Sun Zhigao resigned from the academy, and Sheng Changgui also transferred to a school in a neighboring county. The news spread throughout the entire Sheng Family Free School the next day, as if it had wings.
After Sun Zhigao left, Sheng Wei immediately straightened up the hard-working Shi Kai, and the atmosphere of the free school suddenly took on a new look and became a prosperous scene.
At the same time, as Wang Xuezheng and his party returned to the provincial capital, his experience as a student in the Shengshi Yixue examination gradually spread.
At a banquet, Wang Xuezheng recited "Bamboo and Stone" in public, and praised Wei Chen, the author of this poem, as "a talent in the Imperial Academy" in front of his colleagues.
When the news came out, "Bamboo and Stone" was immediately copied by scholars in the provincial capital, and Wei Chen also gained the reputation of a prodigy who could write poems at the age of ten.
Wei Chen became popular, and even the Sheng family's righteous school became popular. Many Han family children from several counties near Youyang came to study here.
For these people, Sheng Wei refused to come. In order to accommodate more and more students, he also bought the land around the free school and doubled the expansion of the free school.
Magistrate Feng reported the matter to Jiangning Prefecture. Magistrate Shen Du saw the report and praised Sheng Wei as a Confucian businessman who "establishes himself and others, and helps others." He immediately issued an official document asking Magistrate Feng to open the door to convenience and fully assist Sheng Wei. Weixing runs volunteer schools.
Not long after, even Sheng Hong, who was an official in Yangzhou, heard about this incident. He wrote a letter praising his cousin's good volunteer school, which brought great honor to the Youyang Sheng family, and he was honored in Yangzhou.
In the letter, Sheng Hong also asked carefully about Wei Chen's situation, and said that the next time he returns to his hometown in Youyang, he must meet this child prodigy appointed by the academic master if he has the opportunity.
Wei Chen didn't know it yet, but his reputation had spread to Yangzhou and reached the ears of senior Red Wolf.
During this period of time, he stayed at home, ignored the disturbances from the outside world, and studied hard in the free school. This lasted for more than a month. Even Shi Kai, who had always been strict, thought that Wei Chen's knowledge had made great progress and he was ready to start. Learned craftsmanship.
…
In the afternoon of this day, it was so hot in the free school that there was not even a hint of cool breeze.
The students simply lost their dignity as scholars and hid under the big banyan tree in the backyard to study together. Wei Chen also took off his long-sleeved student shirt and put on his trousers.
Wei Chen read for a while and felt a little thirsty. He picked up the large bowl on the side and took several gulps.
After putting down the tea bowl, someone immediately helped to fill it up, and then came over with a book to ask for advice.
Today, Wei Chen is improving day by day in his knowledge and ranks among the best in Sheng's free school, second only to older students like Chen Jun who are fifteen or sixteen years old.
Moreover, Wei Chen is approachable and very patient. Young Meng children like to ask him for advice when they have questions about their studies.
After Wei Chen answered the questions from several classmates, he continued to pick up the book and was about to continue studying. At this time, someone outside shouted: "Wei Chen!"
Wei Chen stood up and took a look, and it turned out to be Sheng Wei. Sheng Wei said with a smile on his face: "My little friend, I have some good news for you. The paperwork for your uncle's exemption from household chores has come down."
When Wei Chen heard this, he couldn't help but be overjoyed.
A month ago, Wang Xuezheng came to Yixue. He was appreciated by Wang Xuezheng and was invited to the banquet. During the chat at the banquet, Wang Xuezheng asked about Wei Chen's family background, and Wei Chen naturally told the truth.
After learning that Wei Chen's parents died and he was raised by his neighbors, the Zhang family and his wife, Wang Xuezheng sighed and praised the Zhang family and his wife as righteous persons.
Feng Zhixian, who was at the same table, saw this and immediately decided to exempt Zhang Ming from the miscellaneous corvee for three years as a way to praise the Zhang family and his wife.
