This morning, the scholars in Jinling City had already gotten up early. They took baths, burned incense, tidied up their appearance, and wore brand-new clothes. Even some scholars from poor families gritted their teeth and took out their savings to buy some decent winter clothes.
There are also many scholars who spend the whole night reciting the good poems and essays they have accumulated over the years in preparation for showing them at the literary meeting tomorrow.
There are many more things like this.
It can be seen that the scholars in the city attach great importance to this cultural meeting.
Li Xiuyuan didn't pay much attention to it. He just invited all his friends to go to the forest garden of the Hou Mansion when the cultural gathering was about to begin.
The Marquis Li's Mansion in Jinling City is a real home of the powerful. When Fu Tianchou, the Minister of War, holds cultural gatherings, he always uses the Marquis' Manor to show his dignity. It is conceivable how important the Marquis' Mansion is in Jinling City.
high.
"Brother Li, we are late. You see, all the scholars have already entered the garden."
When the group of people arrived at the side door of the Hou Mansion, they saw that the door was wide open and there were already many scholars wandering around inside.
Although it is winter, the beautiful scenery of Houfu Forest Garden is still worth admiring.
"It's not that we came late, it's that others came early. The notice said that the literary meeting will be held at noon, and the time is just right now." Li Xiuyuan raised his head and looked at the sky.
But today, there are thick clouds covering the sky, the sky is dark, and it seems that heavy snow is about to fall, which makes people feel depressed.
This is not a good weather.
"It seems that we were a little too honest. We didn't expect others to come to the cultural meeting so early. It was a mistake, a mistake." Wang Ping shook his head and sighed, feeling rather regretful.
Li Xiuyuan smiled and said: "What a mistake? The cultural meeting has not started yet. Many important people have not arrived. The officials in the city, Mr. Fu, the Minister of War, Mr. Li from the Marquis Mansion, and some of the academies near the Qinhuai River
The elders, as well as the highly respected old Confucians in the city, will only show up at the beginning of the cultural gathering. Now it is just the scholars in the city making friends with each other and visiting the forest garden of the Hou Mansion."
"Brother Li is right, coming early is worse than coming by chance." Ning Caichen nodded.
"Without further delay, let's go take a look first. I heard that the forest garden of the Hou Mansion is one of the most beautiful places in Jinling City, and all the scholars invited by the Hou Mansion will praise it." Zhu Yu said excitedly.
Li Xiuyuan said: "In midsummer, you can still see some beautiful scenery, but now it is winter, and even the most beautiful scenery will wither. To say it is beautiful is to be a bit flattering."
"This brother's words are not accurate. I can tell at a glance that you are a scholar from other places. The forest garden of the Marquis Mansion is like spring all year round. Even in winter, peonies bloom and hibiscus spreads. Otherwise, how can you qualify to become the city of Jinling?
One of the great views?”
A passing scholar suddenly laughed and said a word before entering the forest garden.
"It's like spring all year round, so I really want to go see it." Li Xiuyuan was a little curious at this time.
Could it be that the garden of the Hou Mansion is blessed by Taoism? Can it be protected from the scorching heat and severe cold?
However, when the group of people entered the forest garden, they felt a warm air blowing on their faces, as if they had suddenly entered warm spring from the harsh winter outside, and their whole bodies felt extremely comfortable.
Moreover, the forest garden is really lush and lush, with flowers blooming all year round, and the sound of birds singing and the fragrance of flowers coming. This is not what winter should be like at all.
"Hey. It's amazing. It's so warm in here."
"Yes, it really is like spring all year round. It's not a rumor. Look at the flowers that can only bloom in midsummer. They are actually blooming at this time."
"Brother Li, you are well-informed. Do you know the secret of this?" Zhu Yu asked.
Other scholars also looked at Li Xiuyuan with the idea of dispelling doubts,
They are all scholars from ordinary families. If they have ever come into contact with such a powerful family, they will naturally know many things about them.
"Floor heating, floor heating is laid underneath."
Li Xiuyuan felt heat coming out of his feet and immediately spoke.
"Floor heating? Is it the kind found in ordinary people's homes?" Wang Ping said in surprise: "But, how can this make the entire forest garden so warm?"
"No need to be surprised. There are pipes for heating under the soil of this forest garden. You only need to burn charcoal in one place for heating. The hot air will spread along the pipes throughout the forest garden and heat the entire forest garden to keep the forest garden warm in winter.
, If the well water is poured into the pipe during the hot summer, the forest garden will be extremely cool in summer, so that it will be like spring all year round." Li Xiuyuan said with some emotion.
This is not Taoism, but man-made.
"Hey, how much money does it cost to maintain the operation of such a large forest garden for a whole winter?" Hearing this, the other scholars took a breath of cold air.
Although they don't understand, they can roughly imagine how much charcoal must be burned in a winter to ensure the heating of a forest garden.
Li Xiuyuan said: "If it is ordinary charcoal, it is estimated to cost several thousand taels of silver in one winter. However, I can't smell the charcoal smoke here. This should be the best silver charcoal. Calculated in this way, it will cost at least two taels of silver in one winter."
It costs between ten thousand and thirty thousand taels.”
The so-called silver charcoal is the royal charcoal. Because of its frosty color and smoke-free appearance, it is regarded as a treasure among charcoals.
