The Bookish Scholar of the Red Mansion

Master, is there anything wrong?

Chen Heng stood beside the desk, looking at Wang Xianming's somewhat old face under the light. He is now fifty-one, has some white hair growing on his head, and his eyesight is not as good as before.

Under the dim light, Wang Xianming read the article written by Chen Heng and said with great emotion: Heng'er, your articles are getting better and better as you write them. You have grasped the key points of the inheritance and transformation of the eight-legged essay.

Chen Heng was not complacent. As he grew older, he became more prudent in his dealings, and he also knew that Wang Xianming still had something to say.

As a teacher, I know your talents best. With my current writing skills, it will be easy to pass the county examination. Apart from the difficulty of ranking, I can't find fault with you as a teacher. It's just...

Wang Xianming pointed to the white paper covered with pen and ink in his hand, and continued towards Chen Heng, I am reading your article as a teacher. It is full of flowers, but I still feel something is wrong. I want you to polish it again, but I don't know where to start.

Wang Xianming sighed, as an old boy, Wang Xianming and Wen Zhang really lacked skills. It feels wrong to belong to me, but if you ask me to teach you to change it, you are in trouble.

You should know that if you can get a good rank in the county examination, the government examination will fail. If you can still get a good rank in the government examination, you can get the title of scholar with just half of your hand.

Wang Xianming shook his head to himself, implying that he hoped Chen Heng could endure it. Taking the county exam this year may not be the best choice.

If you can sharpen your writing skills well, you will get first place in the county examination and pass the government examination without any accident. Only after passing the government examination can one be considered a real child and take the first step in transforming from a common man to a scholar.

How could Chen Heng not know Wang Xianming's concerns and expectations? He had been taught carefully by his master for more than two years, and he did not dare to relax for a day. All they wanted was to achieve something in the imperial examination.

But time waits for me.

Chen Heng didn't dare to tell Wang Xianming about his anxiety.

This matter starts with Chen Heng's second uncle. Two years ago, Chen Huaijin followed Chen Sande to the Xue family's pawn shop in the county. By some unlucky fate, he was able to get money back home in no time.

At the beginning, it was still a few tens of cash, but later it was a few hundred cash. During the Chinese New Year this year, Chen Huaijin took out three taels of silver and gave it to the Zhou family when the family was having a meal, which made Chen Heng deeply feel that disaster was coming.

Grandma Zhou also asked about the origin of the money, and Chen Huaijin always said that it was a reward from the shopkeeper. Mrs. Zhou didn't become suspicious and just smiled and praised her son for his ability. After all, people in the village often go to the county for walks. When passing by the pawn shop, they can see Chen Huaijin busy inside.

But these words only deceived the elderly who didn't go out at home. Chen Heng saw this and was anxious in his heart. It’s not like he has never seen the world in his previous life. If the higher-ups can give you money like this, it’s just to shut your mouth or make you do something shameful.

With a little knowledge, Chen Heng didn't know what was waiting for him in the future. He couldn't change his second uncle, so he could only force himself to take the imperial examination, hoping to gain fame when disaster struck.

Seeing that his disciple was silent, Wang Xianming knew that he could not persuade this child to take the imperial examination. I can only advise Chen Heng to go home and rest first, so that he can think about it at home.

Wang Xianming was worried about this. Not to mention, when Chen Heng got home, he took out his book and studied hard as usual. His family knew his own affairs, and he knew the problems of his article. Chen Heng could feel that he was standing in front of a door. As long as he pushed it open, there would be a vast sea and sky.

But this door not only blocked him, but also the Master and many people.

…………

…………

This night.

Wang Xianming lay in bed unable to sleep for a long time. Mrs. Liu didn't know when she last saw him like this, so she couldn't help but ask a lot. Wang Xianming didn't intend to say anything at first, but he couldn't stand Liu's entanglement, so he could only express his worries.

You are so confused! After hearing this, Master Liu, Mrs. Liu, put her foot on Wang Xianming. She was really anxious and angry, You don't understand, why don't you ask someone for advice? You have delayed Heng'er's important event. If you ruin the youthful spirit in him, I'll see what you will regret in the future.

Wang Xianming shuddered when he heard this, and he suddenly thought of the fallen scholars in the examination room. How many people who have learned a lot have become depressed day by day because of one or two failures, and have embarked on the wrong path of becoming worse every day.

Originally, all he could think about was to let Chen Heng succeed in one fell swoop, standing next to him and looking at the scholar's gate together. Now think about it, if Chen Heng failed in the imperial examination and wasted his energy, who knows what will happen in the future. Thinking of this, he was originally looking forward to it with a hint of worry, but now he also became panicked.

What should we do? What should we do? Wang Xianming was trembling even as he spoke, and his face turned red with anxiety. The more he thought about it, the worse it got. Even small problems that he had not noticed before were magnified.

I'm still in a daze about writing, so I quickly got up and wrote a letter. Ms. Liu pushed Wang Xianming out of bed, got up and dressed herself, and paced around the room. I'm afraid I won't be able to catch up if I write a letter to dad now. .”

Mrs. Liu suddenly thought of someone, Why don't you write a letter to Ruhai.

