Domineering husband

Chapter 94 Arriving at the capital and entering the examination room

Unlike the previous two trips to Fucheng, this time there were more bullock carts from the Zhuang family, and less carriages from the Shen family.

Shen Hua didn't go to the capital this time, he stayed in Pingcheng.

Li Qiao and Tao Zhu still brought Li Ershan and Li Xia with them, but Li Gu and Li Liang felt that they were too young to do anything, so they had to let them bring Li Chunsheng, so in the end the five of them went to the capital together.

They were driving four ox carts, and more than half of their luggage was Li Qiao's books.

After the group arrived in Fucheng, four scholars, Li Qiao, Zhuang Wen, Meng Yue, and Xu Ying, first took the official certificate issued by the county government to the government office and asked the officials of the government office to stamp the official certificate. What they must have is not only the admission ticket, but also a guide, a proof of their identity.

After finishing the business, the group did not stay in Fucheng too long. They headed to the capital under the leadership of the Xu family.

The Xu family is in the business of brewing wine and pawnshops, and has a branch in the capital, so just follow the Xu family.

Xu Ying is the hope of the entire Xu family. Although he himself has no confidence in this provincial examination, his family still attaches great importance to it. His three uncles, three brothers and sisters-in-law, a total of seven family members accompanied him to take care of his daily life during this trip. .

For the battle of the Xu family, Li Qiao and Tao Zhu felt that it was not easy for Xu Ying, and at the same time worried for Shen Hua.

Tao Zhu felt a little regretful, he should have called Shen Hua, it was no use for him and Li Qiao to choose a better scholar than Xu Ying, the most important thing was that Shen Hua liked it himself.

After leaving Fucheng, a group of people set foot on Fucheng, the official road of the capital. This official road is a dirt road, which has not been repaired for three years. There are many large and small potholes on it, and bullock carts without tires walk on it. The bumps were so severe that I couldn't read the book at all.

Li Qiao sat on the shaft of the chariot and drove with Tao Zhu.

In summer, the sun was shining brightly. However, before departure, Li Qiao built a simple wooden frame on the carriage. Freshly cut branches and leaves were tied to the wooden frame, which not only covered him and Tao Zhu on the shaft, but also covered the The oxen can be covered.

This shape is a bit weird, but it works very well. Sitting on the shaft of the car with a big cattail fan in your hand and a basin of ice cubes made of saltpeter behind you, the journey is not too difficult.

They first entered Yongxing County along the official road, and after walking for two days, the group left Yongxing County and entered the boundary of the capital.

Tao Zhu was so far away from home for the first time, he was a little surprised, this is a trip out of the house.

However, after watching it for a long time, his interest gradually faded away.

Although I left the mansion, there are farmlands on both sides of the official road. Most of these farmlands are sweet potatoes, in addition to some corn, millet, yellow rice, sorghum and other miscellaneous grains.

He was a little surprised: "Why are there so many sweet potatoes planted?"

According to the map, this is Tongli County, which belongs to the capital, and vermicelli is not made here, so why grow so many sweet potatoes?

Li Qiao shook the cattail fan with one hand, and held a bamboo cup with the other, which contained iced sour plum soup.

This sour plum soup was made by Tao Zhu during the noon break, because there was no inn by the roadside, so the group of them cooked their own meals at noon, Tao Zhu cooked two big pots of sour plum soup, everyone had a share.

As for the bamboo cup, I bought it when I was in Fucheng. It is long and has a lid. It can be buried in an ice basin, and it is very convenient for cooling soup and water.

"Hmm...it should be that the magistrate is going to make a big move. Tongli County is next to Yongxing County, and the sweet potatoes in Tongli County can be sold to Yongxing County."

Li Qiao guessed the reason.

Under normal circumstances, farmers would not grow so many sweet potatoes. Now that farmers in Tongli County have grown so many sweet potatoes, there is only one explanation: they

are making vermicelli.

"Ah??? Last year's vermicelli in Yongxing County was a mess." Tao Zhu opened his eyes wide.

"Now that the magistrate has changed, the new magistrate should be very capable."

Otherwise, farmers in Tongli County would not dare to grow so many sweet potatoes.

"I hope so!"

Tao Zhu looked at the sweet potatoes on both sides of the road, and couldn't help praying with his palms together.

I hope Xinzhi County in Yongxing County has the same ability to coordinate the overall situation as Jiangzhi County, so that not only farmers will benefit, but he and Li Qiao can also earn more money.

The price of goods in the capital is scary even thinking about it.

