Chapter 147

"Uncle Chen is acquainted with the owner of the Qingyuan Academy?" Seeing that Boss Chen was so outraged, Xue Tingxiang asked curiously.

Boss Chen stroked his beard and said, "I'm ashamed to say that I was a classmate with him when I was young, but I was not good at studies and only passed the exam as a boy student, but he was selected as a scholar in one fell swoop, and he was still a boy student. It's a pity that the luck was bad, and he has not been able to pass the exam. It took him many years to pass the exam, and he had no intention of pursuing a career, so he returned to his hometown to inherit his father's career in teaching and educating people."

"It won't be bad luck all the time." Xue Tingxiang said.

If he remembers correctly, the Qingyuan Academy's Director Lin finally passed the Juren examination three years later, the whole town was a sensation at that time, and the Qinghe Academy's owner Gao Youzhi was so angry that he almost vomited blood. At that time, he was planning to leave the Qinghe Academy to study at the Shen family's ethnology, and happened to hear something about it.

Boss Chen thought the young man was just comforting him, and smiled, "Thank you for your good words."

Xue Tingxiang was not ambiguous, and cupped his hands and said: "Thank you, Uncle Chen, for the suggestion, but there are still trivial matters at home that have not been dealt with. When everything is settled, the boy will go to the Qingyuan Academy to study."

"You are straightforward, so you are not afraid of being implicated and hindering your fame?" Boss Chen asked curiously.

"The kid hasn't entered school yet, so what are you talking about? Besides, the imperial court has always attached great importance to the selection of talents. If there are really talented people, presumably the magistrate Hu will not dare to stop him too much."

"I can't see that you have high ambitions. Well, since you dare to go, I will recommend you one or two. Although my classmate is rigid and dull, he is not good at words, but his knowledge is first-rate. Don't dare It is no problem to teach a person to become a Jinshi, but a scholar is fine."

"Then thank Uncle Chen first."

*

For several days, Xue Tingxiang and Zhao'er left early and returned late.

Someone from Xue's family asked twice, and Zhao'er said to take Xue Tingxiang out to get some fresh air, so as not to be overwhelmed. The people in the big room showed contempt, and Mr. Xue couldn't help shaking his head. After that, no one asked any more questions, and most of them knew in their hearts that Xue Tingxiang was doomed. Maybe the two children in Erfang also have a lot of mentality, so they broke the cans and didn't read books, but ran around playing.

You must know that even if you are as qualified as Xue Juncai, you have to read books at home for many days to prepare.

In the blink of an eye, it was five days.

This day is no different from ordinary days.

The farmhouse is always busy in the morning, and after a night, the family's livestock have to be waited on, and the whole family has to be tossed about to eat. After breakfast, the men will go to the fields, and the women will do housework at home.

If there is some difference, Xue Juncai had two more poached eggs in his bowl than others for breakfast.

Because of Mr. Xue's beating some time ago, Mrs. Zhao didn't dare to openly fight against the big family members these days. Today, seeing that life is not normal, she couldn't hold back.

Originally, Xue Tingxiang didn't have any, but Yang Shi saw that her father-in-law looked bad, so she took the initiative to ask Zhao Shi to ask for two eggs, and put them in the bowl for him.

Xue Tingxiang wants to recruit one of them separately, but he doesn't want to be recruited, but it's a pity that he can't be persuaded.

For the sake of one egg, the two of you whispered one sentence at a time, while Mr. Xue's expression on the top was particularly serious.

But life in the country is like this, no matter how heavy your heart is, you can't lose your livelihood. Especially when rushing for spring plowing, Mr. Xue still took his two sons to work in the fields for a while, and didn't come back until the sun was high.

The news about the competition between the two children of Xue's family has spread throughout Yuqing Village.

It's not that there are people who say strange things, but most people can still understand what old man Xue did. It's not easy for rural people to earn a little money, and no one's money comes from the big river. If there is a way, no one will do this.

Knowing that today is the day, let the children of the family watch in the village. Seeing a stranger go to Zheng Lizheng's house, these hairy kids ran into the field, shouting from a long distance, "Someone is coming from Lizheng's house". The adults stopped planting the land, so they picked up the hoes and rushed back.

Not long after, the big courtyard of Zheng Lizheng's house was full of people, and more villagers kept coming here.

There was a lot of commotion in the yard, everyone was gossiping and discussing today's matter at the same time.

In the room, Zheng Li was talking with a middle-aged man in a scholar's shirt and a flat scarf on his head.

