Chapter 152: Farewell “The Qinhuai Grand Event, why not let Young Master stay and witness it?” Some fellow villagers advised Zhu Ping’an to stay. Then, his first uncle Zhu Shouren and others also persuaded Zhu Ping’an to stay and experience the grand event. “Ping’an is too homesick, and I can only disappoint you, uncles.” Zhu […]
Chapter 151: One Word, Nine Criticisms The Flower Hairpin Banquet is both an honor and a welcoming ceremony for scholars entering the scholarly world. Here, people either try to make a good impression in front of the education officials and academic leaders, or they display their literary talents by composing poems and essays in front
Chapter 150: Fighting for a Seat The scene at the Hairpin Flower Banquet is somewhat retro, resembling a gathering where ministers and generals from the Spring and Autumn period or the Warring States period would invite their underlings for a feast. In the central open space, several rows of small tables were set up, around
Chapter 149: A Banquet and the Flowered Hairpin When the official delivering the good news finally arrived at the right door, the new students in the Ming Southern Jiangnan Examination Hall’s Mingyuan Building finally awaited the arrival of the academic supervisor. Zhu Ping’an first saw the academic supervisor when entering the first round of the
Chapter 148: That Night, the Golden Toad When Old Master Zhu changed into his still-damp blue cloth robe and came out of the house, the government officers, who were bringing the good news, had already approached, blowing their horns and beating their drums. The sound of firecrackers rang out outside. “Hurry up, Uncle Zhu, quickly,
Chapter 147: Finally Waiting for You At this time, the Zhu family’s old residence had just finished breakfast. Old Master Zhu was sitting in the courtyard, puffing on his pipe. He was dressed in a coarse blue robe and frowned as he looked at the clothes drying on the ropes in the yard. The somewhat
Chapter 146: The Joyous Event in Xiahe Village Zhu Ping’an gradually walked farther away, his figure slowly disappearing into the crowd on the opposite bank of the Qinhuai River, like a drop of water falling into the sea, never to be seen again. By the Qinhuai River, the sixteen-year-old girl held in her hands the
Chapter 145: The Good Voice of Ming Dynasty Night after night, the bright moon lingers; day after day, the white clouds fade away. By the Qinhuai River, where carriages and horses bustled about in endless streams, the lively atmosphere drowned countless grand ambitions in intoxicated dreams. Zhu Ping’an shook his head and refused, unwilling to
Chapter 144: The Dispute “What’s this, are you feeling guilty?” The girl with rabbit-like red eyes asked excitedly, showing her little tiger teeth, her expression like she had caught Zhu Ping’an’s little tail. The older girl looked at Zhu Ping’an with even more mockery in her eyes. What kind of logic is this? Who’s feeling
Chapter 143: Short and Slightly Chubby, with a Simple Face and No Beard After returning from the other shore, Zhu Ping’an went to the first cloth shop near the inn. He explained his request, paid a fifty-wen processing fee, and a tailor measured him with his palm before starting the work. The scissors snipped loudly,