I'm taking the imperial examinations in Liaozhai

Lang Yuzhu is from Pengcheng, because his father used to be an official there, but since his father and mother passed away, his family has fallen, so he returned to live in his ancestral home in Zhaoyuan County, his hometown.

When Lang Yuzhu and Ji Zihe went out together, they didn't let go of the book, and Ji Zihe was very surprised, "Brother Lang, why are you so urgent that you still need to read a book while walking?"

"Brother Ji doesn't know something, but Jing Jing at home doesn't like me to study. I'm afraid she will get angry, so I hurry up and read some books when I go out." Lang Yuzhu said without raising his head.

"Oh, why is that? Could it be that the imperial examinations are suspended, and Madam thinks reading is useless, so that's why she doesn't want you to study more?" Ji Zihe asked.

"No, isn't brother Ji studying only for the imperial examination?" Lang Yuzhu finally raised his head.This person looks upright, with a bit of frankness between his brows, he doesn't look like a man in his thirties, but rather a young man who has not experienced much in the world.

Ji Zihe deeply felt that he was a common man, he didn't like to study at all, if it wasn't for the imperial examination, he thought it would be good if he could know two characters, so he wouldn't study so hard.

"Brother Lang said that reading is for understanding, not for making a living. I am too clichéd. Since my wife is not because of the imperial examination, why don't you like you to study?"

"I just like reading too much. Others call me a bookworm, saying that I am a nerd who can only read dead books. I have been in the imperial examination for so many years, and I can't even pass the exam. In fact, I don't think there is anything good about being an official. , if you are an official, you don’t have too many trivial matters, you only have so much time to study, and being a scholar is enough to make a living. These years, the imperial examination has stopped, but I am relieved, at least no one will always urge me to take the exam It's gone." Lang Yuzhu said with a smile.

Ji Zihe couldn't help sighing, this is the real book lover.Not for fame, not for profit, just for reading, it really is true temperament.

"There is a golden house in the book, there is Yan Ruyu in the book, and my wife is my Yan Ruyu. She taught me piano and chess, took me to play, let me go out and make friends more, and it was my wife who persuaded me to come and participate in He Mr.'s funeral. She doesn't like me reading, but she is afraid that I will become an idiot who can only indulge in reading, but I understand everything." Lang Yuzhu said, sighed, rolled up the book in his hand, and put it in the sleeve.

Accidentally touched his nose by Ji Zihe, who showed off his loving face, and compared his wife to Yan Ruyu, he really is a bookworm.

However, although this brother Lang is only a scholar, he is really a man of profound knowledge. After staying with him for a few days, Ji Zihe cleared up many knowledge points that Ji Zihe didn't understand before.It really feels like listening to what you say is better than reading ten years of books.

The two entered a teahouse. This kind of shop is not as noisy as a tavern. It is mostly a place for literati to play chess, drink tea and gather.There are more people on the first floor, the tables are almost full, and many people gather around to watch chess and appreciate treasures.In order to attract customers, the store also recruited a little girl who sings a song. Although she looks ordinary, she has a very clean voice. She sings a song like the crisp singing of an oriole, which fits the style of a teahouse.

But Ji Zihe is not someone who likes to listen to music, so they went directly to the second floor.There are fewer people on the second floor, and there is no excitement below.The two chose a seat by the window, and Ji Zihe ordered a pot of tea and two plates of pastries, and the two began to discuss some academic issues again.

Of course, the views of the two sometimes conflict. Although Ji Zihe admires Lang Yuzhu's knowledge, he will not blindly agree.If the two can't argue, they will suspend the discussion on this issue. After all, Confucius said well that gentlemen are harmonious but different.

Instead of discussing study, it's time to gossip.Don't think that gossip is only the power of modern young people, ancient scholars are also very gossip.Moreover, gatherings of scholars are one of the fastest ways for all kinds of gossip to spread.

"I know Brother Ji will try it if he wants to, so you should make preparations now." Lang Yuzhu said.

"Brother Lang, what do you mean?" Ji Zihe was overjoyed, maybe it was what he thought.

"The Northwest War has been initially decided. It is said that the imperial court intends to reconvene the meeting in March next year to select good talents to make up for the vacancy caused by the war." Lang Yuzhu said.

After fighting for several years, the whole country felt uncomfortable. Although they won the battle in the end, a huge empire also suffered serious losses.As far as officials alone are concerned, countless officials died on the battlefield or for other reasons in the past few years, so that the officials suffered huge losses.Especially civil servants, after all, if no one is available in the court, civil servants can be military generals.Now several of the generals in armor used to pass the imperial examinations, but now they use their military exploits on the battlefield to promote themselves.Of course, these are a small number, and most of the civil servants who were military generals were buried in the northwest.

After the war, the surviving civil servants were rewarded for their merits and deeds, and most of them took off their armor and continued to work as civil servants.Even so, civil servants are still not enough, but they can't take off the armor of illiterate warriors and let them fight.No way, there are not enough officials in the central government, so we can only raise it from the localities, but if there are no officials in the localities, then there is no way.

Therefore, in order to maintain the operation of the huge state machine, the imperial examination is urgent. Even if the country has just stabilized and the treasury is empty, the new emperor has to grit his teeth and spend a lot of money to reopen the examination.

