Wujun, Jin Dynasty, the tenth day of the ninth lunar month.
The second day after the Double Ninth Festival is the day for the local Zhongzheng review in Wu County.
For ordinary people from poor families, they naturally have no interest in the Zhongzheng Review, because it really has nothing to do with them. However, for the local nobles and nobles in Wu County, this is a big day in their lives.
After the Zhongzheng evaluation and finalization, they were qualified to become officials. Especially in this county, the rural character was extremely important, which almost determined the starting point of their future official career.
Although the Zhongzheng Review is divided into nine grades, it is actually divided into high and low grades. All grades above three grades are high grade, and those below three grades are low grade. Even though there are titles of upper, middle and lower in grades, there are actually only two categories: high and low.
If you are a high-ranking official, you will be an "upright official", and "upright officials" will enjoy better policy preferences in promotion and appointment. If you are a low-ranking official, you can only be a "bad official". Not only will your status be low when you enter the official position, but you will also have a lower status in the future.
Promotion will also become difficult and slow due to low quality.
Of course, the three-year Zhongzheng review is not only the first time to determine the product, but also the people who have reviewed it in the past will be re-assessed. Therefore, there is also the possibility of a low-quality product becoming a high-quality product, and a chance for a corrupt official to become an upright official.
However, these things do not need to be concerned about for Li Hui. Regarding this Zhongzheng review, Li Hui does not have much hope, because the reality is in front of him, and it is absolutely impossible for him to get a high grade. Li Hui's goal is only
Two, you can participate in the Zhongzheng review and express yourself as much as possible. It is very important to show yourself on such an occasion. In addition, as long as you are not ranked the lowest in terms of grade, you will have achieved your goal.
Although there is no hope, it still needs to be taken seriously. Just like that application in later generations, Li Hui must participate in the best condition. This is also Li Hui's consistent style of doing things.
He went to bed early last night, got up early in the morning, ran for exercise, took a cold shower, and put on clean clothes. Originally, Li Hui planned to put on the new set of clothes given by Gu Qingning, but after thinking about it, he decided
I didn't do that. I came from a poor family, so I felt uncomfortable wearing that luxurious outfit. I would have just worn an ordinary cloth robe that my mother, Gu Lanzhi, had ironed for me last night.
Gu Lanzhi and Chou Gu also knew that their son was going to participate in the Zhongzheng review today, which was a big day. So they got up early in the morning and spread out fragrant egg pancakes. Gu Lanzhi also went to the market to buy some snacks and half a dozen
The sweet soy milk comes back and gives my son a full meal.
When Li Hui had breakfast and packed up and was about to go out, Gu Lanzhi pulled his son into the room, took out a small cloth bag from under the box, and gently unfolded it on the table. Inside was a small
The dark green jade pendant is carved into the shape of a cicada. The lines are simple and smooth. Although not exquisite, it is very similar.
"Hui'er, you are wearing this jade pendant. You have to be polite when going to such occasions. This jade cicada... is something left by your father. Back then, he often hung the jade cicada on his waist. Tell me what it is.
The meaning is good. It said that he could become a blockbuster, and that if he hung it around his waist, he could have a million dollars or something. Oh, your father has been thinking about getting rich and getting promoted all his life. Mother doesn’t expect my son to have a million dollars and become a blockbuster or something. She just hopes that your father can bless you.
Just stay safe and sound. Mom, put it on for you." Gu Lanzhi said softly.
Gu Lanzhi rarely talked about her late husband Li Zhi in front of Li Hui. Li Hui's memory was basically blank about this man. After all, the possessed boy came to Wu County when he was very young. His childhood memories
It's always blurry. Moreover, there are large blanks in Li Hui's mind about childhood memories. Perhaps the child deliberately forgot some things, so that he had no memory of his father's image.
But when I heard my mother talking about Li Zhilai, with a sad expression and some tears in her eyes, I knew that my mother still remembered her father who had been dead for more than ten years.
Li Hui did not refuse and allowed Gu Lanzhi to wear the jade cicada with a red string and hang it around his waist. For no other reason than for the good omen that would make a big splash, he also wanted to be praised. Besides, he should take his father's things by himself.
I feel at ease.
When leaving Xiaoyuan Hutong, a mule cart was parked at the entrance of the alley. Wu Gang, the guardian of the courtyard, sat on the shaft of the cart and greeted Li Hui.
"Xiao Langjun, get in the car this way."
Li Hui stepped forward in surprise and said with a smile: "Why are you here?"
Wu Gang cupped his hands and smiled and said: "Dong Weng sent me here and said that today the young man is going to attend the Zhongzheng review. It is too far to walk there, so he ordered me to drive the young man there in a mule cart."
Li Hui was quite touched when he heard this. He had not seen Gu Qian for more than ten days and had been staying at home to prepare for the Zhongzheng review. Unexpectedly, Gu Qian still remembered the date and specially sent a mule cart to see him off. He was really thoughtful.
"Dong Weng said, Xiao Lang doesn't need to feel any pressure, just treat him with a normal attitude. No matter what the result is, the door of South House is still open to Xiao Lang. By the way, Dong Weng Institute, after today's review is over, Xiao Lang will be asked tomorrow
Go to the south house to do some work. The food in the manor needs to be transported, so Xiao Lang has to go and help." Wu Gang said again.
