Chapter 2: Martial Artist

Moreover, the external walls of the side rooms on both sides of the well feature vividly crafted lion head columns, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship

Liu Jun slowly walked around the drying area at the entrance of the Liu family home, processing the countless chaotic memories he had received the previous night. He had traveled through time; although it was somewhat incomprehensible, the fact remained.

Martial arts practitioners possess the qualification to participate in the martial examination, which, like the civil examination, serves as a qualifying test for the provincial examination

Among the six hundred thousand scholars, only about twenty thousand are qualified to participate in the provincial examination, competing for approximately two thousand degrees of juren. In the final metropolitan examination, around four to five thousand juren compete for three hundred degrees of jinshi, and then the three hundred jinshi vie for a few dozen positions of shujishi.

"I just got back, and this dish is fresh and tender," Liu Jun replied with a smile as he took the cucumber from Aunt Pang.

After graduating from high school, he was called to enlist in the military, serving for a total of seven years. Once his basic training was completed and he was assigned to a company, he took care of the company commander's children for two years. He then served as a driver for the battalion commander for another three years. Later, he was promoted to a non-commissioned officer and served as a squad leader for two years. Eventually, he could not be promoted further and retired from the military.

Liu Jun's father, Liu Xiu, is an old scholar, and he is also a stipend scholar, receiving six dou of rice each month. However, he usually only holds a nominal position at the school, returning only during the monthly and annual examinations to participate in the tests. He does not need to stay at the school regularly and is free to have his own work.

Let him study the ancient military formations, banners, drum signals, and various military treatises and strategies; that would truly be a great difficulty for him. Fortunately, the Liu family is relatively well-off, at least he does not wake up to find himself in a destitute household with nothing but bare walls and no overnight provisions.

There is a river in front of the door, and a mountain behind the house

The admission rate for the military science examination is slightly higher, yet it is still a case of selecting one out of a hundred.

The servant girls would address their masters' children by calling the masters "father," the mistresses "mother," the young masters "brother," and the young ladies "sister"

Although a Wusheng is not a Xiucai, he is still entitled to the same privileges as a Xiucai, such as wearing the scholar's attire, being able to meet officials without kneeling, and enjoying the special privilege of exemption from the corvée labor for two able-bodied men from his household

"Sister-in-law, Hong'er is still young; do not be too demanding. At this age, reading the Hundred Family Surnames and the Thousand Character Classic is about right. Expecting him to read the Analects is already strict, let alone the Book of Rites and the Doctrine of the Mean." Liu Jun stepped forward and smiled at the beautiful young woman.

Indeed, the scholar's status is not lifelong; they must also participate in the monthly and seasonal examinations held by the school, as well as the annual examination overseen by the educational authorities. Particularly in the case of the annual examination, the results are categorized into six ranks. If a scholar receives a rank of six, they will be stripped of their scholarly title and insignia.

One can tell from the Liu family's residence that their financial situation is quite good. The family has both Liu Xiu and Liu Jun, who represent the literary and martial aspects respectively, as two scholars. The Liu family can be considered part of the lower gentry class. They own a house and about one hundred acres of land, but all the land is leased to tenant farmers for cultivation. The Liu family does not engage in farming themselves and only collects rent on schedule.

The goose-neck pavilion, square algae well, ruyi pavilion, eaves, and diagonal braces in the rear hall all feature single-sided透雕 depicting historical legends and stories such as Shoushan and Fuhai, which are thought-provoking

The girl called the young master "brother," and Liu Jun was also quite tipsy

Liu Jun, as a martial artist, is a student of martial arts, referred to as a martial artist, but he is not a martial scholar. During the Ming Dynasty, although there were martial examinations, the timing of the examinations was not fixed, and there were traditionally only provincial and metropolitan examinations. Therefore, there were martial candidates and martial scholars, but there were no martial scholars or martial students. In fact, prior to the fourth year of the Chongzhen era, there had never been a palace examination, and thus no martial champions, until the fourth year of Chongzhen when the palace examination was established and martial champions were selected.

The young woman, dressed in a narrow-sleeved, front-buttoned blouse and a fitted pleated skirt, appeared tall and slender, with curves that exuded a mature allure. Her elongated face featured willow-shaped eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, and a small cherry-like mouth. Her jet-black hair was styled in a side-swept ponytail, elegantly arranged to one side of her head. Upon hearing that he could not memorize it, her almond-shaped eyes widened immediately, "If you don't come out now, you can forget about going out to play today. You spend all day playing and show no ambition."

Mr. Zhao is the old teacher at the village private school, and it was under his guidance that Liu Jun was initially enlightened and began his studies. Mr. Zhao is an old scholar, but unfortunately, he has not succeeded in the imperial examinations for many years, so he has devoted himself to teaching and nurturing students. Liu Jun's father, Liu Xiu, is a contemporary of Mr. Zhao and also an old scholar, similarly teaching at the village school.

