Survive in the world of Red Mansions

Leaving aside the measures taken by Prince Zhongshun's Mansion, the township courtyard of Shuntian Mansion has ended perfectly. For students like Lin Rui who have already won the title of Juren, the next visit to the teacher, the house teacher, and many contacts in the same year are the most important part of the journey. Time is of the utmost importance.

Lin Rui went to Zeng Hua's mansion with a gift early the morning after the announcement of the list. People like this who meet the master or house master for the first time always have to bring gifts to the door, that is, gifts for the master and house master. This gift is also very well prepared. Pay attention.

It is very difficult for a scholar from a poor family to cope with the usual study expenses and the cost of taking the exam. When he goes to visit the teacher and the teacher, he just wants to give gifts, but due to his own financial situation, it is impossible to spend more money To buy, but just like this, few people come to the door empty-handed, even if it is better to write a subscript or draw a picture by hand, it is better than to come to the door empty-handed.

As for other doormen with superior financial conditions, it is even more important to give it. This gift must be elegant and unique, and it must be suitable for the teacher, but it should not be too expensive, so as not to make people think that you have the intention of offering bribes Don't worry, the teacher and room teacher are suspected of accepting bribes, which really tests the minds of these students.

After knowing that the chief examiner of Shuntian Mansion's township examination was Zeng Hua, Lin Hai asked people to find out about Zeng Hua's hobbies. A suitable piece of emerald-made brush pen, although the material is very ordinary, but the carving is very exquisite. As a student meeting the teacher for the first time, this gift is just right.Because the jadeite material is very ordinary, it is not expensive, but because of the good carving skills to make up for it, it seems that the workmanship of the whole pen Xian is very delicate, which immediately improves the grade of this pen Xian, and it is a good gift.

Fang Yu, who is a master of the house, doesn't have any special hobbies, he just likes some antique calligraphy and paintings. In fact, children born in aristocratic families have some hobbies in this area in most of their spare time.What Lin Hai prepared for Lin Rui was a former palace fan. Although it was not very rare, it would not look embarrassing as a gift, and it was a good choice.

To meet the master teacher, Lin Rui and the others always go on the first day of the first list. Of course, it is not stipulated that those who make the first list must come on the first day, but there are two to three hundred students in each class, and it is impossible. They all come to visit in one day, and no one has such a big place, but the place is big enough, and the disciples who come to visit always have to talk to the teacher at least. If they are all crowded in one day, there is no chance to talk.So slowly a kind of tacit understanding was formed, the first list went to visit first, and then followed by the second and third list, and most of these disciples also maintained this tacit understanding when they came to visit.

Lin Rui came to Zeng's mansion, and soon after he handed in the greeting card, a young man led him to see Zeng Hua.Entering the reception hall of the Zeng Mansion, I saw that several first-ranked students had already arrived.Lin Rui entered the side hall, and first greeted Zeng Hua, "Student Lin Rui pays homage to Mr. Zeng."

Zeng Hua's clan brother, Zeng Jie, used to be an official in Yangzhou with Lin Hai. This clan brother had a good relationship with Lin Hai in Yangzhou. I still know a little about Lin Hai's only son, Lin Rui.

Both Zeng Hua and Lin Hai were officials in the same dynasty, and Lin Hai's official career is going well now. Of course, he doesn't mind showing kindness to Lin Rui. In addition, Lin Rui is young, so he directly called Lin Rui Rui's brother to show his kindness .

"Brother Rui, your father and I are both officials in the same dynasty, and we have met each other before, so there is no need to be so unfamiliar, just call me Shibo."

When Lin Rui heard what Zeng Hua said, he didn't make any hypocritical excuses. Zeng Hua has been an official in the Metropolitan Procuratorate for many years and has a good official reputation, so he took advantage of Zeng Hua's kindness and said, "Thank you, Zeng Shibo."

"Brother Rui, are you ready to participate in next year's exam?"

To be ranked first, no matter whether it is a fluke or not, it can show that this student's grades are quite good, and most of them will basically take the next year's general examination.But Zeng Hua looked at Lin Rui. This student was too young, he seemed to be only fourteen or fifteen years old. Even if he could get a Jinshi, it would be very rare to be awarded an official. That's why he asked this question.

"Returning to Shibo, my nephew will not be taking part in next year's examination for the time being. My father said that my nephew's level is still lacking, and another age is too young, so it's better to wait until the next one."

"Brother Rui, you don't need to be too humble. Your level is to participate in this year's Chunwei. The chances of winning are very high, but you are indeed younger. Don't be too anxious. Wait a year or two. Okay. Come on, Brother Rui, go and meet other people, you are the youngest, just call them Senior Brothers."

While Lin Rui greeted the brothers who had come earlier, this year's Xie Yuan Lu Hongtao was also led in by the boy.Later, all the first-ranked students arrived one after another. Among all the first-ranked students, except for one named Wu Rui, who may have come from a poor family.

