Chapter 102: Lost in farming but good at learning; poor at home but good at ambition
Just after dinner time, Suiting was already crowded with people.
In addition to the major aristocratic families in Jingzhou who wanted to come and cause trouble due to their different stances, there were also many other people who came to watch the fun.
People from surrounding villages and pavilions, ordinary scholars who came to Jingzhou to escape disaster, and Shen Chen's friends.
Yes, Qin Hui still has three or five friends, and Shen Chen also has friends.
Wang Can and Pan Jun were all here. Although Song Zhong and Shen Chen also had different positions, the master-disciple relationship meant that everyone could only get together and part ways without any major conflicts.
Therefore, some people from Xianshan Academy also came over. They had already debated with Shen Chen on the mountain, so naturally they had no intention of coming to participate.
Wang Can and the others just came to see Shen Chen's situation today. They wouldn't do anything to help, but they wouldn't ruin it either.
In addition, the number of other ordinary scholars is even greater, there can even be thirty or forty people.
For example, Xu Shu, Shi Tao, Meng Jian, Cui Jun and others were all there.
Their status among the scholars in Jingzhou was not high. They were just ordinary scholars who came to Jingzhou to avoid trouble. Therefore, even if they had their own positions, they could not get involved and simply came to watch the battle.
Although Shen Chen was also an ordinary scholar from outside, he relied on the Deng family and had the support of the Xinye Deng family and Liu Biao. In addition, Deng Hong married Cai Zan's daughter. The tide was rising, and his status was naturally different from theirs.
There was also a heavyweight guest among them, and that was Pang Tong.
Pang Tong was actually not well-known before Sima Hui came. It was not until the next year, that is, after Sima Hui went south to Jingzhou in 198 AD, that everyone praised Pang Tong as the number one celebrity in Jingzhou, and he became famous.
But the family behind him cannot be underestimated.
It is the Xiangyang Pang family currently second only to the Cai family and the Kuai family.
Pang Degong's influence spread throughout Jingzhou, so his arrival also made some people wonder if the Pang family was going to get involved?
"Didn't Pang Gong always ignore government affairs? Liu Shijun wanted to resign several times, but Pang Gong didn't agree. Pang Tong is here, is it possible?"
"Don't make wild guesses. Pang Gongde is so respected, how could he get involved in the debate among the juniors?"
"But that doesn't mean that Pang Gong also thinks Liu Shijun"
"Shut up, don't hurt us if you want to die."
Several scholars talked in low voices.
Only Pang Tong, who was standing next to Xu Shu at this time, noticed that there was a lot of discussion there, but he didn't look sideways and didn't bother to pay attention.
Pang Degong was deeply attached to the mountains and rivers and had no intention of participating in current affairs.
Seeing that he repeatedly rejected Liu Biao's proposal, Cai Mao and Kuai Yue thought that he was a fellow-minded person and wanted to be attached to Cao Cao. They went to him last year and asked if they could persuade Liu Biao to join him, but Pang Degong smiled and avoided talking.
Later it was proved that he really only wanted to be a wandering cloud and wild crane. After Cao Cao captured Jingzhou, he wanted to recruit him as an official, but he refused and went to live in seclusion in Lumen Mountain without even thinking of leaving the mountain.
Therefore, it is impossible for Pang Degong to send Pang Tong to express his position on behalf of the Pang family.
This time Pang Tong came here only in a private capacity to see Shen Chen's talents.
Pang Tong was a person who liked to comment on other people's abilities. Later, when he became famous, he often commented on outstanding talents.
The last time we all had dinner together, Shen Chen had a unique point of view.
Everyone thought that Cao Cao was the Duke of Zhou Huo Guang when he welcomed the Emperor, and that he could support the Han Dynasty in the name of serving the Emperor to conquer bandits from all directions. But he was the only one who thought that Cao Cao was Wang Mang and Dong Zhuo, which is surprising.
However, although he was different from everyone else's ideas, Pang Tong still wanted to see if Shen Chen's talent and learning could support his argument, so he came to watch.
When Zhuge Liang took Zhuge Jun out of the carriage, he saw them resting under the pavilion built outside the pavilion not far away, so he slowly walked over and said: "Brother Yuanzhi, Brother Guangyuan, Brother Gongwei, Brother Zhouping
, Brother Atong”
He greeted everyone one by one.
