Although Liu Bowen tried his best, the charcoal fire never ignited. He took a deep breath and blew hard into the brazier again. Then, he raised his head and handed the poker in his hand to Liu Fu.
"Master, don't be too hasty when it comes to lighting a fire." Liu Fu fiddled with the charcoal in the basin and said slowly: "It is difficult for sparks to survive in the ashes. If the remaining charcoal is completely covered, not only will it not be ignited, but it will It is suppressed until it is extinguished.”
Liu Bowen looked confused and asked humbly: "What should I do?" His character was like this. He always had a heart for learning. No matter the identity of the other party, as long as he knew something, he was willing to ask for advice humbly.
Liu Fu did not answer immediately, but he operated skillfully and explained: "It should be like this, first use the charcoal residue left from the last fire as a base, and then gently clamp the sparks on top. After that, put A small amount of fine charcoal. At this time, just blow a few breaths, and the flame will ignite. After the fire is stable, gradually add charcoal, and the flame will become more and more intense."
Liu Bowen listened attentively and stared deeply at the burning coals in the fire. Liu Fu carefully put the charcoal in the charcoal pocket into the fire one by one. For a while, a small crackling sound filled his ears.
Due to the use of cylinder charcoal as fuel, wisps of white mist rose from the brazier, carrying a moist smell. Although the smell is not pleasant, it makes people truly feel the breath of life it exudes from the pottery jar.
In fact, the houses of powerful people like Liu Bowen generally do not choose to use cylinder charcoal. Large families and relatively wealthy landowners usually choose to buy kiln charcoal on the market for heating.
In this era, kiln charcoal was a luxury product and expensive, while cylinder charcoal was more commonly used by the common people due to its simplicity and low cost.
You only need to prepare a useless pottery jar, put the embers left behind from daily cooking into the jar, and then cover the mouth of the jar with a stone slab or wooden board. In less than a quarter of an hour, the charcoal in the jar will be extinguished. , turned into black carbon that can be used again.
Most people could not afford expensive kiln charcoal, so they collected the embers after cooking and made them into cylinder charcoal. Accumulated over time, one year is enough for a family to survive the entire cold winter.
Liu Bowen was always frugal and ordered his maids to do the same every day. He purchased these kiln charcoals at the price of kiln charcoal on the market, which did not increase the expenses of the government, but also avoided waste, and the maids also received an extra income. This is a clever strategy that accomplishes multiple things with one stone.
The charcoal fire burned hotter and hotter, the temperature rose sharply, and a burning sensation came from his hands. Liu Bowen suddenly retracted his hands that were stretched out on the brazier to keep warm. The hot feeling also woke him up from his meditation.
He looked at Liu Fu with a very complicated look and said nothing...
"Master, let's have a cup of tea!"
Liu Fu handed Liu Bowen a cup of freshly brewed tea, which was the top-quality Tieguanyin gifted to him by Liu Yan.
When you open the lid of the cup, a refreshing fragrance hits your face. Smelling it makes you feel refreshed. Use the cup lid to gently remove the tea leaves floating on the tea soup that have not yet been fully brewed. Take a small sip, and your lips and teeth will be filled with fragrance and you will be slightly closed. After closing his eyes and recalling it, he put the tea cup on the small table aside and said, "Ah Fu, do you want to study?"
Liu Fu was obviously shocked by this question. He froze there and did not answer for a while. A trace of imperceptible loss flashed in his eyes, and he replied in a slightly trembling voice: "Master, I am over forty years old and have long missed the age of study. Now I just want to serve the master and help him manage the Liu Mansion." .”
In fact, if you are in other places, you can study at an older age, but not in the states and counties controlled by Liu Yan. After his new education reform, schools no longer accept people as old as Liu Fu.
Liu Bowen took a deep look at Liu Fu, who was slightly embarrassed, and said lightly: "Didn't you ever read a book?"
