Chapter 71: Second place

After the exam, Shen Yanbei, who was in a relaxed suit, took Gu Changfeng through the streets every day, where there is something delicious to taste, and where there is something nice to see, life is very happy.
William, who came to Beijing with them, was excited to get to know friends after seeing many foreigners in Yongjing, and he didn't care about them. But Su Qingze, who used to go out with the emperor every day, has not gone out these days.
Shen Yanbei thought that the test would have a result on the eighth day of March, but before that, he had to copy, proofread, and read the papers. Could it be that the emperor wanted to participate and didn't have time to accompany him? So he asked Su Qingze: "We are going to the villages around the imperial city, do you want to go?"
"Huh?" Su Qingze was stunned, then nodded, "Go!"
A few people rented a carriage out of town.
In March of Yangchun, the wind is sunny, the willows are green and pink, and the fields are full of greenery. The wheat that has survived the cold winter straightened its waist, and the emerald green leaves swayed gently in the spring breeze, which made people look happy.
Shen Yanbei walked all the way to observe. Almost all the farmland here is dry land. Nearly half of the dry land is planted with winter wheat, and the rest of the dry land is still vacant. He asked the nearby villagers and learned that the land was used to grow sorghum and millet or plant corn and peanuts. There are few paddy fields and they are generally used to grow glutinous rice.
The 120 acres of fertile land he bought was in a village called Downstairs. The land was originally in the hands of a high-ranking official, but he was sent to prison for his crimes and his family properties were all confiscated, so he could buy it so smoothly.
The head of the village downstairs heard that the new owner of the hundred acres of land had come and hurried to greet him. At the foot of the imperial city, anyone who came across at random could be a child of an official, who ordinary people like them couldn't afford.
Seeing how many people in Shen Yanbei dressed richly, had good temperaments, and took their servants to travel, the village chief said hurriedly: "I have seen a few sons!"
Shen Yanbei returned the gift: "Excuse me when you are old, I have bought some fields here, and I am about to prepare for spring plowing now, I want to go and see in the fields..."
Shen Yanbei was so polite and polite, the village head smiled and said to take them there. Hearing Shen Yanbei’s Beijing accent, the village chief asked more questions, and only then learned that Shen Yanbei was a Juren who came to Beijing for the exam.
There are so many dignitaries in the capital. It is really nothing to be a juror, but if they are admitted, their worth will be very different. If Gu Changfeng and Su Qingze were born, the village chief didn't dare to neglect, and asked carefully. "The son is buying land here, but is he planning to settle here?"
"Indeed." Shen Yanbei smiled embarrassedly, "My husband's family is here, so we can live close to each other."
The village chief was stunned, and when Shen Yanbei looked at Gu Changfeng with a smile, his eyes widened in shock.
This... is this tall man actually a pair, or is this young man's husband? !
"Yanbei..." Gu Changfeng was also surprised.
Shen Yanbei wanted to leave his hometown to settle in Yongjing, where he was unfamiliar.
Su Qingze's eyes are a bit complicated, but more complicated than envy.
A few people walked into the field, and Shen Yanbei looked around: "This place is pretty good." The sky is wide in the north, the land is flat, and 100 acres of fertile fields are endless, and the soil is dark and fertile, which is suitable for large-scale planting crop.
Chatting with the village chief, learned that the tenants who had rented the land to plant before had lost their livelihoods because the land was confiscated. Many people couldn't find suitable jobs for a while and complained. Shen Yanbei thought for a while and asked the village chief: " After a few days when the temperature rises again, we will have to sow and raise seedlings. I need a lot of good farmers here. Could you please ask them if they are willing to help me plant the land?"
The village chief was overjoyed: "Yes, I'll go and ask later."
Seeing that Shen Yanbei is very concerned about agriculture, the village chief introduced him to the cultivation and harvest of the crops as he walked.
"I heard that someone in the south has come up with a clever plan to double the yield of rice per mu in paddy fields. Unfortunately, there are very few paddy fields here. Only one season of rice can be grown and the harvest time is too long, which is not applicable." The village chief sighed.
Ordinary people know this news? The emperor's hands and feet are also special!