In the past few months, Zhuge Liang and Shen Chen have often visited Pang Degong. Xu Shu and the others have a good relationship with Pang Degong, and they also have a good relationship with Pang Tong, so they all know each other, but they are not familiar with each other yet.
Especially Pang Tong, Zhuge Liang and Shen Chen have only met him a few times so far.
Because Sima Hui, a famous scholar in Yingchuan, opened a school in Yingchuan and was very famous, Pang Tong went to visit Sima Hui a few years ago and did not come back until last year. The relationship between the two parties can only be regarded as a casual acquaintance.
However, although the friendship is ordinary, the two parties are relatives after all, so they must come over.
And because Pang Tong was not like Zhuge Liang who chose his nickname in advance because he had no elders, Zhuge Liang could only call the eighteen-year-old Pang Tong by his nickname, so it was not considered rude.
Xu Shu, who was relatively familiar with Zhuge Liang, smiled and said, "Kong Ming, are you here too?"
Zhuge Liang nodded, looked at Shen Chen who was standing at the door of the house not far away and said with a smile: "Achen is going to open a school this year, so naturally I want to come and take a look."
"Do you also think that Cao Cao is Wang Mang and Dong Zhuo?"
Xu Shu was puzzled.
Most of the people who came here to cause trouble today came to cause trouble because Shen Chen fought against Cao Cao and encouraged Liu Biao to separatist rule, damaging their interests.
But they, ordinary lower-level scholars, had no background and would not be reused because Liu Biao surrendered to Cao Cao. Therefore, they had no interest and could see the problem from other angles.
Previously, Shen Chen thought that Cao Cao was Wang Mang and Dong Zhuo, and everyone felt that this was a bit extreme. Now that Zhuge Liang came to support him, Xu Shu thought that Zhuge Liang also viewed it the same way?
Zhuge Liang shook his head and said: "I don't know if it's Cao Cao, but at least all the way from Xuzhou, there are mountains of corpses and blood flowing in the oars. It's scary."
"Cao Cao did kill too much."
Xu Shu nodded, this was undeniable, but killing was killing, and Bai Qi even killed 400,000 surrendered soldiers. As long as he could help the Han Dynasty and serve the court, in this regard, his flaws were not covered up, and the world would choose to forgive him.
While the two were talking, Shen Chen had already walked out of the gate. Outside the gate, in addition to Deng Hong and Liu Xian, two people sent by Liu Biao to help with the platform, twenty guards were transferred from Huangmen Pavilion to maintain order.
At this moment, there were quite a few people outside the door. At a rough glance, there were about two to three hundred people. Some of them were parents who brought their children to study, and some of them were villagers watching the excitement in the surrounding area.
The others were the scholars who made trouble, ordinary scholars who came to watch, and friends like Zhuge Liang, Wang Can and Pan Jun who came to pay close attention to the matter.
After Shen Chen came out, many parents outside shouted: "Shen Xiaolang, I brought my children to study, and I also brought some gifts."
"Xiao Lang, are classes starting today?"
"Xiao Lang, my family is very poor. We don't even have a piece of bacon. We can only bring two pieces of cake to give away to each other. Can you accept my son?"
"My child is seventeen years old. I don't know if he can still come to school."
Many villagers came forward one after another.
They were all accompanied by children, some were five or six years old, some were seven or eight years old, most were around ten years old, and there were even teenagers aged fifteen, sixty or seventeen.
The literacy rate in ancient times was very low, especially in the Han Dynasty when paper was not widely available. Due to this limitation, people often had to rely on bamboo slips and famous teachers to learn how to read and write.
Therefore, to be able to study, one must at least be from a wealthy family, with a certain social status and wealth. The most common ones are those from aristocratic families that have their own internal education.
The vast majority of rural people have no access to education at all, so there are many people who are illiterate in their 70s and 80s. People in the surrounding villages and poor people, as well as those with a little bit of insight, don't want to miss this opportunity.
Therefore, seize the opportunity and send your children over, even if they are teenagers, hoping that they can change their destiny.
