Zhulan said: “It has been prepared a long time ago.”
Zhou Shuren waited for Mingqing to come over before going to see the results together.
Wu Li Shi also finished her work in the kitchen and hurried home, where she would wait for the messenger.
About an hour or so later, a person came to Zhulan’s house to announce the good news, “Congratulations, Zhou Shuren came first in the Yuànshì.”
Zhulan was happy for Zhou Shuren, and it was not in vain that Zhou Shuren thought about the examiner’s preferences. She took out the prepared purses and gave them to the persons who came to announce the good news, “Let’s celebrate together, have some tea.”
Two purses each contained one tael of broken silver, which was a big red envelope.
When Zhulan saw the person bringing the good news, she hurriedly asked, “Two people in our family are taking exams. What is Zhou Mingqing’s ranking?”
The people bringing the good news looked at each other. They really didn’t pay attention. They were just thinking about rushing to deliver congratulatory news to the first-place holder. “That’s right. Someone will come to deliver the ranking in a while, please wait patiently, Madam.”
Zhulan sent off the person who brought the good news and then set off firecrackers. Regardless of whether it was modern or ancient times, Zhulan was quite afraid of firecrackers, and now she bit the bullet for Zhou Shuren and set off the firecrackers.
When firecrackers were set off at the door, all the neighbors knew about it. However, because Zhou Shuren was old, even if he was admitted as a xiucai, the neighbors still thought that there was not much value in socializing, and so no one even came to congratulate him.
Zhulan didn’t care and waited patiently to see if anyone would come to announce the good news for Mingqing. In the Patriarch’s family, only Mingqing was good at his studies, but he had also taken the examination several times. This time, the Zhu family had high hopes, and Zhulan sincerely hoped that Mingqing would pass.
After another half an hour, Zhulan finally received the messenger with good news. Zhulan learned about Mingqing’s results; this year’s provincial examination only accepted the top thirty candidates, which was ten fewer than in previous years. Mingqing had ranked twenty-ninth, narrowly passing. After seeing off the messenger, Zhulan felt relieved.
Just about to turn around and enter the yard, a man came, “Zhou Zhisheng asked the little one to report that he wouldn’t be back at noon this morning so that his wife wouldn’t have to wait.”
Zhulan counted out twenty coins and handed them to the messenger, saying, “You’ve worked hard making this trip. We have a big celebration at home today, so take this and have a glass of hot wine.”
The waiter took it with both hands, “Thank you, madam, I’m happy for you too.”
Zhulan returned to the courtyard, where Wu Ting, the errand runner, approached her. “Aunt Zhou, we’ve prepared drinks and dinner for tonight. Please Uncle Zhou and Aunt come and join us for a celebration.”
Zhulan quickly asked, “What rank did your elder brother achieve in the examination?”
Wu Ting felt a bit disappointed that his elder brother didn’t become Xiao Sanyuan, but he was still happy that he passed the examination. “He ranked second, not as high as Uncle Zhou, but in the future, I’ll definitely seek advice from Uncle Zhou,” he replied.
Zhulan said modestly: “Your brother is very powerful.”
Wu Ting nodded in agreement, “Aunt Zhou, I will go back first.”
” Okay, our whole family will definitely be there tonight.”
Wu Ting ran away happily. The family had spare money, and his brother had become a scholar. Life will get better and better as time goes by.
Zhou Shuren came back in the afternoon, smelling of alcohol all over his body. Zhulan frowned, “Why did you drink so much today?”
Zhou Shuren, somewhat tipsy, said, “I never expected to rank first. They kept pouring me drinks, and if I hadn’t pretended to be drunk, I couldn’t have escaped.”
Zhulan twisted the handkerchief and wiped Zhou Shuren’s face, feeling distressed, “They are all arrogant people.”
Zhou Shuren sobered up a bit and said, “There were many candidates from prestigious families in this exam. I’m getting older, and I come from a rural background, so naturally, it’s hard to accept. These people have big egos; a little drink won’t hurt them in the future.”
Zhulan sighed, the class distinction in ancient times was too obvious, and couldn’t help but put her arms around Zhou Shuren’s neck, “You have worked hard for this family.”
Zhou Shuren was used to it in modern times, so he didn’t feel aggrieved. No matter what class he was in, some aggrievances was unavoidable. Even if he became a high official in the future, he would still be aggrieved. However, he enjoyed Zhulan’s comfort!
Zhulan let go of her hands and sat aside, holding Zhou Shuren’s head on her lap, and slowly massaging Zhou Shuren’s head. Zhou Shuren didn’t have anything else to feel depressed about, and his heart suddenly drifted away.
Zhulan said: “When you go to Wu’s house for dinner in the evening, you should drink less. You are not young anymore. Don’t rely on your ability to drink to think that everything is fine.”
“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. I plan to accompany you to a ripe old age!” Zhou Shuren reassured.
The corners of Zhulan’s mouth turned up, “You must keep your word. I have gained ten years for nothing, so I must live longer.”
Zhou Shuren gazed with warmth in his eyes and said, “Yes, I received some news. The new dynasty has been established for twelve years now, and they held the Tóngshì1 every year. But the recent announcement from the Xuézhèng suggests that starting from next year, they will be held twice every three years.”
“It may not affect me directly, but it does concern our children. If Changlian and Changzhi can’t pass next year, they’ll have to wait another 2 years.”
Zhou Shuren nodded, “Yes, so our plan has to change.”
Zhulan asked again, “How many people in our county have passed the xiucai examination?”
