In the blink of an eye, it has been half a month since I arrived in Song Dynasty. Yang Lin's health has gradually improved and he has become familiar with every plant and tree here.
After Qiu Wei, I usually go to the capital before the end of the year and wait for the provincial examination.
This period of time also became the deadline for other students to prepare for the expenses. Except for very remote places where the imperial court would allocate funds, other students had to raise their own funds.
Fortunately, for Yang Lin, these are not problems. In the past, Yang Lin studied hard and was not very concerned about the family business. After half a month of getting to know him, he found that he was a real young man.
Yang Tong started from humble beginnings, but the speed of his rise in Yangzhou is simply astonishing. Today, workshops, shops, car dealers, and wine shops all over the country are prosperous, and he has the potential to rank among the top ten wealthy businessmen in Yangzhou.
The Yang family's mansion is not very big in the eastern suburbs of Yangzhou, because Yang Tong has only been prosperous for more than ten years, and the family is not prosperous. Mrs. Yang died in childbirth when she gave birth to Yang Lin, and only father and son were left in the family.
The slaves were all servants and maids. The Song Dynasty was a dynasty without slaves. The laws of the Song Dynasty clearly stipulated that slavery was not allowed. It was more of a contract with a fixed number of years, similar to an employment relationship.
The air is crisp in autumn, and the flowers and plants in the courtyard are gradually withering and turning yellow. The bright sunshine shines in the courtyard, giving it a golden glow.
On the swing in the courtyard, Yang Lin was drowsy while holding a copy of "The Analects of Confucius".
The provincial examinations in the Song Dynasty tested the meaning of the scriptures, with Chinese sentences in the scriptures as the questions, and the candidates wrote essays to explain their meaning. Later in the Ming Dynasty, it evolved into the eight-legged essay.
Yang Lin will go to the capital to take the imperial examination in the spring of next year. Naturally, he will review the past and learn new things. Fortunately, he has inherited his original memory and has a certain level of imperial examination.
It was boring. Yang Lin really felt the boring life of scholars in the old days. In this era of serious lack of entertainment, he didn't even have to watch his mother's golden plum. He almost went crazy in this small courtyard every day.
Covering his face with the book, he was thinking about random things in his mind, when he suddenly heard the sound of sneaky footsteps.
"Stop!" Yang Lin didn't need to look to know that it was his maid Jin'er. It was indeed her who took the book. The little girl was holding a basket in her hand, wearing a green narrow-sleeved short jacket, a tight half-armor, and a childish pair of clothes.
Cute double bun. Hearing Yang Lin's shout, Jin'er stopped in her tracks, still keeping her hands and feet in a sneaky manner.
"Hehe, Master, are you awake?"
In the past, Yang Lin was an upright gentleman, and everyone respected him. The little maid who was close to him was not afraid of him, but had a feeling of admiration similar to that of an elder brother.
Yang Lin snorted coldly and asked with a straight face: "What are you going to do?"
"Now that the water chestnuts are ripe, Sister Chunhua from the Chen Mansion next door invited me to pick water chestnuts. The young master is waiting for me to come back and cook them for you."
When Yang Lin heard that picking water chestnuts and going boating, such an emotional thing was not as interesting as reading the Analects of Confucius here, he smiled and said: "What's the point of picking water chestnuts with the village flower? Why don't you follow me, young master, and we'll be together after I clean up."
go."
Jin'er covered her mouth and snickered: "My name is Chunhua, not a village beauty. The young master is really good at making fun of people. It would be good to follow the young master, but the young master is about to take the big exam, don't you need to study at home?"
"Knowing everything in the world is knowledge, and understanding people's feelings is writing. Young Master, I am full of knowledge, so I still need to read these. What can I learn from being bored at home?"
Wearing a white shirt and holding a bone fan in his hand, Yang Lin turned around and asked: "How is it, young master's appearance?"
Jin'er found that the young master was no longer the same as before, so he just thought it was the sequelae of his recovery from a serious illness and didn't take it seriously. Hearing this, he said with a smile: "The young master is handsome and suave, let's leave quickly, we won't be able to catch up if it's too late."
came back."
Yang Lin pinned the fan to his waist. At this time, he brought a fan just for the sake of looking good. Only fools would really shake the fan in late autumn. He touched Jin'er's bun and said with a smile: "What is the young master's status? How can he do it?"
Go on foot and tell Yang San to prepare a carriage."
