Zhang Yue couldn't help but be a little confused about the other party's identity. If the other party was the old party boss in history, he would already be an official now, but how could the servant call him a scholar?
If it weren't for the fact that Sima Twelve on the signature looked like the other party's ranking in history, Zhang Yue would have looked at the other party not as an official, with no official air at all, but also the arrogance of a scholar.
But Zhang Yue still couldn't help but ask: "Is my father-in-law an official?"
But seeing Sima Twelve and the businessman both laughing, the other party smiled and said, "San Lang, why are you asking here?"
Even the businessman on the side laughed and said, "I have known Mr. Sima for many years, but I never knew he was an official."
Zhang Yue thought to himself, no, the other party is Sima Twelve and also called Jun Shi, so why not.
Seeing Zhang Yue's doubts, a servant on the side said: "Sanlang Jun has misunderstood. My Jun is a scholar and has never been an official."
Zhang Yue saw that the servant's honest face did not look like a liar, so he wondered if he had made a mistake.
Zhang Yue thought to himself that it would be possible if the other party didn't want the merchant and himself to know that he was hiding his identity, but there was no need to hide it even from his own servants.
What's more, the other party is a famous honest person in history. He has a famous saying that "the main thing is to be sincere and not to deceive." He should not lie to himself.
But Zhang Yue has no intention of exploring the other party's identity. Taking money and leaving is the right way. There is no need to not accept money from him just because of who the other party is.
Otherwise, where would the money come from to buy pens and ink? Are you going to burn Zhu Yuan for corruption in the future? When you go to Bianjing, it's no better than at home. You have to spend money everywhere. Even if officials from the Song Dynasty came to buy their own seals, they would still have to pay for it! I just agreed not to add more money, which was a great honor.
"I see, I asked too much."
The other party also laughed and said: "Is there any official who cannot afford to wear silk clothes? I am indeed a commoner."
Zhang Yue asked Sima Twelve: "I am not as skilled at engraving with a knife as a seal maker. I wonder why I am so jealous?"
Sima Twelve said: "Although Sanlang's carving techniques are not as skillful as those of the craftsmen, it is because he has no real knowledge and only uses his will to do it, so he has no craftsmanship."
"Although the craftsmen's carvings are upright, they lack morale. Saburo's carving method is simple and ancient, and has the charm of Han seals. It is not about the shape, but the emphasis on the seal script and poetry in the heart. I just observed your Seal script, it is known that based on this, no one in this world or in future generations can be better than you."
Speaking of this, Sima Twelve somewhat blamed himself and said: "I say this as if I am asking for your seal, so I am willing to give you a generous amount of money. Sanlang hopes not to take it to the bottom of his heart. Just pretend that I did not say these words."
Zhang Yue nodded, this man could be said to be honest.
The other party's statement is somewhat similar to Dong Qichang's theory of the Northern and Southern Schools. This theory states that the painting by literati is different from the painting by craftsmen, although the technique is not as good as the artistic conception.
Could it be that there is such a saying in seal cutting?
"I just observed that Sanlang's seal script and seal cutting are different. It seems that there is something that has not yet arrived." Sima Twelve suddenly said.
Zhang Yue said: "Of course, my father-in-law has a keen eye. Sanlang's seal script is a seal script, and the seal cutting is a seal cutting. They are not the same. I only hope that in the future, practice will make perfect, and in this way, the seal cutting will be successful."
"Practice makes perfect," Sima Twelve asked, stroking his beard and tasting it, "These words are quite new. I wonder where they come from?"
Zhang Yue thought that this word didn't exist at this time, so he said: "Maybe it comes from Ouyang Gong's "The Oil Seller", and Ziwei is familiar with it."
Sima Twelve looked pleased when he heard this and said: "So that's it. The one who exerts more force will get farther, so it is said that practice makes perfect. It's really a good word."
Speaking of Sima Twelve, he picked up the pen and jotted it down on a small note he brought with him.
Zhang Yue said curiously: "My father-in-law is no longer confused, but he is so eager to learn!"
