Patriarch, he doesn't want to take the imperial examinations

As a high-end entertainment place for dignitaries and dignitaries, music workshops are generally rarely located in downtown areas. This kind of "Qushui Liucup" style with three or two plucked silk strings and low echoes and clear waves should be elegant and harmonious. Tongyou.

Meng Hong and Tong Zisheng first had breakfast at a breakfast shop on the street, and then they got into a carriage and headed south.

Although it is snowing now, there are many pedestrians on the street.Meng Hong lifted the curtain of the car and took a few glances. There were a few elegant-looking scholars with bookcases on their backs, which were very eye-catching.

And there were quite a few of them, Meng Hong saw no less than twenty of them on this street alone.

There was a fine mist of snow in the sky again, Meng Hong put down the curtain of the car, and said to Tong Zisheng who was sitting opposite: "They, like you, also came to Beijing to rush for the exam."

Tong Zisheng knew that he was talking about those scholars walking on the street, so he nodded and said, "Yes."

The general examination will be in February next year, and some candidates from far away usually rush to the capital after the results of the local provincial examination. guild hall.

However, the number of rooms in the guild hall is limited, and candidates who come late have no vacant seats and can only find an inn to live in.However, the capital, as the city where the emperor lives, has every inch of land and every inch of gold, and the house price is expensive, and the hotel accommodation is even more expensive.

And this stay is not just for a few days, but for several months. Obviously, most candidates cannot afford such a high cost of accommodation.

The inns in the capital could not afford to live, so the candidates turned their attention to several counties around the capital. After several comparisons, Xianghe County became the best choice for them to settle down.

Firstly, Xianghe County is not far from the capital, and it takes more than an hour to get there by horse-drawn carriage. Second, the house prices in Xianghe County are not very high, which is within the acceptable range of candidates.

Moreover, Xianghe County is a large county, and there are many inns and private houses, so there are many options for candidates to choose from.

Meng Hong has lived in Xianghe County for 20 years. Although he is not a scholar, he has seen a lot of candidates from various provinces who come to Beijing to take the exam every three years, and he still knows something about it.

The candidates who were walking down the street with their bookcases on their backs just now came to Xianghe County to find a house for accommodation.

I can't help but think that it is really not easy for candidates in ancient times to take the test once. The transportation is not as convenient as in modern times. Candidates from some remote areas such as Yunnan, Guangxi and Fujian have to walk for at least two months to the capital. Or if there is insufficient financial support, it is really miserable. Some candidates can't even get sick, let alone pass the exam, they may lose their lives.

Once before the exam, Meng Hong sat in a teahouse with a few friends drinking tea and chatting, and a few candidates who came to Beijing for the exam happened to be sitting at the next table.

Meng Hong learned from their chats that these candidates were from Yunnan, and one of them had just arrived here before settling down in Xianghe County.

The other candidate who entered Beijing with this candidate was not so lucky. The other candidate got sick on the way to Beijing and died immediately.

When the examinee talked about this incident, he felt dejected and mournful.Meng Hong, who was an observer, was also moved, and he still felt very sad when he put his life into it for an exam.

Moreover, even if these candidates come to the capital safely, they may not be able to get what they want.There are so many candidates participating in the examination, but only a few of them are selected.

This is much more difficult than modern exams.There are still choices in modern examinations. If you can't pass the top schools, you can always take the lower ones.However, if you fail to pass the ancient exams, you will fail to pass the exam, and there is no other choice at all.

Either wait another three years, or don't take the exam.

But even if you take the exam again after three years, you may not be able to pass the exam.How many people spent three years and three years, not to mention wasting time and money, the sad thing is that they didn't go up to the next level of the exam until they died.

Meng Hong thought of such hearing, he was not a candidate, so he couldn't empathize with him, but he could probably feel the despair and sadness of the candidates when they failed the test.

He couldn't help but think of his father again. His father is a fairy in the sky, and he will definitely go back to the sky in the future.But his father failed the provincial examination this time, so he has to wait another three years, but even if he can pass the examination after three years, what will he do?

Who can guarantee that they will pass the exam.

What's more, if his father still fails the provincial examination after three years, he will have to wait another three years.

Three years and three years...

Meng Hong closed his eyes and thought about it, feeling inexplicably disturbed, why there was such a thing as an imperial examination in ancient times...

"Cousin Menghong?" At this moment, the carriage tripped over something, bumped for a while, then slowed down, and Tong Zisheng's call came from next to his ear.

Meng Hong opened his eyes, and met Tong Zisheng's clear and innocent eyes, and asked, "What's wrong?"