Now that a month has passed, the official document issued by Youyang County Government has finally come out.
Wei Chen took the document from Sheng Wei and accepted it, thanking him: "Thank you, Master Sheng."
Sheng Wei frowned when he heard the title Master Sheng, waved his hand and said: "My little friend, you are a scholar, how can I, a businessman, be worthy of your title of Master? In terms of age, I am a few years older than your father. If you don’t mind, little friend, why not call me uncle!”
After Sheng Wei said this, Wei Chen stopped being pretentious and immediately called: "Uncle."
Sheng Wei beamed when he heard this and responded happily: "Hey, my wise nephew!"
Afterwards, he praised Wei Chen with a smile, and then left with satisfaction.
After Sheng Wei left, Wei Chen put the document of exemption from corvee in his arms and put it away. He went straight to the lecture hall to ask for leave from his teacher Shi Kai. After getting permission, he went to the dormitory to pack his luggage.
After being away from home for more than a month, Wei Chen has long been homesick, but he has been waiting for this document from the county government. Now, he can finally go home.
After packing his bags, Wei Chen walked out of the free school.
It was still early at this time, and the people on the street couldn't help but start talking when they saw Wei Chen.
"Isn't this the child prodigy appointed by the Master of Academic Affairs? I heard that he can also compose poetry!"
"At such a young age, you can be appreciated by the academic masters, and your future will be limitless!"
"Oh, when I see him, I think of that useless boy in my family. The more I think about it, the angrier I get. I'll beat him up when I get home!"
Along the way, passers-by greeted Wei Chen one after another, and Wei Chen politely returned the greetings one by one.
When passing by the grocery store, Wei Chen bought some things on the way and then left the county town.
There were still more than ten miles of mountain road ahead. Wei Chen carried large and small bags on his back and walked for more than an hour. When he was almost home, it was already evening.
Entering Xiyin Village, many fellow villagers greeted him along the way: "Achen is back from school!"
The small village is isolated, and many people in the village have never been to the county seat more than ten miles away. It is estimated that the news that Wei Chen was appreciated by Wang Xuezheng has not yet spread.
The villagers didn't know that the shy boy in front of them was already a child prodigy whose poetry had spread to the provincial capital.
When Wei Chen came to the small yard of his home, he saw Zhang Xu feeding silkworms, holding a dustpan in one hand and taking out mulberry leaves from it with the other. When he turned around and put down the dustpan, he happened to see Wei Chen.
Zhang Xu rubbed his eyes in disbelief, and after confirming that he saw it correctly, he jumped up to meet him: "Brother Chen!"
Zhang Ming and Wei Ruyi in the back room heard the noise and came out to check.
The three people surrounded Wei Chen, all surprised and happy.
Zhang Xu saw the large and small bags Wei Chen was carrying, and immediately volunteered to help carry them. Once he got started, he realized that he couldn't carry them at all.
Zhang Xu gasped and asked curiously: "Brother Chen, what are you carrying so heavy?"
When Wei Ruyi and Zhang Ming heard this, they also came over to check. They saw that Wei Chen's bag was filled with lumps of lard, a pile of broken charcoal, and a thin tube that they didn't know what it was used for.
Wei Ruyi was shocked: "Brother Chen, you won't use all the money I gave you to buy these, right?"
Zhang Ming was also a little confused: "With so much lard, how long will it take for us to finish it?"
Wei Chen shook his head and said: "Aunt, uncle, this lard is not for eating, it is our treasure to make money!"
After that, he asked Zhang Xu who was standing aside: "Axu, do you remember that I told you that I would make money with you?"
Zhang Xu looked excited and replied loudly: "Remember!"
"Axu is so smart!"
Wei Chen fondly touched Zhang Xu's little head and pulled him into the kitchen.
Zhang Ming and Wei Ruyi looked at each other, both of them secretly wondering, what is Brother Chen trying to do?
