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

Lin Junhui arrived late today. He knew almost all the prominent people in Lin'an City, so he immediately started greeting everyone as soon as he arrived. He was so busy that he couldn't pay any attention to Zhang Pingan.

"Your future as a fellow villager cannot be underestimated," Yue Chi commented.

"He was very outstanding when he was in our academy, and he grew a lot after coming to Lin'an. He is indeed outstanding," Zhang Ping'an nodded.

This kind of person is a born politician!

Zhang Pingan got to know a lot of people along with Yue Chi. They exchanged names and had a general understanding of each other.

Logically speaking, since ancient times, scholars have liked to discuss current affairs when they get together. They should talk about the current situation, and talk about going north to recover lost territories. Losing half of the country is a great shame and humiliation!

However, in Lin'an, everyone tacitly kept silent about it. In Lin Junhui's words, "The scholars are not fools. They have killed batch after batch of people. Isn't that enough to teach them a lesson? No one wants to be too long!"

Therefore, today's literary gathering is really just about reciting poems, writing couplets, drinking and playing the piano, which looks very harmonious.

It ended after 3 p.m., and Huo Jieyuan gave each person a glass vase in a colorful box, which looked very valuable.

When Xu saw the treasure, she was so excited that she didn't say she wanted to keep it as a family heirloom this time. She gave Mrs. Hu a dozen coins and sent her out to buy some ornamental lotus leaves and lotus flowers. She put them in a vase, which meant "good luck lotus", and placed it in the most conspicuous place in the main hall. No one was allowed to touch it!

The next day was Zhang Ping'an's Juren banquet.

Zhang Laoer and Xu hired a chef in advance and borrowed tables, chairs and benches. They set up thirty tables from the door to the entrance of the alley, five of which were reserved for their relatives and their son's classmates and friends, and the other twenty-five were reserved for neighbors.

He also set up two tables in the yard for the female members of his family.

Before the hour of Yin, the whole family got up and started working.

The cook has his own apprentices and helpers, so the Zhang family doesn't need to help with the washing and cleaning. However, the helpers are about to arrive, and if the host hasn't gotten up yet, he will be scolded for not knowing etiquette in Zhangjia Village.

On such an important day, Zhang Laoer and Xu couldn't sleep, so they just got up early.

For this day, Xu made silk clothes and satin shoes for the whole family, including Zhang and old man Zhang, and kept them for today.

Zhang Laoer also repeatedly reminded her to dress appropriately today.

He also bought six strings of the best firecrackers, ready to light them before the meal started.

When everyone packed up and came out, Xu nodded in satisfaction and said with a smile, "It's true what the old saying says: Buddha needs gold ornaments, and people need clothes. You all look much more energetic today!"

"Wu Ya and Liu Ya, just stay in the room. I'll ask your eldest sister to bring you food later. Try not to go out. There are a lot of people here today, so don't rush anyone, okay?" said Zhang Laoer.

"Yes, Mom and Dad, we know," Wu Ya and Liu Ya nodded.

After a while, it was the hour of Mao, and Zhang Lao Da, Zhang Lao San, Daya and Erya, as well as Xu Xiaojiu's family all arrived.

They all wore their best clothes and dressed neatly.

Mrs. Zhang and Old Man Zhang also put on the silk clothes made by Mrs. Xu, and smiled kindly.

It was still early and everyone was hungry, so the cook simply cooked a big pot of white noodle dumpling soup in a big iron pot to fill everyone's stomach, and also poured shredded pork on it. It tasted very good.

There were more than twenty children in total from several families, and their chattering was so noisy that it was a headache. Zhang Ping'an simply gave a few copper coins to the oldest ones and asked them to keep an eye on the younger ones. The older children coaxed and threatened the younger ones and immediately stopped them from making noise, which was more effective than adults taking care of them.

It took a lot of effort to prepare thirty tables of food. The chef was experienced and had already prepared some meat at home in advance. When the food arrived, he asked his helpers to pick and wash the vegetables by the well in the alley in an orderly manner.

Zhang Ping'an had already greeted the neighbors in the alley yesterday and decided to start dinner after noon today. There would be a buffet all day long, covering three meals a day.

Zhang Laoer initially wanted to set up the stall for three days, but the weather was hot and the vegetables couldn't be kept. It would be too expensive to set up the stall for three days, and Zhang Ping'an didn't want to do it for three days either. It would be fine in his hometown, but it would be inconvenient in Lin'an, so it would be best to set up the stall for one day.

When it was almost noon, neighbors arrived one after another, bringing gifts to congratulate. For a while, the yard was very lively.

Erhe also quickly sat down at the gift table to prepare to keep accounts. This matter was extremely important and he couldn't make any mistakes, as he would have to repay the favor in the future.

"Congratulations, Mr. Zhang, for passing the imperial examination. You will surely have a bright future," a neighbor said with a smile, bowing and handing over the prepared gifts and cash.

"Thank you, Mr. Wen, please sit here," Zhang Ping'an said in return with a smile and greeted him warmly.

At this time, every family has a large population, with as few as a dozen people and as many as twenty or thirty people, which is normal.

Prices in Lin'an are high now, so people who come to the banquet usually bring their children with them. Firstly, they want to have a good meal, and secondly, they can share in the festive atmosphere. Soon, the table that Zhang Ping'an reserved for the neighbors was full.

Daya, Erya and others also began to take their seats.

Lin Junhui, Xiao Yifei, Jinbao and others had agreed to come for lunch and would not come so early, so there was no need to wait for breakfast.

The banquet began, and the chef arranged for people to serve dishes one by one on the table, first the appetizers, then the meat dishes, and finally the vegetarian dishes and sweet soup, with the staple food being served last.

The fragrance filled the entire alley.

Zhang Pingan began to toast every table. Normally, he should have a younger brother or cousin to hold the wine jug for him at this time, but he was the youngest among the relatives on both sides, so only his cousin Dazhu could come with him.

He has secretly told his cousin Dazhu to replace the wine in the jug and add more water, hoping that his cousin Dazhu will not let him down!