In the next ten days or so, Zhang Yuan finished listening to the twenty-volume "Huang Ming Dynasty Wen Ding" and "Prodigy Making Art". The two volumes of "Thirty-six Questions of Kuaiji Wang Jizhong's Ink" were placed at the end.
I finished listening to it all on the last day of the month. Fortunately, I was listening to a book, so I had to be more attentive. Otherwise, I would have been dizzy after reading nearly a million words in just half a month. Eight-legged essays are harder to memorize than classical Chinese.
, because the style is monotonous, they all speak for the sages, and each one is sanctimonious. It is difficult to find the highlights for easy memory, so Zhang Yuan can only remember a small half of the articles. Of course, Wang Siren's thirty-six wonderful contemporary articles are by heart.
Yes, I listened to it once and read it myself——
These days, I still listen to books every morning in the morning, ponder over the mysteries of eight-legged essay in the afternoon, go to the back garden in the evening to watch Mu Zhenzhen practice martial arts, and then go with Wu Ling and others to graze the white mule Xue Jing by the Tou River. The white mule seems to be staying at
Dongzhang was more comfortable. Let go of the reins and it would not be able to cross the bridge back to Xizhang. It was really hard to sit on such a snow-white mount without a ride. Zhang Yuan tried to ride the white mule, but the white mule was furious and knocked Zhang Yuan down.
Fortunately, she didn't get hurt. The next evening, Mu Zhenzhen called her father, Mu Jingyan. Mu Jingyan held on to the reins and asked Zhang Yuan to ride on it boldly. Zhang Yuan cautiously stepped onto the saddle.
The mule began to act up and tried to knock Zhang Yuan off. Mu Jingyan held the white mule's neck with one arm and strangled him hard. The white mule struggled with its hooves, panting heavily from its big nostrils, but could not move. Huang Xulishi was indeed worthy of his reputation——
After trying this several times, the white mule, even though it was unruly, was made docile. When he saw Mu Jingyan's yellow beard, he became obedient. Of course, Mu Jingyan could not come every day to greet Zhang Yuan on the mule.
, Xiao Xi Nu Wuling found a colorful face mask and put it on, and glued yellow silk thread on the lower jaw, and it worked. Zhang Yuan and Mu Zhenzhen laughed until their stomachs hurt.
Admit it, regardless of whether it has a yellow beard or yellow silk thread, it is very docile. Of course, this docility is limited to Zhang Yuan, so at dusk on the last day of August in the cool autumn, Zhang Dai and Zhang E walked out of the north courtyard gate.
When we walked to the Three-Arch Bridge and saw Zhang Yuan riding his white mule leisurely on the river bank, they were all surprised -
Zhang E said angrily: "What an evil beast. He refused to let me ride it that day, but Jiezi rode it so docilely. It makes me so angry!" No matter that his elder brother Zhang Dai was right next to him, shouting "Bring the whip, bring the whip!"
, I want to whip this white mule.
Zhang Yuan rode the white mule "De De De" onto the stone arch bridge, jumped off, took the white mule, smiled and said to Zhang Dai: "Brother Zongzi is back, and the mule is returned to you. The mule ran to my back garden that day. I
I just took care of him for a few days."
Zhang Dai smiled and said: "Fortunately, you helped me raise it for these few days, otherwise this white mule would have been beaten to death by Yan Ke."
Zhang E said: "If you don't beat it to death, just beat it until it becomes submissive - Hey, Jiezi, you didn't whip it with a whip, how come it obeyed you?"
Zhang Yuan saw that his eldest brother Zhang Dai could not hide his frustration and loneliness although he had a smile on his face. He knew that his eldest brother had failed this time. Zhang Yuan had been studying eight-part essays these days and did not pay attention to the news about the Hangzhou Provincial Examination. But if Zhang Dai Qiuwei
If he wins, the person who announced the good news will probably arrive at Shanyin before Zhang Dai, and the news will definitely spread. But now that Zhang Dai is back, there is no movement in Xi Zhang. Obviously, Zhang Dai failed. This pair of Zhang Dai, who has been known as a child prodigy since childhood, is the only one.
It was a painful blow, and it was also the first time in his life that he suffered a major setback. He had to let go of his heart——
Zhang Yuan said with a smile: "Three brothers don't know. I made a bet with this mule. I said I could recite the eight-legged essay "The article doesn't matter" that its owner Zhang Zongzi used to take the Taoist test.
It obeys me, and if I can’t recite it, it kicks me——”
Zhang E burst out laughing: "So you memorized it?"
Zhang Yuan said: "Of course, otherwise how could it be willing to obey me? How about, third brother, you try riding it."
