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

After getting on the carriage, Master Yang seemed to be really drunk. He fell asleep on the carriage and snored loudly. Seeing this, Zhang Pingan and Jiang Yaozu stopped talking.

When they returned to the inn, Zhang Laoer and Liu Sanlang had already eaten and were sitting in the lobby on the first floor, fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans to cool off. Sitting with them were their two uncles, Jiang Yaozu. When Zhang Laoer saw that Master Yang was drunk, he quickly called his son-in-law to help. Liu Sanlang bent down and carried Master Yang upstairs.

Seeing that the person had been delivered, the driver went back.

Zhang Laoer came forward and asked with concern: "Did you drink tonight? If so, I'll ask the kitchen to make you a bowl of sobering soup to sober you up."

Seeing Jiang Yaozu still standing aside, Zhang Laoer added: "By the way, make a bowl for Jiang Xiaolang as well."

Zhang Pingan smiled and shook his head, saying, "Dad, no need. We didn't drink much wine, and we ate a lot of food. We're not drunk at all."

"Yes, Uncle Zhang, we only drank a small cup and are not drunk at all. There is no need to prepare sobering soup for us," Jiang Yaozu also said.

Seeing that both of them said no, and smelling the alcohol on their bodies, Zhang Laoer gave up and said, "Then hurry up and go upstairs to wash up, and then go to bed. Didn't Master Yang say that we have to go to the pier to catch a boat back to the city at noon tomorrow? We have to go to bed early tonight!"

"Yes, we have to go to bed early today," Jiang Yaozu's two uncles also said.

"Yes, I know," Zhang Ping'an nodded in response, then went upstairs with Zhang Laoer.

The two families parted at the stairs and returned to their rooms.

After the two returned to the room, they did not see Liu Sanlang. Zhang Laoer wondered, "Why is Sanlang not in the room? Could it be that Master Yang vomited? I'll go and check."

Zhang Pingan held his father and said, "Dad, there's no need to go and see. If anything happens, my brother-in-law will definitely call us. Just rest assured!"

No one knows a son better than his father. Zhang Laoer asked suspiciously, "What are you hiding from me?"

Zhang Pingan sat down and poured two cups of tea before smiling and saying, "That's great news! I just found out when we were having dinner together today that Master Yang is actually a martial arts student. Our eldest brother-in-law has such a strong physique and is born with supernatural powers. I think he is very suitable for the martial arts examination. As long as he can recognize a few words and understand military books, it shouldn't be difficult for him to get the title of scholar. It will also be a way out for him in the future. Master Yang didn't mention this before because of my eldest brother-in-law's severe stuttering. I told him today that my eldest brother-in-law's stuttering has been cured, so he probably wants to ask about it."

"Take the military examination?" Zhang Laoer was also surprised. He had only heard of students taking the Four Books and Five Classics seriously while studying in academies, but he had never heard of anyone taking the military examination.

"Yes, the county town is isolated from the outside world, and we didn't deliberately inquire about it, so we didn't know about this before. Now I think it really is God's will, and this is the opportunity for my brother-in-law," Zhang Pingan replied.

Zhang Laoer hesitated and said, "But your brother-in-law's stuttering hasn't fully healed yet. This won't do...will he be convicted of fraud by the government?"

Zhang Ping'an patiently explained, "No, as long as you can sign up then it will be fine. I plan to get up early tomorrow morning and go to Huichuntang with my eldest brother-in-law to visit Doctor Chen. Firstly, I want to formally thank him. Secondly, we will be back soon, so it would be better if my eldest brother-in-law can have one last follow-up visit. Thirdly, he has such outstanding medical skills at such a young age. I think he is both talented and hardworking. Such talents are rare. I must get to know him. It's all about connections! By the way, you can ask if there are any good prescriptions to treat female infertility. It's not a big deal that my third sister hasn't been able to conceive in recent years. After all, seeing a doctor is the right way. By the way, the same goes for my eldest cousin's wife. Her condition is not good either."

"You make sense. We should go there," Zhang Laoer nodded.

After a while, Liu Sanlang returned, excited yet hesitant, saying, "Dad, everything's fine. I just brought… I brought Master Yang back to his room… and he sobered up. He insisted on chatting with me… and then asked if I'd like to… if I'd like to go to the academy and work with him as a martial arts teacher, as his assistant. The salary… the monthly salary is 800 wen, and the academy also provides room and board."

Zhang Lao Er said without hesitation, "Is there any need to think about this? Of course I agree. This is a rare opportunity!"

Liu Sanlang frowned, his thick black eyebrows furrowed, and said with embarrassment, "But...but I don't want to be separated from my family, especially...I don't want to be separated from...Da Ya and the children."

"Brother-in-law, this is not a problem. You can let your sister bring the children to the county town, and it will be nice for you to live your own lives. And you may not know that your physique is most suitable for taking the martial arts examination. Master Yang is a martial arts student. When the time comes, you can work and study in the academy. After two or three years, you can take the martial arts examination and get a reputation. That is the right way out," Zhang Pingan analyzed slowly.

"Take...take the martial arts exam? Me?" Liu Sanlang couldn't believe it. After he came to his senses, he waved his hands repeatedly: "I...I can't do it. I can't even read"!

Seeing his eldest son-in-law like this, Zhang Laoer slapped his thigh and said angrily: "You are stupid. It is because you can't read that we let you work in the academy. You can make money and learn to read at the same time. How great! Even if you don't take the military examination, this job is better than working in town!"

In the past few years, Zhang Laoer has been doing the medicinal materials business, running back and forth between the county town and the village. In addition, he has lived in the county town for more than a year. His horizons have broadened a lot. He knows that this is an opportunity and can't help but worry about his eldest son-in-law. There are only one or two chances to change one's destiny in life.

Seeing that his brother-in-law was having difficulty making up his mind, Zhang Ping'an comforted him, "Brother-in-law, you don't have to rush to make a decision. It's still not too late to go back and discuss it with your family. Since Master Yang said this, he must have taken a fancy to you."

Zhang Laoer said in a deep voice, "That's right. You don't know how many good things Ping An said to Master Yang during dinner just now to help you get this opportunity."

"Cough, cough, cough," Zhang Ping'an clenched his fist and coughed a few times. His father was being too deliberate by saying this!

"I... I know I'm all thanks to Ping... Ping'an. If it weren't for him... if it weren't for him passing the imperial examination and becoming a scholar, how could Master Yang have taken a fancy to me?" Liu Sanlang scratched his head and smiled innocently.

"By the way, brother-in-law, I plan to go with you to Huichuntang tomorrow morning to visit Doctor Chen and ask him to give you a final follow-up consultation. By the way, you can also thank him. After all, it was his enthusiasm that helped cure your stuttering," Zhang Pingan changed the subject.

Liu Sanlang nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, I must thank you for this. I was just worried about it. I wanted to...I wanted to thank you tomorrow, but...I was afraid that we would not have enough time when we leave for the dock to catch the boat"!

"There's still time. Let's make this happen. Let's get up early tomorrow morning and go to Huichun Hall together," Zhang Ping'an said with a smile.