Ye Chong, Ge Shen and others were sitting around having tea in the front hall. Shu Yan told them the news. The owner of the shop was an old man in his sixties. He listened to it and said with a smile: "All of you Xiaolian are our elders."

I am a moral model of the Jin Dynasty and a Confucian scholar. I am honored to have you all patronize our store. Your course will start tomorrow. I wish you all a high school diploma!" After saying this, he held up his hands.

Ye Chong hurriedly returned the courtesy and said, "You're welcome, sir."

Ge Shen was also polite and said: "It's rare that the old gentleman has free time today. I just want to ask the old gentleman about the meaning of the name of the store."

The shop owner smiled calmly and said: "My sign has two meanings: First, the so-called cold and heat refers to the coming and going of cold and hot, severe cold and scorching heat. The purpose of opening our shop is to provide customers from afar.

A refuge from the cold and heat

So; both, although my inn is large, it only pursues economy, not luxury, so those rich and nobles disdain to come, and our hotel does not disdain to entertain them. It only entertains people from the common people, so "Han Shu" and "Han Shu" are used.

'Hanshu' is a homophonic meaning."

Everyone present here was Xiaolian who came from a poor family. After hearing this, they all admired it.

Xiao Mo laughed at the side and said: "Old man, although the people here are all common people, they are all going to take the exam tomorrow. Maybe some of them will graduate from high school and become high-ranking officials in the future. If they want to come to your shop, don't you think so?

Can’t we accept it?”

"How dare you, how dare you. But, with all due respect, even if you get a high rank or become an official, it is impossible for you to get rid of your status as a commoner from a poor family." Although the old man said it modestly, he still told the truth.

Shu Yan listened and laughed and said: "What the old gentleman said is absolutely true. However, since we have been promoted as filial piety and honesty, we are all magnanimous. Although we dare not seek to serve our family and country, we have never thought of becoming

What kind of gentry?"

After hearing what the young man said, the shop owner couldn't help but nod his head. Everyone also agreed that it was reasonable. Everyone talked for a while and then dispersed one after another.

In the evening, Shu Yan lit a small lamp, picked up the book, read only two pages, then put it down, staring at the lamp in a daze.

"Brother Shu, why aren't you reading? What are you doing?"

"I don't want to see it today."

Xiao Mo sat opposite the book desk: "As the saying goes, you sharpen your gun before the battle. Look at those filial and honest people, they are all burning the midnight oil to read. You will go to the battlefield tomorrow. Normally I see that you can't put down your books. Why are you doing so today?

Can’t stand it anymore? Are you nervous?”

Shu Yan smiled: "I'm not nervous, but I don't know what's wrong. I feel very calm in my heart, but my relatives keep appearing in my mind. They all had great expectations for me. My parents,

Grandfather, Eunuch Xie, Eunuch Xia, Eunuch Tang..."

"There is also the deceased Zhixin who was born in the same year, month and day as you, right?"

Shu Yan blushed and said nothing.

"Who is she to you?" Xiao Mo asked.

"She's my... fiancée." After a while, Shu Yan said.

…

The hourglass passed for another half moment, and Xiao Mo's voice became much softer: "Relax, I think you won't let them down."

The test was jointly organized by Taichang Temple and the Ministry of Civil Affairs. At the beginning of the next day, Xiao Mo accompanied Shu Yan to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, but the scene in front of him shocked Shu Yan - there were so many people! Shu Yan was puzzled.

, the total number of Xiaolian people who were promoted this time is only a few dozen, but here there are more than a hundred people, and they are still being expelled.

The number of people is gradually increasing. Who are these people? Just as I was wondering, I saw a group of handymen hurriedly moving desks, rolling mats, and tidying up the room. Someone next to them was ordering: "Quick, quick, quick, we must put all the available tools at the right time."

The whole house has been vacated, and there are many people preparing for the exam today..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Rong, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, also came out to urge him. He stood on the steps and shouted to the people present: "Everyone, everyone. Let me say a few words first. The most important thing for the imperial court to select officials is

The two ways are to promote filial piety and integrity and to select from Tai students. In the past, these two methods

Each route was planned and tested separately by the imperial court, but this time it was different from previous years. The Ministry of Civil Affairs was ingenious this year, and wanted Xiaolian and Tai students to be tested at the same time, and then the Zhongzheng officials from their respective prefectures and counties would evaluate them together.