Moreover, besides the capital city, Li Qiao also wanted to buy another 500 mu of land in Pingcheng, so as to make up 1,000 mu of land and become a real big landlord.

It costs money everywhere!

Soon, the carriage passed through the county seat of Tongli County. After passing the county seat, there were much fewer sweet potatoes in the farmland on both sides.

Now even Tao Zhu was sure that the magistrate of Tongli County and Xinzhi County of Yongxing County must have reached an agreement.

The part of Tongli County adjacent to Yongxing County grows a lot of sweet potatoes. When the sweet potatoes are ripe, they can be transported to Yongxing County.

It is impossible to teach the farmers in Tongli County how to make starch. of.

At present, whether it is starch or vermicelli, the method only belongs to Hexi Prefecture.

Farmers in Tongli County want to make money from sweet potatoes, so they can only transport sweet potatoes to Yongxing County.

After passing through Tongli County and walking for another day, the convoy finally arrived at the capital.

Looking at the tall city gate of the capital, Li Qiao couldn't help jumping off the ox cart to stretch his muscles, and turned upside down along the way, this feeling was really uncomfortable.

However, he is still good, some scholars with poor conditions have to walk to the capital.

He just glanced at it casually, and saw two scholars with bookcases on their backs and dusty faces waiting to enter the city at the gate of the city.

Compared with these two, he is actually very happy to be able to ride an ox cart.

It is not easy for ancient scholars!

The capital of Yuanhe Province is obviously much more prosperous than the capital of Hexi Prefecture. Not only is the city gate high, but there are also many pedestrians entering and leaving. Li Qiao and his party were delayed at the gate for two quarters of an hour before entering the city.

The Xu family has a house in the capital, and a group of people went to the Xu family to rest.

Just like in Fucheng, the Xu family found a house for Li Qiao and Zhuang Wen early on. On the second day, under the leadership of the Xu family's official family, Li Qiao, Tao Zhu and Zhuang Wen inspected the house on the spot.

There were several houses, and in the end Li Qiao and Zhuang Wen chose two courtyards facing each other and rented them out.

The prices in the capital are a bit higher than those in Fucheng, but not too much. Li Qiao rented a courtyard with two entrances, and the two-month rent with a deposit is twenty-five taels.

The yard rented in Fucheng is smaller, and the two-month rent with a deposit is twenty taels.

But Tao Zhu clicked his tongue.

This is because every time you go to a bigger and more lively place, the price will be more expensive.

The prices in the capital are absolutely incredible!

In addition to Zhuang Wen, Zhuang Quan, Mrs. Zhuang Quan, Zhou Yun and the manor were also accompanying him. They were few in number, and they also rented a yard with two entrances.

Zhuang Wen simply wanted to live closer to Li Qiao, so even if he had a small family, he rented two yards.

After paying the rent, signing and depositing, and then moving the luggage and moving in.

The next day, the Xu family's official family came again. First, they brought Li Qiao, Tao Zhuzhuangwen and others to familiarize themselves with the surrounding environment, and then took them around the capital to give them a general understanding of the capital.

While wandering around, Tao Zhu and Zhou Yun bought all the daily necessities.

When passing by the bookstore, Li Qiao and Zhuang Wen went in and wandered around for a while, wanting to see if there were any books they hadn't seen in Hexi Mansion.

Li Qiao had already secretly passed on the tricks that Xing Xuezheng told him to pass the level to Meng Yue, Xu Ying, and Zhuang Wen. Therefore, the three of them now read as much as possible to expand their knowledge.

On the third day, Xu Ying and Meng Yue came, and they came to find Li Qiao and Zhuang Wen to register in the government office.

At this time, there were only ten days left before the provincial examination, and there were many scholars who came to sign up. Li Qiao and the others waited in line for a while before it was their turn.

The official in charge of the application took the official document handed over by Li Qiao, and seeing the word Li Qiao written on it, he couldn't help but look closely.

Hexi Mansion, Pingcheng, Sanli Town, Sanliu Village.

It was indeed Li Qiao who won the plaque and the small composition from the Holy Master's imperial pen!

celebrity.

The official looked calm, but his eyes were glued to Li Qiao.

Since the founding of Dasheng, no one has had such an honor to be recommended for the imperial examination.

Li Qiao was the first.

But Li Qiao was obviously not an idiot. The three articles he wrote during the Tongsheng Examination had already spread to the capital.

He has also read these three articles, and considering Liqiao's identity as a farmer's son, the three articles are indeed not bad.

