The New Year is approaching, and the world's solutions gather in the capital, which is very lively. This is a big carnival of merchants in the capital once every few years, although it is the cold season, there is always business all night.

Du Zhongxiao was lying alone in the inn, looking at the family letter. When I left home, I said that I would go home after a few months of study in the capital, but I didn't expect to stay like this. Fortunately, he was successfully released from the Guozijian and was regarded as the first step in the scientific expedition.

The family's business grew bigger and bigger, and they moved to Xuzhou with the Han family and hired a few supervisors to take care of the business. In this letter, my father said that he had agreed with the Han family that when Du Zhongxiao returned home this time, he would marry Han Yueniang. If you are lucky enough to get into the jinshi, you will go out together to become an official, and if you don't win, go home and continue to study. is no longer the home that used to have a meal but not a meal, and can afford to be an idler in Du Zhongxiao.

Putting down the letter, Du Zhongxiao looked at the roof with his hands in a daze, and Han Yueniang's face appeared in front of him. In fact, isn't life like this, a family, a journey of life, knowing each other and walking together to the end of the journey. I was too obsessed with being an officer, and I have suffered from gains and losses in the past year, but I have lost the joy of life. In fact, I am less than 20 years old, even if I don't get it this time, with this experience, the next scientific expedition will inevitably be much easier. Ask yourself, is it really necessary to be so anxious?

Sighing, Du Zhongxiao didn't know the answer. Subconsciously, Du Zhongxiao felt that this was the best opportunity. Especially when I saw Wang Anshi a few days ago, Du Zhongxiao felt even more so. The appearance of this person is a landmark event, a new era is coming, and you have to get on the bus at the most opportune time. This is the train of the times, not necessarily Wang Anshi's train.

Having nothing to do for a while, Du Zhongxiao tried to recall the process and content of Wang Anshi's changes that he had learned in his previous life, analyze the pros and cons, and choose the most suitable path for himself. Wang Anshi's car is not good, there is no doubt about it, just thinking about the appearance of his own party behind him, you have to weigh it carefully. Similarly, the opposition's car can't be taken, and their way to defeat Wang Anshi is to boil, where can Du Zhongxiao spend his whole life with people like this.

Thinking of this, Du Zhongxiao only felt bitter in his mouth. If you carefully recall the content of the history books, you will know that this is an era that belongs to Wang Anshi, who has enough talent and perseverance to do his own thing and follow his own path firmly. The rest of the people either agree with him or against him, and those who can stand tall in the middle are very human.

Thinking of the taciturn and firm-eyed young man he saw a few days ago, Du Zhongxiao knew that if he wanted to make a difference in this era, he couldn't avoid him. Du Zhongxiao also clearly knows that even if he remembers the content of Wang Anshi's changes in the history books, and governs by himself according to the content of those changes, he may not be able to attract Wang Anshi's support. The content of those changes was never the whole story, but only the measures taken by Wang Anshi in order to realize his ideals. He changed his position, changed his perspective, and didn't know what thoughts would arise.

This is a person with ideals, who knows exactly what he wants to do, what he has to give, and has a firm goal. And whether it is his personal morality or his ability to do things, it is beyond reproach, except for forming a party, it is difficult to defeat him.

Shaking his head slightly, Du Zhongxiao decided not to think about it anymore. The most important thing is that Wang Anshi is a person with ideals, who thinks of himself as a sage and wants to govern the country and the people, and does not form a party for political interests, which is enough. As for who gets into whose car in the end, who will be the driver and who will be the passenger, it is too early to think about this. The most important thing is that Du Zhongxiao has to find ways to be admitted to the Jinshi.

At this moment, a voice came from outside the room: "Is Brother Du here?" In Xia Cao Jucheng, there are some things in your house that I have to bring. ”

Du Zhongxiao turned over and got up, cleaned up a little and opened the door, and looked at Cao Jucheng standing outside the door.

