The heat of May is not here yet, and the sun is just right.
The mountains in the distance are lush and green, and the creek in the mountains turns eastward and flows into a small lake.
The water vapor was steaming and the rice flowers were fragrant. A young man walked slowly along the stream and came to a small courtyard by the lake.
The young man came forward, knocked on the door, and asked respectfully: "Excuse me, is Mr. Qingteng at home?"
In the courtyard, the old man Qing Kui finished a set of Taoist breathing and meditation exercises and put on his Confucian robe.
An old servant brought him tea to rinse his mouth with, and then offered him a cup of freshly brewed Yangxian Snow Bud.
The old man was lying on a wicker chair, basking in the sun leisurely. When he heard the door knocking outside, he didn't look back, but just gave the old servant a wink.
Then he picked up a book from the side and squinted his eyes to read it.
The old servant understood, went out, opened the courtyard door, and said to the young man who knocked on the door: "My master is not here, please come back."
Wei Chen stood at the door, angry and funny.
Through the crack in the door, he saw an old man sitting there reading a book in the courtyard. Isn't this servant lying with his eyes open?
However, Wei Chen also knew that the old servant in front of him was just following orders, so he did not vent his anger on him, but bowed his hands respectfully and said:
"Wei Chen is a late student. Mr. Futai asked me to come and pay homage to Mr. Qingteng."
"Which Futai?"
"Of course it's Shen Futai."
The old man in the courtyard was listening to the questions and answers of the two people outside, and suddenly a thought came to his mind.
Did this kid Shen Du call him here?
Yes, the imperial examination has been completed. He must have found a good talent and good quality and brought it to my door!
The old man put down the book in his hand, stretched, stood up slowly, and shouted outside: "Ah Fu, there are guests coming to the door. Why are you keeping people outside? Why don't you serve tea quickly?"
"Yes, sir."
The old servant Ah Fu responded, then stepped aside and invited Wei Chen into the courtyard. He apologized and turned around to prepare tea.
Wei Chen stepped into the courtyard and saw the old man in Confucian robes with a calm temperament. He thought to himself that this must be the rightful owner. He immediately saluted and said: "Student Wei Chen, pay your respects to Mr. Qingteng."
The old man nodded in return, pointing to the short stool beside him and said, "Sit down."
"Thank you, sir."
Before arriving, Wei Chen had already asked Sheng Changbai, Tao Dazhi and others about the life of Mr. Qingteng.
Mr. Qingteng, whose surname is Zhuang Mingjun and whose courtesy name is Zihe, is from Ji'an Prefecture, Jiangxi Province.
Some people may not know his name, but when it comes to Mr. Shannong Yan Xiren, everyone knows about him.
And this Yan Xiren is one of Zhuang Jun's disciples.
Zhuang Jun has little chivalrous spirit, is good at swordsmanship, and is anxious for others' needs.
His teacher Xu Pingzhang died in the battle in Hehuang. Zhuang Jun traveled thousands of miles, over mountains and ridges, and traveled for several months just to collect his teacher's bones. At that time, he was known as the Qingteng Righteous Hero.
At the age of nineteen, Zhuang Jun passed the Jinshi examination and was awarded the title of editor of the Hanlin Academy. It can be said that he was a young man with a bright future.
However, he chose not to resign and went south to join the army of Yongyi Hou Xu Pingjing. During this period, he made many ingenious plans and helped Yongyi Hou put down the rebellion in Guangxi.
After that, Zhuang Jun followed his army to fight all over the world, attacking Dangxiang in the west and Khitan in the north, and made great achievements in battle.
During the Yong'an period, Marquis Yongyi was tabooed by the villains in the court because he held a large number of troops. There were numerous impeachment memorials. Marquis Yongyi had no choice but to beg for his body and return to Jiangning to live as an idle marquis to take care of himself.
Zhuang Jun also left the army and returned to his hometown to devote himself to studying. In ten years, he achieved great success in learning.
