Chapter Three Selecting Xiwen Road during the banquet
When everyone was seated, Mrs. Zhang signaled to Zhang Bing, the elder of the clan. Zhang Bing covered his mouth and coughed, and said to Zhang Sui: "Brother Sui, I invite you here today because I want to discuss with you. You are already in the age of dancing elephants and have reached the clan age.
I wonder what your plans are when choosing a path in Guili?"
Zhang Sui glanced at Mrs. Liu. Mrs. Liu's face was calm and expressionless, as if she didn't care. Zhang Sui cupped his hands to Zhang Binggong and said, "I don't have a clue about what to do. I wonder what Grandpa Bing would suggest?"
Zhang Bingdao: "Nowadays, the children in the clan generally choose their own path when they are around eighteen years old. They can study literature, do business, or even be interested in martial arts. There are corresponding connections and connections in the clan.
It's up to Brother Sui to choose the way to go."
Zhang Sui was thinking silently. At this moment, Mrs. Liu said calmly: "I see that Brother Sui suffered a serious illness some time ago and is now very weak. In the early stage of doing business, you need to travel around and accumulate experience. With your current body
I guess you can’t stand the trouble. I heard that you have been reading and practicing essays in the bookstore every day recently. Do you want to follow the path of essay writing? "
Zhang Bing and Liu He both looked at Zhang Sui.
Zhang Sui saluted Mrs. Liu and said: "Mother, my serious illness not long ago made me think of all the ridiculous things I did in the past when I was in a daze, and I was very ashamed. These days I have nothing to do.
, just go to the bookstore to read books, learn about current events, and read the words of saints, which can fill your empty belly and make up for the frivolity of youth."
Several people had strange expressions on their faces when they heard his words.
It’s not surprising that others were surprised. In Zhang Sui’s own memory, Zhang Sui in this world can be regarded as a little dandy. Although the family discipline was very strict since he was a child, he seemed to have a grudge against books since he was a child.
After receiving elementary school education in ethnic studies, I never wanted to go to school again. I spent the whole day with my servants, calling friends, and hanging out with some boys from similar family backgrounds. Although there was no big evil, there were still small misfortunes.
, giving the family a headache.
Others didn't dare to say anything when they saw his family background. In addition, the Liu family basically ignored him. Although the elders in the clan caught him and taught him a lesson several times, they would fall back into their old ways as long as he stopped for a period of time.
. As time goes by, no one is willing to discipline him. Anyway, it is just a small misfortune that will not hurt his muscles and bones. Others will not pursue his brother too much because he is the leader of the clan. It can be said that he is a person who hates dogs.
Big naughty boy.
Before he got sick, he was drinking with a group of boys in a restaurant. He had a verbal quarrel with a table in the next room, and a scuffle ensued. He ordered a boy to break the head of a young man. It turned out that the young man was a distant nephew of the chief clerk of Kunzhou Prefecture.
Son, the nephew with a white cloth on his head led by the bookkeeper came to the door. The clan apologized and compensated, and finally calmed down after dealing with the government office and a colleague of the bookkeeper who was close to the Zhang family.
After that incident, the clan elders discussed with the Liu family and asked Zhang Sui to move out of his ancestral home and live in the current small courtyard. The ferocious young man who broke people's heads was also sent to a farm in the suburbs, and Zhang Sui was only given a
Lame old road to maintain basic decency.
Unexpectedly, after a serious illness, Zhang Sui seemed to be a changed person. Not only did he no longer hang out with his old friends, but he also went into the bookstore and stayed there for three months. The clerk in the bookstore said that the second young master
I would come early in the morning and leave at sunset every day, reading non-stop, and occasionally picking up a pen to practice calligraphy. Although it was difficult to write the words in one sentence, I was practicing seriously after all.
Coupled with what he said just now, he looks like a prodigal son who has turned back.
Zhang Bing and Mr. Liu looked at each other without saying a word. Liu He, who had been sitting silently on the side, suddenly said: "With the current temperament of the second young master, it is most appropriate for him to follow the path of Xiwen."
After speaking, he remained silent.
Zhang Bing looked a little unhappy. Although Liu He was the nephew of the Liu family and the big shopkeeper of Jiannan Road, Zhang Sui was the second son of the main line of the Zhang family after all. It was not his turn to choose a path like this.
This person with a foreign surname came to speak. He was originally wondering why Mrs. Liu allowed Liu He to participate in this dinner, but now after listening to Liu He's words, he knew that he was actually speaking for Mr. Liu.