Cao Jucheng smiled all over his face, and stepped forward to arch his hand: "It's good that Brother Du is here." This time, I was lucky enough to get out of Benzhou, and when I came to Beijing, you prepared some clothes at home and asked me to bring them to Brother Du. - Oh, it's not early, how about we go out for a drink or two? ”

Du Zhongxiao looked at Cao Jucheng and was silent for a while before nodding: "Okay." ”

Goodbye Cao Jucheng this time, it is very different from before. He no longer has that kind of arrogance, and even has a sense of flattery in front of Du Zhongxiao, for fear of offending Du Zhongxiao. In this release test, Cao Jucheng successfully passed the test, and it was in vain that he traveled thousands of miles from Fujian Road to the Central Plains. As for Wu Kejiu, not only has he not passed the test, but he is still in trouble.

Du Zhongxiao presented a booklet of steamed wine to the imperial court, and the Du family thus obtained the privilege of steaming wine in Sanzhou. This time, there was an order from the imperial court, and the local implementation was extremely strict, the price of wine lees was fixed in the state and county, and the Du family's wine class also had a clear number. "Qixiangju", which had a conflict with the Du family, was squeezed out by other restaurants in the county, and his life was not as good as day by day.

Now in Linying City, the director who manages the restaurant business for the Du family is a former decommissioner who once bought an official restaurant. He is more methodical than Du Xun in doing things, and in a few months, he has squeezed "Qixiangju" to no money, and the Wu family has been gritting their teeth to fill in the money. The wine class is dead, as long as the Wu family can't find someone to take over, the restaurant must be closed with the consent of the government. However, "Qixiangju" is too close to "Drunken Immortal Ju", who will die to take that business? Wu Kejiu's family now only thinks about the county's kindness and asks them to close the restaurant as soon as possible.

Cao Jucheng went to Linying County, the purpose was to obtain the qualification for resolution, and now in this situation, where will he get involved in the disputes between the Du family and the Wu family. He left Linying, and before he went to Beijing to catch the exam, he even went to Du Xun in Xuzhou to bring some items for Du Zhongxiao.

After receiving the clothes sent from home, Du Zhongxiao walked out of the door and looked for a place to drink with Cao Jucheng.

Cao Jucheng was just a spectator most of the time in all kinds of disputes between himself and Wu Kejiu, especially after arriving in the capital, he concentrated on his studies and did not participate in Wu Kejiu's affairs. In the end, Du Zhongxiao is a fellow villager, and Du Zhongxiao doesn't want to reject people thousands of miles away, who knows if he will be admitted to the Jinshi in the future.

When he arrived at a wine shop and sat down, the wine and food came up, Cao Jucheng raised his glass and said: "Congratulations to Brother Du for his release from the Guozi Prison, and I wish you a high school day!" ”

Du Zhongxiao drank it all, looked at Cao Jucheng and said: "What's this, didn't you also get your wish and get it from Benzhou." ”

Cao Jucheng smiled all over his face: "I'm ashamed, it's just a fluke." If Brother Du returns to his hometown, it will be difficult to say. ”

Du Zhongxiao smiled and didn't speak. Although he worries about the provincial and palace exams behind him every day, his self-confidence is much stronger than Cao Jucheng's, and there is no problem with Benzhou's solution. Cao Jucheng said it well, if he doesn't return to his hometown, he will cheapen others.

After drinking a few glasses of wine, Cao Jucheng sighed and said, "I have come all the way to the Central Plains, as long as I am lifted." This time I got what I wanted, and nine times out of ten I would not return to Xuzhou. I have been away from home for several years, and I don't know how my family is doing. I only hope that I can get a background this time and return to my hometown to glorify my ancestors. ”

Du Zhongxiao was silent for a while, then raised his glass and said, "In this case, I wish you what you want!" ”

The two drank together and were speechless for a while. Fujian Road is an important place for imperial lifting, and the great families of generations of eunuchs do not know how many, far from being comparable to the kind of place in Xuzhou. Once Cao Jucheng won the Jinshi, he married the big clan after he went back, and his power should not be underestimated. This point is not comparable to Du Zhongxiao, even if he is a jinshi, he can only struggle on his own in the officialdom. So after thinking about it again, I still accepted Cao Jucheng's kindness, and met with a smile and a grudge. The previous grievances and grievances were only counted on Wu Kejiu alone.