The eldest grandson of the Red Chamber

After arriving in Yangzhou, Mingxu did not stay at home for long, and went to the academy to report after a few days of recuperation.

After two years away from the academy, the state of mind is also different when I look at it again.The academy itself has not changed much, and it still looks peaceful and peaceful.But Mingxu was a little flustered and couldn't keep up with the rhythm, and there was some deviation between self-study and the more systematic teaching at the academy.As soon as Mingxu came back, he ran into a self-examination in the academy, so he didn't have any preparations and took the exam naked with the idea of ​​testing his own level.

Unsatisfactory is Mr. Xu's evaluation of Mingxu's self-examination for the academy.At this moment, Ming Xu was drinking tea in Mr. Xu's small courtyard, and the old man sat across from him, stroking his beard and nodding, "Read thousands of books and travel thousands of miles. You have benefited a lot after going out once. "

Mingxu poured the tea soup into the cup, and smiled helplessly when he heard the words: "Mr., is it coaxing me? With my seat in the college entrance examination, I thought the sir would be dissatisfied." After all, they are all in the middle, right? , They were all in the first list before.

"You really don't understand what I'm going to say? It depends on how you think about the things in the book. It's rare to improve your mood now." Mr. Xu said, put down the tea bowl and sighed, "You are still young. But at the age of 15, it is too early to participate in Qiu Wei."

Mr. Xu made it clear that a 15-year-old boy has been studying for ten years, and he is still a little superficial. The imperial examination for scholars is not just about reading.

"Sir, don't you persuade me?" Mingxu asked in surprise. After all, in Mr. Xu's opinion, participating in Qiu Wei at the age of 15 is really a frivolous thing. Objection, just sigh earlier.

In fact, Mr. Xu’s ideas are very mainstream here. Most of the elders in the family arrange for their children to get married or even take exams after passing the crown. In addition to the tradition of getting married first and then starting a career, it is to win a good ranking, and part of it is to let the children go. Give it a try, temper your xinxing.Like Mingxu, there are very few people who want to pass it at one time, which sounds like a lack of consideration, and it is easy to learn a lesson.Mingxu, who was close to him, knew of one, and his roommate Li Qingyun had participated in Qiuwei three years ago, but was not selected.

"I'll give you a few words of persuasion, and you'll change your mind." Mr. Xu blew on the tea foam, and looked up at Ming Xu.

"Probably not." Mingxu shook his head. This was a plan he had made early in the morning, and naturally he would not be easily shaken. In fact, it would be useless to persuade anyone. Didn't Mingsu say that Father Ming was persuading Wu In the end, they even resorted to coercive orders, but in the end they were suppressed by Ming Xie, who was invited by Ming Xu.Mingxu insisted on going his own way, even his father couldn't control him, and others had no reason to criticize him.He had to be told to hit the south wall before he could think about changing lanes.

"That's it." Mr. Xu cast a sideways glance and asked knowingly, the old man's eyes looked good.

Ming Xu was silent.He's not really 15 years old and has been reminding himself for years that he's just a human being, don't get squinted by the compliments, they're talking about a kid's ability to learn and you're not.Sometimes he even fears that his strength will be exhausted and he will be said to be exhausted, so he dare not be complacent and arrogant.

Mr. Xu sighed softly, "Speaking of it, because you are close to that child Qing Rong, people in the academy often praise you for being a young gentleman. But in my opinion, it is quite different."

"They're all praises from my classmates. Compared to Brother Qing, I'm far behind." Ming Xu shook his head. Qing Rong has a madness about drinking and singing, and his temperament is free and unrestrained. This is the beginning of people. The definition of a gentleman.

"Yaomo is a gentleman like jade and a gentleman like wind. They are both good boys. Don't underestimate yourself. Although Qingrong's talent is high, in terms of long-term officialdom, it is not a new thing to come from behind." Mr. Xu has a deep meaning.

Mingxu was silent again.Mr. Xu's officialdom has been ups and downs for half his life, and he has read countless people in favor of people, and he is extremely accurate in judging people.Qing Rong's demeanor is free and easy, and she has a somewhat easy-going nature by nature, wanting nothing.For something like ambition, how can someone else's imposition be worth what you think in your heart.As for the ups and downs of the officialdom, the most indispensable thing is ambition.

But Mingxu is different, Mingxu's grandfather was named a literati Marquis, famous all over the world, and named his wife and son.He has seen the scenery of feuding princes and worshiping prime ministers since he was a child, and he also knows the fate of Jia's mansion, which is lazy and lazy, and "the vast white land is really clean" in the near future.Tell him how not to be motivated, not to chase the supreme scenery, and to wander for a while, how can he not leave something for this seemingly similar hometown.

Seeing him pondering, Mr. Xu sighed again: "It's just that you are a bit out of date now, young and energetic. You and Qing Rong have a close relationship, why haven't you two learned a little bit from each other?" Hate iron is not steel. Although Ming Xu has been learning the piano with Mr. Xu for less than a year, he has been recognized by the old man. Therefore, the old man is really worried about Ming Xu's future. The reason why he took a fancy to him was because this child has a clear heart and a clear mind. It's also rare, why are you so eager for quick success in major matters now.

