Although these people were simply dressed, they did not laugh as wildly as others, but instead acted with etiquette in every move.
At first glance, it looks like they are people who have read books, and maybe some of them are people with great fame.
What's the point of selling calligraphy and painting to ordinary people?
If you can get praise from your classmates and others, then that's your real skill!
The people who were stopped looked at each other and walked over.
"Here are the Four Gentlemen of Plum, Orchid, Bamboo and Chrysanthemum." The student at the stall introduced with his hands folded, "These are the words of the sages. They are all made by us students ourselves."
"There are also the Three Qing Emperors, Baode Immortal Lord and Wenquxing here..."
"The brush strokes are soft and look lackluster." An old man with a gray beard commented on the calligraphy and paintings on the stall one by one. "The colors are mixed and there is no matching at all! What are these!"
"You!" The calligraphy and painting were criticized for being useless, and the students of Ma Ming Academy became angry. "Do you know that we are students of Ma Ming Academy? Who are you and why do you speak like this!"
"No matter what academy you are students from, if you can't do it, you can't do it." The man was not intimidated by the name of Ma Ming Academy. Instead, he shook his head, left the stall of Ma Ming Academy, and followed the steps to Zhou Ziyan's place.
Zhou Ziyan clearly saw the commotion just now, and was afraid that the old gentleman would also comment on his calligraphy and painting.
You should know that the calligraphy and paintings on his stall are even more unsightly.
As soon as the old gentleman came over, his eyes were attracted by the calligraphy and painting on the top.
This should be the best calligraphy and painting he has seen today.
Compared with the calligraphy and painting I just saw, it is like heaven and earth.
Chapter 42
I can't help but look through the remaining calligraphy and paintings to see if there are any better ones.
Unexpectedly, the calligraphy and painting underneath are indeed childlike works.
His skills are immature and his paintings are messy.
Those few paintings of calligraphy are still decent, but they can't be sold for a lot of money.
Zhou Ziyan coughed slightly and took the initiative: "Old sir, these calligraphy and paintings were made by young children at home. They don't ask for gold or silver, just to feel the artistic conception of calligraphy and painting."
"A child?" Upon hearing this, the old gentleman picked up a painting again and looked at it carefully, "Which child painted this?"
When Song Douding saw it, he saw that what he was holding was his own candied haws. He quickly got out and said, "My, my, grandpa, I drew this!"
When the old gentleman saw Song Douding's toothless smile, he chuckled and said, "Little doll, you drew this, why did you draw a candied haws on a stick?"
"Because I love to eat!" Song Douding said without restraint, not feeling that there was anything scary about the old gentleman in front of him.
"Did you draw it because you liked it?" the old gentleman asked again.
Song Douding rubbed his head, "Yes, Master said, it doesn't matter what we draw, as long as we like it, we can draw whatever we want!"
The old gentleman turned to Zhou and said to himself, "Who is the wife the little kid talks about?"
"It's me, my surname is Zhou, I'll tell you my name." Zhou said to himself and bowed with his hands, "May I ask the old gentleman what your surname is?"
"No big name, Wen Laosan." The old gentleman waved his hand, accepted the candied haws, and prepared to pay the money.
Although he accepted the money, Zhou Ziyan still couldn't help but ask: "Mr. Wen, why did you choose this painting?"
"Although the brushwork is immature, it is more spiritual than anything else. Happy paintings are more meaningful than any other paintings!" Wen Laosan said and picked out a few more calligraphy and paintings, all of which were made by children.
One of Zhou Ziyan's calligraphy and paintings was not selected.
Zhou Ziyan did not expect that he could not compare with the children now.
Fortunately, Wen Laosan's friends were not as maverick as Wen Laosan. They fell in love with the calligraphy and painting of Zhou Ziyan and Liao Weian as soon as they arrived.
One of them stared at Zhou Ziyan's calligraphy and painting, which seemed familiar to him, "This trend, this coloring, how come it looks so like that of an adult..."
"Did you see it too? Is it that Master You?" Another person bumped his shoulder and said, "I felt familiar at first sight, but I didn't dare to say."
"Maybe it's an imitation. Mr. You is still in Qingjing Province. How could he appear in this small town?"
The others shook their heads, each chose their favorite piece, and kept their money.
When Song Weifeng heard these words, he whispered: "Brother Zhou, look, it's not just me...Brother Zhou, have you ever imitated Lord You's style?"
"Yes... yes, Mr. You's paintings are more unique and easy to sell for money." Zhou said to himself that a cold sweat broke out on the back of his neck.
When I was doing calligraphy and painting, I forgot about handwriting and painting style. What a careless thing!
Song Weifeng nodded, quite proudly, "That's right, Master You's paintings are the best in form and spirit I have ever seen. I have imitated them several times, but I couldn't get the point at all. There is no one in the world who is as talented as Master You." I'm afraid there won't be another one."
"Then I didn't imitate it? Does it count as the second one?" Zhou asked himself.
Song Weifeng pondered for a moment, "Brother Zhou, no matter what you do, Wei Feng will support you, but no matter how much you imitate, it is still an imitation, not who you are."
Zhou said to himself: "..."
After all, it's not me...ah!
However, when Master You was mentioned, Zhou Ziyan couldn't help but feel itchy, and asked Song Weifeng in a low voice, "Weifeng, have you seen many of Master You's paintings?"
Why doesn't he remember any serious paintings he has done...
