The journey of the only child of a peasant family to take the imperial examination

Liu Sanlang didn’t know what to say. After hesitating for a while, he said, “Doctor Chen…, thank…thank you.”

Although he still stuttered a little, it was much better than before. Zhang Laoer was surprised and said, "It really can be cured!"

Only then did Liu Sanlang realize that his stuttering had really improved a lot, and he couldn't help but grin and said, "Dad, I... I'm better?!"

I was laughing but it felt a bit like crying, which was really ugly. My mood was very complicated.

Doctor Chen smiled when he heard this and said, "It's not completely cured yet, it's just having some effect. Please take time to come to my clinic tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. I will give you two more acupunctures and prescribe some medicine to help you get rid of phlegm and heat. The effect should be even better."

"How much?" Liu Sanlang asked. It was too expensive and he didn't know if he could afford the treatment. He was already very satisfied with the results.

"We have to get treatment no matter how much it costs. We are lucky to have met a famous doctor. Talking and eating are matters that affect our whole lives. If it can be cured, of course we have to get treatment," Zhang Laoer said in a deep voice.

Doctor Chen saw the two men looking so worried, and he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "It's not as expensive as you think. The remaining two acupuncture sessions plus the medicine will cost one or two taels of silver, which is enough. You can pay me when you go for acupuncture tomorrow. Remember to speak more often and practice diligently. Don't be afraid to speak."

"Yeah, yeah," Liu Sanlang nodded.

Zhang Laoer felt more relieved after hearing this. It seemed that he was not a liar. It was worth it to cure his stuttering with one or two taels of silver.

The two went downstairs and called a car to send Dr. Chen back. Liu Sanlang was still very excited: "It's really... what luck."

Zhang Laoer also sighed: "What luck! Who would have thought that we could cure your stuttering in the provincial capital? There must be so many talented people in the provincial capital!"

Zhang Ping'an slept until the afternoon of the next day, which made Zhang Laoer almost unable to resist going to see Doctor Chen again. "Son, you finally woke up. I was scared to death."

"Dad, what's wrong?" Zhang Pingan had just woken up and was still confused.

"You've been sleeping for almost a day and a night. Isn't it scary?" said Zhang Laoer.

Zhang Pingan was surprised: "Ah, I thought I only slept for a while."

After saying that, he stood up and said, "Dad, I'm fine, don't worry. I feel much better after a good sleep. I'm starving now. Do you have any food?"

"Yes, yes, yes," Zhang Laoer said quickly.

Liu Sanlang went downstairs to buy food when Zhang Ping'an just woke up. When the food was served, he smiled innocently and said, "Ping'an, the food...the food is ready, you...come and eat quickly"!

"Thank you, brother-in-law," Zhang Pingan said with a smile.

When I sat down to eat, I realized, "Brother-in-law, you don't stutter as much anymore, do you?"

Liu Sanlang scratched his head and laughed, "Hey, I met... I met a very good... doctor. He cured me!"

Zhang Laoer also sat down at the table and recounted what happened yesterday: "Your brother-in-law went there for an acupuncture this morning and took some medicine. It seems to be working well."

Zhang Ping'an was really happy for his brother-in-law and said with a smile: "This is a blessing from my brother-in-law. It was destined. Now he can speak fluently." After that, he turned to Liu Sanlang and said: "Thank you for running around for me these two days, brother-in-law."

Liu Sanlang waved his hand: "No...nothing, I...I just got lucky."

"Master Yang came to see you once while you were sleeping. The others were in a similar situation as you, sleeping soundly. One of them even had a fever. They all woke up slowly this morning, and you were the last to wake up. By the way, you may not know this, but it was fortunate that you didn't eat the Zhuangyuan Cake and Jidi Porridge at that time. Many people said that they had diarrhea after eating them," Zhang Laoer chattered on and on about what had happened in the past two days.

Zhang Ping'an smiled bitterly and said, "I was assigned to the stinky cell and I barely slept for three days, so I slept a lot."

"No... no wonder you smelled so bad at that time," Liu Sanlang understood.

"Fortunately, it's all over. I did well in the exam and didn't dirty the paper," Zhang Pingan said excitedly.

Zhang Laoer felt sorry for his son and opened and closed his mouth several times, but in the end, he said nothing. He couldn't replace his son in the imperial examination, so he could only let his son go on his own. He knew that his son was smart and thoughtful, and as a father, he could only do his best to not let his son down.

In the evening, Master Yang came to check on Zhang Pingan again. When he found that Zhang Pingan had woken up, he laughed and scolded him, "You kids have never suffered hardship. You can sleep for a whole day and night just to take an exam."

Zhang Pingan smiled awkwardly before saying, "Thank you for your concern, Master."

Master Yang waved his hand and said, "There's nothing to thank me for. When I get back, I will definitely ask the academy to have another Master Wu. Damn it, one person can't do this job."

Zhang Pingan smiled and didn't respond.

In the evening, a student from Shangshe came to ask Zhang Pingan to go out to the night market together. Zhang Pingan was in good spirits as he had slept too much during the day and couldn't sleep at night, so he agreed to go out with them.

Zhang Laoer didn't object to his son making friends, but he insisted that his son bring Liu Sanlang along so that he could at least take care of him.

So the nine of them went out together that night. Naturally, the conversation on the way was all about the exam. One of them complained, "The questions this year were too difficult. I think I'm doomed. And there's definitely something wrong with that top scorer cake. It made me run to the toilet several times, and there are a lot of shit marks on the paper."

Someone echoed, "Yeah, I also think there's something wrong with that Zhuangyuan Cake and Jidi Congee. Eating them gives me diarrhea. They're simply profiteers."

Others consoled him: "At worst, we can come back next time."

As for those who did well in the exam, they secretly boasted: "I think it's okay. The questions are not very difficult!"

Zhang Pingan looked sideways when he heard this. Who is this idiot who adds fuel to the fire with this? Can he still have a happy shopping trip?

Sure enough, someone jumped out and sarcastically said the next second: "The humble bamboo has leaves that bow their heads, and the proud plum has no flowers that face upwards. I advise Brother Jiang to be more humble, so as not to hide his face and walk away when the results are announced."

"That's right, we are ashamed to associate with such immodest people like you," several others also accused.

This person suddenly became the target of public criticism and said awkwardly, "That's not what I meant."

Unfortunately, the others didn't listen and just left together without saying goodbye to Zhang Pingan.

Now only this student, Zhang Ping'an and Liu Sanlang were left standing on the street. The man said awkwardly: "How about the three of us find a stall to eat together? I'll treat you."

It would be too pitiful for a person to return to the inn alone, the man thought.

Zhang Pingan didn't care: "Then let's go together."

The three of them found a fish cake shop and sat down. Before they set out, they exchanged names. Zhang Pingan knew that the man's name was Jiang Yaozu, and he was a local from the county town.

After the fish cakes were served, the three of them ate and chatted. After a deep conversation, they found out that Jiang Yaozu's family ran a cloth shop. The business was not big, with only one double-door shop. However, his father had three concubines and eight older sisters. He was the only son, so he was really a small seedling in a thousand acres of land, no less important than himself.

Also, because he has been spoiled since childhood, he doesn't know how to read other people's expressions.