Chapter 101

Zhang Jie appreciated the guest-welcoming monk's expression, which was more painful than crying, for a while before speaking calmly:

"I wonder if the master is free now? Can you take us to see the rooms?"

The guest-welcoming monk, eager to repair his relationship with Zhang Jie, nodded repeatedly:

"Yes, yes, four donors, please follow me."

Saying this, he turned around and began to lead the way,

leaving even the other few pilgrims who had just arrived behind.

After passing through the gilded vermilion gate and a long, quiet corridor,

the guest-welcoming monk led Zhang Jie and the others to a small courtyard.

"Donor Zhang, Donor Li, this small courtyard is quiet and secluded,

and no one will come to disturb you on weekdays, so it will surely allow you two to concentrate on preparing for the examination."

The guest-welcoming monk said with a face full of smiles while pushing open the wooden door.

Zhang Jie looked at the small courtyard a few times and found that although the sparrow was small, it had all the internal organs, and all kinds of facilities were complete,

especially since it was cleaned very cleanly, so he couldn't help but nod with satisfaction.

Seeing Zhang Jie nod, the guest-welcoming monk felt relieved in his heart and pretended to say casually:

"This small courtyard was last occupied by several candidates, two of whom even passed the Jinshi examination!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jie couldn't help but smile; this guest-welcoming monk clearly saw that they had two people coming to take the exam,

and now saying that two people passed the Jinshi examination, the intention could not be more obvious.

"Thank you very much, Master." Zhang Jie thanked him.

"No thanks, no thanks, this is my duty."

The guest-welcoming monk waved his hands repeatedly.

Seeing that there was no anger on Zhang Jie's face, he continued:

"Four donors, please wait a moment; I will go and get some bedding."

Seeing the guest-welcoming monk off, Zhang Jie and the others began to familiarize themselves with this small courtyard.

Li Gang walked around casually and sighed with a heavy heart:

"I did not expect that even in Daxiangguo Temple, which the Son of Heaven regards as a family temple, there are all such petty people."

Seeing the guest-welcoming monk's behavior toward them just now, as if driving away flies,

and his behavior of wanting to accept Zhang Jie's bribe,

he knew that this person had already done this I don't know how many times.

Seeing the big from the small, he was afraid that Daxiangguo Temple was not as magnificent as it looked at first glance.

Zhang Jie, on the other hand, didn't care,

as people who use the tiny power in their hands to make things difficult for others to the greatest extent

and fish for money and benefits are everywhere in this world.

After all, human nature is like this; unless all the people in the world become robots, it is difficult to avoid.

And what can be done is to establish strict systems to clarify rights and responsibilities.

It's a pity that the Duan Wang sitting on the throne now is an art student who is proficient in everything except being an emperor.

And the Great Song is not Germany that needs art students to govern.

He didn't have time to manage these trivial matters; if he had free time,

wouldn't it be better to write a few more copybooks in the Slender Gold script, or play cuju with Gao Qiu and others?

"Brother Boji, don't be so pessimistic; there are still people with hot blood in the world."

Zhang Jie casually comforted Li Gang.

"I hope so."

Li Gang's mood was clearly not high.

After the guest-welcoming monk sent four brand-new and thick quilts,

Zhang Jie and the others temporarily settled down in Daxiangguo Temple.

Early the next morning, Zhang Jie arrived in front of the Li Fu located in the west of the inner city.

This Li Fu was the residence of Li Gefei, the chief examiner of the provincial examination who had appointed Zhang Jie as Jieyuan in Shandong before.

Li Gefei had told Zhang Jie at the Luming Banquet to come to his house to find him after arriving in Bianliang.

Zhang Jie happened to be free today, so he came to visit this mentor.

Knock, knock.

Zhang Jie picked up the door knocker held by the beast's head and knocked on the door lightly.

Creak.

The gate opened from the inside, and a young servant in gray poked his head out.

"Who are you?" the servant asked.

"I am Zhang Jie, here specifically to visit Li Shi."

Zhang Jie took a visiting card from his sleeve and handed it to the servant.

"Zhang Jie?"

The servant's brain worked, as if he had thought of something, and he asked excitedly:

"Is Master Zhang from Shandong?"

Although he didn't know why the servant was so excited, Zhang Jie nodded slightly:

"I have indeed come from Shandong for the examination; please report for me, brother."

"Master Zhang, please come in."

The servant, having confirmed Zhang Jie's identity, stepped aside and invited him.

"Oh?"

Zhang Jie was inexplicably a bit puzzled.

According to the procedure, shouldn't he present his visiting card first,

and wait for Li Gefei to see him when he had time?

Why was this servant so enthusiastic?

Although he and Li Gefei had talked happily at the Luming Banquet, they didn't have much of a friendship!

Well, according to tradition, Li Gefei, the chief examiner of the provincial examination who had appointed him as Jieyuan, had a great kindness to him.

But the more this was the case, the more there should be rules; what was this inexplicable enthusiasm?

Seeming to see Zhang Jie's confusion, the servant explained with a smile:

"My master has ordered that as soon as Master Zhang comes, he can be welcomed in directly; there is no need for so much courtesy."

"Could it be that Li Gefei saw my extraordinary nature and intends to win me over?"

Seeing this order, which only existed between very close people, Zhang Jie guessed.

