Chapter 349 All Good Things Must Come to an End

Chapter 349 All Good Things Must Come to an End

In this provincial examination, Lu Yuming, the most promising candidate for the Lu Juren degree in Zhangzhou Prefecture, failed to pass the exam. Others also failed as well. Zhangzhou Prefecture still failed to produce a Jinshi degree.

When the government school heard the news, there was no reaction as they had become accustomed to it.

Zhangzhou Prefecture has never had a strong literary tradition. It is already good enough to produce a few juren. As for jinshi, it seems that no one has ever expected one.

Li Xinyun said sadly: "Ashan, it seems that we have to find another academy to study. If we stay in the prefectural academy, I'm afraid we will never pass the imperial examination, let alone become a Jinshi."

Sun Shan also thought so. He also wanted to find another academy to study in. Continuing to study in the provincial school would be a waste of time.

Even if I go to a less famous academy, it is better than staying in the provincial school.

Studying in different places can help you learn different new knowledge, after all, each professor teaches different courses.

Liu Wenhuan was from Jiaoxian County in the Qing Dynasty. He had no relatives in the provincial government, but he had relatives in Duanzhou.

Through twists and turns of connections, he got a place in Yungu Academy as a transfer student.

Although I am just a student on a loan basis, I am almost the same as the other students there. If I am lucky, I can be noticed by the teacher and accepted as his apprentice.

Yungu Academy in Duanzhou is located in Xiqiao Mountain. I heard that the scenery there is beautiful, the food is delicious, and the people are even more beautiful.

Although the strength of this academy is not as good as the four major academies in Guangzhou Prefecture, its strength should not be underestimated. Yungu Academy has also produced juren and jinshi, so it is definitely better than the prefectural academy.

When they heard that Liu Wenhuan was going to study at Yungu Academy, Sun Shan and others were extremely envious.

Liu Wenhuan said comfortingly: "Don't worry, just keep looking, you will eventually find a suitable academy."

In addition to connections, Yungu Academy also requires tuition fees, but they are not expensive, only 20 taels per year, including accommodation.

As for food, clothing, writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstone, the students are responsible for them.

Liu Wenhuan's family is a merchant, so they can still afford this amount of money.

Liu Wenhuan added: "I went to Yungu Academy and shared the knowledge I learned there with you. Hehe, you pay for one copy and we can study together. It's very worthwhile."

Sun Shan and others were deeply moved after hearing this.

It is said that all the classmates Sun Shan met along the way were good people. They shared information with each other without hiding anything. Sun Shan felt that he was very lucky.

Since I started school, not only my classmates are good, but my teachers are also good.

Even if he met a not-so-good teacher, he would be mean to everyone and not specifically target Sun Shan.

Sun Shan's study journey can be described as quite pleasant.

Zhang Chaoyang said cheerfully: "Ahuan, then you must organize the information well, hehe, and share it with us when the time comes."

Jiang Qian also smiled and said, "Ahuan, when you get to Yungu Academy, describe to us what kind of academy it is. We will visit you if we have the chance."

Liu Wenhuan was going to study at Yungu Academy until the next provincial examination.

Not surprisingly, they wouldn't see each other again until three years later.

Jiang Qian and others were very reluctant to leave.

We have lived in the same dormitory for two or three years. We help each other in study and life, and we have a deep relationship. It is always a bit sad to leave suddenly.

Li Xinjun also smiled and said, "Ahuan, if we have the opportunity to study in Duanzhou, we will look for you. You must treat us well then. Hehe, I heard that Duanzhou is not only famous for its Duan inkstones, but also for its delicious zongzi. I haven't eaten it yet, I want to try it."

Liu Wenhuan nodded with a smile on his face and said, "Okay, come find me when you get to Duanzhou. I'll go to Duanzhou first and help you try the Duanzhou rice dumplings. Hehe, I haven't eaten Duanzhou rice dumplings either, so I don't know if they taste good or not."

When talking about Duanzhou, people not only talked about the delicious food, but also the beautiful mountains. While laughing and joking, everyone helped Liu Wenhuan pack his luggage.

Two days later, Sun Shan, Li Xinyun, Zhang Chaoyang and Jiang Qian bid farewell to Liu Wenhuan with a willow branch. They might not see each other again until three years later.

After collecting his thoughts, Sun Shan continued to study as usual.

A month later, Sun Shan received a letter from Guangzhou Prefecture, which was sent by his eldest aunt Sun.

The letter mentioned that He Shujin had passed the imperial examination and was admitted as a scholar-official, and was preparing to enter the Hanlin Academy for three years of study.

He also notified Sun Shan to choose the right time to go to Guangzhou Prefecture to attend He Shujin's Jinshi banquet.

In the letter, Aunt Sun emphasized that Sun Shan should not act alone. She and Sun Boming had agreed that Sun Boming would pick him up in Zhangzhou Prefecture and accompany him to Guangzhou Prefecture.

The mountain was steep, and Dagu Sun and Bomin Sun were worried about Sun Shan taking Gui Ge'er, who knew nothing, to the provincial government alone, so they would rather spend some effort and money to come together.

Sun Shan expressed his helplessness and a great sense of powerlessness.

He was already sixteen years old, but Aunt Sun and Sun Boming still treated him as a three-year-old child. They forbad him to do this or that. Sun Shan didn't want to argue, so he had to accept it helplessly.

He thought to himself that even if he was 26 years old, in the eyes of Aunt Sun and Sun Boming he was still a three-year-old child.

This time, his eldest cousin passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi, which was really a great joyous event, so Aunt Sun and Sun Boming asked him to attend. If it was just an ordinary joyous event, they really would not want Sun Shan to travel a long way to attend the wedding.

Before Sun Shan could wait for Sun Boming to pick him up, his roommate Zhang Chaoyang suddenly wanted to go home.

The Zhang family wrote to say that Zhang Chaoyang's mother was seriously ill, so Zhang Chaoyang had to leave the provincial school and return to Yangyu County.

As for when he will come back, it is hard to say, but it is certain that he will not come back within one or two years.

After presenting condolence money, Sun Shan, Li Xinyun and Jiang Qian bid farewell to Zhang Chaoyang at the escort agency.

Sun Shan comforted him and said, "Chaoyang, take care, everything will be fine."

Li Xinyun patted Zhang Chaoyang on the shoulder and said encouragingly: "Ayang, don't be sad. Maybe nothing will happen after you go back."

Jiang Qian cupped his hands and said take care: "Chaoyang, write to me often."

There is no never-ending feast.

Zhang Chaoyang hummed and nodded, dragging his bags, said take care to Sun Shan and the other two, and left Zhangzhou Prefecture without looking back.

Two roommates left in succession, and new students moved in, but as natives of Zhangzhou Prefecture, they often did not return to the dormitory.

So the whole small courtyard looked empty.

Sun Shan and Jiang Qian looked at each other, then quickly looked away, feeling extremely lonely and bored.

The two of them started their study life as usual.

However, since they have already attended the professor's lectures, they tend to read more in the library or bookstores outside.

There is plenty of free time for reading.

One of Sun Shan's few strengths was self-discipline. He could study according to plan even without anyone supervising him.

Jiang Qian said admiringly: "Ashan, thanks to you. Because you study so regularly, I don't slack off. Every time I see you reading according to the plan, my desire to be lazy immediately disappears. Ashan, thank you."

Sun Shan glanced at Jiang Qian speechlessly, feeling that he was being used as a spur to his actions, demonstrating the saying that "birds of a feather flock together."