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

Chapter 431 The Survivor Becomes the King

Seeing someone coming, Mr. Fan turned around and smiled faintly, "The weather is nice today, come walk with me!"

Zhang Pingan nodded: "Yeah!"

There is no need for many words to be a close friend, the friendship of the heart is better than words!

The two of them strolled along the lake in perfect tacit understanding, neither of them speaking.

After walking for a while, when they arrived at the small ferry crossing, Mr. Fan was obviously in a much better mood. He smiled and said, "Today is a beautiful day, a perfect day for a trip. Safe, let's go aboard and chat, please!"

"Mr. Fan, please come in first!" Zhang Ping'an bowed and saluted.

In terms of age and seniority, Mr. Fan was the senior, so he did not hesitate and stepped onto the boat first.

Zhang Pingan followed closely behind.

Mr. Fan ordered an ordinary black-sailed boat, which was very simple. The cabin was covered with a bamboo awning, the deck was covered with straw mats, and there was a small table in the middle, just enough space for two people to sit.

Side dishes and wine glasses have been placed on the table, and the wine pot is placed in a small clay stove and warmed by charcoal fire, exuding bursts of wine aroma.

The boatman was a weathered old man who was standing at the bow of the boat. After seeing both of them get on board, he held up a long pole and steered the boat away from the pier.

February is not the season for boating. Looking around, I saw only the black-sailed boat I was sitting on on the vast lake.

Mr. Fan introduced it, "Don't be fooled by the simplicity of this black-sailed boat, but it's much more interesting to ride on than the exquisite painted boat."

"It's indeed a unique scenery," Zhang Pingan said with a smile.

But it’s just very cold!

"Although there is a big age gap between us, we have similar interests. Now, we are no longer destined to be father-in-law and son-in-law," Mr. Fan sighed, looking very regretful.

Then he suggested, "If you're willing, why don't we call each other uncle and nephew from now on? It will make us seem closer!"

Zhang Ping'an naturally agreed when he heard this. He had wanted to do this for a long time. Every time he called the other party by his achievements, he felt very distant. He wanted to call him uncle and nephew, but he was afraid that Mr. Fan would think he was taking advantage of him. Now it would be best if Mr. Fan brought it up himself!

He immediately said, "Of course I am willing!"

After saying this, he raised his head and looked at Mr. Fan seriously, "I have always regarded you as a benefactor in my life. Without your guidance, I would not have passed the examination so quickly and taken the first step towards the imperial examination."

Mr. Fan shook his head and said calmly: "This is all your own good fortune!"

Zhang Pingan smiled and didn't argue. He would always remember this favor.

He casually took out the wine pot warmed in the small clay stove and poured a glass for each of them. Then Zhang Pingan continued to ask, "Uncle Fan, we just finished the imperial examination. Logically, I must have received many invitations from my classmates. You specially invited me to go boating on the lake today. But what do you want to tell me?"

After all, this is not like Mr. Fan's usual style of doing things.

"It's rare to have leisure time in life, so I spend my time lightly and slowly. The results of the imperial examination haven't been announced yet, and I don't want to spend my rare free time on meaningless reciting poems and composing couplets," said Mr. Fan with a loud laugh.

"I'm being vulgar!" Zhang Ping'an laughed.

"No, when I was your age, I was also keen on making friends. It's just that I'm older now and I don't have the energy to do so. Besides, it doesn't matter if you have many close friends, two or three are enough," said Mr. Fan.

His face showed a rare look of ease and comfort.

Then he invited: "Ping An, eat the food first, don't just talk."

Zhang Ping'an was not in a hurry, it was still early anyway!

When they were almost done eating, Fan Juren said with a hint of sadness, "I wonder how many more opportunities like this we'll have to eat together in the future."

"Well, what do you mean?" Zhang Pingan was surprised.

"To be honest, my uncle has already helped me get the position of county magistrate in a small county under Lin'an. Regardless of whether I pass the imperial examination this time, I will leave Lin'an in a month, and we will have fewer opportunities to meet in the future," said Mr. Fan calmly, looking at the lake.

