He also saw Xu Xiucai's dilemma, so Xu Xiucai gave him a pen and inkstone, which were already very good.
In his previous life, when he was practicing calligraphy in elementary school, his writing brush only cost about four yuan.
But in the bookstores of Bailu Town, the lowest-priced woolen pen costs eight cents, and the better brushes such as langhao pens cost more than twenty or thirty cents.
During the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty, the writing brushes sold in Kaifeng for writing large characters were priced at 100 Wen each. This matter was recorded in Yang Yi's "Yang Wengong Tan Yuan", "Shen Dashu, his pen is very big, and he uses all his strength.
The number is Sanzhuobi, and anyone who sells it in the market can earn a hundred coins a tube."
In the third year of Shaosheng's reign, Su Shi bought two writing brushes in Lingnan for 20 yuan. The shape was not good, "the shape was thick and brush-like", and "the ink was floating and scattered. I believe there are no brushes in Lingnan."
Although it is suspected of being illegal in the area, the quality of a pen costing ten cents is indeed of poor quality.
As for the inkstone, the price varies depending on the material and quality of the inkstone.
"Dipping a wooden board in water is a good way to write on it."
"When you enter school, remember to bring a desk and stool."
Xu Xiucai nodded, showing appreciation, without saying much.
He was able to give old pens and inkstones as gifts because Bai Gui respected his teacher. He didn't have much hope for Bai Gui's success. It was too late to start learning at the age of thirteen or fourteen, and even literacy would take several years.
, and does not have the memory of a child.
As Zhu Xi said: "At the age of eight, all the children of princes and common people are admitted to primary school, where they are taught how to sweep, respond, advance and retreat, etiquette, music, archery, imperial control, calligraphy, and mathematics.
.”
After the age of fifteen, it is what Zhu Xi calls "university" education. From "learning things" in elementary school to "understanding their principles" in university.
Too late!
When Bai Gui left, the grain bag that had just been filled with polished rice now contained an old pen and an old inkstone.
The pen is a Langhao pen, which can be sold for thirty cents in a bookstore. Although the hair is removed and the paint on the pen barrel has fallen off, it is still worth five or six cents. The material of the old inkstone is not clear, but it is quite heavy.
A nice inkstone.
Feeling in the dark and following his memory, Bai Gui walked into Fang Fang's mansion.
This is the third courtyard.
It is the house of the Lu family in Bailu Village.
Rushing past the main room, he touched the side of the stable.
As soon as they arrived at the door, the stable light came on. A half-sized black horse heard the noise and snorted happily. As usual, Bai Gui added hay and beans to the horse's grass and cracked an egg.
Pushing the door open, there is a fire pit.
The orange flame of the stove fire shines through the gap blocked by the hard wood and is reflected on the wall of the earthen house.
When the corn stalks were burned by the fire, they made a crackling sound.
There was a pile of rolled straw mats in the corner.
Lying on the kang was a dark-skinned old man with gray hair and a face full of ridges, which seemed to be filled with loess and was dusty.
Bai Youde covered his body with a quilt, his upper body was bare, and he was wearing a shabby hakama and linen clothes. He opened the candle and extinguished it, and cursed: "You are a coward. You took away your clothes and hurt your quilt."
The master scolded me for a while, "You idiot, what are you doing?"
(People in Guanzhong, Qin Province, have always called clothes clothes, which is the ancient name.)
"Go to the mountains to catch some wild products!"
Bai Gui's words were concise and to the point. He took off his fur and handed it to Bai Youde. It was the only winter clothing in the family. One person could wear it out while the other could only stay at home on the kang.
"In the mountains? Beware of the wolf catching you, a coward!"
Bai Youde was startled, and the lights were lit again by Huo Zhezi. He quickly stood up and looked at Bai Gui's whole body. He found that there were no injuries. He breathed a sigh of relief, but immediately turned sullen and blue.
