fake prince

Chapter 8
County government · end of February · light rain

On the day of the county examination, drizzle slanted down with the wind over Linhua County. It was so cold that it was hard to resist even wrapping up tight clothes.

Although it is the southern border, snow is rare, but this kind of light rain still makes the locals who should be used to it pale and hurry, even worse than the snow.

Su Ziji, who hurried over with an oiled paper umbrella, passed by the butcher shop, and the boss sitting at the counter saw him as soon as he looked up, and couldn't help persuading him: "Brother Su, I haven't seen you for a few days, why have you lost weight again? Don't read so hard."

"No, you are weak, so don't burn yourself out just to study." A street aunt passing by said, Su Ziji was very popular in the neighborhood, and of course it was more because of the glory of his deceased father. Seeing the kindness of these neighbors, Su Ziji couldn't help feeling, and bowed his eyes to express his gratitude.

At this moment, the two people facing each other were both wearing coir raincoats and were acquaintances, one was a wild Taoist priest, and the other was Cao Jincai, the creditor who borrowed directly.

When Cao Jincai saw Su Ziji, he couldn't help but sneered: "Hey, isn't this our great talent from Su? Why, he came out to hang out again. It seems that he is very sure about the county test?"

As he spoke, he looked up and down presumptuously at Su Ziji, and swept across Su Ziji's worn-out and soaked cloth shoes, disdainful and contemptuous, and didn't even bother to cover up: "That's right, if you miss by the time, I'm afraid it will happen soon." If you want to freeze to death and starve to death, that would be really humiliating, haha."

"I don't need to worry about that." Su Ziji said coldly.

Cao Jincai's face darkened immediately, and he warned: "Su Ziji, remember, you still have five days to pay off your debts. If you don't pay back when the time comes, I'll send you to see an official."

As he said that, he pouted: "I really thought that your dead father would give you some kindness to support the scene. I don't want it to be all empty airs. That's right. Scholars should be noble!"

"Don't worry, there will be an explanation at that time." Su Ziji let out a heck, and when he glanced at the wild Taoist priest who was also familiar, he even twitched his mouth, passing by with a cold expression.

"Death is imminent, and you are still so crazy!"

Cao Jincai endured it, but he still couldn't hold it back. He gritted his teeth and said to the wild Taoist priest, "Second brother Yan is always quick and easy, why didn't you come back this time?"

"It seems that the county test is about to come. You said that he is currently in bad luck, so he will definitely not be able to pass. At that time, the tomb field can be collected, right?"

If the other party's county test is on the list, if you want to touch the other party at that time, you will have to worry a lot.

The wild Taoist stared at Su Ziji's back, and took a long time to look away. He didn't speak in a daze, but frowned.

Yan Er didn't come back for two days, and Tongshan Temple was a little uneasy. Boss Zhang had already gone to look for it, and he came to observe it himself, and the result did change.

Originally, Su Ziji's appearance and temperament were not outstanding. On the face of it, he was just a little lucky, and there were a few dilapidated ones. I agreed.

But at this time, the face has changed, the incomplete part is being repaired, and a cloud of redness is being conceived, which shows that the future of this person has changed.

"After being hit and breaking the cemetery, why is the life so strong that it can pierce the bad luck?"

"Is it a flashback?"

Thinking of this, the wild Taoist was even more puzzled: "The so-called reflection of the light, there is a fierce counterattack at the end of the day, but it must have a foundation. If there is no foundation, and the oil is exhausted, the lamp will dry up, what is the reflection of the light?"

"Since there is such a flashback, the Su family may not be as simple as that. No wonder Tongshan Temple is willing to spend money to target me. I was implicated."

"No, I have to go and see the Su family's ancestor's tomb again, don't be fooled by Tongshan."

Regardless of the mood of the wild Taoist, Su Ziji arrived at the gate of the county government office on time. The county examination is the first pass of the boy's examination. The yamen servant searched for his arm, and entered with the inspected basket.

The basket contains the Four Treasures of the Study, because there is only one exam, and there is no need to bring food.

The county government of Linhua County specially vacated a place for this county test and built a simple scientific research shed.

Due to the imitation of the imperial examination system of the previous dynasty and additions and subtractions, in counties such as Linhua County, there are not many students, so they did not make too complicated forms. Only some simple multi-row seats were set up in the shed for candidates to write.

When Su Ziji entered the county government office, he was first led into a large courtyard. The gate of this courtyard is the north gate, which is nothing but an ordinary gate, but on the day of the county examination, this north gate was called "Dragon Gate". ", taking it is naturally a good omen, and the students passed by from now on, jumping into the dragon's gate.

Behind the dragon gate is a courtyard. According to regulations, students who come in for the exam must wait here for the roll call.

When Su Ziji came here, the raindrops were still falling on the oil-paper umbrella, and the rain was dripping down the eaves. The ground paved with bluestone was wet, and there was a damp and cold breath in the air. Thoroughly cool.

He wasn't the first to arrive, nor was he the last to arrive, but until the courtyard was full of people, it was still relatively quiet. Anyone who could come here for the exam would not be a person who did not understand etiquette. The vulgar side is not worth the loss, and everyone tries to show a better side.

There was a paper light sign in the courtyard. Although it was raining continuously, it was darker than usual, but it was dawn at this time. Standing here, Su Ziji could see it more clearly.

"The county exam has caught up with this kind of weather, and I don't know if it will be arranged in a warm exam room." Although he knew that this possibility was unlikely, Su Ziji couldn't help but fantasize about it.

At this time, there was a small commotion. Su Ziji stood in the crowd and looked ahead, and saw a middle-aged man in official uniform coming out of the hall. It was Mr. Zhang, the county magistrate.

County magistrate Zhang personally called the roll call. This is an honor. Su Ziji doesn’t need to look at the books to know that most of the students around him are excited. This is also the "benefit" that the imperial examination brings to scholars. Changes, change doors.

"Su Ziji."

"The students are here."

"Entry."

"Yes."

When it was Su Ziji's turn to roll call, the yamen servant sang Zeng Lingchulin's life insurance loudly according to the regulations. Zeng Lingchu, who was acting as security for Su Ziji, took a look at Su Ziji and found out that it was him, so he sang the insurance.

After entering the arena, he didn't take the exam immediately. Under the rather solemn atmosphere, Su Ziji gradually immersed himself in it, and felt that the singing was quite charming. He didn't realize it until the paper was handed over, saluted the other party, and left. Enter the imperial examination shed, take the seat number according to the roll, find your own seat and sit down.

After sitting down, Su Ziji couldn't help rubbing his hands against the cold wind blowing from all around.

"This kind of weather is really unlucky."

"However, if it wasn't for the heavy rain and snow during this period, or there wouldn't even be such a simple hut, maybe they would sit in the open air?"

"Students at this time are really working hard."

Su Ziji was more determined to exercise his body. He was alone, and if he fell ill, it would be really troublesome.

(End of this chapter)