Seeing Bai Wuchang stroking his hands and smiling, Ning Caichen was surprised and said, "Why are you laughing?"
Bai Wuchang said: "It's nothing, I'm just glad that you are not a rotten scholar."
Ning Caichen's face felt a little hot and he said, "I made you laugh."
Bai Wuchang said: "I'm not talking about you. Half of the scholars in the world are for power, and the other half are for wealth. False Taoism that talks about words and words is in power, but there are very few true gentlemen who seek truth and pragmatism."
Ning Caichen was silent, not knowing how to respond.
Bai Wuchang didn't take it seriously. He glanced at Ning Caichen and said, "Scholar, I think you have some literary talent, but if you want to be admitted to the imperial examination, I'm afraid it will take a few more years of hard work."
"Ah?" Ning Caichen was surprised at first, then lost, and said: "Study the scriptures hard, but do you still need to practice?"
He became worried. If he could go to high school, he would at least be able to solve his livelihood problems. If he couldn't go to high school, the burden would be heavy if he continued to study.
Bai Wuchang laughed: "I see that you are worried about your livelihood, so I have a job I can recommend to you. I just don't know if you are brave enough."
Having no money is worse than running into a ghost, so why should you hesitate?
Ning Caichen cupped his hands and said, "Please give me some advice."
Bai Wuchang said: "Mengbi of the Fox Immortal Palace in Wuning County wants to build a fox school and teach foxes, but he has not found a teacher yet. If you are brave, you can recommend yourself. I have an old relationship with the fox immortal, so just say that I introduced him. Whatever comes, it will come true.”
Ning Caichen felt a gust of wind, and the image of fox demons surrounding him appeared in his mind, and he suddenly felt a little guilty.
Bai Wuchang laughed and said, "You should think about it slowly. If you plan to go, you can go to the Fox Slope on the outskirts of the city to meet him in a month."
Before he finished speaking, Bai Wuchang had already disappeared without a trace.
Ning Caichen picked up the candlestick that fell on the ground, slowly walked into the study, and sighed heavily.
The experience of this night was truly the most wonderful experience in my life.
The door was closed, and a young man in red was revealed in the empty yard, with a yellow-bellied tit perched on his shoulder.
The yellow-bellied tit said: "Poor Shusheng Ning, I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep tonight."
Gong Mengbi smiled and said, "If he is afraid, then he has no chance with me."
Yellow-bellied Tit said: "You are quite good at it."
"Three tests on Scholar Ning. First, test his character to see if he is lustful. Then test his courage to see how courageous he is. Finally, test his ambition to see how good he is at learning. How do you like it? I think you seem to be very good at it. satisfy."
Gong Mengbi said: "I tested him not only to examine him, but also to protect him. Now I am satisfied, it depends on what he decides."
The yellow-bellied tit smiled and said: "You want to set up a fox school and throw such a handsome scholar into the fox's den. If he doesn't have some determination and ambition, he will probably drown to death in the gentle countryside."
"That's right, so I have to try." Gong Mengbi looked at the sky and said, "It's still early before dawn. I asked for a few more names from Chen Shan before I came here. We just happened to try together tonight."
Yellow-bellied tits let out a gloating laugh.
I don’t know how many scholars will have a sleepless night tonight.
At dawn.
The housekeeper of the Liu Mansion came to collect the Buddhist scriptures. When he saw Ning Caichen, who was all blue and black, he couldn't help but ask: "Did you sleep well last night?"
Ning Caichen gave a wry smile and said, "Maybe he's a bit acquainted with his bed."
He said goodbye: "The Buddhist scriptures have been copied, I'll take my leave first."
"There's no rush." Liu Mansion's housekeeper asked him to wait a moment, then sent the Buddhist scriptures to the old lady to read.
The old lady admired Ning Caichen's calligraphy and wanted to give Ning Caichen a Bodhi bracelet she had obtained from the temple.
