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

Chapter 419: New Year Greetings

The two went to the main room together.

Mrs. Zhang and Old Man Zhang are old and sleep less, so they got up early.

Xu arranged for the maids and servants to dress the old couple neatly and sit them at the top.

The eldest and third wives also sat around, and the children moved around as if there were nails under their butts. Some of them couldn't wait and wanted to go to the yard to play.

Li scolded, "Wait a minute, you have to pay New Year's greetings to your great grandfather, great grandmother and all the elders before you can leave."

Mrs. Xu couldn't bear to see this and spoke up for the children: "Just let them play under the eaves for a while, there's nothing to be afraid of. It will be breakfast soon."

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Zhang Pingan and his wife coming in, and hurriedly said, "You two are finally here, come and wish your grandparents and uncles a happy new year."

"I'm really sorry to have kept you all waiting for so long," Qian Youyi bowed and apologized softly.

Zhang Pingan also apologized.

Everyone got up earlier today than in previous years.

"It's okay. We two old people couldn't sleep, so we got up early and made you get up early too," Zhang waved her hand.

After everyone is present, they begin to greet each other in order of seniority.

Dazhu and Erzhu were both rough men. They knelt down and kowtowed twice, saying, "I wish grandpa and grandma good fortune as vast as the East Sea, and may they always smile happily."

Next came the brothers Dahe and Erhe.

Finally, Zhang Pingan said: "I wish grandpa and grandma a happy new year! May you be as evergreen as the pine and cypress trees, and as long-lived as the Nanshan Mountains!"

"Okay, get up, you are all filial children," said Zhang with a smile on her face.

As for red envelopes, there were none. Zhang never gave red envelopes or New Year's money to her children. She treated her sons, grandsons and great-grandsons equally and never made an exception.

Generally speaking, a bowl of water is held flat.

The remaining great-grandchildren, girls and boys, are enjoying their lives.

That is to say, after Zhang Ping'an became famous, the family became better and better off, and the children's New Year's money was no longer confiscated. They were all the envy of their peers.

After the New Year greetings, the maids began to set the table.

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, it is popular to eat white flour to fill the stomach first, and then go out to pay New Year's greetings. Close relatives will leave food for them.

The men from the first and third wives mainly went to Jinbao's house and the houses of their friends who they had played with while working to pay New Year's greetings. They had nowhere else to go.

Zhang Ping'an was busy. He had to go and see Mr. Lu, all the teachers in the provincial school, his classmates, Principal Ye, Lin Junhui, and other classmates he was familiar with.

Even if you just come to have a cup of tea and leave, at least you are being polite.

Not only Zhang Ping'an is busy all the time, but anyone with a little status and social connections is the busiest on New Year's Day.

He deliberately left Guo Jia, Xiao Yifei and Jin Bao to the end.

A few people can also have a good chat and have a comfortable meal together.

The post station was closed on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Guo Jia was very idle.

When Zhang Ping'an arrived, he was playing dice with several colleagues.

It's not an addiction, it's just a way to kill time.

"You're living a life as happy as a god these days," Zhang Ping'an joked.

"Just killing time, come and sit down," Guo Jia said cheerfully.

Then he poured Zhang Ping'an a cup of hot tea. "I thought you must be very busy on the first day of the Lunar New Year. This morning I went to Jinbao's house, Yifei's house, and yours, but my uncle said you were not there. I was planning to go to your house later to look for you, but I didn't expect you to come to wish me a happy new year first. I'm so sorry!"

"You can't say that. We are friends who have risked our lives for each other. It would be boring to talk about these things," Zhang Ping'an said with a smile.

"Besides, you are a few years older than me. According to our age, it is only natural for me to wish you a happy new year. It is almost noon now, so why don't we go to Jinbao's and Yifei's houses to wish you a happy new year? We can also invite them to have a meal together and have a good chat today!"

Guo Jia laughed heartily upon hearing this: "That's a good idea! We both thought of the same thing, so why wouldn't I agree? Let's go together!"

After saying that, he greeted his subordinates.

Then go out with Zhang Pingan.

"Thanks to you, I can ride in a luxurious carriage today. Wow, luxury cars are just different!" Guo Jia exclaimed.

"Stop teasing me. You haven't met many good horses in the post station," Zhang Ping'an looked over coldly.

"Hahaha! Don't be angry, I was wrong," Guo Jia quickly begged for mercy.

"How are you doing recently? You're doing pretty well as a steward. I think everyone in the posthouse respects you now. If you work for a while longer, your promotion to a senior steward will be just around the corner!" Zhang Ping'an asked.

Speaking of this, Guo Jia was also a little proud. Without some skills, he really couldn't get along in such a place.

He said modestly, "Not bad! But being a manager isn't easy. I have a lot of chores to do on weekdays. I only have a few days off. After the New Year, candidates from all over the south will come to Lin'an to take the exams, and then I'll be busy again."

After saying that, he remembered that Zhang Pingan was also going to take the exam, and couldn't help but ask with concern: "How is it, are you sure about this year?"

"It's okay. The teachers in the provincial school are all very good. Plus, during the winter vacation, my father-in-law also gave me some private guidance. My knowledge has improved a lot compared to before. I'll give it my best try," Zhang Ping'an said, looking out the window.

There is no time to stop in life. As long as you are alive, you have to move forward!

"I believe you can do it," Guo Jia patted Zhang Ping'an's shoulder and said affirmatively.

After a while, we arrived at Jinbao's house.

Jin Bao was also very surprised to see the two of them coming over. He went up to them and said, "Ping An, I just went to your house to pay New Year's greetings. Auntie said you were not at home. I was thinking of looking for you later, otherwise you would have to go to school again in a couple of days!"

Zhang Pingan spread his hands helplessly and said, "There's nothing I can do. This is a critical moment. I'm still taking classes at my father-in-law's house on the morning of New Year's Eve! I can only take two days off on the first and second days of the New Year. On the third day, I have to go back to the provincial school to continue studying hard."

"Ah? So fast!" Jin Bao was surprised. He thought he would get the sixth place anyway. Then he felt full of sympathy. "You've suffered so much! As expected, not everyone can be the top person. I'm not that cut out for it."

Jinbao's parents were very happy to see the two of them coming to pay New Year's greetings, and they brought out a lot of food.

Hearing Jinbao's nonsense, he couldn't help but pat his son's shoulder and scolded him lightly, "What nonsense are you talking about? Ping'an is ambitious. Who is like you? You just write your storybook all day long. You are seventeen years old this year, eighteen in lunar age. You are not a young man anymore. You can't put off your marriage any longer. You must get married this year!"

"Oh, I get it, Mom, let's not talk about this anymore," Jinbao said a little embarrassedly.

Then he tried to wink at Zhang Pingan.

Zhang Pingan quickly came to the rescue and said, "Aunt, we have to go to Yifei's house next. We plan to have lunch together and chat at noon. Is that okay with you?"

"Hey, go! Take Jinbao out for more walks," Jinbao's mother spoke very kindly to Zhang Ping'an, perfectly illustrating what it meant to treat people differently.