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

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, everyone's life went on as usual. Zhang Ping'an basically went back and forth between the academy and his home. Xiao Yifei originally wanted to invite everyone to go for an outing, but in the end it didn't happen.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the courses in the outer dormitory have become more demanding and the pace of classes has become faster. According to what Master Lin said, the students who rank in the top three in the outer dormitory's exams at the end of this year are expected to participate in the county exam in February next year. The academy is not a place to waste time. If you don't have the perseverance and talent to persist in studying, it is better to drop out as soon as possible.

Zhang Ping'an felt he could handle this pace of study. He was determined to take the imperial examinations, and at the very least, he had to earn the title of scholar. It was just hard for Jinbao. Going to school was more difficult than taking medicine. Before coming to Qingsong Academy, Jinbao was most afraid of taking medicine because it was too painful. After coming to Qingsong Academy, he felt that attending classes was even more difficult than taking medicine.

Fortunately, Qingsong Academy does not advocate corporal punishment, and the teachers will not pay too much attention to students with poor academic performance. It is equivalent to free growth, so Jinbao can continue to survive.

Another thing happened in the middle. Zhang Laoer asked Master Luo to find out about a reliable embroidery workshop and sent Wu Ya and Liu Ya to work as apprentices. They were provided with food and accommodation but no wages. Zhang Laoer even had to pay 200 coins every month.

Originally, they were planning to send Si Ya there, but firstly, Si Ya herself didn't want to go, and secondly, the embroidery workshop didn't hire girls of such an old age. Furthermore, considering that Si Ya was talking about someone else, it would not be convenient for her to go to the embroidery workshop. In the end, they decided to let Si Ya stay at home to help.

In the blink of an eye, it was the beginning of winter. People eat dumplings on this day. Zhang Pingan read a book while eating. There will be a class placement test tomorrow. The teaching progress of Class A and Class B is completely different. Only students who enter Class A will have the chance to enter the top three in the final exam and qualify for the county exam.

Seeing her son so absorbed in his work, Xu felt a little distressed. However, she had also gained a lot of experience in the past few months in the county town and knew she couldn't let him down. Perhaps it was the county town's climate and soil that shaped people, as Xu had actually looked younger since arriving. The one who suffered the most was Zhang Laoer, who had to travel back and forth between the county town and the village.

Suddenly, there were several urgent knocks on the door. Xu went to open it and saw that it was the youngest son of the widow next door. She asked in confusion, "Why are you here to fetch water so late?"

The little boy shook his head and cried, "I'm not here to fetch water. Could you please drive my brother to the clinic? He's injured and has a fever. My mother and I can't help him."

Xu was a little hesitant and not very willing in her heart. There were always a lot of gossips around a widow, especially a beautiful widow. She didn't want her man to have too much contact with the neighbor.

The courtyard wasn't soundproof, so Zhang Pingan heard it too. In this day and age, fever was still an acute illness that could be fatal if not taken seriously. Since this matter involved life and death, he had to lend a hand. He had almost finished reading his book, so he stood up and said, "I'll go with my dad. Otherwise, it might not be very convenient, and it also concerns your mother's reputation."

The little boy nodded and said thank you: "Thank you!"

Zhang Laoer was also hesitating whether to help. He was not a heartless man, but there were always troubles around a widow, and he had the same concerns as Xu. After hearing what his son said, he no longer hesitated, put down the bowl, and got up to drive the carriage.

This was the first time Zhang Ping'an entered the yard next door. Although this yard only had two rooms, it was obviously very clean. The yard was in good order, and even the firewood was neatly stacked.

The little boy led the two of them into the room near the gate. Zhang Ping'an found that the legendary widow was indeed very beautiful. No wonder she usually did not go out, otherwise this family would not have been able to live the peaceful life they have now.

"Sorry to trouble you, brother. My surname is Chen and my husband's surname is Li. It is my eldest son Li Mingxuan who has a fever now. If it were not absolutely necessary, I would not let my children call you over. It's because my eldest son has had a fever for a while and he can't be woken up. It looks very dangerous. My family doesn't have a car and I can't help him walk so far. I have to trouble you." Widow Chen said while shedding tears. She was obviously very anxious, and her youngest son beside her also burst into tears.

Zhang Laoer looked at the poor family and without saying anything, he stepped forward, picked up Li Mingxuan and walked out. Widow Chen hurriedly put on her hat and pulled her youngest son to follow.

In the evening, the mule cart traveled smoothly and arrived at the county clinic in about a quarter of an hour. Zhang Laoer often delivered medicinal materials in the county and was familiar with all the clinics. He chose one with good medical skills and reasonable consultation fees.

You have to help people to the end. Of course, you can't leave so soon after sending the person to the hospital. You have to help take the person back later. Zhang Laoer and Zhang Ping'an were waiting in the outer room. After a while, the crying of Widow Chen was heard from the inner room. She sounded very sad and anxious, which made Zhang Ping'an think that it was too late to send the person to the hospital and she could not be cured.

After asking the medicine boy, she learned that in addition to the fever, Li Mingxuan had external injuries all over his body, both new and old, and they were red and purple and looked very scary. Widow Chen felt sorry for her son and burst into tears when she saw them.

Because the fever was so severe, the doctor asked the medicine boy to boil a strong medicine in the clinic and gave it to Li Mingxuan to drink first. After the fever subsided slightly, he wrote a prescription and asked him to take the medicine home. He also prescribed a bottle of medicinal wine for the external injuries, saying that he could be cured by rubbing the wound.

Zhang Laoer had a favor with this clinic, so the doctor gave him a few cents as a symbolic change.

After nearly an hour of trouble, they finally returned home. When they reached the door, Widow Chen thanked them profusely, but Zhang Laoer and Zhang Ping'an didn't care and just waved their hands and went in.

Before going to bed, Zhang Laoer went to his son's room and sternly warned him: "If you are bullied by your classmates in the academy in the future, and you feel that studying in the academy is not so good, you must tell your father that we are from the countryside, and you are smart, you can live well anywhere, and there is no need to get entangled with those powerful people. Although your father hopes that you will have a bright future, the prerequisite is that you can live comfortably and peacefully. This is your greatest expectation for you, and this was the intention when I gave you this name."

Zhang Ping was at a loss for words. "Dad, what are you thinking? Am I the type to keep things to myself? My classmates at the academy are all really nice to me, and no one bullies me. I wouldn't get involved with those dandy boys, and I certainly wouldn't be so kind as to do things beyond my capabilities. Don't worry!"

Zhang Laoer nodded solemnly: "That's good. If there is anything, you must tell Dad."

"Well, I know," Zhang Pingan assured again and again before Zhang Laoer went back to his room to sleep.

The next day was the class placement test. Zhang Pingan and Liu Shengyuan were eager to try, but Jin Bao had a bitter look on his face.