On the eighth day of the fifth month, the provincial examination of the Ministry of Rites finally began, and more than 2,000 people from all over the Great Song Dynasty gathered in the capital to compete for the 200 jinshi places in the scientific examination of the Great Song Dynasty.

Su Jin is among the two thousand, and he has experience in understanding the test, and Su Jin's mood is much calmer and more experienced than last time; He didn't even care much about whether the policy topics of the provincial examination were in accordance with the rules summarized by himself, because he had already touched some of the veins of the scientific examination in this era, and with the support of a thousand years of knowledge in his stomach than in this era, his confidence was too much relative to the solution of the test.

Get up early in the morning, wash and eat is finished, when you go out, Mrs. Wang pulls Su Jin to the incense case in front of the incense, the incense case is placed on the tablet of the ancestors of the Su family, enshrined fruit sacrifices and other things, Yan Biyun Rou Niang Huanniang and so on are standing on the side.

"Son, today is the day of your big exam, my mother didn't look forward to such a day, the Su family started from your great-grandfather, from a small workshop to today's merchant family, in which your great-grandfather, grandfather and your father have all paid a lot of effort; When your grandfather was alive, he once said, 'Although Su Ji is a merchant family, the children and grandchildren of the family must also be familiar with poetry and books to understand things, even if they are not officials or officials, they must know how to be scholars and not be mediocre people.' Mrs. Wang looked at Su Jin lovingly and said slowly.

"Your father also told Wei Niang, in fact, your grandfather hoped that the Su family would be a scholar and an official, because as a businessman, although he had no worries about food and clothing, he was quite criticized in the past, and always said that businessmen seek profits, and Yu Guangyao is not beneficial; To tell you the truth, your father has also studied for several years since he was a child, but because he is not a scholar but has some talent in business, he has to take over the family business. But even so, your father still tried to read as much as he could, follow the expectations of his ancestors, and try to be a knowledgeable person. ”

Su Jin took Mrs. Wang's hand and said, "My son knows, I'm afraid that's why, my son likes to read when he is young, and this is also due to his father's influence." ”

Mrs. Wang nodded and said, "Yes, although you were a little wooden when you were young, you were able to calm down and study hard, and your personality was also very calm, but you were a little young and old; At that time, my mother was still very worried that you would be pedantic in reading, and after your father passed away, it was quite hard to support the family business independently for your mother, and gradually slackened off on the ancestral teachings; There are even times, Wei Niang doesn't want you to become a scholar at all, my Su family has been passed down from generation to generation, is it possible to promise that no one will hand over the family business? This idea is contrary to the ancestral teachings, and I am ashamed of my mother's heart, and I hope that your father will know and forgive your mother for her shallow knowledge. ”

Madame Wang's eyes moistened.

Su Jin hurriedly comforted: "Why did my mother say this, you can't help it, you can keep the Su family's family business for ten years after your father's death, you are already a great hero of the Su family, your grandparents know everything, only thank you, how can you complain." ”

Mrs. Wang burst into tears and said with a smile: "My son will coax people, which is very different from when you were a child; Since my son woke up from that coma, he seemed to have opened his mind, and he was not as wooden as before; Later, my son wanted to go to Yingtian Academy to study, and my mother did not object, since you are interested in studying, of course my mother supports you to study, but in private my mother is not optimistic about you; The imperial examination is difficult to reach the sky, my mother just wants you to touch the nails, and then you will come back to concentrate on running the Su family's industry, and your mother's burden will be completely left behind. ”

"But I didn't expect that my son was actually a person who did great things, made contributions to the imperial court repeatedly, and won the first place in one fell swoop. This time my son is going to participate in the provincial examination, for the mother last night in front of the Buddha to pray for a night, this morning will be clothed this incense case, you to the ancestors of the Su family and your father's tablet into the incense, pray for the ancestors of the heroic spirit to bless you can successfully high school, then the Su family's dream of glory in the past dynasties will be realized by you, if you can achieve this long-cherished wish, the mother is immediately dead, but also blind. ”

Su Jin understood that the achievements she had achieved were actually beyond Mrs. Wang's expectations, and when she understood that all this was suddenly within reach, she couldn't help but be a little incredulous; After believing it, he was a little flustered, so he pinned his hopes on asking the Buddha to worship his ancestors.