Zhang Bing also knew the causes and consequences of Liu's cold attitude towards Zhang Sui, and it was not convenient for him to comment on the family affairs of the clan leader. After all, Zhang Sui was the clan leader's brother. Although he was the son of the second wife of the previous clan leader, in the eyes of the clan elders,
The identity and status are still there. In the opinion of the clan elders, this kind of matter of choosing a path is an important matter related to the future inheritance of the family. Even if the Liu family does not want to see Zhang Sui, or is worried that he will covet the position of clan leader.
Mind you, there are some things that a foreigner should not be allowed to interfere with. This is a very taboo thing.
When Mrs. Liu saw Zhang Bing's ugly face, she also knew that she had done something wrong by letting Liu He speak. She quickly smiled and said to Zhang Bing: "Elder Zhang, this is my fault. I mentioned Brother Sui when chatting with He'er today.
My son has been studying hard recently and has made great progress. Coupled with Brother Sui's words just now, he couldn't help but speak. It's his fault."
Liu He also reacted and knew that he had violated a taboo by speaking just now. He quickly stood up and bent down to apologize: "I have talked too much. Please don't take it to heart, please."
Zhang Bing had no expression on his face, waved his hands and said, "That's all."
Liu He turned around and apologized to Zhang Sui: "Second Young Master, I made a mistake just now. It's not my place to say anything about choosing a path. I just know that Second Young Master has been working very hard on the way of writing recently, so I can't help but say more."
Zhang Sui smiled and said: "It's okay, I don't know what to choose for the time being. Since my mother and the boss think that I am suitable for writing, I might as well give it a try first. Anyway, there is still half a year before I turn eighteen.
If not, there are other options.”
Mrs. Liu also smiled when she heard this and said: "It seems that a serious illness has really changed Brother Sui's life and become more knowledgeable and sensible. Elder, why don't you let Brother Sui move back to his ancestral home and let the clan learn the language?"
Let Mr. Meng teach him."
Zhang Bing stroked his beard and looked at Zhang Sui. He was satisfied no matter how he looked at it. This boy was completely different from the original naughty person who was causing trouble all day long. There really is no harm without comparison. It turns out that the person who taught Zhang Sui the most was the clan member.
Old Zhang Bing knew Zhang Sui's character very well. Seeing his humble and progressive appearance, he couldn't help but feel relieved. He nodded and said: "Although it is a bit unruly, Brother Sui has turned around as a prodigal son and has the ambition to make progress.
It’s not like we can’t make exceptions!”
Hearing this, Zhang Sui quickly stood up and said, "Thank you very much, mother and clan elders, for your concern, but I won't need it if I move back. Firstly, it will be difficult to convince the public if I break the rules. Secondly, I live not far away, so I ask Laolu to take me there every day."
Just study the clan, so as not to come back and trouble your mother and clan elders."
Hearing this, Mr. Liu was silent and looked at Zhang Bing. The more Zhang Bing looked at Zhang Sui, the more satisfied he became. He felt that he was really sensible. He said, "That's okay, so as not to have to work for other clan elders. They are all very old and come here to ask for help."
It will be very difficult for them to go back. I will tell Mr. Meng from the ethnology school about your situation tomorrow. Come over tomorrow and I will take you to visit Mr. Meng first. You kid made Mr. Meng very angry a few years ago. Why don’t you still
I wonder if he is willing to teach you again."
Zhang Sui searched for the past memories in his mind and couldn't help but feel speechless.
Mr. Meng's name is Meng Dun. His ancestral home is Kunzhou. He passed the Jinshi exam when he was young. Although his ranking was not very high, he also entered the court. However, Mr. Meng has a strong personality and rigorous scholarship, but he can't get along with his colleagues and disdains them.
He was a superior in the field, but his rank was not high. It was not until his later years that he became an official as a fifth-rank editor due to his seniority and many years of hard work in Wenlan Pavilion. Finally, he returned to his ancestral home, Kunzhou, to retire.
The previous generation patriarch of the Zhang family knew Mr. Meng through his official connections. Although Mr. Meng was not of high rank, anyone who knew his official status admired his knowledge. After all, a man who had studied in Wenlan Pavilion for forty years
If you say that a person with a junior high school degree is not knowledgeable, that is nonsense.
The head of the Zhang family invited Mr. Meng to be the head of the family academy many times, but Mr. Meng also delayed and refused many times. Later, Mr. Meng's old mother became seriously ill and needed old ginseng to prolong her life. However, the old ginseng is generally not old enough and has little effect.
After Mr. Meng heard about it, he spent a lot of money to receive a top-quality old ginseng from Hanshan Mansion in northern Guanhai and delivered it to his door in person. Only then did Mr. Meng's old mother recover.
In view of this matter, Mr. Meng agreed to serve as the head of the clan school. Mr. Meng was also very knowledgeable and taught students in accordance with their aptitude. In fifteen years, the clan school produced 13 talents and four candidates, giving the Zhang family one
What a big surprise.
