I heard that there was a thick stack of paper, which made Lin Yuanqiu very excited.
Lin Yuanqiu thought to himself, if he got this reward, and then used the paper with the word "Guozijian" printed on it to copy out two sets of three hundred thousand and four books and five classics to give to Chunyan and Chuncao as dowries, then his two sisters would be extraordinary. Decent.
Thinking of this, Lin Yuanqiu couldn't help but count the students in the three classes of Guangye Hall. There were almost two hundred people, the top ten among the two hundred, so he must work hard.
…
Chapter 110 Beijing Tea House
Soon it was the holiday on the first day of the new year. After breakfast, Zhou Zixu came over to urge him, "Brother Lin, let's hurry up. I heard that Deming Tower is the most crowded at this time. We are sure to hear it by then." Very few useful things.”
Lin Yuanqiu had already changed into his hand-collared robe. After hearing this, he didn't waste any time, locked the dormitory door and walked out with Zhou Zixu.
As early as a few days ago, the two of them had made an appointment to go to a big teahouse in the capital on their holiday. If possible, Lin Yuanqiu and Zhou Zixu still wanted to go to the teahouse to collect some useful information just like they did when they were in Fuxue. .
There are two reasons why I think of going to the teahouse again.
One is that this method is really good. It allows them to get a lot of information that no one has ever told them, which broadens their horizons a lot.
If nothing else, let’s take some of the strategies in last year’s provincial examination. Among them, the strategy with the proposition of strengthening the country and strengthening the army, didn’t the source of their arguments come from the information obtained from the Bafang Teahouse?
It can be said that since last year's provincial examination, Lin Yuanqiu and Zhou Zixu have become more enthusiastic about going to teahouses.
No, half a month ago, Zhou Zixu asked Shu Yan to go shopping in various streets in the capital. The purpose was naturally to let him "pre-emptively" and find them a teahouse with a prosperous business and many customers.
As for the second one, apart from this method, they really have no better way to gain knowledge for the time being.
Although it is the highest university in the Jing Dynasty, and there are assistant doctors with Jinshi background, they are only responsible for teaching and are not willing to talk about other matters unrelated to their studies.
Lin Yuanqiu also tried to take his article to the Academic Affairs Office and asked the teaching assistants for advice. Although they gave him answers at the time, he could clearly see the impatience in their eyes. In this case, who would be shameless enough to ask for advice a second time?
Later, Lin Yuanqiu thought about it and understood why the teaching assistants had such an attitude. Not to mention that there were more than 2,000 students in the entire Imperial College. If you came one by one to answer your questions, they would be annoyed to death.
Furthermore, and the most important point is, why should someone, who is neither a teacher nor a disciple of you, teach you some knowledge outside the classroom? Is it because he is waiting to teach you to be an all-rounder so that he can compete with his students to become an official? Chance?
It was only after Lin Yuanqiu entered the Imperial College that he learned that most of the doctors and teaching assistants in the Imperial College had students who were their disciples.
Some people have one, some have two, and the one who accepts the most students is Assistant Ye who teaches Mo Yi, with a total of eleven students. It can be said that adding these people together alone is enough to account for one-third of the places on the proficiency test list, so why should people make it more difficult for their students to win the Jinshi.
From the perspective of the teaching assistants, as long as they do their job well, teach the subject matter well, and not hide it, they will have a clear conscience. As for whether you can learn well, it depends on your own ability.
Not to mention that a teacher should have a heart of benevolence, but also a heart of sincerity and dedication. This was simply impossible in ancient times.
Here, it is natural for a teacher to favor his students in terms of knowledge, and it is blameless for others.
As for Lin Yuanqiu and others, although they also call others teachers, this teacher is not that teacher. In the eyes of the teaching assistants, these students are just students at best.
Shu Yan led the way, and the three of them soon arrived at Deming Tower.
As soon as they stepped into the teahouse door, Lin Yuanqiu and Zhou Zixu were excited by the packed scene in front of them. It's good to have more people. With more people, there will be more topics to talk about. With more topics, naturally the more information they can get.
Recalling that when we were at the Bafang Tea House before, it was only so lively when it was close to the Chinese New Year, so the two of them were full of expectations for today's trip.
Especially Zhou Zixu. At this time, he was focused and ready to remember useful information into his mind at any time. Huh, so what if you don't have the guidance of a famous teacher? Not all of them can come up with good ideas.
It was just that the two excited people found a seat, ordered tea and snacks, and then listened with their ears for half an hour. They felt nothing but disappointment.
Lin Yuanqiu looked at the tea table not far from him on the left. There were several gray-haired old men with a birdcage beside their legs. It could be seen that they all came out to walk the birds in the early morning.
