The place where Chen Xiang lives is considered a remote alley, and the sound of firecrackers set off by the neighbors is very noisy.
In the narrow hall, several old servants were busy.
On such an occasion, Chen Xiang and Zhang Dun were talking.
When Chen Xiang saw Zhang Yue, he asked him to sit down and talk.
Zhang Yue sat to the side and Zhang Dun sat in front.
After Zhang Yue sat down, Chen Xiang smiled and said to Zhang Yue: "I was just talking about poetry with Zi Hou. Don't be greedy for good sentences, which will lead to incomprehension and become a language problem."
"For example, I said, 'The remonstrance grass in my sleeves goes to the sky, and the palace flowers on my head return to the banquet.' It is a good sentence sincerely. However, when admonishment is given, it must be written in chapters and chapters. How can I use the principle of drafting."
"But Zihou gave an example, "Hanshan Temple under the stage of Gusu, the bell rings at midnight to the passenger ship." It's really a good sentence, but then I thought about it, is it the time to ring the bell at midnight? You must remember it carefully and never write poems in the future. If you are greedy for good words, you should be honest and approach others first.”
Zhang Yue heard this and said, "Student, remember."
Chen Xiang nodded, but Zhang Dun said, "Sir, I'll go first."
Chen Xiang waved his hand and said, "Wait a minute."
Chen Xiang said to Zhang Yue: "Sanlang, first tell me what you have learned in Taixue this year?"
Zhang Yue said: "Reporting to Sir, in addition to poetry and articles, I have gained everything from food, clothing, housing and transportation."
Chen Xiang smiled and said, "How about the food?"
Zhang Yue said: "Reporting to Sir, students in Taixue often don't have enough food to eat in the dining hall. There is no limit on vegetable soup. Students can eat by themselves, so they often scoop out a few more bowls of soup to satisfy their hunger. The vegetable soup is boiled in such a large amount. The pot will look crystal clear if you stir it without a spoon on weekdays. Everyone wants to make some vegetable soup to fill their stomach, but how to make vegetable soup is a science, and students have not learned it in the restaurant this year. Yes, I learned how to scoop vegetable soup."
Chen Xiang laughed: "This is really a knowledge, Sanlang, please tell me."
Zhang Yue said: "It's sir. Students have accumulated experience over time and passed the formula to their classmates. This formula is 'slip to the edge, sink to the bottom, fish lightly, and rise slowly'."
After Zhang Yue finished speaking, the old servant beside Chen Xiang couldn't help laughing.
Zhang Yue also said to the old servant in a serious manner: "I may not understand, so I will explain it more carefully, which is, 'one spoonful till the end, go up slowly, don't panic, it's all soup!' This ladle of soup is really good." A subject of knowledge that is truly profound and profound.”
Chen Xiang didn't feel dissatisfied when he heard this.
Zhang Dun said: "What's the point of talking with a gun and a stick? I heard that your homework is very bad, and you were almost dismissed by the Imperial Academy and returned to your hometown."
Zhang Yue remained silent.
Zhang Dun said: "Since you have been in the capital for almost a year, you still don't know how to meet your second aunt?"
Zhang Yue said: "I've seen it before."
"When have we met?"
"I met Brother Dun when he was sending a letter home."
Zhang Dun looked at Zhang Yue and said, "With your words now, do you still blame me for not sending letters home?"
"How dare you blame me? When Brother Dun ran away from marriage and left home, I no longer dared to have such extravagant hopes."
Zhang Dun said: "That's fine. It seems that you want me to speak clearly today, right?"
Zhang Yue said: "Of course, I have heard it from different people. Brother Dun, everyone is giving you reasons for escaping from marriage. No one else is as good as you. I will believe whatever you say."
Zhang Dun was silent.
Chen Xiang said: "You brothers are talking to yourselves."
After saying that, Chen Xiang left.
The atmosphere between Zhang Dun and Zhang Yue suddenly solidified.
Zhang Dun said: "You are like a fool who points to the moon, but looks at the finger but does not look at the moon. Those who care about names do not see my reality."