"Not many." Song Weifeng admitted honestly, "Master You's calligraphy treasures are all far away in Qingjing Province, and only a few small portraits have spread to us. I like the small portrait of Immortal Jade Ruyi the most, it is really lifelike. "
"Immortal Jade Ruyi..." Zhou Ziyan narrowed his eyes and couldn't think of anything.
When did you paint?
...
Wait, he remembered!
Previously, he found a jade Ruyi at a pawn shop at a low price and liked it very much.
The pawnshop owner offered him a low price and just wanted him to give him a calligraphy and painting so that the pawnshop owner could support the scene.
In order to repay the pawnshop owner's kindness, he immediately drew a small painting of the immortal jade Ruyi.
The pawnshop owner naturally loved it and gave him some other small jade ornaments.
The jade Ruyi is now at his home.
But this pawnshop owner really liked his paintings so much at that time, but now his paintings have ended up here in Maminggou.
Too much!
While Wen Laosan and others were buying calligraphy and paintings, Zhou Ziyan and Song Weifeng watched the stalls in case someone caused trouble.
The five children are responsible for settling accounts and selling calligraphy and paintings.
Although the five children have not made any achievements in arithmetic so far, five cobblers can always stand up to one Zhuge Liang, right?
Who would have known that the last little counting house consisted of two sticks and one person.
He holds the abacus in his left hand and opens the account book in his right hand.
Calculate and keep accounts at the same time, in an orderly manner with no mistakes or omissions.
As for the other people... they all took their own calligraphy and paintings to sell them.
Taking advantage of his young age, he would say sweetly to everyone he met, "This guest, let's look at the calligraphy and painting!"
"Uncle, this is a painting I drew..."
"Auntie, buy two paintings with auspicious characters and hang them up!"
The elders and pedestrians passing by couldn't say harsh words to the children, so they were slapped on the sticks by the children and dragged away to their own stalls.
I looked at it from left to right and thought it was really fun. It would also be nice to buy it and hang it up for the younger generations at home to see.
Finally, he left in a daze holding a few children's calligraphy and paintings.
When I meet those girls who have younger siblings at home, or who have babies of their own, I will take them down directly.
No matter what the children said, they were all happy.
This is so cute, I bought it.
That's interesting, I bought it!
Ouch, these little dolls are the cutest, it would be great if I could hold them too.
One of the brothers, who was wearing a gold hairpin and brocade clothes, picked up Wang Xiaoniu and didn't want to let go. "Little girl, which family are you from? Do you want to go home with your aunt to play?"
Wang Xiaoniu smiled sweetly, "Master said, we can't just go with strangers!"
"Oh, there is still a master." Wang Xiaoniu is smart, and the brother wants to take him home as his own baby. "Auntie has a boy at home who is about the same age as you, so he can be a couple with you. Miles."
Brother, this was meant as a joke, but Wang Xiaoniu thought for a while and said seriously: "Auntie, I like people who can read. If my future husband-in-law can't read, then I won't like it."
As soon as these words came out, Brother laughed even harder and quickly said to the maid beside him: "Look, if Ruo'er doesn't study hard, I'm afraid he won't even be able to get a wife in the future."
The little maid covered her mouth and chuckled.
Zhou Ziyan stepped forward and took Wang Xiaoniu away, "Madam, the child is naughty and has caused trouble for you."
The brother has a kind-hearted man with his hair tied up. He must be in his forties, and he is accompanied by two young maids.
Her words and deeds are kind and decent, and she looks like the wife of a wealthy family.
"It's such a pity that such a cute and smart doll doesn't belong to me." Brother handed Wang Xiaoniu to Zhou Ziyan, reluctant to leave, "Little girl, what is your name and where is your home?"
"Auntie, my name is Wang Xiaoniu, and I live in Chunliu Lane." Wang Xiaoniu hugged Zhou Ziyan's neck and answered obediently.
When my brother heard this, he felt that the name was very familiar. He thought for a while before he remembered, "Ah, isn't this the Wang family daughter that was rumored about before?"
Then he turned his attention to Zhou Ziyan, "Could this be Master Zhou?"
Zhou Ziyan lowered his eyebrows and lowered his eyes: "That's right."
The brother then looked at the children behind Zhou Ziyan, "Aren't there Song Jiazi and Pang Jiazi here?"
Song Douding patted her chest and introduced herself: "Auntie, my name is Song Douding."
"Hello, aunt, my name is Pang Pangshan." Pang Pangshan bowed.
"Oh, I've always heard my master mention you before, but now I can see you in person." Brother looked at Zhou and said to himself, "Master Zhou, do you know who my master is?"
Zhou Ziyan shook his head, "I don't know."
Brother glanced to the side.
The little maid understood this and immediately ran to Zhou Ziyan's side, whispering softly: "Master Zhou, my master is the magistrate of Maminggou."
Zhou Ziyan suddenly realized that the person in front of him was actually the county magistrate's wife!
"Madam, Zhou is very rude."
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter." Brother held his hands and showed no pretense like Mrs. Zhixian, "I often mention you, saying that a good husband came out of Chunliu Lane and taught a group of good students."
Zhou said helplessly, "It's all trivial matters that make Mr. Zhong laugh."
The county magistrate's surname is Zhong, and Mr. Zhong refers to the county magistrate himself.
"Hey, it's the little things that reveal the truth." The county magistrate's wife asked with a smile, "Master Zhou, do you have any fame?"
Zhou said to himself: "Go back to my wife, and go to the children's examination in the spring."
