In Shibali Fort, the firecrackers were blasting loudly. During the Chinese New Year, they only lit a few small whips with a hundred rings, but today they lit ten, thousand-shot earth red firecrackers. The crackling sky was filled with red firecracker crumbs.
The children were running all over the floor excitedly, and the adults were even more delighted. At the door of Lao Meng's house, two pieces of good news were hung: Congratulations to your son, Meng Tao, for being a scholar in Yeluo High School.
Everyone in front of the door chattered and asked who Meng Yeluo was, and knowledgeable people said that this was the scientific name given by the second son of the Meng family. He is now a scholar selected by Master Liu in the state, and his literary star has come to earth.
The people living in Shibalibao are all the descendants of the soldiers and convicts. Scholars are very rare, let alone scholars, so the old and young men in the town are very excited. Some bring pork and egg white wine, and some
He called his mother-in-law to help light the fire and cook. A running water mat was set up in the Meng family's small yard. Meng Xiucai's grandfather and father stood at the door, wearing brand new robes to welcome the guests.
The scholar's grandfather and father were both honest farmers. They didn't know what to say when they encountered such a big scene. They just smiled like chrysanthemums on their faces, but their eyes sparkled. The scholar officials also stood at the door to greet the guests.
Wearing a blue cloth gown and a square scarf on his head, he was greeted and greeted politely. The elders praised the scholar repeatedly for being well-educated and sensible. After all, he was the most knowledgeable person in Shibali Fort.
The scholar's mother was cooking in the kitchen, and his sister Meng Xiaodong also changed into new clothes, serving tea and wine to entertain the villagers. The younger brother had a promising future, and the elder sister was of course happy, but the happiest person was Meng Yeluo's teacher.
Lin Xiucai.
Lin Xiucai is actually not a real scholar. He is still a child now. Others call him a scholar just to be polite. Now that his students have entered the school, the teachers are even happier than he has entered the school. He holds the wine glass in his hand without putting it down.
After that, three old men and four young men toasted to him one by one. Lin Xiucai refused all comers and got very drunk. When he was drunk, he called his son over and scolded him. Lin Xiucai's son Lin Lianjiang was also one of the thirteen Taibao.
With such a father who doesn't like to read or write, but only likes to wield swords and guns, he won't even get a scholar's hair. No wonder Lin Xiucai was sad.
Meng Yeluo is the thirteenth among the Thirteen Taibao. It is a big event for the youngest brother to enter school. When all the brothers drop everything they are doing and come to celebrate, there are eleven heroes sitting on both sides of a long table.
When Meng Yeluo came over, everyone stood up. The boss, Zhao Ding'an, said on behalf of all the brothers: "The thirteenth brother was selected as a scholar, and all the brothers who we sworn sworn in on the city tower have also been honored. Unfortunately, Chu Jian has already passed away."
He's not here anymore, let's toast him with the first glass of wine." As he said this, he spilled a bowl of wine on the ground, and the brothers also spilled the wine on the ground. Then they raised their glasses and drank, drinking three large bowls in a row.
Putting down the wine bowl, Zhao Ding'an said: "Thirteenth Master, you will be a scholar from now on. You can no longer fight and kill with rough guys like us. Just study hard and don't worry about your family affairs."
Zhao Ding'an here is not only speaking as the eldest brother, but he is also Meng Yeluo's brother-in-law. The eldest brother Zhao and Father Meng have already decided on their children's marriage and are just waiting for a better time.
Meng Yeluo said with tears in her eyes: "But I can't bear to leave my brothers."
Yuan Feng said: "Studying hard is better than anything else. If you wait until the autumn and take the imperial examination, not only will you, the old Meng family, be able to bring glory to our ancestors, but our brothers and even the entire Shibali Fort will be honored."
Meng Yeluo inevitably got drunk. In fact, he was only fourteen years old this year, and his ability to drink was really limited. He couldn't help but drink. If his brothers hadn't helped to hold back the wine, he would have collapsed under the table.
Just like a drunken cat, he was carried to the house to sleep.
Shibalibao feasted all night until dawn.
The northwest is not as good as the south of the Yangtze River. There are very few scholars. It is considered good if ordinary people can recognize their own names. Those who can pass the scholar examination are already rare. What's more, Meng Yeluo is only fourteen years old. He can be called a young prodigy. He is a scholar.
Mr. Liu from the prefecture personally ordered his meritorious service. According to Mr. Liu, this young man is very talented and has a photographic memory of his studies. He will be able to pass the exam this autumn. There is still a high chance of passing the exam. This is a great status.
No, ordinary people have to kowtow and salute when they meet, even if they meet the county magistrate, they will fight against each other. If any family can be elected, it will be like chickens and dogs ascending to the sky, and green smoke rising from the ancestors' graves.
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As spring goes and autumn comes, time flies. At the time when the sweet osmanthus is fragrant in August, the streets of Lanzhou are full of scholars who come to take the exam. The rich live in inns, and the poor live in temples. The three-year provincial examination is finally over.
Here, many students who have experienced ten years of hard work come to the provincial capital, hoping to master their talents and win the title of Jinshi and return to shine in the family.
A slightly thin-looking young man, carrying a bag of naan cakes on his back, timidly appeared at the door of the most famous Tongfu Inn in Lanzhou Prefecture. The waiter at the door glanced at his shoes and hats and concluded that there was money in this man's wallet.
I can't even pay for one night's room.
