Chapter 226: The Road to Zhangzhou Prefecture

Chapter 226: The Road to Zhangzhou Prefecture

Walk through the peaks of Danxia landform and then into the mountains.

Sun Shan was also convinced. There were mountains everywhere, and there were many more mountains than the road to Guangzhou Prefecture.

Sun Bomin sighed and said, "Zhangzhou Prefecture is too difficult to get to. No wonder no one comes to Huangyang County."

If it wasn't for accompanying Shanzi to take the exam, Sun Boming thought he would never go to Zhangzhou Prefecture in his life.

Liang's father next door agreed and said, "Brother Sun, you are right. It is really hard to go on a trip like this."

Then he glared at Liang Can, a good-for-nothing who had failed the exam so many times.

Liang's father thought this was his last chance and he would never accompany him again. He gave up his family's livelihood to accompany him, and was full of hope every time, but he always returned disappointed.

This time, Liang's father did not hold out any hope. He just wanted his son to give up, go home and work peacefully, and not take the imperial examination again.

Get married after you finish the exam and give birth to a grandson so that he can enjoy the company of his grandson.

Liang Can felt his father's resentment deeply. He huddled in the car motionlessly, glancing at Sun Shan and Zheng Hongwen.

Sun Shan was in no mood to pay attention to him. He lay listlessly on the mat, not wanting to talk.

Tired, so tired.

The whole journey, going up and down the mountain, stopping and starting, getting on and off the bus, was much more difficult and tiring than going to Guangzhou.

Zheng Hongwen was not much better off. He leaned against Zheng Hongyuan, looking dejected and not even having the energy to raise his head.

My second brother-in-law Zheng Hongyuan said distressedly: "Father-in-law, Uncle Liang's journey was too difficult. We can still bear it, but Shanzi and the others are suffering."

Sun Bomin was anxious as he looked at Sun Shan lying on the mat. Going to Zhangzhou Prefecture this time was more difficult than going to Guangzhou Prefecture. Sun Shan turned pale from sitting in the car. Now he could only pray that he would not get sick.

Sun Bomin handed the water bag to Sun Shan and said with concern: "Shanzi, drink some water and you won't feel so bad."

Then he said to Zheng Hongyuan: "Hongyuan, let Hongwen drink some water. It contains sugar water to replenish his body."

Sun Bomin didn't understand much either, but he thought sugar was a good thing, so he boiled some sugar water, poured it into the water bag, and let Sun Shan and Zheng Hongwen drink it.

He said to Liang's father: "A-chan is still energetic. It's better to be older."

Liang's father agreed with this statement very much. Compared with Sun Shan, Zheng Hongwen, and the other two students in the same car, Liang Can seemed to be fine. He was full of energy and even more energetic than himself.

I thought to myself that it didn’t matter whether I passed the exam or not, what really mattered was good health. I just prayed that my child would be safe and healthy.

Suddenly, a student on the mule cart in front took out a flute and started playing it.

The melodious flute sounds and the ethereal echoes in the empty mountains are a unique experience.

After one student played a tune, another student took over.

Everyone sat in the car, listening to the flute, and unknowingly walked one distance after another.

Sun Shan was extremely envious. Not only did he envy them for being able to play the beautiful flute sounds, he also envied them for being able to play the flute with such energy. He admired them immensely.

It was unknown how long they had been walking before Sun Shan was forced to get off the car and climb the hill.

This kind of steep mountain road requires us to go downhill because we are most afraid that the livestock will not be able to withstand the gravity and will overturn.

Even if the escort didn't order him to get off the car, Sun Shan would have gotten off when he saw it, so he used the universal boat carefully.

After walking over the slope, Sun Shan got back into the car and another day passed by, stopping and starting.

The next morning, everyone hurriedly washed up, had breakfast and continued on their journey.

At noon, the escort leader said loudly: "Everyone, after going down the mountain, you will reach Zhangzhou Prefecture. Look down the mountain, you can see the whole picture of Zhangzhou Prefecture."