Shen Yanbei was surprised, and the village chief said: "The emperor asked someone to post the yellow list on the bulletin board some time ago. If someone can increase the production of wheat and other crops, he can open the list and receive the reward. Up to one hundred thousand gold. The people were ecstatic when they heard it, and good farmers are eager to try, but no one has revealed the list for a long time..."
"I'm waiting day and night for an expert to take action!"
One hundred thousand gold? Shen Yanbei's eyes opened slightly wide, and his heart moved.
Su Qingze and Gu Changfeng walked behind, watching the teenagers who didn't speak much along the way. Gu Changfeng frowned slightly, "What's the matter? Why are you unhappy?"
Adolescents are very lively by nature, and rarely are they so listless.
"It's okay." Su Qingze kicked the stone on the ground with unwilling interest, "I just feel a little annoying."
Gu Changfeng's black eyes looked at him gently, and Su Qingze said in distress, "A Heng took me to visit Yongjing City these days. It's really fun, that's..."
"It's just that I don't think he looks at me like a good friend." Su Qingze said in a sad tone, "I don't know if it is my heart or the truth..." He stayed beside Shen Yanbei and Gu Changfeng. For so long, I have naturally seen how Shen Yanbei took care of Gu Changfeng, but he did not expect that one day his best friend would look at himself the way Shen Yanbei took care of Gu Changfeng.
Gu Changfeng's eyes were complicated, and he hesitantly asked, "If he really treats you..., haven't you ever been tempted?"
"A Heng looks so good and treats me well..." Su Qingze said depressedly: "But you also know my situation. I didn't dare to think about it before, but now I can't think about it..."
Gu Changfeng didn't know what to say for a while.
Why didn't the emperor tell Su Qingze directly that he was the nobleman who had booked a marriage with him?
Is it inconvenient to say that there are difficulties or... he wants Su Qingze to find out for himself?
Gu Changfeng couldn't understand this approach, after all, Shen Yanbei had always been very straightforward to him.
Tell him frankly that he likes him, he misses him, he wants him, and even tells him what kind of posture Huanhao likes...
Thinking of this, Gu Changfeng's heart moved, and he subconsciously turned his head to look at Shen Yanbei. The one who had the heart was that Shen Yanbei happened to be watching him.
The two looked at each other, and Gu Changfeng was scalded by his hot gaze, and his Adam's apple rolled.
The corner of Shen Yan Beigou's lips met his gaze and asked softly in his ear, "What do you do to look at me like this."
Gu Chang's ears became hot and shook his head.
Su Qingze looked even more depressed when they looked at them like this.
"Shounen Lang, what's your gloomy look on this wonderful spring day?" Shen Yanbei took Gu Changfeng's hand and asked with a smile.
He saw the juvenile's abnormality in his eyes, and then he called him out. There was vacant farmland all around, and the place to hide was quite far away from them, and they couldn't hear the words.
Shen Yanbei has always had many ideas, Su Qingze didn't think too much, and directly told his troubles.
Is this digging a hole for yourself to jump? Hearing that, Shen Yanbei couldn't smile in his heart but didn't show his face, and said, "What do you think?"
"A Heng is very good, but I don't deserve him." Su Qingze lowered his eyes, his voice was a little cold.
The teenager's reason was surprising, and Shen Yanbei frowned: "Rather than worrying about you alone, you should just ask him if he is interested in you. If you don't, you don't have to worry about it. If you do, you can tell the truth."
Su Qingze was silent for a moment.
Shen Yanbei patted him on the shoulder, and comforted: "Relax, the result is not as bad as you thought."
The emperor hasn't made it clear that it is unkind to just leave a young man thinking blindly. He asked the young man to ask the emperor to give an explanation.
Knowing that it’s good for everyone. Su Qingze smiled reluctantly.
When Shen Yanbei came back to the downstairs village the next day, the village chief had already summoned the staff to wait.
Shen Yanbei was also unambiguous, and immediately stated the requirements and remuneration. Those willing to farm for him signed a contract with each other under the witness of the village chief. The contract was written in black and white, and it clearly stated that Shen Yanbei hired a certain place, what he wanted and what was the reward.
The original tenants were surprised to see Shen Yanbei so refreshed, and started to work after taking Shen Yanbei's advance commission.
