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

Zhang Pingan asked about some more details about the apprenticeship, which was similar to the day he went. Jin Bao even thought that it was just a matter of going to the same place every day and having fun with many people, which was quite fun.

After lunch, Jinbao's father drove over, and the two families headed to town together. Besides buying brushes, inkstones, and paper, they also wanted to visit Dr. Qu's senior brother. The family had dried a lot of honeysuckle and collected a lot of cicada shells over the past two days. Erya and the others were very capable helpers, and they were particularly interested in any work that could bring money to the family.

Jinbao was restless sitting on the mule cart, playing and fighting with Zhang Pingan, you scratch me, I pat you. Zhang Laoer and Jinbao's father watched the two children playing and didn't care. There was a slight smile on their faces, revealing a kind of satisfaction with life.

There was only one bookstore in the entire town, and it was an exclusive business. After Zhang Laoer and his companions entered the store, the shopkeeper looked around behind the counter, counting the beads on an abacus, without moving. The clerk was also not very enthusiastic and leaned lazily against the counter.

Jin Bao's father stepped forward, bowed, and asked with a smile, "Excuse me, shopkeeper, what kind of writing brushes, inkstones, and paper did you buy for my son's early education? Please take us over to have a look."

"Laifu, take them to have a look," the shopkeeper instructed the waiter slowly.

"Okay!" the waiter replied, turning to the others and saying, "Come with me. This whole row is filled with pens, inkstones, paper, and inkstones. The ones in the middle are better, and the ones at the bottom are the cheapest. Take a look and see which ones you want."

The waiter has been welcoming and seeing off customers every day, and has long developed a keen eye. He knows exactly what kind of customers can buy what kind of goods. When he sees that some of them are dressed like country folk, he knows that they can't buy anything very good.

"Second brother, what do you think?" asked Jinbao's father.

"How much are the ones in the middle selling for, and what's the price of the ones at the bottom?" Zhang Laoer rubbed his hands and asked the waiter.

"The pens, inks, paper and inkstones in the middle basically start at 100 wen. The prices vary depending on the quality. A set will cost at least one or two taels. The lowest one is estimated to be around 500 wen." The waiter replied, looking at the few people with his hands folded.

"Dad, I've just started learning. I don't need something too good. Just something cheap will do. I'll buy a better one after I've learned it well," Zhang Ping'an said, pulling his father's sleeve and looking up.

"Brother, I also think that you don't need to buy too good ones at the beginning. Who knows what the two boys will become like later. You don't want to waste so much money. Buy something worse first and try it out." Jinbao's father also advised. He has been in business for many years and has a businessman's mindset. He thinks that he should wait until there are results before continuing to invest.

"Okay, then I'll buy the ones at the bottom. Please help me pick one out," Zhang Laoer said to the waiter.

In the end, the two families each spent 400 wen. The most expensive items were the inkstone and paper. The cheapest inkstone cost 100 wen, and a piece of bamboo paper cost 200 wen. However, Zhang Ping'an saw that each piece of paper was quite large, so he could cut it up and bind it together for later use. It was originally 420 wen. Jin Bao's father kept pestering him for a long time and refused to leave. After more than half an hour, the shopkeeper couldn't stand it anymore and gave him the change.

This is because Jinbao's father is thick-skinned, soft and hard, and speaks in a pleasant way. As the saying goes, don't hit a smiling person, so he can persuade him to do it. In the middle, Zhang Laoer was so embarrassed that his face was about to smoke. He couldn't stand it anymore and ran out to wait in the car. Zhang Pingan was so impressed by what he saw. The money saved here is real money!

Looking at the twinkling eyes of the two boys, Jin Bao's father said proudly, "Well, that's impressive, isn't it? I'm telling you, you absolutely must bargain when buying things, otherwise you'll lose a lot of money. Those guys who run a one-size-fits-all business are getting rich, and they're squeezing our hard-earned money!"

"Dad, you are so awesome," Jinbao praised with his head raised.

"Uncle, you are really good," Zhang Pingan also followed.

