Chapter 359: Let Hong Xiucai Share the Joy

Chapter 359: Let Hong Xiucai Share the Joy

Two days later, the village chief led the people of Sunjia Village, carrying large and small bags, and got on a convoy back to Huangyang County.

It was already afternoon when we returned to Huangyang County, and it was impossible to rush back to Sunjia Village.

Sun Bomin led everyone to the Sun family to stay.

The village chief sighed and said, "Fortunately, Bomin bought a yard in the county town, so we have a place to live."

Thinking about how I used to stay in a hotel or at a relative's house when I returned to Huangyang County from the provincial capital, I feel happy that I can now live in my own home.

The Sun residence has always been taken care of by Lixia and Guyu, so it is very clean. Even though no one lives there for a long time, it still looks lively.

Sun Bomin smiled and said, "I should have bought a house earlier, so Shanzi wouldn't have to live in a dormitory."

Su agreed and said, "The head of the family is right. If I had known earlier, I would have bought a house in the county town earlier. I would come out to cook for Shanzi. It's hard for him to eat the food in the vegetarian house outside all the time. He must not be used to it. Shanzi likes my food the most."

Sun Shan was embarrassed. He really wanted to say that the food cooked by Su was just so-so and far from being his favorite.

But the food that tastes like my mother's is particularly comfortable to eat.

Sun Shan liked to live in the dormitory because he could just walk a few steps and find Mr. Hong to answer his questions, so his learning efficiency was much higher.

Because there were so many people, there were only two rooms to live in, one for women and one for men. If there were not enough rooms, they had to sleep on the floor in the living room.

People in the country are not so particular. They just lay the floor and use a quilt. They don’t even need a pillow.

Sun Boming packed up some gifts and hurriedly sent them to Guyu, Lixia, Hanlu and Sun Xiaogu. They were mainly cakes with good meanings, hoping that the children in his family could share in Jing'er's joy, pass the examinations to become scholars, juren, jinshi and become high officials in the future.

Su also packed up a lot of gifts. Sun Shan walked in front and Gui Ge'er carried them behind. The two of them walked towards Hong's School.

It was Uncle Hong who opened the door. When he saw Sun Shan, his face was filled with joy. He said happily, "Shanzi, you are here. Are you here to see the Master?"

Sun Shan nodded and said, "I just came back from the city. I haven't seen you for a long time, so I came here specially to visit you."

Sun Shan followed Uncle Hong into the Hong family compound and asked with a smile, "Where's the Master? He hasn't gone out yet, has he?"

Uncle Hong quickly shook his head and said, "No, the teacher is in the study. Please sit here for a while and I will go and call him."

After saying this, Uncle Hong hurried to the study to call for help.

In the afternoon, the school had already been over. At this time, Mr. Hong was either in the study or in the study. He was a diligent and good teacher, and he must be correcting homework.

After a while, Mr. Hong came in from outside, and Sun Shan quickly stood up and greeted him.

Hong Xiucai said with a smile on his face: "Ashan, I heard that you came back from the capital. Are you here to attend your eldest cousin's banquet?"

He Shujin passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi, and Sun Boming told Hong Xiucai immediately.

Although Mr. Hong no longer taught Sun Shan, Sun Boming would still send him gifts during the New Year and other festivals.

The two families have always maintained close contact.

Sun Shan nodded and said cheerfully, "Yes, Master, I just got back."

Sun Shan pointed to the gift that Gui Ge'er had put aside and said, "Master, there are wedding cakes from my eldest cousin in here. Hehe, I brought them here especially for you to taste. I've tasted a lot of them and they're filled with joy."

After meeting Sun Shan, Hong Xiucai had been saying goodbye to the "serious man". Now he smiled even more happily: "Okay, try more, so that your eldest cousin's happiness can be passed on to you and you can pass the imperial examination for me."

Sun Shan described the scene of the banquet to Mr. Hong. It was crowded with people and noisy.

How lively it is.

Hong Xiucai said enviously: "We cannot envy a family with a rich family tradition of learning and farming. Ah Shan, study hard. Your teacher has high hopes for you."