Liu Fu lowered his head slightly, clasped his fists and said: "Master Mingjian. When I was a child, my family was well off, and I was fortunate enough to study with my husband for many years. Later, when my family fell into decline, I lived in Jingzhou and was lucky enough to join the Peach Blossom Spring. Because I have been studying for several years. Only by reading the book can I be taken in by the master and serve him by his side."
"Then why don't you want to study now?" Liu Bowen said calmly while sipping tea: "Is it because you have been a housekeeper in my house for a few years and lived a comfortable life in Peach Blossom Spring for a few years, and you are now content with the status quo?"
In that era, it was everyone's dream to study and get ahead. However, the harsh reality and policy constraints have deterred many people. Liu Fu is no exception. With helplessness and confusion in his eyes, he was silent for a long time, and then looked at Liu Bowen: "Master, I am no longer old enough to apply for student status. Although there is no age limit in the Imperial Academy, the difficulty of admission is beyond the reach of the villain. Bo Only officials of fifth rank or above can enter the academy..."
After hearing this, Liu Bowen smiled: "Afu, you have forgotten that in order to seek talents, my lord has separated a branch from the university, called Dadu Temple. As long as you can pass the exam, you can obtain a student status regardless of your age. , and then participate in the entrance examination of the Taixue Division."
Liu Bowen paused and continued: "It's all up to you. If you don't want to study anymore, you have managed my house in an orderly manner in the past few years. You can continue to be my housekeeper in the future. If you still want to study, you still want to have a bright future." Then you should prepare well these days. The first university entrance exam in Jingzhou will officially start in five days, and you can try it."
This news blew into Liu Fu's heart like a spring breeze, and his eyes immediately lit up. He knelt in front of Liu Bowen and said with excitement in his voice: "Master, I, I, I want to give it a try."
Liu Bowen nodded with satisfaction, and laughter echoed in the air: "Okay, okay! Get up quickly." He helped Liu Fu and let him sit next to him, "I can see that you are knowledgeable. Stay in my house and do it Butler, isn’t this a waste of good time!”
Liu Fu was filled with emotion after hearing this. He humbly replied: "The master is overly complimentary. I am so grateful that I shed tears of gratitude."
Liu Bowen interrupted him with a smile: "Okay, there is no need to be formal. Tomorrow you will take my letter to the government office and change your household registration back. You are no longer the housekeeper here, and you will not be able to study under the name Liu Fu again. If it’s not appropriate, just go back to your original name.”
Liu Fu's original name was Chen Geng, also named Zixiao, and he was from Yuzhou. He was originally from a prestigious family, but due to the pressure of life, he changed his name and became Liu Bowen's housekeeper. Now, Liu Bowen asked him to return to his ancestral home, and he couldn't help but feel deeply moved in his heart.
His eyes gradually became moist, and Chen Geng remembered that since he followed Liu Bowen, although he was a servant in name, Liu Bowen had never looked down upon him. Not only did he take care of him everywhere in the house, but he also taught him carefully. Even when he was very tired, he was still thinking about his future. At this moment, thousands of words came to his mind, but he couldn't say a single word...
The genius had just brightened up. Liu Bowen, who had not slept all night, washed up hastily and then left the house under the escort of a group of guards. Chen Geng stood at the door of the house and quietly looked at the carriage that was getting away, and slowly knelt down. After getting down, he bowed deeply to the back of the carriage. This was his last bow as a domestic servant, because he knew in his heart that when they meet again, Liu Bowen will no longer be his master, and he will no longer be the housekeeper of Liu Mansion. .
The sound of horse hooves became smaller and smaller, and the figure of the carriage gradually disappeared at the corner of the street...
The morning wind howled, bringing with it the remaining chill of the night, and the flags were rolled up for hunting. The city gates of Jingzhou were wide open. Dozens of civil and military officials stood facing the wind outside the city gates. The 80,000 defenders of Jingzhou formed two squares on the left and right outside the city gates. The formation is as powerful as a rainbow, and the flags cover the sky.
Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves came from the streets in the city. The officials turned to look and saw a luxury carriage pulled by four black horses, escorted by a group of guards, approaching the city gate.