Sima Twelve put the small note he had memorized close to his body, and then said: "I am slow to read as I get older and have a bad memory. Only hard work can make up for my slowness. Yes, listen to Sanlang's accent, does it sound like a Wu person?"
Zhang Yue said: "People in Xiapu City, but the local accent sounds like Wu Yue, and others often mistake me for a Wu person."
"Sanlang is from Fujian." Sima Twelve nodded.
Zhang Yue looked at Sima Twelve's face and said, "Twelve Zhang, what do you think of the Fujian people?"
The other party hesitated for a moment, and then said: "I dare not hide it. It seems that many of the Fujian people I have known in my life are cunning people. To tell the truth, it would be the same for other people."
Zhang Yue was unhappy after hearing this. This man seemed gentle and well-educated, but he was actually a regional black man?
What I hate most is that the region is black, especially myself.
Zhang Yue said calmly: "Twelve feet are invited, and the seal will be delivered in three days. You must deposit three guan of money first!"
"You're not barking randomly..." The other servant was about to speak, but Sima Twelve stopped him.
He said: "Okay, just take the money."
The servant took out the money from the purse and put it together and said: "You are a scholar, you are short!"
The businessman smiled and said: "If it's short, it's short. Mr. Junshi is our regular customer. Can't you rest assured?"
Zhang Yue said calmly: "I met Sima Twelve for the first time. If you can't see the seal after three days, don't blame me."
The businessman heard this and said, "Sanlang, please be accommodating."
The servant said: "You are just a scholar. It's just a seal. We don't want to buy it. This boy is not tolerant at all at his young age."
Sima Twelve said: "Don't be rude. Sanlang's move is also reasonable. This chapter was given to a close relative by me. He happened to like this gold and stone thing and would leave the capital in a few days, so the three-day period was set. "
"I wonder if I can ask Saburo to wait here. I live very close to here. I can just go home and get some money to make up for it. If you still refuse, I won't force it anymore."
Zhang Yue had no intention of embarrassment and lost a big customer. The merchants here also have him to blame, but he was just venting the evil spirit of hell.
So Zhang Yue said, "That's all. I'll accept the money first, and I'll collect the seal in three days."
Sima Twelve said: "Thank you very much, Sanlang."
After saying this, Zhang Yue accepted the money, raised his hand and said goodbye.
Zhang Yue left the fasting and wandered around Zishengmen. He bought a valuable ancient book and some apprenticeship gifts. Along with the pen and ink he bought during the day, he immediately packed them up neatly and headed to Chen Xiang's house. .
Chen Xiang is now Dr. Taichang, the school manager of the Secret Pavilion, and the judge of the affairs of the Shangshu Temple.
Dr. Taichang was a stipend official, the thirtieth rank of civil servants who was born as a Jinshi, two ranks higher than Zhang Heng, who was appointed as the craftsman supervisor at the beginning of the imperial examination.
The Secret Pavilion School Manager is a post, and the post represents the high school selection in literature.
Among the posts, there are palace bachelors, which are the most powerful. For example, the Guanwen Palace bachelor is exclusive to the prime minister.
The next level is the scholars of various pavilions.
The third level is the post of the Secret Pavilion of the Three Pavilions, and the School Manager of the Secret Pavilion is the last post of the Secret Pavilion of the Three Pavilions. The salary is that you can receive ten gu of post-job money every month.
However, with a post, you can jump up the ranks and transfer to another official in terms of promotion.
For example, Chen Xiang's current salary official is Dr. Taichang, and based on his background as a Jinshi, he would be promoted to a military officer.
However, if you hold the post of leader, you can be promoted directly to the ancestral minister, wailang.
And if the officialdom is punished, he will be a member of the Ministry of Water Resources. Generally speaking, the official position ends here. As for officials with miscellaneous backgrounds (non-Jinshi, with a background in Zhike) who were promoted to wailang in the dining department, and wailang from the enyin official in the Yu department, their promotions were much slower than those of officials with jinshi background.
Finally, he was sent to judge the affairs of the Shangshu Temple.
