Cheng Ling couldn't help but think, "In such a small county like Qi, there's no unification and political chaos, but there's actually an imperial examination!"
If the aristocratic families were in control of the world, how could they allow the imperial examination to take place in this country?
But this question wasn't good to ask directly, so Cheng Ling beat around the bush and sighed, "No matter what, brother Shi has a good reputation. After this, you will have a good future."
Unexpectedly, Shi Hong smiled bitterly and said, "I won't hide it from Brother Cheng. After becoming a scholar, I've also thought about seeking advice from an official. Unfortunately, even if I donate a large amount of money, I can't find an official."
It turned out that the imperial examination system of Qi State was not perfect. At present, only the two levels of Tong Sheng and Xiu Cai could be tested. Tong Sheng was not really a scholar, but a scholar was.
As for what was above elementary scholar?
No, I don't know.
Shi Hong also had no way to rise up the ranks. After obtaining the title of a scholar, the neighbors were more polite to him, but it was extremely difficult for him to advance further.
Therefore, words and knowledge were basically in the hands of the upper-class aristocrats.
Otherwise, why would master Jin's attitude change so suddenly when Cheng Ling casually quoted a poem in front of him?
In this world, people were really divided into different classes. This was not a future of freedom and equality, this was a cruel feudal society!
From this point of view, it was really not easy for the original owner's father, Cheng Ming, to be able to study and obtain the qualification to be a child.
Either he was born outstanding and exceptionally smart, or there was something else in the Cheng Family that Cheng Ling didn't know about.
However, the original owner didn't have much memory of this, so Cheng Ling decided to ask Mu Sanniang again when she had the chance.
Shi Hong then talked about the imperial examination and said with a sad tone, "20 years ago, when the previous emperor first ascended the throne, he advocated to follow the example of northern Wei and take the imperial examination to become an official, opening up the path of the poor families in the world. to select talents for the county and strengthen the county."
"It's a pity that the previous emperor passed away at a young age. In the early days, there were a few outstanding people who were chosen to enter the officialdom as scholars. Now, the road to becoming an official... ha, after all, it has nothing to do with us poor families!"
He stopped talking about the imperial examination and changed the topic to the rebel army that had taken over Lu County.
Previously, Hong Guangyi had said that he didn't know who that person was, but Shi Hong actually knew a little.
"His majesty has two royal uncles", he said in a low voice. "One is in Nan'an and is given the title of King Linhai. The other is in Shaoling and is given the title of King Xiangxi. The two kings have long been dissatisfied with the young Lord's arrival in the country. Now that the golden river is in high tide, King Linhai..."
At this point, Shi Hong paused, seemingly not knowing how to continue.
Hong Guangyi's eyes turned red. He urged, "Brother Shi, so you actually know the origin of those beasts! Why didn't you tell me earlier? They! are they King Linhai's army?"
What was the relationship between Shi Hong and Hong Guangyi?
Shi Hong had actually mentioned it in their previous conversation.
Before the two of them met with disaster, one of them was a rich man from a local gentleman's family, while the other was a brutal butcher who wielded a butcher's knife in the market. They actually did not have any interactions before.
After escaping from Lu County that night, Hong Guangyi had unintentionally saved Shi Hong, and Shi Hong had helped him take care of his family. The two of them had gradually become familiar with each other.
It was said that true love was easy to see in times of crisis. In this particularly difficult environment, a scholar and a butcher had actually become good brothers who shared life and death friendships.
However, friendship was friendship. The two of them who had not known each other for long actually had their own stories.
It was mainly Shi Hong. Previously, there were some things that he was indeed unwilling to say.
At this moment, Shi Hong said bitterly, "Whether it's King Linhai's army or not, I'm just guessing." If that is the case, what can we do even if we know about this?"
Hong Guangyi's eyes were red, and the veins on his forehead were bulging. "I want to join the army! Go to the imperial court and sue him, King Linhai! I want to kill and take revenge!"
Although he appeared to be slow in front of Cheng Ling, he was actually a hot-blooded person.
If he wasn't so courageous and had a bottom line, why would he risk his life to get the child out when the man-eating refugees wanted to eat him?
Shi Hong was also such a person.
Shi Hong was even more advanced than Hong Guangyi, because Hong Guangyi had snatched his own child, Hong Xiaolang, while the girl Shi Hong had snatched had no blood relationship with him.
According to Shi Hong, this woman called Lady Yun was a child of his close family.
That night was too chaotic. Most of the people who rushed out of the city gate were chased to death, and the few who risked their lives to escape were either injured or scattered.
Lady Yun was separated from her family, and after some unknown experience, she was captured by the man-eaters among the refugees.
When Shi Hong had met her, she had almost been washed, skinned, and thrown into a pot of boiling water.
It was too dangerous. This child was only seven years old.
She was once a little doll that was carved out of jade and was treated like a child by her family. Now, she was thin and numb, like a timid deer.
She knew how to split firewood and work. Without the chattering, she was so obedient and silent that she didn't seem like a child.
But in the current situation, Daren was also exhausted.
Although Shi Hong had saved Lady Yun's life and intended to raise the child by his side, he did not know where his future lay. He also did not know if there would be a tomorrow if he lived past today.
Therefore, he was not in the mood to pay attention to Lady Yun's mental state. At most, he reached out to pat her little head and told her to eat slowly.
Wolf meat was not easy to digest, and it was not a good thing for children who had been hungry for a long time to suddenly eat too much.
Cheng Ling dug around in her bag and finally took out two unwrapped milk candies.
She had a box of this milk candy in her bag. There were 30 boards, with ten pieces on each board.
The white and round milk candy was lying in Cheng Ling's clean palm, emitting a sweet milky fragrance.
Lady Yun glanced at Cheng Ling fearfully before hiding behind Shi Hong again.
Cheng Ling reached out her hand and handed it to her. With a smile on her face, she said gently, "There are two candies. You take one and give one to your brother Xiaolang, okay?"
Hong Xiaolang was eight years old this year. He was originally a mischievous person, but now he had become very obedient.
He was the youngest son in the family and had not yet come up with a real name, so he was just called "Langlang" by everyone.
Hong Guangyi's eldest son had died the night he left the city. His wife and daughter had also been killed not long ago. He was the only family he had left.
At first, Lady Yun didn't dare to take the candy, but when she heard that Cheng Ling wanted to give one to Hong Xiaolang, she finally mustered the courage to reach out and timidly and slowly grabbed the two candies in her hands.
She grabbed the candy and quickly retracted her hand. Then, she quickly handed one to Hong Xiaolang.
Hong Xiaolang stuffed the candy into his mouth without hesitation. Lady Yun looked left and right, then suddenly split the candy into two. She stuffed one into Shi Hong's mouth and timidly handed the other to Hong Guangyi.