When the carriage approached a certain distance and appeared clearly in everyone's eyes, everyone hurriedly began to tidy up their official uniforms, which were not actually messy, and bowed to wait!
The carriage drove out of the city gate and stopped. The coachman took off the pedals and put them on the ground, lifted the curtain, and Liu Bowen walked out with a trembling bow.
"See you, Lord Governor." As soon as Liu Bowen stood firm, dozens of civil and military officials paid their respects in unison.
"Excuse me, everyone!" Liu Bowen gestured for everyone to get up with his hand, then looked at Jingzhou Sima aside and asked, "Are you all ready?"
"Master Qi, everything is ready." He introduced to Liu Bowen: "Sir, please see, the ceremonial guards, drums, music, and military and horse formations are all prepared according to your requirements. There will be absolutely no mistakes."
"Yes!" Liu Bowen looked at the honor guards on both sides of the city gate, then looked at the military formation and nodded: "That's good. This is my first time coming to Jingzhou, my lord. I want to inform everyone to be careful and make sure you don't make any mistakes."
"Yes, sir, don't worry."
After everything was arranged properly, Liu Bowen stood at the forefront, leading a group of civil and military officials to wait quietly for Liu Yan's arrival...
The sun gradually climbed out of the eastern skyline, shining its warm light on everyone. The temperature began to rise slowly, and the people who were waiting finally no longer felt so uncomfortable, but there was no happy look on their faces. Instead, he looked worried and nervous.
The same was true for Liu Bowen. His eyes never left the north and he looked attentively because that was the direction Liu Yan came back from.
Soon, a tiny black spot appeared in his sight, which was a galloping horse. As the distance gets closer, the black spots gradually become larger and clearer. He could clearly see the attire of the man on the horse and the flag behind him. They were the messengers directly subordinate to Liu Yan.
Liu Bowen immediately adjusted his official uniform and hat, took a few steps forward, and waited respectfully.
The angry horse galloped like lightning and was in front of him in the blink of an eye. The messenger shouted loudly: "My lord has an order. Let Liu Bowen, the governor of Jingzhou, receive the order!"
Liu Bowen immediately knelt down, and the civil and military officials behind him also knelt down one after another. The messenger read loudly: "My lord ordered Liu Bowen to immediately dismiss all the civil and military officials who came to greet him and order them to return to their duties and perform their duties.
Due to temporary matters, the Lord will not come to Jingzhou. Liu Bowen worked hard in governing Jingzhou and made great achievements. After handling the affairs of Jingzhou, he returned to Peach Blossom Spring to reunite with his lord. "
"My subordinate Liu Bowen, the governor of Jingzhou, respectfully obeys the lord's order!"
"Drive!" The messenger clamped his horse's belly and galloped away.
Liu Bowen stood up and calmly arranged for all the civil and military officials to return to their duties and handle their respective official affairs.
Then he boarded the carriage and drove to the governor's office. Seeing this, Sima quickly caught up with his carriage and asked loudly: "Sir, didn't the Lord ask you to return to the Holy Land to reunite with his ministers? What about you?"
Liu Bowen opened the curtains of the carriage, looked at the Jingzhou Sima driving side by side, and said calmly: "Jingzhou is currently busy with official business. I can't get away and won't go back."
In another carriage, Jingzhou Sima couldn't help but shake his head, a bitter smile hanging on his face. Peach Blossom Spring, the holy land in their hearts, is the place where Liu Yan rose to prominence. The mystery and beauty there fascinate all officials, but they cannot touch it. But Liu Bowen was personally appointed by Liu Yan to return to his hometown and did not even attend the gathering of his chief ministers.
"Hey, it's really annoying to compare people to each other!" Jingzhou Sima sighed secretly, with envy and helplessness intertwined in his heart. He gently lowered the curtains of the carriage, and the carriage followed Liu Bowen's carriage, driving towards the Jingzhou governor's office one after another.