Only dignitaries can afford it.
But if you can afford it, it is a luxury to use silver charcoal to maintain the operation of a garden.
No wonder Li Xiuyuan and Li Liang Jinwen were fighting for thirty thousand taels of silver without blinking an eye. Living in such a powerful family, thirty thousand taels was indeed easy to get.
"Although I have money, it is really inappropriate to waste it like this." He shook his head secretly in his heart.
Just to make a forest garden look like spring all year round, countless money is spent. No one with a little bit of thrifty ideas would build such a forest garden, because it is a bottomless pit and money has to be swept away every year.
When several people heard about burning silver charcoal, their expressions changed.
Especially Wang Ping looked like he was in great pain. When he bought charcoal before, he asked about the price of silver charcoal. It was really expensive beyond imagination. He just bought a pack and kept it at home and couldn't bear to use it. It was winter.
Used to entertain friends when they come.
"This, this is too extravagant and wasteful." After a while, Ning Caichen choked out a sentence.
Li Xiuyuan shook his head slightly and refused to comment.
This is the case for high-ranking and powerful families. They only care about enjoyment and don't care about extravagance and waste. In their eyes, there is no such thing as extravagance and waste, as long as they like it.
"Brother Li, I'm afraid your Li family can't afford to build this garden." Zhu Yuhu joked.
"Well...it's hard to say. It's not a question of whether it can be built, but whether it can be built. My family will never build such a forest garden in my life." Li Xiuyuan shook his head and said.
The Li family owns the Shunfeng Escort Agency, and it can be said that they are making money every day. However, they make a lot of money and spend a lot of money. They have to support a group of desperadoes in the agency every month, and they have to continue to expand the agency, so
The money he received was not much. If he stopped expanding, he would accumulate money for a few years, and the Marquis's house would be nothing in his eyes.
Not to mention one forest garden, ten forest gardens will not be a problem.
It's just that Li Xiuyuan always believed in the belief that good things can help the world, so most of the family's money was spent. Only his father, Li Dafu, kept a treasury of gold and silver.
An escort agency has gathered many desperadoes and allowed them to follow the right path instead of robbing their homes. This is a great meritorious thing.
Even if you spend more money to keep it, it is worth it.
The few of them walked and chatted, and wandered around the forest garden of the Marquis Mansion with some curiosity. Along the way, they also met some scholars who were on the same list.
This is a way for scholars to build friendships. They are classmates, took the same exam, were on the same exam, were in the same place, and so on. Nowadays, scholars who are on the same exam in Jinling City are naturally closer to each other.
"Good, good poetry. As the ancients said, people should treat each other with admiration after seeing each other for three days. Unexpectedly, after not seeing each other for a few days, Brother Zhu's literary thoughts are flowing like a fountain, and he keeps writing exquisite poems. It is really admirable."
"Li Xiuyuan's pair that day made me think hard for several days. Brother Zhu actually came up with it yesterday. It's really amazing."
"Based on Brother Zhu's literary talent, it seems that he is sure to be named on the gold list in the future. I am convinced."
When a group of people passed by a pavilion, they saw a group of scholars gathering together, and from time to time they heard the sound of stroking hands in agreement.
There are also scholars who loudly praise someone's exquisite poetry, which suddenly attracts the attention of many people.
Zhu Erdan, who was standing among the crowd, was standing with his hands behind his hands. He looked confident and a little arrogant, and his eyes were shrewd and lively. His temperament was completely different from before, as if he had changed into a different person.
"You are so complimentary. I don't deserve such praise for my talents." He was humble, appearing neither humble nor overbearing, and full of etiquette.
"Jourdan?"
Li Xiuyuan's expression changed and he looked over subconsciously.
He thought of what happened in the Qinhuai River that day. He was angry and punished Zhu Erdan a little, but now they have a grudge.
This is the second person besides Li Liangjin that Li Xiuyuan doesn't want to interact with.
"Hey, isn't this Li Xiuyuan, brother Li? What a coincidence. I didn't expect Mr. Li to come to this cultural gathering." At this time, Zhu Erdan also noticed Li Xiuyuan passing by, and actually raised his hands and saluted from afar with a smile.
.
Li Xiuyuan saw the danger of his enthusiasm and couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.
When did Zhu Erdan become so polite and courteous?
However, when he vaguely noticed the cold look in Zhuerdan's eyes, he frowned again.
"Being emotionless and intangible, even I can't do this. Only the old prime minister Li Linfu has such ability. How can Zhu Erdan do it at such a young age? What stimulated him?" Li Xiuyuan's heart sank and he felt
At this point, Jourdan experienced an indescribable change.
"It turned out to be Jourdan, what a coincidence."
After thinking about it in his heart, Li Xiuyuan still returned the gift. After all, this courtesy should not be compromised, but he could not be so enthusiastic, so he just replied indifferently.
"Haha, Brother Li, you came just in time. The pair you gave me last time is now out. I would like to invite Brother Li to come over and have a look. I wonder if it is neat or not?" Zhu Erdan walked over with a smile and was extremely enthusiastic.
He grabbed Li Xiuyuan's hand and invited.
What a big hand.
Li Xiuyuan was a little frightened when he felt the strength coming from Zhu Erdan's hand.
Is this the strength that a scholar should have?
Rather than asking, it's better to say forcefully pull.