Chapter 1140: Can’t Hang Out with Sister Lin

The news that Master Bao was going to study at the Imperial College quickly spread throughout the Rongguo Mansion.

Ningguo Mansion and some other families in the Jia Mansion who were having blind dates also got the news.

Jia Rong, Jia Qiang, and some other playmates came over and asked for details.

Su Mingzhe became impatient with the questions, so he simply went to his cousin Jia Lian and asked him to help arrange a few tables and invite all his friends and playmates to say goodbye together.

After the farewell banquet, Su Mingzhe stayed in Rongguo Mansion and did not go out.

Every day he either pretended to study with a few medical books, or accompanied his sister Lin to visit the garden.

Lin Daiyu, who had just arrived in a strange place, was taken care of so considerately by Su Mingzhe. They were childhood sweethearts and at the age of falling in love, so her heart had already been warmed.

But it’s hard to guess what a girl is thinking, and Su Mingzhe would eat some melon from time to time.

Of course, when Lin Daiyu is in a good mood, she will let Su Mingzhe take advantage of her.

For example, Lin Daiyu would let a man snuggle up to her and sit together to read for half a day.

Or when the two of them were strolling in the garden, Su Mingzhe suddenly took Lin Daiyu's hand. If no one else saw it, Lin Daiyu would shake it off a few times, and if she couldn't get rid of it, she would just let it go.

Just one month passed in the blink of an eye.

The relationship between Su Mingzhe and Lin Daiyu gradually deepens.

The sixth day of the twelfth lunar month.

The two servants who went to Bashu to deliver the letter returned.

The two servants brought back a total of four letters.

There are two letters of recommendation written by Li Shouzhong to the current chief academic officer and academic director of the Imperial College.

At the same time, Li Shouzhong also wrote a letter to his daughter and in-laws.

With Li Shouzhong's letter of recommendation, Jia Zheng only needed to take Su Mingzhe to the Imperial College to enroll him.

However, Li Shouzhong explained the situation in a letter to his relative Jia Zheng, and suggested that if Jia Zheng had confidence in his son's knowledge, he might as well wait until he passed the examination to become a scholar before going to the Imperial College to study.

There is an unspoken rule involved here.

According to regulations, students of the Imperial College are divided into three categories based on their origins.

The first type of students are outstanding scholars recommended by local governments. This type of students is also called "tribute students" and enjoys subsidies from the court.

The second category is the children of bureaucrats, or overseas students, or children of officials who were favored by the emperor. This category is collectively called "Yinjiansheng".

The third type is the legendary high-priced students, who need to donate money and grain to obtain admission qualifications. This type of students is called "regular students".

If Su Mingzhe did not have the title of scholar, and used Li Shouzhong's recommendation letter to enter the Imperial College, he could only follow the path of "regular student" or "professional student".

In the Imperial College, the regular students were at the bottom of the contempt chain, and the hidden students were always despised by the tribute students.

Even if they enter official career, these two types of students will still continue to be looked down upon.

Li Shouzhong told Jia Zheng everything about these things.

Naturally, it is up to Jia Zheng to decide what to do specifically.

After receiving advice from his relatives, Jia Zheng had to give up the idea of ​​letting Su Mingzhe enter the Imperial College immediately.

"It's really a debt of one's children that one has to bear for the rest of one's life!"

Jia Zheng put away the letter, and while he ordered his men to prepare the examination papers for the scholar degree in previous years, he also ordered his men to call his son over.

He wanted to see if his son had the ability to take the examination to become a scholar.

Su Mingzhe naturally wouldn't let them stump him.

In less than two hours, he had finished answering the county examination, prefectural examination, and provincial examination papers.

Jia Zheng also knew his own level, so he asked four guests to help him correct his papers.

After the four examiners had marked his paper, they all praised it and said that even if Su Mingzhe took the examination for the scholar degree now, he would be able to pass it easily.

Seeing his son so extraordinary, Jia Zheng was overjoyed and immediately found someone to arrange for him to take the boy's examination next year.

To apply for the boy's exam, one had to either form a partnership with five other candidates or be guaranteed by a student on government stipend in the county.

Jia Zheng directly found a relative of the Jia family who was a student on government academy scholarship to guarantee his son and get the famous card.

The examination for the scholar degree is divided into three sessions: the county examination in February, the prefectural examination in April, and the academy examination in August.

Only after passing the county examination can one be considered a scholar.

Only after passing the provincial examination can one be qualified to be called a "Tongsheng".

Only after passing the academy examination can one be called a scholar.

After Su Mingzhe got the admission ticket, he thought he could continue his romantic life with Lin Daiyu.

Who would have thought that troubles would continue to come?

This day.

