The Jade of the Red Chamber

But Lin Zhenyu has been studying hard for more than a year, and this year is the year of the Grand Competition.

The township examination, also known as Qiuwei, is usually held every three years in the Gongyuan of the provincial capitals. Students who are originally from the capital take the examination in the Shuntian Gongyuan regardless of whether they have entered the Imperial College or not.According to the rules of this dynasty, the sons of officials of the fourth rank or above can take the examination at the Shuntian Gongyuan in the capital.In this dynasty, the rural examination examiners consisted of one chief examiner and one deputy examiner in each province, one chief examiner and three deputy examiners of Shuntian Gongyuan.Among them, the provinces use ministers, cabinet bachelors, officials from the Imperial Academy, Zhanshifu and Metropolitan Procuratorate, while Shuntian Township uses first- and second-rank officials.In addition to the chief and deputy examiners, the provinces also appoint fellow examiners to help mark the papers. These fellow examiners are dedicated to registered Jinshi who are [-] miles away from the border of neighboring provinces.The co-examiners of the Shuntian Township Examination were selected by the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Officials to serve as officials with Kejia background.

Lin Zhenyu reported to the Guozijian from the prefectural school as early as early spring, and took the Shuntian Township Examination in August.Participating in the rural examination in the capital is undoubtedly much better than in the local area. Not only can you meet officials at all levels, but once you get the middle teacher, you will be the first rank in the dynasty, which will lay the foundation for the subsequent examinations and entry into the dynasty.

Lin Zhenyu, Jin Kang, the son of the chief envoy of the Yangzhou government, Xi Shuangyou, the son of the city guard of Yangzhou, and Gu Qingzhi, the son of the transport envoy of Yanzhou, went north by boat at the end of June.These three are all Lin Zhenyu's friends, none of them entered the Imperial College through Enyin, they took the path of serious imperial examinations, Jin Kang is the most elegant, Xi Shuangyou is rough but careful, Lu Qingzhi is chic and elegant but actually loves flirting with flowers Grass.

In fact, at the beginning of the school in the government, there were many scholars who had good friends with Lin Zhenyu, and there were quite a few congenial people.It's just that in this era when clan origin is very important, he and those poor students can't treat each other as equals. Although they really make friends with each other, they can only maintain good contacts, and they can't be called best friends.The Yangzhou Salt Administration and the Buzheng play an important role in taxation and taxation throughout the country. There are many officials of the third and fourth ranks.After getting along like this, in the end Lin Zhenyu and the other three had similar temperaments, and gradually the four of them became friends.

One day, the four of them sipped tea and enjoyed the scenery on the deck.Gu Qingzhi leaned on the recliner, curled his lips and said: "When will this day pass? I look at all of you all day long, and I really need a few fragrant beauties to dazzle you!"

Sitting upright, Jin Kang held a sandalwood bone fan embroidered with mountains and rivers in his hand, and smiled lightly.Zhenyu rolled Gu Qingyi's eyes and said with a smile: "Flash back to your house, before we dirty your eyes." Xi Shuangyou threw him a copy of Mencius, and was puzzled, Xi Shuangyou smiled and said: "Hurry up and take it!" Get the book and go back to the house, there is Yan Ruyu in the book." Jin Kang smiled: "No, I'm afraid this Yan Ruyu is better than the pink skeleton in the red hall, at least it won't cause Uncle Gu to be flogged."

Qing Zhi is embarrassing, when he went to the Qinlou Chu Hall to listen to singing more than ten years ago, he happened to be discovered by his father, Master Gu is so angry: Autumn is coming, this unworthy son has the leisure to look at those pink skeletons and evil spirits!Immediately gave him a cane, if he hadn't been worried about the provincial examination, Mr. Gu might have the intention of discounting Gu Qing's legs.The three friends came to look for him, and it was a funny meal.

Xi Shuangyou asked: "Is Zhenyu going to live in the Rongfu of my grandfather?" Zhenyu shook her head and said, "You also know that I am an adoptive descendant of the Lin family. Rongguo Mansion is not a serious family, so it's not easy to disturb." Gu Qingzhi approached him very interestedly and asked, "Is that Rongguo Mansion? It is said that the girls in his family are very good, named Yuan, Ying, and Tan , Xi, the last name is Chun?" Zhen Yu wondered: "How do you know the name of this boudoir?" Qing Zhi said with a smile: "A month ago, I went to Guowai to enjoy the scenery of the countryside, and when I was resting in the village, I heard a name. Because of 'Zixing' chatting with a person surnamed 'Jia'." Gu Qingzhi is good at painting and often goes to some places to enjoy the scenery.