Because it is planted on a large area and the seeds of pepper are limited, Shen Yanbei is very careful, and starts growing seedlings after he has done enough preparations.
At this time, the list that will try is out.
The turbulent crowd flocked to the notice board of Zhang Bang. On the yellow list, "the third year of the founding of the Yuan Dynasty, the list of people who will be elected in the February test" and other characters came into view.
It's not like that the examiner in the township examination announced the names of the top ten people. I would try to know who was selected by squeezing in.
With the experience of the last time, Gu Changfeng no longer wanted to know that Shen Yanbei was not in the middle, and Shen Yanbei was not in a hurry, but Zhou Yu went to join in the excitement. With the two recent studies, he walked through the dense crowd and jumped to the front of the yellow list with difficulty.
Zhou Yu stared at Huang Bang excitedly: "Huiyuan, from Qizhou, Suiyang County..."
Zhou Yu was taken aback, rubbing his eyes and looking again, it was indeed written that Huiyuan was Liu Zhixian from Qizhou.
Zhou Yu's heart was stunned, and he hurriedly looked down.
"Second place, from Dongjiang County, Qinghe County, Shen Yan."
The big rock in Zhou Yu's heart fell to the ground, and he hurriedly squeezed out from the crowd to announce the good news.
"The son--"
Seeing Zhou Yi's expression of excitement, Gu Changfeng knew that Shen Yan was in the north, and asked casually: "What is the number?"
Zhou Yu first glanced at Shen Yanbei, and then carefully said "first...second."
After finishing speaking, he seemed to be worried that Shen Yan had a gap in Beixin, and hurriedly said: "The one who came to participate in the test is the most outstanding talent from all over the place. It is very remarkable that you can get second place, son. Yeah!"
Shen Yanbei looked strange: "Are you comforting me for not getting Huiyuan?"
Zhou Yu smiled wryly: "The son..."
Shen Yanbei could not laugh or cry. There are people outside the world, there are people outside the world, he is not so arrogant that he thinks he is wearing clothes to beat local students.
"It doesn't matter whether it is the first or the second, as long as you win, you can participate in the palace exam. Rest assured, I will try my best to get a better place."
"Haha..." Zhou Yu scratched his head in embarrassment.
Will try to release the list, a few happy and some worry. Shen Yanbei is not worried, but there are many who are worried.
Su Qingze is one of them.
Today, Zhao Yu was free to accompany him and asked him to go to enjoy the flowers. Several times along the way, he was almost blocked by the man's deep and gentle eyes.
The bright spring sunshine fell on the young man's delicate eyebrows. The young man stood quietly, his color like spring flowers, but his face did not have the joy of spring flowers.
Zhao Yu stretched out his hand and gently rubbed the top of his hair: "But you have something to tell me?"
Su Qingze took his hand down, took a deep breath, and faced Zhao Yuyou's black eyes deep enough to draw people in: "Aheng, you..."
"Do you like me?"
Zhao Yu's complexion was calm, his thin lips lightly opened: "Yes."
Su Qingze's eyes flashed, and his hand under the sleeve cage suddenly fisted. He gritted his teeth for a while and said, "A Heng, I came to Yongjing with Brother Gu this time just to see you. After the palace trial, I will go back to Qinghe with them..." The tone of voice suddenly became low--
"We won't contact you again in the future!"
Zhao Yu's eyes sank, and his anger surged: "Why?"
"I'm going to get married." Su Qingze looked up at him. There seemed to be water shining in his bright black eyes, but his expression was relaxed and cheerful. "It's not suitable to walk too close to other men."
Zhao Yu was taken aback, the chill in his eyes was gone. He looked straight at the boy and his voice was soft as wind: "Do you like me a little bit?"
Su Qingze just smiled: "A Heng, you are so good and so gentle and considerate to others, no one will dislike you..."
Zhao Yu was not satisfied with this answer, but he looked at the boy's strong smile, and did not force him, but said: "Your brother Gu and they will not return to Qinghe."
Su Qingze blinked, not quite understanding what he meant.
"He is Gu Chongxiao, the eldest son of Zhenguo Gongfu, and Zhenguo Gongfu is his home."
"And you..." Zhao Yu's eyes were deep, "Your home will be here in the future."