This man had a thin and long face, his complexion was a little pale, and his eyes were slightly swollen. She doesn't look good, but her identity seems to be extraordinary, and she actually sits in the main seat.

And Zheng Lizheng could only sit on the sidelines.

His Gu Pan has a different temperament from ordinary people. This person is Qiao Xiucai, who has a reputation in the surrounding ten miles and eight villages.

Long before, Zheng Lizheng had thought about it. Xue Qingshan came forward to invite someone from the Xue family, if he didn't expect, it should be his father-in-law Yang Zhong, Yang Zhong is just a boy, so he will invite a scholar.

On the one hand, it seemed that he was impartial, and on the other hand, it was a good time to show his prestige.

"Qiao Xianggong, you drink tea, I will order someone to remind you."

Qiao Xiucai waved his hand indifferently: "Don't worry."

Just as he was talking, there was a commotion outside, but it was patriarch Xue who came with someone.

However, it was not Patriarch Xue who took the lead, but an old man over fifty years old. This old man is of medium stature, dressed the same as Qiao Xiucai, also wearing a scholar's shirt and a flat scarf, obviously even if he is not a scholar, he is still a child.

Sure enough, when Qiao Xiucai saw the old man, he quickly stood up from his chair and bowed to him.

"I never thought it would be Senior He, late born is so polite."

"Don't be too polite, just sit down."

This He Xiucai was the person invited by patriarch Xue to preside over this competition.

Zheng Lizheng was right, at first Xue Qingshan really planned to invite his father-in-law, but it was a pity that this matter was rejected by Patriarch Xue.

Patriarch Xue also only knew that Xue Qingshan was so stupid. They all said that he should not avoid relatives when he was a virtuous person, but this is not the way. Since he felt that the chances of winning were more than guaranteed, there was no need for people to make mistakes, so he took care of this matter.

He knew in his heart that the surname Zheng would not let go of the opportunity to show off, and if he came forward to invite someone, he must be a scholar. He originally planned to invite Qiao Xiucai, but he was a step late, so he had to delay the relationship and invite He Xiucai.

After courteously giving way to each other, the two scholars sat down on the main seat.

Zheng Lizheng and Patriarch Xue sat beside him.

"Let Brother Lizheng worry about it."

"Don't bother, don't worry, I'm the leader here, so I can't show up if something happens in the village."

A lot of back and forth, seemingly amiable, but there is a hint of wit hidden in the words. During this period, a few old people walked in from the outside, but they were a few old people from Yuqing Village, Mr. Xue, Xue Qingshan and others also came.

Another uninvited guest was Xue Qingshan's father-in-law Yang Zhong.

Yang Zhong was in his fifties, with a chubby body. He didn't look like a scholar, but a landlord with a fat brain. As soon as he came in, he joined Qiao Xiucai and He Xiucai, but unfortunately, these two scholars were not willing to talk to him, they said a few words with him, and then went to sit aside awkwardly.

Xue Qingshan sat at the end.

The Weng and the son-in-law are considered pretty people, and those who can sit here are all respectable people in the village, but because of the identity of this boy, they can also sit in the hall. You know, even Mr. Xue doesn't have a seat, so he can only stand aside.

"I don't know the real master, but he's here?" He Xiucai asked when he saw that almost everyone had come.

Patriarch Xue looked at Mr. Xue, and Xue Qinghuai hurriedly said, "Here we come."

Just as he was speaking, the villagers surrounding the door made way, and two teenagers walked out from the crowd.

These two teenagers are all dressed in short brown, and they can be seen from humble backgrounds at a glance.

The one in the lead looks gentle and handsome, with a slender figure. Although the clothes are simple, he is quite personable. The one in the back is half a head shorter than the one in the front, his body seems a little weak, and he seems a little introverted, his eyelids are always half down, and he seems a little afraid of strangers.

But when the two came to the hall and accepted the scrutiny of the crowd, they had some clues.

The elder's appearance is not bad, but he always pulls his sleeves intentionally or unintentionally, as if the clothes don't fit well. But the young one has been standing neither humble nor overbearing, the half-drooped eyelids not only do not make people feel contemptuous, but it feels like the respect that the younger generation should have for the elders.

Therefore, it seemed that the older one looked directly into the eyes of everyone, which was a bit too abrupt. It is good to have self-confidence, but when the younger generation faces the elders, a humble and respectful attitude is indispensable.

All this happened in an instant, and Qiao Xiucai and He Xiucai, who were seated in the main seats, had the initial judgment on these two young people.

"Student Xue Juncai, student Xue Tingxiang, I have met all the elders."