There are officials in the ancestral temple such as doctor, wailang and so on. However, these are all officials who send salary and are not actually on duty in the ancestral temple.
As for the affairs of the temple department, Chen Xiang, a doctor of Taichang, came to 'judge the department'.
This shows how miserable the official position of the Song Dynasty was.
He was in charge of the ancestral temple as an idle errand. He was in charge of the ancestral temple on weekdays and had holidays on days of worship. He received the title of Tongxing from monks, nuns and Taoist priests from all over the state, and was ordained and ordained.
Historically, when Su Shi was Dr. Taichang, he was sent as a supervisor in Beijing to sue the court and the Shangshu Temple. In other words, Su Shi, as Dr. Taichang, worked as an errand in the Guanfa Court here and as an errand in the temple department there.
Zhang Yue brought gifts to Chen Xiang's house.
Although a Beijing official of Chen Xiang's level is given a monthly allowance of ten thousand yuan, it is only a drop in the bucket in terms of housing prices and prices in Bianjing.
Therefore, Chen Xiang also lives in a "public rental housing".
Public rental housing is under the management of the inn housekeeper. For example, Chen Xiang's mansion only costs three to five hundred yuan a month. If the house is broken down on weekdays, the inn housekeeper's wing shop house repair director will send someone to repair it, and every month the money-grabbing marriage officer will come to the door. Collect rent in one trip.
If you rent a private house instead, the same house will cost at least five or six times the price.
Such public rental housing was also provided by the emperors of the Song Dynasty to accommodate the "migrant workers" who came to Bianjing. If you can't even afford the public rental housing where you can work as a shopkeeper or housekeeper, it doesn't matter. There is also Futian Yuan, which doesn't charge a penny and is designed to accommodate lonely elderly people or orphans.
By the time of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, similar social relief systems were further expanded, and official education was further popularized in prefectures and counties.
Zhang Yue knocked on the door and entered.
The Chen Mansion is very small, with a small courtyard at the entrance, a living room after that, and three rooms after that.
When Zhang Yue arrived with gifts, Chen Xiang was having dinner with his family in the hall.
Chen Xiang put down his bowl and came to see Zhang Yue. After receiving the courtesy, Zhang Yue presented Ouyang Xiu's letter as a gift. Chen Xiang looked Zhang Yue up and down, then nodded and asked, "I'm sorry, it's a bit early for my family to have dinner. Let's sit down together to use it."
Zhang Yue saw that the dish was very simple, with only three dishes and one soup, and he had already eaten nearly half of it, so he said, "The student just had some snacks."
Chen Xiang smiled and said: "Sit down and don't see anyone else."
After saying that, he asked the old servant to serve Zhang Yue some rice, and Zhang Yue also brought the bowl to the table.
Zhang Yue saw Cai just picking up the rice.
Seeing this, Chen Xiang put a fish in Zhang Yue's bowl and asked, "When you came to the house, why did you just deliver the letter and then leave?"
Zhang Yue said: "Mr. Gu Ling is busy with political affairs, and students dare not disturb him too much."
Chen Xiang said: "I have been an official in Pucheng for several years, and you and I are both from Fujian. You really shouldn't be so polite to me."
"Yes, sir. I heard from Mr. Hu from the county school that Mr. Gu Ling wrote to me asking about my homework?"
Chen Xiang said: "Indeed."
Zhang Yue said nothing and continued to use his chopsticks to take big mouthfuls of rice.
Chen Xiang thought when he saw this, he is an honest man.
Zhang Yue finished his meal, scooped up a bowl of clear soup and poured it into his stomach together with the remaining rice, not even a grain of rice was left.
Chen Xiang saw it in his eyes, nodded and said, "Let me test your homework."
After asking some questions, Chen Xiang said: "Your Confucian classics are very solid. Since you want to learn poetry from me, I will also share my experience with you."
Zhang Yue immediately looked attentive.
"When I first learned poetry, I just wanted to master the words and expressions. When I reached middle age, I began to understand it a little, and gradually got a glimpse of its grandeur, and I had some proud poems."
