Wu Chunlai frowned. He didn't expect Lin Jue to think so. Wouldn't that be self-defeating?
"Don't worry too much. The danger I mentioned is only under extreme circumstances. Under normal circumstances, it is quite peaceful. Otherwise, who would be an official in the world? But as I told you before in Hangzhou, becoming an official
The most important thing about being an official is to have a backer, someone to support you. Someone to speak for you and stand up for you at critical times. Where you stand is very important. I don’t need to say too much. When I was in Hangzhou, I
I've talked to you thoroughly, you should understand what I mean. I can't guarantee anything else. What I can guarantee is that as long as you listen to me, I guarantee that you will rise to great heights in this court, and no one will dare to challenge you.
You point fingers. Otherwise, you will have a very unhappy life."
Lin Jue sighed: "I understand, is this what Mr. Wu is here to tell me today? The Spring Examination has not started yet, and I may not be able to pass the Jinshi exam. In fact, Mr. Wu does not need to come and tell me this so early.
.At least it won’t be too late to say these things after I get the Jinshi and then have the opportunity to stay in the capital."
Wu Chunlai chuckled and said: "I'm not here today to tell you this. What needs to be said has been made clear in Hangzhou. I, Mr. Wu, don't like to be long-winded. I'm actually here for another thing today.
"
Lin Jue said: "Oh? Why did Mr. Wu come here?"
Wu Chunlai turned around and stared at Lin Jue fiercely: "How dare you ask? Don't you know what you have done?"
Lin Jue frowned and said, "Please let me know clearly."
Wu Chunlai said: "Don't do this with me. Let me ask you, what did you do on March 3rd in the square of Daxiangguo Temple?"
Lin Jue suddenly realized, smacked his lips and said: "So that's what happened."
Wu Chunlai said angrily: "You are so brave. You even dare to beat Lu Xiang's beloved son. Do you think the capital city is your Hangzhou city? You can run wild as you like? Let me tell you, Lu Xiang would be very angry. If I hadn't been in his
I'm trying my best to protect you, but you think you can still live a peaceful life now. Can you still wander around the streets like a normal person?"
Lin Jue frowned and said, "Master Wu, I'm afraid he doesn't know the cause and effect..."
"I don't care about the causes and consequences. I'm just telling you, you can't afford to offend Prime Minister Lu. I rely on Prime Minister Lu for support today, and you will also need Prime Minister Lu's support in the future. If you can't understand this matter, then you
He is a loser. If you want to become an official and achieve great success, you ultimately rely on Prime Minister Lu as your backer, do you understand? I know what you are thinking. Do you think Yan Zhengshen is now the deputy prime minister, and your husband has become the censor Zhongcheng, and
It’s great that Prince Liang supports you. I can tell you that these are all illusions. There is only one real backer, and that is Prime Minister Lu. I am here today to reiterate this matter to you. Don’t
Destroy yourself. Don't do something you regret."
Lin Jue frowned and remained silent. Wu Chunlai seemed to feel that his words were too harsh, so he softened his tone and said: "I know that it was actually Young Master Yanei who provoked you first. You took action to protect the little princess of Prince Liang's Mansion. I
I know that your relationship with the little princess is unusual, so it’s understandable that you want to be a flower protector. But how can you beat Mr. Yanei and do it so hard. But I have settled this matter for you. I will find someone later.
If you have the opportunity, I will take you to see Lu Xiang. You can apologize to Lu Xiang and Mr. Yanei, and the matter will be over. Do you understand?"
Lin Jue sneered in his heart, but he agreed with his words.
Wu Chunlai was very satisfied with Lin Jue's attitude. He paused and said in a deep voice: "There is one more thing I have to remind you. Do you really have any thoughts about the princess of Prince Liang's mansion? I can tell you.
