It was already noon, Zhang Yuan followed Zhang E to see Zhang Rulin, his great uncle of the Zhang clan in the west. It had been sunny for several days and the autumn sun was warm. Zhang Yuan squinted his eyes and took the folding fan in Zhang E's hand to protect himself from the sun. Zhang E smiled and said:
"Jiezi, you have really become a purdah girl. I haven't seen you go out these days. Why did you make a bet with Yao Liangguan? Can you win?"
Zhang Yuan did not answer, but said: "Third brother, the servant girl you called to answer a few days ago is really good at talking. She told a lot about Yao Fu's private affairs, bad things, scandals, such as marrying concubines in mourning and cheating on widows.
They occupied people's property, defrauded people with their money, and instigated lawsuits. But when asked carefully, they were all Zhang San and Li Si without exact names. The cause and effect of the matter could not be explained clearly. We had to interview them one by one to understand. The third brother ordered this
Have you gone down?"
Zhang E said: "I've already ordered you to go down. I'll do as you said. I'll check everything and find out exactly what year and month, where and who. I'll get back to you in two days. Why, you want to sue Yao Ligong?
He is the famous Yao Tiezui, and he has Beijing officials as his backers. According to me, if we can't do it openly, we can do it secretly, just lure him out and give him a good beating to vent his anger."
Zhang Yuan laughed and said: "I won't sue him, I won't beat him, I will bet with him on stereotypes."
Zhang E said: "My eldest father even knows that you were rejected by Liu Zongzhou, and you dare to make a bet with others. Now you will be punished for both crimes. You will be in trouble, Jie Zi."
Zhang Yuandao: "Are you gloating about misfortune?"
Zhang E smiled and said: "A little bit." Then he said: "By the way, in a few days you will accompany me to Kuaiji to see the Shang girls."
Zhang Yuan refused: "No, I'll figure out what's going on."
Zhang E smiled and said: "You must go. Then I will go and beg the fifth aunt. The fifth aunt ordered you to accompany me. Do you dare to disobey?"
Facing such a lazy clan brother, Zhang Yuan could only shake his head.
Entered through the side door, followed the main hall, and the cloister of the Quyuan. After walking for a long time, I arrived at the North Courtyard where Zhang Rulin lived. Zhang E whispered: "Jie Zi, you can go in by yourself. I won't accompany you." Zhang E was afraid of seeing the big man.
His father was Zhang Rulin. Zhang Rulin would scold him whenever he saw him.
A young boy came to lead Zhang Yuan in, and when he walked to the hanging flower ceremony gate, another beautiful maid came after him. This beautiful maid blessed Zhang Yuan and whispered softly: "Master Jiezi, please come with me."
Zhang Yuan walked through a hall and came to the outside of Zhang Rulin's study. He said softly: "Young Master Jiezi, please be careful what you say. The eldest master is not in a good mood today."
This maid was quite kind-hearted. Zhang Yuan turned his head and looked at her twice. She had an oval face, a pointed chin, and slender eyebrows and charming eyes. Hey, why did her face turn red all of a sudden?
"Zhang Yuan, come in."
Zhang Rulin spoke in the study.
Zhang Yuan hurried in and respectfully saluted his ancestor. Zhang Rulin, who was nearly sixty years old, sat steadily on the official hat chair behind the desk, stared at him, and said: "I heard that you made a bet with others by not participating in the imperial examination for the rest of your life, but
Is there such a thing?" Before Zhang Yuan could answer, Zhang Rulin slapped the desk and shouted: "You are really arrogant. In three months, you can write eight essays that can convince the public. The Zhang family in Shanyin only produces talented people, never crazy students.
,you are the first."
Zhang Yuan bowed and said: "Returning to my uncle, my grandson is not arrogant, but he wants to use this matter to motivate himself not to slack off. The more he pushes his mind, the better he gets. The same goes for his studies. In the past month, my grandson has read nearly two hundred volumes, which is quite impressive.
If you can remember it, please uncle, please take a closer look."
Hearing what Zhang Yuan said, Zhang Rulin's anger subsided for the most part. He also asked Fan Zhen and others about Zhang Yuan's listening to books. Several Qing guests praised Zhang Yuan, saying that Zhang Yuan was talented and intelligent, and that he and Zhang Zongzi could be called the best.
, and Zhang Yuan was extremely diligent in listening to the book. He listened to the book for nearly four hours every day, and he never looked tired. He occasionally asked questions, and he could touch the secrets of the book. Zhang Yuan's hard work in studying is beyond reproach -
Zhang Rulin shook his head and sighed: "Idiot, idiot, although you know how to work hard, you don't know the sinister nature of people's hearts. If Yao Fu bribed the students who were in the second place in the exam last year, well, Yao Fu, the litigator, would definitely do this.