Li Hui smiled and thought: Dong Weng is very realistic and has already arranged things in advance. Maybe he knows that there is no hope for him to be evaluated by Zhongzheng this time. He has to do things for him. After all, it is impossible to leave the Gu family now.
, if I want to leave, I will leave next spring, until everything is arranged.
Li Hui got in the car and talked with Wu Gang about walking all the way from Dongcheng to the central street of Wujun County. The Zhongzheng Review was presided over by the Dazhong Zhengguan of the county, and the location was in the lobby of the County Sheriff's Yamen, so he went to the County Sheriff's Yamen where the central street was located.
Can.
The autumn air is crisp, and although the weather is a bit cold in the early morning, there are already many people in the market. Among the people coming and going, there are also many luxurious mule carts. Today, many descendants of large and small aristocratic families in Wujun City will participate.
Zhongzheng commented, so the streets are indeed particularly lively today.
Soon, Li Hui arrived in front of the county governor's office square. The door of the government office lobby was still closed, but many large cars were parked at the door of the office. The richly dressed children of aristocratic families greeted each other and stood outside the lobby laughing.
While chatting, Li Hui couldn't get in the conversation and couldn't join in the fun. After getting off the car, he stood far away under a big tree and waited.
Soon after, Li Hui saw Gu Chang. Gu Yun and several descendants of the Gu family also arrived one after another. It could be seen that they all dressed up deliberately. Their clothes were luxurious and their faces were powdered. They had the demeanor of the descendants of the aristocratic family.
Gu Chang also saw Li Hui standing far away. If it were normal, Gu Chang would definitely laugh at him. But since that incident not long ago, Gu Chang knew how powerful Li Hui was, and there were unknown things that were exposed
Li Hui witnessed it, so he only glanced at Li Hui twice without saying much.
At midnight, the gate of the county guard's government office burst open, and several soldiers came out and stood at the door. When everyone stretched their necks to look into the government office, a thin-faced man walked to the door and held his hands in front of everyone.
"Everyone, I am Cao Shen, the head of the county governor's office. I have been ordered by the prefect Lu Shijun to arrange today's review of Zhongzheng. Everyone, please listen. I will go to the court one by one by name in a while. Please do not make any noise outside and wait patiently. I understand.
What?"
"I understand!" everyone said one after another.
The chief nodded, held the roster and started calling people. Starting from the big families, they called in one by one. It took less than one stick of incense for each person to come out. There were about thirty or forty new commentators present today, so
The waiting time is still as long as I thought it would be.
Li Hui stood behind the crowd and watched the disciples of the aristocratic families entering and exiting one by one. These people did not seem worried and smiled brightly when they came out. Although the grades would not be judged immediately today, they seemed to be confident.
After several big clans, there are middle-level gentry, and there are quite a few in Wu County. After all, it was once the capital of Soochow, and the land of Wu County hides dragons and crouching tigers. There are many distinguished gentry. Some of them were once rich and powerful families, but as time goes by and dynasties change, they are no longer what they used to be.
That’s all.
Two full hours later, when the sun had reached overhead and there were only a few people left in front of the Yamen, Li Hui heard Chief Cao calling his name.
Li Hui hurriedly adjusted his clothes, stepped up the steps of the lobby and walked in.
There were more than a dozen people sitting high and low in the magistrate's hall. Some were wearing official crowns, and some were wearing official uniforms. Some were fat or thin, some were tall or short. From the moment Li Hui walked in, their gazes
Everyone turned to him, their eyes scrutinizing and critical, which made Li Hui feel very uncomfortable.
But Li Hui knew that from the moment he came in, the evaluation had actually begun. Although some things were not within the scope of the Zhongzheng evaluation, they affected the results, such as appearance, body, walking, demeanor, etc.
This is the Jin Dynasty. Li Hui has followed Gu Qian to participate in various banquets many times. At the banquet, he heard this group of nobles and celebrities talking about other people's clothes, appearance and appearance, and commented on them. In this flashy era, this group of people
These things are included in the pursuit of demeanor, which is a characteristic of the times. Li Hui believes that this must be a factor that will affect their judgment.
Moreover, even if it was not in the Jin Dynasty, decent appearance and demeanor would be a bonus. Just like when I took part in various important exams in later generations, the teacher would remind me to write the answers to the questions neatly and clearly, and keep the paper surface straight.
Neatness. It is said that this will make the marking teacher feel happy and make him more relaxed during marking and grading.
Therefore, Li Hui tried his best to suppress the tension in his heart and walked into the lobby with a calm pace and a relaxed expression.
Li Hui originally had a handsome appearance and a slender figure. At this moment, he walked in calmly, with a calm demeanor and a smile on his face. He had a certain demeanor. The eyes of everyone in the hall lit up, and many people secretly praised him: What a handsome young man!
There was a man sitting behind the plan in front of him. The man was tall and handsome, handsome in appearance, and dressed in luxurious clothes. Li Hui recognized him as soon as he entered. He was Lu Na, the head of the Lu family of Wu County, the governor of Wu County and the high official of the county.
The Lu family is also one of the four major wealthy families in Wu County. Their ancestors include Lu Xun, Lu Ji, Lu Yun and many other famous figures. By Lu Na's generation, although there were no important ministers in the court, as a large family in Jiangzuo, their heritage was still there, and