You, you must not have such thoughts, don’t ask me why, I am doing it for your own good. If you don’t believe it, no one can save you if you are implicated in the future. Don’t think about stepping on a few boats and thinking
It is impossible to be the son-in-law of Prince Liang's house and think about riding on Prime Minister Lu's ship. Young junior brother, you should marry a wife who can benefit you in the future, not a wife who will drag you down. This is
I can speak from my own experience. My wife was set up by Prime Minister Lu for me. She was born in the Qin family, a wealthy family in the capital. My father-in-law was the former deputy prime minister, and he and Prime Minister Lu were a good pair. This marriage benefited me.
Quite a lot. You see, this is a truly beneficial marriage, do you understand?"
Lin Jue wanted to ask, why did Wu Chunlai say that the little princess would become a burden to him in the future? Could it be that he also knew about the imminent downfall of Prince Liang's Mansion, and could it be that he was also a person who had experienced rebirth and could know what would happen in the future? But Lin Jue quickly
Dispelled this ridiculous idea.
Wu Chunlai probably said this not because he could predict the future, but because of his position. Perhaps the implicit meaning in his words was that Lu Zhongtian and others were about to launch an attack on Prince Liang's Mansion, which would lead to the downfall of Prince Liang's Mansion.
If his guess is correct, he may have gained insight into some secrets. But he doesn't know when, where and in what form they will launch an attack on Prince Liang's Mansion. Maybe he should secretly remind the prince and his son.
"Mr. Wu has thought too much. How dare I have any high-minded thoughts about the little princess. We just had some contacts in Hangzhou, and we met again when we came to the city. Thanks to the invitation of the little princess, I went to stay in her house for two days.
I also accompanied her to the temple fair that day, and there was no other hidden secret at all. How could the princess of the royal palace fall in love with someone like me?" Lin Jue said with a smile.
Wu Chunlai nodded and said: "That's good. I don't think you have such unrealistic ideas. I know you moved out there a few days ago and are now living with a group of women from Hangzhou, right? Then
Is this woman Xie Yingying from Wangyue Tower in Hangzhou? You once helped her win the oiran crown, right? Haha, you see, I know you all very well. Talented and beautiful women are enviable, and I have no objection to that."
Lin Jue was extremely angry. Sure enough, Wu Chunlai had already mastered his details, but he didn't know how much of his secrets he still knew.
Wu Chunlai kept talking to himself: "Junior brother, you don't have to belittle yourself. In fact, what kind of princes and princesses, even if they are golden princesses? Without that status, they are not even as cute as the girls in the brothel. Miss me Wu Chun
I come from a poor family and a humble background. But haven’t I relied on my own ability to climb up to my current position step by step? When I was a poor boy, people looked down upon me, and those rich and noble ladies didn’t care.
I just blinked. But let me tell you, there are many wives and concubines in my inner room now, two of them are the daughters of wealthy families, and three of them are the daughters of important officials in the court. So what? At the beginning, they probably never imagined that they would become
I am a poor boy's concubine and slave, but don't they all surround me now? If I am unhappy, they will not even dare to say anything."
Wu Chunlai seemed to be getting more and more excited as he talked. He couldn't hold back his mouth. He was gesticulating and foaming at the mouth and continued: "So, people must not belittle oneself, work hard, and climb up regardless of everything. Life is
In this way, heroes do not care about their origins, and heroes do not care about their means. When you climb to the top, those who laughed at you and looked down on you on the road will look up to you and forget all the bad things you have done. People only look at
Status determines who will become the king or lose the bandit. This has always been the case. In order to succeed, you don’t have to limit yourself to those shackles. The purpose of your reading is not to actually follow the principles in the book. The purpose of reading is just to use it as a springboard.
Another realm. That's just a means. Do you understand?"
Lin Jue was completely speechless about this Wu Chunlai. People like Wu Chunlai are terrifying. In this day and age, Wu Chunlai is definitely a weirdo. These days, no matter how much of a male thief or female prostitute you are in your belly, you must be the same in behavior and words.
Sanctimonious. This is an era when Confucianism is prevalent, and everyone's code of conduct must be bound by moral ethics. Even the emperor, the highest ruler today, does not dare to act arbitrarily. But Wu Chunlai can say this calmly.