According to Lin Rui's observation, everyone else's family background should be good. Most of them come from some official and scholarly families, and some of them are from some small and medium-sized officials' families. Under the same circumstances, because of the different resources they possess, it is definitely easier for a child from an aristocratic family to be promoted than a child from a poor family. Even if the emperor wants to support a child from a poor family, it is not so easy to implement. The starting point of the two people is different, so the natural results are also very different. up.

Because there are too many teachers who come to visit the teacher, the teacher usually talks to each student, so that these brothers can get to know each other. At this time, it is unlikely that the teacher's home will hold any formal banquet, that is, After serving some refreshments, these disciples were allowed to leave.

These juren who just came out of the oven didn't waste too much time at the teacher's place, and they had to rush to meet Mr. Fangshi.Before that, Lin Rui had met Zeng Hua many times in the capital for several years, and it was the first time for Lin Rui to meet Fang Yu as the Prime Minister of Shuntian Mansion.Fang Yu looks about 40 years old now, with straight facial features. It is easy to think that he is a square and upright person from his appearance, but as long as he has been in the society for a few years, he will know that the idea of ​​judging people by their appearance is quite unreliable.Jia Yucun has always been born with sword eyebrows, star eyes, straight nose and right cheeks, but it is a pity that he is just an ungrateful villain in the end.

At Master Fang’s house, like Zeng Hua’s house, it’s the first time to visit the house, and there are many people together. Apart from getting to know the disciples who came over, Fang Yu has nothing to do with letting the group of juniors get to know each other. After talking a lot, I just had some refreshments and left.

After meeting with Zuoshi and Fangshi, as candidates of the same subject, regardless of whether they will participate in the examination at the beginning of next year or not, as brothers of the same discipline, there will be many gatherings between each other, so as to better communicate with each other in the same year. emotion.Although it is easy to form an alliance in the same year because of the teacher and teacher, but even if there is such an alliance, if they are not familiar with each other, the relationship between each other is also very limited.

In the same year of the Shuntianfu Township Examination, when they were still in contact with each other, some candidates from other places came to the capital early for the spring of the second year, so as to adapt to the environment here in advance.

Because many applicants from other places came to Beijing to participate in the examination, the inns and rental houses in the capital became very popular all of a sudden, even the small courtyards attached to the monasteries and temples in the suburbs of Beijing were quite tight, and the supply was in short supply.

At this time, there are more and more similar gatherings of various literature meetings, poetry meetings, etc. To hold these poetry meetings and literature meetings, most of them are held in some restaurants, and these places have made a lot of money for these candidates .

The Lin family was also the home of honorable marquises in the early days of this dynasty, but since studying in Lin Hai, they took part in the imperial examination and won the first prize, successfully transforming from an honorable family into a scholarly family.As a child of the Lin family, Lin Rui had Lin Hai, Tanhualang's father, and now this father is also the chief official of the Six Departments, one of the nine ministers.Although I am young, I have also won No. 2 in the Shuntianfu Township Examination. With these conditions, Lin Rui can easily enter the circle of these scholars.

Lin Hai also took Lin Rui to attend several similar gatherings, but the gatherings that Lin Hai led Lin Rui to attend were not those ordinary gatherings held by people, but were held by some great Confucian scholars or old Hanlin.

Most of the people who participated in the party were those with certain identities who could come to participate. Many of the people who came to participate brought their own nephews or disciples, fellow countrymen, relatives and friends, etc. On the one hand, they made friends through literature and benefited each other. One is to let these young people know each other, and it can be regarded as a bridge for these young people to gather contacts.

Lin Rui, led by Lin Hai, also performed very well, and definitely lived up to the title of Tanhualang's father.Lin Rui has always demanded himself with the "six arts of a gentleman". Although he is still young, he has read a lot of books since he was a child, and with two lifetimes of experience, he has his own unique views on people and things.Although he can be regarded as a young talent, he is not proud of himself. On the contrary, when interacting with others, he is humble, studious, reserved and polite, which is easy to give people a good impression.

After becoming famous among these people, I often receive some postings about appreciation of essays and poems. Most of the time, I just drink tea, chat, or get closer, and let three or five friends of the same year have dinner together. , or meet to enjoy the scenery.

These scholars gather together, although there may be some closeness caused by geographical differences or prejudice caused by geographical differences, or some jealousy and envy caused by family backgrounds.But after all, everyone has not yet entered the court, so there is no fundamental conflict of interest, or if there is, it will not be directly revealed, and everyone is still very harmonious together.

When Lin Rui often went out to meet friends, Lin Daiyu took seriously all the posts about flower viewing banquets and poetry competition banquets she received during this period, and most of the time she would go to the banquets.

