After sending away the Yuan couple and Hualan's future eldest brother and sister-in-law, Sheng Changbai felt at ease.
Sheng Changbai then approached Sheng Hong who was fishing at home again: "Father, my son wants to practice riding and shooting. Please ask my father to hire a martial arts instructor for me."
"Practice horseback riding and archery, study hard, and strive to pass the imperial examination as soon as possible. Don't waste your time at all."
Sheng Hong's life plan for Sheng Changbai was very clear, which was to study hard and become a Jinshi in the imperial examination.
The status of the Laosheng family is far from being qualified to grant a title to their children.
When cultivating children, we should not take into account their many interests and hobbies. Everything must be based on the imperial examination as the first purpose.
The children of the Sheng family will study whatever is tested in the imperial examination.
Of course, because as the son of a Tongpan official, Sheng Changbai still has quite an advantage.
The imperial examinations of the Zhou Dynasty did not have as many procedures as those of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
There are only three passes in total. To put it simply, they are the state test, the provincial test, and the palace test.
If you pass the state examination, you will become a Juren and be qualified to take the provincial examination.
There was no scholar class in the Zhou Dynasty. A scholar could be called a scholar. The lowest honor for a scholar was to be a scholar.
The provincial examination can be said to be the meeting of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was held in Bianliang, Tokyo and was the most important stage of the imperial examination.
After passing the exam, you can be said to be a Jinshi.
It can be said that the imperial examination is no different from that in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It basically does not lead to dismissal, but only plays a role in ranking.
The advantage of Sheng Changbai, the son of a general judge, is that he can take part in a special state examination prepared for the children of officials, called the "Bie Tou Examination" in the place where his father works.
It does not occupy the quota for local scholars, and the admission rate is quite high.
Therefore, it is not difficult for the descendants of officials above the level of magistrates and magistrates in the Zhou Dynasty to obtain the qualifications to be a son-in-law as long as they have studied seriously.
"Father, the six arts of a gentleman are: the first is etiquette, the second is music, the third is shooting, the fourth is driving, the fifth is writing, and the sixth is counting."
Sheng Changbai cupped his hands and said, using the words of Confucius, he began to persuade his father.
Sheng Changbai has this kind of temperament, he has an upright temperament. In the entire Sheng family, except for Old Mrs. Sheng, there is no one who Sheng Changbai does not dare to teach.
He opened his mouth to read quotes from saints and quoted scriptures, making it difficult for Sheng Hong to refute.
"Bai'er, have you developed the desire to practice martial arts and improve yourself because of the previous attack?" Sheng Hong asked after pondering for a while.
"Father, it is better to serve yourself than to serve others, and it is better to serve others than to serve oneself."
The attack was indeed an excuse Sheng Changbai thought of to practice martial arts openly.
If it was still the same as before, just practicing boxing and kicking, Sheng Changbai certainly didn't need to report to Sheng Hong.
But Sheng Changbai was going to practice spear, sword, and horseback shooting, and he needed Sheng Hong to prepare weapons and venues, so he had to notify Sheng Hong.
The public security in feudal society was not good, and Sheng Changbai still lacked a sense of security. He still needed to use up his own force first.
"Alas, Bai'er, as long as a family like ours, a family of poets and calligraphers, can be named on the gold medal list and win laurels in the toad palace, we will be safe with soldiers and guards."
"Father, the child will naturally not fall behind in his homework. There is no conflict between practicing riding and shooting and reading and writing. The child has made up his mind to practice riding and shooting and will continue to practice no matter what." Sheng Changbai looked at Sheng Changhong's firm expression. said.
"That's all, you can practice if you want, but your father will ask you about your homework at any time. If you don't keep up with your homework, you should stop thinking about practicing martial arts."
Among the feudal lords, Sheng Hong was considered one of the more enlightened ones.
There is no forced guideline between father and son. The son must listen to Lao Tzu in all matters, and there is still some room for negotiation.
Two days later, Sheng Hong found an archery master for Sheng Changbai, which was also the art Sheng Changbai needed most.
With the foundation of Xingyi Quan, Sheng Changbai practiced marksmanship and swordsmanship with ease.
Xingyiquan is originally a form of boxing that evolved from spear techniques.
He has his own way of fighting with spears, sticks, knives and swords. However, Sheng Changbai had been living in modern times before and there was no need to practice with the weapons. They were all a bit unfamiliar, but it was not difficult to pick them up.
Sheng Hong also ordered his servants to clean out an empty courtyard to use as a martial arts arena for Sheng Changbai.
Sheng Hong was in Yangzhou and Zhizhou, and were known as the two giants in Yangzhou. The Sheng family had a lot of wealth, and the Sheng family's courtyard was naturally one of the largest houses in Yangzhou.
There are five large houses, pavilions, rockeries and lakes, and there are two gardens alone, including side courtyards and cross-yards, and more than a dozen.
Some of them are empty yards for Sheng Changbai to toss around.
The main task every day is still attending school, studying classics in the morning, studying policy theory and writing essays in the afternoon.