The county magistrate's wife was even more happy when she learned that Zhou Ziyan was going to take the children's examination, "That's a good relationship! With Master Zhou's ability, he will definitely be able to go to high school. When the time comes, my master will be even more happy."
"Zhou will definitely try his best." Zhou said, neither humble nor arrogant.
At this time, Wen Laosan and others who were choosing calligraphy and paintings also heard the conversation between Zhou Ziyan and his brother.
Chunliu Lane?
Master Zhou?
It turns out to be Master Zhou!
Wen Laosan took a step forward, "Are you Master Zhou from Chunliu Lane?"
Zhou said to himself: "...it's exactly the one below."
Well, all the guests today know him.
"Okay, okay!" Wen Laosan patted Zhou Ziyan's shoulder heavily and praised, "With such a master, why should students worry about not being able to learn knowledge!"
Zhou Ziyan cupped his hands and said, "Mr. Wen, are you...?"
The county magistrate's wife smiled and shook her head, "Old Wen, please be gentle. Master Zhou's delicate skin and tender flesh will be damaged by you again."
Wen Laosan laughed and said, "Master Zhou, Wen must be gentler next time."
"This is the headmaster of Xinyang Academy in the south of the city, Wenshan." The county magistrate's wife introduced, "Wenshan is the Wen family of Quzhou. He has a good family background and was a flower explorer in the 13th year of Qing'an."
Zhou Ziyan quickly bowed and said, "Mr. Wenshan."
The Tanhua Lang who lived in the 13th year of Qing'an...
He seems to have heard of it.
It is said that Mr. Wen went to the Hanlin Academy after he was selected as the Tanhualang in the imperial examination.
However, after two years in office, he resolutely resigned and left, never to be seen again.
Unexpectedly, decades later, he is now the headmaster of Xinyang Academy in the south of the city.
The small Maming Valley has both the mountain chief of Maming Academy from Qingjing Province and the mountain chief of the Quzhou Wen clan.
It's really a hidden dragon and a crouching tiger...
Several children behind him stared at Mr. Wenshan for a long time, and they all hurriedly bowed their hands and said, "Hello, Mr. Wenshan!"
Mother! They met the headmaster of Xinyang Academy!
Behind Song Douding, Song Weifeng also saluted.
"Okay, okay, today is Fengla, so I won't do these empty rituals." Wenshan Changxu supported him, and Zhou Ziyan got up.
Zhou Ziyan stood up, and everyone behind him also stood up.
Song Douding suddenly reacted, "The headmaster of Xinyang Academy bought my candied haws!"
Wang Xiaoniu's eyes also shone, "And mine too!"
Jiang Qingqing, Pang Pangshan, and Ergun also realized at this time that their calligraphy and paintings were bought by the headmaster of Xinyang Academy!
The headmaster of Xinyang Academy also praised them for their good paintings and their aura!
Zhou said to himself: "..."
Well, it's just that his calligraphy and paintings were not bought by the headmaster of Xinyang Academy, right?
Wen Shanchang stroked his beard and said, "Master Zhou, Xinyang Academy is located in the southern suburbs of the city, only a few miles away from here. If Master Zhou has time, you can take these elementary school students to visit my Xinyang."
"After the children's examination, I'll go and bother you." Chief Wenshan said so. Zhou Ziyan naturally couldn't refuse, but he still had to do it after the children's examination.
Chief Wenshan said again: "In this children's examination, many of my Xinyang students are going to take the test. Master Zhou, how do you think? Do you have confidence?"
Zhou Ziyan touched Song Douding's head and said with a smile: "Chief Wenshan, there are some people in Zhou's school who want to give it a try."
Song Douding nodded heavily, "Chief Wenshan, I want to go too!"
"Oh?!" Wenshan was shocked. How old were Zhou Ziyan's students? How dare they take the child exam?
But think about it carefully, all the Song family members have read books and become famous, so what does it mean to end up in the child test!
If the Song family can really be on the list, it will be a great thing for Maminggou!
Chief Wen Shan wanted to understand and encouraged: "In that case, Song Jiazi, you have to study harder."
"Don't worry, Chief Shan, Douding understands." Song Douding bowed again.
The county magistrate's wife still wanted to find the magistrate, bought the calligraphy and paintings, and then left.
When Wen Shanchang and others learned about Zhou Ziyan's identity, on the one hand they wanted to talk for a while, but on the other hand they were too old and tired from walking too much, so they did not plan to go shopping anymore.
Sit at the tea stall opposite, order a pot of tea, some peanuts, and rest.
In the second half of the Fengla rally, there was also a procession of gods.
Wenquxing, the God of Wealth, and the farmer in charge of the harvest...
Each green silk and red hat is tall and majestic, with flexible limbs.
People on both sides of the street carried three or four incense sticks, and when the procession came by, they bent down piously and prayed for God's blessing.
Zhou Ziyan held up the incense and couldn't help but pray softly to Wenquxing, "Blessed is Wenquxing, please bless the students for this high school entrance examination."
Song Douding kept chattering with his eyes closed, "Grandpa Wenquxing, Grandpa God of Wealth, Grandpa Taishang Laojun... bless Douding to pass the exam, bless Douding to pass the exam..."
After the sealing ceremony ended, the whole Maminggou slowed down.
The academy has officially closed the boxes for the holidays, and the yamen has gradually reduced the number of cases it accepts, and has begun to prepare for the New Year.
However, although these large units have begun to take holidays, the major chambers of commerce have become active.
