Xu He got up early the next day. The imperial examination was coming soon, and he had to quickly confirm the four classmates who had signed bail.
He left Dongcheng and went directly to Xujiacun Social Studies. Unexpectedly, the social studies that had been bustling with books in the past were very quiet today.
Pushing open the courtyard door, I saw Master Xie sitting in the courtyard reading and drinking tea from a distance.
Seeing Xu He, Master Xie smiled and said, "Defu has already told me about you. Although a scholar should serve his country with his own life, it would be a pity if something happens to you before you finish your studies. You should be more careful in the future!"
Xu He knew in his heart that Master Xie was speaking out of his heart, so he quickly thanked him.
When Master Xie learned that Xu He was here this time because of the bailout matter, Master Xie was in trouble. If in the past, he had told the matter in social studies, he would have asked Xu He and his classmates to protect each other. .
But first, the passing rate of social studies in Xujiacun in this year's county examination was not high. There were only three people, including Xu He, and they could not make up the quota for five people.
Another reason is that because bandits are infesting the city and causing panic, many parents have not allowed their students to come to social schools to resume school.
"You go to Chu Yuan and Liu Zhigao first, identify these two people first, and then ask your Xujia Shexue to find two people to protect each other!" Master Xie gave Xu He advice.
Needless to say Chu Yuan, Liu Zhigao was another sociology student who passed the county examination.
In fact, as an old student member, he can also vouch for the student Xu He, but as a social studies master, he naturally has to hold a bowl of water to vouch for Xu He. What should Chu Yuan and others do?
Therefore, Xu He could only find a way to deal with it on his own.
After Xu He said goodbye to his master, he rushed to the Chu family in the south of Xujia Village.
The Chu family was not affected by the banditry. At this time, Chu Yuan was sitting at home reading. Seeing Xu He coming to the door, Chu Yuan put down his book and went out: "Xiaohe, I heard that your Xujia Village was banditized. , Huang Youcai's forearm was cut off, are you okay?"
Xu He said with a smile: "It's okay, no, I'm coming to see you to sign bail and prepare for a trial in the palace!"
Chu Yuan looked as if he was like this: "If I had known you were looking for me, Liu Zhigao and I would have made plans to wait for you in the past two days!"
"Great!" Xu He nodded and asked, "Have you found good people for the other two?"
Chu Yuan shook his head: "We don't know the other people who participated in the imperial examination. You are the only one nearby. I heard that there are seven imperial examinations in the Xu family school. After excluding five people, there are just two people left to protect each other with us! "
"But!" Chu Yuan said: "You are from the Xu family. Liu Zhigao and I are waiting for you, Xiaohe, to find two people in the clan school!"
As a member of the Xu family, Xu He was naturally obligated to do this: "Okay, I will go to the clan immediately and find two people, and together we will go to the county to secure bail tomorrow."
Three of the five people were identified, and Xu He was relieved. In order to identify the other two as soon as possible, he rushed back to the county without stopping.
After arriving at the Xu Mansion, Xu He asked his servants to inform Uncle Song.
But the servant said: "The elder went to Yangzhou Mansion early in the morning!"
Xu He originally wanted to use Uncle Song's help to directly assign the children of the two clans who participated in the government examination to form a guarantee together.
But it happened that Uncle Song went to Yangzhou at this time.
Xu He didn't want to beg Xu Dai, so he had to leave Xu Mansion and go out of the city to Xujiacun ancestral hall to study and find the old Confucian who was responsible for teaching.
When we arrived at Xujiacun, sure enough, the bustle of the past had not yet returned, but the situation in ethnic studies was better than in social studies.
The old Juren specially invited by the Xu family was leading a dozen schoolchildren to read "The Great Learning".
Xu He couldn't be disturbed, so he could only wait outside.
"In ancient times, if you want to bring virtue to the world, you must first govern your country. If you want to govern your country, you must first regulate your family. If you want to regulate your family, you must first cultivate your body. If you want to cultivate your body, you must first rectify your mind. If you want to be righteous, Those who are sincere must first be sincere in their intentions.”
