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

Chapter 399: Bought a House

"Yifei, congratulations to you too," Zhang Pingan turned around and said with a smile.

"Thank you!" Xiao Yifei said excitedly, "I'm really lucky. In the past, the imperial court wouldn't have attached so much importance to the military examination!"

"Yifei, it's all thanks to you for teaching me how to read and write over the past six months. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to make it onto the list so easily. I'm grateful for your kindness," Liu Sanlang said with a simple smile, his voice sincere.

Xiao Yifei waved his hands and laughed heartily: "Brother Sanlang, don't be so polite. You also taught me archery and horse riding. In terms of martial arts, you are much more talented than me. We are mutually beneficial!"

The yamen runners quickly posted the list.

Several people were standing next to the list. Zhang Ping'an had a good eye and scanned the list again, confirming, "It's on the list, there's no mistake. Big brother-in-law is at 88th place, and you, Yifei, are at 56th! Rankings with six and eight are both auspicious numbers!"

A bearded man in a silk shirt came over and said, "Hahaha, I'm number ninety, which happens to be the last one. I have the best luck, hehe!"

Liu Sanlang and Xiao Yifei hurriedly greeted the people. They were of the same age. Most people who learned martial arts were straightforward and didn't beat around the bush. If they liked each other, they would chat for a while.

Liu the butcher and the others had almost finished their pleasantries when they urged, "Let's hurry home. Maybe someone with good news will be there soon. Even though a soldier's status isn't as high as a scholar's, he's still a Juren after all!"

Don’t take the military examination candidate lightly!

Zhang Pingan agreed: "Regardless of status, this is a happy event. We need to buy some wedding candy to give to the neighbors and a few strings of firecrackers. I'll take care of it!"

A few people then squeezed out of the crowd, separated at the intersection, and went home, agreeing to meet again in a few days for a banquet.

When the mule cart was about to reach the south of the city, Zhang Ping'an told Old Man Lu to go to the grocery store to buy things first.

Liu the Butcher and Liu Sanlang refused several times, but they still couldn't resist Zhang Ping'an.

In the end, I had no choice but to accept this kindness.

When I got home, only Daya and a few other female relatives were at home. The men were out working, and the older children were all attending private school.

Although I said this morning that I didn't care about the results, it would be best if I could pass the exam. Daya came forward and asked, "How did you do on the exam?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw her father-in-law's face full of joy, and the two bags of things that Old Man Lu was carrying. Daya felt relieved and said with a smile: "Looking at you guys, did you pass the exam?"

"Sister, brother-in-law passed the exam. From now on, your life will finally be sweet!" Zhang Pingan replied. He was also happy for his elder sister and brother-in-law.

Butcher Liu was so excited that after calming down, he couldn't wait to tell his daughter-in-law, "Daya, hurry up and take your sisters-in-law to clean up the house. We might have good news soon, and we can't let others see our house so dirty!"

"Hey," Daya replied with a smile.

Erya, who was in the other yard, heard almost everything and came over with a broom, saying, "Big sister, let me help you. Otherwise, we won't have enough time."

After that, he praised again: "Brother-in-law is really amazing. He passed the exam as soon as he said he would. This time we must set up a few tables for a lively feast!"

"Of course, of course. A banquet is a must. I will go to the restaurant tomorrow to order a few tables of delicious dishes," said Liu the butcher with a smile.

He could now understand the feelings of Zhang Laoer and Xu. The success of their descendants made them feel extremely comfortable, which was better than any panacea.

He wanted so badly to go to the alley and beat drums and gongs to announce to the world that his son had passed the military examination!

Although Mrs. Liu Dasao and Mrs. Liu Ersao felt a little envious and jealous when they heard the news, it was always a good thing that their brother-in-law had made progress. They would not be confused about such a big thing and helped to clean up the yard quickly.

Mrs. Liu the butcher just went out to buy vegetables. In order to save money, she always goes to the market far away in the south of the city to buy her vegetables. Saving a few cents over time can save a lot of expenses. You have to be frugal when living!

As soon as I got home, I heard Liu the butcher say that his son had passed the imperial examination. I was stunned for a moment.

"What? You really passed the exam?"

"It's true, mother. Someone with the good news will be here soon," Daya said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Liu the butcher quickly pinched her thigh and said, "Ouch, it hurts, it really hurts!"

"Of course it's true," said Liu the Butcher with pride.

"Then we must hurry and burn some incense for our ancestors," said Mrs. Liu the butcher as she put down her vegetable basket.

It was still early at this time. After burning incense, it was a while before I heard the sounds of music coming from the alley.

Butcher Liu said nervously, "Quick, straighten your clothes!"

Everyone hurriedly followed suit.

Liu Sanlang, the person involved, was relatively calm. He had just gone out to help carry two loads of water.

When he heard the sound of suona, he dusted off his clothes and went to the door to greet it.

Two yamen runners and several musicians came forward, bowed, and asked, "Excuse me, is this the residence of Master Liu Meng of Wushan County, Ezhou Prefecture, Huguang Province?"

Liu Sanlang scratched his head, not used to this name, and replied, "It's me!"

The yamen runner remained calm as he looked the man up and down, nodding secretly in his heart, no wonder he was able to pass the military examination, with such a big build, he was one in a million!

Then, according to the ritual, they sang loudly, "Congratulations to your master, Liu Mingmeng, for having passed the Lin'an City Military Examination in the second year of the Jingcheng reign and ranked 88th. We have come to report the good news! This is good news, please keep it!"

Liu Sanlang reached out and took it.

Butcher Liu immediately stepped forward to give out the wedding money.

He also had his own little thoughts. Before the results were announced, he had already prepared copper coins and small change to announce the good news, hoping for good luck.

When the two yamen runners heard that the people assigned to them would live in the south of the city, they had no hope. Everyone in the south of the city knew that the people living there were even poorer than them, so they estimated that they would get a few copper coins at most.

It was a pleasant surprise to receive some small change. He immediately smiled and said a lot of congratulations.

After completing the process, the two yamen runners said goodbye and left.

The neighbors in the alley were attracted by the noise of the yamen runners, and only then did they know that the tall man with the black hair had passed the martial arts examination.

Daya took some candy and shared it with her neighbors, saying with a smile, "Everyone, have some candy and share in the good luck!"

After a long time, the excitement gradually faded away.

Butcher Liu now feels that the matter of buying a house must be settled immediately. He has been looking for a house for so long. Now that his son has passed the imperial examination, he needs a stable residence.

Only when you have a house and land can you have confidence, so take the first step first!

Zhang Ping'an had classes in the afternoon, so he went back to the provincial school after having lunch at Liu's house.

When I got home in the evening, I heard Zhang Laoer and Xu talking about my eldest brother-in-law's family buying a house.

"Uncle Liu is very quick. He just said he wanted to buy a house at noon, and it was already booked this afternoon!"

Xu explained, "They've been planning to buy one for a long time and have looked at several places. It was only today that your eldest brother-in-law passed the imperial examination that they decided which one to buy!"

Zhang Laoer continued, "Not only your eldest sister, but your second sister's family has also bought houses, all in the north of the city. This time, they have completely drained their family savings."