Seeing that his mother was happy, Master Liu asked the housekeeper to give her more money and not just give her a bracelet.
The housekeeper paid the money for copying the books, but Ning Caichen refused to accept the overpayment.
It's not that he doesn't want it, but that he has something hidden in his heart and really has no face.
This ghost is still the concubine of Liu Mansion.
He wanted to remind Mr. Liu that this concubine was misbehaving, but he was afraid that speaking out would cost the woman her life.
The housekeeper sent him out. Seeing that he was still absent-minded, he said, "It's my fault. Forcing Mr. Ning to rest has only made him mentally weak."
Ning Caichen felt extremely guilty, and finally couldn't help but ask: "The housekeeper is kind enough to entertain me, so there is no reason to blame you."
"By the way, I seem to have heard from your servants that in addition to the old lady who is devoted to Buddha, Master Liu's concubine also likes to recite Buddha's name. If you still need to copy scriptures, you can come to me again."
The housekeeper glanced at him in surprise and said, "You heard me wrong, my husband and his wife Qin Se He Ming have never taken concubines in their lives."
Ning Caichen stood stunned on the spot. Although the sun was so warm, he felt cold on the soles of his feet.
He forced a smile and said, "Maybe I heard it wrong."
The housekeeper smiled and said: "Don't worry, my old lady often goes to pay homage to Buddha and borrow scriptures. Then I will come to you to copy the scriptures."
After Ning Caichen thanked him, he hurried home.
Ning Caichen was not the only one who was frightened last night. After Gong Mengbi visited several scholars, he also found a scholar who caught his eye.
He has an upright nature, so he doesn't get along well, but he is courageous, ambitious, and able to keep his heart, so he can be invited as his teacher.
After finding two gentlemen, Gong Mengbi, with his sensitivity to fate, felt that both of them should come.
So I stopped lingering in Wuning County and took Jiaying back to Longpan Mountain.
Jiaying wanted to go back to Beauty Ridge first, but it was clear and sunny, and neither Qiongfang nor Zhiruo would come out.
And now that she was transformed into a yellow-bellied tit, they couldn't understand her even if she tried to talk to them, so she had to live with Gong Mengbi at Wuhuan Peak.
At night, Gong Mengbi went to Beauty Ridge and told Qiongfang and Zhiruo about Jiaying.
Qiongfang looked at Jiaying who was possessed by the yellow-bellied tit and stretched out her hand to tease her.
The yellow-bellied tit screamed loudly, but because it was not a good thing, Gong Mengbi did not convey it.
Qiongfang understood even though she didn't listen, and said: "Now that your ghost has returned to the sun, I'm afraid there is still a chance of survival, and you will leave us soon."
The Yellow-bellied Chickadee was so disappointed that it lowered its head.
Qiongfang raised her face, rubbed it gently with her index finger, and said, "I'm very happy."
Qiongfang glanced at Zhiruo, then at Jiaying, and said: "You are not old ghosts like me. You don't know what it feels like to be wandering like this. I will never teach you the method of ghost cultivation, because it is not a good way." road."
"I have long been wondering when you will resolve your grievances and be reincarnated as human beings." Qiongfang said, throwing the yellow-bellied tit up, and saw her flying in the air, showing a smile.
"I'm glad you don't have to be stuck on this mountain like me."
Qiongfang looked at Zhiruo and said, "If you have the chance, you have to leave."
Zhiruo's expression changed and she said: "What happened to her? How come it's all about me? I won't leave. She is a living person who asked her to leave. I am already dead and will not leave."
The yellow-bellied tit screamed wildly, and then looked at Gong Mengbi.
Gong Mengbi conveyed to her: "She's not leaving either."
Qiongfang shook her head and disappeared into the green peach forest.
Immediately afterwards, Zhiruo disappeared.
"Don't leave!" Jiaying was furious and could only express her resistance by whining.
