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

"It's better to be cautious about matters of marriage. I haven't seen Guo Jia for a while. He sent food to my home before. I'll go to the post station to see him after I get off work today," said Zhang Ping'an.

Just as he was about to leave, Daya hesitated and said, "Little brother, there is one more thing. It's about your sixth sister. I didn't dare tell our mother, otherwise she would be furious."

"What's the matter, sister, tell me," Zhang Pingan asked doubtfully.

"Your sixth sister is a twin of yours. She is 15 this year and will be 16 next year. She is not young anymore. I think she seems to have her own lover," Daya said hesitantly.

It is not just a saying that the eldest sister is like a mother. As the eldest sister, Daya has taken good care of her younger siblings since they were young. She is gentle but strong-willed. Her younger sisters all respect her and are willing to tell her everything. So sometimes, she sees things more clearly than her own mother, Xu. There is no doubt that what she said is not groundless.

"Sixth sister told you that?" Zhang Pingan frowned.

Daya shook her head. "She didn't tell me. You know she's been a bit reserved since she was little. I noticed that when we were chatting, and I also guessed who she liked. But the difference is too big. It's completely wishful thinking, so I didn't expose her. I just wanted to remind you to be more careful about this matter."

"Who is it? Do I know him?"

"He's your classmate, the one with the surname Lin, the nobleman who saved my parents and Wu Ya and Liu Ya at the city gate. He even came to give gifts when you held the scholar banquet," Daya reminded.

"It's him?!" Zhang Ping'an was surprised. "But he's already married, and the other party is the daughter of the prefectural governor!"

Daya knew very well that this was wishful thinking, so she just sighed again.

"It's impossible between them," Zhang Pingan rejected it outright.

"It's just Liu Ya's unrequited love. I think she knows that she is wishful thinking, so she keeps it in her heart. But then again, she is just a young girl in her twenties. When she meets such a talented, handsome and well-born boy, it's inevitable that she will be attracted to him. It would be better to find a husband for her as soon as possible." Although Daya was worried, she could understand.

A shining figure like Master Lin doesn't have to do anything, just standing aside can easily capture the hearts of many girls.

"Okay, I understand. Mother has already hired a matchmaker, and I will also keep an eye out for any suitable candidates around me," Zhang Ping'an nodded.

Daya was very confident in her brother's work, and smiled when she heard this: "It's okay as long as you know what's going on. The most urgent matter is Wuya's marriage."

"Well, I'm leaving now. Big sister, please go home and tell mom that I won't be coming home for dinner tonight." Zhang Ping'an saw that he was almost late for the shift, so he quickly said hello to Daya and left.

Working in the provincial school was very easy. After a fulfilling day, Zhang Ping'an bought a roast chicken and a pot of wine on the roadside and went to the post station to visit Guo Jia.

The post house is located in a prosperous area of ​​the city, mainly for the convenience of travel and rest for officials and messengers. It is not too far from the provincial school and can be reached in two and a half hours if you walk fast.

After entering the posthouse, Zhang Ping'an found someone to ask and learned that Guo Jia was sorting letters. He spent a few copper coins to ask someone to go in and shout.

After a while, Guo Jia followed the man out. Seeing that it was Zhang Ping'an, surprise appeared in his eyes and he hurried forward to greet him.

"Ping'an, how come you have time to come and see me today?" Guo Jia said with a smile, then looked around and took Zhang Ping'an to a secluded empty room where it would be convenient to talk.

Zhang Pingan placed the roast chicken and wine on the table and said with a smile, "I haven't seen you for a long time. I don't know how you are doing here. I miss you very much. It happened that I got off work early today, so I brought some food to visit you."

"Then I'm in for a treat," Guo Jia said cheerfully, without any hesitation.

The two sat down and started eating and drinking.

After three rounds of drinks and nearly half an hour of chatting about everything under the sun, Zhang Pingan finally sighed and said in distress, "Alas, Brother Guo, to be honest, my family has been urging me to get married recently, and it's really disturbing me. I remember that you are two or three years older than me, and now you have settled down in Lin'an City. Have you ever considered discussing marriage?"

"You are still so young, and your uncle and aunt can't wait?" Guo Jia joked.

"My father said that men should get married as early as possible and then establish a career. I think there is some truth to that," Zhang Pingan said with a smile. "It just so happens that my two older sisters are also at the age of marriage. If they don't get married soon, they will be too old and the matchmaker won't be able to find any good families. That's why I asked the matchmaker to help me keep an eye out for them."

Guo Jia nodded in understanding and said, "Indeed, the Wu family of the previous dynasty said that a man should get married and start a family as early as possible. Uncle is right."

"Then what are your plans, Brother Guo?" Zhang Pingan asked tentatively with an idea in his mind.

"Me?" Guo Jia pointed at himself, then shook his head and said self-deprecatingly, "I have no house, no land, no legitimate livelihood, and I'm also a second marriage. If any good family is willing to marry a girl to me, I'll take it!"

"Brother Guo, you are too self-deprecating. We have escaped to Lin'an through many hardships and dangers. We have a life-and-death friendship. I think Brother Guo is an upright and kind person with courage and knowledge. It just so happens that my fifth sister is getting married. I wonder if Brother Guo is interested and willing to come to propose marriage?" Zhang Ping'an hinted.

Guo Jia was stunned at first, but then his face cleared up instantly. He shook his head and declined politely, "Ping An, I know your sister is gentle and virtuous, but I can't protect myself now, so I'm afraid I'm not worthy of her. Come, let's not talk about these troubles, let's drink!"

Zhang Pingan felt a little disappointed when he heard this, but he didn't want to bring it up anymore. He could only sigh that the two of them were not destined to be together.

They chatted for more than half an hour and finished all the food and drinks they brought. Seeing that it was indeed getting late, Zhang Ping'an said goodbye and left.

Guo Jia was reluctant to leave and said drunkenly, "I'll go to the provincial academy to find you when I'm free!"

"Okay, don't see me off. Go in quickly. I'm leaving," Zhang Ping'an waved his hand.

When I got home, Xu was sitting in the main room in a daze, Zhang Laoer was busy weaving some baskets and other things needed at home, and Wu Ya and Liu Ya had already gone to rest.

It was obvious that the two were waiting for Zhang Ping'an to come back.

"Mom, I'm back," Zhang Pingan said softly.

Xu looked up and asked, "Did you go to the post house to see Guo Jia tonight?"

"Yeah," Zhang Pingan replied.

"How's it going?"

Zhang Ping'an shook his head and said nothing. Xu understood, but only Zhang Laoer didn't know what the two were arguing about.

"Okay," Xu finally muttered.

Then he stood up and said, "You've had some wine, right? I'll make you a bowl of hangover soup, otherwise you'll have a headache the next morning."

The next day, when he was on duty, Zhang Ping'an found his eldest sister and found a quiet place to talk. He said directly, "Guo Jia is a smart man. I tried to test his intentions, but he declined. He feels that he is not good enough for you, Fifth Sister. Besides, I don't think he has the heart to do it right now. There is no point in saying more. Tell Fifth Sister to give up this idea and not waste her best years. She will be 18 next year."

Daya nodded and said, "Who says it's not? It's very frustrating. Even if we don't want to admit it, when we turn eighteen, we'll be considered an old maid in the eyes of the matchmaker. I'll go back and tell her later."