But Zhang Sui was a pain for Mr. Meng. Because Zhang Sui was born prematurely, he was weak since he was a child. He did not enter the family elementary school until he was about ten years old. In fact, Zhang Sui was very smart since he was a child, but his intelligence was not reflected in reading and writing.
It is used for cheating, sneaking, and mischief.
The teacher of Meng Xue was Mr. Meng's student named Zhou Tong, who was also a scholar. He came to teach Zhang's Meng Xue for the sake of being a teacher. He could continue his studies with the teacher and earn a generous income.
But Zhang Sui sneaked into the class and soon the chaos broke out uncontrollably. He was the younger brother of the clan leader, and Zhou Tong did not punish other students as severely as he taught other students. He would beat him if he made trouble. In the end, he had no choice but to ask
The teacher personally came to teach Zhang Sui.
Mr. Meng was extraordinary. Zhang Sui didn't know why. Although the old man didn't beat or scold him, he was in awe of him. In addition, Mr. Meng guided him according to his nature. He finished the course in just two years.
It takes five years to learn the content of the elementary school. Just when Mr. Meng was lamenting that the Zhang family was about to produce a real scholar, Zhang Sui, who had finished the elementary school, refused to continue studying and was not even willing to touch books anymore. No matter whether Mr. Meng
No matter how you guide it, it won't help.
After knowing this, the elders of the family also came to discipline Zhang Sui, but to no avail. Coupled with Liu's indifferent attitude towards this, Zhang Sui began to call friends when he was only twelve or thirteen years old.
The city has a bad reputation. Although it is not a serious crime, the destructive power of a group of half-grown men cannot be underestimated. After many efforts to no avail, Mr. Meng had no choice but to sigh secretly and not mention it again.
Zhang Sui also became a pain for Mr. Meng.
Zhang Sui recalled the past and was extremely speechless about his former self. He thought to himself: "If I were Mr. Meng, I would probably want to tie him up and hang him when faced with such a naughty boy."
After the matter of choosing a path came to light, the atmosphere at the table became much more harmonious. When the food and wine were served, Zhang Bing and Liu He raised their glasses frequently, and the atmosphere became very relaxed.
Mrs. Liu didn't drink, she just tasted some plain dishes. She didn't sit there for long before she apologized to the clan elder and left. Before leaving, she asked Liu He to entertain the clan elder well.
Zhang Bingyou liked what was in the cup, and Liu He was also very flattering. Zhang Sui did not drink due to his weak health, but just listened to the two discussing family business and local customs. They drank three times all over the world. Zhang Bing
Although the wine was good, the amount of wine was limited. The banquet ended when Zhang Bing's eyes began to blur.
Zhang Sui supported the clan elder and they walked out of Zhang's house together.
When he arrived at the gate of Zhang's house, Zhang Bing's servant helped him over.
Zhang Bing squinted his drunken eyes and warned Zhang Sui: "Brother Sui, when you go visit Mr. Meng tomorrow, you can't do anything random anymore. Mr. Meng is getting older, and I don't know if he is willing to teach you this kid anymore. Alas, you know
But it offended him terribly."
Shaking his head, he got into the carriage with the help of the boy.
Zhang Sui also rubbed his head, thinking about the past, and smiled bitterly.
Seeing that Zhang Bing's carriage had left, Liu He came over and said to Zhang Sui: "Second Young Master, if you really decide to take the path of studying writing, you can come to Jiannan Road when you need to travel. There is a Wencheng in Anxi City on Jiannan Road.
In the name of the city, many great Confucian scholars founded their schools there, and the Wenchang Tower in the city is also the largest library in the southwest of Yan State. The collection of books inside is second only to the Wenlan Pavilion in Tianjing City, which will definitely make your trip worthwhile."
Zhang Sui nodded and replied: "Thank you very much, Shopkeeper Liu, for reminding me. I will definitely visit you if I have the chance."
Liu He bowed his hand to Zhang Suigong and said, "Then I'll take my leave. When the young master comes to Jiannan Road, he must let you know and let me entertain him well."
Zhang Sui also cupped his hands and said, "If you go over there, you will definitely trouble Shopkeeper Liu.
Liu He nodded, took the reins handed over by the boy, got on his horse, and rode off.
Zhang Sui couldn't help but squint his eyes when he saw his movement of mounting the horse, it was very neat.
At this time, Lao Lu also drove a carriage to the front and greeted: "Second Master!"
Zhang Sui retracted his gaze from Liu He's figure, turned over and climbed onto the carriageway and said, "Go back!"
There was a crack of a whip, and the carriage drove slowly into the night.