Then the officials will select the best and appoint them to officials..."

There was a lot of noise below, some talking about good things, some talking about novelty, and some talking about nonsense.

Shu Yan heard that Tai students were also coming to take the test today. He looked around the crowd, but found no sign of Shi De. At this time, the servants had tidied up all the rooms, and the tables and other utensils had been placed neatly. Again.

I heard Wang Rong say: "With so many people planning the test at the same time, a single official and Cao would definitely not be able to accommodate them. So,

We have sorted out all the available rooms in the entire Shangshutai official office for you to try. Now you listen to my instructions. Using the pillar in the middle as the boundary, all the students will try in the rooms east of the pillar.

All the filial piety and incorruptible officials are in the room to the west of the pillar, and you will take your seats immediately..."

"Wow--" The crowd heard the order, and there was a commotion, and they quickly took their places. After a while, everyone present was seated, and Wang Rong asked loudly: "Is there anyone who hasn't arrived yet?"

No one said anything.

"Okay, once everyone is here, close the door and no one is allowed in or out."

When Shu Yan heard that the door was about to be closed, thinking that Shi De had not come yet, he hurriedly shouted: "Please wait a moment, there is another imperial student who has not come yet."

When the Minister of Civil Affairs took a look, he heard a voice coming from the west, and said solemnly: "You are a filial and honest man, how do you know that a prince student has not come yet?"

"That imperial student is a fellow countryman of mine. I beg Wang Shangshu to wait for him."

Wang Rong looked at the clock and said, "Okay, now it's three quarters of the hour. Wait for another quarter. If he hasn't arrived yet at the hour of the hour, don't blame me for being ruthless."

"Thank you, Wang Shangshu."

Shu Yan looked anxiously at the door. No one was coming. At this moment, he estimated that almost a quarter of the time had passed.

"Time's up, close the door."

When Shu Yan heard this, he was dumbfounded. He had the intention to plead for mercy again, but he knew it would be in vain. Just as he was getting anxious, he suddenly saw two people wearing white scarves on their heads and the uniforms of Imperial College students walking towards them.

Take your time and walk through the door.

Shu Yan breathed a sigh of relief and turned from worry to joy, but before he finished breathing, he suddenly turned from joy to worry - it turned out that neither of the two was Shi De.

"Why are you two here so late?" Wang Rong asked.

The two of them said calmly: "Is it late? It's exactly the same hour now. It's just right. How can you say it's late?"

"What are your two names?"

"Xiahoumen."

"Xun Bao."

"Where's that guy named Shide?"

"I'm here, who's calling me?" The voice came from the east side room.

Shu Yan turned around and saw that the person speaking was also wearing a white scarf on his head and a Taipei student uniform. He was none other than Shi De. Shu Yan was so angry that he thought to himself, I have been worrying about him for a long time in vain.

, it turned out that he had been here a long time ago. Because Shi De was wearing a white scarf and his back was turned to Shu Yan, and there were too many people just now, Shu Yan didn't notice him.

Shi De asked Xiahoumen and Xunbao: "Why did you come?"

"It's nothing, I'm just walking a little slower." After the two of them finished speaking, they found their seats and sat down.

Everyone was seated, and there was an inkstone, a small piece of ink, a pen, and a small pot of water in front of everyone's writing desk. Before starting to issue papers, you must first grind the ink. Shu Yan and other people were very interested in it. Grinding ink is easy, because they usually grind ink by themselves. First, pour an appropriate amount of water into the inkstone, then pick up the ink block and grind it gently. After a while, the ink in an inkstone is even and fine. You can do it, Xiahou However, the ink grinding by a few imperial students such as Xun Bao and Xun Bao was not so smooth. Xiahou Men's ink grinding was because they poured too little water; Xun Bao's ink grinding was too thin because they poured too much water; The force used was uneven, and the ink spilled on one hand and all over the case. The more anxious they became, the busier they became. When they usually wrote at home, they were always served by book boys and never studied ink themselves. Even when they were studying in Taixue, they were always busy. Always promise some benefits to others, and someone will do it for you.

