Do you know: I’m Xu Jiazi

"Yes, sister-in-law. Brother Yu from Gu Hou's family, I heard that he will take part in our Tokyo city's county examination in February."

"What about this person in your family?"

"I heard from officials that he has passed the county examination, but he has never been able to pass the provincial examination. He still needs to study more."

"He is the eldest son and will be a noble in the future, so it doesn't matter."

Shen Shi

Xu Zaiduan and his wife returned to the Xu family.

Mrs. Wu added another well-known good marriage to her credit list.

February,

The county examination starts in Bianliang, Tokyo.

During the Zhou Dynasty, county examinations and prefectural examinations were called primary examinations.

Xu Zaijing's conversion is roughly equivalent to the modern county-level and prefecture-level city examinations.

Gu Tingyu, who has been in better health in the past few years, picked up his books and prepared to take the county examination, the first of the imperial examination.

As a good friend and future brother-in-law, Xu Zaijing and others naturally came to see him off.

The weather was still cold in February, and Xu Zaijing saw Gu Tingyu wearing a large cloak and animal skin and velvet knee pads sewn by his eldest sister.

Under the gazes of brothers Xu Zaijing and Xu Zaizhang, Gu Tingyu forced himself to remain calm and smiled.

Also killed with Gu Tingyu was Liang Dalang, the eldest son of the Yongchang Hou Mansion.

I heard that the eldest son of the concubine was also as diligent in martial arts as Xu Zaijing, and he was also good at studying literature.

He stood next to Gu Tingyu, his eyes moving, and he was not a simple one.

Although Mrs. Wu was unhappy, she still came.

On the side, he was chatting with Gu Hou and Bai Shi.

After the young man gave his blessings, Gu Tingyu and the elder man of the Liang family bowed and saluted,

The two of them filed in together with the candidates.

Because it is a county examination, it is only one day and the paper must be handed in before dark.

The results were released on the third day after the county examination in Bianjing.

Gu Tingyu was ranked second on the list, and the Liang family's elder brother ranked fifth.

The next day, Bai came to Xu Mansion and talked to Sun.

According to Xu Anmei’s maid

"Gu Hou drank a lot of wine last night and his eyes were red from crying. Moreover, countless paper money and incense candles were burned in the Gu family ancestral hall."

"But Erlang of the Gu family also regards his eldest brother as a role model, which is not bad."

The Xu family was naturally full of joy when their future uncle passed the county examination, and all the servants and maids received rewards.

The eldest son of the Liang family also passed, which made Mrs. Wu look a little unhappy.

Xu Zaijing was not greatly affected because there was Xu Zaizhang above him.

this day

Everyone in the Xu family had dinner with their mother in the courtyard. In a noble military attache's house, there weren't that many rules.

Moreover, Mrs. Sun was born in a small family in Bianjing, and her eldest daughter-in-law did not have any 'hobby' to serve tea according to the rules.

Although Ms. Xie Er has been strongly requesting, Ms. Sun has rejected her requests.

Mrs. Sun originally married here, but she had enough of Xu Minghua's mother's rules.

If it weren't for the understanding of her officials and the support of her parents, she would have been bullied to death.

When she became a mother, she was warned by the old lady of the Sun family not to treat her future daughter-in-law too harshly.

You can't tear up someone else's umbrella if you've been caught in the rain.

So, we all eat at the same table.

"Madam Fan, the eldest daughter-in-law of Dalang's family and Yuge's hometown, passed away a few days ago. Dress more modestly tomorrow and we're going to pay homage."

"Yes, mother-in-law. My daughter-in-law is also pitiful when she heard that Mrs. Fan of the Yu family left an orphan girl over six years old."

"It's pitiful that the orphan girl's mother's family is not strong. I hope that Mr. Yu will not marry a powerful step-in-law, otherwise"

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law stopped talking.

After eating, the Xu family dispersed.

Xu Zaijing followed his eldest sister. His teeth had been replaced and were very neat.

Although Xu Zaijing is taller, he is still much shorter than his eldest sister, so Xu Pingmei can put her arm on her younger brother's shoulder.

"Xiaowu, do you still have the Ruyu moisturizing gel in your house?" Pingmei asked.

"Yes, there is a lot left in the big box given by the queen."