"The poems of Li Taibai and Du Gongbu are like the Master's wall, which has many walls and cannot be entered without the door. It is impossible to reach it. The poems of Bai Letian and Yuan Zhen can be seen through the door."
"Poetry is one of the six arts and should not be played with. Therefore, if you want to learn poetry, you must first read the poems of the Wei, Jin, Han and Tang Dynasties familiarly, and first memorize them one by one until you are thoroughly familiar with them. However, no matter how familiar you are, you will not be able to reach the level of the ancients."
Speaking of this, Chen Xiang said about the poetry collections of the Tang Dynasty: "You have already read the poems of the Tang Dynasty. These books are all written by recent people. Although they are not as good as those of the Tang Dynasty, you might as well have a few good works. Once you know them by heart, Come back here next month on the first day of the new month, and I will teach you how to compose poetry."
Zhang Yue accepted the book, stood up and said, "Thank you, sir."
Chen Xiang said: "You take these gifts back, I don't need them here."
Zhang Yue said: "How can this mean that the saint teaches his disciples to take the bundle to cultivate? This is the courtesy that a disciple should have."
After refusing for a while, Chen Xiang only accepted the apprenticeship ceremony, and asked Zhang Yue to take back the rest of the ancient books and pens.
Chen Xiang smiled and said: "My hall here can only be used for rotating horses, and the vegetables are only in season. Doesn't Sanlang think that I, a sixth-grade official, are a bit shabby?"
Zhang Yue said: "Sir, you are so diligent and thrifty, how can you say that you are shabby?"
Chen Xiang said: "My ancestor lived in Guling in his previous life, and later moved to Taxiang. He was a young orphan like you. He was able to pass the Jinshi examination and become an official. It was all thanks to the elders in the clan who raised and cared for me with his elder brothers and lived frugally to provide for me. Reading has made us what we are today."
"Now that I am an official, I will use most of my salary to go back to my hometown to support my brothers and elders. As for daily food and clothing, it is enough. So it is not that I am frugal, but I am just repaying my kindness."
Zhang Yue said: "The kindness of a drop of water is repaid by a spring of water, not to mention the kindness of nurturing. I really envy you sir to have such a family member and an elder brother."
Chen Xiang glanced at Zhang Yue and chanted: "The two sons are riding in the boat, and the scenery is vast. I would like to express my thoughts about my son, and take care of them."
"The two sons took a boat and passed away. I wish to express my thoughts about my son without any flaws or harm."
What Chen Xiang said comes from the Book of Songs, The Second Son Riding a Boat.
It is said that the two brothers are leaving in a boat, and the family members are reluctant to say goodbye.
After listening to Chen Xiang's chant, Zhang Yue couldn't help but think of the scene when his brother bid farewell to him in Xianxia Ridge.
"Back then, when I said goodbye to my hometown and went to Beijing to take the exam, I went upstream along the Min River. At that time, the elders of my clan bid farewell by the river. I will never forget this scene for the rest of my life."
Chen Xiang's eyes were a little moist, as if he was remembering the past.
Zhang Yue said: "Thank you sir. Apart from my brother and sister-in-law, there is no one else in Sanlang's family who can repay me. I am very touched to hear this from my husband."
Chen Xiang said to Zhang Yue: "Well, when it comes to poetry, there is a difference between a gentleman and a villain. The villain's poems and prose are carved with seals, seals, seals, and verses in order to please people's ears and eyes. What's more, there are those who have friends who are traitors and hypocrites." People who are good in appearance are harmful to good people, and those who speak out need not be virtuous, so the world is corrupt and people's hearts are not as old as they used to be."
"However, a gentleman's poems and essays are based on the achievements and accomplishments, and the rest are articles. Therefore, the poems of emperors, generals and ministers in ancient times did not intend to be essays but they were able to work on their own. But if there is no practice, a gentleman should write with virtue first and essays first. To supplement it, I occasionally feel something, and when the emotion comes, the writing comes."
Zhang Yue understood that Chen Xiang was talking about some principles of life to himself by talking about poetry.