Sun Shan immediately became alert when he heard this. He had finally reached Zhangzhou Prefecture and was finally free. He raised his head high and looked down.

As expected, the escort leader was not lying, and Zhangzhou Prefecture came into view.

Sun Shan looked around carefully and found that Zhangzhou Prefecture was surrounded by mountains like Huangyang County, with a large flat area inside, and the topography was like a basin.

The houses in Huangyang County are low and the city walls are dilapidated, but Zhangzhou Prefecture is different. There are rows of houses scattered around and the city walls are majestic and solid, which is much better than Huangyang County.

Of course, it can't be compared with Guangzhou Prefecture.

There is a huge difference between one prefecture and another, just like the gap between megacities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen and inland provincial capitals is not very small.

Zheng Hongwen pointed to the city not far away and said excitedly: "Ashan, Asan, we are finally here. We don't need to take a car anymore and can walk now."

Liang Shen was neither surprised nor happy, and said calmly: "Hey, what's there to see? If it weren't for the exam, I wouldn't even want to come."

Sun Shan glanced at Liang Can, who had a bitter face, and found it funny. He patted him on the shoulder and said, "A Can, even if you are not taking an exam, you should come for a walk. Otherwise, you won't know what the city is like. We are from Zhangzhou."

Huang Xiucai's only student who was traveling with him agreed and said, "Ashan, you are right. A man should have ambitions to travel far and wide. He should always travel outside to broaden his horizons."

Everybody was talking and laughing, because they were almost there, the escort team became lively.

Liang Can pointed to the car in front and said stealthily, "Ashan, the one wearing the navy blue gown is the first place winner of this county exam. Come and have a look."

After a whole morning's drive from Huangyang County, Sun Shan felt exhausted and lay limply in the car.

Go to sleep immediately after getting off the bus and eating.

He was always sick and did not communicate with other students.

Only now did I feel a little more alert and could I carefully observe the students who were traveling with me.

Following the direction Liang Can's finger pointed, Sun Shan finally recognized the top scorer in this county examination, who was also the first student to play the flute.

He has a thin figure, a handsome face, and looks gentle and refined in a long gown.

Sun Shan looked at the shorts he was wearing for convenience, and finally understood why the county magistrate ranked him second.

If he were an examiner, he would also choose the first place candidate, for no other reason than his good image and temperament.

At this time, the county chief also looked over and cupped his hands, greeting Sun Shan.

Sun Shan, Zheng Hongwen, Liang Shen and others returned the gifts.

Sun Shan thought that the county chief was not only good-looking but also polite.

The boy, about fifteen or sixteen years old, had a gentle temperament and was very pleasing to the eye.

Zheng Hongwen whispered, "It is said that the first place in the county case is the son of Zhang Shuwen, the county clerk, named Zhang Yue, who is 16 years old this year. The teachers in the county school are optimistic about him, and I heard that he has a good chance of passing the examination to become a scholar."

Sun Shan looked at Zheng Hongwen strangely. He had said before that he didn't know the county's top scorer, and he comforted himself that even if he got the first place in the exam, it would be useless because he still couldn't pass the exam to become a scholar.

How come you changed the subject so quickly now, saying that you have hope of passing the exam and becoming a scholar?

It's so contradictory.

Zheng Hongwen could not sense Sun Shan's strangeness and continued, "Ashan, if you work hard, I think you can pass the exam and become a scholar."

Chang patted Sun Shan's shoulder with confidence, as if entrusting him with an important task.

Liang Can patted Sun Shan's other shoulder and said encouragingly, "Ashan, our Hong School depends on you. You must work hard."

Sun Shan rolled his eyes and said very seriously, "Brother Can, Brother Hongwen, let's first do well in the provincial capital exam. As for the college entrance exam, we can talk about it when there is a chance."

If you can't even pass the provincial examination, what's the point of taking the academy examination? Candidates should not think too far ahead. Just follow the steps and take the exam in an orderly manner.