Chapter 263

What good can we do at this time?

Zhao'er had vigilance in his eyes.

Xue Tao'er ran over, leaned closer and whispered, "It's not my aunt's father, he said he wants to talk to the dog."

Xue Tingxiang also heard the movement outside the room and came out.

"Don't go, I'll push it." Zhao'er knew that it would be no good for Yang Zhong to find a young man because of his elder status. Xue Jun was his grandson. And what happened before?

"No problem."

After saying this, Zhao'er was stunned for a moment, and Xue Tingxiang remembered that he would never speak like this.

He smiled and said, "It's okay, you're still afraid that I won't succeed if he eats it."

"Can……"

At this time, Xue Tingxiang had already passed her to the main room, so she could only follow in a hurry.

*

Here in the main room, as expected, the wine is in full swing.

Yang Zhong's white and chubby face was flushed from drinking, and he looked slightly drunk. Mr. Xue's dark red face glowed red under the light. Xue Qingshan also sat on the side, along with Xue Juncai, Xue Qingbai and Xue Qinghuai.

Women are not at the table.

Seeing Xue Tingxiang walking in, Yang Zhong said: "Our little talent is here, come and let me see."

He waved his hands without treating himself as an outsider, and when Xue Tingxiang approached, he opened his drunken eyes and looked up and down: "I don't see anything has changed, how did you become so promising?"

As soon as these words were sarcasm, the court immediately fell silent.

Xue Qingshan focused on eating vegetables between his sandwiches, as if he didn't hear him. Xue Juncai seemed to be sitting upright, but in fact he was looking at this place intentionally or unintentionally.

The rest of the Xue family were a little embarrassed, especially Mr. Xue, his face was a little stiff, but he hesitated to speak.

Zhao'er was about to attack, when Xue Qinghuai suddenly stood up, smiled and picked up the wine bowl: "My father-in-law, I respect you for a bowl, this wine is brewed by my father himself, and most people can't drink it when they come here. Don't look at your old man When I came, I quickly dug a jar and said to drink a few more bowls with you."

Yang Zhong looked at Xue Qinghuai with a smile, and without hesitation, he picked up the wine bowl and drank it down in one gulp, and ate a few mouthfuls of food. Taking advantage of the situation, Xue Qinghuai hurriedly winked at Zhao'er and Xue Tingxiang, telling them to leave quickly.

Xue Tingxiang smirked slightly, and planned to take Zhao'er away, and listened to Yang Zhong before he even took a step.

"What's the matter? Why is the elder leaving before he finished talking? Although I am not your own grandfather, I am also your own grandfather. Is this old man not paying attention to me, or what?"

The hat was buttoned too big, Zhao'er was about to say something, Xue Tingxiang gave her a hand.

He took two steps forward, pretending to be listening respectfully: "Since my in-laws and grandpas have taught me, I will just listen to you." After a pause, he continued: "It's just that my in-laws and grandpas are also scholars, so I think they know how to be rude. reason"

"According to what you little brat thinks, as an elder, I can't say that you are a junior?"

The smell of alcohol came straight to Xue Tingxiang's face, and there was also a strange smell of various vegetables mixed in it.

Xue Tingxiang did not evade, and nodded calmly: "Naturally."

"Hey! Look! It's really different."

Yang Zhong tapped Xue Tingxiang a few times with his finger, and looked at the rest of Xue's family with a smirk, and the villain first complained: "In-law, is this your family's tutor?"

It was obvious that Yang Zhong was here to make trouble, and of course it was for Xue Juncai. When he came back from Lizheng's house before, Mr. Xue guessed that the big room would definitely make a fuss, but he didn't expect that the fuss should be here.

In fact, as the son and daughter-in-law, how could the married couple blatantly quarrel with Mr. Xue? After all, they swore before that whoever wins will go, and whoever loses should not complain. And Yang Zhong, as Xue Juncai's grandfather, couldn't be more appropriate to stand in for him. If it works, it's good, if it doesn't, it won't hurt the relationship between father and son.

"relatives by marriage……"

Mr. Xue was about to speak, but was interrupted by Xue Tingxiang's voice.

