During dinner in the west building, the bronze goose fish lamp in the dining room emits a soft, hazy yellow light. A rimmed reed mat is spread on the floor. Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, is sitting due to the north. In front of her is a five-foot-long golden nanmu dining table.
Chen Caozhi, Chen Zongzhi, and Chen Runer sat on their knees on both sides of the nanmu table in turn. There were four dishes on the table: celery, tofu, carp, smoked preserved meat (that is, wax meat), and a yellow roll soup. The yellow roll is soybean sprouts.
The four dishes and one soup are all very simple to cook, without many ingredients, but they are original and very delicious.
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, was very particular about Confucian etiquette. Even the six-year-old Chen Run'er sat upright, chewed slowly and tried not to make any noise.
Although the dinner under the wild goose lamp is quiet, it has a special kind of warmth. The feeling of the family gathering together to dine is really wonderful.
The sound of pattering rain could be heard outside the building. This was the rain in April in the south of the Yangtze River.
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, has a small appetite. After eating half a bowl of wheat porridge, she put down her chopsticks and looked at her son and grandson with a smile. Her granddaughter was eating wheat rice. She was more happy to see her juniors eating it sweet than she was to eat it herself. Especially tonight, this family
There seems to be some kind of change that makes her happy——
Chen Caozhi felt his mother's loving eyes, and he was a little embarrassed. He had already served three bowls of wheat rice, but he seemed to have not eaten. He had only smelled incense for three months, and he was really hungry.
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, smiled and said, "Chou'er, eat more. You are an adult now and are the mainstay of the Chen family in the west building."
Chen Caozhi chewed the wheat rice in his mouth and swallowed it, bowed slightly: "My son will not let my mother down."
Run'er's eyes were full of water. She wanted to talk. Then she saw her grandmother and uncle speaking one after another. She understood that she could whisper a word or two now. The little girl looked at Chen Caozhi.
The right hand holding the chopsticks opened his eyes wide and exclaimed in a low voice: "Grandma, Uncle Chou holds the chopsticks with his right hand!"
At this time, both Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, and Chen Zongzhi looked at Chen Caozhi's right hand holding the chopsticks, with surprised expressions on their faces.
Chen Caozhi was sweating slightly on his forehead. The young man whose soul was fused with his was left-handed. He used his left hand to eat and write. He didn't pay attention for a while and habitually held chopsticks with his right hand. No wonder he felt that his right hand was so clumsy.
"Run'er is very careful and sharp-eyed." Chen Caozhi laughed and said: "My mother always taught me to hold chopsticks with my right hand. This is in line with etiquette, but I always can't change it. This time I am determined to change it -
Mom, is my son holding the chopsticks in his right hand okay?"
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, said happily: "It's very good. Although it's not flexible enough, as long as you insist on using your right hand, you will become proficient. Also, you should practice calligraphy with your right hand every day."
After dinner, Zeng Yuhuan packed up the dishes and went downstairs. After a while, he came up again and said to Chen's mother, Mrs. Li: "Mother, my family Laifu has something to say to the mistress and the young man." For some reason, Zeng
Yuhuan had a frown on her face, as if she had something troubled on her mind.
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, said: "Call Laifu to come up."
With calloused hands and calloused feet, the honest and loyal Laifu came to the dining room on the third floor, respectfully saluted Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, and then knelt down outside the reed mat, looking a little hesitant. After hesitating for a moment, he finally said: "Mother, Mrs.
Young Master, Laifu just heard something that made Laifu and his family very worried——"
Thirteen years ago, when Laifu came to Chenjiawu with Chen Caozhi's father, Chen Su, he had three sons besides his wife, Zeng Yuhuan. At that time, the three sons had only nicknames. It was Chen Su who gave them the big names, namely:
Come to Gui, come to Zhen, come to Germany——
Lai Gui is twenty-one years old this year and is married to the daughter of a nearby tenant farmer. Lai Zhen is eighteen years old and is a strong man and a good farmer. Lai De is sixteen years old and has a short forehead and thick lips, like his father Lai Fu.
Simplicity has been Chen Caozhi's playmate since childhood.
