Chapter 102. Villain (Part 2. [Third update]
It turns out that the reason why Li Rui broke up with Xiao Wenxuan was because Xiao Wenxuan turned to Zhao Junchen!
And from beginning to end, it was not just Xiao Wenxuan who played the role of the villain, but also Zhao Junchen!
After coming to this world, Zhao Junchen had long been accustomed to playing the role of a villain and didn't care about it. However, after Li Rui and others left, Zhao Junchen and Xu Qingyan looked at Xiao Wenxuan in front of them, who had not left, and they were both a little dazed. There was also suspicion in his expression. 【Read the latest chapter】
Without him, neither Zhao Junchen nor Xu Qingyan knew the existence of Xiao Wenxuan before today.
In fact, although Zhao Junchen was determined to find some useful people among the current imperial examination candidates, among the nearly 10,000 candidates, there were very few candidates who fit the four words of "available people". There are even fewer "available people" who are willing to take refuge in Zhao Junchen.
Therefore, although Liu Zimin worked hard and went around to attract people these days, there were only about thirty candidates who met Zhao Junchen's requirements and were willing to join Zhao Junchen.
And each of the more than thirty candidates who took the examination is a famous talent, whether it is talent, personality, ability, or family background, they all have merits. If he is an ordinary candidate, even if he wants to seek refuge with Zhao Junchen, Zhao Junchen will still look down upon him.
As spring approached, Liu Zimin also made a list of these people and sent them to the Zhao Mansion so that Zhao Junchen could have time to make arrangements.
Zhao Junchen had just read this list. Although he had not memorized it carefully, Zhao Junchen was sure that the name "Xiao Wenxuan" was not in it.
Thinking of this, Zhao Junchen turned to look at Xu Qingyan.
Xu Qingyan had been sending people to keep an eye on what Liu Zimin was doing, and he knew all the news better than Zhao Junchen.
Noticing Zhao Junchen's eyes, Xu Qingyan shook his head slightly, saying that he didn't know Xiao Wenxuan existed either.
………
The changes in the expressions of Zhao Junchen and Xu Qingyan were misunderstood by Xiao Wenxuan, who thought that Zhao Junchen was despising his character like Li Rui and others.
But perhaps the previous conversation, after being persuaded by Zhao Junchen, also made Xiao Wenxuan admire Zhao Junchen more. Xiao Wenxuan actually sighed, bowed slightly to Zhao Junchen, and said: "I have a talk with the young master today. I have benefited a lot from you. Although I do not fully agree with what the young master said, and I am willing to continue the conversation, I think that the young master is no longer willing to interact with me. In this case, I will not embarrass the young master, so I will leave."
After a pause, Xiao Wenxuan looked up at Zhao Junchen, with a flash of expectation in his expression, and asked: "It's just that I really admire the young master after hearing his erudite talk today. Although we don't have a close relationship with him, can you tell me his name and identity? It’s also good for me to understand who I was persuaded by today, but I was speechless to refute.”
In response to Xiao Wenxuan's inquiry, Zhao Junchen avoided talking and just asked: "I wonder where Mr. Xiao is going? If we are on the way, we can come together or continue to talk in depth."
Hearing what Zhao Junchen said, Xiao Wenxuan looked happy and said: "I have been living in the Imperial College these days. I came to Huizhu Street today just to prevent Li Rui from returning home. I don't have a specific place to go. If you don't mind me, I will It’s an eyesore, just follow the young master.”
At the same time, Xiao Wenxuan also understood Zhao Junchen's thoughts and stopped asking about Zhao Junchen's origins.
To be honest, Zhao Junchen was used to Xiao Wenxuan's sarcastic and mocking look, as if he was the only smart person in the world. Now that he saw Xiao Wenxuan being humble and easy-going in front of him, Zhao Junchen was really not used to it.
However, because of Xiao Wenxuan's answer, Zhao Junchen was already sure that the Xiao Wenxuan in front of him was indeed not an exam candidate who relied on him. At least, Liu Zimin did not include him in the list.
The reason why Zhao Junchen left the house today, seemingly for a stroll, was actually to go to Tianhai Tower to meet those candidates who wanted to take refuge in him. In other words, all the candidates who wanted to take refuge in Zhao Junchen would meet at Tianhai Tower today. , and since Xiao Wenxuan has no specific place to go, he is obviously not among them.
While thinking to himself, Zhao Junchen already smiled and said: "In that case, I would like to go to Tianhai Tower for a tooth ceremony. I have always liked the squirrel fish there. I wonder if Young Master Xiao is willing to go with him?"
Xiao Wenxuan obviously didn't understand what would happen in Tianhai Tower today. His expression remained unchanged, but he readily agreed.
Seeing Xiao Wenxuan's agreement, Zhao Junchen smiled and walked towards the depths of the club street first, while Xiao Wenxuan and Xu Qingyan quickly followed.
While walking, Zhao Junchen looked at the hustle and bustle on the street and asked Xiao Wenxuan: "Young Master Xiao is a little older, but is he also a candidate for this year's general examination?"