"Although my parents are both deceased, there are my grandfather, uncles, and other elders of the Xue family. Even if there is something wrong, it is not up to people of other surnames to point fingers here. Although my grandfather and my family are connected I want to kiss you, but I definitely didn't go to the Xue family's table, eat the Xue family's food, and scold the Xue family for their reasons."

Because there are guests, candles are rarely lit in the house, which illuminates the room brightly.

Standing in the middle, the boy is thin and thin, but he is tall and straight. He was wearing a shabby clothes, the cuffs and the front of the clothes were a little white, but it made people feel an inviolable aura.

"Could this be the way of in-laws and grandpas being guests? One day when I, the Xue family, went to your house as guests, I would point and point at the Yang family, and be eccentric. Presumably, my in-laws and grandpas would not be angry. After all, coming here is not indecent. Thanks ah Master is always the junior in the family and talks about his in-laws and grandpas, but the boy is only his in-laws and grandpas, he is a literati, he is respected by the younger generation as a person who understands etiquette, now it seems that it is nothing more than that!"

"you--"

There was silence in the room, and no one thought that Xue Tingxiang would explode on the spot regardless of his seniority.

Xue Qingshan stopped eating, and suddenly felt restless.

But he didn't stand up to speak for his father-in-law. Xue Tingxiang's hat was too big, which brought the face of the whole Xue family and even the Xue clan. If he speaks for it, he is echoing the fact that the face of the Xue family can be trampled on the ground by the Yang family.

In particular, this is not in line with what he planned.

Yang Zhong's face was flushed red, and his lips trembled with anger: "You kid, you dare to teach your elders a lesson at such a young age."

"Don't dare! A gentleman is harmonious but different, and a villain is the same but not harmonious. The boy is just telling the truth. I also hope that the in-laws and grandparents should be cautious in their words and deeds, so that they can be the appearance of a gentleman."

This is teaching myself through the words of the sage!

Yang Zhong laughed back angrily, and pointed at him with his finger: "Okay, okay, it's really amazing. After studying for a few days, people are different. You really think that it's a big deal if you win the handsome talent today, even if you furious."

"A gentleman has nothing to fight for, and he will definitely shoot! When he bows and rises, he goes down to drink, and his fight is also a gentleman."

This sentence comes from the eight chapters of "The Analects of Confucius". It roughly means that a gentleman will not argue about anything. If there is a dispute, it must be upholding the way of a gentleman. Neither humble nor overbearing, neither angry nor complaining, and having fun with wine after the competition is the battle between gentlemen. It's not that you must be flushed in the face, like a black-eyed chicken, that would be out of style.

It is about being a person and dealing with affairs, and at the same time, it is using the words of the saints to ridicule Yang Zhong for not having the manners and tolerance of his elders, and to make things difficult for his juniors in order to protect his grandson.

There were only four scholars present, and the others were all at a loss. They could only see that Xue Tingxiang was not at a disadvantage, but Yang Zhong was so angry that his seven orifices seemed to be smoking.

Forget about Yang Zhong, Xue Qingshan and his son couldn't help being a little bit surprised when he was angry.

You must know that although Xue Tingxiang has studied the Four Books, he only understands the superficiality and does not understand the meaning of the scriptures. But just now he uttered two sentences in a row, both of which are from the Four Books, and if he didn't understand the meaning of the scriptures, how could he use them to harm others.

Could it be that someone taught him behind his back? No wonder his performance was so unexpected today.

And right at this moment, other changes took place in the field.

It was Yang Zhong who stood up in anger and wanted to teach Xue Tingxiang a lesson, but was stopped by Mr. Xue, Xue Qinghuai and Xue Qingbai.

"Well, you little bastard, you have learned to swear before your hair grows."

"A gentleman does not mirror water, but mirrors people. Mirroring water, the appearance of meeting, mirroring people, you can know good and bad, but if you want to come to your relatives and grandpas, you don't understand this sentence."

Xue Tingxiang had a smile on his face, obviously there was nothing wrong with that smile, even a bit shy, and his words were gentle and polite, but it made people taste a bit ironic.

"I know if I understand you or not, I know you are swearing, I must teach you a lesson today!" Yang Zhong struggled to raise his hand, and at this moment, a violent shout sounded in vain.

"Father-in-law!"

