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

"Have a cup of tea to sober up first," Zhang Pingan poured a cup of cold tea and handed it over, saying, "Sitting next to those officials, you're bound to drink more. It's okay for me to sit in the middle!"

"Life is difficult. You have to deal with both sides. Once you choose this path, there is no turning back," Lin Junhui murmured as he took the teacup.

"Don't push yourself too hard," Zhang Pingan advised.

At that time, it was common for wealthy families to marry off their daughters, and for poor families to marry their daughters-in-law. Lin Junhui was the one who married into a wealthy family. Being the son-in-law of a wealthy family was not easy, not to mention that he did not hold any official position. He was alone in Lin'an and relied entirely on his wife's family for support. Zhang Ping'an knew that the pressure on him was enormous.

After drinking it all in one gulp, Lin Junhui wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and then, regaining some spirit, he said, "Although the court has lost the north, the administration is much more clean and honest than before. Many officials who do practical work have been promoted, and Minister Qian is one of them. If we can pass the imperial examination next year, we will definitely have the opportunity to realize our ambitions!"

"I hope so," Zhang Ping'an said with a smile. Who doesn't want to be on the list of successful candidates? But it is also quite difficult.

Lin Junhui was very relaxed in front of Zhang Pingan. He knew that Zhang Pingan was very tight-lipped and would not say anything he shouldn't. Most importantly, they were both in the same boat. Only when he was well could Zhang Pingan be better.

The driver drove very steadily and sent Zhang Pingan home after more than two quarters of an hour.

Lin Junhui looked at the Zhang family's house and said lazily, "Ping'an, it's time to change your house. Your status is different now. After all, you are a scholar, so you should live in a decent place!"

Zhang Pingan said with a smile, "I've already chosen one. I'll be moving in soon. I'll invite you to have a drink at the new house when I move in!"

"Okay!" Lin Junhui responded, and then told the driver to turn the car back to the east of the city.

Before Zhang Ping'an knocked on the door, it opened. Zhang Laoer and Xu had been waiting in the yard, enjoying the cool air.

They heard it as the carriage drew up at the door.

"Dad, Mom, why haven't you gone to bed yet?" Zhang Ping'an asked after entering the yard.

Zhang Laoer locked the door before turning around and saying with a smile, "It's hot out, it's too early to sleep, so your mother and I will wait for you!"

Xu also said, "There are too many mosquitoes in the room and it's hot. It's cool outside."

"Don't we have a mosquito net?" Zhang Ping'an said, "Let's fumigate it with mugwort first."

"It's hot, we'll go to bed soon," Xu said with a smile, fanning herself with a palm-leaf fan. She then asked, "How was the Luming Feast today? What are you holding in your hand?"

Zhang Pingan placed the gift box on the table and replied, "The banquet was quite good. The food and drinks were all very good. The official who presided over it was also very friendly and gave everyone a gift."

"What is it?" asked Mrs. Xu. "There's food and drink, and there's even something to take. It's great!"

Zhang Pingan smiled and sat down. "This box contains pine soot ink, and the box next to it should contain a jade pendant. Let's open them and take a look."

After saying that, she untied the ribbon and was about to tear the paper off when Xu slapped her away. "If you tear the paper like this, it will be torn and unusable. It's such a beautiful paper. This red is real, and it has patterns and meaning. You have to keep it!"

After saying that, she took out an embroidery needle and scissors from the house, and cut the paper open little by little along the gap of the glue. She used the embroidery needle to carefully and slowly poke the places that were too tightly glued, and finally completely peeled off the paper.

The box was quite big, so the wrapping paper was even bigger. Xu rolled up the paper and tied it with a ribbon.

Then Zhang Ping'an opened the box. The box was too big. The bottom layer was made of huanghuali wood, and thick silk was spread on the wood, with the jade pendant placed in the middle.

Zhang Pingan picked it up and took a look. The quality was average, but the color was translucent. The milky white color matched well with any clothes. It looked fresh and elegant, not tacky!

The date and name of the successful candidate were indeed engraved on it.

Zhang Laoer and Xu saw that the box was wrapped so luxuriously and thought that the jade pendant was worth a lot of money.

Before Zhang Ping'an could take a closer look, he was urged by the two to put it back.

"Son, be careful and don't drop it. This can be passed down to the family in the future. We just need to look at it," Zhang Laoer said nervously.

Xu also urged, "Son, put it back quickly. Mother will keep it for you. When you get married and have children, I will pass this jade pendant to my eldest grandson, and he will pass the imperial examination and become a juren in the future!"

Zhang Pingan reluctantly put the item back. "Mom, this is just an ordinary jade pendant. It's just a commemorative piece, nothing special. I remember when I was studying at the academy, everyone who participated in the talent show was given a pen holder. You also said you would keep it for me and pass it down to the family. Is the pen holder still there?"

Xu replied as if it was a matter of course, "Of course it's there! I've kept it for you and promised to pass it down to my grandson!"

"It's really here. Didn't you throw it away when you were fleeing?" Zhang Ping'an was shocked.

All the things in the house were packed up by Xu, and he thought they had been lost long ago. After all, Xu didn't even take the valuable iron pot at Black Wind Ferry. There was really no place to put it. The pen holder was not used for food or drink, so according to his mother's temperament, it would be thrown aside first!

Zhang Laoer put the box away and said, "We haven't touched the silver awarded to you by the county government when you passed the imperial examination. We've kept it all. It's a family heirloom! I've also put away this inkstone for you!"

Therefore, the pine soot ink awarded by Minister Qian was also taken away. Zhang Ping'an originally wanted to see what the difference was in writing with this famous ink!

Well, let’s keep it as a family heirloom, it will be a good deal for my son!

After putting his things away, Zhang Laoer came back and continued, "Oh, right, I've already found the craftsmen for this afternoon. I've hired twenty people. The work isn't too much. They'll prepare the materials this afternoon and finish it tomorrow. I also consulted a Feng Shui master, and he calculated that the day after tomorrow is an auspicious day for moving. Let's move in the day after tomorrow!"

"So fast," Zhang Pingan was surprised. His father was really capable of taking action!

"But didn't we agree to go to Uncle San's house for dinner the day after tomorrow?"

"I've agreed with your third uncle that their dinner will be moved to the day after tomorrow, so we should focus on our family's affairs first," said Zhang Laoer.