From these words, it can be seen that this person has entered a wrong path. In other words, this is a pragmatic egoistic path that is contrary to contemporary ethics that Wu Chunlai himself concluded after thinking about it.
Judging from his behavioral trajectory, this person has indeed done something deviant. For example, betraying his teacher is an unforgivable crime these days, but he did it. As he said, in order to succeed, he can do anything and ignore it.
Rules. And the most bizarre thing is that such a person is actually at home in the current imperial court. Perhaps in fact, throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty, the so-called principles of sages' books, the teachings of sages, the constraints of ethics and morals, and the framework of regular etiquette are all
It's just a castle in the air. In fact, no one in the core cares too much about this. Otherwise, how could we tolerate people like Wu Chunlai?
This may be a precursor to the collapse of society. When a person who has broken through the moral code can live happily in mainstream society, it may just mean that most other people are the same type of people as him.
After Wu Chunlai said these words, he actually felt a little regretful. He had never confessed these words in his heart to anyone. If he said these words to others, he would probably cause a big explosion immediately, and he would also be exposed by others.
I despised him to death. Therefore, these thoughts have been rolling around in my heart for many years. This is the first time I suddenly have the desire to speak out, and I said it in front of Lin Jue. Perhaps I was too eager to instill it in Lin Jue.
His own thoughts, or maybe he felt that Lin Jue was someone who could understand what he said, even though he was not very familiar with him. Or maybe Wu Chunlai really regarded Lin Jue as he was when he was young, so he
He would say these words so honestly.
Seeing Lin Jue's surprised look, Wu Chunlai felt a little regretful. But this regret quickly disappeared without a trace. This is a good thing. If Lin Jue knows what kind of person he is, he may understand him better.
He also has a better understanding of the price of rejecting himself. This is beneficial to major events. Facing the upcoming storm in the DPRK, Wu Chunlai must be prepared for his own faction. Lin Jue, a chess piece, must be won over by himself.
Come close to him and place him at the most important part. Whether it is intimidation or other means, he cannot be allowed to escape. This is the most important thing.
"Junior brother, I tell you these things from the bottom of my heart. I have never said these words to anyone. This is what I have learned from my experience in getting to where I am today. I believe no one can tell you these things from the bottom of my heart. Maybe you
It doesn't matter if you feel these words are a bit harsh, as long as you remember to do as I say, your future achievements will not be inferior to mine."
Lin Jue sighed in his heart. In his heart, Wu Chunlai must have thought that he was extremely envious of him. In fact, not only was he not envious of him at all, but he felt a little pitiful about him. How much inner suffering does a person have to endure in order to be a person with peace of mind?
To give up those moral constraints for the purpose? Lin Jue asked himself that it is absolutely impossible. His method is unacceptable to Lin Jue, who has his own set of values.
For Wu Chun, studying is only a means and not an end, while Lin Jue's understanding is the opposite. In Lin Jue's view, studying is the purpose, and the imperial examinations and official positions brought by studying are all incidental products. The book reads
In your belly, that is what you really own. These are two completely opposite values.
Wu Chunlai said that successful people will be looked up to by others, so those dirty tricks on the way to success will not be criticized by others. Lin Jue wanted to remind him that successful people are looked up to in their hearts or in their hearts.
Looking up under power? Is it looking up on the surface but gnashing of teeth behind the scenes, or is it true oral conviction? Wu Chunlai also forgot that there is such a thing as history books in the world. They only seek temporary glory and leave eternal infamy. What is success?
Or failed?
Of course, Lin Jue is not that kind of sanctimonious corrupt scholar. As a person from later generations, he also disdains many things in morality and etiquette. In this era, Lin Jue only regards them as rules that must be followed. But even so.
, does not mean that people can have no bottom line, can be shameless, can rebel against teachers, and can use power to measure success.
Wu Chunlai thought it was too shallow to wash his mind with such words.