"There is a horse and carriage shop on the right side of the door. You can stay overnight for two cents. Sir, please go there." The waiter introduced enthusiastically, but the disdain in his eyes was very clear. These country bumpkins didn't even look at it.
You are really a nerd if you dare to go in even if the golden signboard of Tongfu Inn is there.
The young man said: "Isn't this the Tongfu Inn? I'm looking for shopkeeper Wang."
The shopkeeper was settling accounts at the counter. When he saw the waiter entangled with someone at the door, he shouted from a distance: "Give him two dollars and tell him to leave. Don't block the door. We have a distinguished guest coming today. Don't let us neglect you."
The waiter took out two coins from his waist and threw them to the young man, and said impatiently: "Hurry up, there is no shopkeeper Wang here."
Although the young man looked weak, his temper was extremely stubborn. He did not accept the two coins at all. He stood at the door and said, "Please find the shopkeeper Wang."
The clerk was angry and reached out to push him, but he couldn't push him at all. Suddenly he saw the handle of a knife exposed from the boy's package. The clerk jumped back in fright: "Oh no, someone is coming to cause trouble!"
The business of Tongfu Inn is very big, so it naturally has a few bodyguards. When they hear someone making trouble, they rush out, roll up their sleeves and prepare to hit someone. The waiter is frightened and says: "Everyone, be careful, this guy is bringing someone with him!"
The bodyguards quickly took out iron rulers and wooden sticks from behind the counter to surround the boy. The customers coming and going in the store were also frightened and hid upstairs to watch the excitement. The boy stood still and continued to say: "I'm looking for the king."
Shopkeeper."
"Boy, there is no shopkeeper named Wang here. Who sent you here? Tell me!"
"Don't talk nonsense to him. Give him a beating and you'll be honest."
The bodyguards said this and started to fight with their weapons, but this young man looked weak and his skills were not bad at all. As soon as the package was thrown away and the long knife was in his hand, he knocked down the bunch of wine bags and rice bags in a few seconds. Fortunately, he only used the back of the knife.
, otherwise several lives would have been lost.
The shopkeeper hid behind the counter and shouted: "Hurry, sir! There are horse thieves in the store."
The young man sheathed his sword and said proudly: "I am not a horse thief, I am a scholar from Luyang County, and I came to see Shopkeeper Wang of your shop."
The shopkeeper was stunned and suddenly realized: "You must be looking for Mr. Wang Daguan. He no longer does things himself, and all the small things are left to us juniors."
The young man said: "Oh, that's it. I'm sorry, I made a mistake."
The shopkeeper crawled out from behind the counter, put on a smile and said: "The guest is a scholar from Luyang County. Could it be the talented scholar whose surname is Meng and whose name is Ye Luo?"
The boy was young after all, and his handsome face turned red as he said, "I am none other than Meng Yeluo from Shibali Fort."
The shopkeeper's smile became even sweeter. He rushed forward to help Meng Yeluo pick up the package and said: "Official Wang has already told me that the room at Tianzihao will keep it for you. Please give it to the scholar."
lead the way."
The guests all over the building were also shocked. It was said that a scholar came out of Shibalibao. It turned out to be this boy. Everyone showed a look of disdain. The name of Shibalibao is well known in Gansu.
, an inconspicuous small town actually monopolized the private tea-horse salt trade in the northwest within two years. Even the Yuchi family had to join forces with them. This group of people dared to fight and kill without batting an eye. How many swords were in the northwest?
All the guests fell into their hands. On the entire northwest road, whoever mentioned the name of Shibalibao would not give face.
But in the bottom of their hearts, everyone looked down on such a nouveau riche. When Meng Yeluo entered the room, the scholars began to whisper, "Is this a scholar or a horse thief? He went to the provincial capital to take the exam and brought a knife with him."
"These days, even horse thieves are treated as scholars. It's really insulting to gentlemen. I really don't want to stay in the same hotel with such a person. Boss, check out of the hotel!"
The scholars asked to check out one after another in a righteous manner, which put the shopkeeper in a dilemma. Let the scholars check out. He was unwilling to lose money. If he didn't let them check out, he would have to drive Meng Xiucai away. This was absolutely impossible.
matter.
While they were making noise, a loud shout suddenly came: "Let them retreat! I have booked the whole room, so it is only me and Thirteenth Lang living there, so it is clean!"
Everyone looked back and saw a young man in brocade clothes with a folding fan in his hand glaring angrily. Behind him, a dozen or so long attendants in silk and satin clothes stood with their hands on their waists, also looking arrogantly with their noses in the air.
The shopkeeper hurriedly separated from the crowd to greet me. His face was filled with smiles: "It's Mr. Li. When did you arrive? You came to visit the shop. It's really wonderful."
Young Master Jin Yi was none other than Li Mingying, the second young master of the Li family in Ningxia. At this moment, he proudly shook off his folding fan and said, "I didn't want to live here at first. I heard that Meng Xiucai from Shibalibao was coming over, so I just came here and happened to meet him."
These ignorant people are making trouble at the right time, and I am worried that there are too many people living there and it is not clean enough."
The Li family in Ningxia is a wealthy family. Their ancestors have been officials for many generations, and they are definitely a family of officials. These sour scholars dared to look down on the nouveau riche, but they did not dare to look down on the Li family. They dispersed in despair, and no one mentioned anything about checking out.
It's a problem, because everyone knows very well that all the inns in Lanzhou Prefecture are full now. If they really check out, they will have to sleep on the streets tonight.