He bowed and said, "Everything you said, sir, is full of good words. The student has memorized them."
After that, Zhang Yue said goodbye and left.
Chen Xiang's old servant carried a lantern and sent Zhang Yue to the door. It was already dark at this time. Zhang Yue turned around and bowed to the hall again, and then left Chen Xiang's house.
Zhang Yue originally thought that Chen Xiang would mention Zhang Dun in front of him today, but he did not expect that the other party would not say a word.
But thinking about it, the Sima Twelve and Chen Xiang he met today left a deep impression on him.
Zhang Yue returned to Taixue, and before entering the Zhaishe, he saw Huang Haoyi wandering in front of the Zhaishe. As soon as he saw Zhang Yue, he immediately came up to him and said, "Sanlang, no matter what, you must help me."
Zhang Yue frowned and said, "What's the matter?"
Huang Haoyi would never stay overnight in Taixue on a lunar day. How could he be in Taixue today? This matter must be no small matter.
Seeing Huang Haoyi looking like he was about to shed tears, Zhang Yue said, "Are you going to borrow money from me again?"
Huang Haoyi was stunned, and then said: "Sanlang, do you already know?"
Zhang Yue thought to himself, is there any need to say this?
On weekdays, Huang Haoyi often borrowed money from himself, but although he borrowed money, he was good at one thing. He always repaid the money and never defaulted on the debt.
But borrowing money like this frequently made Huang Haoyi a headache for Zhang Yue. Why are you so short of money?
Zhang Yue said: "How much more will you borrow this time?"
After these days of engraving seals and the gifts from Ouyang Xiu and his son, Zhang Yue also has more than a dozen net worth.
"Sanlang, can you lend me twenty strings first?"
"Twenty dollars?" Zhang Yue couldn't help but asked, "How can I have this money? Why did you tell me in advance?"
Huang Haoyi said: "Sanlang is like this. My family arranged a marriage for me in Beijing..."
Zhang Yue thought to himself, great, the marriage will be settled so soon.
"Where are you from?" Zhang Yue was still a little jealous at the moment.
Huang Haoyi said: "She is the daughter of Liu Jiancheng, the capital water supervisor."
Zhang Yue praised: "Okay, Sanlang, this marriage is really good!"
Huang Haoyi said sheepishly: "His family is a Yinguan, and he usually lives on his salary. He has no servants and nothing to congratulate. He is neither a high-ranking official nor a downtrodden."
Zhang Yue knew that in the Song Dynasty, due to the serious redundancy of officials, a large number of officials had no assigned duties. These officials also live in the capital and go to the imperial city on weekdays. They even take a long vacation. Anyway, the imperial court does not give you a formal official position and does not care about you.
However, as a scholar, Huang Haoyi could marry the daughter of an official family, which was still a pretty good marriage. In the eyes of most scholars, it was at least better than marrying a merchant family.
"You mean we are well matched, right? You are already burning incense like this."
After being scolded by Zhang Yue, Huang Haoyi also smiled.
"Then why do you want to borrow money? Is the gift not enough?"
Zhang Yue knew that the tendency of marriage comparison in the Song Dynasty was very serious. As the saying goes, "When you are going to marry a woman, you should first ask about the amount of wealth; when you are going to marry a daughter, you should first ask about the amount of wealth."
Anyway, sky-high betrothal gifts are killing people wherever they go. If it was really a question of betrothal gifts, Zhang Yue, considering the friendship between his fellow villagers and classmates, would have to be more generous at the same time. The same goes for the other classmates who were placed in the house. It was just a matter of helping more and helping less.
Huang Haoyi said with a frustrated look: "That's not true. My brother and sister-in-law have helped me arrange the money for the bride price, but... it's just that the woman's family knew that I was raising an illegitimate child outside."
When Zhang Yue heard this, he really hated the iron in his heart, and he immediately cursed: "Silang, I have told you before, raising a woman outside without marrying a wife is a matter of ruining your reputation. You and I can save it one by one." Don’t worry, what happened now? It’s up to you to take care of this matter, I’m sorry that I can’t do anything about it.”