After that, Wu Chunlai asked a few more questions about the conversation between Lin Jue and Fang Dunru. Naturally, he wanted to know something. But how could Lin Jue tell him, just perfunctoryly. Wu Chunlai also felt that what they talked about during today's meeting was
Things seemed to put too much pressure on Lin Jue. He was a person who knew how to advance and retreat. Once he found out that Lin Jue was disgusted, he immediately stopped. After chatting for a few words, he drove away.
Lin Jue stood at the street corner and watched the carriage disappear into the shade of the trees, and fell into deep thought. It seemed that life in the capital must be difficult, Wu Chunlai would haunt him like a ghost,
Once he turns his back after this, I'm afraid there will be no peaceful days. But no matter what, I will not give up. The goal of becoming an official will not change, the goal of changing the fate of the family will not change, and the goal of changing his miserable life in the previous life will not change.
Change. No matter how coerced and persecuted these people are, no matter what they encounter, they cannot give in.
There was a dull roar from the theater across the street.
"Success, the crankshaft is running successfully." People's cheers reached Lin Jue's ears. Lin Jue woke up from his meditation, shook his head, and strode towards the theater.
…
In the evening, Lin Jue, who came back from the theater construction site, sat under the shade of the trees in Zaoyuan's back house and read a book. Although there were many things going on at the construction site, Lin Jue still took time to study and prepare for the exam a few days ago. For Lin Jue, it was a blessing.
It's not that he wants to review all the things he has learned, but Lin Jue has a premonition that this spring's exam will be very different from the past. Some clues can be smelled from the policy questions in last autumn's exam.
The HKUST exam has never tested anything about change, but the policy theory question in last year's major exam broke the rules.
In addition, Yan Zhengsheng and his mentor Fang Dunru came to Beijing together, and there were obviously some strange signs. Therefore, taking the two aspects together, Lin Jue believed that this spring exam might be different. Therefore, Lin Jue's evil supplement was the past and present.
He tried his best to integrate and comprehend the articles and views on reform. The only books in the Zhou Dynasty were the reforms of Guan Zhong, Li Kui, Shang Yang and others during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. But Lin Jue knew much more than these.
In the parallel world, the Song Dynasty’s Wang Anshi’s Reform, the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli New Deal, and the Qing Dynasty’s Reform Movement of 1898, these are all things that Lin Jue has in his memory even though they are not in the books of the Zhou Dynasty. The reforms of the last three dynasties
They are all sensational political events. Fortunately, Lin Jue has them in history books on earth, and they are all included in junior high schools and high schools. As the content of regular examinations, Lin Jue had to include those events when he was a student.
The boring articles and the familiar summary of the pros and cons of viewpoints. Now I can recall 70% to 80% of them. Lin Jue was recalling the content and articles of these reforms, recording them, sorting them out and thinking about them. When he first learned them, he just
I memorized it by rote, but now I have other thoughts.
While Lin Jue was racking his brains, a maid from outside the courtyard hurriedly came in to report to Lin Jue.
"Mr. Lin, there is a woman coming from outside. She comes to see you, Mr. Lin, and she says she is your master's wife."
Lin Jue was stunned for a moment, then stood up and said in surprise: "Master's wife is here. Please invite her in quickly."
After saying that, he quickly walked towards the round door. Lu Wu, who was watering the flowers on the porch, came trotting over after hearing the news and said happily: "Mrs. Fang is here. Young master and I will go to pick her up."
The two of them had not yet followed the maid out of the back house to the front yard. In front of the front yard, they saw Mrs. Fang, wearing a blue floral skirt and holding a bamboo basket, standing at the door looking around in the yard.
"Oh, what kind of wind has brought Master's wife here? Lin Jue comes to greet Master's wife." Lin Jue smiled and walked quickly, cupped his hands and saluted.
When Mrs. Fang heard the sound, her face was full of smiles when she saw Lin Jue. After greeting Lin Jue and Luwu respectively, Mrs. Fang looked around at the big courtyard and said, "Oh, your house is pretty good. It's nicer than my house."