He pursed his lips tightly and blurted out a sentence, "If you dare to go to the mountains again, I will break your legs! Let this coward like you know what is good and what is bad!"
"Um!"
After uncovering the quilt, Bai Gui replied without any pain or itching, and slept with his clothes on.
The bed stank of sweat, and he stayed away from Bai Youde for a while. There was little rain in Qin Province, and rural people were not rich. They would not bathe all the time. Most of the time, they would go to the river to wash themselves. It was winter now, and the water in the river was ice-cold, so that was not possible.
During winter swimming, there is no amoxicillin at this time. If you get typhoid, it will be a fatal disease.
There is no big wooden barrel for bathing at home. That kind of wooden barrel cannot be made by just cutting some firewood. The wooden barrel made by the craftsman is tightly sealed with iron hoops. With the craftsmanship, you can eat and drink without worries.
"Tomorrow, the young master wants to eat crystal cakes. You and I go to the city to buy the crystal cakes for the young master. Then we can let you have some fresh and meaty dishes. Haven't you been clamoring to go to Xi'an City? Your dad tomorrow
I’ll take you there.”
"Your mother died early, and you had a big forehead. We don't want to go to the mountains, and we don't want to take advantage of it. You are the only one in our family."
Bai Youde came close to Bai Gui. The strong smell of sweat emanating from his armpits suffocated Bai Gui. He touched the top of Bai Gui's forehead and said nonchalantly.
Bai Gui was silent for a while and did not hide away.
Think about it.
He said: "Dad, I went to catch wild animals this morning. I picked up four rabbits and two chickens. I went to the food shop opened by my uncle in the town to sell them. My uncle gave me one or two cents of silver. I went to the grain store.
, bought a dou of grain, gave half a dou to the gentleman in the ancestral hall, and went to school in the ancestral hall tomorrow."
(The older generation in Qin Province always call teachers sir.)
He didn't hide it, and he couldn't hide it either.
However, he deliberately did not mention the matter of exchanging one tael of silver for one longyang. Thinking about this matter, shopkeeper Wang who was greedy for cheap would not proudly announce it to everyone in front of Bai Youde.
"go to school?"
Bai Youde was stunned. The hand that was touching Bai Gui's forehead froze. His big, chapped, rough hand touched his smooth forehead. He suddenly felt that there was something different about his son lying next to his bed.
Children from other families took the money and ate cans of steamed buns, candies, candied haws, and other snacks.
Studying? Handing over to study?
He has never encountered it.
"Going to school is a matter for young men. Our destiny is to be a groom, which is not as good as..."
"The son of Lu San, the chief engineer of the Bai family, also goes to school in the ancestral hall. Hehe, he is the slowest student in the village. Listen to dad, the food given to the husband... forget it, he is a teacher, so
Okay, take advantage of this free time and learn as much as you can."
Bai Youde withdrew his hand and placed it on the quilt uneasily. He seemed to feel that the air on the quilt was too cold and his palms were too cold. He retracted the quilt and took it out again.
If he wanted to return to Shu Xiu, he would undoubtedly offend his husband, but he did not dare to do so for fear of making others laugh.
Even though Xu Xiucai was a bit poor, his family was one of the richest in Xujiayuan in Dongyuan. A wealthy family could afford to go to school, pass the scholar examination, and maintain the expenses of failing to pass the exams many times. This could be a small family.
At the same time, I also have some hope in my heart, hoping that Bai Gui can imitate someone else and not want to be rich and powerful, but just be better than him.
"Then...where is the other money? Dad will keep it for you."
Bai Youde said with some panic.
He is afraid of spending money in vain.
But he was afraid that Bai Gui would hate him again.
"Dad, the remaining money is for studying. The Four Books, Five Classics, Thousand-Character Classics and Three-Character Classics all cost money. They are not enough. Look at the books that the two young masters carry. The books in them cost a lot.
Two pieces of silver."
Bai Gui covered the remaining silver on his body and said.