Merchants have come up with good stuff at the bottom of the box and opened their doors to attract customers.
Entering the twelfth lunar month, the children in Chunliu Lane are the happiest because it's the New Year!
Not only can you wear new clothes during the Chinese New Year, but you can also eat a lot of meat.
They wish they could celebrate the New Year every day.
Zhou Ziyan also bought two pieces of sealed bacon and kept them at home for later use.
This bacon is easy to preserve and is very hungry. It is very suitable for children to take with them when trying it.
Sausage, bacon stewed rice, just thinking about it makes me drool.
Although the private school had a holiday, Song Douding could not take a holiday.
After all, he is going to take the Children's Examination. Although he doesn't seek any fame, he can't slack off.
So as soon as the Feng La assembly was over, Song Douding immediately packed up his small book box and went to Zhou Ziyan's place to continue his classes.
Zhou Ziyan prepared a package of tactics to solve the problem and started fighting with Xiao Douding.
According to the procedure of the children's examination, he personally set the questions and wrote a set of test papers for Song Douding to do.
Looking at the 'test paper' in his hand, Song Douding held the brush and scratched his head, "Master, what is this?"
"The questions above are all questions that will be asked in the children's examination. You can give it a try." Zhou Ziyan sat on the rocking chair and drank tea slowly.
The casual posture is completely different from the straight-backed Song Douding.
Song Douding was depressed, "Master, why don't you look nervous at all?"
This is a child test!
As a master, he obviously has no fame, how can he be so relaxed?
"Why are you nervous? Nervousness lasts a day, relaxation lasts a day. You have to take exams sooner or later, so why be nervous now." Zhou said that after all, he is a person who has experienced the exam army in two lifetimes, and it is really difficult to be nervous.
Compared with the modern high school entrance examination, this children's examination can continue as long as the person is alive.
In terms of opportunities, it is more likely to be selected than the modern high school entrance examination.
Zhou Ziyan sat up from the rocking chair and told Song Douding, "Hurry up and do the questions. I'm telling you, starting from today, there will be one set in the morning and another in the afternoon, so be prepared."
"Okay." Song Douding didn't do anything else but obeyed. He immediately took the pen and started doing the questions.
At the beginning, I knew nothing and didn't understand anything.
But after finishing one set, there will be another set, and then there will be another set...
The little diced beans almost turned into fried beans.
Day by day passed like this, and by the time of the New Year, Song Douding was fully able to accept the intensity of the child test.
Song Douding couldn't believe that he actually completed a complete set of children's test questions!
"Master, you are so awesome!" When he first did the first set of questions, Song Douding didn't know anything and was so anxious that he scratched his head and ears.
Moreover, he has never heard that there is such a learning method in the world. How can he just ask people to do questions?
However, the benefits of doing this question are also extremely obvious.
The previous longing and nervousness about the child test are gone now!
Zhou Ziyan held a bowl of hot tea and squinted his eyes to rest, "This is the Tiehai tactic!"
The question-sea tactics that have endured for many years are truly human wisdom!
"Master, if I am on the list, can you...can you..." Song Douding clasped his fingers, "can you offset the fact that we didn't return the favor before?"
"What's the gift in return?" Zhou Ziyan thought for a while, but couldn't think of anything he needed to return.
Song Douding grabbed Zhou Ziyan's collar and shook it, "That's right, that's right, Master, you always give us good things, but we don't have the money to buy you gifts in return..."
His Master Zhou always boiled eggs and cooked food for them.
Several of their children gained several pounds in school.
The things the master gave were so good and expensive that they couldn't be taken back without a lot of money. But the five of them combined didn't have that much money to repay the gift!
I have always felt guilty.
Zhou Ziyan finally understood, "...I don't want you to give anything back to me when I give you something."
"But we want to pay it back." Song Douding tried to sit on Zhou Ziyan.
But he has grown a lot now, and his legs are no longer as short as when we first met him.
Zhou Ziyan carried Song Douding to another chair and said sternly: "Master teaches you knowledge. That is the master's duty. As for giving you extra things, it is naturally because as an elder, I want you to grow up healthily."
"Master, you are so kind. You are the best master I have ever seen!" Song Douding hugged Zhou Ziyan and rubbed him up and down.
Zhou laughed to himself, "You have only met a few wives in total."
"Well... including Master Liao, there are four in total." Song Douding counted, "Including Master Liao, there are five!"
Zhou Ziyan patted Song Douding on the head, "Then treat your child well during the examination. As long as you pay attention, Master will be happy whether you get the merit or not."
Song Douding suddenly gained momentum again, "Okay!"
Slowly, time comes to the end of the year.
The Chinese New Year is coming soon, and Song Douding doesn't have to take the test papers anymore.
Zhou Ziyan gave Song Douding a holiday and asked him to go back to prepare for the New Year.
I went out specifically to buy a lot of longevity vegetables, which is modern kelp.
I bought more cabbage and tofu, and also carried two fish.
Putting these ingredients together, it was the traditional Chinese New Year dish from his hometown in his previous life - crispy pot.
Prepare a large casserole, first add the green onion and ginger ingredients.
Then put the various prepared ingredients into the pot in layers, each layer should be thin, finally add cabbage and seasonings, and close the lid.
Turn on low heat and simmer slowly.
When the cabbage in the pot changes color, it's done.
But after cooking, it needs to be cooled in a cool place.
This dish is a winter dish. Once you make it in one pot, you can eat it for a long time.