"Forget it, soldiers come to block, water comes to cover; let's go in and see first."

Feeling the surging power flowing within him,

Zhang Jie, confident in his success, followed the servant inside.

Just as he walked to the middle courtyard, he saw Li Gefei, who was in high spirits, walking quickly toward him:

"Haha, Renjie has come."

Zhang Jie greeted him and cupped his hands in a salute:

"Student Zhang Jie has met Li Shi."

Li Gefei reached out to help Zhang Jie up:

"Between us master and student, there is no need for such courtesy."

Zhang Jie, who didn't know what Li Gefei was trying to do, chose to be cautious:

"Master's kindness to the student is as high as a mountain and as deep as a sea; this is the courtesy that should be."

"Renjie is being too formal." Li Gefei stroked his beard and laughed.

However, he was even more satisfied with Zhang Jie in his heart, and an idea in his heart became more firm.

"Come, Renjie, let us master and student talk in detail in the room."

Li Gefei invited cordially.

"Master, please first."

Zhang Jie followed the etiquette and fell half a step behind Li Gefei.

Arriving at the living room and sitting down as host and guest, a maid immediately served fragrant tea.

Li Gefei, who took a sip of clear tea, asked:

"Renjie, coming to Bianliang this time, could it be that you want to show your skills in the spring examination?"

Zhang Jie put down his teacup and smiled bitterly:

"The heroes of the world are like crucian carp crossing the river, countless.

The student does not dare to mention showing his skills, but only seeks a career."

"You, you are simply not like a young man who is not yet twenty."

Li Gefei laughed and scolded.

If it were someone else with Zhang Jie's talent, they would probably have their tail up to the sky.

Zhang Jie, who didn't want to expose his background, casually found an excuse:

"The student's father passed away early, so I have to be like this."

Li Gefei, who knew that Zhang Jie's father, Zhang Dahu, had passed away more than three years ago, comforted him:

"Renjie, please mourn. I think Brother Zhang can know your achievements today,

and his spirit in heaven will definitely be very comforted."

Well, Zhang Jie was the son born to his cheap father Zhang Dahu when he was over fifty years old.

According to age, Zhang Dahu was more than twenty years older than Li Gefei,

so he could call him "Brother Zhang" more than enough.

"Renjie just arrived in Bianliang?"

Li Gefei changed the subject.

There was nothing to hide about this, so Zhang Jie said frankly:

"The student arrived in Bianliang yesterday."

"Since that is the case, do you have a place to stay?

The inns in Bianliang are very expensive; why don't you stay at my house for the time being?"

Li Gefei invited enthusiastically.

"This enthusiasm is a bit excessive."

Zhang Jie's vigilance rose a little in his heart.

It was one thing to come in directly without reporting, but now he was even inviting him to stay.

Although it was not as conservative as it was after the emergence of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism,

it was inevitable that there would be suspicion if a male guest stayed casually.

It was very likely to affect the reputation of the host, especially the female family members.

Li Gefei was over fifty and had been floating in the officialdom for many years; he wouldn't even understand this principle.

However, Zhang Jie, who did not feel any malice from Li Gefei, still cupped his hands and thanked him:

"Thank you, Master, for your kindness. But on this trip, the student has a good friend.

The student and he have already settled down at Daxiangguo Temple."

"Daxiangguo Temple? That's not bad."

Li Gefei nodded and did not continue to insist, skipping the topic of accommodation.

"Renjie, do you know who the chief examiner of this metropolitan examination is?"

Suddenly, Li Gefei asked.

Zhang Jie, knowing that they were getting to the point, became solemn:

"The student just arrived in Bianliang and knows nothing about these things; I hope Master can teach me."

"I don't know what the Son of Heaven is thinking, but this time he actually let Prime Minister Cai be the chief examiner of the metropolitan examination."

Li Gefei sighed and said.

"Prime Minister Cai?"

Hearing this name, Zhang Jie's pupils shrank.

There were many officials surnamed Cai in the Great Song, but the only one who could be called Prime Minister Cai

was that Cai Jing, Prime Minister Cai, who was deeply favored by Emperor Huizong, could be called one person below,

ten thousand people above, and had immense power.

He could be said to be covering the sky with one hand in the outer court, and his disciples and party members were all over the world.

Liang Zhongshu of Great Ming Prefecture, who had his birthday gift of 100,000 strings of cash robbed by Chao Gai and others, was his son-in-law.

And according to the news Zhang Jie got after killing Ximen Daguanren,

if he hadn't acted quickly, Ximen Daguanren would have almost gotten on the path of Cai Jing

and become one of the hundreds or thousands of god-sons of Prime Minister Cai.

"Renjie, you have to change your writing style for this metropolitan examination."

Li Gefei reminded him obscurely.

Zhang Jie understood: after he knew that the chief examiner of the provincial examination was Li Gefei last time,

he specifically catered to his preferences and wrote some articles criticizing current affairs.

But the chief examiner of this metropolitan examination was Cai Jing, the head of the famous Six Thieves,

and if he still dared to write these, he would probably be dismissed directly.

"This is the benefit of having someone in the court!"

Zhang Jie sighed in his heart.

Having someone in the court doesn't necessarily mean being corrupt and fishy, but like Li Gefei,

teaching some news widely known in the upper circles can avoid stepping into many traps and benefit a lot.