Needless to say, he is proficient in all the miscellaneous subjects such as military strategy, divination, algorithm, topography, mountain classics, materia medica, and laws and regulations. His extensive knowledge is unparalleled in the world. .
After that, Zhuang Jun lectured all over the world, and Jing had countless followers, and his disciples spread all over the country.
Among them, there are great scholars like Yan Xiren and capable ministers and officials like Shen Du.
However, Zhuang Jun only lectured and solved their doubts, but never recognized them as his disciples.
At the age of fifty-two, Zhuang Jun was invited by Fan Yang, the then Chief Assistant, to give lectures in Tokyo to the seven hundred candidates who participated in the joint examination. The occasion was unprecedented and caused a sensation in the capital. Even the officials of the current court asked him for a job.
At this point, Mr. Qingteng became famous all over the world.
If I could sum up Zhuang Jun's life in two words, it would probably be a legend.
Now Shen Du introduced Wei Chen to such a strange teacher.
After Wei Chen learned about this old gentleman's deeds, he was filled with admiration and suddenly wanted to become his disciple.
On Wei Chen's path to study, if Shi Kai was Wei Chen's mentor and Lin Yan was Wei Chen's Confucian teacher, then Mr. Qingteng was the most suitable master in Wei Chen's mind.
After inquiring about Zhuang Jun's residence, Wei Chen originally wanted to bring Sheng Changbai and the others with him, but Sheng Changbai hesitated and seemed to have something to hide. Chen Jun and Tao Dazhi even considered themselves mediocre and were afraid that they would not be able to get into the eyes of Mr. Qingteng. In short, a None of them can escape.
Wei Chen had no choice but to come alone.
After entering and sitting down, Wei Chen looked at the world-famous Mr. Qingteng in front of him, feeling quite strange in his heart.
Although the other party was idle and far away from the court, his reputation among the scholars was something that even the governor of Jiangnan did not dare to ignore.
Unexpectedly, today I would be able to chat with such a famous person while sitting on a small bench in the farmyard.
While Wei Chen looked at Zhuang Jun, Zhuang Jun was also looking at the young man in front of him.
He was well versed in the art of physiognomy, and when he saw that Wei Chen's eyes were as bright as paint, he knew that he must be an extremely intelligent person.
Zhuang Jun was silent for a while, and suddenly said: "I have been at home all over the world my whole life, and I have no worries. I have never had any intention of accepting a disciple. It's just that that kid Shen Du made his own decision and insisted on finding a closed disciple for me to support him until he is old. I am relying on someone else, so I have no choice but to let him go."
Wei Chen's heart skipped a beat.
Don’t want to take on a disciple?
Then wouldn’t my trip be in vain?
You old man are just teasing me!
"but--"
Just when Wei Chen was slandering, Zhuang Jun suddenly changed his topic and showed a smile: "Meeting each other is fate, and since you are here, it is also fate. Anyway, I have nothing to do, so you can take the exam for the school. .”
Wei Chen secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said respectfully: "Sir, please come up with the question."
Zhuang Jun pondered for a moment, picked up the scroll on the side, opened a page at random, pointed to the content on it and asked: "The story of the return of the intact jade to Zhao is indeed interesting. What do you think of Lin Xiangru?"
Wei Chen said loudly: "If it were the imperial examination, students would naturally praise Lin Xiangru in their articles for being wise and courageous, not afraid of power, and safeguarding the dignity of the country, which is admirable."
"Did you write it like this when you were making the art?"
Zhuang Jun heard the unfinished meaning in Wei Chen's words and asked with interest: "So, you don't actually think so in your heart?"
Wei Chen peeked at Zhuang Jun's expression and said boldly: "Students think that Lin Xiangru is just a desperado who is seeking fame and reputation. All he does is to gain promotion for himself, and it is harmful to the country and the people but not beneficial at all." !”
"Keep talking."
Zhuang Jun sat on the wicker chair, his expression still calm, but his straight upper body quietly leaned forward a little.