After being completely frozen, it can be stored for more than a month.
Prepare some extra materials. If you can't use them all during the Chinese New Year, you can still use them during the Children's Trial Month.
On the eve of New Year's Eve, Zhou Ziyan was sitting alone in the house.
He dressed up carefully, with loose clothes and long sleeves, and a collection of jade pendants.
There is a basin of crispy pot and three side dishes on the table.
"Happy New Year!" Zhou Ziyan warmed a pot of wine, and took advantage of the bright moon and fireworks outside the window to wish himself a Happy New Year.
Happy New Year.
But being alone is not very happy.
"Alas..." Zhou Ziyan raised his wine glass and drank it in one gulp.
Warm wine enters the throat, and his face turns red. When he is drunk, he thinks of his past two lives.
The first bite made me miss my colleagues who could not cook in my previous life and were always eating and drinking at his house.
Although there are many conflicts at work, we are also comrades in the workplace.
But now it's hard to see each other again.
Sigh!
On the second sip, he thought of Lin Fanji in Qingjing Province.
There is also Emperor Jingxuan...and many many people he has met and heard.
This month is like the old month, but my old friend is not here.
Sad!
The third one is the people I met in Maminggou.
The kind-hearted and down-to-earth Father Song, the naughty and intelligent Song Douding, the bold and careful Wang Xiaoniu, the diligent and steady Pang Shanshan, the tenacious and self-improving Ergun, and the peaceful and happy Jiang Qingqing.
There is also Song Weifeng, who is strict with etiquette, but seems to have some unspeakable affection for him...
My mind is confused and I don't know where the exit is.
Difficult to understand!
After a pot of wine, Zhou said he was already drunk before the dishes were even touched.
His life is also wonderful.
He traveled from modern times to Daqing, where he won the imperial examination and became the number one scholar praised by everyone.
How many people work hard all their lives but never achieve anything in the officialdom, but he only took seven years to reach the position that others only dream of.
Wear gold and purple, supreme glory.
But in the end, there was no one left around him.
A look of exhaustion crept up between his brows. Zhou Ziyan simply swung his arms and leaned on the table, raised his head to catch the wine, and let the wine spill down his jaw and throat, "Why did I end up alone..."
When he was still in Qingjing Province, I don't know how many people secretly expressed their love for him and wanted to achieve the good of Qin and Jin with him.
At that time, he was focused on his official career, and he had a modern view on marriage and love, so he did not accept it.
Thinking about it now, if he gets married early, there might be someone by his side to accompany him.
But if he gets married, the whole family might follow him and live in the south without a fixed place...
No, no, this is not what a gentleman does.
"What is the right thing to do?" Zhou Ziyan stared blankly, unable to find a correct answer in the void. "Is it possible that every step I take now is wrong?"
In this road of life, how can you be satisfied with yourself?
It's difficult, so difficult.
After finishing a bottle of wine, Zhou Ziyan was about to change to a second bottle when he heard someone knocking on the door.
Who would knock on his door on New Year's Eve?
Zhou Ziyan thought of a possibility, quickly picked up his robe and ran to open the door.
As expected, it was Song Weifeng outside the door. He was carrying a small lantern and a food box.
Song Weifeng rolled up his sleeves, with small snowflakes falling on his shoulders. He bowed his hands and said with a sincere smile, "Brother Zhou, happy New Year!"
Chapter 43
"Today is only New Year's Eve, but you came over to pay me New Year's greetings." Zhou Ziyan couldn't bear the smell of alcohol and burped in front of Song Weifeng, his eyes filled with mist.
"Brother Zhou, have you been drinking?" Song Weifeng frowned and helped the person into position and walked into the courtyard.
Zhou said bye-bye, "On New Year's Eve, let's have a drink, a few drinks. I'm not drunk."
He is indeed not drunk, and his thinking ability is still there, but he is a little messed up.
"..." Song Weifeng didn't say anything, he just put the person on the chair and did it.
The dishes on the round table were in good condition, and it was obvious at a glance that Zhou Ziyan only drank wine and didn't eat anything.
But why hasn't he seen the dark dish in the middle?
"Brother Zhou, what is this?" Song Weifeng pointed to the crispy pot on the table.
"That's a crispy pot." Zhou Zi said lying on the chair, rubbing his temples, trying to wake himself up.
Song Weifeng raised the chopsticks and said, "Brother Zhou, can I try it?"
This was the first time he heard the name of this dish.
"Let's eat. Why are you so polite to Brother Zhou?" Zhou said to himself that he had become silly after drinking.
Song Weifeng picked up a chopstick of longevity vegetables and put it in his mouth, "It's delicious."
Although it is cold, it does not have any cold dish taste, and the strong aroma is a little sweet.
"Really?" Zhou Ziyan was attracted by Song Weifeng's expression and couldn't help but pick up a chopstick, "Ah, it really tastes the same as in his memory!"
In my previous hometown, every household would make such a dish during the New Year.
As the saying goes, if you are poor, you will have a hotpot, and if you are rich, you will have a hotpot. Every family makes hotpot, and each family has its own taste.
What Zhou Ziyan made was naturally the crispy pot in his memory.
Song Weifeng opened the food box in his hand, took out the dishes one by one, and introduced them to Zhou Ziyan, "This dish is made by little girl. This is... a dish made of diced beans, and then made by little girl. This is what my dad is best at." The same farm food..."
Finally, a small plate of fried chicken nuggets was brought out, "I made this."