"I know Mr.'s intentions, but since I can remember, I have been with the Four Books and Five Classics, and Shi Ziyi as a companion. I don't say anything else, and I am the most irresponsible. The students know what they want in their hearts, so they must go their own way."

Mingxu got up and solemnly performed a teacher-student ceremony. The husband said he was not persuading, but inside and out he was persuading. He didn't seek fame in front of him, but only hoped that the road ahead would be smooth. It was really moving to be so wholehearted.But if you are moved, you will be moved, but your belief will not change.No one knows what Ming Xu is thinking, he can only figure out the way forward by himself.

"That's all, you sit down." Mr. Xu waved his hand, "I figured it out, everyone has their own destiny, and there are good or bad roads, and they are all made by people." Mr. Xu said here The voice gradually lowered, murmuring as if caught in a piece of the past.

"Sir, you said Brother Qing earlier, but he's back? I just returned to Jiangnan, and I haven't had time to see him yet." Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit heavy, Ming Xu didn't want to talk about it with his husband, so he simply changed the subject and asked about Qing Rong.

Qing Rong is the recognized head of the academy, even though he has been away for two years, there is still no one to replace him. With his talent and appearance, I believe that no other new head will be recognized before he graduates.Therefore, as the star figure of the academy, both teachers and students pay close attention to him.

Sure enough, when mentioning Qingrong, Mr. Xu also knew about the situation. "The two of you left together, and he hasn't come back yet."

"It is expected that Brother Qing will participate in this year's autumn exam, and he will be back in a few months at most." Ming Xu felt that with Qing Rong's temperament, he could really do something that he only came back a month before the exam to prepare.

"As much as I am happy, it is not impossible to return after three years." Mr. Xu put down his tea bowl and smiled helplessly. He has all the talents and abilities, but he is a little bit unwilling to do so.

"Even if he wants to, Uncle Qing can't agree." Ming Xu said silently, if he remembered correctly, Brother Qing also has a cousin's fiancee, no matter what, he would not drag it out for three years.

"Good." Mr. Xu clapped his palms and smiled, no matter how transparent he is, it is impossible for him to be homeless, homeless, and careless, and besides, in life, how could he want nothing, but he is no longer here.

……

After meeting Mr. Xu, Mingxu officially devoted himself to studying at the academy, and entered the stage of preparing for the exam.Given his level of success in this self-examination, this year's autumn is also accompanied by running. Therefore, apart from daily physical needs, Ming Xu spends all his spare time reading and attending lectures, breaking the test papers of previous years, in order to succeed in one fell swoop, and become a scholar.

The days of long days and short nights lasted for two consecutive months.This day Ming Xu was collecting and arranging materials in the academy as usual, when he was fascinated, someone patted his shoulder suddenly, and when he looked back in shock, his expression became dazed.

Qing Rong was provoked by his obvious facial changes, and she patted Ming Xu's shoulder again with her hand that hadn't been withdrawn, "Why, you won't recognize me after two years?"

"Brother Qing, why did you come back so quietly?" Ming Xu's shoulder collapsed after being patted by him, and he finally came to his senses.This man's heart is really big, and he really didn't come back until more than a month before the provincial examination.

"I have been paying attention to your letter, but you came back by yourself."

"What's the matter, I'll go back when I go back. Is it possible that I have to hang up the whip when I go back to the academy?" Qing Rong joked, but after he finished speaking, he saw that Ming Xu agreed, this time it was true Surprised, "Did you really set off a whip when you came back?"

Ming Xu is speechless, Qing Rong has changed his skin after spending two years wandering outside. "That's right. When I returned to the academy, I set off a string of firecrackers at the entrance of the courtyard. It went off [-] times. The firecrackers went red all over the ground, and the whole academy was alarmed. How about it, Brother Qing, are you satisfied?"

"Satisfied, satisfied, I have already paid a visit to the gentlemen, and it is less than two months before the provincial examination, so I decided to stay in the academy for retreat. Brother Ming wants to come with me." Qing Rong naturally changed the subject and asked about Ming Xu's progress.

"I've already left the customs." Ming Xu shook his head and declined politely.He was going to return home for the last month, and his grandfather should have something to say.

"So, busy people, let's go to Fuyuanlou to have a meal together, and talk about what we have seen and heard in the past two years?"

"Stick what you want, don't dare to ask for it."

……

After meeting Qing Rong, Ming Xu returned home after a few days.

It was more than 20 years ago that Mingxie won the first prize. Now that more than ten rounds of examinations have passed, the question system is different from before. Fortunately, the rules and content have not changed much, and Mingxie's experience can still be used.

In Mingxu's view, what Mingxie told him was not much different from what the masters in the academy said. Most of them were basic things like taboos, fonts, and the cleanliness of the paper. Most of them also included some things that might be encountered in the examination room. How to deal with the questions is not like Mingxu imagined asking about the examiner's style and preferences, collecting his past grades to match his preferences, just saying that it is normal.