Jin'er cheered and jumped forward to prepare the horse. Yang Lin stretched and looked at the sky outside, feeling a little excited in his heart. He finally wanted to go out and see the appearance of the Song Dynasty after being here for so long.
In the autumn, my heart is full of beauty, and I wade through the water to look at the green lotus. I sing a girl's song and dance to the south of the Yangtze River.
Outside Yangzhou City, the northern section of Baobao Lake, later known as Slender West Lake, is Jiuquchi.
There are three or five small boats in the lake, carrying people from the city to go boating and pick lotus.
This is the season when water chestnuts are fragrant. There are several hectares of lotus flowers in Jiuqu Pond, and the sky is full of green lotus flowers. There are also mature water chestnuts, which attracts the little girl to bend down and pick them. It is a different kind of scenery. From time to time, there are crisp and beautiful flowers.
The sound of singing came from the lake, and those familiar with it knew that it must be a wealthy family bringing prostitutes to the lake.
Yang Lin was sitting on the bow of the boat, looking at the scenery in the south of the Yangtze River, mesmerized. Jin'er's little arms and legs, but Cai Ling was very familiar with them. After a while, the basket was already full.
"Brother Wenyuan!" Suddenly there was a shout from the boat next door. Yang Lin didn't pay attention at first, but then the man kept shouting, and then Yang Lin remembered that his surname was Yang Lin, whose name was Wenyuan.
When I got up and turned around, I saw a few soldiers standing on the bow of the boat next door, waving and shouting.
It can be seen that Yang Lin is very popular. After all, he is rich and generous. He is always the one who silently pays money in the academy. Moreover, this person was originally a scholar who was extremely strict with himself. He had no bad habits.
People cannot hate even if they want to.
The two boats docked in the lake. Yang Lin took Jin'er to board the boat. After a cursory glance, there were already dozens of people on board the boat. There were maids, singers, scholars and officials, and it seemed that the new imperial examination candidates were gathering here.
.
There was a middle-aged man in the middle, with a face as white as jade and flowing beard and hair. He didn't get up when he saw Yang Lin boarding the ship. All the scholars and officials were surrounding him. Of course Yang Lin recognized this man. He was Cai Jing, the prefect of Yangzhou, the future famous Sixth Emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty.
The leader of thieves. This old man will control Huizong's government for decades in the future, but he has not yet made a fortune.
Yang Lin's eyes lit up. God had given him a cold stove. If he didn't burn it, it would be against the will of God. Otherwise, he would suffer the consequences if he didn't take what God gave him.
There was no time to greet his classmates, Yang Lin clasped his fists and said, "Student Yang Lin, I have met the Master."
Judging from Cai Jing's appearance alone, there is absolutely nothing bad about him, and he even has the demeanor of a celebrity. He was chatting, laughing and feasting with the scholars in the boat, and he seemed to be in harmony without relying on his identity. He smiled and said
: "Wen Yuan doesn't need to be polite. You are our Jieyuan in this subject. You are about to be proud of us Yangzhou scholars and strive to win the title of Chan Palace."
Yang Lin thought that if he wanted to make a difference in the Song Dynasty, he would have to rely on this traitor in the next few years. As for their loyalty, it was not that important.
If you really aspire to be an upright official with clean hands, you may not be able to enter the court. When the iron heel goes south, without power in your hands, you will die and leave a false name in the future, which is really of no use. A man lives in troubled times, and he cannot live without power for a day.
Na.
"Students must try their best not to embarrass the governor."
Cai Jing's expression changed. He heard that this kid was a pedantic nerd, but he didn't expect that he was quite good at talking.
Yang Lin continued: "After hearing about the elegant and elegant people in the world, the students were especially curious about the rocks. They have asked the Imperial Chamberlain to come to the south of the Yangtze River to look for them. There are some in the student's house. My father Xiaoyao dedicated them to your majesty, but it is a pity that there is no way to heaven.
I would also like to ask the Master to introduce me to you."
Cai Jing's heart skipped a beat, did he have any connections? However, it was indeed a rare opportunity for Tong Guan to help His Majesty search for rare treasures from the south of the Yangtze River. The Yang family was so wealthy, and the hope of returning to the temple might fall on them.
Cai Jing's eyelids sank, and Yang Lin understood immediately. After sitting down, he turned to Jin'er and said, "Go to the boat and summon Yang San. Get off the boat and go back to the house. Let my father prepare a generous gift. Tell him that I am going to visit the prefect tonight."