Fang Wenshao took the sobering tea, took a sip, and smiled bitterly: "This feast at noon is to celebrate Master Liu's sixtieth birthday. It was not until the beginning of the Shen Dynasty. Although Master Liu is just a scholar, and his status is still below me, but he was once My mentor, how could I neglect him and resign early?"
"Furthermore, his son Liu Hongmo has made great progress and is already a scholar, so he cannot be looked down upon. Alas, it would be great if Xi'er had such a future. This time Xi'er got into a scandal, so I had to excuse myself from contracting a minor illness and not being able to go. , you are really ashamed to kill me!"
Mrs. Fang Zheng knew that her husband loved her son deeply, but hated him for being frivolous, so she quickly said: "My son's illness has been cured."
As he spoke, he explained the process in detail, and then added: "As the common people say, good luck outweighs bad luck. The friends my son has made are still somewhat lucky."
Fang Wenshao felt happy when he heard that his son was cured. After thinking about it carefully, he pondered: "You mean, it doesn't hurt when Xi'er is close to her, but it hurts when she's away from him?"
Fang Zheng said: "According to my son, this is indeed the case."
This is not just a matter of luck. Fang Wenshao was startled and stood up: "I'll go take a look and take Xi'er's homework by the way."
Mrs. Fang Zheng was not an unreasonable person, so she said to her husband gently: "His face is swollen. He hasn't studied in the past few days. If he misses his homework, don't punish him in front of your friends."
Fang Wenshao stroked his short beard: "Madam, don't worry, I have a sense of propriety."
After searching for it, I found the study room and found that my son had forgotten most of the lessons he had learned a few days ago. He immediately picked up the ruler and struck it hard several times: "How did I teach you? You can do things based on your talent and reputation." Meng Lang, don’t you want to make progress?”
Fang Xi burst into tears and could only hold back.
"Tell me, what's going on?" Fang Wenshao put down the ruler and sat back on the chair and asked.
Fang Xi opened her eyes wide, looked at her father, and said everything one by one. What she said was not much different from Fang Zheng's.
Fang Wenshao thought thoughtfully. Although his son had some talent in reading and successfully passed the Tongsheng Examination, his personality was a bit arrogant. He failed to pass the Scholarship Examination last time. Now the government examination is coming soon. If he doesn't give some strong medicine and encourage him, he might become a scholar. My own expectations will be disappointed.
At this age, when it is most likely to go astray, we cannot let it go.
Seeing her father's face sinking like water, Fang Xi showed her confusion and whispered: "Dad, my son has realized his mistake. He will study hard in the future and shine on his family."
"It depends on your future performance, not just a promise." Fang Wenshao didn't intend to let his son change at once. For him, it was more important to make connections.
Zheng Yingci is a relative of his, whom he has known since he was a child. He is indeed outstanding, but there is another person whom he has just met. He is stroking his beard: "Is that Su Ziji you just met, Tong Sheng?"
Fang Xi thought for a moment: "Yes, I heard from my cousin that he is a newly-elected boy student. Although my son has never heard of his talent, I think he was a boy student at the age of fifteen, so his talent and learning should be good."
Although Fang Wenshao couldn't stand his son's looseness and frivolity, he felt relieved about his son's friendship.
"As the saying goes, don't deceive young people into poverty. Although they are from a poor family, if they can pass the Tongsheng examination, they are already better than many others. So, I will go and see you."
Fang Wenshao said that he was going to meet the guests in the hall. Su Ziji had changed his clothes and was chatting with Yu Lu and Zhang Sheng.
"Nephew Su Xian, your father and I were born in the same family, and we are even the same age. We have always been close to each other, and we have been taught by you, but I have never met you. When I saw you today, you turned out to be a talented young man. You can tell at a glance that you are the seed of reading." Fang Wenshao not only He talked to his nephew Yu Lu, exchanged greetings with Zhang Sheng, and had a good attitude towards Su Ziji.
"You and your child have a relationship with a child from Zhongben County. You will have more interactions in the future."
Su Ziji hurriedly said: "Students are so lucky, so I feel guilty."
