On the first day of September, Zhang Yuan got up early, went to the back garden to jump around once, and practiced Tai Chi twice. He was about to go back to the inner courtyard to take a shower and change clothes, when he suddenly heard a "bang bang" at the small gate of the back garden facing the Touhe River.
He heard the sound and thought to himself: "Who comes to the back door so early in the morning and kicks the door open, so rude?" He walked to the door and asked: "Who is it?"
No one answered. Zhang Yuan thought it was some naughty kid who got up early and kicked the door a few times and ran away. It was probably Zhang Dingyi. That kid didn't go to the social school to study recently. He wandered around all day and came here several times.
When he came here, I saw him listening to a book or practicing calligraphy, so he left boredly——
Zhang Yuan turned around and went back, but before he had taken two steps, there was another "bang bang" kick on the door. Zhang Yuan turned around and shouted: "Who is it?"
This time there was a response, but it was not a human voice, but a mule's cry.
Zhang Yuan hurriedly pulled the bolt and opened the back door. Sure enough, it was White Mule Snow Jing. She had been grazing by the river all morning and her mouth was full of foam, so she came to Dong Zhang. White Mule Snow Jing has been behind Zhang Yuan's house these days.
I'm used to being in a garden.
Wu Ling shouted at the entrance of the hall: "Master, the water is ready - ha, Xuejing is back, haha, Xuejing likes our place." Yesterday evening, Zhang Yuan asked him to take Xuejing back to Xizhang and return it to Zhang Dai.
He was very unhappy and dejected. He didn't expect to see the white mule back when he got up early in the morning. He was really overjoyed and hurried over to hold the snow spirit, caressing his neck and back. He was very affectionate and said to Zhang Yuan: "Master, don't take the snow.
The essence has been sent back to Xizhang, okay?"
Wherever there is movement, there is the little girl Tuting. Seeing the white mule coming back, this little girl beamed and begged: "Master, please keep the snow spirit. The snow spirit only eats grass and does not eat."
Zhang Yuan smiled and said, "Okay, okay, just stay. I'll tell my elder brother Zongzi later."
Wu Ling and Tu Ting were happily circling around the white mule and snow spirit.
…
After breakfast, Zhang Yuan went out in fresh clothes. Xiao Xinu Wuling followed him and went to Xi Zhang to meet Zhang Rulin, his great uncle. Outside the flower hanging ceremony gate of the North Courtyard, the maid who led him in was not the one who saw him last time.
The beautiful maid blushed at the first sight. Zhang Yuan asked casually, and the maid said: "Master Jiezi, are you talking about Lian Xia? Her father is seriously ill, so she won't come with you for the time being."
Zhang Yuan thought: "That beautiful maid is indeed Lian Xia. How could she be called to do this by Zhang E that day?" When he looked up, he saw Zhang Rulin, the great uncle of the clan, wearing a Lingyun scarf on his head and a straight-leg Taoist robe, standing on the corridor steps.
——
Seeing Zhang Yuan come in, Zhang Rulin said with a smile: "You are here early. I haven't eaten yet. Please go to the study and wait."
Zhang Yuan crossed his hands and sang a promise to his uncle, and then went to his uncle's study to wait. His uncle's study was quite messy, with calligraphy, paintings, and scrolls piled everywhere. It wasn't that the maids were lazy, but that Zhang Rulin didn't let the maids tidy up.
After sorting through it, he couldn't find what he was looking for——
Zhang Yuan saw a famous letter on his desk. It was an exquisite Songjiang Tan paper, wrapped in a red handkerchief, and it read "Dong Qichang, a friend of mine" written in six small regular scripts. Dong Qichang's calligraphy is easy to recognize. The small regular scripts are tall, elegant and round, and Feng Shen is unique. Zhang Yuan
I have seen photocopied calligraphy of Dong Qichang before, but this is the first time I have seen the original. It seems that Zhang Rulin, the great uncle of the family, had contacts with Dong Qichang, and he will probably have the opportunity to meet Dong Qichang, who is a master of calligraphy and painting.
There are many books piled up on the desk of my great-uncle, all of which are phonological exegesis and the like. A Huzhou Zhongfeng sheep hair is placed on the inkstone, the pen and ink are half dry, and there is also a bound blank volume, with a few lines written in rope-headed regular script on the first page.
Zhang Yuan took a casual look at the characters, and it seemed that his uncle was going to compile a rhyme book.
After waiting for less than half an hour, a boy came over and said, "Master Jiezi, the eldest master calls you."
Zhang Yuan followed the shi boy to the front hall. Zhang Rulin was ready. Two shi boys and six healthy servants accompanied him. Zhang Rulin took the curtain sedan and Zhang Yuan took the rope sedan. A group of more than ten people went east to Kuaiji. , Wang Siren's mansion is about seven or eight miles away from Shanyin Mansion Academy.