Chen Su and his wife Li were kind people and took great care of the Laifu family. Since the Laifu family arrived in Chenjiawu, although they worked hard every day, they could have enough food and clothing. Compared with the precarious days in Huaibei, where the war was raging and the sky was raging, this place was simply
It is a fairyland, so the Laifu family and the Chen family in Xilou can be said to have a deep relationship between master and servant.
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, asked: "What are you worried about? Is it because the Huang tenant family asks for too much dowry gift? Don't worry about that. There are many old women who can make up for the shortfall in dowry gift."
Lai Fu's second son, Lai Zhen, has recently been discussing marriage with the daughter of Huang's tenant family. Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, thought Lai Fu was worried about the betrothal gift.
Laifu was so grateful that he almost cried and said, "Mother, Laifu is not here to shock you."
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, said "Oh" and asked, "What's that? There's no need to rush, Laifu, please speak slowly."
Laifu said: "Laifu heard that the registration inspection in July is stricter than in previous years. Refugees like Laifu and his son who do not have household registration will be sent to Qiaozhou, where they will receive official land for farming, pay rent and taxes, and perform miscellaneous labor -
—”
At this point, Laifu was too sad to talk about it. Although when he arrived in Qiaozhou, he would be registered as a household register and receive official land, and he would be regarded as a free commoner. However, the government officials were exploiting him at all levels, and free people were often better off farming for the rich.
The tenants have a wealthy family as their backers. As long as they pay rent and serve according to the law, the treacherous officials do not dare to exploit them too much. The problem is that Laifu cannot be regarded as tenants. Tenants have household registration, while Laifu is a refugee without household registration.
At the beginning, Chen Su took in the Laifu family as the Chen family's shady house as the eighth-grade county magistrate. The shady house was the owner's private property and did not have to pay taxes or serve in the government. The eighth-grade official had the right to own a shady house, but because
The Qiantang Chen family is not a noble family, so once an official is dismissed or dies, his family must be returned to the government and re-naturalized. Now it has been five years since Chen Su's death, and it has been almost three years since Chen Qingzhi's death. No one can protect the Qiantang Chen family.
Laifu family.
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, was silent and felt very sad, but there was nothing she could do about this kind of thing, so she had to comfort Laifu and said: "Don't worry too much. Didn't we also check the registration in the first two years? Then we will give it to the county supervisor."
The lieutenant just gave him some more money and silk and he got away with it."
Laifu, Zeng Yuhuan and his wife felt a little relieved, Laifu said: "My mistress's kindness, it is difficult for Laifu and his family to repay it——"
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, waved her hand: "Okay, come on down, Laifu. You have to go out frequently these days to inquire about registration matters. If there are any changes, I'd better be prepared in advance."
After Laifu left, Zeng Yuhuan went to prepare water for Chen's mother and Li family to bathe.
Chen Caozhi had been listening quietly to the conversation between his mother and Laifu, and sighed in his heart: "In the Eastern Jin Dynasty, there was no power, no power, no status, and even my own servants could not protect me. The Chen family of Qiantang is really in decline. Now it is only seven months away."
It will take less than a hundred days for the registration to be checked. What proper way can I, a fifteen-year-old boy, come up with to help the Laifu family?"
I heard my mother sigh: "If there is really no other way, I have to ask the Tang Ding family for money. We can't let Laifu's family live in exile."
The Ding family of Qiantang was the maternal family of Zongzhi and Runer. The Ding family of Qiantang considered themselves a third-class noble family and looked down upon the common people of poor families. They originally married Ding Youwei to Chen Qingzhi, firstly because Chen Qingzhi's father, Chen Su, was the county magistrate of Wuxing County at that time; secondly, because
Chen Qingzhi has a handsome character and extraordinary talent. Lu Na, the prefect of Wuxing County and the Grand Zhongzheng, rated Chen Qingzhi as the seventh rank according to the nine-rank Zhongzheng system.
The nine-grade Zhongzheng system is the basis for selecting officials formulated by Emperor Wen of Wei Cao Pi at the suggestion of Shangshu Ling Chen Qun. There are three criteria: family background, morality and talent. There are nine grades in total. The first grade is a saint, because there is no one alive.
