In the eyes of Qin Dewei, the examiner, Wen Zhengming and Gui Youguang were regarded as a pair of oddities in the imperial examination.

But in fact, there is a generation gap between the two. Wen Zhengming’s wife and Gui Youguang’s grandmother are sisters.

Wen Zhengming came over privately in advance today, which Qin Dewei could understand. It was probably because Wen Zhengming didn't want to attend the apprenticeship ceremony tomorrow, so he wanted to say hello in advance today.

But what surprised Qin Dewei was that Gui Youguang, Jieyuan, also came today.

As a "Master", Qin Dewei had no scruples and asked directly: "Why did you come to Gui Zhenchuan? Can't you wait until tomorrow?"

The true meaning of this question is: Tomorrow is the date for the new imperial examination candidates to pay their respects to their master. Are you Gui Youguang like Old Man Wen, who dislikes the young age of my master and does not want to pay his respects to him in public tomorrow?

In terms of age, Gui Youguang is ten years older than Qin Dewei, but this teacher-student relationship is often unreasonable.

So Gui Youguang could only explain respectfully: "Mr. Hengshan is old and I'm afraid something will go wrong, so I stayed with Mr. Hengshan to take care of him."

As for the ceremony of apprenticeship tomorrow, it will be done again, and it has nothing to do with accompanying Mr. Hengshan today."

It turned out that this was the case. Teacher Qin's expression softened, and it turned into a spring breeze in an instant.

If Gui Youguang, Jieyuan, really dares to say that he does not want to participate in the apprenticeship ceremony tomorrow, then he will not only fail the eight examinations, but also there will be no future!

Feeling that the inexplicable oppression disappeared, Gui Youguang breathed a sigh of relief. Teacher Qin was indeed as rumored. Although he was young, he was very difficult to fool.

I just accompanied Mr. Wen here for an early visit, which immediately aroused Teacher Qin's suspicion.

No wonder Wang Fengyuan was only willing to help Mr. Wen go to Taibai Tower, but refused to follow Mr. Wen to the Qin Mansion, probably just to avoid being suspected by Academician Qin.

Wen Zhengming, who was sitting next to him, was speechless. How could that interesting primary school student become so bureaucratic in just a few years?

Wen Zhengming was about to complain a few words, or think of an allusion to Qin Dewei. Then he saw Teacher Qin raised his hand and greeted Gui Youguang kindly:

"Zhenchuan, there are no outsiders here, so there is no need to be formal. Sit down, sit down and talk!"

Gui Youguang then sat down, but still sat under Wen Zhengming. So Qin Dewei started chatting enthusiastically with Gui Youguang across Wen Zhengming.

"Zhenchuan, I heard that your first wife is deceased? And I heard that you and your first wife had a very close relationship?" Qin Dewei asked enthusiastically.

Gui Youguang: "..."

Sure enough, just like the rumors, Teacher Qin's brain circuit is very different from ordinary people, making him unpredictable and difficult to resist.

Fortunately, Teacher Qin did not dwell on this question. He thought of a serious topic and asked curiously across Wen Zhengming:

"I heard that Zhenchuan, your prose and essays are extremely good, and your choice of words and sentences are especially touching?"

Gui Youguang also stood across Wen Zhengming and replied humbly: "Teacher, you are so complimentary. I, my student, cannot deserve such praise."

Wen Zhengming turned to look at Qin Dewei on his left, then turned to look at Gui Youguang on his right, and snorted coldly.

Qin Banqiao, you have not only become a bureaucrat, but you have also become fond of the new and dislike the old. You dislike the old and love the young. When you meet new people, you no longer care about yourself, the old person.

So Mr. Wen began to actively participate in the conversation and proactively said to Qin Dewei:

"Gui Zhenchuan's prose is indeed the best in Suzhou, no less than Wang Shenzhong, Tang Shunzhi and others who are also in Jiangnan. If you want to appreciate it, you can ask Gui Zhenchuan to write a short biography for you."

Qin Dewei: "..."

Wen Zhengming, you are such a bad old guy! If you don’t pay attention, you will fall into your trap!

As a time traveler, of course I know that the character themes that Gui Youguang was best at writing throughout his life were mourning, epitaphs and the like!

Who wants a character essay like this!

So Qin Dewei laughed, acted like a teacher, and encouraged Gui Youguang:

"Don't worry, we'll wait until Zhenchuan competes in the capital tomorrow and get named on the gold list! I'm confident!"

Gui Youguang felt the encouragement and blessing from the number one scholar and responded repeatedly.

Then Qin Dewei continued to say to Gui Youguang through Wen Zhengming: "But the way of literature is of great use. You must never give up, and you must strive to improve."

Gui Youguang was very surprised when he heard this.

Because when senior officials in the imperial examination generally encourage those who are underachieving, they say that classics and meaning are the right path, and that poetry and literature are just trivial skills, but Teacher Qin emphasized the importance of literature so much.

Qin Dewei hinted seductively: "You know today's people like literature."

Gui Youguang was so excited that he trembled slightly. Hearing what Teacher Qin meant, could he be planning to find an opportunity to recommend his article to the emperor?

This, this, this is really the guiding light of life!

Anyway, it was just a casual chat. Qin Dewei gave another example: "Your elder in Kunshan, Mr. Gu Weizhai, is a master of literature. He was promoted from the Minister of Rites to the Cabinet Bachelor in five years!"

