Traveling to an ancient peasant family: I got rich by doing business

Han Zheng once again checked the test paper attentively.

He had finished all the questions by noon and was now just waiting for the time to run out.

In fact, he could have handed in the paper earlier, but at this point, as confident as he was, he felt deep down that it would be a good idea to sit a little longer, even if he would not change a single word.

The imperial examinations of this dynasty have strict requirements on the candidates' papers. If the final paper is erased or altered, it will affect the candidate's ranking.

His heart was pounding. After reading the last word and making sure there were no basic text errors, Han Zheng put the answer sheet in order and slowly exhaled.

In the cell opposite, an old man with half white hair and beard was writing furiously.

He was not able to finish the essay for the provincial examination three years ago, but he still has time this year and will definitely be able to finish it.

Even though he thought so, the old man's hands were shaking more and more, and for a while he could hardly write. He moved the brush away, pressed his palms on the table for a while, and then picked up the brush again. At this moment, he was in no mood to pay attention to the surroundings, and only had words in his eyes.

There are many people in the Imperial Examination Hall who are similar to the old man.

Fearing that there would not be enough time, they wrote very quickly, so that the originally regular small script gradually moved closer to running script.

Some of them managed to keep their handwriting steady, but their heads and bodies were covered in sweat. Some were so nervous that their entire bodies were shaking uncontrollably, and some were so anxious that they even fainted.

As for those who have already finished writing like Han Zheng, it is not easy either.

Some of them found typos after checking, while others felt that some content could be added. Typos can be corrected, but as soon as they are corrected, the paper will look untidy. As for the content they want to add, there is no space on the paper, and there is not enough time to rewrite it, so they can only give up with regret.

*

Outside the Imperial Examination Hall, there were people everywhere coming to pick up students.

Many people looked eagerly at the gate of the Imperial Examination Hall, hoping that their own candidates would give a perfect answer when they came out.

Some people were watching the quarrel: Mr. Chen from the Chen Family Restaurant in the prefecture, in order to prove that his son was extremely talented, compared him with the son of Mr. Zhou who lived diagonally opposite his house, saying that his son passed the imperial examination at the age of fifteen, while Mr. Zhou passed at the age of twenty. Therefore, his son was better than Mr. Zhou, who was too stupid.

Mr. Chen was so proud of himself that he didn't notice that everything he said was heard by Mr. Zhou.

Mr. Zhou was originally very nervous because his son was also one of the candidates this year and he hoped that his son could pass the exam in one go and bring honor to the family. However, Mr. Chen scolded his son. Mr. Zhou was very angry and immediately ordered his servants to beat Mr. Chen.

When Master Chen saw that something was not right, he immediately called on his servants to fight back. In this way, the servants of the two families started fighting each other, and Masters Chen and Zhou stood aside to give orders.

People passing by stopped to watch the fun.

*

Li Yu also watched for a while, and when he thought it was about time, he turned his attention back to the Imperial Examination Hall.

Soon, the sound of gongs hitting each other could be faintly heard from the Imperial Examination Hall. After a while, the heavy sound of a door opening was heard, and the nine-day provincial examination was over.

The examinees filed out with their exam baskets. After nine days, none of them were still energetic. On the contrary, most of them seemed to have lost their souls, their eyes were dull, and their steps were weak.

Li Yu swept her eyes through the crowd, searching for Han Zheng, and finally, she saw him.

Han Zheng must have been extremely tired, as his body swayed violently when he stepped over the threshold. Fortunately, he had nothing in his left hand, so he raised it up in time to hold on to the door frame.

Li Yu felt very bad, so she asked Han Xiaomei and Si'er to watch the carriage while she and Lu Xuan ran to the front to pick him up.

Han Zheng felt as if there was something soft under his feet, and he seemed to be walking in mud, with one foot deep and one foot shallow. At this time, the voice of the second sister-in-law came over, he shook his head and walked slowly towards the voice. After walking for an unknown period of time, his eyes went dark and he knew nothing.

*

Li Yu put Han Zheng on Lu Xuan's back and said, "Take him to the nearest Jishiditang first. I'll follow with Xiaomei and Si'er."

Lu Xuan hummed and ran away.

Even though he was carrying a person weighing more than 100 pounds on his back, he walked faster than an ordinary person. Li Yu watched him turn left and right in the crowd, and his figure quickly disappeared.

"Second sister-in-law." Han Xiaomei called Li Yu not far away, pointing anxiously in the direction where Lu Xuan left.

"We'll catch up right away." Li Yu walked towards her and said soothingly, "Your third brother must have been too tired these days and fainted."

After all, it's nine days. Although we are allowed to go home and rest after each game, that little time is not very useful.

Letting Han Xiaomei stay calm, Li Yu led the carriage towards Jishidiang.

*

Two quarters of an hour later.

Several people walked into Jishidiang and found Han Zheng lying on the side.

Li Yu immediately asked: "How is he? Is he okay?"

"The doctor said that he fainted due to overwork. Just go back and have a good rest for a few days." Lu Xuan held up a few paper bags: "This is medicine for calming the nerves."

Li Yu nodded with relief.

Han Xiaomei, who was walking behind her, burst into tears.

She was really worried just now, worried that something had happened to her third brother. Fortunately, her third brother was just tired.

*

Han Zheng had a very long dream. In the dream, there was no second sister-in-law, only him and Xiaomei.

The two of them were driven out of their home by Yang Qiuyue and Han Xiuwu, and had to depend on each other for survival.

He was weak and could not do heavy work, so Xiaomei had to go out to find work every day. She was only nine years old, but she worked like a little old lady.

He felt sorry for her, so he went to the village chief to borrow money to buy paper and pens to do the work of copying books. However, there were not so many scholars in the town, and he copied books slowly, so he could not make much money.

On the contrary, because he was overworked from copying books, he fell seriously ill.

If you don’t have money, the doctor won’t be able to treat you well.

When she was dying, Xiaomei lay on the bed, heartbroken. He wanted to comfort her but couldn't say a word.

Then, he saw two ghosts in black and white, and his second sister-in-law. But his second sister-in-law was different from now. When he called her, she ran away in fear.

*

"He should be waking up soon."

"Soon, the doctor said he will wake up today."

"Third brother, third brother!"

Several voices rang in his ears, Han Zheng suddenly opened his eyes and stared at the bed curtains in a daze.

"Third brother!" Han Xiaomei cried with joy and shook Han Zheng's arm which was exposed outside.

Han Zheng turned his head and saw the faces of Li Yu and Han Xiaomei. His thoughts finally came back to him and he remembered that this was the courtyard of Boss Hua's house.

"Second...Second sister-in-law." He spoke and was surprised to find that his throat seemed to have been rubbed by something, making it extremely hoarse.

"You're not well yet, don't say anything in a hurry." Li Yu helped him sit up. Han Xiaomei quickly brought out a quilt to put behind him, then ran outside to pour a glass of warm water.

Han Zheng moistened his throat with warm water, and when he felt that he was almost done, he asked, "How long have I slept?"

"Two days." Han Xiaomei said, "Third brother, you almost scared us to death."

"I'm sorry." Han Zheng apologized decisively.

"We are all family, there is no need to say this. How do you feel? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?" Li Yu asked.

Han Zheng shook his head.

Li Yu felt relieved.

*

Han Zheng had enough sleep and regained his energy. After quarter of an hour, he was able to get out of bed and walk normally.

At this time, he proposed to meet Mr. Su. The provincial examination had already ended, and he had to tell Mr. Su about the situation of the examination.

Li Yu agreed: "It's time to go meet him, but I'll go with you. I have something to tell him."