Su Mingzhe was accompanying Lin Daiyu in painting a picture titled "Proud Plum Blossoms in Snow".

Lin Daiyu's hands were very cold. Seeing that there was no one around, Su Mingzhe put her hands in his arms to warm them.

The servant Mingyan suddenly burst into the yard and said that the master had sent someone to ask him to go to Rongxi Hall. Su Mingzhe was very unhappy when he heard this:

"Didn't the master just get off work at this time? Why would he come to me instead of playing with Aunt Zhao?"

"Since your uncle is looking for you, go quickly!"

Lin Daiyu remained calm and pulled her little hand out.

"Then Yu'er, go back and rest first, I'll come find you later!"

Although Su Mingzhe was reluctant to leave Lin Daiyu behind, he had to rush to Rong Xi Tang to meet Jia Zheng.

As he did in the past, Jia Zheng, using his father's authority, first asked about the homework.

Su Mingzhe answered them one by one.

Seeing that his son had not fallen behind in his studies, Jia Zheng changed the subject and asked:

"Ying'er, I heard that you have been accompanying Yu'er to visit the garden these days. Is this true?"

"Yes!"

When Su Mingzhe heard this, he knew someone was telling tales. He was secretly annoyed at who was talking so much, but he had to explain:

"Father, I heard from others that my uncle was a top scholar in the imperial examination. I also know that my cousin is very talented, so I wanted to ask her what books my uncle reads every day and what his reading habits are..."

"No need to explain!"

When Jia Zheng heard his son talking nonsense, he frowned and stopped him from talking nonsense.

He was young once, and he also understood the truth of young Mu Ai.

Therefore, he did not object to his son and niece being close.

However, my son’s top priority now is to take the examination for the scholar!

In the face of such a major event, all love and affection must be put aside.

Jia Zheng frowned and scolded:
"Yu'er is a girl. If you keep pestering her like this every day, it will ruin her reputation. Starting tomorrow, you are not allowed to go to the backyard and hang out with the sisters anymore!"

Su Mingzhe was startled after hearing his father's advice.

These days he has only been thinking about having sex with Lin Daiyu, but he has forgotten that this is a feudal society where "gossip can melt gold, and constant criticism can destroy a person."

Now that he had received his father's reminder, Su Mingzhe quickly responded and said that he had taken note of it.

Seeing his son agree so quickly, Jia Zheng was still a little worried, so he simply called a few of his own guests over:
"You are also aware of the abilities of the gentlemen. Before the county exam, you can follow them and study in Rongxi Hall!"

When Su Mingzhe heard that he would be studying in Rong Xi Tang in the future, his whole face drooped.

Jia Zheng's four retainers, Shan Pinren, Zhan Guang, Cheng Rixing and Hu Silai, greeted Su Mingzhe with a smile.

Su Mingzhe forced a smile and greeted the four people.

The next day came in a blink of an eye.

When Su Mingzhe arrived at Rong Xi Tang, Jia Zheng had already gone to work at the Ministry of Works.

Only four Qingke arrived early.

The five people ended the conversation by exchanging greetings.

Zhan Guang and Zhan Ziliang spoke first:

"Brother Shi, the first step in taking the imperial examination is not only to be familiar with the Four Books, be proficient in the Five Classics, know astronomy and geography, and be good at mathematics and poetry, but the most important thing is to have good handwriting!"

The other three quickly followed suit and said:

"That's true. How about we practice calligraphy for the imperial examination today? Taige style?"

"What you gentlemen said is very true. Jia Ying's previous teacher also taught in this way."

Su Mingzhe was too lazy to pretend, so he came directly to the table and said with a smile:
"Please take a look at Jia Ying's calligraphy skills!"

Shan Pinren was very perceptive and stepped forward to help grind.

Su Mingzhe spread out a piece of fine rice paper, picked up the brush, and quickly wrote down the more than 2,000-word "Great Learning" from memory.

Four Qingke approached and took a look.

Su Mingzhe's Taige style was straight, square, and neat, just like it was printed.

Every stroke is full, round, dignified and graceful.

The four of them looked at it again and again, but couldn't find a single mistake.

For a moment, the four of them looked at each other and could only cup their hands and praise:
"Brother Shi, your writing is like a god. I can't wait. Brother Shi, you don't need to practice this Taige style anymore!"

"In that case, I think today's homework is done..."

Su Mingzhe secretly laughed at the four people's knowledge and tact, but he laughed loudly and bowed, saying:
"I'll have to trouble the four gentlemen to prepare for tomorrow's lessons. See you tomorrow!"

"Brother Shi, take care!"

The four Qingke felt quite ashamed and saw Su Mingzhe off from Rong Xi Tang.

(End of this chapter)