After Zhang Yue learned about Cai Que, he returned to his residence and wrote him a letter.
When he first arrived at Taixue, Cai did help him a lot. He always remembered this shrewd, capable and somewhat chivalrous senior brother Cai.
Zhang Yue wrote the first sentence of the letter: The water in Canglang is clear, so I can wash my tassels. The water in Canglang is turbid, so I can wash my feet.
This word is mentioned in both Mencius and Fisherman.
If the water is clear, you can wash your hair; if the water is turbid, you can wash your feet.
The fishermen used this advice to Qu Yuan, who wanted to die and did not want the turbid water to pollute his innocent body. He should live with the world and not be too noble.
However, Zhang Yue’s earliest knowledge of Canglangzhishui was not from Qu Yuan or Mencius, but from a novel Canglangzhishui he had read.
Many scholars who abide by their principles and have high moral standards have repeatedly suffered setbacks in their career due to accumulation of life. Some people will always insist on proving that their original persistence was right, but some people can't help but finally collapse in their principles and go to the other extreme, completely
Conforming to the world.
The reason why some people are so bad that they have no bottom line is because they were originally such people, and they acted without any psychological burden.
Therefore, we are not afraid of bad people being bad, but we are afraid that good people will suddenly become bad.
Zhang Yue wrote a long letter and asked Huang Haoyi to pass it on to Cai Que. He didn't know how many words the other party could hear.
After the letter was sent, Zhang Yue and his classmates were busy writing the paper.
On this day, Zhang Yue and his classmates were writing papers for Wang Anshi and Sima Guang, a pair of good friends.
Wang Anshi and Sima Guang lived very close to each other, both living in Maxing Street. It seemed that these two people had really been having an affair for a long time.
When he arrived at Wang Anshi's home, Zhang Yue was recommended by Wang Anguo. He could have brought all his classmates to meet Wang Anshi, but he was turned down.
Zhang Yue asked and found out that Wang Anshi was in a bad mood.
Wang Anshi is now the judge of Duzhi, and the court wants to reform the horse administration. He and Ouyang Xiu, who had been the shepherd envoy, have different opinions, and the two are quite unhappy.
The two of them had just abolished the tea tea law not long ago. He, Fu Bi, Han Qi, and Zeng Gongliang had been supporting this matter, but Ouyang Xiu expressed his opposition.
However, Ouyang Xiu also knew Wang Anshi's temper, and the two of them were just gentlemen, and there was no deepening conflict.
Wang Anshi firmly stated that I am angry.
At that time, Lu Chongzhi, a member of the Ministry of Household Affairs, compiled a list of the three deputy envoys of Duzhi in the Song Dynasty and engraved it on the wall of the deputy envoy of Duzhi.
Wang Anshi wrote an inscription in the Duzhi Deputy Embassy Hall to clarify his political views.
The husband is responsible for the wealth of all the people in the world, the one who manages the wealth of the world is the law, the one who abides by the law of the world is the official...
This first sentence already states Wang Anshi’s political views.
That means that all financial power should be returned to the hands of the imperial court, financial management should be carried out according to certain rules, and officials who are good at financial management should be selected.
When Zhang Yue saw this, he understood Wang Anshi's political views very clearly. At this time, he just had a few words to say... It was hard for him not to be appreciated by Wang Anshi, and he fell in love with him from then on.
However, Zhang Yue has never met Wang Anshi, but Wang Anshi already knows Zhang Yue. You are from Ouyang Xiu.
That's right, Anshi knows you.
When Wang Anguo tactfully told Zhang Yue that Zhang Yue was rejected, Zhang Yue also felt very depressed.
Wang Anshi and Ouyang Xiu had a few disputes about tea law and horse politics. Although this incident did not affect their friendship, it affected Wang Anshi's mood when he met Zhang Yue.
Zhang Yue was also shocked. He had been in Bianjing for so long and still hadn't seen Wang Anshi.
Next Zhang Yue went to visit Sima Guang at his residence.
They did not see Sima Guang, but Sima Guang responded politely with a letter, saying that he had little talent and little knowledge and was involved in government affairs, so he was not qualified to educate the underachievers. He encouraged Zhang Yue and the others to study as "the day is not enough, and then the night".