Tong Zisheng smiled and said, "Is Lefang still far from here? How long can we get there?"

Meng Hong leaned his back against the wall of the carriage, seeing his anxious look, he didn't understand why he was in such a hurry, and said idly, "I don't know, that place is quite remote, it should take a while to get there."

Tong Zisheng's eyes widened, as if he didn't believe it: "You don't know? Have you never been there?"

"I haven't been there!" Hearing his tone, Meng Hong felt that this person was making a fuss, "I'm not keen on listening to music, what to do there, I came with you because you said to treat guests. And I I also told you that the place is very expensive and not suitable for ordinary people's consumption."

There are not many music workshops in their Xianghe County, only one or two, which are specially set up for dignitaries, wealthy businessmen and businessmen. I heard that those rich businessmen and dignitaries closed the deal while listening to the music.

When it comes to Lefang, we have to mention the related brothels.The law of this dynasty clearly stipulates that civil and military officials are not allowed to sleep with prostitutes. Once discovered, they will be punished with a stick and served, and those who are serious will be dismissed.

But officials are also human beings, and when they are relaxed physically and mentally, the emperor forbids people to sleep with women outside. It is not illegal to listen to women playing music.

The music workshop came into being at this time, and it was dedicated to serve the dignitaries.The music workshop here is really a music workshop, just playing, not doing other business.

Most of the officials come here to seek a spiritual relaxation, to listen to the sounds of the mountains and rivers with some wealthy businessmen or colleagues, and talk about some things in the official business field by the way, why not do it.

Over time, Lefang became a special place for the powerful and rich gentry to come and go.Although it is difficult for ordinary people to enter, it is not impossible to come here. This place not only recognizes people, but also recognizes money. As long as you have enough silver, the door of the music workshop is open for you at any time.

"How much does it cost once?" Tong Zisheng couldn't help being curious and couldn't help asking a question after listening to the girls playing the pipa all the way.

"At least 20 taels." Meng Hong raised two fingers and said casually.

He didn't care what he said, but Tong Zisheng didn't listen so calmly anymore. 20 Liang is really nothing to rich and powerful people like them, maybe even a piece of clothing is not enough.

But listening to a few songs cost at least 20 taels, which Tong Zisheng felt was too expensive.Moreover, he has been studying since he was a child, and has not yet earned a penny for his family. His usual food and clothing are all provided by his family.

Take this test as an example, the money given to him by his family is enough for him to spend a year in the capital, but apart from that, there is no other extra money for him.

In fact, he is not a spendthrift person, but he just has a hobby of listening to the pipa.They had plenty of water in Suzhou, and sometimes they were tired of studying. He invited a few or five friends to go to the painting board of Taohuawu to listen to the girls playing a song, and his fatigue disappeared immediately.

But no matter on the painting board or in the building, he never spent more than one tael of silver for listening to a piece of music.Why is it so expensive here in the capital? Could it be that the closer you are to the emperor, the more you will pay for listening to a song? 20 taels is enough for him to spend half a year in Suzhou.

"If you think it's expensive, it's still too late to go back." Meng Hong saw that his face was a little embarrassed, he didn't know if it was because of the money, but no matter what the reason was, he didn't quite agree with Tong Zisheng going to the band to find fun and relieve his boredom.

"There are many places to relieve boredom. If you still feel bored, I can accompany you to tea houses or restaurants. There are so many people there. Sitting by the window, you can have a sweeping view of the scenery outside. It is pleasing to the eye and the mind. The pipa is bad."

Anyway, Tong Zisheng treats guests, Meng Hong thought, drinking and chatting with him is not impossible.

However, Tong Zisheng shook his head: "Since I have already come out, there is no reason to go back." It is hard to buy a beautiful song with a thousand dollars, but it is worth listening to the song for 20 taels.

In the future, what Tong Zisheng thought about was in the future, if he would come to listen to the music whenever he was bored in reading, how could it be possible with all the money he brought for the exam.

And if the family found out about this, his elder brother would come by boat overnight and skin him.So Tong Zisheng was worried, and that was what he was worried about.

Seeing his sad face, Meng Hong thought that he was probably struggling with money matters, but Tong Zisheng's family was engaged in brocade weaving business, so the conditions must not be bad.

I think he must be worried about whether he can continue to listen to the music in the future. Although Tong Zisheng's family has money, he is only a scholar now, and the money power is not in his hands. The little money given by the family can't stand him. .

"Why are you so sad, it's just a one-time pass, how dare you go back."

