Xiaoyaoshanjun

Chapter 65 The Icing on the Cake

The two walked quietly for more than ten minutes and entered a guarded compound of a wealthy family.

"master!"

The doorman, maids, guards, and some people who looked like they were dressed as officers and soldiers saluted and greeted Qi Dao Zong.

Soon Qi Dao Zong led Tian Buli to a garden pavilion and sat down.

"Little brother, sit down and talk." Qi Daozon gestured with his hand.

Tian Buli sat down as he was told.

Qi Dao Zong paused, thought for a few seconds and said, "Little brother, do you know that besides martial arts, you have other talents?"

Tian Buli said, "Are you talking about studying? I am a student in Yanque County and plan to take the exam for a scholar next year, but my foundation is not good and my talent and learning are limited."

Qi Dao Zong quickly shook his head, "No, I'm talking about the aptitude for cultivation."

Qi Dao Zong stared at Tian Buli, "When you were fighting with that man just now, I saw that your body was full of energy and you were moving freely with the Qi in your body. I could tell from just one look that you have a unique physique and that you will get twice the result with half the effort when practicing martial arts. If you practice martial arts, it will definitely be easier for you to get started than ordinary people."

Tian Buli said bluntly: "I have encountered a monster, it was a wolf monster, but I ran away. I also encountered a rabbit monster, but I don't know much about cultivation. My parents died early. They were ordinary villagers, not Taoist priests."

Qi Dao Zong smiled and said, "There are three sects in Qi Tian Prefecture. Your Lei Ba Gong is the test martial arts used by Yanxia Mountain to select outer disciples. If you want to continue practicing, I can recommend you to go to Yanxia Mountain. I will pay for your entrance and future practice."

Tian Buli showed an embarrassment, "Can I consider it? Regarding the matter of entering the Tao, I want to take a long-term view, and my master offended the warrior just now because of me. I am worried that it will implicate adults and children."

Qi Daozong affirmed: "Don't worry about that. I am also a capable person in Qitian Mansion. Don't worry. I guarantee that nothing will happen to Mr. Hu's family."

"This matter is indeed too sudden for you. Go back and think about it. However, this kind of opportunity is very rare. If you miss it, I am afraid you will regret it for the rest of your life."

Qi Dao Zong called the maid to send Tian Buli out.

Tian Buli still didn't want to join any sect. There were too many unfriendly people in this world and he could not avoid them.

After a few days, no one came to cause trouble, and Tian Buli planned to go home.

On the day the results were announced, Hu Yuwei's name appeared at the top of the list.

Tian Buli stood about ten meters away from the list, looking at a group of scholars surrounding Hu Yuwei to congratulate him, while he stood quietly under a tree and watched.

Juren, just a juren.

Just like the first day he entered Qitian Mansion, Tian Buli still believed that scholars, juren, jinshi and the like were nothing in the eyes of some people.

"Congratulations, sir, on passing the exam!" When Tian Buli saw Hu Yuwei looking over here, he walked over and congratulated him happily without spoiling anyone else's joy.

As I laughed, I became happier and forgot many boring things.

Tian Buli went back to pack his things and prepared to go home.

When I got home, three children were making lanterns with a small piece of candle and bamboo paper next to them.

Gou'er is on holiday today. The teacher of the private school is always unwell on this day every year. Even though he is not going to take the exam, he will watch from afar the people at the top of the list having fun. Then, after the people leave, he will go over and quietly look at the names on the list one by one.

"Second father, why hasn't my father come back?" Gou'er asked when he saw Tian Buli coming back.

Tian Buli smiled and said, "He passed the imperial examination and went to eat. He will go to see his mentor later. Huer, go to the restaurant and order a pot of chicken soup and ten steamed buns. We will buy them and eat them today."

"Okay! Second Dad!" Hu'er was used to buying food, so he quickly put down what he was holding and went out to order food.

Erbao said, "Second father, we spend money recklessly on food and drink. If mother finds out, she will accuse you of wasting money again."

Tian Buli smiled and said, "If you feel guilty, just eat less later."