Ming Xie didn't mention it, so Ming Xu didn't dare to ask, for fear of asking a stupid question.Besides, the only thing that surprised Mingxu was that Mingxie built a mock examination room.Mingxie's explanation for this is:

"Nine days and seven nights are not as easy as you imagined. No matter what you think in your mind, you will always have a sense of surprise when you enter the examination hall of the Gongyuan. How do others describe it? Why don't you go in and try it yourself first."

Seeing Ming Xu nodded, Ming Xie smiled and said: "I see that you asked people to inquire about the number of Qiu Wei's test papers that were discarded in the past, and I thought about this. It's cold in Chunwei, but other things are not much less."

"Then how did grandfather get through that?" Mingxu asked curiously. With grandfather's conditions back then, great-grandfather could not imitate such a large handicraft of the examination house, and grandfather was able to pick the leader even when he was completely unprepared. It can be seen that It is played normally or even super long.

After hearing this, Ming Xie smiled, and he said slowly in a tone of recalling the past: "Grandfather Qiu Wei was not really good in the past, and his rankings were neither high nor low, and he also suffered from inexperience. There are not many serious readers in Baxiang, so no one told me the truth about it, all of them were groped by myself. Qiu Wei is okay, after all, there is nothing I can’t survive. The hard thing is Chun Wei, the exam starts in February, and I am in the twelfth lunar month. When I went to Beijing, I used up all my coils on the way, and stayed overnight in the temple. At that time, the wind and snow continued, and I was so cold that my body was stiff. At that time, I didn’t know much about it, and I felt that there would be no more long nights.”

Speaking of childhood suffering, Mingxie met his grandson's unbelievable eyes in a calm tone, he even smiled, and stroked the beard on his chin, it seems that it has been thirty years, "It's all over Now, looking back, what I was afraid of at the time was not the snowstorm that would crush the old temple, but the hopeless tomorrow, when I arrived in Beijing or died of freezing on the road.”

It was the first time for Mingxu to hear his grandfather talk about this experience, and he was so shocked, he couldn't help asking: "Then what happened later? How did grandfather go to Beijing for reference?"

Later, later, the hungry and cold scholar rushed to a small town ahead, where he bought the cheapest warm wine to warm his body with the last penny he had left in the only tavern.

At that time there were only two guests in the tavern, apart from the scholar, he was a chivalrous man.The knight is the scholar's own conclusion. The man himself did not carry a sword, but the scholar felt that sitting there, he had the quack air mentioned in the scriptures.

"This brother, it is fate to meet you. How about I treat you to a drink?" The knight opened his mouth first, and then called the boss without waiting for the scholar to answer: "Shopkeeper, give this brother three dollars for hot wine. Cook another bowl of Yangchun noodles."

"Three-qian wine, that's not how you treat guests, brother." Small business, there are not so many rules, and the shopkeeper occasionally jokes with visitors.

The knight also laughed, and tapped on the table, "You don't understand, this is the rule of the world."

The shopkeeper who didn't know the rules of the world went down to warm the wine and cook the noodles. The chivalrous man and the scholar chatted across a table. Most of the chivalrous men were talking about their experiences in the world. serious.

After eating the noodles, the warmth came back, and the scholar gradually talked more, chatting with the knight from all over the world, it fits well.

"Where is Xiongtai going next?" the chivalrous man asked, and after the meal, the two agreed in tacit agreement without asking each other's name.

"Where do you want to go when you go to Beijing for the exam?" The scholar answered briefly.

"I'm going to the south of the Yangtze River to visit old friends, so it will be a different road."

"We met by chance, thank you brother Taiwan for your kindness."

"It's not called relief, but it's just making a friend. Speaking of it, I thought you scholars would not accept it. Didn't you mean that you don't eat what you come for?" the knight joked.

"If you don't accept it like you and I, then you're not a scholar, you're a fool." The scholar joked back.

"Since that's the case, my brother and I will leave some wine money, so we can't quit."

"Are you a fool if you resign?"

"Of course, that's the case, let's just leave it and see you again."

……

"So I came to Beijing to take the exam with the help of my friends, and since then I was in the exam room, recalling the aroma of the three-dollar hot wine and Yangchun noodles, and I didn't feel cold." When mentioning the story of the old man, Ming Xie still had a smile on his face. smile.

"Then grandfather, is there really a rule of three qian hot wine in Jianghu?" Mingxu heard a story, suddenly thought of a legend, and couldn't wait to prove it.

"It's not a rule, it's just because I'm a scholar, and I'm afraid that I won't be ugly if I don't drink too much." Ming Xie only explained that his friend Tie Han was meticulous.

"It turns out that grandfather always has adventures." Shilin meets martial arts, the plot of the novel, grandfather is indeed the real Jack Su Bensu.

"It can't be called an adventure, it just sounds interesting." Mingxie shook his head, it was a calm and breezy experience when it was over, but it was a difficult step by step.

"Did grandfather meet that knight again later?"

"Later, he gained some fame in the world, so we will meet again." Goodbye is already an old friend.

"That's really fate." Sure enough, only those who are good enough can do it.