"Is running away from marriage a month or a finger?"
Zhang Dun said: "The reason you want is that even if you want to give an explanation, I might as well tell you that although I was the first in the county school in my hometown, Jianzhou is really a hidden dragon and crouching tiger. If I want to get the first place in the examination It was even difficult to pass the provincial examination. So I left home just because the Suzhou Kao examination was easy to pass, but the Jianzhou examination was difficult, that's all."
Zhang Yue said: "Then he passed the imperial examination, why didn't he accept the order and be appointed an official in the end?"
Zhang Dun said solemnly: "Without him, Emperor Zhenzong decreed that 'brothers should not be promoted at the same time'. Have you forgotten about your cousin's grandfather?"
"But all four brothers in the Zeng family were awarded Jinshi."
Zhang Dun said: "How can the affairs of today's official family be compared with those of Zhenzong's dynasty?"
During the Zhenzong Dynasty, the two brothers Zhang Pin and Zhang Di of the Zhang family were both awarded Jinshi, but Emperor Zhenzong decreed that only one of the two brothers could pass the exam. In the end, Zhang Pin gave up the title of Jinshi and gave it to his younger brother Zhang Di.
Zhang Pin is Zhang Kai's grandfather, and he has a relationship with Zhang Yue and Zhang Heng before they even entered the fifth server.
Zhang Dun said: "Six years later, my great-uncle passed the imperial examination and was awarded the title of Provincial Secretary, Secretary of the Provincial School, and learned about Nanchang County. What can you tell?"
Zhang Yue said: "Examination Secretary and Provincial Secretary Lang is a Beijing position. Only two or three Jinshi in a subject can be awarded the Beijing position. The rest of the Jinshi are selected candidates."
Zhang Dun said: "Of course, this is Emperor Zhenzong's compensation for his great uncle. Ziping had already won the Jinshi in the previous subject, and the official family suppressed my ranking for the sake of balance."
"Instead of rushing to become an official, it is better to take the examination of the system or defer one subject. It will only be a delay of two years and become a Jinshi."
Zhang Yue said: "I also say that you are arrogant and unwilling to accept the order."
Zhang Dun said: "It depends on how you choose. How many chips you have in your hand will determine how many chips you can lose."
"Just like in life, you will meet many people, and many people like you. Because of this, some of them you don't like, so you can throw them away when you need to. You don't have to miss them."
Zhang Yue laughed angrily: "So my brother and I are the ones you left behind, Brother Dun?"
Zhang Dun said: "If you want a reason, I will give you a reason. When I won the Jinshi, I heard that my brother had collected a lot of money in my name, and you immediately stopped thinking about making progress and went around chasing girls. went?"
Zhang Yue couldn't help but hesitate, what he said was true.
Zhang Dun said: "If you are like this, then I don't have to take a fancy to you."
Zhang Yue looked livid and said, "I understand, Brother Dun is always a person who cares about himself. In the past, I had some fantasies, or I was always looking for excuses for you in my heart, but now I completely understand."
Zhang Dun nodded and said, "As long as you understand, study harder and study harder. If you can become a Jinshi in the future, it will be a high honor."
"You write a letter for me and go home. Bring your brother, sister-in-law and Xi'er to live in Bianjing. My second aunt has an empty house in the east of the city and now she gave it to me. It's empty anyway, Xi'er It’s the material for reading, and if I stay with my brother, I’m afraid I’ll be spoiled in the future.”
Zhang Yue said resolutely: "No need. It's very good for Xi'er to become a disciple of Mr. Boyi. Besides, my sister-in-law is still watching over me, so I won't go astray. Besides, why didn't Brother Dun write the letter himself?"
Hearing this, Zhang Dun stood up from Zhang Yue's side, turned his face and said, "My brother, the person who cares most about you has always been you, no matter how incompetent you are, even your father is the same."
Zhang Yue felt that Zhang Dun's tone was a little different from before.
