Chapter 502: Silver Fee
He Shuqiang was relieved when he learned that Sun Boming became ill because he ate too much and drank too much.
It's fine as long as the cause of the disease can be found. The worst thing is to find no cause for the disease. It is better to be sick for a reason than for no reason.
He Shuqiang didn't understand and asked, "Brother Shan, my uncle is sick, so he can't go to the capital with you? Who are you going to find as a replacement?"
Sun Shan shook his head and said, "I won't look for anyone. I can just take Gui Ge'er, Nan Ge, and Uncle Dali with me. The journey to the capital is mostly by boat, not by land, so it won't be too hard."
It would be a lie to say that it wasn't hard, but it was much better than walking step by step on foot. Sun Shan was a person who was easily satisfied.
He Shuqiang's eyes rolled around, and when he smiled, two big dimples appeared on his face. He whispered, "Brother Shan, how about I go to Beijing with you? I've never been there. Reading thousands of books is not as good as traveling thousands of miles. Maybe if I go to Beijing, I'll gain some knowledge, and maybe I can pass the exam to become a student. Brother Shan, what do you think of my idea?"
Sun Shan refused without thinking: "Brother Qiang, the most important thing for you now is to go to school, not to have any nonsense. You are not even a scholar, how can you go to the capital? Your great grandfather is in the capital, what do you think he will think when he sees you, a so-called student?"
He Shuqiang's face changed. Why hadn't he thought about this question?
Although my great grandfather was far away in the capital, he would often write back to ask my second grandfather to urge the He family's children to make progress, study hard, and become more successful than the previous generation.
In this way, the He family can prosper and prosper, lasting for generations.
If I go to the capital, I will definitely meet my great-grandfather.
Wouldn't it be embarrassing to meet you?
He Shuqiang blushed and hesitantly said, "Brother Shan, I think I won't accompany you to the capital for the time being. I'll go with you next time if there's a chance."
He Shuqiang added: "Brother Shan, I'm going to go back first. Grandpa, my elder sister is still waiting for my news. I'm relieved that my uncle is fine. I'll come and play with you tomorrow."
After saying that, he ran away in a flash.
Just a moment ago, he said that he would wait until Sun Boming got better and see him before leaving.
The next moment, he stood up without any hesitation, turned around, and hurried home. What a nimble fat man he was.
Sun Shan found it funny to see that what He Shuqiang feared most was the third-rank minister in the capital.
As expected, the power of the patriarch is infinite, and even a tough guy like He Shuqiang will tremble.
Sun Bomin had diarrhea for the whole afternoon and felt better in the evening, but his face was still very pale and his body was still very weak.
Sun Shan asked worriedly, "Dad, are you okay? Do you want to ask a doctor to come and take a look?"
When Sun Bomin had diarrhea, he asked a doctor to diagnose him, but the doctor said something ambiguous and confusing.
Sun Shan didn't know what the doctor meant, so he could only do as the doctor said.
Sun Bomin said weakly in the room: "Shanzi, I'm fine, don't worry. I'll be fine in two days. You must not come in, lest you get infected by me."
Su waved his hand and asked Sun Shan to leave.
Sun Boming’s illness must be caused by overeating and drinking too much, which made his body unable to bear it.
I have a poor life. I shouldn't eat such good food.
At first glance, you can tell that she has the body of a maid and the fate of a maid.
Sun Shan also knew that Sun Boming probably fell ill because he ate too much.
But I am still very worried, but there is nothing I can do except worry.
I could only say consolingly: "Dad, have a good rest. I will come to see you tomorrow."
Sun Bomin said weakly: "Don't come over. Dad is fine. You don't have to come to see me tomorrow."
Thinking that Sun Shan would leave the day after tomorrow, Sun Bomin was afraid that he would infect Sun Shan with the disease and prevent him from continuing his journey.
The next morning, after Sun Shan had breakfast, he spoke a few words to Sun Boming from a distance, then went to the yamen with the documents.
That’s right! He went to collect the “payment of silver” from the imperial court.
The so-called travel expenses were to prevent candidates from all over the country from missing their trip to Beijing for the imperial examinations. The imperial court stipulated that each candidate taking part in the imperial examinations would be given a sum of money for travel expenses.
The imperial court set different "silver fees" for different regions based on factors such as their distance from the capital and the local wealth.
The closer you are to the capital, the less or even no silver fee you will be charged; the farther you are from the capital, the more silver fee you will be charged.
For example, Shandong Province is close to the capital, and the amount of money that can be received is about 1 tael.
Guangnan Province, where Sun Shan was located, was one of the places farthest from the capital, and could only receive 20 taels.
As for the one who received the most, it was Qiongzhou Prefecture, which came across the ocean and could receive about 30 taels.
However, if students from Qiongzhou Prefecture wanted to receive the tuition, they had to come to Guangzhou Prefecture at their own expense to collect it, because Guangzhou Prefecture was the provincial capital.
Sun Shan led Gui Ge'er to the yamen, and after handing in the documents, he quickly completed the formalities and received the 20 taels easily.
Gui Ge'er was so happy that his teeth were showing and his eyes were not visible that he said, "Brother Shan, can I get 20 taels every time I go to the capital to take the exam? If I don't go to the capital, will I get nothing?"
Sun Shan patted Gui Ge'er on the head with his fan and scolded him with a smile, "You wish. You can only collect the money once. No matter if you pass the exam or fail, you can only get it once."
Of course, it is also possible if you receive the financial support but do not go to Beijing to take the exam.
Anyway, the money you receive is yours and you can decide how to use it.
But 20 taels is not enough to complete an imperial examination.
Not only did Sun Shan have to go to Beijing to take the exam, but if he failed, he had to come back.
20 taels is not enough to support the round trip.
If students are poor or have not accumulated enough money for the journey, some local gentry will make initial "investments" in them.
Unfortunately, Sun Shan did not encounter this situation because Huangyang County was too poor.
The local "rich men" certainly want to invest, but unfortunately they are powerless.
Sun Shan has to pay for his trip on his own.
When Gui Ge'er heard that he could only receive it once, he immediately became unhappy. He thought that he could receive it once every three years, but it turned out to be cut off all at once.
20 taels is a lot for Guiger, but it is a drop in the bucket for Sunshan's imperial examination.
Gui Ge'er frowned, thought for a while and said, "Brother Shan, we have to save our money. You just got engaged and spent a lot of money. Now it must be very expensive to go to Beijing. Let's save as much as possible."
Sun Shan nodded and said, "Gui Ge'er, you are right. We should save as much as possible."
Sun Shan couldn't help but sigh.
This engagement and betrothal money drained out the Sun family’s savings of several hundred taels.
As for the travel expenses for the exam, Uncle He's family contributed some, He Wenshu's family contributed some, and Sun Boming borrowed some from Aunt Sun.
Thanks to the relationship with Old Master He San, Sun Shan was able to stay with the He family for free, with food, accommodation and travel expenses provided, which greatly reduced his burden.
Sun Shan looked at the road under his feet, which was actually a road to imperial examinations paved with money.
They thought that after passing the imperial examination, their family would become wealthier, but these two things, "the big and the small imperial examinations", made the Sun family become poor overnight.
Sun Shan felt extremely guilty.