The cannon fodder just wants to survive until the end

However, Li Chengjue's talent for studying was not as good as Ming Huaijin's, but it was still much better than ordinary people. The Li family was also rich and was happy to support a scholar.

Li Chengjue is a rather down-to-earth person and he respects Ming Huaijing very much. After they get married, they have a very good relationship. Occasionally, Li Chengjue will go to Ming's house to ask Ming Huaijing for advice.

Ever since Ming Huaijing got married, Ming Huaijin has gone out to study. The academy no longer has much knowledge to teach him. Ming Huaijin also feels that his studies have reached a bottleneck and no matter how hard he studies, he will not make any breakthroughs.

After Ming Huaijin went out to study, Ming Huaixi had even more free time. When he was bored, he would go to the clothing shop. He has been learning from his aunt for a while and can basically understand what goes on in the shop.

The two shops given by Pei Zhi were both very stable, one was a grocery store, the other was a grain store. Both the shopkeepers were old shopkeepers, and it was not suitable for these two shops to make any changes. Except for checking the accounts every month, everything else was the same as before.

Because Ming Huaixi can embroider, she is very interested in needles, threads, and fabrics. Sometimes, Ming Huaixi would improve the style of ready-made clothes based on some modern inspirations. Although the changes were minor, they were still very compatible with this dynasty overall.

Ming Huaixi's clothing shop has become very famous throughout Chaoyang City since it had new patterns and improved clothes.

During the New Year, Grandpa Ming, Grandma Ming, Father Ming and Mother Ming went to their uncle's house together. Ming Huaijin also returned from his study abroad. His study abroad had a great influence on Ming Huaijin.

Although Ming Huaijin was calm and gentle in the past, he was actually a bit lukewarm. This time when he came back, his temperament became more restrained and his actions became more capable.

The teacher of the academy said that although Ming Huaijin had good knowledge before, it was mostly superficial. After this study tour, Ming Huaijin had a better understanding of the inner meaning of knowledge. He also said that it would not be a problem to get on the list of candidates for the imperial examination this time, it all depends on how he performs.

This New Year, Pei Zhi personally went to the Ming family to present New Year gifts, had a meal at the Ming family, and then left.

It is worth mentioning that Ming Huaijin's attitude towards Pei Zhi also changed greatly this time. It turned out that when Ming Huaijin was studying abroad, Pei Zhi helped Ming Huaijin once, and it was that time that made Ming Huaijin have a deeper understanding of the responsibilities of a scholar.

Reading thousands of books and traveling thousands of miles are the most direct ways for people to understand the world. The former is to absorb experience, and the latter is to summarize experience.

After the New Year, the spring examination is approaching. Generally, students who have the conditions will go to the capital a month in advance to familiarize themselves with the environment and make friends. Ming Huaijin is no exception. Ming Huaijin goes to the capital with the students of Huaiting Academy who are preparing to take the exam this year.

Ming Huaijin set off for the capital. Ming Huaixi thought that he could not help much. Besides, Li Caiwei and her husband were both in the capital, so he did not want to join in the fun, so he did not go.

After Ming Huaijin arrived in the capital, he temporarily lived in a house owned by Pei Zhi.

The house was in a small alley. Generally, people living here were scholars who rented houses to prepare for the Spring Imperial Examination, as well as some elderly people. The surrounding area was usually quiet, which was very suitable for preparing for the exam.

When Ming Huaijin arrived in the capital, he not only reviewed in the courtyard, but also participated in literary gatherings with other students. He made friends through literature and also made friends with several like-minded candidates.

The Spring Examination began soon. Thanks to Ming Huaijin who had studied abroad for a period of time before and had done farm work with his family and sometimes exercised, he was in good health. Otherwise, the Spring Examination would have been a life-threatening experience for weak students.

Ming Huaijin was in good health. He just hadn't eaten well or rested well in the past few days. He was able to walk out of the examination room standing, while some candidates were directly carried out of the examination room.

The results were announced very soon. Ming Huaijin had prepared well beforehand, got a good seat in the examination room, and was well prepared for the questions. It was truly a perfect combination of timing, location, and people. This time, Ming Huaijin actually ranked fifth.

Don't underestimate this fifth place. The top ten will enter the palace examination. If the people before Ming Huaijin did not perform well in the palace examination, or if Ming Huaijin performed well, it is not impossible for them to become the top three.

Ming Huaijin performed very well in the palace examination. In addition, Ming Huaijin had a handsome appearance and excellent temperament, so he was chosen as the third place.

Before the Spring Examination was about to begin, Ming Huaixi asked Pei Zhi to send someone to Xiaohe Village to pick up Ming's father and mother to go to the capital to accompany him in the exam. Considering that Ming's father and mother were gone and Ming's grandpa and grandma were too old to be left without anyone to take care of them, someone was sent to take Ming's grandpa and grandma to Chaoyang City.

As for the house and land, they were handed over to the neighbors for care.

This time, once Ming's father and mother leave, they will probably stay in the capital. Ming's grandpa and grandma will live with their uncle from now on.

The top three successful Jinshi candidates had to be paraded through the streets. The top two were both over 30 years old, but the third place had just come of age. He wore the clothes of a third place scholar and rode a white horse, attracting the girls watching the parade on the street to throw flowers and handkerchiefs at him.

Poor Ming Huaijin was deeply felt by the enthusiasm of the crowd. The top two candidates in front were sitting neatly on their horses, but Ming Huaijin had his clothes in disarray due to a struggle to avoid the things thrown at him. He looked in a miserable state.

It was also during this parade that Ming Huaijin caught the eye of the Shangshu Mansion's daughter. Since the current emperor did not have a princess of the right age, it was estimated that Ming Huaijin had been chosen.

In addition to studying over the years, Ming Huaijin also has some assets. In his spare time, he copies books for others. Ming Huaijin's teacher in the county likes to repair ancient books, and Ming Huaijin sometimes follows him to learn and help.

There was also the reward from the county after Ming Huaijin passed the imperial examination, the reward from his uncle, and some gifts from the gentry to make friends, which was enough to buy him a house in the capital.

Now Ming Huaijin no longer lives in Pei Zhi's house, and has bought a larger house with a courtyard.

Ming Huaijin was the third place in the imperial examination. If he stayed in the capital, he could only gain experience in the Hanlin Academy and wait to be appreciated by the emperor, so Ming Huaijin asked to be demoted to the local area to be a county magistrate.

I had half a year to prepare before taking office, and temporarily went to the Hanlin Academy to edit books.

During this period, Ming Huaijin married the daughter of the Shangshu Mansion, and Ming Huaixi's marriage was also put on the agenda.

Pei Zhi's home is in the south of the Yangtze River, not far from Chaoyang City. However, there are no elders in Pei Zhi's family, and only the prefect can be considered a relatively close elder, so their wedding was decided to be held in Chaoyang City.

Pei Zhi also has a large mansion with three courtyards in Chaoyang City, just across the street from the Ming family.