The twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month

The markets in Kyoto are bustling with activity and New Year’s goods are in short supply.

The supply of goods in department stores exceeds demand, and every time a new product is released, it is sold out.

The department store has launched a new rabbit toffee, which is very popular among children.

Xu Wen carried a large bag of stolen rabbit toffee to the door of Ningguo Mansion.

Xu Wen was a manager at the Fertilizer Factory Headquarters, and he founded the fertilizer factory with Jia Rong.

He benefited a lot from Jia Rong's teachings, and now he has been made a sixth-rank official with a salary from the court.

When we arrived at the gate of Ningguo Mansion, there was no one queuing up to give gifts.

In previous years, my father would come here to give gifts. When he returned home, he would always say that they would line up at the gate of the city.

Looking at Jia's Mansion next door, there are seven or eight people queuing up with gifts to sign and submit posts.

Xu Wen sighed: "People leave and the tea cools, but the trees fall and the hozens scatter!"

When the gatekeeper of Ningguo Mansion saw Xu Wen coming this way, he only glanced at him and then looked away.

I thought Xu Wen also gave gifts to the Jia family.

When Xu Wen came forward and clearly walked towards this side, they stood up in order.

A porter came up and asked: "Whose family are you here for? What are you doing?"

Xu Wen, Xu Wen’s Xiao Si handed over the gift in his hand.

Xu Wen said: "Student Xu Wen is here to pay homage to his teacher."

The concierge was puzzled that he had never heard of him. The concierge turned back to look at the other concierges. They didn't know Xu Wen either.

Xu Wen said with a smile: "My mentor has many students, I don't care who is next. The Chinese New Year is coming soon, and students' families generally cannot give good things as gifts.

These annual gifts are given to my mentor as a token of my gratitude. Please pass them on to me."

Xu Wen took out a handful of copper coins and gave them to the concierges.

"My mentor has many students, and I'm not the most outstanding one, so I won't bother you. I'll say goodbye."

"Master, walk slowly."

The concierge delivers the gift.

Xu Wen watched in a corner not far away for half an hour, but he didn't see a single family giving gifts to Ningguo Mansion.

Xu Wen even felt sad, "If you are rich in the mountains, you have distant relatives, but if you are poor in the city, no one cares about you!"

After that, he went home and returned to the fertilizer factory.

Xu Wen told many of his colleagues what he saw, and everyone sighed deeply, feeling sorry for Jia Rong.

"Why don't we go over there during the holidays and take a look."

"Let's go together so that the gift doesn't look shabby."

"That's it. You have to let your mentor know that he is remembered."

"How about buying a root of ginseng?"

"This is a good idea."

Officials in Kyoto were the best at assessing the situation and taking sides. As soon as they saw that there was no hope of Jia Rong's comeback, they began to distance themselves from each other.

Ms. Zhang just sent people to the homes of her close relatives to inform her that she would not visit her this year because her family members were not feeling well.

Those who were not notified will not come to the door.

When Jia Rong was in power, most people came to the house uninvited; after Jia Rong abdicated, every household did not ask.

In other words, the Zhang family was invited to the banquet by close relatives, such as the Wang family, the Shi family, and the Chen family.

But Zhang refused them all, saying that Jia Rong was in poor health and it was not convenient for her to go out.

On the 30th of the twelfth lunar month, Jia Rong's students came together, a dozen of them.

They pooled their money to buy a stick of ginseng of very good vintage, and added three handfuls of it as gifts.

The concierge said: "You want to see the uncle? The uncle is not at home. The uncle has gone on a home visit."

"Home visit?"

Concierge: "Yes, I can't stand now, so I want to go to the academy to become a master.

Today he went home to visit with gifts and wanted to select more than 300 students to train and take part in next year's examinations for children and scholars."

"My mentor is going to become a master?"

Concierge: "I still have to be the mountain chief myself."

Everyone had other thoughts.

What would it be like if your brother was sent in to be trained by his mentor?

"Where?"

Concierge: "At the other end of Chongming Academy."

The leader handed over the gift and the door sticker, "Excuse me, brother, please send me the gift. I'll take my leave."

"I'll take my leave."

"I'll say goodbye soon."

"Let's go find our mentor."

On New Year's Eve, the news that Jia Rong was recruiting students spread in a small area.

The eleventh year of Kangping, the first day of the new year

News of Jia Rong’s recruitment of students spread widely.

"Jia Rong is a first-class person, both as an official and as a master."

"Look, last year, there were several Jinshis in the Jia family. There were also several Shujishis. Although there were many people assigned to them, there were also many people who stayed in Kyoto."

"What's wrong with allocating him? As long as he can pass the Jinshi exam, it's possible to bring him back with some money."

"How about we..."

"Let's go together."

Not to mention the wealthier families, even the Xungui family really wanted to send their son there.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, the woman returned to her parents' home, and they spread the news further.

"What are the conditions to enter?"

"I'm not sure, so why not ask around."

Those with good connections will ask experts, while those with no connections will ask everywhere.

The Wang family, the Historian family, the Gu family, etc. all went to Ningguo Mansion to inquire.

Jia Rong was lying on the bed and was carried out to meet the guests. He could not move his body but his brain could.

Seeing the once high-spirited Jia Rong become like this, Wang Ziteng was heartbroken.

Wang Ziteng thought to himself: Why wasn't Zhang Ding injured?

Jia Rong said: "There are two forms, one is to pass the exam, and the other is to pay to get in."

Wang Ziteng asked: "How do you pay the money?"

"It is divided into two semesters, spring and autumn, each semester is worth ten thousand taels of silver."

Shi Nai was stunned, "It's expensive."

It must be expensive. During Yan Gaoshan's time, 3,000 taels could buy a ninth-grade sesame officer, and 5,000 taels could buy a seventh-grade petty official.

Jia Rong said: "If the threshold is not high, how can we stop those who use the back door?"

"Excuse me, please let me know. I can't use the back door here.

Regardless of whether he is the son of a prince or the grandson of a princess, he will never go through the back door. If his grades fail, he will be expelled."

"If you want to be distinguished in front of others, you have to endure hardships. Ziqian's approach is good." Wang Ziteng said.

Wang Ziteng thought about which nephew he should send to study when he returns home.

Naturally, the more talents a family has, the better.

Shi Nai: "I will sign up my son now."

Jia Rong refused, "You have to think clearly, being fired will bring shame to your family."

Shi Nai: "There is a boy who is pretty good at studying and can succeed."

Jia Rong agreed, it would be a fool not to make money if you have money.

Many of Zhang's close friends came to inquire, so Jia Rong asked Zhang to boldly let the news out.

"Breaking the rules will result in expulsion" was publicized, which discouraged many honorable men.

How can they not know what their children are like?

If you are fired, it will be a big joke in Kyoto and bring shame to the family.

On the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, the first newspaper of the year is published.

The school rules of Yingtian Academy are printed on the entire page. The punishment part is enlarged and the word "expulsion" is printed in extra large font.

"If Xiaoge always wants to open a college, it should be Yingtian College!"

"Look at this rule, admission is free, and there is a food subsidy of one or two silver dollars per month!"

"Mr. Xiao Ge is giving classes in person. You see what is written here. The principal has three classes every seven days."
Chapter completed!