"Uncle Fan, why is it so sudden? Didn't you say before that you wanted to settle down in Lin'an?" Zhang Ping'an was puzzled.

"The situation is stronger than people. How can everything go as planned? There are too many dragons crossing the river in Lin'an. I, a small fish and shrimp, am not worthy of attention. It is better for me to go to the county town below. At least I am the parent official of a place and can make decisions on my own on all matters, big or small. This is better than staying in Lin'an." Speaking of this, Mr. Fan was also helpless.

With the support of the Yue family, he has already gained a lot of conveniences. Now is the time when he is needed to contribute, so he has to respond.

If it weren't for this reason, he would have never thought of taking the imperial examination again.

Zhang Pingan understood somewhat after hearing this, but since Mr. Fan was already quite old, he couldn't help but feel a little worried: "I remember your family is still in Jinling, right? Are you going to take up the post alone this time?"

Mr. Fan drained the wine in his cup before replying, "For the time being, I'll be going alone, but I have a housekeeper and servants to take care of me, so it won't be a problem. As for my family, they'll come to Lin'an this month. Let them stay there for now, and I'll take them over after I take up my post and settle down."

"From the perspective of his official career, I have to congratulate Uncle Fan. After all, a county magistrate is an official of a certain rank. I wonder which county it is and how far it is from Lin'an?" Zhang Ping'an asked with a complicated mood.

In ancient times, transportation was slow and letters had to travel far, so many people might never see each other again in their lifetime after separation.

Mr. Fan shook his head. "I haven't decided which county to go to yet, but it won't be too far from Lin'an, at most two hundred miles."

After saying this, he pointedly said, "To put it bluntly, it's just to make it easier to supply Lin'an."

Zhang Pingan understood it too, but: "It's better to lean on a big tree for shade than to fight alone. After all, a single tree can't make a forest!"

Smart people understand it immediately!

"What about you? The Qian family is a prominent family, so they must have made some arrangements for you," asked Mr. Fan.

"Probably, but he hasn't told me yet. I guess we'll have to wait until the results are announced," Zhang Pingan said frankly.

"Sometimes I really envy you," Mr. Fan sighed.

Zhang Ping'an showed a listening expression, but Mr. Fan stopped talking and changed the subject, "When I was young and read the 'Chronicles of Shang and Zhou Dynasties', I could never understand why Cheng Gong, who was so ordinary, could live to the end and die peacefully when the Xin Dynasty was established, at the age of seventy-seven!"

He paused before continuing, "In terms of martial arts, he was the worst. He couldn't match the bravery of the others. In terms of fighting, he wasn't a suitable general. In terms of statecraft, he was mediocre. In every aspect, he was average. So many heroes were better than him, yet he alone had the best ending. I was very unconvinced at the time, but now, having lived to this age, I understand a little bit."

"My nephew would like to hear the details," Zhang Pingan said respectfully.

He had read "The History of Shang and Zhou" when he was studying in Luo Fu's private school. Of course he knew that Cheng Gong was one of the twenty-four heroes of the Xin Dynasty and was buried in Tailing. He also had the best ending among the twenty-four heroes.

The Cheng family is still one of the five famous families and seven surnames.

Many families of other founding heroes fell into decline.

Mr. Fan stroked his beard and said slowly, "I think it's precisely because he's not the best in any aspect and knows how to advance and retreat that he was able to survive to the end. In fact, the one who survives becomes the king!"

Zhang Pingan was startled when he heard this, and he bowed and said, "Thank you for your teachings, nephew understands!"

"I hope we can all be the last ones left," Mr. Fan smiled, then looked at the lake and muttered to himself, "The wind is picking up!"

After that, he ordered the boatman: "Boatman, the wind is picking up, row back!"

The old man responded loudly: "Oh, okay!"

Mr. Fan looked at the rippling lake, feeling a little sad in his heart. In this turbulent era, he really didn't want to end up as a slave of a conquered country when he was old!

Mr. Fan couldn't help but think that he hoped the good connections he made today would help him in the future.