During this period of time, the only person in class in the Sheng family was Sheng Changbai himself. Sheng Changfeng got a symbolic slap, which just gave him an excuse not to go to school.
The time Sheng Changbai can practice martial arts is in the morning and in the afternoon after school.
My daily schedule is quite full, I don’t go out much, but I am also very busy.
There is no free time, and there is no need for any entertainment activities for the time being. Sheng Changbai has not experienced the Goulan Chu Pavilion or the brothel.
Sheng Hong would not allow it, and Sheng Changbai was not interested in these yet.
A week later, Sheng Changbai was in the front yard and finally found the little lolita running around, Sheng Minglan.
The little girl looked very happy, running around and playing with her little follower Xiao Tao in the courtyard.
Sheng Minglan is only six years old. Xiao Tao is half a head shorter than Minglan and looks only four or five years old.
Of course, such a big child doesn't know how to serve others.
Apart from Xiao Tao, there are no other maids of this age in the Sheng Mansion.
Under normal circumstances, when a wealthy family recruits people, they always recruit people who are over ten years old and know something.
Sheng Changbai didn't know who arranged the arrangement for Minglan. Wang Ruofu shouldn't be able to pull this trick. It was probably Lin Eoshuang and Lin Xiaoniang.
Mrs. Sheng Changbai looks like Sheng Hong's first wife.
The wife who heads the house can manage everything in the back house, but she does not actually have the right to manage the house.
Lin Zongshuang used tricks to take away the rights of the past housekeeper.
A concubine controlled the personnel and financial affairs of the back house.
Of course, at home, he can compete with Wang Ruofu and be on par with him.
Lin Zhishuang found such an older maid for Minglan, obviously because she didn't want Minglan to be taken good care of.
"Minglan, come here." Sheng Changbai waved his hand and shouted.
"Second brother."
After Minglan saw Sheng Changbai shouting, she ran over with her short legs and shouted sweetly.
Minglan, a girl who is lively, cheerful and smart, is more attractive than Sheng Rulan.
Sheng Changbai agrees with Sheng Hong on this point.
"I asked the doctor to come over and look at my injury. Minglan, isn't your mother pregnant? Come back with me. After the doctor shows me the injury, take the doctor away and ask him to check your mother. .”
'Sheng Changbai' was originally a frail scholar with tender skin and tender flesh. When he first started practicing martial arts, how could he not have scratched some wounds and developed some calluses?
So these days, Sheng Changbai also asked the doctor to come over every day to give medicine.
Originally, all he had to do was apply some medicine himself, but Sheng Changbai spent so much extra money to hire a doctor just to prepare it for Wei Xiaoniang.
"Thank you, second brother. Miss Lin just sent a doctor to check her out a few days ago." Sheng Minglan said with a smile.
The little girl is still having fun. In the past few days, Lin Zhishuang has hired a doctor for Wei Xiaoniang. Every day, he sends various chickens, ducks, fish, delicacies, ginseng and bird's nests to Wei Xiaoniang for free.
The silly mother and daughter really thought it was Minglan who was complaining to Sheng Changhong, and it worked.
I thought it was because after Sheng Hong found out, Lin Zhishuang did not dare to treat her hospital harshly anymore and doubled the compensation to show her kindness.
I don’t know that Lin Zongshuang’s sinister intention is to kill Xiaoniang Wei and the child in her belly.
"It's about the prosperity of the Sheng family's heirs. You can't be too careful. Check it more and it won't matter." Sheng Changbai said affirmatively.
"Yes, second brother, I will go back with you."
He took Sheng Minglan and Xiao Tao back to his courtyard.
"Yanghao, prepare snacks and fruits. Bring out the tea and give it to Sixth Sister. Let Sixth Sister eat and wait."
Both are Sheng Hong's children, but Sheng Minglan's treatment is far different from Sheng Changbai's.
Not to mention that even if Lin Zongshuang was in charge, he would not dare to deduct Sheng Changbai's various regulations and monthly payments.
With Wang Ruofu's subsidy alone and without spending any money from the Sheng family, Sheng Changbai could live a very prosperous life.
Compared with normal meals, children of this age still have a sweet tooth and like snacks more.
After Sheng Minglan had eaten and drank enough, Sheng Changbai also changed the wound medicine, and then asked Yang Hao to lead the doctor to Wei Xiaoniang's courtyard, and gave instructions:
"Yanghao, please remind Miss Wei privately and tell her that Miss Lin's things are never so easy to eat."
After Yang Hao took the people away, Sheng Changbai felt a little relieved.
Wei Xiaoniang comes from a family of scholars, knows books and is polite, so she is certainly not a fool.
It's just that the education I received did not include the intrigues and secretive methods in the back houses of wealthy families, so I lacked knowledge.
With the facts discovered by the doctor and Sheng Changbai's reminder, Wei Xiaoniang should be a little wary of Lin Xiaoniang.
Speaking of which, Minglan's biological mother Wei Xiaoniang should also be from the side of Sheng Changbai's wife Wang Ruofu.
