GBP Chapter 960 The Old Father’s Thoughts
Chapter 960 The Old Father’s Thoughts
Little Fish's objections were ineffective, so he had no choice but to obey.
The next day, while it was still dark, Xu and Zhang Lao Er got up and directed the servants to pack up the exam baskets. The old couple were so worried about their two children's exams that they didn't sleep well that night.
Zhang Ping'an offered a few words of advice, but was instead told he was in the way and was waved aside by Zhang Lao Er.
"When you took the imperial examination, your mother and I prepared the examination basket for you. Everything went smoothly without any problems. Now that Xiaoyuer is also taking the imperial examination, I hope he can pass on his first try and be on the list of successful candidates. If he really passes, I can die in peace!"
Upon hearing this, Madam Xu couldn't help but slap Zhang Lao Er hard, "Pah, pah, pah, what are you saying? We still have to watch Xiao Yu'er get married, have children, and become a high-ranking official in the future!"
Zhang Lao Er wasn't annoyed at all, and just chuckled, "I was just saying!"
Zhang Ping'an was filled with mixed emotions as he watched, and after a pause, he said, "I'll go see how the two children are doing with their tidying up."
"Go on, go on, don't delay," Zhang Lao Er urged hurriedly.
Zhang Ping'an had just turned a corner when he bumped into Xiaoyuer and Pengpeng walking towards him. "Dad, my cousin and I are all ready. Let the servants set out breakfast, and we'll set off after we eat."
“Okay, breakfast has been warming up on the stove for a while now. Your grandparents haven’t slept much all night, they’ve been thinking about this,” Zhang Ping’an said, pleased to see that the two of them looked refreshed and ready.
It's important to know that the imperial examination consists of three sessions, each lasting three days, for a total of nine days. The state of mind during the first exam has a significant impact on the subsequent two.
Xiaoyuer was determined to pass the imperial examination and was full of confidence. At this moment, he was in the mood to joke, "It seems that I must pass the exam on the first try. Otherwise, if I take it a few more times, Grandpa and Grandma will become more and more nervous!"
"Alright, be more humble, don't be too flamboyant, or you'll regret it later," Zhang Ping'an couldn't help but laugh, still wanting to curb his son's arrogant nature.
Pengpeng watched the interaction between the father and son with envy. He had come to the capital alone to take the exam, and after a long time, he still felt quite lonely from time to time.
Then Xu urged again, "You guys stop chatting, get the basket ready, hurry up and eat breakfast, then head out, don't be late!"
The servants had already set out breakfast. Zhang Lao Er, sitting in his wheelchair, personally peeled eggs for the group, muttering as he did so: "Take good care of yourself during the exam. Don't be nervous. Whatever your score is, that's what matters. Our family is much more open-minded than others."
Looking at his father's deep wrinkles, age spots, and almost completely white hair in the dim candlelight, Zhang Ping'an suddenly felt an urge to cry. He felt that time had passed too quickly; almost twenty years had gone by in the blink of an eye, and now he was at the age of accompanying his son to take the exam.
As we grow older, we gain not only more age, but also more experience and insights into life.
He knew that Zhang Lao Er was actually quite worried lately, fearing that his health was not good and that if he passed away, he would have to observe mourning, which would jeopardize his and Xiao Yu'er's future. Even if he explained and comforted him, he could not dispel this worry.
If Xiaoyuer can successfully make the list this time, it will surely put Zhang Lao Er's mind at ease.
After quickly finishing their meal, the group boarded the carriage with the examination basket amidst the eager anticipation of Zhang Lao Er and Xu Shi.
Today, after a full meal, he personally drove the carriage, and even brought several skilled servants from his household to guard him.
It was the dead of night, the quietest time of day, but as I walked out of the alley, I kept running into carriages that were also on their way to take the exam.
By looking at the wooden sign hanging under the carriage, one could tell whose it was. After nodding to each other, no one said much more.
After leaving the alley and walking further away, the closer one gets to the examination hall, the more one encounters candidates carrying torches and examination baskets, all on their way to take the exam. Most of them are accompanied by relatives or servants.
At such times, those who travel by carriage are very conspicuous, and everyone silently turns their heads to look, guessing whose young master is coming by looking at the wooden sign under the carriage.
This will inevitably create a class gap.
Zhang Ping'an didn't want his family to attract too much attention, so he had the carriage stop about 500 meters away from the examination hall. "Alright, let's stop here. We'll get off here. The further we go in, the more people there will be, and it's easy for the carriage to get in but difficult to get out."
After eating his fill, he replied, "Okay!"
Then I parked the car steadily on the side of the road.