Erbao quickly scratched his head in embarrassment, obviously wanting to do something that went against his conscience.

He says one thing and does another. Anyway, it is Tian Buli who spends money recklessly, and his parents won't say anything to him.

The area nearby is not a prosperous place, most of the residents are ordinary people. Because of their affluent lifestyle, there are also many restaurants selling wine and meat.

The living standards of city dwellers are still very high, and most of them have houses and land that can be rented out and collect rent.

There are indeed poor landlords who can only afford to eat some shredded pork once a month. It is easier to understand those people who own several houses in the provincial capital but still rummage through garbage cans.

The elderly are indeed frugal, but how many young people are willing to live that kind of life?
In the chaotic times, without a group of helpers and thugs who were fed with wine and meat, people would have to live in poverty even though they occupied so much land.

Even if the landlord himself wanted to live a poor life, the thugs who guarded the house would not agree. Judging from the arrogant attitude of Manager Lei and Manager Liu, no matter the powerful or the landlords, they did not dare to be too cruel to their close associates, otherwise the old woman would poison the whole family and kill them.

It is more difficult for a military man to manage his household than a scholar. Scholars can be more honest, but if a military man is honest, his family will fall apart.

Military officers also hope that the young people in their clan will study hard to gain fame and fortune. Some families really cannot cultivate a scholar, and in the end they can only join various organizations to find backers and build connections.

With more people practicing martial arts, naturally there are more people eating meat and drinking wine. Qitian Prefecture, which is a prosperous place in Hanyang Province, also has many ordinary families running small businesses and ordinary restaurants.

Eating, drinking, whoring and gambling, not considering extreme cases, the most wasteful thing is eating.

In ancient society, eating meat every day cost more money than gambling.

The cost of a chicken for a meal is more than two bottles of wine a day.

Without considering extreme cases such as the courtesans and famous prostitutes, the price of a chicken is four times that of an ordinary prostitute. If it is the cheap kind, a chicken leg is enough.

In feudal society, women were worthless, and their time was even less valuable. One could earn more than ten cents just by lying down for more than ten minutes, and there were definitely many people willing to do it.

Ordinary people can restrain themselves from gambling, going to brothels, and drinking, but they find it difficult to restrain themselves from eating. Everyone from the old to the young is greedy.

The damselfly is like this, greedy, but very restrained and dare not spend money recklessly. Eating and drinking lavishly, living a life of luxury, most of the words used in ancient times to describe wasteful things are related to food, and the words used to describe poverty are also related to food.

Tian Buli took three half-grown children with appetites as big as black holes to have a good meal in the yard, and the whole meal cost a hundred coins.

After eating and drinking, Tian Buli lay down to rest for a while and then began to practice Niupi Kung Fu.

On an autumn afternoon, the sun is dry and cool, and the air is quiet.

Suddenly there was a commotion outside the courtyard. Tian Buli went out to take a look and found that it was the teacher who had returned with a group of scholars.

The courtyard soon became smaller. People kept coming in to establish relationships, and people kept coming in to give gifts, moving boxes of things into the house.

Tian Buli transformed himself into an accountant, taking note of everything and directing the three well-fed children to carry things, and also helping out from time to time.

Tian Buli has never been married, but he feels that marriage should be just as lively as this.

Kang Biyong, Yu Zhongzheng and others who had once funded Hu Yuwei accompanied him back.

The place where Hu Yuwei lived was given by Yu Zhongzheng. This generous young man helped a lot. In the past three or four months, he often supported Hu Yuwei and gave him a lot of silver and books.

Hu Yuwei kept thanking him, "Thank you very much."

Kang Biyong, who was standing next to him, did not pass the imperial examination. He looked at the others and said, "My knowledge is still insufficient. I am not as good as you two. I will study hard for three years after I return. I will definitely pass the imperial examination after three years!"

The student Fu Shuhong was standing here to join in the fun. Not only was he not a juren, he wasn't even a scholar, but he came along just to make himself known.

Three or four months ago, he was still a student like Hu Yuwei, but now he is completely different.