Zhou Ziyan's eyes immediately fell on the last dish, "You made it? Then I have to try it."
The dark red fried chicken nuggets, you can already smell the strong smell of pepper even before you taste them.
After eating it with chopsticks, Zhou Ziyan tasted it carefully.
Spicy and delicious, with a little bit of pepper and numbness, a bit like modern Sichuan cuisine.
"How is it?" Song Weifeng clasped his hands and looked a little nervous.
"It's delicious!" Zhou Ziyan just drank wine and ate Sichuan peppercorns, and now he started to sweat. "Wei Feng, how did you come up with this?"
Song Weifeng pursed his lips and said vaguely, "When I was a child... I learned it after eating it a few times."
Now I just want to make it for Brother Zhou. If Brother Zhou likes it, he will be happy.
Zhou Ziyan nodded, a little doubt popping up in his dizzy head.
The cuisine here in Maminggou is generally sweet.
This method of using a large amount of pepper seems to be only done by people in Qingjing Province.
What did Wei Feng eat when he was a child?
But his brain is not suitable for thinking now.
He thought again, maybe there were other chefs who had learned the taste of Qingjing Province and opened a restaurant in Maminggou.
It's not surprising that Wei Feng had eaten it when he was a child.
Song Weifeng pushed all the dishes he had brought to Zhou Ziyan, "Brother Zhou, these are the thoughts of Douding and Xiaoniu. They feel that their Master Zhou is alone during the Chinese New Year and is very pitiful, so he asked Let me come over to comfort you."
Zhou Ziyan stared at the dishes for a long time and suddenly laughed out loud, "It's hard, it's hard for them to still remember me as my wife during the Chinese New Year."
Douding and Xiaoniu became happier as the New Year came. They played like crazy every day, but they didn't expect that they would still remember him.
"You are their wife, how could you not miss me?" Song Weifeng rolled up his sleeves and prepared dishes for Zhou Ziyan, "Not only them, but Aunt Hua and the others are also discussing coming to visit us on New Year's Day. Brother Zhou, be prepared. I need to pay the new year's money for my baby."
Zhou said he had not sobered up yet, so he raised his face and said, "Then the kid in front of me also wants new year's money?"
"..." Song Weifeng stopped serving the dishes and started again, but the smile on his face faded a little, "I'm already this age and I'm no longer a child."
He is the eldest son in the family, how can he still get lucky money?
In a few years, he will be the one giving New Year's money to Xiao Douding.
Zhou Ziyan spent a long time digging around, but couldn't find anything.
He stood up and walked towards the inner room.
After a while, he came out holding a jade Ruyi.
"Brother Zhou is so many years older than you, so naturally he has to act like an elder." Zhou Ziyan put the jade Ruyi into Song Weifeng's hand and said while holding back his wine belch, "Everything goes well as you wish. I hope that little Song Weifeng will be happy in the coming year... the coming year." , can be healthy and smooth, and have nothing to worry about."
He doesn't have anything valuable in his hands right now, so he still has something to say about this Yu Ruyi.
It just so happened that Song Weifeng liked his Yu Ruyi painting, so I gave it to him as lucky money.
Anyway, Yu Ruyi's designs are similar, so I'm not afraid that Song Weifeng will spot them.
"Brother Zhou..." Song Weifeng's hands were cold and he was stunned.
The jade body is transparent and the tentacles are cold. You can tell it is good jade at a glance.
This is too valuable, he can't have it.
"Brother Zhou, this is too valuable." Song Weifeng returned the jade Ruyi, "I'll take it as you wish."
"No." Zhou said he was drunk, and his words were a bit domineering. He couldn't help but push Yu Ruyi back, "I said I'd give it to you, so I'll give it to you, don't do it!"
"Then, please give me a few copper coins." Song Weifeng still wanted to refuse, because this jade Ruyi looked too valuable.
"That won't work, that small amount of money is not worthy of my Song Luoluo." Zhou Ziyan still couldn't help but burped from wine, his eyes were dizzy, and he lost track of his words, "Look at you, you are beautiful, you know how to He is good at reading and martial arts. He can also make money bags for me and cook... Such a good and powerful little brother, this Yu Ruyi is the best match."
In fact, he is not satisfied with this jade.
Wait for him to find a better one in the future...
Song Weifeng held Yu Ruyi tightly, her heart beating like a drum, "Brother Zhou, then...then do you have any thoughts about getting married..."
"That...that's not true..." Zhou Ziyan pressed his forehead and leaned on the back of the chair, "I can't get married..."
How can he get married now that he has nothing?
If you don't succeed, you can't delay others.
"...Hmm." Song Weifeng's heart, which was still beating just now, immediately became calm.
In this cool night, a layer of cold sweat broke out all over his body.
Brother Zhou should still be concerned about his being a "lone star". He is not sad at all.
The days ahead are long, he and Brother Zhou, the days are long...
Thinking of this, Song Weifeng restrained himself and poured wine as usual, "Come on, Brother Zhou, it's Chinese New Year!"
"Okay!" Zhou Ziyan raised his glass and met Song Weifeng.
When the porcelain cups collided, huge fireworks exploded in the night sky above the patio outside the house.
The colorful colors are dazzling.
Countless smoke and dust are sent to every household along the night wind, bringing in the new year.
As the New Year comes around, the entire Maminggou is filled with an atmosphere of excitement and tension.
Without him, because the first child test will be held in early February.
In early January, the chief clerk and three yamen servants posted information on the notice board at the gate of the county yamen.
