Chapter 223 Facing the Loess and Back to the Sky

Chapter 223 Facing the Loess and Back to the Sky

After a while, Sun Bomin, Su and Huang came back from the fields, and Hanlu came back with a load of matches.

When Su saw Sun Shan, she hurried over and asked with concern, "Shanzi, how did you get back?"

After thinking for a while, today is not the end of the month, and it is not a holiday. How could he come back for no reason? Who sent him back? Could he have walked back alone on the mountain road?

Sun Shan explained, "The teacher asked us to come back to discuss the provincial examination. Brother Hongwen and I came back together. My second brother-in-law drove us back in an ox cart."

Huang was relieved to hear that it was sent by her second grandson's son-in-law. Shanzi was always sensible and would not "risk" coming back alone.

He smiled and said, "The teacher mentioned the provincial examination. Is it the provincial examination in April?"

Huang was also confused about what the prefectural examination was. After listening to her grandson talking about it several times, she roughly understood that it was an examination. After thinking about it, it was April now, and the examination time was almost here.

When Sun Bomin heard about the prefectural city, he asked anxiously, "Is the imperial examination coming soon?"

Mr. Hong was a man of discretion. He would not send his students home for no reason. It must be because the provincial examination was about to begin.

Sun Shan nodded and said, "The Master said that he would take us to Zhangzhou Prefecture in a few days. We should go there early so that we won't be late and miss the entrance."

Hanlu said crisply: "Shanzi, the teacher has made good arrangements. We should go early, just in case, so as not to miss it."

As they talked, they discussed who would accompany Sun Shan to Zhangzhou Prefecture.

But this problem is easy to solve. There is only one person, Sun Bomin.

Sun Bomin was the only adult male in the family, so he would definitely go with him. Even if Sun Shan didn't want him to go, he would still go with him. It would be a long journey, and he wouldn't feel at ease if he didn't go with him.

Sun Boming thought that he would not only go to the provincial examination, but also the academy examination, and if there was a chance, he would also go to the provincial examination.

As for going to Beijing to take the imperial examination, Sun Boming had not thought that far. In his opinion, being able to go to the provincial government to take the imperial examination was already a great fortune and the blessing of his ancestors.

After lunch, Sun Boming, Su and Huang stopped working and started packing their luggage. They packed some today and some more before leaving to make sure everything was in place.

Sun Shan shook his head and said, "Grandma, Dad, Mom, don't pack too much luggage. The journey is long and it's hard to carry too many things. The road to Zhangzhou is harder than the road to Guangzhou, so try to pack as little as possible."

Zhangzhou Prefecture is located in the north of Huangyang County, and Guangzhou Prefecture is in the south of Huangyang County. One is up, the other is down, and they are going in opposite directions.

Sun Bomin had never been to Zhangzhou Prefecture, but he heard that the mountainous area there was even more difficult to travel.

He said worriedly: "Shanzi, there will be many people going with the escort company this time. The mountain road is steep and dangerous."

Sun Bomin wondered if he should find a few more men from the village to go with him, so they could help him out if he encountered any problems.

Sun Shan said soothingly, "Father, don't worry. We're going with the escort team this time. My classmates said that there will be more escorts going to Zhangzhou Prefecture. In addition to the five of us candidates, there will be other candidates with us. There are quite a lot of people, so there's no need to be overly afraid."

Su Shi felt a little relieved when she heard that there were more people, and ordered: "Master, when the time comes, don't go anywhere, just sit next to Shanzi. They say the mountain road is steep, so you can't let Shanzi fall off the mountain."

Before Sun Shan could even frown, Huang said angrily, "Su, what are you talking about? What do you mean by falling off the mountain? Say it after you spit."

Before Su could repeat herself, Huang immediately clasped her hands together and muttered, "Ancestors, please don't blame me. I just spoke too quickly and said the wrong thing. Ancestors, please don't take it to heart. Please bless my family Shanzi to be safe and sound."

Su also reacted and said in panic: "Mother, I was confused just now."

Then he followed Huang's example: "Don't blame me, my ancestors. I don't keep my word. Please bless my Shanzi with everything going well."

