When Li Jinzhong was mentioned, Li Tianmu felt both love and hate, with complicated emotions. Lying on the kang, he recalled and told the story between him and Li Jinzhong.
Li Jinzhong, born in the second year of Longqing, named Wanwu, was born in Suning County, North Zhili. His parents died when he was young, and he was raised by his blind grandmother begging. When he was fourteen years old and passed the scholar examination, his grandmother was overly excited and became extremely happy and sad.
Let go.
Li Jinzhong had been begging for food with his grandmother since he was a child, and was looked down upon by others. He saw clearly what it means to be in a hot and cold world. He studied hard and pursued fame. He wanted to be an official, a high official, but not a county magistrate. He had to be a magistrate and magistrate.
He wanted those who had looked down on him to kneel before him and kowtow to him. It would be best if people from all over Suning County, all over Zhili, and even the entire Ming Empire knelt before him and kowtowed to him.
There are also those who have bullied him, scolded him, beaten him, and humiliated him. Li Jinzhong secretly remembered in his heart whether they were Zhang San or Li Si. When he becomes successful in the future, he will find them one by one.
They keep the ledger.
The imperial examination system of the Ming Dynasty was hierarchical. If you wanted to become an official, you had to go up one level at a time. You must first pass the children's examination, also called the county examination. Obtaining the qualifications to participate in the scientific examination is the beginning of a scholar's career.
The children's examination consists of three stages: county examination, government examination, and college examination. Those who pass the examination are called students, commonly known as scholars.
Li Jinzhong's career started off extremely smoothly. He was admitted as a scholar at the age of fourteen. Everyone thought he had a bright future. Unexpectedly, this bright future later turned into a bleak future.
After Li Jinzhong passed the child examination, he was eligible to take the provincial examination. This examination is usually held every three years and is usually held in August, so it is also called "Autumn Examination". This year, Li Jinzhong took the test for the first time with full confidence.
In the provincial examination, he ranked behind Mr. Sun Shansun and was unfortunately eliminated. His nightmare in the provincial examination began.
At that time, Li Jinzhong was still young and had plenty of time and opportunities. He was not discouraged or disappointed after landing the job. He made a comeback and endured another three years before taking the provincial examination again, only to fail again.
In this way for three years after three years, Li Jinzhong continued to fail and failed the exam five times. At this time, he was not young. He was already thirty years old, but he was not married yet. He was not young at this age in the Ming Dynasty.
If you get married, you will be considered an older unmarried young person, which is even more looked down upon.
His old neighbors in the old street laughed at him secretly, saying that he could not find a wife and would have to be a bachelor all his life. Li Jinzhong saw it in his eyes and heard it in his ears. He was so angry that he studied harder. He was only twenty-seven.
At eight years old, he still had a chance, but he didn't believe he wouldn't be able to pass the exam.
Li Jinzhong made a living by setting up a street stall and reading letters for people. Not many people in the Ming Dynasty were literate, so being able to read and write was like learning a craft that could support oneself.
On this day, a firewood seller came next to Li Jinzhong's stall. After chatting, I found out that this man's surname was also Li and his name was Li Shuan. He also had a frail boy with him.
With nothing to do, Li Jinzhong called the child to his side, played with him, and asked, "How old are you?"
The child did not recognize his birth, and said openly: "He is eight years old."
Li Jinzhong asked: "What's your name?"
The child said: "Li Yuan."
Li Jinzhong asked: "Are you literate?"
Xiao Liyuan shook his head.
Li Jinzhong said: "Are you willing to learn?"
Xiao Liyuan nodded happily.
So Li Jinzhong taught little Li Yuan how to read and write the two characters "李蕕". He found that little Li Yuan was too stupid. He learned the two characters all morning and finally learned it. After lunch, he asked him again and forgot.
Since then, Li Shuan took his children here to sell firewood every day, and little Li Yuan followed Li Jinzhong to learn to read. Li Jinzhong found that little Li Yuan was stupid, but as long as he was taught the words, he could remember them when asked the next day.
Get up. This shows that the child studied hard after returning home.
Li Jinzhong didn't mind teaching little Li Yuan how to read every day. Anyway, little Li Yuan was so stupid that five words were enough for him to learn for a day.
Li Shuan often gave Li Jinzhong firewood to burn, and also hunted some pheasants and hares for him to beat his teeth as a reward for teaching his son.
They got along very harmoniously, and they lived like this for more than half a year. One day, Li Shuan invited Li Jinzhong to his house for dinner. Li Jinzhong closed the stall, bought some fruits and went. Only after going there did he find out who Li Shuan was.
There is also a beautiful sister named Li Ermei.
Li Shuan's sister was also quite old. When she was about to get married, Li Shuan intended to betroth his sister to Li Jinzhong and invited Li Jinzhong to come to his house for dinner. The purpose was to let his sister take a look. If she was satisfied, he would find an opportunity to arrange the marriage with Li Jinzhong.
Make it clear.
After dinner, Li Jinzhong left. After Li Jinzhong left, Li Shuan asked his sister what she thought of Li Jinzhong. Li Ermei looked shy and said, "Brother, what do you mean? What does he have to do with my little sister?"
Li Shuan said: "If you entrust your life to this person, would you be willing?"
