Fu Yong placed the bamboo basket behind a tree, in a small flat area encircled by several trees, just enough for them to put things down.
Fu Yong instructed Guan Er to take two people and scout ahead, "Check if there’s a pavilion and people there?"
Guan Er agreed and, along with two good friends, climbed up the mountain slope, crossed halfway up, peered down, and soon excitedly returned, "Brother Fu, I didn’t see any pavilion, but I saw a tea stall with many people there drinking tea and eating."
Upon hearing this, everyone’s stomachs rumbled, and one sniffed, saying, "No wonder I keep slling the fragrance of wheat; they must be making stead buns."
Fu Yong thought for a mont, summoned Dong Shu, the oldest and most steady among them, "Brother Dong, you take Fu Hong and Guan Er to gather information, I’ll stay here with the others."
Upon hearing this, Dong Shu grew nervous and quickly shook his head, "I can’t, I’ll stay here to watch them, you take Fu Hong and Guan Er."
Fu Yong lowered his gaze and thought for a mont; he indeed had many things he wanted to find out, then stood up, "Alright, I’ll go. Soone else climb up the mountain to keep an eye on us; if anything happens, I’ll signal you to leave imdiately, directly return to the mountains."
The young n, upon hearing this, stirred and asked, "Not going to buy farm tools?"
Fu Yong: "If you receive the signal, it ans we’re unable to buy the farm tools and our lives are at risk. At that ti, preserving life is crucial."
Before leaving the mountains, the elders repeatedly instructed them to listen to Fu Yong once out, so the young n exchanged glances, even if unwilling, nodded in agreent.
Fu Yong then led four people over the mountain, leaving two halfway up, and took Fu Hong and Guan Er down.
Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, they saw a pavilion obscured by trees.
The pavilion was slightly old, empty inside, while across the road on a grassy field stood a tea stall crowded with people, ox carts, and mule carts parked at the roadside.
Earlier, Fu Yong left the money pouch with the group, bringing only a string of copper coins with him.
He led the two into the tea stall, surveyed, then approached a table, cupped his hands and asked, "Brothers, may we join you?"
Two people sat at the table, clearly together, their sleeves wide, wearing cloth shoes on a hot day, showing signs of wealth.
The seated guests looked up at Fu Yong, noticing his narrow-sleeved shirt, patched elbows, straw shoes, yet possessing a gentle deanor, unlike a typical farr.
In this era, even Imperial Relatives might end up as beggars, so the guests didn’t disdain Fu Yong. Seeing his courtesy, they nodded in agreent.
Fu Yong glanced at Fu Hong and Guan Er, then sat down on a long bench.
Fu Hong and Guan Er observed the two guests, then mimicked their posture, sitting upright on the long bench, filling up the table.
Fu Yong ordered three stead buns, three flatbreads, and three bowls of tea, waiting to eat.
Once the tea arrived, Fu Yong smiled, asking the two, "Brothers, are you entering the city or just leaving?"
"At this hour, naturally we’re entering the city."
Fu Yong glanced up at the sun, chuckling, "My busy mind must be muddled; I didn’t realize it’s this late."
The two guests agreed, even turned the question back to him, "Are you harvesting wheat?"
Fu Yong vaguely replied; they didn’t plant spring wheat in the mountains but winter wheat, harvested in April, then began transplanting rice.
This area, near the Fen River, supposedly also grew winter wheat, harvesting now indicates last year had so mishap, thus switching to spring wheat planting.
Whether this mishap was natural or manmade remains uncertain.
Fu Yong: "I see both are scholars; is this trip for study?"
The two exchanged smiles, "We received the provincial exam’s docunts, heading to Luoyang for the talent recruitnt examination."
Fu Yong’s eyes widened upon hearing this, his heart raced; he knew the talent recruitnt examination was held by Yu State to select talents, causing quite a stir, with even so officials claiming Zhao Hanzhang intended to gather talents for rebellion.
The examination held in Luoyang indicates... Zhao Hanzhang occupied Luoyang, or the Xiongnu adopted her thod?
Yet he couldn’t directly ask, heart itchy, intending to probe again, interrupted by the attendant serving their stead buns and flatbreads, and the two guests turned to chat amongst themselves.
Fu Yong suppressed his excitent, patiently waited for another opportunity, but...
"Sigh, I’ve heard this year many are heading to Luoyang for the exam; we’re uncertain if we’ll pass. Given the new examination system recently announced, it shouldn’t attract so many talents."
"General Zhao placed two boxes at the Imperial City Gate, one for grievances, one for suggestions, with the grievances box open for all to criticize the governnt. Hermits with insights on governance can contribute, opening the floor for opinions. How many hermits do you think it’ll attract?"
His companion sighed, "The country’s prosperity should bring joy, but thinking of the many talents erging now, my future seems bleak, dampening my joy. I heard this ti even the southerner clans returning north are participating; those great families possess heritage beyond our comparison."
The other remained undeterred, smiling, "If not the County Magistrate, can we not even beco Chief Clerk?"
"Now the nation is newly settled, lacking personnel everywhere; if we’ve passed the provincial exam, I can’t believe General Zhao would not employ us," he confidently remarked, "we should thank General Zhao; without her talent recruitnt examination, soone of my background would struggle to enter officialdom."
Fu Yong suppressed his excitent, his eyes brightened, asking, "I see both brothers possess elegance; they must be scholars. How could such sentints erge?"
So the man smiled, waved dismissively, "Indeed scholars, but with families owning rely a few acres of sparse land, surviving this turmoil by chance. With such background, setting my position, I wouldn’t even enter the hierarchy banquet."
He didn’t ntion his grandfather worked as a coroner in the county governnt, accumulating so wealth, luckily acquiring a few books, his father later engaged in trade, even inadvertently conscripted into the Zhao Family Army, beca a squad leader.
With such lineage, it’s said not just him but future generations might struggle to enter the hierarchy banquet.
But now, none of these matters; possessing knowledge, capability, they could partake in the talent recruitnt examination; failing the national exam, just attempt the provincial, failing provincial, try the county, there’s always a day to rise.
Besides the written exam, there’s the military examination.
Yet rumor has it the military examination isn’t easy, requiring tests in combat arts, horse riding, military strategy, arithtic, even so dical knowledge, equally challenging as the written exam.
"Moreover, the written and military exams are staggered; I’ll attempt the written first and, if unsuccessful, the military."
His friend laughed and asked, "What if you still fail the military?"
"Then I’ll enter the Imperial College, which examines next January; my best subject in the provincial exam is mathematics, and once in the Imperial College, I’ll strive to study under Minister Fu. If I beco his student, wouldn’t that be rising to high status?"
His friend couldn’t help but mock, "Crafty fellow, but I wish you success, and once accomplished, don’t forget ."
"I won’t, won’t, definitely won’t forget."
Fu Yong quickly asked, "Dare I ask which Minister Fu? Is it Northern Land’s Fu Zhi? Isn’t he a Chief Clerk?"
"Brother, how long has it been since you visited town and read the notice? Naturally, Minister Fu is Fu Changrong; Fu Zhongshu is his grandfather. But he passed away recently, and General Zhao and Minister Fu personally journeyed to Yongzhou to escort the coffin back to the capital."
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