Sun Boming was also angry. Su's words were without thinking. It was unacceptable for a mother to curse her son like that.

But he was a man and didn't bother to argue with a woman, so he said to Sun Shan: "More people is better, it's safer wherever we go."

Following Huang in her heart, Su murmured, "Don't blame me, ancestor. What I just said was nonsense. Please bless my Shanzi to have a safe journey."

Sun Shan checked the things that the Su family members had packed and took out some that were not needed.

He emphasized: "Grandma, Dad, and Mother, there are many people going to Zhangzhou Prefecture this time, so we can't bring too much luggage, and there is no room for the escort team. Don't worry, my classmates said that there are villages and post stations along the way, and the escort agency will arrange the itinerary so that we have a place to stay and a place to eat."

Sun Boming, the only person present who had traveled far away besides Sun Shan, quickly shook his head: "Oh, Shanzi, you are still young. The escort agency said so, what if the plan changes? You should listen to your father and prepare more things. Whether you can use them or not is one thing, but at least you have them when you need them."

Sun Bomin didn't trust the escort agency, he trusted his own experience. He thought that if he took the item with him, it would at most take some effort, but he wouldn't lose any meat.

Su and Huang agreed very much with what Sun Boming said. They ignored Sun Shan's request and packed everything they should and shouldn't take into sacks.

Xiaoman and Hanlu helped.

Xiaoman said seriously, "Shanzi, let's put the things away so they won't get in the way."

Hanlu said as a matter of course: "Shanzi, no matter how many things you have, you don't have to carry them. Dad is here to carry them. Just focus on reading and don't worry about other things."

Since the whole family said so, Sun Shan had no choice.

Go ahead and carry it. Hanlu is right. It is Sun Bomin who carries it anyway. Even if Sun Shan wants to carry it, Sun Bomin will not let him.

In addition to arranging someone to accompany you, you also have to prepare transportation.

Mr. Hong provides free accommodation, so we can save a lot here.

I heard that as the imperial examination is approaching, the prices of inns near the examination site have risen sharply and are even more expensive than the road tolls.

It seems that the innkeeper has been running the inn for a year just for this moment of scientific examination, so that he can earn back the year's money in these days.

I heard from former seniors in the school that when students of Hong’s school took the examination in Zhangzhou Prefecture, Mr. Hong would provide them with free accommodation.

It's more spacious when there are fewer people, and more crowded when there are more people. It's cheaper and safer than staying in an inn anyway.

Under the supervision of Mr. Hong, I would not panic. With a teacher following me, I would always feel more at ease.

When Sun Bomin heard that Hong Xiucai offered free accommodation, he praised him highly: "Master Hong is a really good person, just like Master Zheng, my relative. Our Shanzi is lucky, and all the masters he met during his study were good."

While tidying up her clothes, Su agreed, "Yes. Our Shanzi is indeed blessed. Head of the family, mother, I think our daughters are also blessed, one married to a boy student's family, and the other married to a scholar's family."

Although Xiaoman did not marry into Hong Xiucai's family, she married into Hong Xiucai's younger brother's family, which also makes them Hong Xiucai's family. They are of the same lineage and the blood relationship cannot be denied.

When Xiaoman heard this, her face and ears turned red, and she lowered her head and dared not look up.

Hanlu covered her mouth and laughed.

I also feel that what my mother said is right.

Everyone in the village said that the Sun family’s daughter married well.

The eldest sister married to the county town, where her family had a house, fields and shops. The second sister married to Zheng Tongsheng, so women didn't have to work in the fields. As for the third sister, it was even better. Hong Xiucai's brother was a small landlord, and his family had a lot of fields. After the division, the fields would not be less than those of the Sun family.

Xiaoxue from my second uncle's family is also engaged. Her partner lives in the provincial capital. Like my eldest aunt, she has become a city daughter-in-law.

Who in the village doesn’t envy the Sun family now?

Hanlu couldn't help feeling nervous when she saw that her father, mother and grandmother were also starting to arrange a marriage for her.

I hope my future husband’s family is well-off, so that I don’t have to work hard like the other young wives in the village.