Shen Chen said with a smile: "Don't worry, everyone, the sage Confucius once said, "There is no distinction between education." Everyone should have the right to learn knowledge. Confucius was also fifteen and committed to learning, no matter when he studied. It’s never too late to learn calligraphy, and the gift doesn’t need to be precious. Even if it’s just two pieces of cake, you can still come and study.”
"That's good, that's good."
The uneasy mood of the villagers was immediately relieved. They were very determined to send their children to study, but they were afraid that Shen Chen would not accept them.
At this time, someone suddenly said: "The Master said: "There is no distinction between teachings." However, "If I practice more than self-cultivation, I have no teachings." If there is no self-cultivation, how can we talk about etiquette? Such rudeness can't be tolerated. Disciple, don’t you think you are generous with your smile?”
Shen Chen frowned, looked over, and saw that he was a young scholar. He thought that you were rude, so he said, "If you want to debate the scriptures, come in later and help yourself. Now please allow me to recruit students."
"You still have not answered my question."
The scholar said forcefully.
Shen Chen suddenly lost his temper, and waved his sleeves and said: "Those who have poor etiquette and respect for the Taoism will know how to respect learning. Everyone knows that the "Book of Rites" says: "Be honest and sincere. Even if the villagers don't practice the girdles, they will still be defeated by the peasants." Being good at learning, being poor at home, and growing in ambition, does this mean that your heart is sincere? Even my ancestors were able to practice without the shackles of Yan Hui, but you only care about this common etiquette. You are really like rotten wood that cannot be carved. !”
At that time, ten pieces of bacon were needed as a gift to accept students. Note that it was a gift and not a tuition fee. Therefore, if you did not give bacon, it would be considered rude. There is a saying that "I have heard from the past to learn, but I have not heard to teach", and this Shuxiu actually represents your attitude of sincerely pursuing your studies.
Therefore, if Shu Xiu had not made a gift for the teacher at that time, the teacher would have been very angry. Whether it was worth the money or not, it would have at least made the teacher feel uncomfortable and felt that the student's attitude towards studying was not very good.
What the scholar accused Shen Chen of was that the villagers did not send Shu Xiu away, but he happily accepted students. This was a rude expression for both the villagers and Shen Chen himself. How can a person without etiquette accept students? He will definitely be laughed at by everyone.
But he won't think about it. The people at the bottom can't even eat enough to eat. Ten pieces of bacon is nothing to a wealthy family like them, but for the bottom class who may not be able to eat a piece of meat all year round, ten pieces of bacon are not worth it. Making gifts is a big burden.
Therefore, this kind of person has a mentality of eating meat. He is shameless, but he comes to accuse Shen Chen of exempting everyone from giving gifts and teaching people to read for free. He is obviously a rotten scholar who only knows how to study etiquette books. .
Originally, Shen Chen wanted to give him some face and talk about it later, but he had to continue questioning in public, so Shen Chen was naturally rude and came up to scold him.
Such people are simply a waste of air when they are alive and a waste of land when they are dead.
The scholar was stunned for a moment after being refuted. He didn't know what to say, but the people around him applauded.
"Okay, well said."
"That's a good thing. Although the villagers didn't send gifts, they abandoned farming at home and came to study, and would rather come hungry. Isn't this sincere enough?"
"Be honest and sincere. What is right is your heart and what is sincere is your intention. Shen Xiaolang is right, but that person seems to be a bit neglecting the basics."
Most of the people who applauded Shen Chen were scholars from poor or lower-class backgrounds.
Although their class is a little higher than that of common people and poor people, at least they are closer to the bottom and know how difficult the life of the people at the bottom is.
If someone cannot afford to pay for repairs, it means that the family is already very poor.
Even though he is very poor, he is willing not to engage in agricultural production at this time and come to study here in Shenchen. Doesn't it prove how sincere he is to study?
So that person only deserved to be scolded.
After Shen Chen finished scolding, he called the parents of the students outside to come in and registered them one by one, writing down their names, place of origin, age, etc., and accepted all the gifts they sent, because there are always those whose families are slightly richer. , can afford a meeting gift.
Those from particularly poor families were embarrassed to come empty-handed. Not only did Shen Chen not accept any gifts, he also said that if his children studied well, he would reward them with something to encourage them to study hard.
For a time, everyone had different ideas and had their own ideas.