The village is situated by the mountains and water, guarding the ferry crossing of the county's Qianhe River, which has formed a considerable market. As a result, Xiwang Village is also referred to as Xiwang Market in Xiwang Town. The village features a cross street, with shops lining both sides.

What remains most vividly in my memory is my father frequently riding that old bicycle to visit relatives in order to borrow money. Sometimes, to gather enough for a few hundred yuan in tuition or medical expenses, he had to visit all the relatives.

Around the ceiling, there are hanging flower columns, with the tops of the columns intricately carved with auspicious beasts such as lions, elephants, and qilins. The bases of the columns are adorned with carvings of flower baskets and lanterns, while the spaces between the columns feature decorations depicting myths, dramatic stories, and unique floral covers, exuding a sense of luxury and elegance. The second-floor corridor is equipped with "beauty rests".

In front of the entrance hall of the courtyard stands a carved and hollowed gate tower, and within the entrance hall, there is a lattice screen.

Under this tree stand three enormous stone grinding wheels, each with a circumference of over 2 zhang, a diameter of nearly 6 feet, and a thickness approaching 2 feet, accompanied by a stone roller positioned beside one of the grinding wheels

"Er Lengzi, when will you be back? I haven't seen you for a long time." The plump aunt from the west of the village greeted him with a smile and handed him a freshly picked cucumber from the vegetable garden, still glistening with dew and adorned with prickles.

Liu Jun is currently a martial student at the Huangzhou Wei Martial Arts Academy, and this year marks the provincial examination year, while next year will be the national examination year. The subject examination for this year is about to commence, and Scholar Zhao assumed that Liu Jun had returned from the capital city at this time to focus on his preparations.

Liu Jun was born in the 1980s into a poor farming family in Jiangnan. His earliest memories are of poverty; aside from having enough to eat, he often wore patched clothes during his childhood, most of which were hand-me-downs from his older cousins.

The dawn has not yet broken, and the morning breeze is cool

As dawn breaks, there are already children who have risen early, leading cows to pasture. Some villagers, having risen even earlier, have already walked a round in the fields and returned, while some women have also come back with fresh vegetables, having gathered them from the vegetable garden.

From now on, I am no longer Liu Jun, but Liu Jun, the martial artist from the late Ming Dynasty during the reign of Chongzhen.

Liu Jun smiled faintly, neither affirming nor denying.

My mother has been bedridden for many years, and being close to the river, there have been floods for nine out of the ten years. When the floods occur, not only are the fields submerged, but even the houses are engulfed by water, forcing the family to take refuge in the warehouse on the high ground at the edge of the village.

Ordinary citizens are not allowed to own slaves, so they change the name and keep slaves under the guise of adopting sons and daughters. After all, it is still a contract of servitude; previously, it was selling oneself into slavery, but now it is for the purpose of adopting sons and daughters. However, since it is under the name of adopting sons and daughters, the terms of address within the household must naturally be altered

At first, he thought this girl was his sister

However, during the time when the court was vigorously promoting Confucian studies, it also established martial academies in the two capitals and various military garrisons across the country, in order to recruit young military officials and the young heirs of hereditary military officials for enrollment.

As Liu Jun entered the door, he saw his five-year-old nephew Liu Hong standing by the courtyard, shaking his head and reciting, "If one prepares, one will succeed; if one does not prepare, one will fail; if one decides in advance, there will be no mistakes; if one decides in advance... if one decides in advance... not..."

"Alas, you all spoil him so much that he has become increasingly unambitious." The young woman feigned anger, glared at Liu Jun, and continued, "And you, too, being such an adult, have only managed to come home once a year for the past two years. Every time you return, you immediately get drunk with those old friends of yours, without caring for your health. Even if alcohol is free, your body belongs to you. So, how are you feeling now?"

However, after integrating Liu Jun's memories, he realized that the Ming Dynasty originally did not allow ordinary commoners to own slaves, just as they previously did not permit ordinary people to wear boots or merchants to wear silk. However, gradually, this changed

The teacher from the village's private school walked over with his hands behind his back. Upon seeing him, he stepped forward to greet him, "Jun, you have made quite an achievement! You are now a martial student of the Weiwu Academy, entitled to receive the ceremonial robe and enjoy exemptions from various menial tasks. You could already be considered a martial scholar. So, are you planning to prepare well this time for the upcoming martial examination and aim to qualify for the provincial examination to become a martial candidate?"

With such conditions, most families in Xiwai Village are relatively well-off

Upon hearing Scholar Zhao's words, Liu Jun realized that he was still a martial artist in his current identity

After retiring from the military, he worked as a security guard in a shopping mall, managed a nightclub, and served as a bodyguard for a boss. Eventually, he became a taxi driver and collected scrap materials, until he established his own scrap collection station. His business gradually got on track, and he amassed a fortune of tens of millions, becoming a representative of the village and a county committee member. In the small county town, he was considered a notable figure. However, during a matchmaking event for bachelors, an unexpected incident occurred, leading him to this Ming Dynasty.