After crossing the Fuhe River, we reached the county seat of Kuaiji. Zhang Rulin said to Zhang Yuan: "Jian'an's retreat at the foot of Kuaiji Mountain has not yet been completed. He is still living in the city. I sent someone to find out first last night, so as not to miss him during my visit today." Then he said with a smile: "Mr. Jian'an thinks highly of you. He said that when little friend Zhang Jiezi comes to visit, he will welcome you."
Zhang Yuandao: "My descendants recently read Mr. Jian'an's thirty-six ink poems and were very surprised. I didn't expect that the contemporary prose could be written like this. It is full of talent and imagination, and is not inferior to the ancient prose of the Tang and Song Dynasties."
Zhang Rulin smiled and said: "It is difficult to learn from Liu Qidong's Shi Wen Yi, but it is difficult to learn from Wang Jian'an's Shi Wen. You have to be careful. Don't draw tigers to avoid being like dogs."
As we were talking, we passed the Xinghua Temple. Apricot trees were planted all around the temple. In this late autumn, of course, there were no apricot flowers. The leaves were all gone and the trees were bare.
Wang Siren's residence is located to the east of Xinghua Temple. A servant of the Zhang family came first to report the assassination. When two sedans stopped in front of the gate of Wang Siren's residence, Wang Siren had already come out to greet him. He took Zhang Rulin's hand and said with a smile: "Weng Su is here." It's so early, it's only the end of the morning, and we've already arrived in another county."
Zhang Rulin smiled and said: "Jian'an's talent has spread far and wide, and my grandchildren are eager to seek guidance from me. They came to my place waiting for me early this morning - Zhang Yuan, why don't you come over to see me?"
Zhang Yuan stepped forward and saluted.
Wang Siren looked Zhang Yuan up and down with a smile and said, "I haven't seen you for more than a month. Brother Zhang Shi has become more charming. He must have gained more insights from listening to books."
Zhang Rulin said: "Exactly, Zhang Yuan has been studying "The Thirty-six Inscriptions of King Jizhong Wei of Kuaiji" recently, and he has gained some insights."
Wang Siren welcomed Zhang Rulin, and Zhang Yuan came in. As he walked, he said: "The Shanyin bookseller is hateful. He printed my ink scrolls indiscriminately and sold them for extremely high prices, but he didn't give me half a tael of silver."
Zhang Rulin smiled and said: "Are the booksellers in your county willing to share your money?"
Wang Siren said: "Kuaiji booksellers are particularly hateful. When they meet me on the road, they will say, Mr. Ji Zhong, your collection of contemporary essays is very expensive in Luoyang these days. Several editions of the engravings have been printed. Mr. Ji Zhong's reputation has spread far and wide - not even To share the money with me, look at the look on his face, it seems like I have to treat him to a drink to thank him."
Zhang Rulin laughed.
Zhang Yuan thought: "Mr. Jian'an is very aware of copyright."
After entering the hall, the guests and hosts were seated. Zhang Yuan did not dare to sit down and stood beside his great-uncle.
Zhang Rulin took two sips of tea and said: "Jian'an also knows the purpose of my visit today, which is to bring Zhang Yuan to become a disciple. The bundle of repair gifts has been prepared. Zhang Yuan, please kowtow."
Wang Siren said: "Wait a minute, it will take less than two months to teach him to write a convincing prose. I would like to thank you for this."
Zhang Rulin said with a smile: "Does Jian'an also know about this kid's bet with others? Apprenticeship is just apprenticeship. How far he can learn depends on him. As for the bet, he has a good plan himself. Don't worry about him."
Siren looked at Zhang Yuan with a smile on his face and said, "That's good, but I have to test him first."
Zhang Rulin said: "This boy has been working very hard recently, so just give him a test in Jian'an."
Wang Siren first asked Zhang Yuan what books he had read recently. After hearing Zhang Yuan's answer, he nodded and said: "Sure enough, he is diligent." Then he asked Zhang Yuan six questions about the two books "Eight Masters' Texts" and "Wen Zhengzong" Zhang Yuan answered questions one by one.
Zhang Rulin twirled his beard and jaw, obviously very satisfied with his grandson's answer. These questions raised by Wang Siren cannot be answered by rote memorization.
Wang Siren praised: "This boy is extremely intelligent and can analyze subtle things like an old Confucian. How can this be the knowledge of a boy? Well, you stay here with me and I will teach you for three months. In three months you will be able to master what I have taught you."
Of course, this is just a glimpse into the essence of the time and writing, but to truly write eight-legged essay well, it will take at least three years of hard work."
Zhang Yuan immediately paid homage to his master and bowed solemnly. Wang Siren stayed with his grandson for lunch. Zhang Yuan wanted to go back and report to his mother, so he went back to Shanyin with his uncle in the afternoon, agreeing to come back to Wang Siren's house tomorrow. He was regarded as a visiting disciple and would live in Wang's house.
, in order to be taught day and night.
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