The Bookish Scholar of the Red Mansion

Chen Heng finally returned to the previous inn and opened a shop. He had no choice but to bow to hunger, cold and poverty no matter how heroic he was. After all, no one can keep his head up forever unless there is a canopy of trees above him to protect him from the wind and rain.

The environment in Tongpu is very bad. People who come to Yangzhou at this time are either literati, wealthy businessmen, or small people who come here specifically to make money from these people. The three big men who slept in the same room as Chen Heng were such people.

Among them are two cousins ​​from Shanxi, who are slightly younger. There was a middle-aged man who came from Zhejiang Province. They all heard about the prosperity in Yangzhou, but they didn't want to stay at home and farm, so they came over to see if there was any opportunity to make a fortune.

Regarding the appearance of Chen Heng and his son, they were like every passerby who met by chance, they were very chatty and loved to chat about their experiences from all over the world.

Among them, Brother Chen, who comes from Zhejiang Province, has lived in both Jinling and Yangzhou. He commented on them this way: The streets of Jinling belong to the children of princes. They love to ride horses and parade in the streets. I like everything that is lively and fresh. Most Jinling people live in alleys. Except for setting up stalls when necessary, it is actually difficult to notice them in the sun.

Because your eyes will only see those young men wearing bright clothes and angry horses.

Yangzhou is different. The city of Yangzhou has a strange charm that will make every Yangzhou person flock to the streets to enjoy the colorful world in front of them. But unknowingly, they were also supporting the wealthy salt merchants in the sky.

Having said this, Brother Chen licked his upper lip and said with emotion: If you really want to say it, Yangzhou City is still more suitable for making a living. At least the rich businessmen can get some profit, but among the sons of princes, all you can encounter is trouble.

After hearing this, Chen Heng could only answer with a long silence. After leaving Shanxi Village, when the excitement of seeing Yangzhou City dissipated, the real side of the world was exposed before our eyes like a reef after low tide.

Shanxi Village is Shanxi Village, and Yangzhou City is Yangzhou City.

The land is separated by a boundary, and the people are separated by a boundary.

When he was resting that night, Chen Heng was held in his arms by his father, lying in the back of the bunk. The quilt covering him had the smell unique to the rainy season. The young man slept in his clothes and walked into the deep moonlight.

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When Chen Heng woke up the next morning, Brother Chen hadn't come back yet, and the cousins ​​from Shanxi had already gone out. Taking advantage of this time, he opened the book and read for a while. After Chen Qi bought the sesame cakes from outside, the two of them ate breakfast in a hurry. Brother Chen, who had been working outside all night, returned to the house tiredly. They exchanged a few words and then went to sleep.

In order to avoid disturbing his rest, Chen Heng picked up the book and walked outside the inn, finding a secluded corner. This is a stone pier by the river. There are few people and sunshine, and you can watch the gurgling river water, which is perfect for reading.

Chen Qi obeyed Zhou and Gu's instructions and never left his son's side. Even when he was reading, he would stay by the side silently, neither making a sound nor moving.

Wait until you finish reading and finish your daily homework. Chen Heng is ready to go to the government office to register. This is a necessary process for everyone taking the government examination. The government must determine how many people will take the exam.

The yamen was very quiet at noon. The yamen responsible for recording was sitting in a side room of the yamen. When he opened the documents produced by Taixing County, he made a surprised sound. His eyes paused on Chen Heng again, and he picked up the document called 'Facial Book'.

Small and thin, with a yellow and round face, no moles, and thick eyebrows.

This is the content of the face book, which is used by the government to check whether the candidate has been impersonated. Generally, candidates can go to the county to make one when they confirm to take the exam. Once you pass this exam, it will be useless.

I will have to make it again next time I participate. After all, some people take the imperial examination for more than ten years. In such a long time span, it is impossible for there to be no changes at all.

