My name is Chang An, your name is Gu Li

Chapter 114: Before and After the Spring Examination

During the period of half a month before the Spring Examination, Chang An found that there were fewer scholars on the street when he went to and from school in the carriage every day. Most of the scholars who lived in Chang'an during this period were candidates preparing to participate in the Spring Examination.

After all, the spring examination is approaching, so you might as well read more books and prepare for the exam. It is better to sharpen your sword before the battle.

Some students in the Imperial College also stopped attending classes during this period, but instead asked for leave to go home and study for the Spring Examination. This resulted in half of the students in the Imperial College disappearing, and each classroom seemed empty, with only some young people remaining to continue attending classes.

On the day before the Spring Examination, Chang An took a carriage and headed towards Chang's residence as usual. Along the way, he could see groups of candidates heading in a certain direction. They were probably candidates who had guaranteed each other a place to go to the Ministry of Rites to register for the Spring Examination.

At this time, he also saw Wang Wei and Gao Shi riding horses. Both of them held books in their hands and read while riding their horses. They were really racing against time.

Chang An saw that the two of them were so serious, so he naturally stopped calling them. Instead, Wang Wei seemed to have sensed something, and suddenly raised his head, and saw Chang An, so he patted Gao Shi who was studying hard, and also let Gao Shi see Chang An.

"Brother Yonghe."

"Brother Chang."

The two men rode their horses forward and nodded slightly to Chang An.

"Brother Mo Jie, Brother Gao." Chang An greeted the two men while sitting in the carriage, "Have you two just completed the registration?"

Wang Wei also replied: "That's right, the Spring Examination will begin tomorrow."

"Then Brother Mojie and Brother Gao don't have to work so hard today. Take the time to rest and get enough energy for the exam tomorrow." Chang An said with a smile, "Reviewing is important, but only when you are in good spirits can you perform better tomorrow."

"But there are still some things we both don't understand, and we're afraid that it will be troublesome when we are tested on it," said Wang Wei.

Chang An then asked with a smile: "Are you going to take the Jinshi exam or the Mingjing exam?"

"They are all Jinshi candidates." Gao Shi replied.

"That is indeed more difficult." Chang An knew that the Jinshi exam would be more difficult and the number of successful candidates was small. "Then Brother Mo Jie and Brother Gao can review normally tonight and then rest for the time being."

"Besides, I have recommended both of you, so it shouldn't be a big problem."

Wang Wei and Gao Shi looked at each other and laughed. Wang Wei also said, "Even if we are recommended, we should do our best and not make it difficult for the examiner."

"Besides, I was recommended by Brother Chang. If I waste this opportunity in vain, it would be a loss of face for Brother Chang." Gao Shi also said.

Although they both said they would continue to work hard, they still looked a little relaxed. Chang An also felt relieved when he saw this, just like a father who sent his two sons to the college entrance examination more than a thousand years later.

"That's good. Brother Mojie and Brother Gao have worked hard for the past three days." Chang An finally said, "You two should not stay outside any longer."

"Okay, Brother Yonghe, goodbye." Wang Wei said.

"Brother Chang, goodbye."

Afterwards, the two of them drove away, and Chang An also lowered the curtains and went straight home.

"Chang Lang!"

As soon as Chang An got off the carriage, Gu Li ran up to him, took his hand and shook it playfully.

"Tomorrow is the Spring Examination, and Brother Mojie and Brother Gao will be taking the exam." Chang An said as he was led by Gu Li into the Chang Mansion.

"Haven't Lord Wang and Lord Gao already been introduced by Lord Chang?" Gu Li said, "There should be nothing to worry about."

"Of course, don't worry." Chang An said, "I saw Brother Mo Jie and Brother Gao on the way back just now, so let them have more rest and study hard for the exam tomorrow."

"Then I will ask the servants to prepare it, and let Chang Lang take Wang Langjun and Gao Langjun to eat hot pot together." Gu Li said.

"How did Mother Gu know that I wanted to give them hotpot?" Chang An asked with a smile.

"Because..." Gu Li stretched out a finger and tapped Chang An's heart, "Chang Lang's heart told me, I heard it all."

"How dare you, Gu Niang!" Chang An raised his eyebrows at this time, "How dare you tease me!"

Gu Li was already prepared at this time. When she saw Chang An trying to hold her hand, she quickly pulled her hand out. Then she ran away with a smile. Seeing that Chang An was still carrying a book box and couldn't catch up with her, she turned around and teased:

"I just flirted with Chang Lang, what can Chang Lang do?"

After saying that, Gu Li stuck out his tongue at him, then turned and ran away. Chang An raised his eyebrows at this time, feeling a little amused by Gu Li's behavior.

The next day, the Spring Examination began.