Fang Wenshao added: "I heard that your father passed away and the countryside was closed. I didn't hear about it and couldn't pay my respects. I'm really ashamed. I would like to give you fifteen taels of silk and gold. My nephew will keep it. I will have to pay my respects in person in the future. "
As he said that, someone came in holding a wooden tray, with three silver ingots placed inside, each worth about five taels.
Fifteen taels of silver, for a student from a humble family like Su Ziji, was definitely a large sum of money, which was really surprising. However, it was reasonable to accept it at the scene of the affair, but it was not in line with etiquette to accept it now.
Su Ziji repeatedly declined, saying only: "If my uncle wanted to pay his condolences, my nephew would be there to greet me, but now I can't accept the money."
After a pause, Su Ziji said sincerely, "However, I do have something to ask for."
"Oh? Nephew Su Xian, please tell me." Fang Wenshao was a little curious about what Su Ziji wanted. Not only Fang Wenshao, but Mrs. Zheng and others were also waiting for Su Ziji's next words. This is fifteen taels of silver. As a student from a poor family, he actually refused. This is really puzzling. What did Su Ziji ask for when he turned down this gift?
I heard Su Ziji say: "Brother Fang and I hit it off right away. I heard that my uncle's articles were well-written and every word was exquisite. My nephew wanted to ask Brother Fang to recite this poem so that he can use it throughout his life."
Everyone was stunned when they heard this. Although the experience of recruiting people is indeed of some value to scholars, especially those who want to be tested for talents, the founder of the Wei Dynasty reformed the system and established the imperial examination and engraving and printing. In the past few hundred years, It has become the most important way to become an official. The county examination, prefecture examination, provincial examination, joint examination and palace examination are almost all decided based on the current situation.
For the sake of the imperial examination, publishers collected and published articles from those who were elected to the imperial examinations, especially those from Jinshi and Hanlin. The reading activities of historical articles were unprecedentedly popular in depth and breadth. To read these historical articles, one could buy three copies for one tael.
No matter how confident Fang Wenshao was, he still didn't think his articles could compare with this kind of published Hanlin articles.
And looking at Su Ziji's clothes, you can tell that his family may not be poor, but he is not rich either. He refuses money and just wants to listen to and read his own articles. Is this lofty or a kind of conspiracy?
Fang Wenshao coughed dryly and said to his boy, "This is easy. Mo Shu, go and move the wooden box from my bookshelf. Xi'er, you can read it to Nephew Su Xian."
In fact, even though it was the first time they met, Su Ziji left a good impression. If he was aloof, he might be a bit childish, but he was in line with the nature of a young man and was humane.
But if it's Machiavellian, just to flatter yourself, that's a bit scary.
Because he was only fifteen years old, he had this idea in a flash of inspiration, but as the so-called danger of mountains and rivers is in his mind, he could not make friends with him even if he was really a noble person.
In this case, even if there is temporary gain, there will be disaster in the end. Although his son is frivolous but broad-minded, he will be the scapegoat and he must not be allowed to stay by his side.
Of course, Fang Wenshao had no intention of offending potential nobles and would not suppress him. Instead, he would spend some money and use some connections to send Su Ziji to a private school. In this way, not only would he be separated, but he would also be favored, which would make it easier to see him in the future.
Thinking like this, he asked the bookboy to get it. The Fang family did not do red sleeves to add fragrance. Whether it was Fang Wenshao or Fang Xi, they were all bookboys. In this regard, Fang Wenshao still set an example. However, this son's nature was like this. There was no red sleeves at home, so he went There are nymphos out there, even if they are engaged to a fiancée.
Now that he has learned a lesson, if he restrains himself from this, in Fang Wenshao's opinion, it will be a blessing in disguise.
"Master, the box is here." After a while, Mo Shu, who was sent to the study to carry the box, came back, carrying a not-so-large wooden box and placing it gently on the table.
Fang Wenshao signaled Su Ziji to come over, and not only Su Ziji, but others also came closer.
Especially Fang Xi, when she saw her father opening the box, she couldn't help but look inside: "Dad, are these your manuscripts?"
There seem to be more than a dozen books in it.
Fang Wenshao glanced at him: "This is my reading experience and poems for more than ten years. You have read most of them, and there are two books left. You must read them carefully in the past few days. Don't be lazy."
How could he write this if not for his son?