The yamen officials' voices are loud and can be heard for miles. They must let everyone know: "The county examination is coming soon. Anyone who has applied for it must go to the yamen ceremony room to register as soon as possible with the confession information!"
The people watching in front of the notice board looked at the notice and talked about it.
"Hey, this is going to be a child test."
"Yes, this first game is the county test!"
"I don't know how many I can win this year..."
"No matter how many are selected, if anyone passes the exam, it will be a great success!"
Zhou Ziyan and Song Weifeng took Song Douding to sign up immediately.
The so-called personal confession refers to the candidate's name and age, where his ancestral home is, and his physical characteristics.
There are also the death histories of three generations of ancestors.
If the candidate is an adoptee, in addition to writing the three generations of his current parents, he must also write the three generations of his biological parents.
The personal confession information is only for the magistrate to check the student's identity information, so Zhou Ziyan used the information on the current household registration.
As for Song Douding, he held the pen and tore apart all the ancestors of their old Song family.
It was Song Weifeng who stopped him before he stopped.
After coming out of the Yamen, Song Douding was still in a daze, "Master, I really have to take the exam."
"Yes." Zhou Ziyan was thinking about the process of the child test in his mind, and said to Song Douding, "Douding, let's go, we still have a lot of things to prepare."
Song Weifeng followed him with his hands behind his back, "Yes, the county exam is tough, so we have to prepare some thick clothes and food."
The first county examination lasts one day, but there will be retests after that.
After all, it usually takes five exams.
But only those who pass the first test can participate in the subsequent re-examination.
The re-examination is only for selecting people. Every time, people will be screened. By the end of the screening, the number of people will be getting smaller and smaller.
Therefore, the specific number of re-examinations depends on how many reference candidates there are this time.
Most people are generally prepared to take the exam for five days.
Father Song specifically asked Zhou Ziyan for advice. When he learned what needed to be prepared, he made preparations without stopping.
Zhou Ziyan and Song Weifeng prepared three sets of clothes respectively, and bought a thick cotton coat and fur collar cloak.
For adults to resist freezing, this is all you need to prepare.
But Song Douding couldn't do it. The child was young and the body's bones were weak. If he didn't keep warm, the root cause of the disease might be established in just one day.
At this time, Song's father asked someone to bring back an authentic fox fur coat from outside.
The fox fur is big, and Father Song meant that it would be used by Song Weifeng.
But Song Weifeng had someone cut it and made it into a small fox fur coat, which he put on Song Douding the same day.
When Father Song saw this, he shook his head helplessly.
For Zhou Ziyan, Liao Weian also secretly prepared a plush cloak for him, saying that it was provided by Lin Fanji, fearing that Zhou Ziyan would freeze to death in the examination room.
Zhou Ziyan hugged the big cloak and said, "..."
This Lin Fanji is so annoying when he gives away things.
After preparing warm clothes, Zhou Ziyan began to prepare the food needed for the exam.
Cut the previously prepared bacon into slices, put it into the steamed buns, and smear it with a layer of sauce, which is enough for food and clothing.
Make some new crispy pans and freeze them. It won't be a problem to survive the county exam.
As the day for the child examination was getting closer, in order to better prepare for the child examination, Zhou Ziyan stopped his classes at home school.
Everyone expressed understanding.
If Zhou Ziyan could pass the examination, it would be a good thing for students like them.
But Song Douding felt a little restless as the date approached.
Even Song Weifeng, who came over for review, was a little silent.
The two looked very stressed.
Zhou Ziyan gave Song Douding a holiday and asked him and Song Weifeng to go home and have a good rest.
Five days before the children's examination, the chief registrar posted the location of the examination booth and asked the candidates to arrange accommodation as soon as possible.
Zhou Ziyan took a look and found that the examination shed was on the outskirts of Maminggou, near the dock.
Next to it is Xiaoyang Mountain where Xinyang Academy is located.
Zhou Ziyan followed the route on the notice board and found it.
The examination booths in Daqing all have the same layout.
There is a large specially built courtyard in the front, with all rooms open.
Walls were erected every three meters to form individual cubicles.
Apart from this, there are a few huts and no other rooms.
There is only a square wooden notice board in the courtyard, which is where the rankings will be posted when results are released in the future.
At this time, there were heavy soldiers guarding the outside of the examination shed. Countless government officials armed with knives protected the inside and outside of the examination shed on three levels.
Inside, the magistrate, the magistrate, and three secretaries had already moved in in advance.
They cannot come out until the child test is over.
Seeing such a posture, Zhou couldn't hide his nostalgia.
After seven years, he was about to embark on the imperial examination road again.
After this, life starts over, and the road ahead is unknown. He only hopes to find a path that satisfies him.
Chapter 44
On the day of the examination, as soon as the Yin hour passed, someone immediately fired a cannon outside the examination room.
The loud sound of cannons shook the entire Maminggou.
After hearing the sound of the cannon, Zhou Ziyan put pen, ink, paper, inkstones, food, food and clothing into his bag at home.
As soon as I put my things away, I heard a knock on the door.
Song Weifeng held Song Douding's hand and stood at the gate with a small bundle for each person, "Brother Zhou."
"Master!"
"It's you." Zhou Ziyan brought the people into the house, gave them each a bowl of hot tea, rubbed his hands, and exhaled the cold air in his body.
Before the second cannon was fired, I picked up the book at hand, chewed on the flower scroll and flipped through it.