It was Mr. Xue who spoke.

"My father-in-law, I respect your in-laws, but this is my Xue family!"

Mr. Xue's complexion was very ugly. He had been tolerant just now because of the other party's identity, but Xue Tingxiang was right. There was a whole family sitting in the room, all of whom were surnamed Xue. There was absolutely no reason for someone surnamed Yang to teach others a lesson. .

No matter how much the family makes trouble, it is wrong for outsiders to intervene.

There was silence in the room, only the sound of Yang Zhong panting heavily.

The sound of a stool falling to the ground sounded, and it was Xue Qingshan who stood up.

At this time, Yang Shi, who had been hiding in the house, also ran out, and said angrily and anxiously: "Father, what are you doing! Why did you drink some wine and start to make trouble."

She explained to the dark-faced old man Xue: "Father, don't blame me, my father is like this, when he starts to drink. Oh, father, what do you think you are making a fuss about?" Then she complained to Xue Qingshan: " Juncai's father, and you too, why don't you stop him from making trouble like this."

Yang Zhongdao: "I'm making trouble, what's wrong with me?! Xue Lianxing, don't forget what you promised me back then. Juncai is your eldest grandson, so you plan to let it go?"

"Father, stop talking, I'll help you down to rest."

The Dafang couple, one on the left and the other on the right, helped Yang Zhong out, and Yang Zhong seemed to be really drunk, shouting that you should really let go, and stumbled and was helped out by the couple.

*

Because of this commotion, the Xue family was extremely quiet afterwards.

Mrs. Zhou originally asked Zhao'er and the two of them to eat, but they said they had eaten, so they went back to the house.

A table of food and wine, only half eaten, old man Xue sat there alone, eating food and drinking wine, no one dared to disturb.

Mrs. Zhao hid in the back room, don't look at her usually yelling at Mr. Xue, but when Mr. Xue really got angry, she didn't dare to make trouble.

Xue Qinghuai walked to the table and sat down, saying: "Father, it's getting late, let's rest early."

Mr. Xue nodded, but when he put down his chopsticks, he sighed again.

Xue Qinghuai couldn't help but persuaded: "Father, don't think too much."

"Look at the eldest couple. Why don't you remember your kindness? The second has only been dead for a few years. Even if the child is not sensible, there is no need to do so."

Xue Qinghuai understood what the old man meant, but he couldn't answer these words well, so he could only say awkwardly: "Maybe the eldest brother and sister-in-law don't know that the in-laws guild will make such a fuss."

Mr. Xue snorted, but did not speak.

"But Gouzi didn't suffer, you see he was mad at sister-in-law."

Hearing this, Mr. Xue couldn't help but twitch his eyebrows and eyes: "I followed the second child."

Xue Qingsong has this kind of temperament, usually taciturn, but don't push him into a hurry, he can surprise everyone.

"This big family has been living in harmony and beauty, but it's getting more and more difficult." Mr. Xue sighed, probably because he drank some wine, and his emotions were particularly leaking.

Xue Qinghuai didn't respond.

After a long time, Mr. Xue sighed: "Let your wife clean up this table, and you should go and rest earlier."

"Hey, I'll let her clean it up."

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. Unfortunately, bad luck, has not 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 whole town was a sensation when Director Lin of the Qingyuan Academy finally passed the exam three years later, and Gao Youzhi, the owner of the Qinghe Academy, 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 either, and cupped his hands and said: "Thank you, Uncle Chen, for your suggestion, but there are still trivial matters at home that have not been dealt with. When everything is settled, I 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 why talk about fame? Besides, the imperial court has always attached great importance to the selection of talents. If they are really talented, presumably the magistrate Hu will not dare to stop them 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."

He Xiucai nodded, Qiao Xiucai nodded, and asked curiously, "Tingxiang? Does this name have a meaning?"

Xue Tingxiang was taken aback, and Fang Zuoyi said: "Hey, I mean to follow suit. The student's great-great-grandfather was also a student, and the biggest regret in his life was that he failed to pass the exam. Although my Xue family was born in a poor family, there are many generations. Forgetting the last wish of the ancestors, while settling down to live and work, he has been working hard to let the children of the clan read and write, and be able to understand the principles of life.