The two sisters' eyes lit up.

"Xiaowu, sister, my sewing hands are calloused by the thimble, please give me some." Pingmei put her arms around her little brother's neck and stretched out her fingers to plead.

"Sister, of course I can give it to you, but there is a condition." Xu Zaijing said.

"You said it, you said it." Pingmei replied quickly. Her little brother had never felt sorry for her.

Xu Zaijing stopped, waved to the female servant who was following him, and distanced himself.

"Sister, you haven't gone out these days. But before you get married, don't go out to attend those tea tasting gatherings and fragrant clothes poetry gatherings in Bianjing."

Looking at Xu Zaijing, whose eyes were filled with concern, Pingmei frowned and said, "Ah? Aren't the Lantern Festival matters over? Do you still have to be so careful?"

An Mei said from the side.

"Sister, my future brother-in-law has passed the county examination and is preparing for the next college examination and government examination. He has a noble title and can study. You don't know how many people are jealous of your marriage."

Xu Zaijing motioned to his second sister to continue.

An Mei touched the raccoon slave in her hand and said, "Thanks to this little thing, I have made a lot of handkerchiefs, so I heard about it."

Anmei looked around at home and saw that the servant girl was far away before saying, "I heard that the legitimate daughter of Houma's family in Jinxiang was drugged in the past. Her appearance was ruined and she lost her good marriage prospects. .”

Pingmei's eyes widened and she asked, "Huh? Is there still this thing? Can we find out who did it?"

"There is no clear explanation and no report to the official, but some people say that the eldest wife of Jinyang Marquis was sent to the Shenjie Department."

"Sister, our family looked like a loser in the past. We had no gold, silver or power. Apart from the enviable title and courtyard, there were fewer dirty things. You have to be careful every step in the future."

Pingmei looked at her little brother, feeling relieved and warm in her heart: "Okay, sister, I promise you."

"Xiao Wu, I..." the second sister An Mei said in a soft and warm voice, smiling along with her.

"Second sister, how old are you! There are no calluses in your hands, so using this is really a waste.

When you have a wife, and you have worn out your wedding embroidery, hehe, I will give you a bottle. "

An Mei's face changed,

"You! Stinky Xiaowu!"

Then he threw the raccoon slave in his arms towards Xu Zaijing.

The raccoon slave in his arms twisted a few times in the air and fell into Xu Zaijing's arms.

"Sister, I'm teasing you."

The little maid followed the Xu siblings and looked at them with longing and longing in her eyes.

In the evening, Xu Zaijing's maid Qingcao came to Pingmei's yard holding a porcelain vase.

There is a plaque reading "Qiongzhi Pavilion" hanging at the entrance to the courtyard.

Qingcao heard from the previous female envoys and sisters in the mansion that the eldest sister had chosen this from a few poems written by the three brothers a few years ago.

She still remembered the poems uttered by the servant girl:

‘When the six flying flowers come into the house, sit and watch the green bamboos turn into green branches. ’

In the room, Pingmei, who was sewing the last few stitches on her bellyband under the candlelight, heard the announcement from the female envoy.

"Girl, someone is coming to Brother Jing's courtyard."

"Ah? Please hurry up. My things must have arrived."

Qingcao was thin and small, standing quietly in the yard. A little girl at the door heard the voice inside and shouted to Qingcao

"Qingcao, come in."

Qingcao looked up, and then she realized it was Qingzhi, and she felt happy.

"Sister Qingzhi, it turns out you are in my eldest sister's room."

"Well, let's go in."

Putting the small porcelain bottle in, Pingmei uncorked it, sniffed it carefully, and then looked satisfied.

"Green Gardenia, reward."

The green grass squatted down and saluted,

"Girl, that slave has resigned."

Qing Zhi sent the grass out of the yard and put a bunch of twenty coins in her hand.

"But you have to save it, don't spend it carelessly, and send it home when you have enough."

"Well, I understand."

"How about staying at Brother Jing's place? I heard that you get up early every day?"

"Okay. I woke up early and waited in the room next to the racecourse. It's not cold."

"Well, do your job well."

On the second day, Xu Zaijing went from the academy to Sun's courtyard for dinner.

Sun and Xie, the two daughters-in-law of the Xu family, returned home full of gossip.

thanks for your support!