Xiao Wenxuan nodded, with a flash of emotion in his expression, and said: "Exactly, sir, do you know why I want to prevent Li Rui from returning home today? In fact, nine years ago, I had the same experience. It was already approaching spring, but at home, When my old father passed away, my thoughts at that time were the same as Li Rui's today. I gave up the Spring Wei Examination and hurriedly returned to my hometown to pay homage to my father. After three years of mourning, and six years ago, I originally planned to participate in the Spring Wei Examination again, but I never thought Unforeseen circumstances, I got seriously ill, not only delayed my spring, but also caused my mother to run back and forth for treatment and recuperation, and she squandered all the family wealth. In the end, I finally recovered from the illness, and my mother at home also suffered from fatigue. And when he fell ill, he almost died with his father."
After a pause, Xiao Wenxuan said with a wry smile on his face: "It was three years ago again, and I came to Beijing to take the exam. However, since I fell ill that year, my physical and mental strength have been a little weak, and I have reached the age of thirty-two. Although I am in my prime, but my energy is not as good as when I was young. I couldn't persist in the three-day national examination, and I finally failed. Now I am already in my thirties. Taking the national examination this year is also my last try. If I still can't win, , then I will give up the idea of taking the imperial examination. Whether I go back to my hometown to run my family business or work as a staff member, I can no longer let my mother at home work hard for me."
Zhao Junchen nodded and said: "I see, that's why you want to prevent Li Rui from returning to his hometown to observe filial piety, but you don't want him to make the same mistake you made."
After Xiao Wenxuan was silent for a moment, he also nodded: "He and I have different ideas. Although we cut off our robes and sworn off, we always have a good relationship. However, he can't listen to my advice at all, and I don't want to damage his reputation, so I just This is the best solution."
Zhao Junchen asked: "So, is it true that you took refuge in Zhao Junchen? I have indeed heard that there is a candidate named Liu Zimin, who has been recruiting candidates for this year for Zhao Junchen these days. .”
Xiao Wenxuan looked at Zhao Junchen's expression and asked: "I think the young master is eager for justice and has noble moral character. Why don't you question your conduct?"
Zhao Junchen shook his head and laughed: "I am eager for justice and noble in character. You are the first to say so about me. If other people say this about me, I am afraid they will think they are ridiculing me. In this world, a person with true temperament They are always in the minority. Everyone in the world wears various masks, making it difficult for people to see through the truth and lies. A gentleman will do evil if he has to, and a villain will do good just to pretend. How can you clearly distinguish between truth and falsehood, good and evil? Of course I helped today Li Rui has some silver, but after thinking about it, you can see that my family has a lot of money, and that money is just a drop in the bucket to me. Even if it is a good deed, how can it be said to be a good thing?"
Xiao Wenxuan nodded, and after hesitating for a moment, he finally said: "As you know, I have deliberately approached Liu Zimin since I found out what he had done. For this reason, I even said a lot of good things about Zhao Junchen against my will. It was also in At that time, Li Rui and the others had severed their ties with me, but this was my last spring, and I didn’t want to miss any opportunity."
At this point, Xiao Wenxuan laughed at himself and said: "Young Master just told me that if my temperament does not change, I can only live in peace and quiet by following Tao Yuanming's example. Joining the world will only bring trouble to myself. Thinking about it, it is true. So, but after all, I am a scholar, and I can never break free from the shackles of fame. It is ridiculous to say that I am not good at getting along with others, and I always offend others without knowing it. Although I have the intention to seek refuge with Zhao Junchen, I don’t know why. At that time, he offended Liu Zimin and others, and now he is being ostracized and has gained a lot of notoriety for nothing, but he has gained nothing."
Thinking of Xiao Wenxuan's sarcastic and mean expression before, Zhao Junchen nodded in understanding, and finally understood why he didn't know Xiao Wenxuan's existence.
"There is no perfect path for anyone. I think Mr. Xiao, you are very talented. Even if you can't join Zhao Junchen, you may not be able to be named in the april list."
Hearing Zhao Junchen's relief, Xiao Wenxuan was surprised again and said: "I didn't expect that the young master didn't despise my character for this."
Zhao Junchen smiled: "Who in this world has never done something against their will in order to achieve their own goals? Who can really not succumb to the reality of the world? It's just the nature of people to seek profit, so there is nothing to despise. ?”
Xiao Wenxuan couldn't help but be surprised to see Zhao Junchen put forward "people's nature to seek profit" in such a high-sounding way.
………
Next, Zhao Junchen talked with Xiao Wenxuan about many things, including spring affairs, people's livelihood, government affairs, and the world.
After this discussion, Zhao Junchen also gained some understanding of Xiao Wenxuan.
Xiao Wenxuan can see through the world and people, but cannot see through the hearts of the people around him. He is smart and has no shortage of talents, but he does not know how to protect himself. He has some radical ideas that are not suitable for this world, but they are not systematic and he does not know how to implement them. Although he pays attention to practicality and Benefits, but also aloof and easy to offend others.
To put it simply, if this person enters the officialdom, his future will be bleak, but if he can get some experience, he will be a talented staff member.
Zhao Junchen's heart moved when he thought that he had no reliable staff in his house.
While establishing power in the officialdom, it is also time to establish a staff team. Zhao Junchen cannot do everything himself.
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ps: The third update, a total of 12,000 words have been updated today.
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