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

Zhang Ping'an has been through so many years of experience and has a first-rate ability in observing people's expressions. How could he not see the embarrassment on Maodan'er's face?

But I didn’t think too much about it. I just thought the child was being naughty. After all, what child isn’t naughty?

"Is this kid always getting into trouble?" Zhang Ping'an asked with a smile.

Maodan scratched his head: "It's okay, it's okay. Xiaoyu'er's uncles all dote on him. If there's anything wrong, the Qian family will come over and solve it!"

"It seems that he was spoiled by his grandparents and uncles. It's my fault that I couldn't be there to teach him. When I return to Lin'an, I will have to teach him a lesson," Zhang Ping'an said with a doting smile.

Although he said that he would control his temper, judging from his expression, he might not be able to do it if he really went back.

Maodan didn't take this seriously.

Who made this little cousin so lucky that he could be reincarnated and enjoy life?

After a few days, Zhang Ping'an finally received a reply to the letter he sent back to Lin'an.

Xiao Yifei and Jin Bao both knew that Qian Youyi went to Zhoushan to recuperate, but they didn't know how serious the situation was and just thought he was going there to recuperate.

After all, Qian Youyi gave everyone the impression that he was in poor health since he got married, so no one was surprised.

After receiving Zhang Ping'an's letter, Xiao Yifei and Jin Bao made a special visit to his home.

What I heard from Zhang Laoer and Xu was similar to what Chibao said.

Then the two of them took a boat to Zhoushan, and they did their best for Zhang Pingan.

But the people in Zhoushan are all members of the Qian family, and it belongs to the Qian family's private villa. Qian Youyi will not see them, and they cannot enter without permission.

In the end, I still didn't know the specific situation.

There was a hint of apology in his words.

By the way, it was mentioned that the Liu family had received their letter and was relieved to know that Maodaner had arrived in Runan Prefecture safely.

Zhang Pingan naturally didn't blame them, but the uneasiness in his heart became even stronger.

The letter from brother-in-law Qian Ying arrived later. He first asked Zhang Pingan not to blame him for hiding the truth, as he was also well-intentioned. Then he said that Qian Youyi was recuperating well in the villa and asked him not to worry.

After he returns to Lin'an, I will explain it to him in person.

It was all in vain, and Zhang Pingan felt depressed for a moment.

After waiting for more than ten days, the petition for leave was finally approved, and it was almost the end of the year.

Looking at the big words "Not Allowed" on it, Zhang Pingan felt completely disheartened for a moment.

My mood is colder than the heavy snow outside the window!

Ruan San was warming himself by the fire and asked, "What's wrong?"

"No!" Zhang Pingan replied expressionlessly.

"No?" Ruan San repeated himself before coming to his senses. He stood up and said, "Your family leave won't be approved?"

"That's right, it was rejected, alas!" Zhang Pingan sighed heavily.

After saying that, he picked up the remaining letters and looked at them. This time, he immediately stood up in shock.

Before Ruan San could comfort him, seeing Zhang Pingan's shock, he asked blankly, "What happened?"

"Not only did they not grant me leave, but the Ministry of Personnel actually wanted to transfer me to the front line in Kaifeng to serve as the governor and pacification envoy!" It was rare for Zhang Ping'an to show his emotions so openly, and it was obvious that he was very surprised.

"That means I've been promoted again. The Governor-General is of the fourth rank!" Ruan San blurted out upon hearing that.

For a moment, he didn't know whether to congratulate Zhang Pingan on his promotion or to comfort him for not being granted leave.

The Jinglüe Anfushi was considered a relatively high-ranking position among frontline civil servants, second only to the third-rank Xuanfushi.

He was mainly in charge of the military, political and civil affairs of a route. For example, the famous Justice Bao of the previous dynasty once served as the Pacifier of Hebei Road.

"Not only that, it seems that my eldest brother-in-law will also go with me. He is a fifth-rank official and is responsible for the battles in the provincial capitals near Kaifeng," Zhang Pingan continued.

"What about me?" Ruan San asked expectantly.

"You are not mentioned in the memorial," Zhang Ping'an shook his head.

"Oh, well, it's a good thing anyway, you get a promotion," Ruan San felt disappointed, but also happy for the two of them.

Then he perked up and asked, "When do we leave?"

"The sixteenth day of the first lunar month!" Zhang Pingan replied.

"There's still time. I'll help you prepare your luggage and dry food," Ruan San nodded in response.

He sighed again, "You've been transferred here and there these past few years, your official position has gotten higher and higher, but you've never had time to go home. I know you're upset, but there's nothing we can do about it. Among the five most important things, Heaven, Earth, Emperor, Parents, and Teachers, Emperor comes first. Sister-in-law will definitely be blessed by fate. It's okay. If you lose your composure, wouldn't your uncle and aunt in Lin'an, who are taking care of Xiaoyuer, be even more worried!"

"Ruan San, I know what you said makes sense, but I have been feeling very panicked these past two days. My eyelids have been twitching, and I always feel like something big is going to happen," said Zhang Ping'an, touching his twitching eyelids.

"If your left eye twitches, it means good fortune; if your right eye twitches, it means disaster. Which eyelid does it twitch? Well, actually it doesn't matter which side you have. I'll tear off some white paper and stick it on. It will be fine in a while."

As he said that, Ruan San stood up and tore off some white paper from the desk, dipped it in tea, and wanted to stick it on Zhang Ping'an.

"Jumping on both sides, stop working!" Zhang Pingan shook his head.

Unfortunately, Ruan San was a superstitious leader and was very persistent, so he finally put it on.

When Liu Sanlang and his son Maodan came back from hunting outside the city, he found out that the two were going to the front line in Kaifeng.

The first thing he thought of was what to do with the cat eggs?

"Dad, that's nothing. I can just go to Kaifeng with you guys when the time comes. I've wanted to go to the battlefield for a long time. A good man should fight on the battlefield and make achievements. Why doesn't a man take Wu Gou and take over the fifty states of Guanshan? Haven't you heard of it?"

Maodan gulped down a cup of tea, wiped his mouth and said nonchalantly.

As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Sanlang slapped him on the head.

"I think you've had too many good days. Do you think going to the battlefield to kill the enemy is just for fun? Whether you want to make achievements or kill the enemy, having me in our family is enough," Liu Sanlang said in a deep voice with a serious expression.

"I think we should let him eat and send him back, but he will definitely not have a good New Year's celebration. He won't be able to reach Lin'an until after the New Year," Zhang Ping'an suggested.

"Alas, this is the only way. I just have to trouble you to eat. He has been serving you all the time. If he leaves, you will definitely not be used to it, and you will not be able to make it to the front line in Kaifeng with us," Liu Sanlang sighed, feeling very sorry.

"That's fine, let him take care of the family in Lin'an," Zhang Ping'an waved his hand and said, "The child's safety comes first!"

Maodan was so anxious when he heard the two of them decide his future in just a few words that he stiffened his neck and said stubbornly, "I won't!"

Seeing Liu Sanlang's big eyes staring at him, although he felt a little timid, he still insisted: "I won't go back!"

After saying that, he went to beg Zhang Pingan again: "Uncle, please help me talk to my father. I don't want to go back to Lin'an. There's no point in going back to Lin'an. I'm stuck in the city all day, with all sorts of trivial things to do. At most, I go out of the city to ride horses and take a walk. It's so boring!"