How can someone travel through time and space and become a beggar?

The servant Jia Qingwu had assigned to the city gate returned with news that Zhang Zhou had arrived. Uncle Fu quickly sent someone to the Wang residence. Upon seeing Zhang Zhou, he brought him over. The craftsmen were still repairing the house, so it was temporarily uninhabitable. A few more people were dispatched to notify Dong Xiaohuan, Wang Yong, Xia Chu, and the others. The kitchens also began bustling with activity, preparing a welcoming banquet for Zhang Zhou.

Zhang Zhou said goodbye to his two friends, and Fu Yang and Jia Kuo also got off the car with their luggage. Feeling homesick, Zhang Zhou stopped at the entrance of the alley and took in the familiar scenery around him.

finally home.

He didn't look for long before he hurried home.

Seeing the Wang family's door open, he thought everyone was waiting for him, so he walked in quickly. But Da'an and Xiao'an, who usually came to greet him first, didn't show up. His heart tightened, and he saw several craftsmen busy at work.

Moved? Why wasn't that mentioned in the letter? Did something happen at home?

"Uncle, what do you do? Where are the people in this family?" Zhang Zhou found someone and asked.

The carpenter saw the stranger and was about to kick him out, but he saw that he was dusty and wearing a long robe. Perhaps he was a relative of this family? He answered honestly, "We are repairing the house. This family has moved to another place. Who are you?"

"Moved away?" Fu Yang rushed forward. "How is that possible? This is my young master's home. Did this family sell the house?"

"No, no," the carpenter waved his hands repeatedly. "I'm not selling the house. I heard the owner's son passed the imperial examination and became a high-ranking official, so we're renovating the house to welcome him." He paused, then looked at the scholar, suddenly realizing, "Excuse me, excuse me, are you the young master who passed the imperial examination?"

"It's my young master. Didn't the owner of this house leave a letter saying where he moved to?" Fu Yang asked.

"They said his surname was Jia." Dong Xiaohuan specifically reminded the craftsmen, but he didn't remember it for a moment.

"Young Master! Young Master!" Jia Kuo suddenly pointed outside and shouted.

"What's the matter?" Zhang Zhou turned around and saw a carriage that looked familiar.

"Hey, that's the Madam's carriage!" Fu Yang was delighted. "Master, she must be here to pick us up!"

Fu Yang's guess was correct. This was the carriage sent by Uncle Fu, specifically to pick up Zhang Zhou.

Zhang Zhou's heart finally settled. He'd been lurched by the news that his family had moved out, and his heart had skipped a beat. Arriving at the Jia residence, Uncle Fu was already waiting at the door, welcoming him in with a smile, his eyes catching his grandson's eye. He'd grown taller, darker, and more mature. This gamble had paid off. Initially, he hadn't held out much hope that Zhang Zhou would pass the exam on his first try, but even if he didn't, he'd still be a juren. Now, he'd made a leap forward, his future promising.

"Second Young Master, the hot water is ready. Wash up first, then eat something and take a rest. Madam Wang and the young lady have sent someone to notify them, so they will probably be back soon." Uncle Fu said with a smile.

"Thank you," Zhang Zhou nodded in thanks. It was inconvenient to wash up outside. It was summer already, and he hadn't showered in two days. He had been stuck in the carriage, so he wanted to wash up properly.

"Second Young Master, you are too polite. The clothes are ready. They are all newly made by Madam Wang. I see that Second Young Master has not changed much, so I think they will all fit him." Uncle Fu took him to the room, and immediately a servant brought in a bathtub and quickly filled it with water.

The others retreated, and as soon as Fu Yang walked out the door, he kowtowed to his grandfather, "Grandfather, your grandson is back."

Uncle Fu pressed his eyes and helped the man up. "It's good that you're back."

Jia Kuo looked at him again and again, not knowing what he was thinking, and knelt down as well. This frightened Uncle Fu, but when he realized what was happening, he was in a dilemma. Fu Yang was his own grandson, and it was only right for him to be with his elders after a long journey. But Jia Kuo was not like that. He quickly helped the man up and said, "Silly boy, get up quickly."

Zhang Zhou took a comfortable bath, and Fu Yang and Jia Kuo were also sent by Uncle Fu to wash up.

Dong Xiaohuan immediately ignored the store after receiving the news. She asked the waiter to watch over it and went to the kitchen to pick out a few dishes that Zhang Zhou liked and rushed to Jia's house. However, she walked slowly, and when she arrived, Zhang Zhou had just finished a bowl of shredded chicken noodles.

There was a dinner in the evening, but I didn’t eat much.

"Xiao Zhou! Xiao Zhou! Let mother see you!" Dong Xiaohuan shouted anxiously before she even arrived.

Zhang Zhou immediately put down his bowl and went out to greet him. Before they even spoke, he knelt down and kowtowed twice, "The unfilial son has returned."

"Silly boy! What are you doing?" The maids took the things from Dong Xiaohuan's hands and grabbed Zhang Zhou's shoulders to pull him up. She looked at her son carefully with tearful eyes, "Why have you lost so much weight? My son has suffered a lot outside."

"I'm fine. How's Mom lately? Is she happy? Is my brother obedient?" Zhang Zhou was also looking at his mother. Noticing that she looked fine and didn't look sad, he immediately felt relieved. "How's Dad?"

"Everything is fine, everything is fine at home. It's just you, going so far away by yourself, I always worry about you." Dong Xiaohuan looked at his face, then took his hand and touched it. It was fine. Apart from the calluses from holding the pen, there were no scars on his hand. "You have made it. Now you are an official. You can't kneel down casually. A man's knees are worth gold."

"Of course I should kneel to Heaven, Earth, the Emperor, my parents and my teachers." Zhang Zhou chuckled and shook his head.

"How come you've become so fussy after such a trip?" Dong Xiaohuan felt the weight of her heart lift when she saw her son. "Did you have a smooth trip? I brought you some of your favorite braised food, hot and ready. Would you like some?"

"Mom, please eat with me." Zhang Zhou smiled and helped Dong Xiaohuan sit down, then opened a bag of braised peanuts. These were his favorite, and Dong Xiaohuan used to bring some home every day. Peanuts can be stored well, and they're also delicious cold. Every day when he went to the academy, Dong Xiaohuan would pack him a small bag, peeling it carefully so he could eat it right after opening it.

Before she had even eaten two peanuts, Xia Chu rushed back. After not seeing him for a long time, she couldn't control her excitement and shouted, "Second Brother!"

Dong Xiaohuan was caught off guard and was so startled that her hand trembled, and the peanuts she had just peeled rolled to the ground. She couldn't help but joked, "You didn't learn that voice from Qiu Yu, did you?"

Zhang Zhou smiled, stood up and caught his sister who rushed over. Suddenly, his ears were filled with the chirping of sparrows.

"Second brother! You passed the imperial examination! You're going to be an official now!"

“Is it fun to be an official?”

"Is Beijing fun?"

"What's delicious?"

"Are the people there easy to get along with? Are the classmates friendly?"

"Are the academies in Beijing the same as ours? Is the food just as bad?"

"When did you arrive?"

"Did you bring me a gift?"

"How was your New Year? Did you miss us?"

"Are there any fireworks?"