Although Lin Daiyu married into the Xu family, she does not need her to be a housekeeper. She should have her own social circle, but if she is too enthusiastic about these banquets and participates too much, she is not as free as she used to be in her natal family. There will be some opinions.Therefore, Lin Daiyu specifically confessed to Mrs. Xu, because her younger brother is not young, and it is time to get engaged, and the Lin family does not have a mistress, so she has to help see each other. A little more.

Although an aunt of the Mo family mentioned to Lin Daiyu the eldest daughter of Mo Shilang's family, Lin Daiyu felt that her natal brother was not bad, and there was a brother who won a small three yuan at a young age, and this time he was ranked first in Shuntian Prefecture Second on the list, it is not impossible to be a Jinshi and younger brother in the future. In Daiyu's eyes, Lin Rui is the best and deserves to be matched by a better girl.Besides, my father also said that he would inquire about the situation of the eldest daughter of the Mo family, so why not take this opportunity to look more, maybe there will be a girl who is more suitable for his younger brother.

On this day, Lin Daiyu and Mrs. Xu participated in the autumn chrysanthemum appreciation banquet held by Mr. Xu, Minister of the Ministry of Rites. Daiyu still remembers that when she came to the capital, the first time she formally participated in the banquet of the capital's social circle, she was brought by her sister-in-law of the Yao family. The Spring Flower Appreciation Banquet of Mr. Xu's family, and later I have participated in the banquets of Mr. Xu's family many times. I didn't expect to participate this time. I am already married, and now I have to help my younger brother to see each other. I have to talk about world affairs wonderful.

After entering Xu's house, Mrs. Xu sat down with some wives who were about the same age. The cousin of Yao's family happened to see Lin Daiyu, so she pulled her to sit aside.

"Cousin, I haven't seen you for a while, what are you busy with?" Yao Fang pulled Daiyu and started talking.

"I don't have anything to do. I'm idle in the mansion. Occasionally I get a post to invite me, so I just go outside for a walk."

Yao's cousin suddenly approached Daiyu, lowered her voice, and asked with great interest, "Did you visit Cousin Rui during this time, and plan to make an engagement for him?"

Daiyu turned her head to look at Yao Fangshi, and asked in surprise, "Who said it, did many people mention it?"

"It's just everyone's guess. Cousin Rui seems to be about fifteen years old, and he just won the second place in the provincial examination. Not to mention you, even my side, several people have asked me about Cousin Rui's identity." Family."

Daiyu looked at the two of them, there were only a few maids waiting, and the others were separated by a distance, and said honestly, "I have this idea, but I didn't meet the right one, cousin, you have a suitable one here." introduce?"

"Cousin's condition, if I have a younger sister, I would like to introduce them. Many of them are writing poems and paintings over there, are you interested?" Yao's sister-in-law said halfway, and pointed at the place where they are sitting now. On the right side, those interested people asked Daiyu.

Daiyu took a look, most of the participants were young girls who were not married, she shook her head, "Forget it, I'm not interested." She suddenly pointed to one of the girls and asked Yao Fang, "Cousin, the one next to her is wearing a suit. The girl in the peach red dress is from which family, it seems like this is the first time I've seen you?"

"It seems to be the first time to participate in this banquet. Why, did you like it? Wait, I'll ask someone to inquire about it."

Yao Fang gestured to the maid who was following her, and immediately a little maid led the order to leave.After a while, the servant girl came over and replied, "Return to Miss Cousin, Elder Young Mistress, that girl is the little princess of Zhongshun Palace, no wonder you haven't met before, I just asked a familiar maid, this princess is indeed This is the first time to participate in this kind of banquet, so everyone is not familiar with it."

"It looks pretty good, what do you think, Cousin Lin?"

Lin Daiyu looked at this little princess, who had the delicacy of a young girl and the elegance of a noble lady, but unfortunately her father would not want to marry the royal family, "My cousin is right, it is very good, but it is not suitable for my brother."

"Yes, it is very troublesome to get along with these royal ladies."

After Lin Daiyu attended the banquet in Xu's residence, she returned to Lin's house with Mrs. Xu, and sent Mrs. Xu back to her yard before returning to the yard where she and Xu Jingzhizhan lived.

Lin Daiyu returned to her yard, and after changing her clothes, she sat on the beauty's couch and didn't want to move.

"Kang Ning, I've seen a lot of girls these days, have you seen any suitable ones? Rui'er's marriage is not in too much of a hurry, so don't get yourself hurt because of this."

When Xu Jingzhi entered the room and saw Lin Daiyu leaning on the couch with a slightly tired face, he couldn't help saying distressedly.

"What's the matter, I'm just helping my father to take a look at Rui'er."

"Father is about to leave the Yamen and go back to the mansion. I'll go to the front yard and I'll come back to accompany you later."

It's almost time to release the office, and Lin Hai doesn't have anything special to do this day, so when the time comes, he's ready to go back home.As soon as I walked out of the yamen of the household department, I heard someone calling me, "Brother Ruhai, stay a while!"