Fu Shuhong joined in the fun and said, "There are 86 candidates from Hanyang Province this time, and a total of 1,780,130 candidates from 14 provinces across the country. Excluding those who go to Beijing to serve as officials, the rest only need to wait for one or two years, and one of the more than 2,000 counties across the country will definitely be appointed as a county official."

Every year, officials die of illness or retire, and the county magistrates and high-ranking officials in various places must be people with achievements, so as long as you pass the imperial examination, you will definitely become an official.

The county magistrate is just a minor official. When one reaches the level of a juren, he starts as a county magistrate and what he aspires to become is an official in Beijing.

Although the officials in Beijing have low positions, they can be promoted quickly. They are able to know people and use connections. After working for a few years, they will be sent out to other places, and they will start out as the superiors of the county magistrates.

A few people were talking happily here, and soon a group of scholars came to the courtyard to congratulate them. Even some people who failed the exam gathered together to get to know each other.

Hu Yuwei knew a lot of people, including those he had met when he took the examination for the scholar, as well as some people from the academy.

There were eighty-five people on the same list this time, and Hu Yuwei was at the top again. Soon there was no place left for the tongsheng and xiucai to stand, and all around them were a group of juren.

He was about seventeen or eighteen years old, and looked like a young man from a scholarly family, very talented and learned.

The old man, who was in his sixties or seventies, looked at Hu Yuwei happily and politely, waiting for the opportunity to speak.

Some people who had no achievements quickly resigned tactfully, freeing up a lot of space.

At this time, people from the Gao family came over to give gifts. When Gao Jingxian came in, he was accompanied by a man and a woman.

The man was dressed like a young man, not like a scholar, but he behaved well after coming in, without bringing in the usual demeanor and temperament of someone walking on the street.

The woman looked familiar. She was the troublesome woman I met while eating noodle soup before.

Gao Jingxian came in and said with a smile: "Congratulations, Mr. Hu, for reaching the top of the list!"

Hu Yuwei said politely, "Mr. Gao is too polite."

The butler and servants behind Gao Jingxian quickly brought up the gifts.

"Mr. Jie Yuan, this is my son Gao Fengyou, and this is my third sister's daughter Bu Zeng. She is studying under the dean of Hanjiang Academy. Mr. Hanjiang and Shen Hanlin are classmates. This time I brought her here to pay a visit to Mr. Jie Yuan."

Gao Fengyou and Bu Zeng politely said to Hu Yuwei: "Greetings, Mr. Hu!"

Bu Zeng saluted with a smile and glanced at the young country boy who was sitting next to him writing a gift registration form.

The other party didn't seem to recognize her, which made her feel very uncomfortable.

Bu Zeng quickly changed his mood and thought: I guess he wouldn't dare to say too much. Now that he sees me coming here, he's probably too scared to even look at me.

After secretly taking a few more glances, he found that the man was indeed looking down and not looking at him. Gradually, he stopped taking him seriously and focused on listening to the conversation between Hu Yuwei and others.

Gao Jingxian smiled and said, "You will pass the examination next year and have a bright future!!"

Hu Yuwei had heard a lot of similar words and was about to say a few polite words.

"Princess Hanjiang sent a gift!"

Everyone looked outside the door and saw two women in blue clothes walking into the yard.

Although the woman was wearing nice clothes, her temperament and appearance were like those of a servant.

Lan He walked into the yard and recognized who Mr. Hu was at a glance, but he didn't know who the other person was.

"Princess Hanjiang heard that Mr. Hu passed the imperial examination, so she ordered us to bring gifts to congratulate Mr. Hu!"

Everyone was shocked. Why would Princess Hanjiang congratulate a successful candidate?
Even if he is the top scorer, he is not qualified, right?

At this time, Lan He looked at Hu Yuwei, and then looked at Gao Fengyou's face who was near Hu Yuwei.

Gao Fengyou's face lit up and he smiled, trying hard to show a smile that he thought was a gentleman's, and his brows were filled with joy.

(End of this chapter)