Shen Jin only came back during the tenth day of the Lunar New Year holiday. The only news in the past few days was that the old man from the third room went to the clan to study "justice".

I heard that not only the old man from the third room had gone, but the old man from the eighth room also appeared. Shen Jin said: "These two are really ancestors, but fortunately the old man from the eighth room was there to support him. Otherwise, with the temper of the old man from the third room, the clan would Uncle, you really have a headache..."

"Although Shen Yan is not a local student, he only passed the first class in the annual examination. If next year's scientific examination is normal, the outcome should be fine." Shen Jin thought for a while and said: "On the other hand, Shen Zhu only barely passed the third class in the annual examination. , it’s hard to say whether I will be able to pass the provincial examination next year.”

Students must take the annual examination every year. The results of the annual examination are divided into six grades. Only the first and second grades can take the provincial examination and receive rewards. The third grade is as usual, the fourth grade is not responsible, the fifth grade is reduced to one grade, and the sixth grade is Expelled.

This is the exam to obtain the qualifications for the provincial examination, and it is also an opportunity for students to upgrade from attached students to junior students. Once promoted, they will be demoted. If the status of an official student does not do well in the annual scientific examination, there may be times when it cannot be maintained.

The rural examination quota for Southern Zhili is the same as that for Northern Zhili. In the early years, it was 100 people for each subject. Since the fourth year of Jingtai, the number for Northern and Southern Zhili has increased by 35 people each, to 135, which is a few percent or more than other provinces. It is double. However, due to the different population base, the rural examination in South Zhili is the most competitive and the most difficult to pass.

According to the "Beijing Japanese Notes", the national population in the fourth year of Hongzhi was 53 million, and the population of Southern Zhili was 8 million, accounting for more than one-sixth, which was multiples of other provinces.

In addition, due to the flourishing literary style in the south, the number of scholars in South Zhili is the highest among all provinces, making the competition between the academic and rural examinations in South Zhili the highest among all provinces.

According to the usual practice of selecting one out of thirty, the number of candidates who can take the provincial examination in each subject in the southern Zhili area is also fixed, which is 4,050.

This quota is determined by the rural examination quota. Because among the 135 rural examination quotas, there are 100 students, 30 supervisors, and 5 miscellaneous people. Therefore, in the southern Zhili area, each subject is eligible to take the provincial examination. The number of students is limited to 3,000.

South Zhili has a total population of 8 million, and tens of thousands of students. Only 3,000 students in each subject are eligible for the provincial examination. This is evident from the fierce competition. This has led to the disadvantages of impersonation. After several years in the original place, He didn't even qualify for the provincial examination, so he went to a remote province with a small population of students to take the examination while pretending to be a citizen, and he could easily get a job.

"Brother, are you afraid of the scientific examination?" Shen Rui asked.

Shen Jin smiled and said: "The current Imperial Censor Wang is a very good person."

Shen Jin is at this age and has good grades in the college examination, so it is reasonable for him to be favored by academic officials.

After chatting, Shen Jin asked about Shen Rui's homework again. Seeing that Shen Rui's homework was solid, no matter which sentence was mentioned in the Four Books, he could follow it and explain it clearly, so he nodded and said: "No worries about the county exam."

Shen Rui didn't ask Shen Jin if he knew about Shen Juren's remarriage, and Shen Jin didn't mention it either.

It was getting dark earlier and earlier in winter. Seeing that it was getting dark outside, when it was almost time to eat, the two brothers left the side yard together and went to Zhang Laoan's yard.

Seeing his two grandsons come in, Zhang Laoan's face was full of kindness, and he seemed to treat Shen Rui warmly.

However, Shen Rui always felt that the way Zhang Laoan looked at him was a bit complicated, as if he was disgusted but also wary.

"Brother Rui looks really good, but Brother Jin is a lot worse than me. Can you say hello to the professor and come stay at home?" Zhang Laoan looked at Shen Jin and said with heartache.