And tell them a few practical tips on how to read.
After another day, Zhang Yue and others arrived at Zeng Gong's house.
It turned out that Zeng Gong was elected as the judicial officer of Taiping Prefecture and joined the army. However, he only served for one year before he was recommended by Ouyang Xiu to the capital to serve as the collation of pavilions and pavilions and the director of Jixian School.
Zeng Gong actually met Zhang Yue and the others.
Zeng Gong was very polite to a few people and even left a few of them to eat under his roof.
This made everyone feel very useful.
Zeng Gong was secretly surprised when he learned from Zhang Yue's words that he had been busy writing papers these days.
The experience of writing a paper is not pleasant. It depends on the person's complexion, and you often have to be rejected. It is common to wait for a day without any results.
Zeng Gong traveled around in the past, and he has a deep understanding of the hardships involved. This is a matter of bending down and asking for help.
He, Su Xun, Su Shi, and Su Che all had this experience.
But who has ever heard of Han Zhongyan and others doing scroll work?
If Zhang Yue was really the son-in-law of the Wu family, how could he go out to write papers?
A few days before the exam, people with connections will bring them to the home of the chief examiner and deputy examiner and sit there.
Zeng Gong looked at Zhang Yue and thought, no matter whether this person is his sister-in-law or not, but with such integrity and talent, he will not be a thing in the future.
Zeng Gong suddenly said at the table: "I have seen something recently. People who can maintain their integrity when they are poor will rarely bully others when they are rich."
"But on the contrary, people who flatter others when they are poor will often deceive others when they are rich. Why do you think this is? Is this the way this world is?"
Everyone was deep in thought after hearing this. Zhang Yue said nothing. Huang Lu said: "Mr. Nanfeng, I don't think it means poor and rich."
“Why?”
"It is precisely because they can maintain their integrity that they can rise from poverty to prosperity. It is precisely because they do not bully others with power that they can always maintain wealth. However, it is difficult for people who flatter others to become rich when they are poor. As for those who deceive others from wealth, it is easy to rise from riches to poverty.
.”
Zeng Gong was overjoyed when he heard this and said, "These words are very insightful."
Zhang Yue and Huang Lu looked at each other and smiled.
Zeng Gong looked at Zhang Yue and asked, "What do you think of Du Zhi?"
Zhang Yue said: "The reason why accomplished people can maintain their integrity is because they think about meritorious service and rely on themselves to find a place in good times and bad times, so they achieve success from poverty. If you only insist on yourself and do not make meritorious deeds, or even stand on your own laurels, you will not be able to succeed.
If you want to make progress, it's better to be flattering and begging for help."
“Therefore, I believe in six words throughout my life, and that is ‘Don’t give up on yourself, rely on yourself’.”
Zeng Gong nodded slowly.
After dinner, Zeng Gong saw Zhang Yue and others out.
At this moment, the streets are busy with traffic. This is the busiest time in Bianjing.
Looking at this bustling night scene, Zeng Gong said to Zhang Yue: "It is difficult to make a decision when you are young, but once you make a decision, you must persevere, but there is no need to wrong yourself. If you have difficulties in the future, just come to me, and you don't have to feel that you owe me anything."
of kindness.”
Zhang Yue asked in surprise, why was Zeng Gong so kind to him?
Zeng Gong raised his head and sighed: "I don't know why when I see you, I think of the days when I was alone in Bianjing. It is good not to give up on yourself and rely on yourself, but you must also know how to obey authority. You must know that along the way, and
Things are not going smoothly all the time. When you encounter difficulties, you should ask for help as long as you don't feel ashamed."
Zhang Yue looked at Zeng Gong, and felt that there was a line that could describe it, that is, he saw the fragility behind his stubbornness.
At this moment, Zhang Yue could not let go. There was always a thought in his heart that repeatedly told him why he had to work so hard. He could just ask his second aunt and the Wu family for help. It was just a simple task.
Zhang Yue was moved and said: "Thank you very much, Mr. Nanfeng."
