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

Zhang Ping'an had been looking forward to it for a long time. After receiving the letter, he quickly made an appointment with Liu Shuisheng to meet that afternoon.

The two of them didn't go far and met at Mingxinxuan in the suburbs of Beijing. It was a quiet place and convenient for talking.

It's been many years since we last met. I recall our childhood friendship and how we've suddenly become friends.

Zhang Pingan was both excited and emotional.

I felt a little restless, which was rare in the tea room.

Because Liu Shuisheng had something urgent to do, he stayed at the store for a while longer and arrived a little late.

"Knock knock knock," the waiter knocked lightly a few times at the door of the private room and said respectfully, "Master Zhang, your guest has arrived!"

"Come in!" Zhang Pingan responded loudly.

The door was gently opened, and Liu Shuisheng was seen standing at the door with his hands behind his back, smiling. His facial features were exactly as Zhang Pingan remembered.

But compared to his previous immaturity, Liu Shuisheng is now obviously much calmer and more capable, with a bright look. Although he wears a brocade robe, he does not look extravagant. Instead, he is humble and has a strong Confucian businessman temperament.

Her hair was neatly tied up with an ebony hairpin.

The corners of his eyes only slightly curved when he smiled, his gaze inadvertently carrying a bit of the shrewdness that is unique to businessmen.

To be honest, this is somewhat different from the image Zhang Pingan imagined.

In the past, Liu Shuisheng had a very lively personality, he was clever and cunning.

It’s very different from now.

"Ping'an, long time no see. You are exactly as I imagined you to be," Liu Shuisheng spoke first.

Then he casually gave the waiter a piece of silver as a reward and sent him away.

I walked over and sat down without any hesitation, pouring myself a cup of tea.

Zhang Pingan quickly reacted upon seeing this, and shook his head with a helpless smile. It seemed that everything just now was just his illusion, and the person was still the same person!

"I arrived in the capital before you. Logically, I am the host. How can I let you pour the tea by yourself? Let me do it," said Zhang Pingan, taking the teapot and helping to add tea.

He then stirred the charcoal fire in the tea stove.

"Don't try to be so rude. You still want to make a clear distinction between us?!" Liu Shuisheng smiled and waved his hands, saying unhappily.

Then he took a sip of tea and said, "Don't stir the charcoal fire, just drink warm tea. I don't care about these things!"

"Okay, I'll listen to you," Zhang Pingan smiled.

In just a few words, the strangeness between the two of them disappeared for the most part.

Liu Shuisheng first asked about his family's recent situation.

Although Zhang Ping'an had mentioned a lot in their previous correspondence, it was not as reassuring as asking in person.

Zhang Ping'an understood and patiently replied, "My family is doing well. My eldest and second brothers are both working in the canal transport industry and have become small bosses. We're not rich, but we're living a stable life. My uncle and aunt are in good health, too. I learned all this through family letters.

Honestly, if you're worried, why don't you go back to Lin'an yourself to take a look? Wouldn't that put your mind at ease? I haven't been back for several years. After the emperor holds the celebration banquet, I will definitely ask for leave to visit my family. Why don't you come with me?"

Liu Shuisheng hesitated to speak after hearing this, stroking the cup with his hand without saying anything.

A few old scars were inadvertently revealed on the back of his hand.

Zhang Pingan couldn't help but ask, "How did this happen? Why are there so many wounds on your hands?"

"Well, these are all left over from when I was trying to make a living. It's nothing, everything is fine now," Liu Shuisheng was brought back to his senses and replied nonchalantly, but avoided the previous question.

Zhang Ping'an speculated, "Are you afraid the Wu family will think too much, so you're embarrassed? If that's the case, I can go and talk to you. I have some connections in the capital. No matter how powerful the Wu family is, they are still just businessmen after all. I think they should still give you some face."

Liu Shuisheng sighed and waved his hand, "I know you mean well and are willing to stand up for me, but that's not entirely what I'm worried about. The main thing is that the identity of a son-in-law is not good. If I go back, I will only make my parents lose face. Sigh!"