Shen Jin smiled and said: "All my classmates are like this, but my grandson is an exception."

Zhang Laoan said: "If you can't live with me at home, please take a few more days off and come home often. Grandma will give you a good supplement."

Shen Jin interrupted and said, "Where is the master?"

Zhang Lao'an heard this and told Mother Hao: "Big brother and two brothers are here, go and invite the master to come and have a feast."

After a while, Shen Juren came over. In front of his two sons, he behaved like a strict father. He treated Zhang Laoan a little coldly.

Zhang Laoan looked a little ugly. A maid came up to ask when he was going to the banquet, and said: "My son's birthday is my mother's Good Friday. Since today is my eldest brother's birthday, how can I leave my second mother behind? Go and ask your second mother to come over and eat." Seat."

Shen Rui and Shen Jin looked at Shen Juren unconsciously. Shen Juren frowned when he heard the word "Second Mother", but he didn't stop him in the end.

The atmosphere in the room was depressing. The four people, grandma and grandson, were seated. Even though delicious dishes were served one after another, their interest was somewhat waning.

After a while, Mrs. Zheng helped her maid over.

According to the "Huang Ming Ancestor Instructions", Emperor Taizu had a system for the clothes of officials and common people, and the officials and common people also followed it. However, during the Zichenghua period, the emperor favored Wan Guifei, and extravagance in the palace became popular. Let go and no longer only respect the national system regardless of whether you are rich or poor. Gold, beads and jewelry are no longer exclusive to imperial orders.

Because the people in Songjiang are prosperous, there is also a strong tendency for comparison among the people. The female relatives of the wealthier families are rich in gold and silver and dressed gorgeously.

Zheng's attire is plain, wearing a sky blue frame, an agarwood satin skirt, and only two plum blossom hairpins on her head.

Mrs. Zheng entered the Shen family as a concubine at the age of nineteen and gave birth to Shen Jin at the age of twenty. She is only thirty-six years old this year. Such a simple and dignified dress makes her look slightly older than her actual age.

Shen Jin stood up, and Shen Rui also stood up.

Mrs. Zheng knelt down and congratulated everyone, but brothers Shen Jin and Shen Rui avoided her.

Thinking of Xiao He who was about to enter, Shen Rui couldn't help but look at Zheng twice.

Everyone says that a good wife and a beautiful concubine are good wives. Although Mrs. Zheng is beautiful in appearance, her age is clearly displayed here. At that time, compared with Mr. Sun, she was young. Now, compared with Ms. He, who is in her prime, she cannot be called a "beautiful concubine".

Zhang Lao'an looked at Mrs. Zheng and complained: "It's my eldest brother's birthday today, and you, the mother-in-law, don't even wear anything bright."

One sentence made Shen Juren and his son next to him frown.

From the point of view of etiquette, the Zheng family is the same to brothers Shen Jin and Shen Rui. They are their father's concubine, so-called "concubine".

As for the Zheng family, who was a concubine, she also obeyed the brothers Shen Jin and Shen Rui, and their voluntary service declined for many years.

If a concubine is involved in buying and selling, he is not considered a serious family member. Even if he is serving as the head of the family and observing filial piety to the mistress, it is still a voluntary service. If he is serving as a formal servant, he is not qualified to be the head of the family and observing filial piety to the mistress.

In this family, the only person the concubine has a relationship with is her biological child.

When Shen Jin was registered under Sun's name, she had nothing to do with her birth mother Zheng in terms of etiquette. Even if Zheng passed away, Shen Jin did not have to observe mourning for three years, but only had to observe mourning for one year as Shen Rui did.

People in Zhang Lao'an now use the identity of Shen Jin's biological mother to praise the Zheng family, which is inappropriate and regards etiquette and law as nothing.

Mrs. Zheng also knew this, so she couldn't say anything. She just said: "I am old, so I can't dress up like a little lady."