No, a long time has passed, and the topic of the few people has never left the bird. Yesterday, my myna started to call "auspicious", and my thrush loves to eat grasshoppers. I will give it to it when I get back later. Go to the yard and catch a few.
On Zhou Zixu's right, two grown men were arguing endlessly about the dowry procession they saw on the street yesterday.
The thin-faced one said: "You must have seen it wrong. The dowry burden at the front is just a piece of tile and two pieces of earth."
The flesh-faced man: "I think you have poor eyesight. Let me tell you, yesterday I went to the groom's house with the dowry bearer. On the dowry bearer, there were clearly two pieces of green tiles and a lump of earth, okay? .”
Slim-faced man: "Dede, I'm too lazy to talk to you. I can't compare with your ability to tell lies with open eyes. You also went to the groom's house with you. The groom's house is in Tongzhou. Did you run all the way with the carriage?" "
The flesh-faced man obviously felt guilty, but he was still unconvinced: "How about running along, I'm happy to do it."
After listening to these trivial topics for nearly an hour, Lin Yuanqiu and Zhou Zixu had no choice but to stay in a teahouse.
But I went to three or four restaurants in a row, and it was always the same situation. Apart from parents, the topics the tea guests talked about were short-term, and there was nothing else related to current affairs.
When the two of them filled their bellies with tea and dragged their tired footsteps back to the Imperial College, they suddenly understood something.
That is, at the foot of the imperial city and next to the emperor, who dares to openly discuss everything in current affairs? If someone accidentally reports it, wouldn't it be like an old man hanging himself because he thinks his life is too long?
Therefore, I am afraid that going to teahouses to collect information will not be feasible in the capital.
When he returned to the dormitory after dinner, Lin Yuanqiu took out the past question papers, then added water to the inkstone to rub the ink, and then started working on the questions seriously.
Although I can't get any useful information from the teahouse in Beijing, there are many benefits to being in Beijing.
For example, Lin Yuanqiu felt that for the new test papers he had purchased, such a complete set could only be purchased in the capital in the entire Da Jing Dynasty.
There is also Wei Mo Zhi Yi, which is the admission process selected by the Ministry of Rites from the exam papers, and then compiled into a book. After reading it yourself, you will definitely have a lot of benefits.
…
In the following days, Lin Yuanqiu was still the same as before. First he had morning reading class, then it was time for breakfast. After breakfast, it was time for the teaching assistants to attend class. After the three classes were over, he made his own arrangements for the rest of the afternoon.
If Lin Yuanqiu didn't go out on the street during this half-day, he would spend it on schoolwork. He has always maintained the habit of taking class notes. Every time he opens it, it feels like he has reviewed the teaching assistant's lectures again, and the benefits are undoubted.
Zhou Zixu, as for Zhou Zixu, would often come over and ask Lin Yuanqiu for the policy papers he had written. Then he would copy them and send them to the Lu Mansion together with his own articles.
In this way, when Minister Lu was free, he read the policy text and wrote comments, then Zhou Zixu went to Lu Mansion to get it back and the two of them discussed it together.
Lu Huai has been immersed in the officialdom for many years, and he is also a second-class Jinshi. He knows a lot both in scholarship and current affairs, so his comments are often to the point, which benefits Lin Yuanqiu and Zhou Zixu a lot.
However, this benefit did not last long. Gradually, Zhou Zixu came to pick up articles less often, and he still did not get back the articles he took last time.
Lin Yuanqiu was a little confused. Based on his understanding of Zhou Zixu, something must have happened.
Zhou Zixu naturally didn't hide anything. He didn't feel embarrassed when he heard Lin Yuanqiu asked, but he talked about everything.
It turned out that when Zhou Zixu went to the Lu Mansion last time, Mrs. Lu specially met with him, and then she tactfully told him about Shi Lang Lu's recent busy schedule.
Listening to the words, Zhou Zixu was not a fool and quickly understood the implication of Mrs. Lu's words.
This means that he often sent articles for advice, which made it difficult for Lu Shilang to rest.
Thinking of this, Zhou Zixu felt uncomfortable. Not only did the Lu family have an old friendship with his great ancestor, but when his father came to visit that day, he put a thousand taels of silver notes in the snack box.
Although his family was living a relatively prosperous life, taking out a thousand taels at once was not a small sum.
Zhou Zixu knew that the reason why his grandfather and father were so generous was to smooth his career.
But now, the other person only spoke lightly, and I was no longer embarrassed to go to their home with the article.
I don't know if Lu Shibo knew about this, but regardless of whether he knew it or not, Zhou Zixu was not going to go anymore.
Seeing the disappointment on Zhou Zixu's face, Lin Yuanqiu patted him on the shoulder and said, "Let's go to a restaurant to eat fish!"
