Chapter 10 Marriage

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Kaifeng City, city upon city, many cities buried underground!

Since Zhu Wen set up his old nest here, Luoyang's brilliant glory has no longer shone on China.

After the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty, Kaifeng's wealth and glory are no longer as prosperous as before, but relying on geography - China's economic center moved south, relying on the Yellow Sea Plain, Kaifeng firmly holds the title of Henan's capital, and suppresses Luoyang under it.

The Yiyou County Examination in the 30th year of Qianlong has been settled, but Chen Gang, who lives in Tongfu Inn, has no joy at all. His family knows his own affairs. With his literary talent, unless he has **** luck, it is wishful thinking to win this exam.

Before Chen Gang left Lushan, he still had a little confidence, but when he traveled with a group of people from Ruzhou to Kaifeng, Chen Gang's heart was cold early in the discussion of scriptures and doctrines. There is really no comparison. The gap in knowledge is obvious, and this is only in Ruzhou.

When he arrived in Kaifeng, Chen Gang interacted with students from other prefectures, and after several literary gatherings, his heart was about to fall into the nine abyss hell.

There are mountains beyond mountains, and people beyond people. Chen Gang can be said to have seen the "talents of the world". It would be strange if he could get good grades when he walked into the examination room with a heart without confidence.

When Chen Gang was depressed and sad, he didn't know that a farmer in his early twenties was walking into the west gate of Kaifeng City with a bag on his back. "Finally, I arrived before the announcement of the results, and I didn't miss the important event of Master Ming." Liu Wu's eldest brother Liu Wen, his face was covered with dust, but he exuded a sense of joy.

Chen Ming approved him three taels of silver for travel expenses. After going back to inquire about the news, as long as he could deliver it to Chen Gang before Chen Gang passed the news to Lushan, he would have two taels of silver for labor fees. Liu Wen lived frugally along the way, bringing his bedding and sleeping on a large bunk bed every day. He spent only about 600 yuan on food, lodging and transportation all the way to Kaifeng City. One tael of silver can be exchanged for about 900 copper coins in today's time, so Liu Wen made a fortune on this trip. [One tael of silver could be exchanged for one hundred coins before the reign of Emperor Daoguang, and only 800 to 900 coins before the reign of Emperor Qianlong. ]

Of course, this guy's cleverness also came at a price. Liu Wen suffered a lot along the way, and he didn't arrive in Kaifeng until August 28, ten days after the last round of the Autumn Examination. There were only about five or six days left before the results were announced. [The Autumn Examination will start in mid-August and the results will be announced in September]

Liu Wen dared to do such a trick on his first trip to do business. If Liu Xian knew about it, he would definitely put a cross behind Liu Wen's name. This kind of person might do bad things.

How could Chen Ming not worry about the eldest brother taking the exam? If Chen Gang really gets lucky and passes the exam, his position in the Chen family will not be secure. But Chen Ming can't stop the eldest brother from taking the exam. All he can do is to know whether Chen Gang passed the exam first, and then treat it differently!

Chen Gang's hope of passing the exam is not great, but 1% hope is also hope. Who can say for sure? The eldest brother's title of scholar is not a fake one bought, he also passed the exam with real strength.

It was his cousin in the previous life. His junior high school grades were very average, but he unexpectedly passed the key high school in the city during the high school entrance examination, and his grades ranked in the top 20 in the whole school. It's incredible, isn't it? Of course, this is the fact that Chen Ming experienced.

In the case of being unable to stop it, all Chen Ming asked for was to take the lead. Don't forget that his eldest sister-in-law will give birth in a few days. The ancients were very superstitious. If the good things on both sides are added together, Chen Gang's status will rise sharply.

In a blink of an eye, another four days have passed, and time has entered September.

"Seventh Lord, I will go back to Tumenji today. You will have to worry more about the hydraulic forging hammer."