After a pause, Zhang Dun said: "Li Taibo (Li Gou) is rigorous in his studies and his words are a bit unpleasant, but he is a talented person who knows everything about the past and the present. From his disciples, you can learn a thing or two about the integrity of a scholar at least."
"As for you, sir, you are good at everything from management to knowledge. If you can learn 10% from 100% of them, that's impressive."
"But remember one thing: to be eager to learn is to use your heart, to be sincere is to use things, to reason things is to use reason, to understand reason is to use nature, and to be harmonious is to use spirit. When studying, it is better to seek others than to seek yourself. This is not only true for reading, but also for life in the future. Don't always Expecting to rely on others and just sit back and enjoy the success, this is what I hate the most. Study hard, if you can't get ahead, I will be ashamed to see you in the future."
Zhang Yue said: "Brother Dun, just take care of your own future. Don't worry that my brother and I will drag you down. If you fail this test, it will really become a joke."
Zhang Dun said: "That's fine. Just remember the letter you wrote to your brother and leave."
After speaking, Zhang Dun strode away.
Zhang Yue didn't look at Zhang Dun either.
The sound of firecrackers could be heard in the hall, and the old servant was serving the New Year's Eve dinner to the table.
Chen Xiang personally brought a plate of vegetables and placed it in front of Zhang Yue and said with a smile: "This is the rice dish of my hometown. The villagers brought it to the capital. Everyone in my hometown eats it during festivals. I will steam it myself now." , you can also enjoy it."
"Thank you sir. I have no appetite."
Chen Xiang smiled and said: "Sanlang, you are a man of honest character, but I am not telling you this to ask you to repay evil with kindness. Why do we worship the Buddha when we see him?"
Chen Xiang said: "I don't want you to bend down, but I want you to know that you need to be respectful in your heart. Just like spending money to give money does not buy merit, but it warns you not to be greedy."
Zhang Yue looked at Chen Xiang, but saw that the other party smiled and said: "When I was young, I was tired of the philistines in the countryside. I just wanted to get a good name early, not only to honor my ancestors, but also to leave the remote countryside. Now that half of my life has passed, I have experienced The world has been too hot and cold, and I realize that nostalgia is the most important thing. Bianjing seems to be prosperous, but what does it have to do with me? I will eventually go back one day."
Zhang Yue thought a little when he heard the words.
"Eat some. Your senior brothers will come later and I will introduce them to you one by one. They are all greedy and I'm afraid there won't be much left."
Zhang Yue nodded, picked up a piece with chopsticks and put it into his mouth.
"how?"
"It's delicious." Zhang Yue nodded sharply.
Chen Xiang smiled and said: "The outside is made of Ruo leaves to support the base. When steamed, the fragrance of Ruo leaves will be mixed into it. The filling inside is glutinous rice, so it's safe."
"Yes, it's Chinese New Year." Zhang Yue said with a smile.
At this time, there was a knock on the door, and Chen Xiang said with a smile: "Your senior brothers are here. When they give you something, don't refuse it. Just accept it."
"Okay, sir." Zhang Yueyan said.
After Chen Xiang opened the door, she saw a group of scholars had gathered outside...
"Meet sir."
Zhang Yue saluted and said: "I have met senior brother..."
"What? Didn't hear..."
Zhang Yue looked at Chen Xiang, who smiled and said: "This person is your senior brother Wu Daowu, the most unruly..."
Zhang Yue knew that the most famous member of Chen Xiang's family was Sun Jue, but now he was an official abroad, followed by Zhang Dun and Wu Dao, and the rest were not famous.
But everyone was smiling without any restraint. Zhang Yue felt that the atmosphere in his sect was just right for him.
Wine has been prepared in the hall, and Chen Xiang, Zhang Yue, teachers and students gathered together, chatting over wine, and they were having a good time.
Jiayou's three years passed uneventfully.
Jiayou arrived in the fourth year of his reign.
Spring comes after the beginning of spring in the fourth year of Jiayou's reign.
Compared with Jiayou's second-year ranking, Jiayou's fourth-year ranking has slightly dimmer stars, but it is still a battle between dragons and tigers.