"That's right! I have rich experience in shopping. I am in charge of all the purchases for the tea stall. Come on, I will use the money I saved to take you to eat roast chicken! Cao's roast chicken in Qiaotou is the most famous." Jinbao's father was also very proud and in a good mood. He smiled like a flower under the flattery of the two little ones.

"Oh, time to eat chicken!" Jinbao jumped up happily and pestered his father even more.

Qiaotou Cao's Roast Chicken has been open for decades, passed down from grandfather to grandson. The roasted chicken is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with crispy skin and juicy chicken. It is also brushed with secret spices and can be smelled from three or four miles away. It is very famous in the town.

"Boss, do you have any roast chicken left today?" Jin Bao's father stopped the car and shouted into the shop.

"Yes, how much?" The shop owner, a plump man in his thirties, had been napping in the shop. When he woke up, he came out and saw that it was someone he recognized. He couldn't help but smile and greeted, "Boss Zhang, here you are. How's business lately?"

Jin Bao's father had run a tea stall on the edge of town for many years and knew some people. He said modestly, "Well, it's just like that. Business is tough. We can barely make ends meet. It's not as prosperous as you guys."

The two chatted for a while, and Jinbao couldn't wait any longer, so he kept twisting his father's clothes.

"This is your kid, right? He looks very lucky," Boss Cao noticed and complimented him.

"Haha, everyone says so. Look, he's going to school soon, and the teacher also praised him for being smart." Jinbao's father touched his son's head and laughed. He turned to his son and said, "Jinbao, call uncle!"

"Uncle!" Jinbao shouted loudly.

"Let's talk another day. We have to go back. It's getting late now. Give us half a roast chicken. Tear the chicken into pieces and mix it with more peanuts and seasonings."

"Okay," Boss Cao said readily, chopping and mixing the chicken neatly and handing it over. "A whole chicken is 45 cents. We're all friends, so half a chicken is 22 cents."

"Okay!" Jinbao's father responded with a smile, took it and handed it to the two children.

Jinbao couldn't wait to grab a piece and eat it. The delicious smell made his eyes narrow. Zhang Pingan also took a wing and nibbled it. It was really delicious. He couldn't help but shake his feet and thought that such a day was so comfortable!

Jin Bao's father was very familiar with the town. He drove to Dajia Lane in a short while. The sign of Tongxin Hall was very conspicuous at the entrance of the lane. Jin Bao's father did not go in, but waited for Zhang Ping'an and his son in the car.

"Excuse me, is the doctor here?" Zhang Laoer asked as he walked in with his son.

"Who are you looking for? Are you here to see a doctor?" There was a middle-aged man in front of the counter. He asked when he saw the two of them.

"Hello, we were introduced here by Doctor Qu from Ji'antang. He said that they might collect herbs here, so we brought them here for you to have a look," said Zhang Laoer as he put down the bamboo basket behind him.

"Oh, you are from Zhangjia Village, right? I heard my junior brother mention it, but the price here is not high," the middle-aged man walked out of the counter and asked the two to sit down.

"Just give it as you see fit," Zhang Laoer said with a simple smile. In fact, he really didn't hold out much hope and just thought it would be good to have a few more coins to buy salt.

"Well, let me see," the middle-aged man pulled over the basket, crushed it open, and examined the quality of the herbs. He said, "They're all well-maintained, but I don't need that much here, so I'll take all of them. I won't need these this year. You can just pick them and send them over next year. I estimate there are 15 kilograms of honeysuckle, three snake skins, and two kilograms of cicada skins. I'll give them all to you for 35 cents, is that okay?"

"Okay, sure!" Zhang Laoer responded without hesitation. In his opinion, this was equivalent to getting it for free.

"My last name is Dou. You can call me Doctor Dou from now on. It doesn't matter which types of flowers you buy. Wild chrysanthemums, dandelions, and selfheal are common in the countryside. I buy them here. Fresh ones cost two pounds, and dried ones cost one pound."

"Okay, Doctor Dou, we got it. We'll send them to you when we pick them later." Zhang Laoer said happily. He didn't expect that wild chrysanthemums could be sold for money. They were everywhere on the roadside.

Today he saved twenty cents by buying things and earned more than thirty cents by selling things, which makes more than fifty cents in total. Zhang Laoer feels that today is a really good day.