Chang An went out a little early, and it was still dark. He sat in the carriage, opened the curtain, and looked at the candidates who were still queuing up on Zhuque Street to enter the examination hall.

Although he was somewhat happy watching them line up here now, but at this time next year, it would be his turn, and thinking of this, Chang An lowered the curtain of the carriage.

On the way, Chang'an's carriage was blocked by the candidates who were queuing up, and couldn't move. Originally, those candidates were unwilling to give way, fearing that others would cut in line, but at this time Chang'an lifted the curtain of the carriage and revealed his face.

"It's Chang Langjun!"

Who is Chang An? Any student or scholar who has lived in Chang'an City in the past two months knows Chang An. He is not only the prime minister's student, but the poems he wrote during this period have shocked these students.

In addition to the nickname "Chang'an's Second Wonder", and the news that Chang'an was proficient in the Four Classics was revealed by Du Chengming and others, which naturally shocked these seniors. So they all wanted to get a taste of the talent of this "living literary music", and they all bowed and made way.

……

For three days in a row, Chang An did this, sitting in the carriage before dawn, silently watching the long queue of candidates waiting to enter the examination hall. When the students saw Chang An's carriage appear, they consciously bowed and made way, and took the opportunity to show off their talent.

The third day was also the last day of the imperial examination. At the hour of You, the three-day spring examination was officially over.

Gao Shi walked out of the examination room and breathed a sigh of relief. Then he saw Wang Wei standing outside and stretching his limbs. He walked up to him and shouted:

"Brother Wang!"

Wang Wei turned around and looked at Gao Shi, also smiled and raised his hand to greet him: "Brother Gao, how did you do in the exam?"

"It should be fine..." Gao Shi scratched his head and said unconfidently.

"How about you, brother? How do you feel?"

Wang Wei replied: "It's OK. We can't decide the specific results."

"What are the two gentlemen still talking about?" At this time, Wang Wei and Gao Shi also heard Chang An's voice.

They looked over and saw Chang An and Gu Li walking towards them with smiles on their faces.

"Brother Yonghe, Madam Gu."

"Brother Chang, Madam Gu."

Chang An smiled and said in return: "Brother Mo Jie, Brother Gao."

"Is the Spring Examination truly over today?" Chang An asked with a smile.

Wang Wei smiled and said, "That's right."

"That's perfect. Brother Mojie and Brother Gao probably haven't had dinner yet, right?" Chang An turned aside and continued, "My wife and I have prepared hot pot at home to nourish you two."

Wang Wei and Gao Shi were both a little confused because they had never heard of hot pot.

"Hot pot? What is this?"

Seeing that they were still hesitating, Chang An simply pulled them over and headed towards the carriage. While pulling, he said:

"Don't ask so many questions. We'll explain it to you when we get there."

Both Wang Wei and Gao Shi were a little surprised. They hadn't expected that a scholar like Chang'an could have such great strength that he could push them so hard that they could only move forward.

Gao Shi and Wang Wei had no choice but to get on Chang An's carriage. After Chang An and Gu Li got on, the carriage started moving.

Wang Wei and Gao Shi followed Chang An and his wife to the courtyard. The small pavilion in the courtyard had already been decorated - in the middle was a copper pot shaped like a hot pot, and around the copper pot were a lot of raw food.

When they arrived at the pavilion, Chang An and Gu Li sat down first, followed by Wang Wei and Gao Shicai.

"This is hot pot," Gu Li pointed at the arrangement on the table and said with a smile, "This is a way of eating that Chang Lang has developed that tastes better than hot pot."

Afterwards, Gu Li explained how to eat the hot pot. At this time, Wang Wei and Gao Shi also tentatively picked up some raw food, rinsed it in the pot, and put it into their mouths.

"How is it?" Chang An asked with a smile, "How do you two feel?"

"Delicious." Gao Shi's eyes lit up with the delicious taste.

Wang Wei was more polite. He nodded and said, "I thought the glutinous rice balls made by Brother Yonghe were already delicious, but I didn't expect this hot pot to be even more amazing."

"Okay, okay, stop bragging." Chang An also picked up the chopsticks and said, "Hurry up and eat, hurry up and eat, we have to rush to eat this hot pot, otherwise it will taste bad!"

"Is there such a saying?!" Wang Wei was amused.

"Then Gao Shi won't be polite." Gao Shi picked up a lot of meat and put it directly into the pot, then picked up a bowl as big as his face and started eating.

Chang An looked at Gao Shi and said with a smile, "Brother Gao, eat slowly. What if you choke?"

"Mr. Wang, please eat too. Don't let Mr. Gao finish all the food alone." Gu Li said with a smile.

"Then I won't be polite."

Wang Wei had been taking the imperial examinations all day and was already hungry. Now hearing Gu Li's enthusiastic invitation, he rolled up his sleeves and started eating.