Meng Hong enlightened and persuaded.

Tong Zisheng shook his head and smiled: "That's really not the case. Let's not talk about it, I heard cousin Mengqing say that you are engaged, which family's girl is it? The second cousin and the first cousin are talented, and the girl you are looking for must be very gentle and beautiful."

The topic changed unexpectedly, and it suddenly came to Meng Hong in a good manner, but Meng Hong didn't want to talk about it, and there was nothing to say about this matter.

So he told him about himself and Deng Zhaozhao, and at the end he was embarrassed to say: "She is very beautiful, and she is so gentle."

But Tong Zisheng said calmly: "Second cousin is really happy, he can marry the woman he likes."

What do these words mean, Meng Hong looked up at him, did Tong Zisheng marry a woman he didn't like?

"It's the order of my parents and the words of the matchmaker. They say we are a good match, and if they want me to marry her, I will marry her. As for the others, who cares?"

These words are sad, look at this, Tong Zisheng's marriage is not what he wants.

But Meng Hong didn't intend to ask, this matter was endless, and if he talked too much, he was afraid it would be another bitter scene, so he changed the subject, and the two of them talked for a while, and they reached their destination without knowing it.

But on Mengzhen's side, Menghong came to him early in the morning to greet him, said a few words and left.

It snowed heavily last night, and I woke up this morning wrapped in silver makeup, looking around, it was full of white.

Mengzhen hadn't gone to school for several days, and today there was snow blocking him, so he felt more at ease at home, reading and writing, without being disturbed by anyone.

A morning passed like this, and at lunch time, none of his sons came to eat with him.

Meng Qing is usually not at home during the day, but Meng Hong is at home today, and Meng Che also came back from school in the morning, but these two people did not come over, Meng Zhen felt quite strange.

If you don't come, you won't come, Meng really thought, maybe he still needs to invite them, but he can't save that face, if he doesn't come, he will pay off his innocence.

After lunch, Meng Zhen planned to take a nap, but Nurse Song brought Meng Yuan over.

The people of Mengyuan have a good spirit, they don’t sleep at noon, they keep making noises in the house, and they exhaust the servants around them. Nurse Song sees that the child is quite obedient at Mengzhen’s place, and sometimes she will send the child to him. come over.

"Tell a story, Daddy tells a story." Meng Yuan had just been picked up by Meng Zhen, and he yelled at Meng Zhen to tell him a story.

Mengzhen frowned, and smiled.

"Okay, Dad will tell you stories, and I will tell you many, many stories." Meng Zhen smiled and carried him to the bed, and the father and son lay down face to face, and he began to tell stories to Meng Yuan.

Most of Mengzhen's stories are fairy tales, from Pangu opening up the sky, Nuwa creating man, Cangjie creating characters, Chang'e flying to the moon, Nezha making troubles in the sea, etc. These days, Mengzhen has told him no less than two stories. Ten such stories.

Today is about Yugong moving mountains. When Mengzhen talked about Yugong taking his sons and grandsons to lift stones and throw them into the sea, Meng Yuan happily clapped his hands and said, "I also want to move stones and throw them into the sea to fill up the sea."

Meng Zhen smiled and said: "You are so small and the stone is so big, how can you move it?"

Meng Yuan said: "Daddy moves, daddy can move."

Well, Meng Zhen showed a fatherly smile, he is the Yu Gong, the imperial examinations are the two mountains in front of him, he has to move them away before he can ascend.

After telling the story of the Yugong Yishan, Meng Yuan didn't fall asleep, so Meng Zhen told him another one, until the third story was finished, Meng Yuan opened his mouth, feeling sleepy, and threw his head into Meng Zhen's arms Go away, close your eyes and fall asleep.

Immediately afterwards, Meng Zhen also closed his eyes, and the father and son hugged each other, sleeping like this all afternoon.

When I woke up, it was almost dark.

Mengzhen has never slept such a long nap, presumably because the life at home is so comfortable that the dream is quiet, and he is not bothered by reading.

That's right, the township examination has to wait another three years, so what's the use of being anxious, as it is now, taking his son to read books, a leisurely life is good.

It was getting dark quickly in winter, and it was not long after Meng Zhen woke up that it was time for dinner.

This time they are all there, Meng Qing, Meng Che and Meng Yuan's three sons are all there, but Meng Hong and Tong Zisheng are not there.

Usually at dinner time, Tong Zisheng also ate with everyone in Mengzhen's room.

I don't know what happened tonight, it's fine if one is absent, but both of them are absent.