Song Weifeng looked at Zhou Ziyan's leisurely look and couldn't help but said: "Brother Zhou, aren't you nervous?"
He was so nervous that he almost fainted!
"...not too nervous." Zhou Ziyan gently turned over a page of the book.
He passed the exam once and trained intensively for more than a month. To say he was nervous, it was really not that much.
Song Douding smacked his lips, "What's there to be nervous about?"
He was quite nervous before, but he has been following Wang Xiaoniu and the others around for the past few days, and now he is no longer nervous.
Besides, he has been doing "exam papers" with Zhou Ziyan for a long time.
The child test, in his eyes now, is just another master's test.
If you fail the exam...
Hey, how could Song Douding fail the exam!
Song Weifeng put down the bowl heavily, "..."
Okay, of the three people present, he was the only one whose nervous heart was about to jump, right?
At nine o'clock, the second trumpet sounded.
At this time, the candidates should rush to the examination booth.
Zhou Ziyan picked up the small baggage and walked out with Song Weifeng and Song Douding.
At this time, there were only a few rooster crows, and everything was quiet.
Only a few families were lighting lanterns in front of their doors and standing outside holding something to warm their hands.
Taking a closer look, it was Aunt Hua, Pang Pang Niang, and Aunt Zhang.
Father Song and Wang Xiaoniu were also waiting at the door. When they saw Zhou Ziyan and the others coming out, they immediately stepped forward.
"Master Zhou, Feng'er, Douding..." Father Song wanted to say a few words of encouragement, but didn't know what to say.
Wang Xiaoniu clenched her fists and said, "Master, Brother Song, Douding, you have to work hard! No matter who it is, you must come back with a case test!"
"Little girl Wang, it's not that easy." Song Douding pouted.
Zhou Ziyan touched Wang Xiaoniu's head and said to Song's father, "Uncle, time is tight, so we will leave now."
"Okay, okay, go quickly, go quickly." Song's father said, "You go first, we will arrive later."
Aunt Hua, Pang Pang Niang, and Aunt Zhang also hurried forward, stringing the Wenchang knot bracelets in their hands in front of the three of them and clicking them.
"Wenchangjie, Wenchangyou, today's exam will go smoothly and you will be named on the gold list."
Zhou Ziyan and others closed their eyes to accept the blessing.
After tapping their foreheads three times, they finally got on the bullock cart going to the examination shed.
Everyone who has walked along the way is today's candidate.
Taking advantage of the daylight, he flipped through the book in his hand, chanting something in his mouth and reciting it non-stop, "Therefore, a gentleman is harmonious but not frivolous. Strong and correct... Neutrality without leaning, strong and correct! The state has its way..."
When we arrived outside the examination booth, many candidates had gathered.
The subordinate official in the ceremonial room was standing at the front with a roll call list, his hands behind his back, looking dignified and solemn.
The candidates who arrive first sit on the ground or on a stone bench.
Waiting for later candidates.
Gradually, there are more and more relatives around.
Crowded with each other, there is constant turmoil.
"Ouch, why are you stepping on my feet!"
"Who stepped on you? You obviously hit me!"
"Why are you being unreasonable!"
The yamen patrolling the field quickly went over to suppress the situation, so that it didn't turn into a scene like a street corner.
Half an hour later, the subordinate officials held up the roll call roll and began to call the names.
Whoever is clicked will come forward for inspection.
If the check is correct, you can put your belongings into the test basket and enter the venue.
Call five people's names at a time, five people in a team, and move forward slowly.
While waiting, Zhou Ziyan saw Song's father standing outside.
There are also four little children making noise behind Father Song.
Song Douding signed up together with him, so they were also lined up together.
Unable to speak while queuing, Zhou Ziyan poked Song Douding with his hand to let him see Song's father.
As expected, Song Douding saw Father Song, jumped up and waved slightly to reassure Father Song.
Father Song almost cried with joy when he saw his two sons in the children's examination team. He said to the people next to him: "Did you see, did you see? Over there, over there, is my son. My two sons are all there."
The people next to Father Song looked at Father Song as if he were a madman, and silently moved away.
Song Weifeng was his brother, and there was another queue, not with Zhou Ziyan.
But that guy's team was really sparse in line.
Looking around, there were only about twenty guys waiting in line.
The women's team on the other side simply didn't line up.
In fact, as usual, the yamen also arranged for female officials to examine the candidates.
The female officer was standing at the front of the team with her arms folded.
It's a pity that no women in Maminggou took the exam this year.
As the team slowly advanced, Song Douding, a dwarf, appeared in front of everyone.
There is no age limit for the children's examination, so in the children's examination team, there are children of mental age who have just learned to read, as well as old people twirling their beards.
In front of Song Douding was an old scholar who could be his grandfather.
Everyone was not surprised and just said, "It's great that another child is taking the exam this year."
Not many children take part in the child examination every year.
But... not many people are admitted to the imperial examination.
There were only a few people in Brother's team, so Song Weifeng entered the stage ahead of Zhou Ziyan.
When it was Zhou's turn to speak to himself, the man in front of him was being inspected, and all clothes and salutes were opened.
The examiner didn't even spare the layers of clothes and looked through them carefully.
The man didn't know whether he was frozen or something, but he was shivering all the time, and there were big beads of sweat on his forehead.
His gaze fell to the side and back again, often scanning a certain place in his baggage.
Seeing this, Zhou Ziyan felt relieved.
There may be another mystery behind this man's burden.