In particular, the articles in the college examination made his eyes shine.

I don't know what kind of surprise Li Qiao will give the world and the Holy One this time.

Thinking in this way, the official stamped the seal of the government office on the official certificate, and then let Li Qiao leave.

Coming out of the mansion, Zhuang Wen couldn't help but said to Li Qiao: "Xiao Qiao, you see, you are also a celebrity in the capital, it obviously took a little longer for the adult to check your official documents just now." Xu Ying couldn't help it either

. Nodding her head: "That's right, Brother Li, how do you feel now?"

"It must be a lot of pressure." Meng Yue clicked her tongue, thanks to Li Qiao's calm mind, otherwise, she really couldn't bear the attention.

When Tao Zhu heard this, he looked at Li Qiao with worry in his eyes.

Li Qiao smiled wryly: "How else can I feel? Of course I should go back and study hard." "

Walk around, read more, think more, you can do a lot of things in ten days."

Hearing this, Meng Yue wanted to go back quickly. Xu Mansion.

At this moment, several candidates who were waiting in line beside them chatted.

"I don't know if Li Qiao is here at this time, I really want to see him!"

Li Qiao: "..."

He pulled Tao Zhu and left.

But the small talk behind them continued.

"I also want to see him. Although he can be recommended for admission to the palace examination, his essays are really good. I want to ask him for advice.

" The student said that he never entertained guests before the exam."

"That's really a pity, I really convinced him of his essays in the college exam, if he gives some pointers, then this time the township exam will be better. A little bit of confidence."

Li Qiao: "?"

Thank you, I really think highly of him.

But if it wasn't for the sage's praise, he wouldn't dare to say 100% guaranteed.

Who knows which level of hell the Holy Majesty will go to this time, he is under a lot of pressure!

Being expected by all, under such circumstances, Li Qiaowei could only work harder.

After he returned to the rented yard, he stopped going out. Even if he did go out, he went to the opposite door to find Zhuang Wen.

This time without Huang Youming, the personal trainer, he could only consult Zhuang Wen.

His study time is still too short. Compared with Zhuang Wen, who has studied for thirty years, he still has a lot of room for improvement.

During this period, except for grocery shopping, Tao Zhu didn't go out the rest of the time.

The yard they rented is close to the Gongyuan, and there are many candidates who are rushing to take the exam, so every day, hawkers come to sell fresh vegetables and meat, even if he buys vegetables, he doesn't have to go far.

Zhou Yun would come to visit every day to exchange cooking experience with him.

The manor is a lively and active person, and he also comes to visit every day.

In fact, the manor wanted to wander around, but Zhuang Quan and Zhou Yun stopped him from running around. The capital is so big and prosperous, and they are little bumpkins from the countryside. What should I do if I lose it or cause trouble?

Zhuangjia is a small landlord that everyone envies in Sanliu Village, but in a bustling big city like the capital, Zhuangjia's family fortune is nothing.

Zhuang Quan and Zhou Yun had been staying in the countryside. When they first arrived in such a far and prosperous place, they were always timid in their hearts. Not only did they dare not go out alone, they did not let the manor run around to play.

The manor was helpless, and could only run back and forth between the yard rented by his family and the yard on Liqiao's side.

Zhou Yun had a headache about this, and couldn't help sighing while choosing vegetables with Tao Zhu: "He is nineteen years old, but he is still a child at heart, and the marriage has not yet been settled, so I am really worried." "No hurry, people in our

village I'm not in a hurry to get married."

The main reason is that there are too many matchmakers, and the boys and girls in Sanliu Village are too dazzled to make a decision.

It's like Tao Tao, who is nineteen years old this year and has only recently made an appointment for marriage.

Tao Tao didn't want to get married, so she wanted to find a son-in-law, and after a lot of picking and choosing, she finally picked a good-looking guy who was good-looking but not from a very good family.

Tao Tao wanted to recruit a son-in-law when Li Qiao hadn't taken the imperial examination and hadn't received the reward from the emperor before. But Li Qiao's future was unclear at that time, so the quality of the young man who was willing to marry him was not high.

But with the gift from the Holy One and Li Qiao's bright future, the number of young men willing to marry into Sanliu Village suddenly increased, and the quality also increased a lot.

However, the family that can change Tao Tao's fate and become a young master through marriage is definitely not willing to let their children marry into Sanliu Village.

If you marry into Li's family, these really good families will definitely be willing.

However, they would definitely not want to marry into other people's homes in Sanliu Village.

