At noon, Lin Jue and Lin Hu took out the sugar cakes they brought to fight with each other. Fang Huanqiu did not invite them into the house for dinner. Lin Jue also knew not to enter the Fang family's house privately. After all, there was only one woman at home.
No random entry is allowed. However, Fang Huanqiu did bring a bowl of vegetable soup out for the two of them to drink, which was considered a reward for half a day's hard work.
After eating, Lin Jue continued to work. He and Lin Hu first repaired the drainage ditch in the courtyard and drained away the accumulated water in the low-lying areas. Lin Hu also carried more than a dozen baskets of gravel on his back to repair the paths in the courtyard.
The next step was to chop firewood. Fang Huanqiu felt really sorry, so he wrapped his hair in green cloth and helped. They also started talking and laughing, and the strangeness and estrangement seemed to have been eliminated a lot.
When the three of them were chatting and laughing happily, Fang Dunru and his wife pushed the door in one after another outside the courtyard door. The couple stood there in a daze when they saw the scene in the courtyard.
Lin Jue and Fang Huanqiu were also stunned there.
"What...are they doing? Qiu'er, who are they?" Fang Dunru was wearing a blue cloth robe, his hair was slightly white, and his face was thin. Two strange young people broke into the yard of his home. His daughter and
They were chatting and laughing, which made Fang Dunru a little angry.
When Lin Jue saw Fang Dunru, he quickly put down his axe, bowed and said, "I'm Lin Jue, I've met Fang Shanchang."
Fang Dunru's appearance was a bit younger than in his memory, and his hair was not as gray as he remembered. But he had the same sharp and calm demeanor. Seeing his mentor in his previous life, Lin Jue couldn't help but be a little excited, and his eyes were a little agitated.
It's moist.
The woman came forward quickly, took Fang Huanqiu's arm and walked into the house, scolding: "Qiu'er, how can you let people you don't know into the yard? And... you still joke with them. This
Do you want to make your father angry to death?"
Fang Huanqiu said softly: "Mom, what are you talking about? Mr. Lin..."
"Stop talking and come into the house." Mother Fang interrupted her and pulled her into the house.
Fang Dunru frowned and looked at the young man in front of him who was only wearing a middle coat, with his sleeves rolled up, and his shoes and pants were covered in mud. He said in a deep voice, "Are you Lin Jue? Are you the one who came here two days ago?"
Lin Jue said hurriedly: "That's right."
Fang Dunru frowned and said, "Why don't you, a young man, not understand the rules? Can you break into someone else's house when the master is not at home? Don't young people know etiquette? Don't you know how to avoid taboos?"
Lin Jue hurriedly bowed and said: "I'm sorry, I was rude. I sincerely apologize."
Fang Dunru saw that Lin Jue was very humble in his words and deeds, so he softened his tone and said, "Young people should be more careful in their actions. If you break into my yard like this, it's not an exaggeration for me to order you to be sent to the official."
Moreover, your clothes are disheveled and your body is covered with dirt. Is this the behavior of a gentleman?"
Lin Jue said hurriedly: "Yes, I will go clean up now, and then come back to see the teacher and listen to his teachings."
Fang Dunru snorted and walked into the house. Lin Jue hurriedly led Lin Hu out of the yard, took his outer robe and went to the pool under the cliff in the afternoon. He washed it carefully and then put on his long gown.
Return to the front door of Fang's courtyard.
Standing at the door, the sound of the Fang family's mother and daughter arguing could be heard in the Fang family's house.
"Huanqiu, you are from a girl's family. You only close the door when you are alone at home. Why did you let them in? If you are a bad person, how can you do it?"
"Mom, what are you talking about? This is an academy, where are the bad guys? Besides, my daughter didn't let them enter the house, they were just in the yard. Master Lin fixed the fence for us and dug the drainage ditch for the vegetable patch.
, I rested the path and chopped a lot of firewood. With so many things done under the bright sun, is it possible that I don’t even let people drink tea? Besides, mother, didn’t you meet this person last time?
Mr. Lin? You even accepted two jars of wine from me. So what do you say?"
"You girl, are you talking about me? You brought up the two jars of wine again, and you still think your father didn't talk enough? When you mention it, he becomes verbose again."
Fang Dunru's voice sounded as expected: "Of course I want to tell you, you have no merit and no reward, you dare to accept gifts from others, how dare you say it? Is Fang Dunru the kind of person who is greedy for petty gains? I am short-handed in taking advantage of others.
Don't you know that I, Fang Dunru, don't want to receive favors in vain for the rest of my life?"
"Yes, yes, yes, you are noble, and the slave family can't speak to you. Is it the slave family's fault? Now that the people are here, just return the two jars of wine to him. I chased them on the mountain road that day and didn't catch up with them, otherwise I would have returned them at that time.
If I go back, I will save you three days of nagging. You two, father and daughter, have teamed up to bully me."
"Hehe, mother, don't be angry. You are my best mother. Huanqiu will bully you and kiss you before it's too late."
The family seemed to be quarreling, but the quarrel was full of warmth. Lin Jue listened to these conversations in front of the door and felt quite envious in his heart. Looking at others, and then thinking about his own background and family situation, he couldn't help but sigh secretly.
After adjusting his clothes, Lin Jue stepped into the courtyard. The three members of the Fang family in the main room also saw Lin Jue's arrival, so they all stopped talking. Fang Dunru suppressed the smile on his face and stood facing Lin Jue with his hands behind his hands.
"I'm Lin Jue. I've met you sir." Lin Jue bowed respectfully.
Fang Dunru glanced at his wife and daughter. Fang Huanqiu knew what he meant. He took Mrs. Fang's hand and said, "Mom, I will take you to see the newly built bamboo fence."