Zhang E laughed so hard that he couldn't stand up straight. He waved his hands repeatedly and said: "I won't try, I won't try. How can I recite the eight-legged essay of my elder brother?"
Zhang Dai also laughed loudly and said to Zhang Yuan: "If Mr. Jie can really recite that piece of craftsmanship, I will give you the snow essence."
Zhang E then urged Zhang Yuan to recite quickly, otherwise the white mule would not be obedient. Zhang Yuan recited: "Art is not the most important thing. It is worth its decline, even a sage would doubt himself——"
Zhang Dai smiled and said: "By the way, that's how you break the topic, then recite the rest."
Zhang Yuan recited the 272-word "Four Book Meanings" of Zhang Dai's Taoist examination verbatim word for word. Zhang Dai praised: "Jie Jie is really good at memorizing it. This white mule belongs to you."
Zhang Yuan shook his head and said: "You don't need to give it to me as a gift. I'm just riding it for fun. I don't have a long way to go, so I can keep it for myself."
Zhang He said with a smile: "Brother, don't you know that Jiezi also made a bet with another big evil beast in this county? That evil beast's surname is Yao, and his name is Yao Fu. The bet is really not small. The bet is on Yao Fu's life."
scarf."
Zhang Dai heard Zhang E comparing Yao Fu to an evil beast, and laughed and said: "I heard it, I heard it on the boat yesterday." His face became solemn, and he asked: "Jiezi, you are such a reckless gambler, how can you use your life's wealth?"
If you are betting on the imperial examination, what does Yao Fu’s reputation as a student mean?"
Zhang E said disapprovingly: "Jiezi will definitely win. He has a clever plan. That day, the eldest father heard about the bet between Jiezi and Yao Fu. He was also very angry at first. He called Jiezi to severely scold him. He didn't know that Jiezi and the eldest father had anything to do with him.
What did he say? The eldest father actually allowed him to eat. With a smile, I asked Jie Zi what a clever plan he had, but he said that the secret must not be leaked, and even I kept it secret." He said to Zhang Yuan: "Now the eldest brother is also asking you, Jie Zi.
We need to recruit them from the ground up.”
Zhang Yuandao: "It is true that this matter cannot be mentioned early. If it is leaked out early, it will not have the best effect. When I come back from Mr. Wang Jizhong's eight-part essay, it will be around the middle or late next month. Then I will
You can use your clever tricks now."
Zhang He felt itchy and unbearable, but Zhang Yuan didn't say anything, and he couldn't force Zhang Yuan to tell him what the plan was. A few days ago, he pretended to be very worried and told his uncle about Zhang Yuan's bet, saying that Yao Fu was trying to win over everyone.
As a student, I was afraid that I would lose. Unexpectedly, my eldest father, Zhang Rulin, didn't take it seriously and asked Zhang E to go to Dongzhang to see how Zhang Yuan studied hard. His hard work was worthy of man and nature. How could Zhang Yuan lose?
——
Zhang Rulin took the opportunity to teach his grandson Zhang E a lesson. Zhang E couldn't be convinced and slandered: "Why do you have to work so hard to live up to man and nature? It's still a failure. It's because Jie Zi has a clever plan."
Zhang Dai heard Zhang Yuan say that he wanted to learn craftsmanship from Wang Jizhong and asked, "Mr. Jizhong promised to accept you as his disciple?"
Zhang Yuandao: "I don't know if I am willing to accept it yet. I will ask my uncle to take me there tomorrow."
Zhang Dai said: "My eldest father is free now. Go and tell your eldest father."
Zhang Yuan and Zhang Dai went to meet Zhang Rulin, their uncle, but Zhang E naturally avoided him and went to drink and play chess with the Qing guests.
Zhang Rulin was sorting out some letters in the study room of the Beiyuan. After hearing Zhang Yuan's explanation of his purpose, he asked, "I know you have been studying hard behind closed doors for the past month. What books have you read?"
Zhang Yuan talked about the books he had read in the past month one by one. Zhang Rulin asked questions, and Zhang Yuan answered fluently. Zhang Rulin nodded with a smile on his face and said: "After reading through these books, you can learn to write eight-legged essay. Well, tomorrow
I will take you to Kuaiji to visit Wang Jizhong." He turned to his eldest grandson Zhang Dai and said, "Did you see that Zhang Yuan is both smart and willing to work hard? You don't lack intelligence, but hard work is what you lack."
Zhang Dai was only taught.
————————————————————
Thank you book friends for your support. "Ya sāo" ranked second last week. We must keep up our efforts and preserve the victory first. Next week's goal is to be first in the weekly rankings.