The other families in Sanliu Village were not relatives of Li Qiao, but just in the same village, so they would not bring their well-raised young master into the farm for the sake of a relationship with the same village.

Moreover, even if these people are willing, whose young master is willing to marry?

These young masters have a good family background, and they are in the second stage of middle school. If they are asked to marry into the farm, they will only agree if they are crazy.

So Tao Tao picked and picked, and finally picked a guy who he likes and is good, but his family is not good and he is younger than him.

The situation in the manor is better than that of Tao Tao. Tao Tuo is the younger brother. The world is very strict on the age of women and younger brothers, but the manor does not have this trouble, so he is not in a hurry.

Moreover, the Zhuang family is a small landlord, Zhuang Wen, the manor's father, is a scholar, and the Zhuang family is also on good terms with Li Qiao, so many of the girls and brothers the matchmaker told him are from good families.

With so many good girls and brothers, it's normal for the manor to be picky. Marriage is a major event in a lifetime, so you should be more picky.

"He's just not thinking about it. He's nineteen years old. He spends his days either working with his second uncle on carpentry, or following his grandfather to deal with various things in the village. I haven't seen him look at any girl or little girl. Brother."

Zhou Yun continued to sigh.

"That's because the fate is not yet here. If you want to get married, you have to like him first."

Tao Zhu comforted her: "Don't worry, when Brother Wen wins Juren, the range of choices he can choose will definitely be much larger.

" The gap is huge. If you win the Juren, you will be qualified to be an official. At that time, it will not only be the daughters and younger brothers of wealthy businessmen and landlords who will kiss the manor, but there will definitely be daughters and younger brothers of officials. .

"Then I will lend you a good word."

Mentioning her father-in-law's provincial examination this time, although Zhou Yun felt that the possibility was unlikely, she must not say so.

Ominous.

In the evening, Tao Zhu and Li Qiao lie on the bed after washing. Tao Zhu tells Li Qiao what happened to him today.

The biggest thing he encountered today was the marriage in the manor. He told Li Qiao about Zhou Yun's troubles, and Li Qiao laughed after hearing that.

"As the sister-in-law of the manor, she is even more anxious than Brother Wen. She is really a good sister-in-law." "

However, the people in the manor are nice, so you don't have to worry about not being able to marry a husband or wife."

Manor is only nineteen, and he was a college student in his previous life Well, this age is the time when one is curious about the world, and there are often new things happening in Sanliu Village, so it's normal for the manor not to want to get married.

Moreover, the head of the manor is sunny and handsome, and he has no flamboyance, and his family is still a small landlord. This kind of young man is very popular no matter what time and space he is in, so he doesn't have to worry about marriage at all.

"Then do you think Brother Wen can be admitted to Juren this time?" Tao Zhu asked.

"It depends on what kind of questions the majesty asks this time."

Only relying on basic skills, Zhuang Wen is not afraid of anyone.

But the holy majesty's random topic, even he couldn't stand it.

The rules he summed up with great difficulty turned out not to be used in the college examination, and he wondered if he could use it in the township examination this time.

After Li Qiao worked hard day and night, the township examination finally came.

The location of the provincial examination is in the Gongyuan. Unlike the Tongsheng Examination, the rural examination has a total of nine days and one exam every three days. That is to say, after entering the Gongyuan, candidates can only come out in the evening of the third day.

During these three days, the imperial court only distributed test papers, charcoal basins, candles, and hot water, and the rest of the food, pens, inks and inkstones had to be brought by candidates.

So, Tao Zhu got up in the middle of the night to make breakfast and steamed the steamed buns. This time, the steamed buns would take three days. Considering Li Qiao's appetite, he had to steam more.

The weather is hot now, but if it is only left for three days, the steamed buns will not go bad.

After breakfast, he took two test baskets—one of which was specially filled with steamed buns, and then Li Qiao Taozhu took Li Ershan, Li Xia, Li Chunsheng, and the Zhuang family to the Gongyuan.

The township exam is a provincial exam, and the number of people taking the exam is much larger than that of the government and college exams. In addition, these candidates brought accompanying exams, so when Li Qiao, Taozhu and others arrived, they were all for people.

It was still dark, and only vague figures could be seen, and buzzing voices could be heard.

Li Qiao had seen big scenes before, so she was very calm about it.

But when Tao Zhu and others saw the scene of tens of thousands of people for the first time, their mouths were wide open in shock, there are so many people!

With so many people, Li Qiao couldn't find Meng Yue, Xu Ying and the others, so he simply stood in the corner and waited.