Mrs. Fang nodded in agreement, and the mother and daughter walked out of the door and passed by Lin Jue. From the corner of his eye, Lin Jue saw Fang Huanqiu's bright eyes glance at him, but he could only look away.
After his wife and daughter left, Fang Dunru slightly cupped his hands and said in a cold voice: "Young master Lin, there is no need to be polite. You are a guest. Please sit in the room."
Lin Jue thanked him and walked slowly into the main room. The room was very simple, with a wooden table, a few chairs, an incense table with a Buddha statue at the top, and nothing else.
"Please sit down and have tea." Fang Dunru sat on a chair and pointed to the tea channel on the table.
Lin Jue thanked him again, but stood respectfully.
Fang Dunru was somewhat satisfied with Lin Jue's humble attitude. He was being polite as a courtesy to guests. But in fact, he didn't need to do this at all. If the younger generation really sat in front of him in a serious manner, he would definitely frown.
"Mr. Lin, I don't seem to know you. I am familiar with all the 137 students in my academy. I don't think I have seen you among them."
"Sir, I am indeed not a student of the academy. I came here to pay my respects to you." Lin Jue replied honestly.
"But I wonder if you have learned anything from me after coming to see me several times?" Fang Dunru picked up the tea cup and took a sip.
"I want to enter the academy to study under my master. So..."
"Hehehe, what I said is that you are delivering wine and doing work for my family. You must ask for something when you are polite. Mr. Lin, I am really sorry, the academy no longer accepts students. I am just a teacher of the academy.
President, there is no such thing as a disciple. If you are interested in our Songshan Academy, after the autumn of next year, our academy will recruit students again, and you can apply. However, you must pass the assessment prescribed by the academy.
.This method of giving gifts to please is not possible." Although Fang Dunru's words were not loud, they were piercing and had the intention of reprimanding Lin Jue.
Lin Jue said hurriedly: "Sir, I just want to enroll in school before next autumn, so that I can receive your guidance and teachings. If I pass the exam next autumn, I will be on the gold list the year after. Otherwise, there will be one subject every three years. If you make a mistake this time, you will have to wait three more years."
Years are wasted time."
Fang Dunru laughed loudly, shook his head and said: "I have seen young people like you a lot, eager for quick success and high goals. Do you think you can pass the imperial examination with a few words of advice? This is just a place for studying, not for the imperial examination.
Place. Songshan Academy was not established for the imperial examination, but to carry forward the learning of the sages and teach people how to live in the world. If you think like this, you will look down on me, Songshan Academy. Forget it, you can go, I will use those two bottles of good wine.
I haven't moved either. There is a tael of silver here. You can take it and treat it as the wages you paid for building fences and chopping firewood for my house today. I, Fang Dunru, don't want to be in debt to anyone or be talked about."
Fang Dunru pointed towards the door. Two jars of the best golden Huadiao wine were placed on the ground, and a small piece of silver was placed on one of the jars. Lin Jue couldn't help but smile. It seemed that Fang Dunru had already made preparations to refuse him.
, wine and money are ready, it’s time to expel the guests.
Lin Jue was unwilling to leave. He cupped his hands and said in a deep voice, "Sir, please allow me to say a few words."
Fang Dunru was noncommittal.
Lin Jue said softly: "What you taught me just now is that I know that my way of delivering wine and being attentive made you think poorly of me. You may think that I am a speculator. But I am not that kind of person. I only do this to be able to
It’s just to meet the teacher. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even have the chance to meet the teacher. In addition, I admit that I do have snobbish motives for wanting to become his disciple. But I believe that students all over the world actually have this idea, but I said it bluntly.
That's all. None of the students in Songshan Academy came here to take the imperial examinations in high school, but they didn't say it out loud. Songshan Academy has always been proud of being able to recommend talents to the imperial court. Otherwise, why are there all the imperial examinations on the stone wall behind the mountain?
Everyone in high school has the honor of having his or her name carved on a cliff?"
Fang Dunru frowned and said, "Are you saying that what I just said was hypocritical?"
Lin Jue shook his head and said: "How dare you? I know that what you just said was your original intention to open Songshan Academy and your true thoughts in your heart. Otherwise, how could you have resigned and returned home regardless of your promising official career?
What about opening an academy? Isn't it just because you are a sincere person and your ideas of revenge are incomprehensible and intolerable to others, so you don't want to join in the same trend?"
Fang Dunru looked Lin Jue up and down in surprise and said, "Who are you? How do you know the reason why I resigned?"
Lin Juexin said: In the last life, we had a long talk for many days. You yourself told me all your experiences. How could I not know?
"I am Lin Jue, a member of the Lin family in Hangzhou. I have admired your name for a long time, so I found out about some of your past experiences. Knowing those experiences, I respect you even more."
Fang Dunru frowned and said, "Are you from the Lin family? The Lin family whose head is Lin Boyong?"
"Exactly."
"Are you a direct or collateral son of the Lin family?"
"Directly a concubine of the third family."
"bastard?"
"Yes. My mother is the maid of the Lin family." Lin Jue said in a deep voice.
Fang Dunru looked at Lin Jue blankly and said for a long time: "I understand why you said so bluntly that you want to pass the imperial examination. The life of a concubine must be difficult. If you can't pass the imperial examination, I'm afraid you won't be able to talk to the Lin family.
You can’t even tell, right?”
Lin Jue nodded lightly and said: "It's good that you know, sir. My status in the Lin family is indeed not good. But that's not entirely the case. I want to take the imperial examination not only to improve my status, but also to follow in my footsteps."
, carry out your husband’s ambitions. The ideas that you failed to complete can be completed by me on your behalf.”