Dare to call yourself the first grade, so the second grade is the highest grade, and the third grade and below are the lower grades.
Family background is generally only discussed in terms of the county title and the official titles of his father and ancestors. Chen's ancestral home in Qiantang is Yingchuan, and the county title is very prominent. However, since he moved to Qiantang County, Wuxing County to avoid the Yellow Turban Rebellion, all three generations have been just low-ranking officials with no power.
As for being excluded from the gentry in the ranking of spies in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, he was only regarded as a small landowner of the common people. The family background of the two Jin Dynasties was the most important. Therefore, although Chen Qingzhi had outstanding morals and talents, because of his humble family background, being rated as the seventh grade was already the limit.
.
Chen Qun, the minister of the State of Wei who introduced the nine-level Zhongzheng system to win over the gentry, was from the Yingchuan Chen family. Unexpectedly, his descendants were excluded from the gentry. What a shame!
Because of the appreciation of Lu Na, the prefect of Wuxing County, Chen Qingzhi became famous. Since he was rated as the seventh rank in his hometown, it would be a matter of course for him to become an official below the seventh rank in the future. The head of the Ding family took a fancy to Chen Qingzhi because of this, and because of the relationship between the Ding family and
The Chen family all believed in the Tao of Heavenly Masters, so they married Ding Youwei, a famous beauty from Qian Tang Dynasty, to Chen Qingzhi on the spur of the moment. After all, although there were very few common people who reached high-ranking officials, it was not impossible. The great Sima Tao Kan also came from a poor family.
But the Ding family soon regretted it. The marriage between a high-ranking noble family and a poor commoner family was a very shameful thing. The Ding family's reputation in Qiantang County and Wuxing County plummeted, but Ding Youwei had already married, and it was irreversible.
Moreover, Ding Youwei and Chen Qingzhi were deeply in love with each other, so they could not persuade her to divorce.
Unfortunately, Chen Qingzhi left his wife and children behind when he was serving as the magistrate of Haiyu County three years ago. He was only twenty-six years old. The Ding clan immediately took Ding Youwei back to Qiantang. Ding Youwei was only twenty-three years old that year.
Although she is a mother of two children, she is still beautiful and charming. The Ding family members want Ding Youwei to remarry and put aside the Chen family marriage——
Since the Wei and Jin Dynasties, many young people have died due to wars. In order to increase the population, etiquette has given way to the survival of the country. It is very common for widows to remarry, and they will not be criticized. Even royal princesses remarry, but Ding Youwei would rather die than remarry.
, but the Ding clan wanted to be higher than other noble clans, but they couldn't, and they looked down upon those below them, so Ding Youwei has been living as a widow in her mother's house. The Ding clan only agreed to let her see their children every April, instead of going back to Chenjiawu.
, but sent someone to quietly take Zongzhi and Runer to Qiantang, stay in Ding Mansion for a few days and then send them back.
…
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, asked: "Chou'er, at the end of the month, I'm sending Zongzhi and Run'er to the county to meet their mother. Do you want to go with them?"
Chen Cao said: "Of course I want to go. In addition to taking care of Zongzhi and Run'er, I also want to gain some experience."
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, was a little surprised when she saw Chen Caozhi's willingness to agree, and said, "Chou'er, aren't you worried that the Ding family will despise you?" The year before last, Chen Caozhi went to Qian Tang and Ding's mansion. When he came back, he was very angry and said
I will never go to Ding Mansion again.
Chen Caozhi smiled and said: "Mom, I am taking my nephew and niece to visit my sister-in-law. As long as my sister-in-law treats us well, it's fine. As for other people's faces, why should we care!"
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, was greatly relieved: "My ugly son has really grown up, and he is as free and easy as your brother." Then she sighed softly: "Oh, your sister-in-law is indeed a good sister-in-law! It's a pity that Qing's life is so bad -"
Chen Cao said: "Since my sister-in-law doesn't want to remarry, I will try to find a way to bring my sister-in-law back when I go this time. I can take care of Zongzhi and my son, and I can also be my mother's companion. Is this okay?"