It was Wang Ruofu who helped Sheng Hong buy the concubine, and he bought Miss Wei into the house just to make Wei Xiaoniang and Lin Jiaoshuang compete for favor.
The result was actually quite successful. After Wei Xiaoniang gave birth to Sheng Minglan, she became pregnant with another child.
It is enough to show that Wei Xiaoniang is quite favored by Sheng Hong.
Lin Zongshuang was so provoked that he started to attack Wei Xiaoniang, which was enough to prove that Wei Xiaoniang was a sufficient threat to Lin Zongshuang.
…
Another half month later, good news came from Sheng Hong.
Sheng Hong served as the general magistrate of Yangzhou, and after completing his three-year term, he received a grade of "Excellent" in the evaluation.
If you have sufficient qualifications, excellent political performance, and a strong backing, promotion will naturally come naturally.
Of course, the entire Sheng family was overjoyed when Sheng Hong was promoted. After many years of being outside, Sheng Hong was finally transferred to the central government.
After his family was happy, the first thing Sheng Hong thought of was to thank his background.
Sheng Hong's backstage is Sheng Changbai's uncle's family, the Wang family.
Sheng Hong's maternal grandfather, Wang Ruofu's deceased father, had reached the rank of Grand Master and was worthy of enjoying the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
Just hearing this treatment, you should know that the old man stands at the pinnacle of power.
In the Great Zhou Dynasty, all fifth-rank officials were considered high-ranking officials, and the old man's official rank reached first-rank officials.
Although he has not been a grand master for a long time, the old man has left behind countless favors and connections.
After Sheng Hong was able to become a Jinshi, he reached this point in just a dozen years, reaching the sixth rank, one step away from being a senior official in Fei Pao.
Of course, it is inseparable from Sheng Hong's methods and abilities. This is fundamental.
But there were many capable people, and Sheng Hong was promoted when his qualifications and political achievements were sufficient.
It is inextricably linked to the Wang family.
It was precisely because Sheng Hong's official career had never left the care of the Wang family that Wang Ruofu had the confidence to be strong in front of Sheng Hong and always wanted to overpower Sheng Hong, thus making Sheng Hong unhappy.
"Changbai, please get ready. We are going back to Tokyo. I am going to take you, your mother and your sisters with me to your uncle's house to say goodbye."
If the Wang family was not Sheng Hong's backer, there was certainly no need for Sheng Hong to go to the Wang family to say goodbye.
"Yes, I'll pack my things when I get back."
Although Sheng Changbai had already warned Wei Xiaoniang, Sheng Changbai still wanted to stay at home in order for 'Sheng Xiaoqi' to be born smoothly, and now he was just trying to deal with Sheng Hong first.
Sheng Hong must not be rejected directly.
For Sheng Hong, if he did not bring all the three children born to Wang Ruofu to the Wang family, it would not be enough to express respect for the Wang family. Sheng Hong knew how to deal with the world.
"Bai'er, why did you fall so ill all of a sudden?" Wang Ruofu came to Sheng Changbai courtyard and said anxiously.
Sheng Hong took advantage of the two days to buy Yangzhou specialties and prepare gifts for the Wang family. Sheng Changbai also thought about it for two days, but still couldn't come up with a good way. In desperation, Sheng Changbai could only use the most annoying trick of "Sick Escape". '.
You can't really be sick, in this era where the mortality rate of colds is not low.
To pretend to be sick and actually get sick is to risk your life.
As an "old Chinese doctor" himself, Sheng Changbai certainly has no shortage of ways to pretend to be sick.
If you use some medicine to make the pulse signal a little weaker, it won't be a big problem.
"Mom, it's all my fault that I fell ill at the wrong time and delayed going to my uncle's house to say goodbye."
Sheng Changbai said apologetically, now is a time to test his acting skills.
"There will be plenty of opportunities when you return to your uncle's house. Now it's better for you to take good care of your health."
Sheng Changbai originally thought that he could just stay at home alone.
Unexpectedly, due to his illness, Wang Ruofu was not ready to return to his parents' home. Wang Ruofu had to stay at home and watch over his son so that he could rest assured.
His wife, children, and anyone with blood ties to the Wang family couldn't go. Sheng Hong went there alone, and the meaning of maintaining emotional contact with the Wang family was of course much different.
Sheng Hong simply changed the time of returning to Wang's house to say goodbye.
When to go to Wang's house depends on when Sheng Changbai recovers from his illness.
Whether you can go to the Wang family now depends on the recovery of Sheng Changbai's condition.
The family's trip was canceled and they all gathered in Sheng Changbai's yard.
Sheng Hong, Wang Ruofu, Hua Lan, and Ru Lan took turns coming to visit the patient.
As a result, Sheng Changbai was forced to lie on the bed and had to drink some bitter Chinese medicine to replenish qi all day long.
Things went beyond Sheng Changbai's expectations, but the result was not unacceptable.
As long as Sheng Changbai continues to be ill, Sheng Hong will stay at home.
Sheng Hong was at home, which saved Sheng Changbai from worrying about the lives of Sheng Hong's concubine and children.