In this way, this test is likely to be a boon for many scholars.Once you are admitted, there is a high possibility that you don't need to find a vacancy, and you don't have to be the same as before, even if you are admitted, if there is no vacancy, you can only wait.Wait and wait, maybe it will be a new round of imperial examinations, and a new Jinshi will be born. If someone is better than you, you can only go to the back.After waiting for several years, many candidates are suffocating in their hearts, and it must be another battle between dragons and tigers.

"Is this news true?"

"The news came from Jingzhou, so it shouldn't be wrong, but we still have to wait for the government's notice." Lang Yuzhu said.

This was a happy thing, but Ji Zihe suppressed his joy when he thought of his purpose of coming to Honghe Town.

The end of the war is good, but it also brought a lot of bad news to the people.Many families who have served in the military or volunteered to join the army are looking forward to this day, but when this day comes, not all of them are good things.Some people came back, but some people came back with only a few relics brought back by their fellow villagers, or the government came to the door with the pension list and informed them where your father or son died.What's more, they didn't even get news of death, and there was no news at all.

Ji Zihe's distant relative's family is not bad, but who knows how many families have lost their wives and children because of the war, and their families have been destroyed.

Thinking about it this way, the benefits brought to scholars by the reopening of the imperial examination are not so gratifying. After all, they are all piled up with the blood and bones of the dead compatriots.

"Oh, it would be great if there were no more wars in this world." Ji Zihe sighed.

"That's right. Hey, Brother Ji, aren't those two bookboys from your family? Could it be that Brother Ji's family is a bookseller?" Lang Yuzhu suddenly pointed to the street outside the window.

Because Xiao Hei did not leave, when Ji Zihe introduced him to others, he also said that he was his book boy.And the bones still bear Huang Jiulang's face and identity, so Ji Zihe has become a big family with two book boys when he goes out.

Ji Zihe looked in the direction of Lang Yuzhu's finger, and it was true that the two of them were setting up a stall to sell books. The business was pretty good, and there were quite a few buyers.

In the morning, Gu asked him for relics, saying that he had something to do, but he didn't expect that he was here to sell books.That's strange, where did the two of them get so many books?

"My family only has a few acres of Susukida, and I don't have any business. However, my uncle's family has a bookstore. It has been passed down for several generations, and the business is booming. There are many out-of-print ancient books. I copied some. Let the book boy sell it."

"I thought Brother Ji was running out of money. If Brother Ji is really short of money, just tell me. I have had a good conversation with Brother Ji, and I have long regarded you as a confidant. Money is nothing but an external possession. If you need it, feel free to Speak up, don't worry about it."

"Thank you, Brother Lang, I really don't need money." Ji Zihe said with a smile, he is now one of the landlords, how could he be short of money.

"Well then, are there really many out-of-print ancient books in your uncle's bookstore?" Lang Yuzhu asked again.

"Yes, there are, but they are the treasures of the bookstore. My uncle didn't plan to sell them. He usually hides them tightly and never shows them to others easily." Ji Zihe said.

"It's a pity." Lang Yuzhu was a little disappointed, but a gentleman doesn't take what others like, and he is reluctant to sell those out-of-print books in his family, so he can understand this.

"However, if Brother Lang has the opportunity to go to Baihe Town, I will introduce you to Uncle. For my sake, Uncle will definitely lend you the book collection." Ji Zihe said.

"Thank you so much Brother Ji. If Brother Ji doesn't dislike it, how about I go back to Baihe Town with you?" Lang Yuzhu said.

"Of course, my little brother is very happy." Ji Zihe said happily.

"Then can I take a look at the books on your bookstall first?" Lang Yuzhu asked.

Ji Zihe hesitated, "Let's forget it, when we go to Baihe Town, we can see the original, why bother to see these again."

It's also a good thing they didn't go, if Ji Zihe and the others really knew what books Xiao Hei was selling, they might end their friendship.

"Hey, why are you in a daze, hurry up and shout!" Xiao Hei yelled at Bones.

Bone flipped through the stalls, which were full of books about "Goblins Fighting", not like a book seller, but like a book reader.

"Why do you have the nerve to call out this kind of book? Besides, isn't your business very good?" Bone looked at his hands that were busy collecting money, and said slowly.

"I think it can be even better. Don't forget, you still owe me a set of super-large color illustrations for the Collector's Edition of the Secret Opera. Do you want to repay the debt?" Xiao Hei glared at him.

Bone shrugged his shoulders, forget it, anyway, he is wearing Huang Jiulang's appearance now, and he doesn't lose face at all.He took a deep breath, and with a cold face, he began to recite the words that Huang Jiulang asked him to recite in the morning, "Come and take a look, take a look, the latest masterpiece "Twelve Beautiful Erotic Palaces" by the black ghost master is exclusively for sale, and it is also available!" There are all kinds of erotic secret dramas, Long Yang..."

"Stop, stop, stop reading, you almost scared my guests away. You are such an idiot, you can't even yell." Xiao Hei shouted.

Bones shrugged his shoulders, so he must be blamed.

Suddenly, a thunder exploded in the sky, followed by black clouds, as if it was about to rain.People on the street didn't care about buying and selling any more, and started to pack up their things and leave.

Although there were no guests, Xiao Hei was not angry at all, he even looked at the dark sky with some joy, and glanced in the direction of the Snake Temple.

"It looks like a demon born out of this world." Bones put down the book in his hand and said to Xiao Hei.