As soon as Lin Zhenyu heard it, she knew it was the bridge section of "Leng Zixing's Speech at the Rongguo Mansion". Unexpectedly, without Jia Yucun sitting in the hall, it happened again more than a year later.The original book is that after Jia Minxian passed away, Jia Yucun met Leng Zixing by chance. Now that I think about it, Leng Zixing is the son-in-law of Zhou Rui’s family. This week, Rui’s family is Mrs. Wang’s companion. When I went to Yangzhou, I happened to meet Jia Yucun who was sitting in the Lin family?For a moment, I thought of my mother who was seriously ill and bedridden at home, and my siblings were young, so I couldn't help but feel very worried. I just hoped to finish the exam and go home as soon as possible.Thinking of this, I can't help but doubt the purpose of Leng Zixing's stay in Yangzhou at this time, and his mother is not in good health. Could it be that Mrs. Wang has come up with something wrong?Even if he thought about it too much, people like Leng Zixing who casually talk about other people's family affairs and comment on other people's daughters are not very good.

The other three saw that Zhenyu's complexion was not good, so Gu Qingzhi hurriedly apologized and said, "Don't be annoyed, Zhenyu, don't dare to talk about the sisters of the Jia family." Lin Zhenyu came back to her senses, and smiled slightly: "It's not about this, Just remembering that my mother is weak and my siblings are young, I feel a little worried." He said again: "Although this Rongguo Mansion and my family are related by marriage, they don't have much contact with each other, it's just that my mother misses my grandmother." He knew that although Gu Qingzhi liked to go to Qin When I go to Lou Chu Pavilion, I mostly just listen to singing and drink tea. Although this man loves flirting, he has never been frivolous to the girls of a good family, and he has never even lifted a little finger of his own girl.

Everyone comforted Zhenyu for a few words, Xi Shuangyou said with a smile: "Speaking of which, I am very envious of Zhenyu, not because you are young and talented, but because you have such a loving father as Uncle Lin. When we met, it was admonishment, and if I made some mistakes, I would be beaten directly on the board! How many years ago, when the old man saw me, he would put on a tiger face and be serious."

What he said made several people look at Lin Zhenyu with envy and jealousy, Lin Zhenyu laughed. In this era, "strict fathers and mothers" are popular, and every old man likes to put on a straight face when he sees his son, and reprimand him a few words.Especially Shuangyou's father, Mr. Xi, was a military officer, and in his dreams he wanted to change his family's name to a scholarly family, but for Shuangyou, he was the education of a filial son under the stick.

Gu Qingzhi said sourly: "Isn't it? I heard from my aunt that when you were a child, Uncle Lin hugged you and taught you calligraphy in person. On weekdays, Uncle Lin called people to visit you every now and then in school, let alone Auntie! Why is your life so good, boy?" Even Jin Kang echoed: "Don't say anything else, let's just say that we are on the boat this time! But I saw Uncle Lin's sedan chair parked at the corner of the street! It was secretly sent to him. Are you on board?"

Zhenyu smiled and said: "Uncles, that's what loves you too! My father had no children in his early years, and he only adopted me when he was in Lizhi, so he should be more pampered. Besides, I am indeed more obedient than you!" She thought unkindly in her heart, In fact, you are already very lucky-wouldn’t it be even worse if Jia Baoyu saw his father Jia Zheng like a mouse seeing a cat? !You are so normal in the world, they are natural enemies!

The few people who said it laughed at him, Jin Kang laughed and said: "Are you obedient? We don't remember after looking at it? Are those very famous shops on Qujiang Street and Meiling Street yours?" Gu Qingzhi also said: " It's not easy to buy a store in such a prosperous place, if it wasn't for uncle's pampering you, where did you get so much money?" Shuangyou also laughed and said: "We want to buy a store to add some income, will I give you the money? In addition, if the old man knows this idea, he will give him a meal first!"

Zhenyu laughed loudly: "That's not what I said! Let's not talk about my money, except for the moon silver I saved and what my mother gave me in private, most of it was bought by old friends. Let's talk about the few shops. They didn't open together either. One family got income and saved money and then opened another." He laughed again: "Scholar, farmer, businessman, I don't dare to break the taboo easily, those shops are recorded under the name of my long-term follower .”