After everything was approved, the Yamen said congratulations to him out of nowhere and asked him to leave the name of the inn where he was staying. Chen Heng didn't know what to congratulate, so he just assumed that the other party was wishing him success in the imperial examination.

After everything was done, all that was left was to go back to the inn and wait for the imperial examination. As long as Chen Heng ensures that he doesn't get sick in the next time, his trip to Yangzhou will be more than half successful.

When it was time to have dinner, something happened. The shopkeeper came to the door specially and said: Someone came to the inn and asked for Chen Heng by name. Chen Heng himself was a little strange. When he walked into the lobby, he turned out to be a stranger he didn't recognize.

I saw that the person who came was dressed in unusual clothes, and there was a bit of arrogance hidden in his expression. Although I came to the inn to find someone, I was standing outside the inn, seemingly unwilling to step in.

May I ask, brother, what business do you have with me? Chen Heng stepped forward and asked.

The man stroked his beard a few times, smiled broadly, and said, But the head of the case in Taixing County—Chen Heng.

Exactly down there.

Hahaha, congratulations, young man. Congratulations, young man. My master has been entrusted by the magistrate and has come to invite you to the mansion to have a talk.

I wonder who your master is? What's the matter with me? Chen Heng was a little confused and didn't have much favorable impression of this person who sounded like he had a great background.

My master's name is Feng Zhu. He is a well-known local salt merchant in Yangzhou. I am the second-class steward in the mansion. Young Master, you can call me, Manager Huang. This time, I really have a happy event. Congratulations to Young Master. .”

The man clapped his hands, and a soft sedan came trotting over from the alley. He pointed his finger at the stopped sedan and said, Please get on the sedan, Mr. Young. The master has already prepared a banquet in the house and is waiting for Mr. Young to arrive.

If Chen Heng is willing to agree, his father has not come back yet since he went out to buy dinner. Just as he was about to refuse, the sedan bearers came around behind him, lifted him up from left to right, and stuffed him into the sedan.

Wait...wait a moment, my dad...

Young man, don't panic. The innkeeper will inform your family on your behalf. Manager Huang put down the curtain and said, Get up the sedan.

Before Chen Heng could sit firmly in the sedan chair. The four bearers had already carried the sedan chair for more than ten steps. Seeing how this Huang Guanshi was acting, he was really overbearing and had no chance of rejection.

After a little panic, Chen Heng smiled bitterly and couldn't help but comfort himself: As long as it comes, let's take care of it. It's useless to be nervous all the time. It's better to stay calm and plan the next response.

The imperial examination is about to take place, and no one would try to murder a scholar at this time. Especially for a case manager like him, if he misses the exam without any reason, it will be a top priority for the county government in any place.

Wanting to understand this, Chen Heng simply closed his eyes in the sedan chair and recalled the articles he had memorized. After a moment or so, Chen Heng heard the word get off the sedan chair from outside.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Manager Huang pulling up the curtain, smiling and sticking his head out, saying: Young gentleman, please get out of the sedan. The master has been waiting for you for a long time.

Although he said this, when Chen Heng got off the sedan chair, there was no one at the gate except a few concierges to greet guests. Chen Heng didn't pay attention either. Under the dark light, he looked around but couldn't see any clues.

He could only follow the guidance of Manager Huang and walk towards the house without changing his expression. But as soon as he stepped through the door, he was immediately shocked by the sight in front of him.

Three men on the left and three maids on the right each held lanterns. They stood on both sides of the road and bowed slightly to salute. Before Chen Heng could react, they had already taken small steps to hold lanterns around Chen Heng.

Shopkeeper Huang was accustomed to this and only made a gesture of invitation. The group of people continued walking towards the mansion, passing through rockery ponds and turning several corners, which really made everyone dizzy.

Why can Chen Heng see the environment clearly? It's so pitiful that the damn salt merchant hung lanterns all over the house, and even hung a Kongming lantern from a bamboo joint on the rockery. It's really beyond evaluation.