When the results of the rankings came out, the number one winner was Zhang Yue's chief, Liu Ji, who changed his name to Liu Hui.
Although Ouyang Xiu did not take charge of the provincial examination, he was the marking officer for the palace examination. Before reviewing the papers, he said to his left and right: "It is our duty to eradicate evil, and now we must scold those who are frivolous and frivolous in order to eliminate the harm caused by the article."
At that time, a scholar wrote in his imperial examination article: "The Lord collected the essence and hid it under the crown."
Ouyang Xiu read the paper and said confidently to his left and right: "I have got Liu Ji." After saying this, he was about to dismiss this person.
The title of the palace examination at that time was "Yao and Shun's Ode to Nature and Benevolence".
One candidate said: "Therefore, being quiet can prolong life, which is the longest life span of the Five Emperors; being active can lead to courage, which is the punishment for the four sins."
Ouyang Xiu greatly praised him and thought he was the number one talent, so he was promoted to the first place.
Later, when he changed his name, he found out that the number one scholar was Liu Hui. Others told Ouyang Xiu that this was Liu Ji who changed his name to Liu Hui.
As for the article that Ouyang Xiu mistakenly thought was written by Liu Ji, it was actually written by Xiao Ji from Wu.
Ouyang Xiu was stunned for a long time after learning the truth.
However, Ouyang Xiu still admitted defeat very magnanimously. He found the Liu Jijuan again and saw a sentence in it: "The virtues accumulated within you will be revealed to heaven." Ouyang Xiu thought that the word "ji" was close to learning, so he changed his writing to "yun".
As for the second place Hu Zongyu, he is the nephew of Hu Su, the chief examiner of the provincial examination.
As for Zhang Dun, who had abandoned his studies in the previous subject, he got the fifth place in the first class this time.
It can be described as Gao Di.
Many scholars don't understand why Zhang Dun got such a good name despite his arrogance and abandonment of the imperial edict.
However, because there were too many redundant officials, the emperor wanted to suppress junior officials.
Except for Liu Hui, the number one scholar, who was conferred the title of Judge of Dali Temple, and Hu Zong, the second scholar, who was conferred the title of Guanglu Cheng after his recovery, the rest of the Jinshi were not allowed to be officials in the capital, and they were all released through selection.
Although Zhang Dun was the fifth Jinshi, he was only awarded the magistrate of Shangluo County.
In addition to Zhang Dun, among Zhang Yue's acquaintances, Cai Que also became a Jinshi and joined the army as the manager of Pizhou.
This is the lowest level of official positions for selecting people. There are prefecture managers, household administrators, judicial officers, household officers, law officers and military officers, etc. Although they are state officers, they are at the same level as county chiefs and county captains, and lower than the county magistrates. Even lower than the county magistrate.
Even so, Zhang Yue was still happy for Cai Que.
In addition to Cai Que, there is another person named Xiang Qi from Tongzhai.
The lower ranked Xiang Qi is only fifth-level, and must defend the election, but even if he defends the election, if nothing unexpected happens, he will become an official in the future.
Looking at the list that day, Zhang Yue cried with joy when he saw Xiang No. 7 Middle School Jinshi. Then he was spotted by five or six businessmen, who fought and pulled him around for a while, and staged a scene of trying to catch his son-in-law.
Zhang Yue and Huang Haoyi felt shameless and a little envious when they saw Xiang Qiyu refusing to welcome him.
As for Liu Zuo, who was a classmate and friend, he just smiled.
Zhang Yue thought to himself, one of his two friends won the Jinshi, and the other went home to do business. From then on, they were separated from each other.
"Sanlang, Shiro, why are you standing there in such a daze? Chief, no, Duke Zhuangyuan invited us to have a drink at Qingfeng Tower tonight!"
All the classmates burst into laughter, and someone on the side asked enviously: "Are you the classmate who won the top prize in this subject?"
One person smiled and said: "Not only are we classmates, we are also in the same house."
"I admire you!"