In fact, everyone is like this, when a dream is out of reach, you will face it easily, this is the principle of 'no desire is rigid', and suddenly, when this wish has the possibility of coming true, there will be subtle changes in mentality, and it will become a matter of gain and loss.

Su Jin didn't say a word, cleaned his hands and burned incense, knelt on the futon and bowed three times; After worshipping, he said to Yan Biyun: "Sister Yan also come to pay tribute to a stick of incense, and I should meet my father-in-law." ”

Yan Biyun glanced at Mrs. Wang with a red face, and said in a low voice: "How can the slave family worship, the slave family has not passed the door yet." ”

Mrs. Wang smiled and said, "Byeon, you have the blood and blood of my Su family in your house, what else is there to taboo." ”

Yan Biyun stepped forward with a red face, kowtowed to incense, and prayed in his mouth: "The ancestors are above, Biyun prays for the ancestors to appear and bless...... Bless Su Jinda to pass the exam, and shine for the Su family; also bless the slave family to be safe and sound, give birth to Lin'er for the Su family, and bless the child to be like his father in the future, with great ambitions and glory to the ancestors. ”

Su Jinha smiled and said, "Sister Yan has made so many requests in one breath, isn't it going to be busy with the ancestors." ”

Yan Biyun glanced at him, got up and said, "It's not too early, let's go quickly, don't delay the hour." ”

Su Jin laughed and turned around, took Wang Dynasty Mahan and others out, boarded the carriage and galloped away; Mrs. Wang took Yan Biyun and others to the gate of Yan's mansion until the carriage disappeared, and then turned around.

Although the number of people in this provincial examination is much smaller than that of the solution, the solution is like an audition, and there are only more than 2,000 lucky people left after a round of purge; More than 2,000 people rushed to the capital to participate in the provincial examination without even having time to celebrate after the release of the test results.

Although the number of people is small, but the specifications have increased many times, from the qualifications of the examiners, the three main examiners this time are the heads of the three major departments of the imperial court, Prime Minister Lu Yijian, privy envoy Du Yan, and three envoys Yan Shu; In addition, there are more than 100 invigilators, all of whom are veterans of various ministries and pavilions.

Moreover, since the early hours of the morning, in order to ensure the security of the provincial test, nearly 50,000 forbidden troops have been mobilized to participate in the vigilance; Each lifter was escorted by a ten-person Praetorian Guard team, just like just now, when Su Jin went out, there was a ten-person Praetorian Guard Team escorting him left and right, which was also the imperial court's response to the recent frequent major cases in the capital.

Sentinels were set up in ten streets and alleys around the Gongyuan, and temporary capital camps were set up in the prosperous areas of the streets to deal with emergencies; Another fifty horses were sent to and fro the streets on the left; After nightfall, it was strictly forbidden for idlers to enter the third street of Gongyuan.

In addition, it is also strictly stipulated that this provincial test is not allowed to leave the venue in advance, whether you finish answering the question or can't answer, you must spend the third game to end the unified appearance, and be escorted to the hall or inn by the team to ensure the safety of the exchange.

Such a big move can not be said to be unpopular, which shows that the imperial court attaches great importance to this provincial examination, but it also reflects the imperial court's concern about the security situation in the capital.

Only Su Jin knew that these were all redundant moves, and a series of cases in the capital were the result of his secret battle with Xia Zhu, even if there was another murder, it could only happen to him, and it had nothing to do with other moves; Moreover, Su Jin also concluded that Xia Zhu would not be stupid enough to do it in such a situation.