…
Although his mind was basically devoted to his studies, Lin Yuanqiu did not forget about painting.
After all, money is the foundation of one's life, and nothing is impossible without it.
Therefore, Lin Yuanqiu would paint one or two paintings every night. For this reason, he bought two more oil lamps, so that with three oil lamps lit, his eyes would not be hurt due to poor vision.
As for the paintings, they are the same as before, including freehand landscapes, four-part paintings of flowers and birds, and portraits of Bodhisattvas.
In addition to these, Lin Yuanqiu also went out to buy some pieces of cloud gauze, and then painted two sets of Kang screens, which were in the same five-part screen style as in Fucheng.
As for the selling price of the kang screen, Lin Yuanqiu had already thought about it. He planned to sell it for fifty taels of silver per set. This price was exactly double what it was in Fucheng.
On the fifteenth day, Lin Yuanqiu went to Sibao Zhai with his book box on his back.
Shopkeeper Zhu was greatly relieved when he saw someone coming. I finally let go of my worries.
It will be a month soon. How can it be said that he is not in a hurry? During this period, he has collected deposits from several customers. If he cannot complete the order, he will have to compensate them for the money.
When they arrived at the inner hall, Lin Yuanqiu took out a dozen paintings and two sets of Kang screen pictures from the book box.
This was the first time that shopkeeper Zhu saw such a beautifully painted five-part screen.
Everyone knows that the most important thing is to draw the open face of a Bodhisattva. Many people cannot draw this kind of charm.
Seeing the lifelike faces full of compassion in the paintings, shopkeeper Zhu could already imagine how exquisite the kang screen would be when it was finished.
After carefully rolling up the cloud yarn, shopkeeper Zhu and Lin Yuanqiu settled the money. The two sets of five-part kang screens were worth one hundred taels, the thirteen freehand landscapes were worth twenty-six taels, and the four-part painting of flowers and birds was worth eighty taels. The four Bodhisattva pictures are thirty-two taels.
Shopkeeper Zhu flicked the beads on the abacus, and then said with a smile on his face, "My friend, these paintings today total one hundred and sixty-six taels."
Although he had already calculated the amount of money in his pocket before going out, Lin Yuanqiu could not hide his excitement when he took the banknote in his hand.
Sure enough, it is easier to make money in big cities.
Shopkeeper Zhu took out five or six bags from the counter, and then said carefully to Lin Yuanqiu, "These four bags ordered by the customers are Guanyin, and one of the two bags is Yangliu Guanyin, and the other is Lotus-holding Guanyin. I have written a note on the baggage, and I will let your uncle draw it when the time comes."
Lin Yuanqiu nodded, then opened one of the bags and looked at it. Except for the written note, the contents inside were the same as before.
Three scented incense sticks, a writing brush, an ink stick, a small porcelain box for pigments, and an inkstone.
Lin Yuanqiu discovered that the inkstone this time was much larger than the previous one in Fucheng, and the carvings were more finely crafted, so the price was probably a lot more expensive.
Lin Yuanqiu tied the cloth bag again, and then put all the bundles into the book box.
Lin Yuanqiu didn't mention selling second-hand inkstones this time. He had a lot of children at home, and these inkstones looked good, so he left them to Qing'er and the others.
After saying goodbye to Shopkeeper Zhu, Lin Yuanqiu did not go back to the Imperial College directly. Instead, he transferred from Qingyu Street to Shangting Street. There were several tooth shops open here. Lin Yuanqiu wanted to inquire about the housing prices in the capital.
Based on today's income from selling paintings, it would not be difficult to save up the money to buy a house. Lin Yuanqiu had already thought about it. When he had saved enough money, he could buy a house in the capital first.
According to my experience in my previous life, I will definitely not lose money when buying a house in a big city.
Given Lin Yuanqiu's age, the charlatans would definitely be less enthusiastic. After all, when he was only sixteen or seventeen years old, how could he be the owner of the family's property, shop, and house?
Lin Yuanqiu didn't care and directly asked Yaji about the price of the house.
Lin Yuanqiu couldn't help but take a breath when he heard that the price of the house in the small courtyard was more than 300 taels. As he had guessed before, houses in the capital were two to three times more expensive than in the capital.
The yard was too small upon entering, so it was not part of his plan.
Lin Yuanqiu asked about the price of the large courtyard again, and the quotation he got was that anyone who entered the courtyard three times and took the throne would have to pay one thousand eight hundred taels. As for the fourth courtyard, if it has a back room and a reverse seat, it will cost more than four thousand taels of silver.
After knowing what was going on, Lin Yuanqiu walked out of his teeth and walked towards the Imperial College.
At the same time, I also set a goal for myself to buy a big house.
