Chen Caozhi looked directly at Xie Xuan and said: "At the end of the year before last, when I returned from Jiankang, my brother Chen Shang asked him to bring a letter to me. At that time, brother Yingtai knew that my mother had passed away.
, wrote a letter specifically to comfort me, but I haven’t heard from him since.”
Xie Xuandao: "Can I see my sister's letter?"
Chen Caozhi remained silent for a while and then said, "Youdu can't trust me, or can't you trust your sister?"
A trace of shame flashed in Xie Xuan's eyes: "Zizhong, I'm sorry. In fact, with my sister's arrogant temperament, how could she talk to you about it - other things, my sister knows about Zizhong and the Lu girl.
of."
Chen Caozhi was silent, then listened to Xie Xuan continue: "Zizhong must know about my sister's refusal to marry. There is no one else here, so I will say bluntly that Zizhong has ruined my sister's life!"
Chen Caozhi felt overwhelmed and said: "My sister and I have known each other for a long time. We have cherished our talents and agreed to be friends for life. Although we know that boyfriends and girlfriends are not compatible in the world, they have not hindered your lifelong love."
think."
Xie Xuan shook his head and sighed. There were some things he didn't want to say, so he just said, "I just hope that Zizhong will get married to the Lu girl soon. Then my sister--" He kept silent, and after a while, he said: "Sister-in-law.
Everything is fine, don't worry about me, by the way, Zizhong, when do you want to go to Jiankang?"
Chen Cao said: "We will set off on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month next year."
Xie Xuan nodded and said: "Zong Lu is right. Although Yangzhou is good, Xifu is better. If Zizhong wants to marry a girl from the Lu family, he must enter the Xifu. Only Huan Da Sima has the ability to promote talents in an eclectic way.
In terms of courage and power, if you go to Yangzhou, it will be difficult for an eighth-grade literary clerk to be promoted after ten years. He will be nothing more than a well-educated Confucian. But in Xifu, with his talents, he will be able to make contributions in the Northern Expedition. He will not only gain reputation, but also
You can be promoted by leaps and bounds, and you will be the best choice for your country, your family, and yourself."
Chen Caozhi smiled and said: "Thank you very much for reminding Youdu. It's my wish to be able to get along with Youdu day and night in Xifu."
Xie Xuan put aside his sister Xie Daoyun's affairs and didn't think about it. Faced with a man of Chen Caozhi's demeanor and excellent knowledge, he was always in a happy mood. He smiled and said, "Well, next year I will wait for you in Gushu, and we will work together for you."
The country has made great contributions.”
…
The Yangzhou official Zonglu said goodbye to Chen Caozhi the next day. Chen Caozhi wrote a letter to Wang Shu, the governor of Yangzhou, thanking him for his appreciation. In the letter, he did not refuse to go to Yangzhou, but said that he would go to Jianzhou next year.
After Kangxi, he came to see the governor Wang Yunyun again.
Xie Xuan originally planned to stay in Chenjiawu for three days and then return to Jiankang. When he learned that Xu Miao would marry Feng Lingbo, the daughter of Feng Fujun, on the 19th of this month, Xie Xuan stayed for a few more days and drank Xu Miao's wedding wine before returning.
It's not too late to leave, and Chen Caozhi's "New Interpretation of the Analects of Confucius", "New Meanings of Laozi", "On Rhyming", "A Volume of Ice and Snow Essays", and "Mingshenghu Lunxuanji" total nearly 300,000 words, Feng County Magistrate
Even though four scribes were sent to copy, it would take four or five days to finish. Therefore, Xie Xuan waited peacefully for Xu Miao's arrival in Chenjiawu. He copied the scrolls with the four scribes every morning, and with Chen in the afternoon.
Cao Zhi travels around mountains and rivers, discusses music and plays chess——
Xie Xuan really couldn't praise the calligraphy of these scribes. The calligraphy was not bad, but the vulgarity, especially when compared with Chen Cao's elegant regular script, made Xie Xuan even more disgusted.
I wish I could copy it all by myself.
Chen Caozhi saw Xie Xuan frowning at the scroll and knew that he thought the scribe's handwriting was not good-looking, so he said: "Youdu, I'll keep what the scribe copied, and you can take my original manuscript with you."
