frightfiction Chapter 877 Going to Beijing to Prepare for the Examination
Chapter 877 Going to Beijing to Prepare for the Examination
Sure enough, the next morning, Lin Ruhai called Lu Cheng to his study and said, "Cheng'er, I intend to entrust Yu'er's life to you. Are you willing?"
"Of course I am willing. This matter is entirely up to you, Master. I owe my present position to you, Master. Moreover, I know my junior sister well, so I shall protect her for the rest of her life."
"Okay! You don't have any parents or relatives at home, so your marriage should be arranged by me, your teacher. I will ask someone to invite a matchmaker, ask for your marriage proposal, exchange engagement letters, and arrange your marriage!"
Logically speaking, even if it is just an engagement, the parents of both parties have to come forward, the matchmaker has to go through the process of introduction, exchange birth dates, and ask about good and bad luck before the next process can be carried out.
But Lu Cheng had no relatives at home, only Lin Ruhai, a teacher. Lin Daiyu also had to rely on her father, so all this fell on Lin Ruhai. Lin Ruhai needed to find a matchmaker and complete all the procedures.
The Ming Dynasty law stipulates that a marriage certificate between a man and a woman must be "signed by a matchmaker" to be valid.
At the same time, Lu Cheng also has to follow the procedures and etiquette and prepare the corresponding engagement gift.
Lin Ruhai originally wanted to prepare these for Lu Cheng, but was rejected by Lu Cheng.
With the accumulation of the past few years, Lu Cheng's Flying Eagle Gang has spread all over the world, and his business has also been done in all aspects. Now the money accumulated on hand is not as rich as a country, but it is not much different. Naturally, he can't let his father-in-law give him money to marry her daughter.
Although Lin Ruhai didn't know where Lu Cheng got the money from, he didn't ask much. He knew that his disciple had good ideas and he didn't need to worry too much.
After exchanging engagement letters and sending engagement gifts, and completing all the formalities, Lu Cheng and Lin Daiyu's marriage was officially settled.
According to the Ming Dynasty law, the marriage age for men and women was 16 and 14 respectively. Lin Daiyu was not even years old at the moment. Even if she wanted to go through the formalities of marriage, she would have to wait for more than three years.
However, according to the rules and etiquette at that time, after the engagement, the man and woman could not meet each other casually before getting married.
It was naturally impossible for Lin Daiyu to move out of her house, so Lu Cheng had to move out.
After the engagement ceremony was completed, the results of the provincial examination happened to be announced. Lu Cheng undoubtedly won the first place, became the Jieyuan, and became a Juren.
Although Lu Cheng was only fourteen years old and not yet an adult, his status as a juren was enough for him to set up his own household and live independently.
"Cheng'er, Yu'er's grandmother has sent people to take Yu'er to Beijing many times. Before, Yu'er was still in mourning, so it was inconvenient for her to travel far. Now that the capital has come to invite her again, it is not good to refuse again and again. Therefore, I plan to let Yu'er go to Beijing and live in the Jia Mansion for a while.
It just so happens that you will also go to Beijing to take the exam next year. I am very busy with my official duties and have no time to teach you all the time. Why don't you go to Beijing with me? I will write a few letters to recommend a few friends in the Imperial Academy who can give you some advice on your studies. "
Lu Cheng and Lin Daiyu are already engaged, so even if the Jia family has other ideas, they have to give up.
"Thank you for the arrangement, teacher."
"You should prepare in advance."
The joint examination was usually held in the spring of the second year after the provincial examination, hosted by the Ministry of Rites and held in the Imperial Examination Hall in Kyoto. The examination period was usually set in February or March, also known as the "Spring Examination".
Even if Lin Daiyu did not come to Beijing to visit her relatives, Lu Cheng would have to rush to Kyoto in advance to prepare for the imperial examination.
Lu Cheng didn't have much to prepare, he just had to arrange the affairs of the Flying Eagle Gang in Jianghuai.
After Lu Cheng graduated from high school, he would have to attend the third year of classes at the Hanlin Academy. In other words, in the next few years, Lu Cheng would have to stay in Kyoto most of the time, and the focus of the Flying Eagle Gang would also have to be transferred to Kyoto for easier command and arrangement.
Fortunately, after several years of development, the Flying Eagle Gang's influence has spread all over the world, and even in the city of Kyoto, it has a lot of manpower and strongholds.
Just convey an order to the people below, and everything that needs to be prepared will be ready in Kyoto.
Of course, Lu Cheng himself will not easily expose his relationship with the Flying Eagle Gang.
After attending the Lu Ming Banquet and accepting the praises of the new candidates and the advice of the scholars and the provincial education commissioners, Lu Cheng packed his luggage and boarded a boat north with Daiyu to Kyoto.
On the canal, two sailboats slowly headed north.
In the sky, a group of migrating geese fly southward.
Lu Cheng sat alone by the boat, holding a fishing rod, looking relaxed and at ease.
Not long after, feeling the pulling force coming from the fishing rod, Lu Cheng lifted and pulled it casually. A fat grass carp struggled to the surface of the water, pulling the fishing line desperately, trying to break free from the shackles of fate.
Lu Cheng controlled the force slowly and no matter how the fish in the water struggled, it was just a waste of energy.
Soon, when the fish in the water was exhausted, Lu Cheng pulled it to the side of the boat. A servant standing nearby immediately took out a simple "scoop net" made of bamboo strips and helped to catch the big grass carp.
"Sir, this fish is really big, at least ten pounds."
"Go clean up the fish and set up the stove I prepared. I want to grill some fish."
The ninth level fishing skill already has some magical abilities. Even if Lu Cheng's hook does not have any bait, there will be stupid fish teeth hooks.
If Lu Cheng personally prepares some bait, he can basically catch any fish he wants, and the fish he catches will not be small.
Afterwards, Lu Cheng changed the bait for fishing crucian carp, and soon he caught seven or eight large crucian carp weighing more than half a pound. He also asked his servants to take them away and clean them.
After marinating the cleaned crucian carp and grass carp for half an hour, Lu Cheng lit the charcoal fire and sat at the stern to grill the fish.
Soon, the aroma of grilled fish spread throughout the cabin and even to the boat behind.
Daiyu, who was playing chess with Xiangling in the cabin, immediately smelled the fragrance and casually ordered, "Xueyan, go outside and see what is so fragrant."
After a while, Xueyan came back and reported: "Miss, it's the young master sitting at the stern of the boat grilling fish."
Daiyu glanced at Xiangling and smiled: "Sister Xiangling, it seems we are in for a treat. Tell the boat to pull over."
"Yes."
Soon, the two boats approached, and the grilled fish was almost ready. Lu Cheng immediately asked the servants to prepare food boxes and plates, and put half of the grilled fish into the plate and placed it in the food box.
Then, Lu Cheng jumped onto the boat behind him and handed the food box to Xiangling who was waiting at the bow: "Take it and share it. If you want to eat it again, let me know and I will make it for you."
"Thank you, brother. Sister Lin is so greedy that she has been waiting for a long time."
Daiyu's voice suddenly came from the cabin: "Sister Xiangling, if you say anything more, I won't agree..."
Lu Cheng laughed, turned around and jumped back into the boat in front to eat grilled fish.
The charcoal-grilled fish was golden and juicy, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Daiyu and Xiangling couldn't help but eat more as they ignored their ladylike manners.
Seeing that the two little maids beside her were drooling, Daiyu gave them a roasted crucian carp, and the two little maids immediately started to eat it happily.
With the fish in the river sacrificing their lives to accompany them, Lu Cheng, Daiyu and Xiangling's journey northward also became more interesting...