The Seventh Great Uncle who came to visit Chen Ming when he was "seriously ill" was indeed the most reliable helper of the Chen family's main line in Xiaonangou. Chen Erbao was the nephew of the Seventh Great Uncle, so the Seventh Great Uncle was the helmsman of the Chen family's industry in Xiaonangou. After Chen Cong left Xiaonangou, Chen Ming was also leaving today, and his nephew was born.

The birth of the bloodline made Chen Hui very happy. He couldn't get away immediately in the county government, so he asked Chen Ming's mother to take the second concubine Liu back to Tumenji together. In name, of course, it was to visit the old lady, but everyone knew what it was actually for. How many wives of the main house in this world would bring a concubine when they returned to the old house to visit the old lady?

Liu was Chen Gang's biological mother.

The Seventh Lord, with a white beard, looked at Chen Ming with "loving" eyes, and his face was full of "favor". "Don't worry, Little Stone. The hydraulic forging hammer is a big deal. The old man knows the importance of it." What else can satisfy the family elders more than an heir who can bring huge benefits to the family? The seventh master looked at Chen Ming now, and he was satisfied no matter how he looked at him. He was 100% satisfied.

Chen Ming had a gentle smile on his face and went out of Xiaonangou. The sun was still hanging in the east sky. Judging from the location, it should be around ten o'clock. Xiaonangou is more than ten miles away from Tumenji in a straight line, but if you cross the mountains and ridges, the distance is at least doubled. Chen Ming and Liu Wu rode two mules to hurry on the road. If they were fast, they could reach Tumen at three or four o'clock in the afternoon.

Chen Ming can already sit on the mule's back and go errands. During this period, he traveled between Xiaonangou and Tumenji, and personally went to the private mine. He was really very skilled in riding mules and horses.

Chen Ming knew that there was another big thing waiting for him when he returned to Tumenji this time. His stepmother really found a marriage for him. According to the news from Liu Wu's parents, Gao had already met the girl, taking the opportunity of going to Guanyin Temple.

This girl is the daughter of Li Xiucai in the west of the city. Li Xiucai opened a private school in the west of the city, which has a good reputation. He has one son and one daughter. His son Li Kun is a scholar of the same year as Chen Gang, and his ranking is much better than Chen Gang. Li Kun at least made up for the Zengsheng. Although he is not as good as the Bingsheng, he is much better than Chen Gang.

With two scholars in one family, the Li family can be said to be a family of scholars, and poetry and books are passed down from generation to generation. Even if they can only be said to be a middle-class family in terms of wealth, they are definitely qualified to match Chen, a family of yamen runners.

Mr. Li is not a stone in the pit, he is very spiritual. He knows very well that reputation cannot be eaten, and he knows that the imperial examination costs a lot of money. This time, Li Kun went to Kaifeng to take the provincial examination, and he brought 15 taels of silver, almost draining the cash flow of the Li family. If he fails, he will have to go again in three years. If he encounters the special examination, he can't wait for three years.

And what is the family background of the Chen family? Looking at Lushan County, it is the first-class family. The reputation is a little worse, but the Chen family is rich. If the daughter marries over, she will have endless food and drink for the rest of her life, and she can also take care of her parents. At least the cost of the son's exam will be settled.

People are always realistic. Faced with this kind of thing, the opinion of the little sister of the Li family is completely beyond the reference range of both parents, and the same is true for Chen Ming's opinion. If there is no major change, this marriage is settled.

What Chen Ming is thinking about now is how to ask his mother to let him see his future wife with his own eyes. Because after hearing the news from Liu Wu, Chen Ming felt it was quite unreliable.

His cheap mother found a wife for Chen Ming according to the standards of being dignified and easy to give birth. The words from Liu Wu included "big", "good body", "big butt", "easy to give birth", etc., which were based on Liu's mother's eyes. Chen Ming's heart was beating fast when he heard it.

He is not afraid of big. But what are the meanings of "good body", "big butt" and "easy to give birth"?