This residence reflects the distinctiveness of its owners in every aspect, exuding an elegance amidst its affluence. It does not convey the feeling of a rural landowner, but rather embodies a subtle sophistication, infused with a touch of cultured refinement.

Liu Jun barely graduated from high school and did not continue his studies. Although he was admitted to an ordinary university at that time, his family was unable to support him. His sister, who graduated from junior high school with excellent grades, ultimately chose to attend a normal university, solely to shorten her study period and because graduates from normal universities can become teachers and earn money.

In the early hours of the morning, I experienced a prolonged headache, during which countless memories surfaced in my mind, seemingly belonging to the original owner of this body. Liu Jun and Liu Jun, their names sound quite similar. In the future, he is a thirty-five-year-old diamond bachelor, while in this world, Liu Jun is only twenty years old, standing over six feet tall, slightly taller than his future self. However, his physique is robust, unlike the frail appearance of the common people during the Ming and Qing dynasties as he remembers.

"Elder brother, it is time to eat," Bao'er called out from the entrance, her voice echoing from a distance

It is neither a reality show, nor a dream, nor a prank; everything stems from the fact that he spent half the night gazing into a bronze mirror. Although the reflection was somewhat blurred, it still allowed him to understand that this was not him at all. Or rather, he is no longer the person he used to be.

It will be fine once you get used to it, Liu Jun said to himself, then waved his hand to indicate that he had heard, and slowly walked towards home

About twenty steps outside the Liu family's main gate, there stands a green sandalwood tree approximately five to six zhang tall. The circumference of the tree requires two to three people to encircle it, and its lush canopy extends to seven or eight zhang.

The Liu family's residence is located at the eastern end of Xiwang Village, which itself is situated amidst a landscape of mountains and water, bordered by rice fields.

The early morning of May is exceptionally cool, and right next to the northern bank of the river in front of the county stands the old residence of the Liu family, characterized by its blue bricks and green tiles. It has a width of three rooms, which are sequentially arranged as the front hall, the courtyard, and the back hall.

In fact, although he inherited quite a few memories from Liu Jun, they were only partial memories. Moreover, he still felt somewhat disoriented. Asking him to participate in the imperial examination of the Ming Dynasty, even if it were the martial examination, seemed rather absurd. According to the memories he had acquired, the martial examination of the Ming Dynasty primarily focused on literary skills. There were even specific regulations for the martial examination; candidates were first required to take a theoretical test, and if their scores were unsatisfactory, they would not even qualify to participate in the archery and equestrian tests.

The term "shengyuan" generally refers to students of Confucianism studying in the prefectural, provincial, and county schools. During the Ming Dynasty, the examination system was combined with the school system, and these schools were official institutions, not accessible to everyone. One had to pass the preliminary examination to gain admission. Furthermore, the relationship between the county, provincial, and prefectural schools was not hierarchical; students did not need to progress from county to provincial to prefectural schools, as they were parallel rather than subordinate. Generally speaking, once students entered these schools, they would not graduate except by passing the imperial examination or being recommended for further study, and they would typically hold their names in the official school for a lifetime.

Hmm. Much better. Liu Jun felt somewhat overwhelmed by the concern of this beautiful sister-in-law, and hurriedly replied while walking inside.

However, the Liu family in Xiwanjiji can only be considered a middle-class family. Xiwanjiji is a large market with a population of over 1,000, where many landlords and wealthy merchants possess fortunes amounting to tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of taels of silver

The number of candidates in the Ming Dynasty, whether for the civil or military examinations, was quite substantial. However, the annual quota for participation in the provincial examinations was limited. The number of candidates for the civil examinations in each province was approximately four to five thousand, while the quota for military candidates in the provincial examinations was only around one thousand.

The main gate prominently displays a stone plaque inscribed with the characters "Liu Shi," and the gate tower features carvings of the Eight Immortals on their pilgrimage.

The Liu family's residence is enclosed by high walls, creating a self-contained environment. The horse-head eaves are arranged in a pleasingly irregular manner, and the white walls with dark tiles exude elegance and simplicity, reflecting the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties in Jingchu. The exterior features a blue brick entrance, intricately carved brick windows, and wooden pillars. Additionally, various colorful paintings combining themes such as the Eight Immortals, auspicious grasses, landscapes, and a hundred birds enhance the beauty of this architecture.

At this time, the number of scholars in the Ming Dynasty had reached an enormous figure of over 600,000 nationwide. Therefore, a qualification examination had to be held before the provincial examination. Only the top five from the first and second ranks, as well as the top five from the third rank, would be eligible to participate in that year's provincial examination

As they passed by Liu's house, they saw Liu Jun in a daze and greeted him

The hall is free of columns, creating a spacious and bright environment that captivates Liu Jun, leaving him with a sense of temporal dislocation.