The old Juren took the lead in reciting it, and then the social studies students followed and recited it.
After finishing speaking, Lao Juren said: "The sage said that the first step is to cultivate peace and harmony, and self-cultivation is the first step. People who cannot do well in self-cultivation will find it difficult to reach the position of governing the country and bringing peace to the world. Even if they achieve it through deception and conspiracy, If a villain succeeds in interests and status, such people are also dangerous to the country!"
Xu He nodded when he heard this, although he didn't know what Lao Juren's work was like.
But he still explained his understanding of this passage very profoundly.
"Next, I want to talk about [Qi Family]." Lao Juren continued: "Family and clan are the roots of each of us. The rise and fall of the family has a great impression on each of us. It can even be said that one will be prosperous and one will suffer. . Someone in a family occupies a high position, such as your Xu family’s eldest son, Mr. Shi..."
Speaking of this, he took a sip of water and continued: "Xiao Shigong became an official with the title of minister. The father and son of the Xu family have two Jinshi. It is a good story among scholars."
"It is because two generations of your Xu family are successful in studying that you can become a prominent family in Hailing County."
"On the other hand, if there is a scumbag in some family, even if someone in that family becomes a high official in the court, the official will also be implicated and cannot be impeached by the censor."
"Therefore, to govern a country, you must first regulate your family, and to regulate your family, you must first cultivate your character. This is the truth."
What Lao Juren said does make sense. To put it bluntly, Xiu Ping Zhi Qi is a process of self-realization for scholars.
But Xu He was a little disapproving.
Theoretically, there is no problem in cultivating peace and harmony and taking it step by step. However, everything in theory is a good sutra. It depends on whether the mouth of the person reciting the sutra is crooked or not.
How many people have been able to maintain peace and order throughout the ages?
At this moment, Lao Juren asked the students to study by themselves.
Xu He quickly took the time to salute and ask for an audience.
This is the second time Lao Juren has met Xu He. The first time he was at Huibin Tower, he was also Xu Dai's guest invited to greet Fengfang.
"Master Yan!" After Lao Juren came out, Xu He saluted again.
Master Yan laughed and said: "Xu Xu, if you don't study in social studies, why do you come to study in our clan?"
Xu He quickly told someone about his request for bail.
Originally, in Xu He's opinion, this matter could be said to be mutually beneficial and a sure thing.
Who would have thought that a trace of embarrassment flashed in Master Yan's eyes, and he laughed dryly and said: "What a coincidence, seven people from our clan will participate in the government examination this year, five of them have already guaranteed each other, and there are two from the clan... Ahem, the clan has given They asked a senior citizen to post bail!"
"What?" Xu He was shocked: "Master Yan, it costs money to invite junior students. We happen to have three social studies students taking the government examination this year. The other two can protect each other with us!"
Upon seeing this, Master Yan hesitated to speak, but in the end he shook his head: "The students in the clan school choose to ask a junior student to be a guarantee, or find five people to guarantee each other. This is their choice, and I can't interfere."
Speaking of this, Xu He had a vague suspicion in his heart.
At this moment, a person walked in from outside. This person had a face like a crown jewel, waving a folding fan, and followed by another person.
"Xu Luan!" Xu He's eyes narrowed.
I saw that Xu Luan hadn't arrived yet, but Xu Que took advantage of his strength and took the lead and pushed Xu He aside.
When Xu Luan saw this, Shi Shiran stepped forward and saluted Mr. Yan coolly: "Master Yan! My father has helped two classmates find a college student who will be guaranteed a guarantee! I'm here to tell you."
Master Yan immediately smiled and said: "Second Young Master, Mr. Zhongwang is still thoughtful!"
Xu Luan waved his folding fan and said proudly: "It's just a matter of spending some money, and the Xu family doesn't lack that little money. This way, the two classmates will be spared from asking for guarantees!"
Speaking of this, he looked at Xu He intentionally or unintentionally.