Even if you write a decent eight-legged article, you still can't win this game. It's too difficult for fifty-four sentient beings to be recognized by more than thirty-six people." He said in his heart: "It's not that there are no strategies to deal with it, that is, with the
Yao Fu also won over those students, but in this way, the Shanyin Zhang family has been looked down upon by others."
But I heard Zhang Yuan say: "Yesterday, Magistrate Qian also asked about this matter. There are some things that the family grandson didn't say clearly. He was worried that there would be changes if they were revealed in advance. Today, my uncle asked again. The family grandson didn't dare to hide it any more. The family grandson is confident that the fifty
The vast majority of people among the four living beings agree with the eight-legged prose of the descendants of the clan, and Yao's lawsuit will be defeated."
"Oh!" Zhang Rulin raised his eyebrows, sat up straight, and beckoned Zhang Yuan to come closer: "Tell me, what's your plan?"
Zhang Yuan then explained this to his uncle in detail.
Zhang Rulin laughed out loud after hearing this. After laughing, his expression became serious again. He looked Zhang Yuan up and down, and Zhang Yuan's scalp went numb——
Zhang Rulin said: "You have such deep scheming at a young age, and you are well versed in human relations and world principles. Did you learn this through dreams?"
Zhang Yuan had nothing to say and simply remained silent.
Zhang Rulin smiled again: "My uncle didn't mean to blame you, I just marveled at your wisdom. You can know without learning. There are such wonderful things in the world!"
Zhang Yuan argued: "Uncle, my descendants are not unlearned. They listen to tens of thousands of words every day."
Zhang Rulin smiled and said: "Okay, okay, you are both willing to learn and wise. Isn't that right? No wonder you dared to make a bet with Yao Fu, but it turns out you have seen through this and you are indeed invincible. But my uncle
I want to warn you that this kind of thing will never happen again, and you are not allowed to make this kind of bet with others in the future, do you hear me?"
"Yes." Zhang Yuan responded.
Zhang Rulin said again: "As for the craftsmanship, you have to study hard and don't be scornful just because you have some clever tricks."
Zhang Yuandao: "The grandson of the family knows that ingenuity and cleverness must complement each other with real talent and practical knowledge. It will be a shame if he cannot write clear and standard eight-part essays. The grandson of the family does not dare to slack off. He is currently reading the ancient prose of the Eight Great Masters.
He started studying Neo-Confucianism articles at the end of August and began to study classics in mid-September."
"Very good, very good." Zhang Rulin was greatly relieved to see Zhang Yuan's orderly arrangements. Zhang Yuan was one year younger than Zhang Dai. Although Zhang Dai was also very intelligent, he was still too playful and not as focused as Zhang Yuan.
Zhang Yuan said again: "If there is something I need to ask the ancestor of the clan to come forward——"
Zhang Rulin said: "Well, you say."
Zhang Yuandao said: "At the end of September, the descendants of the family wanted to go to Kuaiji to seek advice from Mr. Jian'an for half a month, and they had to be led by their uncle."
Zhang Rulin said with a smile: "You have a good idea. Wang Jizhong's writings are of course excellent, but why do you choose the distance instead of the near? Mr. Qidong of Dashan Temple is closer, isn't it? Mr. Qidong's craftsmanship is elegant and pure, and is more suitable for learning."
Zhang Rulin deliberately exposed Zhang Yuan's shortcomings to see how Zhang Yuan would explain why Liu Zongzhou was turned away.
Zhang Yuan then told about the apprenticeship at Dashan Temple that day, and said: "Mr. Qidong wished that I lost to Yao Fu. Without Mr. Qidong's promotion, this bet would not have been possible, so Mr. Qidong would never be willing to teach the descendants of the clan."
Eight-legged."
Zhang Rulin laughed: "I see, that's it." Looking at this grandson with a smile, it was no coincidence that Liu Zongzhou recognized him as a scholar. Neither his eldest grandson Zhang Dai nor the little prodigy of the Qi family had ever received such praise from Liu Zongzhou. Zhang is about to produce a great talent, which is also the luck of the Shanyin Zhang family.
At this time, a waiter came to ask the eldest master when he would have dinner. Zhang Rulin said: "Zhang Yuan, you don't have time to eat either. Why don't you dine with your uncle?"
Zhang Rulin had more than ten direct grandchildren and descendants, but only the eldest grandson Zhang Dai was allowed to eat. The servants in the north courtyard were all secretly surprised when they saw Zhang Yuan of Dong Zhang being treated so badly.
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Please let Xiaodao sell it for a while, uh, please vote.