Chen's mother Li shook her head and said: "The Ding clan is unwilling to let Youwei come back. Chou'er, please don't argue with them. Our Chen clan can't compete with their Ding clan. You must not let your youthful spirit prevail. Do you hear me?"
"
Chen Caozhi agreed: "I know the child, and the child will not worry my mother." He thought to himself: "In the Eastern Jin Dynasty, family background is very important. I remember there is a saying, 'There is no poor family in the upper class, and there is no noble family in the lower class.'
, I, Chen Caozhi, am from a poor family, doesn’t this make me inferior in every way?”
…
It was late at night and Chen Caozhi couldn't sleep. He browsed the books in the study on the left side of the bedroom and read "The Analects" annotated by Ma Rong from beginning to end. Now that he was thousands of years ago, he had a wonderful understanding of this Confucian classic.
, He knew that in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, there was a saying that "it is poor to learn Confucianism, but it is more important to learn Xuan". Confucianism is Confucius and Mencius, Xuan is Lao Zhuang. He is now a commoner from a poor family, so naturally he must be proficient in one or two Confucian classics, and he must be in the county or county.
, and even gain a good reputation in the state, so that you can be appreciated by Dazhongzheng, who is in charge of the selection system for the ninth rank, and then you can enter the ninth rank like your brother Chen Qingzhi and get a low-rank official position——
A good reputation is very important. How to get a good reputation in the shortest time? People in the Wei and Jin Dynasties did not appreciate honest people who followed the rules very much. The records in Shishuoxinyu are all celebrities who are broad-minded, timeless, and unique.
Chen Caozhi slowly studied ink, then held a hairpin pen and practiced calligraphy on Zuo Bo paper. People in the Eastern Jin Dynasty were extremely passionate about calligraphy. The calligraphy of Wang Xizhi and Xie An added great charm to their personalities.
He said that if you want to get ahead in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, you can avoid talking if you can't write well.
The boy was originally used to writing with his left hand, and what he copied was the most famous calligraphy post "Declaration Table" by Zhong Yao, a great calligrapher in the late Han and Three Kingdoms. The young man was very diligent, and his small regular script was quite similar to the shape of "Declaration Table".
Chen Cao also loved calligraphy in his previous life, and the calligrapher he admired most was Ouyang Xun. During his college years, he got up early every day for three years and copied Ouyang Xun's "Zhang Hansi Perch Tie" three times, which had some charm. As for Zhong Yao's "
He also copied the "Declaration Form". The original work was lost at that time. The one that has been handed down is the copy copied by Wang Xizhi. The copy now on the case is the basis of the "Declaration Form" copied by Lu Ji which is collected by his brother Chen Qingzhi in Lu Na's house in Wu County.
Copying from above is like hearsay, which is inevitably distorted.
It is said that Zhong Yao made great progress in calligraphy after receiving Cai Yong's calligraphy secrets, and then passed it on to Mrs. Wei, who passed it on to Wang Xizhi. Wang Xizhi was the most famous calligrapher in the Eastern Jin Dynasty and even in later generations. He was born in a top family like the Wang family of Langya.
He is a super famous person, so copying Zhong Yao's "Declaration Table" can trace back to the original source and deeply understand the essence of Wang Xizhi's calligraphy.
Chen Caozhi made up his mind, so he started with Zhong Yao's "Declaration Table" in regular script, and borrowed from Ouyang Xun's "Zhang Han Si Yu Tie" in running script and Wang Xizhi's "Preface to the Lanting Collection"——
Also, he wanted to develop the unique skill of writing with both left and right hands. If he wanted to be famous in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, he had to be surprising and innovative. Then he would practice "Declaration Table" in regular script with his left hand and "Zhang Han Si Yu Tie" in running script with his right hand.
On this rainy night, Chen Caozhi was thinking: "I have the forward-looking advantage of a time traveler, I can write fresh and pleasant prose, my painting skills are ahead of the contemporary era, I have the ability to be an amateur in the third level of Go, and I have traveled to most of China.
It can be said that I am well-informed. The most important thing is that I am only fifteen years old now. I can carry out targeted studies. I can learn metaphysics, Confucianism, calligraphy, and music.
Keep studying, time waits for no one, and you have to become famous as early as possible."
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