But be careful to sail the boat for ten thousand years, Su Jin refused the request of all the women in the family this time, and was not allowed to go out with him, with the example of Rou Niang's matter, in the case of dealing with himself without success, the women who followed him out were more likely to become targets, after the incident of Yuzhang Tower, Xia Zhu would sooner or later understand that dealing with the people around him would also bring a fatal blow to himself; Su Jin couldn't let him have this opportunity.

This time, the number plate is issued randomly, and it is not uniformly issued according to the state capital of the road, but a wooden barrel covered with cloth is placed at the entrance of the Gongyuan, and the people who queue up to enter are all reaching out to grab one before entering, and the number of the test booth is randomly assigned.

When it was Su Jin's turn to enter, he was called aside by an invigilator of the Ministry of Rites at the door, Su Jin looked at the person, and he was an acquaintance, this person was Lu Suiyuan, the official of the Ministry of Rites who came to deliver the good news by himself from high school.

When Lu Suiyuan saw Su Jin, he smiled on his chubby face, pulled Su Jin to the side and said, "Oh, Su Jieyuan, do you still know each other?" ”

Su Jin smiled: "Why don't you know?" Adults bring me good news, and I will never forget them in my life. ”

Lu Suiyuan laughed and said, "Su Jieyuan has such a sweet mouth, are all the things ready?" Is there anything you can do to help? ”

Su Jin smiled: "There is a time when I would like to ask you for help." ”

Lu Suiyuan patted his chest, shook his fat and said, "Say, wrap it on me." ”

Su Jin blinked and said, "Is there an answer to the question?" Stuff it for the next one! ”

Lu Suiyuan was stunned, and immediately knew that Su Jin was joking with himself, and laughed.

Su Jin also laughed, and arched his hand: "Joke, Lu Yuanwai is enthusiastic, and I have received it in my heart, if I want to say the request, I will also ask Lu Yuanwai to send me good news, as soon as you go, it will be good news." ”

Lu Suiyuan pointed tall and said: "Domineering, or Su Jieyuan is fast-talking, you look at these movers, all of them are panicked and their brows are tightly locked like mourning exams, only Su Jieyuan's expression is calm, obviously confident, comparing the two sides, who is the pillar of talent, there is no need to take the test at all, you can see it." ”

Su Jin laughed and said: "I can't afford what you say, I'm going to enter the venue, and after the exam, we're looking for a chance to drink." ”

After saying that, he was about to leave, Lu Suiyuan hurriedly grabbed and said, "Don't be busy, I have a few words to tell you when I am entrusted by others." ”

Su Jin said: "Who, it's all out of the labor team with a word." ”

Lu Suiyuan said with a smile: "No way, how dare you disrespect the teacher's orders, it was Qi Weng of Yingtian Academy who learned that I was guarding the first access control, so he asked me to say a word to you." ”

Su Jin was stunned and said, "Chief Qi Shan? ”

Lu Suiyuan nodded and said, "You may not know, I am also a student of Yingtian Academy, but that was twelve years ago; Qi Shan ordered me to remind Su Xie Yuan that this provincial examination must be done with all his might, and whether the academy can be promoted to Guozijian depends on Su Xie Yuan. ”

Su Jin was stunned and said, "This Qi Shanchang, doesn't it make me even more nervous when I say this to me at this time?" ”

Lu Suiyuan laughed and said: "No way, don't you know that this teacher, half of his life's hard work has been in the academy, and it is easy to survive to have a chance to be promoted to the Guozijian, which is a big thing for him, and you don't blame him." ”

Su Jin thought for a while and said, "If you call back to the mountain chief, you will say that the students will do their best to do their part for the academy." ”

Lu Suiyuan arched his hand and said: "Come on, with your words Su Jieyuan, Qi Weng can sleep peacefully." ”

Su Jin smiled, arched his hand, inserted himself into the ranks of students entering the hall, and slowly entered the Gongyuan with the flow of people.