Zhang Pingan couldn't help but frown after hearing this, and said in disapproval: "What are you talking about? Although I'm not in Lin'an, my second brother-in-law, your second brother, has said in letters many times that your uncle and aunt have cried several times because of you. It's just that the mountains are high and the waters are far away, and it's not peaceful. They can't go to Jiaozhou, otherwise they would have gone to the Wu family to look for you long ago. How could they look down on you because of your status as a son-in-law? You are worrying too much!"

"Alas, you don't understand. The Wu family has complicated relationships. I'm afraid that my family members will be implicated and talked about because of my identity. You know, even in our countryside, it's rare for poor bachelors to marry into other families. Let me think about it again!" Liu Shuisheng said.

In fact, he had been hesitant about this matter for a long time, but it was still difficult to make up his mind. He had to consider the secular perspective.

"When we separated, I knew your situation. I was asked to take all the money I had back to my family. You didn't have much money and no connections. It was a blessing to be alive. What was there to talk about status?

Besides, you're just a son-in-law. I have more than one son-in-law around me. I have a colleague who was born a son-in-law and is now serving in the palace as a fourth-rank military officer. Zhang Pingan comforted him.

Although the identity of a son-in-law is not very glorious, it depends on the time. In that chaotic world, it was not easy for a stutterer to survive.

Although Liu Shuisheng is a businessman, he has also heard some news in the officialdom.

After hearing this, he said thoughtfully, "Is it the son-in-law of the Dingzhou Du family, whose surname is Zhao?"

"Yes, it's him!" Zhang Pingan nodded. "Why, do you know him?"

"I've heard of him. He doesn't seem to be a good person. Although I don't know him, I have heard of some of his deeds. He must have talent, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to work in the palace with the same Jinshi degree. But I really despise the fact that he ignored his wife after rising to fame overnight," Liu Shuisheng said with a bit of disdain.

"He is a very smooth and versatile person. It's okay for him to say it to me, but don't say it to others," Zhang Pingan advised.

He would not interfere in other people's family affairs. There were so many people in the officialdom who had messy backyards that it was impossible to count them all.

He can only take care of himself first.

"Do you think I'm stupid? I definitely wouldn't say that," Liu Shuisheng said with a smile.

Then he suddenly remembered something and asked, "Oh, there's a guy named Ge Li from the Ge family in Lin'an. Do you know him? He said he was your classmate and helped you before. Is that true?"

"Who?" Zhang Pingan almost thought he had misheard. "Ge Li?"

"Yes, Ge Li, born in the Ge family of Lin'an!" Liu Shuisheng repeated again.

"If there is no one with the same name and surname in the Ge family of Lin'an, then it should be the one I know. He is indeed my classmate and he has helped me in Ci County before. We are also good friends. How do you know him?" Zhang Pingan asked in surprise.

"It's a long story, and it's also a coincidence. When he was leading people to Goryeo to do business, he was robbed in the East China Sea and was almost tortured to death. He told the pirates that he was from the Wu family in Jiaozhou. The pirates knew that the Wu family was rich and wanted to extort some silver, so they sent a letter to the Wu family. Later, I led people to rescue him. That's how we met. A lot of things happened in between. He even got married in Jiaozhou. He came with me to the capital this time. If you are free in the next two days, let's make an appointment to meet," said Liu Shuisheng.

"Oh my God, it really is fate," Zhang Pingan shook his head and smiled, and he couldn't help but sigh that the world is sometimes really small.

Then he thought for a moment and said, "Tomorrow is Buddha's Birthday. How about I call my brother-in-law and a colleague along, and we go to Daxiangguo Temple to relax?"

"That's great. That's exactly what I was thinking. The Buddha Bathing Festival at the Daxiangguo Temple in the capital has always been famous. This is the first time such a grand Buddhist meeting has been held since the capital returned. It must be very lively. Let's go and worship, ask for lots, and pray that we will have good luck in the future."

The two hit it off and made an appointment to go to Daxiangguo Temple together the next day.

They talked about the people and things in their hometown, as well as Mr. Luo and Uncle Daqiang's family.

He didn't return to the city until the city gate was about to close.