Sun Shan smiled and said, "Master, I will definitely study hard, and you should also teach me well. Hehe, I will try to pass the imperial examination and you will try to teach me a jinshi degree. How do you think this arrangement is? Is it okay?"

Hong Xiucai said with a smile: "Okay, I like this arrangement."

Then he sighed and said, "The information you brought back from the prefectural school is very useful, but my ability does not allow it. Alas, except for you, no one else in the school has passed the examination to become a scholar."

Sun Shan understood that not only did no one from Hong's School pass the examination to become a scholar, but no one from Huangyang County passed the examination to become a scholar either.

In last year's college entrance examination, Huangyang County was completely defeated again, and Sun Shan was still just a weed in a hundred acres of land and a seedling in a thousand hectares of land.

However, the good news is that there are more tongsheng in Huangyang County. For example, Hong Jian from Hong's School passed the examination to become a tongsheng as he wished and continued to strive to become a scholar.

Sun Shan changed the subject and brought up the main purpose of his visit: "Master, I came here to tell you that I will soon be studying at Yuelu Academy in Huguang Province. I came here to say goodbye to you. I'm afraid we won't see each other again until three years later."

Sun Shan got a letter of recommendation from Yuelu Academy and planned to follow his elder cousin's example and study there until he passed the provincial examination before returning.

Firstly, the journey is long and it is inconvenient to go home. Secondly, the road is dangerous, so it is better not to go back and forth if possible.

Sun Shan thought that if he studied in Yuelu Academy for two or three years and then came back to directly take part in the provincial examination, his chances of passing would be much greater.

Hong Xiucai was stunned for a moment, then his eyes widened and he asked in disbelief: "Ashan, what did you say? Yuelu Academy? Which academy? Huguang Province?"

Sun Shan nodded affirmatively and said, "Master, yes. I am going to study in Huguang Province."

Only then did Hong Xiucai confirm that the Yuelu Academy Sun Shan was talking about was the one he knew, and asked excitedly, "Ashan, tell me quickly, how did you get to study at Yuelu Academy?"

What Mr. Hong meant was to ask him how he could study at Yuelu Academy.

The four major academies of Daqian include Yuelu Academy, which is the academy that scholars dream of and try every means to study in.

Now that his student Sun Shan can go to study there, how can Hong Xiucai not be excited.

Sun Shan's face was calm, and he explained calmly how he got the recommendation letter from Yuelu Academy. Of course, he also told Hong Xiucai not to make this matter public, as he wanted to keep a low profile.

Sun Shan believed that Mr. Hong was a man of integrity and principles, and believed that if he was asked to keep quiet, he would definitely know what to do.

Hong Xiucai stroked his half-white beard and said happily, "Okay, okay, Ah Shan, go to Yuelu Academy and study hard. I am more confident that you will pass the imperial examinations and become a Jinshi.

Yuelu Academy is a good academy. I have heard about it since I learned to read. Now that I am over 50 years old, I still haven’t had the chance to visit it.

Now that you have this opportunity, please take a good look at it and read it carefully for me."

Sun Shan smiled and said, "Okay, Master, when I get to the academy, I will write to you to describe how the academy is and what it teaches. So that you can also feel what Yuelu Academy is like."

Hong Xiucai said several good words, looked at Sun Shan with a sad look and said, "It's a pity that your painting skills are not that good. Otherwise, you can personally draw a panoramic view of Yuelu Academy for me."

Sun Shan was embarrassed. His calligraphy was average and his paintings were even worse than his calligraphy, not even average.

When Mr. Hong asked him to draw, he really couldn't do it.

Sun Shan quickly tried to make amends and said, "Master, although my paintings are not that good, my writing is good. The Yuelu Academy I have described is more immersive than what you see in the painting. Master, wait, when I get to Yuelu Academy, I will describe it to you in detail so that you will be reluctant to leave after seeing it."

Hong Xiucai rolled his eyes unceremoniously and said, "Ashan, you are becoming more and more cunning. Don't I know the situation of your article? Don't brag in front of me. You are not qualified enough!"