Xie Xuan was overjoyed. A wonderful article also requires beautiful words. If a wonderful article is copied in a vulgar calligraphy, it will become more and more awkward to read, just like a stunning beauty doing a beggar's walk.
On November 18th, Xu Miao came from Jingkou to welcome his bride. He was accompanied by Gu Kaizhi, Ding Chunqiu, Xu Miao's grandfather, and his father was both a great scholar in the world. Xu Miao was appointed literary director of Wuling County in his weak years, with a bright future, while Feng Mengxiong was involved in political affairs.
The marriage was so popular that Feng Lingbo was officially appointed as the magistrate of Qiantang County. Feng Lingbo was also Chen Caozhi's adopted sister. All the people from Qiantang came to congratulate her, so the wedding was naturally very lively.
On November 23rd, Xu Miao and his newlywed wife Feng Lingbo were about to leave Qiantang and return to Jingkou. Xie Xuan and Gu Kaizhi went back with Xu Miao, Xie Xuan returned to Jiankang, and Gu Kaizhi returned to Jinling.
Chen Caozhi and Ding Chunqiu had been sent out of Qiantang County before they said goodbye to Xu Miao and his wife, Xie Xuan and Gu Kaizhi in tears. Before leaving, Feng Lingbo said to Chen Caozhi: "Brother Cao, I am the only one of my parents."
Girl, now that I am married far away, I cannot serve my parents. I will ask my brother to take care of me in the future."
Chen Cao said: "I don't need my foster sister's advice. Uncle Feng is like my father."
Feng Lingbo stared at Chen Caozhi and said, "I wish my brother and Miss Lu a happy marriage soon."
Gu Kaizhi came over and said: "Zizhong, I came and went in such a hurry this time that I couldn't talk to you for a long time. I'm sorry. I will also go to Jiankang next year. Waguan Temple has invited me several times to paint murals of Buddha statues for its main hall. It's hard to refuse such kindness.
When we meet again to have a good time, I also invite you to draw a portrait of the King of Heaven. Haha, I will be a close friend for life and an enemy for life. I dare not or forget it."
Xie Xuandao: "Zizhong, see you next year."
…
At the Qiyun Mountain Gathering in September of the fifth year of Shengping, two brothers, Chen Shang and Chen Mo, were promoted to the fourth and sixth ranks respectively by the Zhongzheng officials of Wu County. The old patriarch Chen Xian cried with joy. After becoming a scholar, the family property expanded rapidly.
The joy is not as good as the joy of the clan's children entering the imperial examination. What's more, Chen Shang and Chen Mo are both his sons, and the two sons entered the imperial examination at the same time. How dare you imagine this two years ago. Chen Shang never went to Qiyunshan Ya in the past.
Ji, because if a child from a poor family wants to get ahead in the Yaji, he must be extremely outstanding. But now, as long as he is a middle-class person, he will have a chance.
Chen Xian's youngest son, Chen Tan, is sixteen years old this year. He feels that his knowledge is still shallow, so he did not participate in this gathering. He plans to participate with Zongzhi three years later. Zongzhi was fourteen years old at that time. Zongzhi is now eleven years old, and his knowledge has exceeded
Chen Mo, who was designated as the sixth grade, after three more years of hard work, the Chen family in Qiantang will produce a young celebrity comparable to Chen Caozhi. Zong is as smart and diligent as his ugly uncle, but he doesn't like to talk much except for talking about knowledge.
When Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, was still alive, she once said that Zongzhi was as taciturn as his grandfather. He didn't say anything, but he knew better than anyone in his heart.
It snows lightly and heavily again this year. This year is the first year of Longhe. The Spring Festival in Chenjiawu is particularly lively this year. The cattle and sheep are full of pens and the grain warehouses are full of grain. The family is prosperous and everything goes smoothly, showing the image of an emerging wealthy family.
On the sixth day of the first lunar month, in compliance with Chen's mother Li's wishes during her lifetime, 20-year-old Lai De and 23-year-old Qingzhi got married. Laifu and Zeng Yuhuan were overjoyed and Qingzhi was also quite satisfied. Lai De
She is honest and strong, and has a pair of skillful hands, and she still lives in Chenjiawu after marriage. There is no big change from her previous life. This is what Qingzhi is most happy about. She likes Chenjiawu and likes to be with Youwei Niang and Zongzhi.
