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

One night passed, and the next day was the first day of the first lunar month.

Zhang Ping'an is the busiest person in the family. As the county magistrate, he naturally has countless visitors on New Year's Day. He has to entertain some of them and invite them to have a cup of tea and chat for a while.

Chen Jianqiu was not used to this kind of occasion, and it was mainly Hua Wanli who helped him deal with it.

It wasn't until after 3 p.m. that things got better, and gradually fewer people came.

Hua Wanli is not very good at socializing, but he is not averse to it. He can get by with a perfunctory attitude. He is more suitable for getting practical things done.

Having finished his work, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. His face was tired, and he took a sip of hot tea and said, "I've been full of water today and have been to the toilet several times. I'm afraid my burps will smell like tea now."

"Now it seems that studying medicine is much simpler. Being a doctor is indeed more suitable for me. In fact, I have noticed that both the visitors and the visited are exhausted by such social engagements, but they have to do it. It's so tiring!" Chen Jianqiu shook his head and sighed.

"There's no other way. This kind of socializing is an inevitable exchange of power and interests. The official network relies on these personal connections. It has been like this for thousands of years throughout the dynasties. The tradition of ritual governance has moralized socializing. If you don't follow this rule and refuse to participate, it will be regarded as a violation of the ethical principle of 'harmony is the most important' and you will be isolated by everyone. Who can escape this rule?" Zhang Pingan rubbed his forehead and explained lightly.

"I understand the logic, I just see that you are so tired," Chen Jianqiu replied, shaking his head.

"Let's not talk about this anymore. It's only today. Just bear with it and it will pass. By the way, Ping An, are you going back to Lin'an on the third day of the New Year?" Hua Wanli asked with a smile, cheering up.

The few of them have a good relationship. When they are alone, they still call each other by their names like they did when they were classmates.

To be honest, sometimes when there were some annoying things in the court, Zhang Ping'an could only confide in a few friends. If he told his family, firstly, they didn't understand and it would be useless to tell them, and secondly, Zhang Ping'an didn't want to tell them and make them anxious for no reason.

Fortunately, he still has these friends around him, who have helped him a lot with government affairs.

"Yes, we will go back on the third day of the New Year. My fifth sister and her husband should be back tomorrow. We will rest for one more night on the second day. On the morning of the third day, my father, my fifth sister and her husband and I will go back to Lin'an to wish our relatives a happy new year. We will be back on the morning of the sixth day. My grandparents are old and cannot travel, and my wife is pregnant, so it is inconvenient for her to travel. My mother will stay here to take care of her," Zhang Ping'an replied.

"Then you must have been more tired this year than usual. Excluding the time spent on the road, you only had one day of free time at most," said Hua Wanli.

"It's okay, it's nothing. We're riding in a carriage anyway. After all, etiquette cannot be abolished. We still have to follow the proper etiquette. It's not like we're far away. I have to visit my uncle, my aunt's family, and my father-in-law's family to wish them a happy new year. In addition, I have to visit Lin Junhui and several of my classmates from the provincial school. It's necessary to go back," Zhang Ping'an said in a deep voice with a firm look in his eyes.

After saying that, he worriedly instructed the two of them, "I'll be away for a few days, so I'll have to trouble you two to keep an eye on everything going on in the county!"

"No problem, don't worry," Chen Jianqiu said immediately.

"Then...Would you like to stop by and see Lord Zhou, or ask the Ministry of War for some news? Brother Ge and his men took such a big risk, so many people died, and went all the way to Luzon to bring back the sweet potatoes he wanted. We can't just do it without any thanks, right? Until now, the pensions for those who died and the medical expenses for the injured are still paid by our county government," Hua Wanli suddenly thought of the people lying in the clinic and asked.

Up to now, more than twenty days have passed, and I still haven’t received a reply from Mr. Zhou!

It really makes me angry when I think about it!

"The war on the front line is urgent now. I don't know whether Lord Zhou has returned to Lin'an for the New Year. Let's see after I return to Lin'an. In any case, those people in the clinic must be well settled," Zhang Ping'an pondered.

"I understand this, but I just feel a little bit resentful in my heart," Hua Wanli sighed.

On the morning of the next day, around noon, Fang Ziqi took Wu Ya back to the county government office.

"I don't know what's wrong with the weather this year, but it's snowing so heavily and the roads are not easy to walk on. We've been delayed for some time. Grandpa, grandma, father-in-law, mother-in-law, I'm here to wish you a happy new year," Fang Ziqi said with a smile on his face, saying some auspicious words, and pulling Wu Ya to kowtow to several elders to wish them a happy new year.

"Get up quickly, get up quickly, the ground is cold," Xu said hurriedly.

The whole family had a happy lunch together.

Fang Ziqi will also return to Lin'an tomorrow. The luggage has been packed long ago, and since we are only staying for one night, there is no need to unload it.

Although it is a bit tiring during the Chinese New Year, as long as I think about how well I have done in the past year and how I can show off in front of my relatives, friends and classmates when I go back, I suddenly feel less tired and full of energy!

Green Bean Eyes' health has not fully recovered yet, so he cannot travel and cannot go back home for the New Year this year. Therefore, he specially prepared some gifts before the New Year for Zhang Pingan to take to his family as a token of his appreciation.

Early in the morning of the third day of the Lunar New Year, when it was still light, several people set off with their servants and followers.

Wu Ya was unhappy at the thought of going back to face her mother-in-law and her entire family, and she twisted her handkerchief into a flower in the carriage.

Fang Ziqi didn't tolerate it either. He pretended not to see it. He was in a good mood and lifted the car curtain to look at the scenery outside the window. He felt it was beautiful.

Wu Ya couldn't stand seeing her husband looking so complacent and pretending that she didn't exist.

He snorted coldly and said sarcastically, "Humph, I don't know what you're so proud of. When we get back, mother will definitely urge us to have children again. We'll both be twenty this year, twenty-two in lunar age. People around us our age are all already children and can run around. Your sisters-in-law will definitely be showing off their sons in a sarcastic way. Isn't that embarrassing!"

Fang Ziqi turned around and gave Wu Ya a cold look when he heard this: "Who can I blame? It's just that your pregnancy is not going well!"

Seeing Fang Ziqi's nonchalant and calm demeanor, Wu Ya was even more furious. After a moment of anger, she laughed out loud: "Okay, I'm not the only one to bear this, so laugh if you want to. After all, you can't take a concubine. Let's see how long you can stop laughing!"

The atmosphere dropped to freezing point in an instant, and the two people behind ignored each other and remained silent all the way.

The atmosphere on Zhang Ping'an's side was much better.

As Zhang Laoer got older, he became much more talkative than when he was young. He liked to chat with his son about family matters, and Zhang Pingan was willing to listen patiently. The two chatted all the way.

They arrived in Lin'an in the afternoon of the fourth day of the New Year. Both sides went back to their respective homes. Fang Ziqi took Wu Ya and said goodbye and returned to the Fang family, while Zhang Pingan returned to his own house.

There are servants in both houses who clean the place every day, so it is very comfortable to live in.