At Zheng's age, she got married early and already has a grandson in her arms.

Zhang Laoan said: "Today is Brother Jin's birthday. No one else is here, so you should also take a seat."

Zhang Lao'an is sitting in the main seat, with Zhang Juren and Shen Rui on his left, and Shen Jin on his right.

Mrs. Zheng said "I don't dare" twice, and when Shen Juren nodded, she sat down under Shen Jin.

The meal was lifeless, without any cheerful atmosphere.

Shen Rui couldn't bear to look at the facial expressions of several people, so he paid special attention to what he ate.

The dishes on this table seem to have been carefully prepared by the big kitchen, and the presentation is much more exquisite than the usual dishes. It’s just that Shen Rui just had the fine Bazhen Banquet at Bafanglou yesterday. In comparison, these dishes are now The dishes are just mediocre.

Only the "Qiu Lu Bai" in this wine glass is a top-quality wine stored in the wine cellar. It should be stored for some years. The taste is no less than the "Osmanthus White" I had yesterday. It can be called a fine wine, and it is better than the "Osmanthus White". "The taste is softer and more mellow, which suits Shen Rui's taste.

Shen Rui took a sip of food and a sip of wine, looking at Zhang Laoan's face getting worse and worse.

When everyone put down their chopsticks, Zhang Laoan left Shen Jin alone and told the others to disperse.

Shen Rui was a wine drinker in later generations. In this life, he just started eating meat yesterday and became addicted to alcohol. He completely forgot about the headaches during the day and drank more than yesterday at noon, weighing half a catty.

Although it was the middle of the month, due to the cloudy sky, dark clouds covered the moon and it was pitch black outside.

When Shen Rui came out and saw the wind, his eyes were blurry. He rested against the wall and then walked forward while holding on to the wall.

After walking along the wall for a while, his stomach was churning and his legs and feet were weak. Shen Rui hurriedly sat down with his eyes closed. He knew that he had to rest, otherwise he would fall down before returning to the side courtyard.

In a daze, Shen Rui heard someone talking: "Is the master going to marry and fill a house?"

"I heard that the housekeeper asked someone to tidy up the main courtyard, and the master wants to remarry?" A woman's voice asked again in a gentle voice, and Shen Rui felt that it sounded familiar.

It was quiet for a while before someone sighed leisurely: "Lianniang is drunk."

Shen Rui slowly opened his eyes and frowned slightly. Wasn't this Shen Juren's voice? The female voice just now was none other than Mrs. Zheng who had eaten at the same table just now.

I heard Shen Juren say with a hint of sadness: "I can't help you. But there is a difference between a concubine and a concubine. There must always be someone in the family who takes charge of the middle class. This is also for the benefit of the eldest brother."

"Brother Jin has been recorded in my wife's name and has become a serious legitimate son. Why did I marry my stepmother and brother Jin?" Zheng said quietly: "I am not a greedy person. I am grateful for the kindness between me and my wife. From now on I have never thought about the position of the main wife. It is the master... Seeing that my wife is in poor health, day after day, year after year, I promise to straighten my wife... But I really waited until my wife died of illness, in order to protect Lao An In order to respect human dignity, the master personally poured a basin of sewage on my body. I feel wronged, and the master said that I just need to bear with it..."

"Lianniang has resentment in her heart? Are you scolding me?" Shen Juren's voice turned cold.

"Since I have the intention to remarry, why did I still coax me three years ago? I let my concubine worry about me for another three years..." Mrs. Zheng choked with sobs.

Shen Juren sighed and said: "Lianniang, I'm working so hard for my eldest brother... No matter what the result of the provincial examination next year, my eldest brother's marriage should be decided. Although he is recorded in the name of Sun, he is not a true direct descendant after all. It is not easy to say that he is a parent. …There must always be a serious mistress to take care of things…”
Chapter completed!