I know what you want to say, I'm fine."

"That's fine." Chen Jian smiled in relief. He knew that Ting Xiang was not the kind of person who cared too much about gains and losses. With his ability, it was really unlucky that God didn't open his eyes to miss this time.

Lin Miao finally finished dealing with a group of scholars who came to make friends, and came over.

He looked outside the door, and it had been a while since the announcement of the second place. The sound of blowing and beating could not be heard again, which means that the scholars of Zhongjieyuan were not here.

He looked at Xue Tingxiang, the student whom he placed the most hope in, and recalled his troubles in the rural examination, couldn't help sighing, and patted him on the shoulder: "Tingxiang, don't be sentimental, in the teacher's heart , you should be the talent to solve the Yuan."

"Thank you, teacher, for your relief. If you fail this time, you will come again next time, student..."

At this moment, there seemed to be some faint movement.

It was different from the previous ones, and seemed to be noisier. There were sounds of blowing and beating, as well as applause, all mixed together to form a wave of sound.

"What is this doing?"

Just as he was talking, a lion dancer appeared in front of the door. The five lively lions are rolling and bowing again, and their various naive expressions make people laugh. The drummers beat the leather drums hanging on their bodies with all their might, as did the drummers who played the gongs and suolas, making bursts of noise.

It was the sound of firecrackers again, and it was noisy again. For a while, it was clearly close at hand, but it was impossible to hear the words of the people around it.

"Which one is this open? You really know how to choose a date."

"Why did you choose this place to make trouble, boss, isn't this hindering your family's business?"

The innkeeper was all smiles and his eyes were shining brightly. He seemed to say something, but no one could hear him clearly. The guy was also talking, but unfortunately he could only see his mouth moving.

At this moment, the lions separated suddenly, and they all made a gesture of offering a hydrangea ball. A man in a red and short brown dress and a red scarf on his head trotted forward.

After the sound of firecrackers and blowing loudly, I heard him congratulate loudly: "Good news, Mr. Xue Tingxuan, Huyang Township, Xia County, Xizhong is the first place in the Shanxi Township Examination in the sixth year of Jiacheng, Xie Yuan!"

"Ting Xing, Ting Xing!"

"Ting Shan, you've won!"

Being surrounded by people, Xue Tingxiang looked at the scene in a daze, but thought in his heart how much money he would have to give to satisfy these people. If he didn't spread the news that the newly appointed Master Xie Yuan was too stingy tomorrow, he would simply be a penny-pinching cock.

...

In the end, Xue Tingxiang took out all the money on his body, and Mao Badou and others collected some more before sending the announcers away.

Since they are putting on such a big display, and they are here to announce the good news and add to your glory, you are too stingy to do it. Don't think that these are all free gifts, they are all paid for.

But the money was worth it, because of this movement, half of the people in Taiyuan City were attracted to come here. If it were anyone else, even if they lost their fortune, they would have to give it.

In fact, this is just a routine used by people who announce the good news every time the results of the township examination are released.

Xie Yuan, the first place, how can it be achieved without some tricks.

The innkeeper knew it before, but it was a pity that there was too much noise, and no one heard that he was actually saying that it was a good news for Lord Xie Yuan.

After an announcement of the rankings, I saw all the ups and downs. Those who won were cheered, while those who were not were saddened. There is also a big man who cries like a tearful man, and he will inevitably get drunk and go crazy with alcohol.

Among the four sons of Qingyuan, Mao Badou all won, but Li Datian was the only one who missed, which is also a pity.

Li Datian needs to try his best to explain that he is not as sad as others imagined. There was a bit of disappointment, after all, the four of them had passed the county, government, and hospital exams together, and now they came to the township exams, leaving him alone.

It may be that he had expected it before the end, and he knew how much he weighed, so he really missed, but it was not too surprising.

On the contrary, Mao Badou made a big surprise, and even Lin Miao didn't expect him to be able to hit it. This may mean that once a person has a goal, he can burst out with infinite potential.

Afterwards, Li Datian jokingly said that it seems that he should also find someone he likes.

Naturally, this was said to Mao Badou. Mao Badou had said at the beginning that he must win the election to prove that he is more capable than that surnamed Li, and it is time to ask Lin Yanran for marriage, so that she can save face That's enough.

He himself thought so, as for what Lin Yanran thought, or even what Lin Miao thought, it was unknown.