However, he pricked up his ears and quietly listened to the conversations of the surrounding scholars.

No one dared to make a loud noise at the gate of the Gongyuan. The voices of these people were not loud, but Li Qiao had good hearing, and he could basically hear voices within a radius of 30 meters.

As a celebrity, some scholars are talking about him.

But more is discussing the examiner this time.

The chief and deputy examiners of the provincial and township examinations are all appointed by the emperor, and each of them is a high-ranking official with a Jinshi background. They are not only the invigilators, but also the examiners.

Because the imperial examination is the most important article, it is something every candidate must do to figure out the preference of the chief examiner.

The main examiner of this provincial examination in Yuanhe Province is Zhao Youzhi, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, who lives in the third rank of the official residence.

It was Zhao Youzhi's first time as an examiner, what kind of hobbies did he have, the talents in Yuanhe Province really didn't know.

Mr. Zhao's status is too high, and the status of these scholars is too low, completely out of reach.

Li Qiao listened for a while, but did not get any useful information, but the person who can be sent by the Holy Majesty to invigilate the examination and mark the examination papers must be a celebrity in front of the Holy Majesty.

Dasheng is different from the previous dynasty. In the imperial examination papers of the previous dynasty, except for the questions of the imperial examination, the other questions were all given by the cabinet scholars.

But Dasheng is different.

For the imperial examinations in Dasheng, even the small county examinations were written by the Holy Master himself.

The Holy Majesty attaches so much importance to the imperial examination, the examiners he specially sent to various places must be people he trusts.

Therefore, Master Zhao must be the same as Jiangzhi County and Mingzhi Mansion. He prefers whatever the Holy Majesty prefers.

Besides, Xing Xuezheng also revealed to him early on the examiner's focus when grading papers, so he doesn't have to worry about Mr. Zhao's preferences.

He only needs to worry about the policy topic this time.

Soon, the servants of the government office came.

However, in addition to the yamen servants, three prosecutors also came.

Unlike the Tongsheng Examination, all the procedures of the rural examination are very strict, and there are special officials in charge.

These officials are roughly divided into two categories. Those who invigilate the examination in the Gong Yuan and the candidates stay together are called inner curtain officials, and those who are in charge of all affairs outside the examination room are outer curtain officials.

For example, the step of body search is the responsibility of the inspector in the outer curtain officer.

Immediately they were about to line up to enter the tribute courtyard, Li Qiao asked Tao Zhu and the others to go back.

He went in for three days, Tao Zhu couldn't have been waiting outside.

"Eat and drink well by yourself. When I come out, don't let me find out that you've lost weight. Otherwise, I'll definitely have to worry about the next two exams."

Holding Tao Zhu's hand, he warned seriously.

Ever since he married Tao Zhu, he hasn't been separated from Tao Zhu for so long.

Three days.

In these three days, he only needs to concentrate on answering the questions, but Tao Zhu will definitely think of him to the point of tears.

Tao Zhu was indeed a little uncomfortable at the moment.

Three days apart, it was horrible.

But this man is going to do business, and he can't let him be distracted.

So he nodded heavily: "Okay. I will eat and drink well, and I won't lose a catty of meat." "

Then let's make an agreement. When I leave the examination room, I will pick you up for inspection." Li Qiao He said again, with reluctance in his voice, his slender fingers were also entangled with Tao Zhu's ten fingers.

Tao Zhu smiled when he heard the words: "Okay."

In the voice, Jun's face also showed reluctance.

Seeing this, Li Qiao resisted the urge to hug him, but only clenched his hand again.

well.

Without his own embrace, Brother Zhu must not be able to sleep well tonight.

After waving goodbye to Tao Zhu, Li Qiao took the test basket and went to line up.

After all, Tao Zhu is the younger brother, he can only take the imperial examinations by himself.

The strictness of the search in the rural examination was exaggerated. During the child examination, the officials who searched the body only had to touch the examinee from head to toe.

For this kind of body search, Li Qiao can only sigh again that it is not easy for candidates in ancient times.

Getting naked in front of everyone is scary!

When it was Li Qiao's turn, no matter whether it was the inspector, the yamen servants, or the examinees behind him, all of them stared at him with hot eyes.

With so many eyes staring at him, he almost dug out Sanliu Village in place.

Being a celebrity is not only stressful, it's also embarrassing!

After finally getting through the body search, the next step is to draw lots to draw his number house.

After the lottery, he took the steamed bun test basket and another ordinary test basket, and walked into the tribute courtyard.