Run'er is together, and Qingzhi has been quite busy recently. Sister Xiaochan is teaching her how to write with a quill pen and do column calculations. It seems that she will assist Mrs. Youwei in managing the house in the future——
Zongzhi is twelve years old in the new year and is nearly six feet tall. It is estimated that he will not be much shorter than his ugly uncle in the future. Runer is ten years old, with picturesque features and the charm of a little beauty. His mother Ding Youwei is tall and six feet tall.
At seven inches tall, Run'er should be taller than her mother, because Run'er was influenced by Uncle Chou and climbed mountains every day to keep fit.
Both children are in good health and seldom get sick. Ding Youwei has been much healthier since she returned to Chenjiawu for more than two years. She took the medicine prescribed by Xiao Lang to treat stomach cold.
Except for the recurrence of stomach problems, he has not had any other illnesses in the rest of the time. His cheeks have become plumper and not as thin as before. His complexion is smooth and shiny. Although he is thirty years old, he still looks like a man in his twenties.
Chen Caozhi has nothing to worry about for the time being, and has already scheduled his departure on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month. The whole family is preparing for Chen Caozhi's trip to Jiankang. This is a long trip that is related to the family's honor and disgrace. Chen Caozhi is money.
Tang Chen's hope lies in his success, which is the success of Qian Tang Chen's——
The first is the candidate for Chen Caozhi's entourage during his trip to Jiankang. This time, unlike his study tour in Wu County two years ago, Chen Caozhi is likely to go directly to Xifu or Yangzhou to take up a post after passing the Eighteen Provinces Dazhongzheng examination, so he needs capable people.
Lai De and Qingzhi were newly married. Chen Caozhi had already said that he would not bring De with him. Lai Fu and his son discussed it and decided that Lai Zhen and Xiaolangjun would go to Jiankang, and Huang Xiaotong, the youngest son of Lai Zhen's father-in-law Huang Yinhu, would go to Jiankang.
Fourteen years old, relatively smart and ready to be commanded, Ran Sheng naturally wanted to go with him, and Xiaochan also wanted to follow Chen Caozhi to Jiankang this time. This was Ding Youwei's decision.
After noon on the seventh day of the first lunar month, Ding Youwei told Chen Caozhi about this matter. Chen Caozhi said: "Sister-in-law, I don't need Sister Xiaochan to serve me. It's better to let her stay in Chenjiawu to help my sister-in-law manage the housework, farm records, and books."
Sister Xiaochan knows the accumulation of treasures in the warehouse best, and Mrs. Chen in the West Tower cannot live without her."
Ding Youwei said: "Don't worry, Xiaolang. I have made arrangements. I have been preparing for it in the past few months. Qingzhi has now learned the art of calculation. Qingzhi has also mastered the digital accounting method Xiaolang created.
I know all this, so let Xiaochan follow you to serve you. You will be here for at least half a year. How can you do it without a caring person around you who knows what is cold and what is hot?" Then he said in a gentle but stubborn tone: "
There is no excuse, my sister-in-law has the final say on this matter, and it was also Auntie’s wish during her lifetime."
Chen Caozhi didn't dare to shirk anymore, so Weiwei agreed.
Xiaochan had known for a few months that Madam Youwei would let her go to Jiankang with Cao Zhi's young husband. She was so elated that on the seventh night of the first lunar month, Madam Youwei told her that Mr. Cao Zhi had agreed to take her with him.
That night when she went to Jiankang, Xiaochan was so happy that she couldn't sleep. She fell asleep late at night and had an anxious dream. In the dream, she was packing her baggage so that she could set off with her husband, but the baggage could not be tied tightly.
, had just been tied and loosened, and the more anxious they became, the more they were in a hurry. They heard the wheels rolling in the yard, and Xiao Langjun and the others had already set off. He suddenly woke up with a fright, his heart was "pounding" as if he was about to jump out of his chest, and his hands
He stroked his chest and felt deeply grateful: Oh, it turns out this was just a dream——