Duke Weizhai is Gu Dingchen. Wen Zhengming next to him was a little confused when he heard this. He heard that Gu Dingchen relied on Qingci... Can Qingci also be regarded as literature?

Qin Dewei looked at the energetic Gui Youguang and smiled without saying a word.

What exactly is the so-called Qing Ci? It is essentially a prayer during fasting and a request written by mortals to God.

What kind of Qing Ci is a good Qing Ci? It must be true and sincere, so as to achieve the purpose of moving God.

Emperor Jiajing was a great expert in this aspect. Master Xia, who later became the first assistant, was alienated by Emperor Jiajing because the ghostwriter he found was too perfunctory and his writing was not sincere.

But the diction is sincere and touching, and isn’t this Gui Youguang’s recognized strongest point?

Therefore, Qin Dewei judged that Gui Youguang had great potential in Qing Ci and was very likely to be a good writer of Qing Ci.

Anyone who understands the politics of the Jiajing Dynasty will understand how important such talents are.

It's just that in the original historical time and space, Gui Youguang failed the imperial examination and had no chance to get close to Emperor Jiajing, so he never realized his possible talent for Qingci.

No matter what the historical trajectory of this time and space is, Qin Dewei has decided to discover this special talent.

It would be really funny if in the future I was excellent at martial arts and martial arts, but could not defeat Yan Song just because Qingci was not as good as others.

The only thing that worries Qin Dewei is that he doesn't know whether a great writer can put down his arrogance and hold his nose to write Qingci that cannot be put on the stage.

Wen Zhengming, who had guessed the inside story, was shocked. He had a hunch that Gui Youguang might be led astray by Qin Dewei and run on another fork in the road...

Wen Zhengming thought again and again, and questioned Qin Dewei: "Are you serious? Why do I think it's a bit outrageous?"

Then he said to Gui Youguang: "Calm down first."

Qin Dewei turned to Wen Zhengming and said with a smile: "Speaking of which, when I saw Mr. Hengshan's name on the list, I was really sad.

I can't help but think of the scene when I first met Mr. Hengshan, as if it were still vivid in my mind.

I still remember that I was young and ignorant at the time, and I read two poems casually, intending to give them to Mr. Hengshan..."

Hearing this, Wen Zhengming almost jumped out of his chair. He still can't forget those two lines of poetry!

The mandarin ducks are unable to play in the water, and the swallows are unable to carry mud up the beam!

No man would want to be given such a poem! Wen Zhengming was afraid that he only had a few years left to live, and he still wanted to be famous after his death!

So Wen Zhengming said angrily: "Seven years ago, you Qin Dewei threatened me with this poem; seven years later, you still threatened me with this poem!

But over and over you keep talking about those two sentences, does the whole poem really exist?"

Qin Dewei asked the servant to bring him paper and pen, then he started writing and handed the poem manuscript to Wen Zhengming.

He also reminded: "Mr. Hengshan, just read this gift poem for yourself. If it is leaked and let others know, don't blame me!"

Gui Youguang was very curious and wanted to take a look, but was blocked by Wen Zhengming.

Wen Zhengming carried Gui Youguang on his back and quickly and secretly glanced at the poem manuscript, only to see that it read:

"When you are a bridegroom at sixty, the remaining flowers enter the bridal chamber. They gather together like swallows in autumn, and those who are healthy are like mandarin ducks who are sick."

I can't play in the water, I can't hold the mud up the beam. I'm so annoyed by the gods and goddesses, it's raining in the high Tang Dynasty."

Mist grass! The power of the poet is so terrifying! Wen Zhengming folded the poem manuscript and stuffed it into his arms.

Then he said goodbye to Qin Dewei without saying a word, turned around and walked out.

Gui Youguang also quickly left and followed Wen Zhengming out.

When the two of them walked outside, Wen Zhengming sighed to Gui Youguang: "Qin Banqiao may take you to see scenery that even I have never seen, but the blessings and disasters are unknown."

After saying this, Wen Zhengming fell silent again, just thinking deeply along the way.

Returning to his apartment, Gui Youguang couldn't help but asked curiously: "Mr. Hengshan, what are you thinking about?"

For some reason, Wen Zhengming fell into nostalgia for the past, as if saying to himself:

"At the beginning, among the four scholars in Wuzhong, I, Wen Hengshan, was considered an indifferent person, but Tang Liuru and Zhu Zhishan were different.

In fact, these two people are very ambitious and enterprising, but inside their wild and indulgent nature are the tragic songs of depression and dissatisfaction.

I was inexplicably thinking that if Qin Banqiao had been born seventy or eighty years earlier, he would have met Tang Liuru and Zhu Zhishan in their youth.

So what will happen to Tang and Zhu's life experiences?"

Gui Youguang doesn't quite understand it, maybe he's not yet ready to understand it. Of course, it's also possible that because of the butterfly effect, he never has the chance to understand it in this life.

Today is the day when the list is released. Those who are famous on the list have carnivals, and those who are not on the list are getting drunk. Anyway, they all involve drinking.

And on the second day, it was the day for the new imperial examination candidates to pay their respects to their teachers.

Normally, all rural examination examiners live in public houses, but Qin Dewei, a local, is a special case. He lives at home.

Fortunately, this Qin Mansion was a new residence built a year and a half ago. It occupies a large area and is enough to arrange a place for apprenticeship.

Qin Dewei set up a seat in the middle of the hall, and people from Xinju gathered together voluntarily, divided into batches, and went up to see him in waves.
To be continued...