The rest of the people couldn't help laughing when they saw the embarrassment of these people. These people had been busy for a long time, and the water was gone. The ink was worn out, but the ink did not come out. The examiner was anxious and angry, and brought them water again. and new ink. At this time, Shi De suddenly stood up and said: "Examiner, we are not good at the job of grinding ink. Our book boy is waiting outside the door. We ask that our book boy be let in to do it for us. Grind ink."

"What? Ask a book boy to grind ink for you? It's really unreasonable. No idlers are allowed to enter when the imperial court is planning the examination. I have never heard of someone having to grind ink for you during the examination! You can write if you can, but not if you can't. Just write it!"

The examiner was furious. At this time, another examiner next to him whispered: "Brother, why should you be angry? The fathers of these young gentlemen are now members of the court, why bother them? It is better to be noble and accommodating, and in the future in the court There is still a way to take care of each other.”

After hearing this, the examiner pondered for a long time and then said: "That's it, I just need to ask Wang Shangshu for instructions."

"This is natural."

The two people reported it to Wang Rong, who had no choice but to agree. The servant opened the door and let in a few book boys. Studying ink was the boy's specialty, and it only took a moment to grind the ink. Okay, then exit. The examiner handed out the test papers, and everyone wrote their answer sheets. The method of planning the test is to set ten questions in each of the Five Classics for the test planner to answer. The test planner can choose a certain classic or It’s a lot of sutras.

Shu Yan had already memorized the Five Classics very well, so he opened the paper, picked up the pen and wrote it without thinking. After finishing writing, he saw that others were still thinking hard, and some even patted their foreheads as if they were worried. In this case , if he handed in the paper early, he would appear too arrogant and would cause tension to others. So, he put down his pen and sat quietly. Suddenly, he heard someone from the east room opening the door and coming out. He knew that someone from the Taipei students had handed in the paper. Again After sitting for a while, it wasn't until someone in the room handed in their papers that they all came out.

After walking out of the door, he was about to find Xiao Mo to tell him that he had gone very well in the test. Suddenly he saw Xiao Mo talking to a Tai student, who had his back to him. As he walked closer, he heard the Tai student say: "I remembered, you are the one who followed Shu Yan to Taixue a few days ago."

Xiao Mo also said: "Oh, I also remembered that you are my brother Shu's fellow countryman, your name is Shi De."

Shi De said angrily: "Why did you call me by my name!"

"Why, didn't you also call me Brother Shu by his first name?"

"I...hum, that's really rude. Can he compare with me?"

"How amazing are you?" Xiao Mo sneered, "We Qiang people don't have so many rules. You were arrogant first, and then I was rude."

Shi De turned around and smiled: "So you are a Qiang. Haha. But I have seen a lot of Qiang people, and I have never seen them dressed like you. Look at your hair style, neither Chinese nor foreign, neither fish nor fowl, like What does it look like - a ponytail; and your clothes are full of butterflies, colorful and colorful. If you face the wind and open your arms, it really looks like a big butterfly, hahahahaha."

Xiao Mo had a quick temper. After hearing this, he was so angry that he glared at Shi De with his slightly sunken eyes and retorted: "You haven't seen yourself! Not to mention the ink all over your body, a grown man can't You don't have a bit of masculinity, you walk unsteadily, and you have to be supported by a book boy, you are like a weak willow. And since you don't like others to call you this name, then I will call you 'Shide' from now on. "

Shu Yan heard that the atmosphere was not right and hurriedly stepped forward to persuade him, interrupting and saying: "I was the first one to come out of Xiaolian Court. Unexpectedly, Mr. Shi came out earlier than me. I must have answered very easily?"

Shi De was beaten by Xiao Mo, but he couldn't defeat the other party. After hearing Shu Yan Binbin talk to him politely, he had a step to go down, and said coldly and arrogantly: "Of course, how can it be hard to stop me with that little content?"

Shu Yan cupped his hands and said, "That's good, let's wait for the day when the results will be announced."

Shi De's arm was supported by the book boy Aji, and he did not salute. He just said calmly: "You must teach your uncultured Hu friend well! Farewell."
Chapter completed!