Gu Qingzhi waved his hands and said: "Your long-term follower? Then his body deed and the deed of the shop's land deed are still in your hands. But this is very good, it will not attract criticism, and it is more comfortable than the public property. "

……

Just before disembarkation, Xi Shuangyou held Lin Zhenyu back and said, "Is there a place for Zhenyu to go this time? Why don't you come and live with me? It's very cheap to have my uncle in the capital." Jin Kang also said, "Come and live with me." Also, my family has a courtyard in the capital, and Qingzhi also came here, so the three of us live together, isn't it suitable?" Lin Zhenyu shook her head and replied: "The Lin family also has a courtyard in the capital, and my father bought it when he was an official in Beijing. Yes, my father ordered someone to clean it up and arrange it properly earlier. Let's report to each other after the arrangement is completed." In fact, Zhenyu knew that Shuiyang would definitely come to see each other, so she resolutely said goodbye.Shuangyou and Jin Kang had no choice but to agree.

The next day, when the four of them abandoned the boat and went ashore with their long servants, there were sedan chairs and luggage vehicles from various families waiting for a long time.The leader of the Lin family is Ma Shou, the brother of Ma Quan, the second housekeeper of Lin's house, who is also the steward of the house. Because of his talent, he is often sent out by Ruhai to do business.After saying goodbye to each other, Zhenyu asked the three of them to go first, and watched them get on the sedan chair and go away.Sure enough, just as Xi, Jin, and Gu left, they saw a four-person sedan chair surrounded by Zhu Ding Zao at an inconspicuous place on the side of the street, the curtain of the sedan chair was opened, and a person came out of it.I saw that man's face was like a crown jade, his eyes were like bright stars, and his aura was imposing, it wasn't Shui Yang, who was it!

Zhenyu was very excited to see Shui Yang. Since Shui Yang returned to Beijing when he was six years old, it has been five years since he returned to Beijing. Although there are frequent correspondences, how can we meet like this?Shui Yang had already hugged the grown and tall child in his arms, rubbing the child's head up to his shoulders, speechless.Looking down, the child's black eyes were looking at him with joy, but the eye circles were slightly red.

Zhenyu insisted on not living in the palace, so Shuiyang had to follow him to the Lin residence.The two of them couldn't finish talking, and they kept talking by candlelight until four o'clock before they squeezed into the same bed and slept. After two or three days like this, they got better.

A few days later, Zhenyu made all the arrangements for the capital. It was already the sixteenth day of the seventh month. He and Aunt Zhou agreed in a letter to meet at Qingxu Temple on the eighteenth day, and he hoped that the eighteenth day would come soon. .Shui Yang knew what was on his mind, so it was not surprising to see him fidgeting, so he just looked for words to divert his mind.Zhenyu was very proud when she said that she first met Zhe Er, the kitten that Shui Yang gave her back that year: "Zhe Er is already a very majestic and beautiful big cat! I found a short-haired cat with a big round face from Yang Maozi's boat the year before last. The male cat came to pair with her, and now there are three kittens in Zhe'er! One is milky yellow, the other is white with spots, the other is black tabby with white belly, and the little cat is Xiao Zhe'er It’s only two months old now. Daiyu and Fuyu come to see the little milk cat all day long, but they both want that little folded ear.”

Shui Yang looked at his excited gestures with his hands, and listened to him with great interest, then said abruptly, "Isn't that little folded ear given to you yet?"

Zhenyu was taken aback, and smiled: "Well, both Daiyu and Fuyu like this one the most, so I haven't decided who to give it to."

"Then give it to me." Shui Yang said with a smile, "It happens that I also like such a kitten."

Zhenyu thought, although both Daiyu and Fuyu like this one the most, neither one is suitable for it. Yuer is a girl and should be pampered. Give it to him, but Fuyu is also an honest and kind-hearted boy, and it is unlikely that he will want it at that time. It would be better to give Xiao Zheer to Shui Yang, and the other two kittens will love him very much.So he generously agreed, but he was a little worried, how could he send it to the capital?The kitten is still so small, but it can't help tossing.

Shui Yang knew what he was worried about when he saw it, and said with a smile: "Don't worry, I have asked my brother for an errand, and I will go to Jiangnan in October, maybe I can go with you."

Zhenyu was overjoyed when she heard this.