Zhulan said: “It has been prepared a long time ago.”
Zhou Shuren waited for Mingqing to come over before going to see the results together.
Wu Li Shi also finished her work in the kitchen and hurried home, where she would wait for the messenger.
About an hour or so later, a person came to Zhulan’s house to announce the good news, “Congratulations, Zhou Shuren came first in the Yuànshì.”
Zhulan was happy for Zhou Shuren, and it was not in vain that Zhou Shuren thought about the examiner’s preferences. She took out the prepared purses and gave them to the persons who came to announce the good news, “Let’s celebrate together, have some tea.”
Two purses each contained one tael of broken silver, which was a big red envelope.
When Zhulan saw the person bringing the good news, she hurriedly asked, “Two people in our family are taking exams. What is Zhou Mingqing’s ranking?”
The people bringing the good news looked at each other. They really didn’t pay attention. They were just thinking about rushing to deliver congratulatory news to the first-place holder. “That’s right. Someone will come to deliver the ranking in a while, please wait patiently, Madam.”
Zhulan sent off the person who brought the good news and then set off firecrackers. Regardless of whether it was modern or ancient times, Zhulan was quite afraid of firecrackers, and now she bit the bullet for Zhou Shuren and set off the firecrackers.
When firecrackers were set off at the door, all the neighbors knew about it. However, because Zhou Shuren was old, even if he was admitted as a xiucai, the neighbors still thought that there was not much value in socializing, and so no one even came to congratulate him.
Zhulan didn’t care and waited patiently to see if anyone would come to announce the good news for Mingqing. In the Patriarch’s family, only Mingqing was good at his studies, but he had also taken the examination several times. This time, the Zhu family had high hopes, and Zhulan sincerely hoped that Mingqing would pass.
After another half an hour, Zhulan finally received the messenger with good news. Zhulan learned about Mingqing’s results; this year’s provincial examination only accepted the top thirty candidates, which was ten fewer than in previous years. Mingqing had ranked twenty-ninth, narrowly passing. After seeing off the messenger, Zhulan felt relieved.
Just about to turn around and enter the yard, a man came, “Zhou Zhisheng asked the little one to report that he wouldn’t be back at noon this morning so that his wife wouldn’t have to wait.”
Zhulan counted out twenty coins and handed them to the messenger, saying, “You’ve worked hard making this trip. We have a big celebration at home today, so take this and have a glass of hot wine.”
The waiter took it with both hands, “Thank you, madam, I’m happy for you too.”
Zhulan returned to the courtyard, where Wu Ting, the errand runner, approached her. “Aunt Zhou, we’ve prepared drinks and dinner for tonight. Please Uncle Zhou and Aunt come and join us for a celebration.”
Zhulan quickly asked, “What rank did your elder brother achieve in the examination?”
Wu Ting felt a bit disappointed that his elder brother didn’t become Xiao Sanyuan, but he was still happy that he passed the examination. “He ranked second, not as high as Uncle Zhou, but in the future, I’ll definitely seek advice from Uncle Zhou,” he replied.
Zhulan said modestly: “Your brother is very powerful.”
Wu Ting nodded in agreement, “Aunt Zhou, I will go back first.”
” Okay, our whole family will definitely be there tonight.”
Wu Ting ran away happily. The family had spare money, and his brother had become a scholar. Life will get better and better as time goes by.
Zhou Shuren came back in the afternoon, smelling of alcohol all over his body. Zhulan frowned, “Why did you drink so much today?”
Zhou Shuren, somewhat tipsy, said, “I never expected to rank first. They kept pouring me drinks, and if I hadn’t pretended to be drunk, I couldn’t have escaped.”
Zhulan twisted the handkerchief and wiped Zhou Shuren’s face, feeling distressed, “They are all arrogant people.”
Zhou Shuren sobered up a bit and said, “There were many candidates from prestigious families in this exam. I’m getting older, and I come from a rural background, so naturally, it’s hard to accept. These people have big egos; a little drink won’t hurt them in the future.”
Zhulan sighed, the class distinction in ancient times was too obvious, and couldn’t help but put her arms around Zhou Shuren’s neck, “You have worked hard for this family.”
Zhou Shuren was used to it in modern times, so he didn’t feel aggrieved. No matter what class he was in, some aggrievances was unavoidable. Even if he became a high official in the future, he would still be aggrieved. However, he enjoyed Zhulan’s comfort!
Zhulan let go of her hands and sat aside, holding Zhou Shuren’s head on her lap, and slowly massaging Zhou Shuren’s head. Zhou Shuren didn’t have anything else to feel depressed about, and his heart suddenly drifted away.
Zhulan said: “When you go to Wu’s house for dinner in the evening, you should drink less. You are not young anymore. Don’t rely on your ability to drink to think that everything is fine.”
“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. I plan to accompany you to a ripe old age!” Zhou Shuren reassured.
The corners of Zhulan’s mouth turned up, “You must keep your word. I have gained ten years for nothing, so I must live longer.”
Zhou Shuren gazed with warmth in his eyes and said, “Yes, I received some news. The new dynasty has been established for twelve years now, and they held the Tóngshì1 every year. But the recent announcement from the Xuézhèng suggests that starting from next year, they will be held twice every three years.”
“It may not affect me directly, but it does concern our children. If Changlian and Changzhi can’t pass next year, they’ll have to wait another 2 years.”
Zhou Shuren nodded, “Yes, so our plan has to change.”
Zhulan asked again, “How many people in our county have passed the xiucai examination?”