It’s much bigger. There is a second entrance at the back, which is really nice. The scenery is also good, and the two jujube trees at the door are easy to find.”
Lin Jue said with a smile: "If your wife likes it, you can move in with your husband. Isn't my house the same as my wife's and my husband's house?"
Mrs. Fang smiled and pointed at Lin Jue with her finger: "You have such a sweet mouth. Otherwise, why would Mrs. Fang love you the most? Although we won't move in here, Mrs. Fang will be happy when she hears your words."
Lin Jue chuckled and said, "Master, please come in. Why do you have time to come here today?"
Mrs. Fang said angrily: "If you don't go to see us, Mrs. Fang will have to come to see you. It's been so many days, and you haven't been there since the last time. Your teacher nags you at home every day. No,
I came to see if anything happened to you."
Lin Jue felt guilty after hearing this, and blamed himself: "It's my fault. It's true that I haven't gone to see my wife and husband for four or five days. It's a shame. So, I'll go see my husband now. But if it doesn't work, it's hard for my wife to come."
This is the time to eat here."
Mrs. Fang smiled and said: "I don't eat here. If I eat here, your teacher will be hungry at home. Today, Magistrate Yan... no, it's time to call him Deputy Prime Minister Yan. He has also come to the house to talk to your teacher."
We need to talk about things again. When the two of them get together, it’s endless chatter. No, I went to the Tanjiazheng store in the south to buy wine and salted peanuts. Mr. Yan likes to drink wine and salted peanuts from that store.
Salt water peanuts. Thinking that you live nearby, I stopped by to take a look."
Mrs. Fang lifted up the white cloth on the bamboo basket in her hand, revealing two small jars of wine and several paper bags. She reached out and picked up a bag and handed it to Lin Jue: "I'll give you a bag to try. It's delicious."
When Lin Jue heard that Yan Zhengsun was at Fang's house, he immediately decided to go tonight. Speaking of which, it had been six or seven days in the capital and he hadn't visited Yan Zhengsun yet. The main reason was that Yan Zhengsun was now the deputy minister of the imperial court, and Lin Jue didn't know what to do.
He shouldn't visit. But since he arrived at Fang's house, he should go and meet him.
"Master, if you don't want to eat, don't eat. Not only don't you eat, I also have to bring some food and drinks to show your respect. By the way, Green Dance, didn't you and Xiaohu find out about the nearby snack shop? Come with me and buy some on the way.
Bring some snacks and fine wine to Mr. Yan and Mr. Yan." Lin Jue said with a smile.
Lu Wu smiled and said, "It's all on me. Xiaohu and I have figured it out in the past few days. No, Mrs. Li's roast pig ear meat across the street, Chengji duck neck in the alley to the north. As for the wine, I'll
I don’t know. But there is a wine shop at the north exit, and it smells pretty good.”
Lin Juexi said: "Then what are you waiting for? Bring some money to buy it. Where is Xiaohu? Ask him to prepare a car. By the way, tell the maid and then report back to Miss Yingying and tell her that I went to the teacher's house."
Lu Wu repeatedly agreed to go and arrange a meeting. Lin Jue took Mrs. Fang's arm and said, "Mrs. Mrs., let's leave now."
Mrs. Fang shouted: "You kid, I was going to take a look at the back house where you live, why didn't you let me in? By the way, who is that girl Yingying you just mentioned? Does she also live here?
?”
Lin Jue pulled Mrs. Fang out and said with a smile: "What's so good about the house? I'll just pick up Mrs. Fang and stay there for a few days. It's not good to keep Mr. Yan and Mr. Yan waiting for a long time. I'll tell you the other things later."
Mrs. Fang had no choice but to laugh and curse and let Lin Jue hold her arm and walk out. Soon after, several people got on the carriage driven by Xiaohu, bought some food and wine from several shops along the way, and headed straight for Yulin Alley.