Could it be that these two people met and went out for dinner, but they didn't tell the family.

Meng Qing looked at the sumptuous food on the table, called the servant serving Tong Zisheng to him and asked, "Where is your son, why is no one coming for dinner?"

The servant replied: "My son went out with the second son Meng early in the morning, and he hasn't come back yet."

When Meng Hong's name was heard, Meng Qing raised his eyebrows, feeling that something was wrong, "Where did they go, do you know?"

The servant returned: "It seems to be some kind of music workshop. My young master wanted to hear someone play the pipa. It happened that the second young master knew the place, so he took my young master there."

"Nonsense!" Meng Qing slapped his chopsticks on the table, and his face immediately darkened, obviously extremely angry, "It's fine to make a fool of yourself, but also mislead others. Tong Zisheng came to Beijing to take the exam, not to accompany him to listen crooked."

"Then... the eldest son, do you want to send someone out to look for it?" It was already dark, and the Tong family servant was worried that his son would be hangover outside, so he wanted to use Meng Qing's hand to go out to find his son.

However, Meng Qing said: "Don't look for it, the music workshop closes at night, they should be able to come back later. If they can't come back..." If Meng Hong dared to go out with a hangover and wait for someone to come back, Meng Qingfei would break his leg No.

No matter how angry you are, you still have to eat.When dinner was almost finished, a servant came in and said: "Master, Eldest Young Master, Second Young Master and Tong Gongzi are back. Tong Gongzi was drunk and unconscious, Second Young Master carried him back to the house directly." Meng Qing's face darkened more powerful.Without saying anything, he got up and walked towards the West Sixth Courtyard.

Seeing Meng Qing's menacing look, Meng Zhen thought that when the two brothers meet, they will definitely quarrel, and Meng Hong will definitely be scolded bloody by Meng Qing for his wrongdoing.

It's better for him to go and have a look. With his old father around, Meng Qing shouldn't go too far.

When he came to Tong Zisheng's house, it happened that Mengqing scolded Menghong: "Today, Tong Zisheng's family sent a letter, asking us to urge people to study and study, and to avoid going to such unscrupulous places. It's good for you, instead of taking people there, He even got people drunk. If there is something wrong with him, I'll see how you explain it to the family."

Meng Hong thought to himself, if he was just drunk, what could be wrong.It'll be fine when I wake up tomorrow morning.

Meng Qing was already angry in his heart, but now seeing Meng Hong's indifferent attitude, he suddenly lost his patience, and he couldn't care about anything that made him lose face, so he took two steps forward and stopped him all at once. Meng Hong's skirt.

"Did you hear what I was talking to you? Do you think I was joking with you? If he is so drunk, you are not afraid that he will die drunk. Don't forget my father-in-law..."

Although he didn't finish what he said later, Meng Hong could tell that Meng Qing blamed him for his father-in-law's stroke.

He took Meng Qing's hand away from his clothes, and said angrily: "Wang Xiucai's stroke has nothing to do with me. It was his accidental stroke, and I didn't let him have it. Yes, I made him suffer." He drank, but it was not strong, and he should have been sober by night."

"What do you mean by turning over old accounts now? I know you have always been uncomfortable with me, no matter what I do or say, you can't catch your eyes, but you shouldn't put that trumped-up charge on onto me."

Speaking of this, Meng Hong suddenly stopped, and laughed twice: "Actually, you simply don't like me, you never treat me as your younger brother, you ask me this and that, and you want me to do what you want Come, but I am me, how can everything be as you want, always satisfy your heart. I let you down, so you don't like me everywhere. It happens that I have been unhappy with you for a long time, since the grudge has been deep, then Let's fight."

Meng Hong waited for Meng Qing to strike, but Meng Qing did not move for a long time, and his face was calmer than before.

"It turns out that I am such a person in your eyes." Meng Qing said calmly, "But I am your elder brother, shouldn't I ask you something? Now it is my fault. Do you know that you just now Those words are so rebellious, I will not fight with you, I want you to go to the ancestral hall with me, kneel in front of the ancestors of the Meng family and think about it..."

As he said that, he went to La Menghong, but Menghong blocked him, "No, I won't go to the ancestral hall. I'm not wrong, why should I kneel down to them."

"Kneel them?" Meng Qing didn't feel annoyed when Meng Hong threw his hand away, he just bit the word "they" and looked at Meng Hong inexplicably, "Who are they, not your grandparents, great grandpas, great grandmas, Even your mother?"