Finally, he came to a hall. When Chen Heng walked in, seven scholars were already sitting inside. There is a maid serving the scholar, but she is not the same person as the lamp holder. Her clothes are more gorgeous and her appearance is better.

Manager Huang led Chen Heng to sit down and immediately stepped back. He was replaced by a maid who walked gracefully and made him tea with a smile as soon as she came up. Chen Heng only became an old monk and entered the state of trance, without watching or drinking.

At this time, a person walked out of the screen. He was dressed in ordinary clothes and had a slight smile on his face. When he saw Manager Huang following him, Chen Heng thought he was Mr. Feng, but he didn't expect that the other person would say as soon as he opened his mouth:

Everyone, I am Ji Changgui, the chief steward of the mansion. I warmly invite you all to come here today. I originally wanted to come here in person. But unfortunately, a distinguished guest came to visit the mansion today. He and I have been close friends for many years. I really couldn't get away, so I had to I would like to ask you to come over to accompany me, and I hope that all of you will be considerate.

After all the chatter, it was nothing more than inviting people over and then leaving them alone. Most of the scholars who are doing this are high-spirited people. Inevitably, some people would complain, You invited me, and you have to pay for the sin. I don't know what kind of distinguished guest made your house do such a disgraceful thing.

That's a good question. Chen Heng couldn't help but nod at this outstanding person.

Manager Ji seemed to be waiting for his question. Hearing this, he smiled and said with a louder voice, He is none other than the current Hanlin Duke, Mei Banshan.

The scholars were a little flustered when they heard this. The person who asked the question before quickly stood up and bowed.

Mr. Hanlin? Mei Banshan?

Chen Heng raised his eyebrows slightly, and for a moment he couldn't figure out whether this person was the one he knew when he saw Red Mansions.

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In fact, Mei Banshan is not called Banshan. Banshan is the name he gave himself. His real name is Mei Jin, also known as Changlong. Because he was good at painting landscapes, he nicknamed himself Banshan.

At this time, Mr. Feng was holding Mei Hanlin and chatting in another small hall. There was a landscape painting in front of them. Mei Hanlin was in charge of appreciating it, and Master Feng was in charge of listening.

Except for the former Ivy League layman, there is no other person in the world who can draw such freehand brushwork on raw paper.

Mei Hanlin was full of praise and specially picked up the handkerchief to wipe his hands before putting his finger on the paper. He closed his eyes slightly, as if feeling the traces of his pen on the paper.

Is there any distinction between raw paper and cooked paper?

Facing Master Feng's question, Mei Hanlin couldn't help but shake his head, opened his eyes and said, On cooked rice paper, ink drops on it are like water droplets. On raw rice paper, it's different. Just one drop of ink can soak into its back and cause the ink to smear.

At this point, Mei Hanlin sighed again. He really didn't know how to explain to Mr. Feng how skilled he must be to control the wandering pen and ink and the uninhibited raw rice paper.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt that a high mountain was standing in front of him, which was daunting. It's like everyone who loves poetry reads the works of Ban Xian and Dongpo, and feels their talents that far exceed anyone else's.

Master Feng listened for a long time but didn't understand. He just smiled and said: When the servant brought it up, I just said that it was well painted. If it weren't for you today, how would I know that it is such a rare treasure.

It's a pity that such a common thing fell into my hands. It can be regarded as a waste. Why don't you accept it and hang it in the study in the future. When you see it in the future, you can still think of me as an old friend in Yangzhou.

Is this true?

Mei Hanlin couldn't hold it back for a moment. For someone like him who knew how to paint and loved painting, he was as happy as he was when he was a Jinshi in high school to get an authentic work of the Ivy League layman.

I'll try my best to update three times today, and I won't sleep until I finish writing. These three updates are to make up for yesterday. When I get home at around 7 o'clock tomorrow, I will do the third update as an apology. The update was delayed because of something, which caused trouble to everyone. I hope everyone will understand.