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

Zhang Ping'an was stunned for a moment after hearing the news. The old emperor is dead?

He then walked quickly towards the study.

The housekeeper was directing the servants to work in the courtyard. When he saw Zhang Ping'an come in, he hurriedly bowed and said, "Master Zhang, my master is in the study. If he tells you to come, just go in and find him."

Zhang Pingan nodded and went to the study.

After knocking on the door softly, Mr. Han’s tired voice said “Come in!”

Zhang Ping'an pushed the door open and entered the room. He found that Mr. Han looked much more tired after not seeing him for a night. He was leaning against the armchair, with a heavier worry between his brows. The wrinkles on his face were tightly twisted, and he no longer had the relaxed look of yesterday.

"Teacher, I heard from the servants that the emperor has passed away?" Zhang Ping'an asked after bowing.

Han Juren rubbed his brows, sat up straight and said, "Please sit down. We are destined to be master and disciple. Yesterday at midnight, someone from the government knocked on the door to inform us that the emperor had passed away. If it had been a day later, this apprenticeship banquet would not have been held."

"Teacher, you have worked hard. There must be a lot of things to do in the government office right now," Zhang Ping'an frowned. It was really one problem after another.

Han Juren waved his hand and said calmly, "I am loyal to my master and I am paid by him. It doesn't matter if I am tired. I am just worried..."

Zhang Pingan asked in confusion, "Teacher, are you worried about the instability of the government?"

"Yes, since ancient times, the time when the old year changes to the new year is the most turbulent. In fact, the emperor passed away on the first day of the first lunar month. It's just that we are far away from the capital, and the heavy snow in winter makes transportation inconvenient. The post station only delivered the news in the middle of the night yesterday," Mr. Han sighed and said nothing more.

He then said, "The government office will soon issue a mourning decree. All officials and common people throughout the country must wear mourning clothes. All entertainment activities, including weddings, funerals, sacrifices, and slaughtering livestock, will be suspended. I can't take care of you now. You should go back today and prepare mourning clothes for your family."

Zhang Pingan nodded: "I understand. I'll take my leave now. Please take care of yourself, teacher."

Mr. Han waved his hand tiredly.

After Zhang Ping'an left, he asked Xiaohu to drive the carriage to the cloth shop. Xiaohu had just heard a few words from the servants, but he felt that these things were too far away from him and did not take them to heart at all. Hearing this, he could not help but hesitate and said, "Brother Ping'an, the market doesn't open until the 15th of the first lunar month. Today is only the 11th."

Zhang Ping'an frowned and said, "Just drive the carriage there. The big merchants in the city are well-informed. I guarantee there will be cloth shops open."

"Hey," Xiaohu replied, and then drove to the East Market.

As we walked along, we found that several large cloth shops in the East Market were indeed open, and many servants from wealthy families were buying white cloth.

Zhang Ping'an took Xiaohu to buy one and then went home.

After Xiaohu knocked on the door, Xu came to open it. Seeing that the two had returned by car less than an hour later, she couldn't help but ask in surprise: "Ping'an, Xiaohu, why are you two back so early? What happened?"

As he spoke, he couldn't help but slap his thigh and said anxiously, "Son, could it be that Mr. Han has changed his mind and doesn't want to take you as his apprentice?"

Zhang Ping'an shook his head and explained, "Mother, that's not the case. My teacher is a man of his word, how could he easily go back on his word? It's because the emperor passed away, and my teacher was busy with office affairs and couldn't take care of me, so he asked me to come back first."

Zhang Laoer was working under the eaves. Upon hearing this, he asked in surprise, "The emperor has passed away?"

It's not the fault of the family members having different opinions. The word "passing away" is too far away from ordinary people, and even more far away from country families like the Zhang family. Moreover, the current emperor has been on the throne for thirty-six years, which is too long. Younger people have never experienced the death of the emperor.

Zhang Pingan felt a little tired and said calmly, "Yes, the people at the post station notified the government office at midnight yesterday, and then the government office sent people to notify the officials at midnight. If it was a day later, my apprenticeship banquet would not be held."

Xu was surprised and asked, "Why is that? What does the emperor's death have to do with us ordinary people?"

Zhang Ping'an quickly interrupted him and said seriously, "Mother, don't talk nonsense. When the emperor passes away, all officials and common people across the country must offer sacrifices and mourn. All entertainment activities, including weddings, funerals, and slaughtering livestock, will be suspended. Our family should not buy chickens or ducks in the first month of the year. The government office will issue a funeral order soon. I have also bought the white cloth. You and your fifth and sixth sisters should quickly make some mourning clothes."

"Is it so serious?" Xu muttered.

Zhang Laoer was more knowledgeable. Upon hearing this, he quickly instructed his family, "Don't talk nonsense, and don't go out wandering around. Stay at home quietly. Mr. Han works in the government office, so he must be more informed and won't harm us."

Xu replied, "Okay, okay, I understand. I'll start making mourning clothes now."

Zhang Lao Er was still a little frightened, and thankfully said, "Our family is still a little lucky. Fortunately, the apprenticeship banquet was already held yesterday."

"Yeah," Zhang Pingan smiled bitterly.

At this moment, someone came and knocked on the door again.