When he heard the word mother, Meng Hong felt a little ashamed and lowered his head in embarrassment.

"Let's go. I won't sleep tonight. I will accompany you to kneel in the ancestral hall. I am also at fault for cultivating you into the temperament you are now. It is my elder brother who did not do well."

Up to now, Meng Qing is still self-righteous, what kind of appearance is Meng Hong, and what does it have to do with Meng Qing.No matter how Meng Qing threatened, Meng Hong just refused to kneel in the ancestral hall with him.

"Why, you don't listen to my words? If you still think that you are a child of the Meng family, then come to the ancestors with me to admit your mistake. If you are not, get out of this house now, and don't come back later. Just pretend there is no one like you at home."

Meng Qing's words were quite blunt, but Meng Hong was unmoved, and confronted him: "Meng Qing, father is still here, and it's not your turn to scold me. Am I a child of the Meng family, not you? If you say it doesn't count, it doesn't matter, you want me to get out of this house, why do you want me to get out..."

Why didn't you go...

Meng Hong really wanted to say the last sentence, but he held back, he still regarded Meng Qing as his elder brother, he felt that letting his elder brother go, this word was too insulting.

"Meng Qing!" Meng Zhen, who had watched enough of the play, couldn't install any more background panels at the moment, and said to Meng Qing, "You have said enough, go back to your room."

He was partial to Meng Hong again, and Meng Qing knew that his father would say that again, so he gave Meng Hong a hard look, pointed at Tong Zisheng who was drunk and unconscious on the bed, and said: "You can watch carefully, if there is something wrong with someone , then there will be no place for you to cry." After speaking, he left angrily.

When only Meng Zhen and Meng Hong were left in the room, Meng Zhen wanted Meng Hong to rest earlier.

However, Meng Hong couldn't go to rest, and Meng Qing's words were not completely unreasonable.Tong Zisheng is so drunk, it's better to watch, otherwise, if...

If Tong Zisheng really had something wrong, not only would he not be able to explain it to the Tong family, but the court would also be unable to justify it.

A son is the pillar of the country, if Tong Zisheng had an accident in their house, the imperial court would definitely send officers and soldiers to investigate thoroughly, and then his Meng family might be implicated because of him.

"Father, go back and rest. I don't worry if this man is so drunk. I have to stay here tonight."

Seeing that he was persistent, Meng Zhen didn't say anything, told him not to be too tired, and then left Tong Zisheng's room.

Not long after Meng Zhen left, Meng Che sneaked in suddenly: "Second brother, are you okay, did elder brother make things difficult for you?" While eating, he noticed that Meng Qing's face was as dark as a lump of coal, presumably He was extremely dissatisfied with his second brother, and there would be a quarrel when they met later.He came here quietly behind him, and only sneaked in after his elder brother and his father had left.

Meng Hong listened to his preface and afterwords, the haze on his face dissipated immediately, and he said with a smile: "It's still good, I know that I care about your second brother. Don't worry, your second brother and I are fine, you have to go to school tomorrow, take a rest soon go."

Meng Che will be 12 years old after this year, he is no longer a child, he is not as clingy as before, seeing that his second brother is safe and sound, he is relieved and went back to his room.

Meng Hong and Tong Zisheng squeezed together on the same bed, he felt that he was really taken advantage of, and he took someone to listen to the music with good intentions, but it turned out that the person was drunk, and all the bad things fell on top of his head.

Meng Qing blamed him, and the two even had a big fight. Meng Qing asked him to get out of the house, probably because he really hated him, otherwise how could he say such hurtful words.

It's all to blame for this Tong Zisheng. Thinking of this, Meng Hong couldn't help but take another look at Tong Zisheng who was sleeping like a pig. If he hadn't stopped him, Tong Zisheng would have died of drinking.

He will never do such a thankless thing in the future.Thinking like this, Meng Hong was probably tired after a day of tossing around, and soon he fell into a deep sleep.

I don't know how long it took, probably in the middle of the night, Meng Hong felt his arms were on fire, and someone was talking nonsense in his ears.

Suddenly he opened his eyes suddenly, and fumbled on the bed for a while, the palms and backs of his hands were hot to death wherever he went.

He hurriedly got out of bed and turned on the lamp to take a closer look, only to see that Tong Zisheng's face was as red as a cooked shrimp.

Tong Zisheng had a fever, and the fever was very high.

Menghong felt that the fever was at least forty degrees.

He was frightened for a moment.

A high fever after drinking is not a good sign.

The author says:

Alas, what about brothers and friends who agreed, why did they quarrel again~~