This...he is busy with official duties, I'm afraid it's not good. Wang Xianming showed hesitation. He now knew that Lin Xiucai was the current Salt Patrol Censor in Yangzhou, and he was a junior and powerful official. (Note 1)

Wang Xianming became angry at the thought of writing him a letter and subconsciously wanted to avoid this option.

No matter how busy he is, it doesn't matter if he takes some time to come and see you. In the past two years, I have relied on your face and not taken you with me every time I went to his house as a guest. When they asked, I also deduced that you wanted to Teach at home. Now for Heng'er's important event, you can't even give up this little face?

Mrs. Liu is really a Zhuge among women, and she hit Wang Xianming's seven inches with just a few words. The latter didn't hesitate anymore, just asked his wife to quickly turn on the lamp, and started writing directly in the bedroom.

In the letter, he explained his confusion one by one, found three latest articles by Chen Heng and put them in the envelope, and put them all into envelopes and sealed them.

The next day, the letter was sent to the county via Murakami Kenzu.

Three days later, on the eighteenth day of the first lunar month, this letter arrived at Lin Mansion as scheduled. Lin Ruhai, who came back from the office in the evening, was a little confused when he received the envelope from Shanxi Village from the concierge.

After he opened the letter in the study room, after reading the contents, he picked up Chen Heng's article and read it. He couldn't help but laugh and said: No wonder, no wonder. The fog obscures your eyesight, and you don't know it when you enter the forest.

My sister's family sent me a letter, but there's something urgent.

The study door was pushed open, and no one had arrived. Lin Ruhai knew that the only person who could come in at this time was his wife Jia, and those concubines would never dare to disturb her, so they quickly got up and walked out.

Mrs. Jia walked under the light. The dim candlelight made her luxurious clothes even more beautiful. Her face was tired and her almond-shaped eyes were drooped. She must have been troubled by her son during the day.

Lin Ruhai took her into his arms and said with a smile, My brother-in-law's disciple has some writing matters.

Mrs. Jia nodded, put down the ginseng tea she had brewed in her hand, and advised, Master, drink it while it's hot first. He then joked, I've only met this brother-in-law once or twice in the past two years. I'm sure he's willing to take the initiative to write me a letter today. I’m really anxious.”

Mrs. Jia was born like a hibiscus in August. She smiled before saying anything. Under the light, Lin Ruhai was dumbfounded and made the middle-aged man feel confused.

Seeing the teasing in Jia's eyes, Lin Ruhai reacted, calmed down her mind, and said with a smile, If this were not the case, how could he be a brother-in-law to you and me?

Jia just nodded and smiled. Ever since Lin Ruhai came to Yangzhou as an errand, she had been surrounded by rich salt merchants. Most of these people were people who wanted to follow the influence of others. They said nice things in different ways and found reasons to give away rare treasures. Even Jia, who was used to seeing wealth and wealth, was often shocked by their generosity.

However, this Liu family is valued by her husband. But every time I was invited to my house as a guest, I felt a bit reserved in my warm welcome. Occasionally, he would come to visit, and his speech would be restrained. He would neither inquire about official affairs nor ask about Lin's family affairs. It was just chatting.

During the back and forth contact, even Mrs. Jia noticed Mrs. Liu's good intentions. No wonder her husband could always call Mrs. Liu his sister. Instead of talking to those ladies every day, Jia, who was born in a well-known family, prefers Liu's sincere and straightforward character. At least it is effortless and hassle-free to talk.

Go and see if Yu'er is asleep. After I finish writing my reply, I will go over and accompany you. Lin Ruhai persuaded his wife after drinking the ginseng tea.

good.

After Mrs. Jia returned, Lin Ruhai pondered for a moment, then picked up the pen and wrote ink on the letter.

The next day, when Lin Ruhai went out, he asked the concierge to take the letter and deliver it to the inn.

Three days later, it was the twenty-first day of the first lunar month.

Wang Xianming was dumbfounded when he received the reply. If Jianzu, who delivered the letter, hadn't repeatedly promised that he had taken the wrong letter, he would have doubted whether Lin Ruhai had taken the wrong letter paper.

But looking at the handwriting, it was indeed written by Lin Ruhai himself, and the alias written at the end was also Wang Xianming's alias. Wang Xianming had no choice but to call Chen Heng to his side, hand him the letter, and let Chen Heng make his own decision.

Chen Heng took it and looked at it, and was dumbfounded.

I saw the letter said: Why don't you go out and put some paper kites?

Note 1: Regarding Father Lin’s official position, there are different opinions outside. Some people say that his official position is high and powerful, while others say that his official position is small and not worth mentioning.

I personally think it may not be right. First, salt administration is an important weapon of the country, and it cannot be done by anyone but an idle person. Secondly, Lin's father was also a Tanhua, and he also served as the official of Lantai Temple. This official was not a big one, but he was a Yanguan. It is certain that the emperor likes Father Lin, but to directly promote him to take charge of the world's salt administration is to break the rules of officialdom and is unreasonable. And there is no reason why a country’s ministers should not go to the central government to work locally. So I made changes.

In the future, unless there is a special need, some explanations will not be posted. Anyway, they are just empty words. Let us let go of the writing and move forward.

PS: Good news by the way, we are signing a contract. Laughing, we don’t even have a cover, but we’re signing a contract. It’s such a mysterious feeling. Thank you all, please give me some recommendation votes by the way, thank you very much.