The atmosphere in the Song Dynasty was to admire scholars from top to bottom, and the number one scholar was even more admired. When the common people heard that Zhang Yue and others were Liu Hui's classmates, they immediately made way for them.
All the students were smiling.
"Let's go, let's go to Qingfeng Tower for a drink."
Zhang Yue also smiled and was about to stride away, but when he looked back, he saw Liu Zuo looking into the distance.
Zhang Yue followed his gaze and saw where Xiang Qi was.
Liu Zuo saw Zhang Yue smiling and walked over and said, "What do you think of Xiang Qi being a Jinshi?"
Zhang Yue said: "I'm a little envious."
Liu Zuo smiled bitterly and said: "I feel uncomfortable. I think every time Xiang Qi boasts about something he did in the exam, his heart will ache when he thinks about how he failed. I'm afraid this friend will have nothing to do..."
"Headmaster..."
Liu Zuodao: "Don't blame me for being stingy. I'm just speaking from the bottom of my heart. Xiang Qi is very good. Although his family is poor, he has always been holding back his energy in his heart. He wants to make a blockbuster one day and let people who looked down on him in the past look at him. His scenery today. Now he has finally come to the end of his hardships. I am really happy for him from the bottom of my heart, but I just hope that he will not be happy in front of me."
Zhang Yue said: "Chief, you really won't go back to Taixue from now on."
Liu Zuo nodded and said: "I will go back and take care of things, Sanlang. I have told you this before, but our friendship cannot be broken. You are a kind-hearted person. If you become successful in the future, I will only be happy for you. There will never be any jealousy.”
Zhang Yue said sheepishly: "If the house chief really thinks highly of me, then he will come to see me more often in the future."
"Of course, if there is anything difficult for Bianjing, Sanlang can let me know."
After speaking, Liu Zuo looked at Xiang Qi again.
But I saw a wealthy and powerful man who relied on the strength of the crowd to force Xiang Qi into a sedan chair and drove away playing music and singing. Others smiled and pointed along the way, and several children clapped their hands and sang happily.
That night, Huang Haoyi drank all night long in Qingfeng Tower.
Liu Ji was also very capable. After drinking, he summoned twenty or thirty more official prostitutes. These were all famous official prostitutes in Bianjing, and many of them were excellent in both sex and art. Normally, you would never see any of the dignitaries, but now they all came here for the sake of the No. 1 Scholar.
Everyone stayed up all night eating, drinking and having fun. After returning to the studio, Zhang Yue also slept until the sun was shining.
On this day, Taixue will be very reasonable and will not check the dormitory, allowing students to spend the night outside.
At noon, I saw Xiang Qi coming back.
Yesterday, Xiang Qi was still in plain clothes, but now he was wearing a brocade robe and fine satin leather boots, and he returned to his studio in splendor.
Zhang Yue saw Xiang Qi and hurriedly woke Huang Haoyi.
"Shichiro, are you an uncle now?"
Xiang Qi laughed and didn't say anything directly. He immediately sat on the chair and said, "I don't have any water to drink. I'm so thirsty."
Huang Haoyi said kindly: "There is water in the clay pot, go get it yourself!"
Xiang Qi complained: "Silang, you don't even look at me. I'm going to be an official now, and you don't know how to serve me. How can I support you in the future?"
Huang Haoyi laughed and scolded: "Well, Xiang Qilang, you are just a fifth-level person, and you are here to show off to me and Sanlang."
Xiang Qi laughed and said, "It's just a joke. We are common friends. No matter what I do in the future, you and I will still be able to forget our friendship."
After speaking, Xiang Qixiang Zhang Yue raised his hand and said, "Sanlang, I have received more kindness from you, Xiang Qi, and I will definitely repay you well in the future."
Zhang Yue smiled and said: "Qilang, what are you talking about? I don't think I have done anything to help you on weekdays."
Xiang Qilang said sternly: "Sanlang, I know you have always been generous and never care about others. But I, Xiang Qilang, will always keep it in my heart even if I receive a little kindness from others over the years. That's right, where is Liu Zuo?"