Li Ermei had long been conquered by the handsome Li Jinzhong, but she did not say that she was willing. She only said: "I will follow my brother's arrangements in everything."
Li Shuan thought to himself: "This is my willingness."
On this day, as usual, Li Shuan carried firewood and brought his son to sell. Li Jinzhong's calligraphy stall had been set up long ago. Xiao Li Yuan and Li Jinzhong learned a few words and squatted aside to write on the ground with small wooden strips.
Come and write.
Li Shuan wanted to say something about his sister, so he said to his son: "Yuanzi, I'm going to tell you Uncle Jin Zhong something about adults. You kid can't listen. Go and play somewhere far away and come back later."
Seeing Xiao Li Yuan leave, Li Shuan said: "Brother Jinzhong, can I tell you something?"
Li Jinzhong smiled and said: "Why do you have to take the child away?"
Li Shuan said: "Brother, we have known each other for more than half a year. I think you are a good person and want to introduce you to a marriage."
Li Jinzhong smiled and said: "Yes, thank you very much, brother. But I don't know whose family the girl is from?"
Li Shuan said: "Have you seen this person before?"
Li Jinzhong said doubtfully: "Have I seen it? Could it be that you have written a letter to me or read a letter? Oh, my brother Shuan, please stop teasing me with charades. Whose daughter is she? Hurry up.
Tell me."
Li Shuan was embarrassed to say that he was quite hesitant. This kind of thing requires three matchmakers and six certificates, and he didn't mention it in person. But hiring a matchmaker would cost money. Li Shuan was not rich, so he wanted to save this money.
Seeing that Li Shuan didn't speak, Li Jinzhong asked: "Brother Shuan, you are talking. You want to kill me. Whose girl is this?"
Li Shuan gritted his teeth for the last time, stamped his foot, and said: "Oh, let me tell you, it's my sister, Li Ermei, what do you think, agree or not? Give me a happy word."
When Li Jinzhong learned that it was Li Ermei, he was first happy, then sad. He thought for a long time, and finally shook his head and said: "Thank you Brother Shuan for your kindness, but I am not lucky enough to marry your sister. Please forgive me."
Li Shuan was very confident about the marriage before. He thought that as long as he mentioned it, Li Jinzhong would jump with joy. Unexpectedly, Li Jinzhong was unwilling.
Li Shuan thought to himself: "This shouldn't be the case. Judging from the appearance of the second sister, there are not many women from all over the country who are more beautiful than her. What is the reason? Oh, I understand. Li Jinzhong dislikes the second sister.
Illiterate, he is a scholar, and he wants to find someone who is educated and speaks the same language as him, with whom he can chat.
"Marriage is all about being well-matched. Although Li Jinzhong's family is as poor as anything, he is a scholar after all. How can a man with a good reputation fall in love with our Chai Huo girl?
"Hey, I did this a little thoughtlessly and recklessly." Li Shuan quite blamed himself.
Li Ermei waited at home to hear the news. She was absent-minded all day long. She finally expected her brother to come back with her nephew. The girl's family was too embarrassed to ask. Unexpectedly, she didn't mention it, and Li Shuan didn't mention it either. She was still anxious to know.
As a result, I thought to myself: "Brother, have you forgotten or something? Why didn't you mention this?"
At the dinner table, Li Ermei asked insinuatingly: "Brother, did you see Li Jinzhong on the street today?"
Li Shuan said "hmm". He knew what his sister meant, but she refused, so he didn't want to mention it again. He wanted to go over without mentioning it. But how could he get along? Li Ermei was thinking about it.
So Li Ermei asked again: "Brother, didn't you say anything when you saw Li Jinzhong?"
Li Shuan pretended not to know and asked, "What did you say?"
Li Ermei thought to herself: "Brother, why are you pretending to be confused?" But she was always embarrassed to ask directly. So she smiled awkwardly and said: "It's nothing."
After dinner, Li Ermei saw her nephew Xiao Li Yuan learning calligraphy with a wooden stick in the yard, so she walked over, squatted aside and asked, "Yuanzi, did your father say anything special to Li Jinzhong today?"
Little Li Yuan thought for a while and said: "Yes, there is, but my father asked me to play far away and didn't let me listen. He said that it was an adult's business and children should not listen."
Li Ermei understood immediately that her brother had said it, but Li Jinzhong was not happy, so his brother did not mention it when he came back.
Li Ermei is a very strong girl. At this moment, she feels that her self-esteem has been hurt. She can't figure out what is wrong with her and what is unworthy of him, Li Jinzhong. Although he is a scholar, what is the use of a scholar?
Don't eat or drink.
He is already twenty-seven or eighty years old and has not yet married a wife. Does he not want to marry? Unless he is sick, how could it be possible? It's not that he doesn't want to marry, but he can't afford it. No one wants to marry a poor scholar like him.
Li Ermei thought to herself: "Based on my appearance, not to mention as pretty as a flower, I'm just about the same. I've barely crossed the threshold to propose marriage. But my brother always doesn't agree. He always wants to give it to me because of his disapproval.
Find a son-in-law who can ride a dragon. Li Jinzhong's family is so poor, I don't know what my brother likes about Li Jinzhong?"
[Author's digression]: Readers and friends who watch the serialization of "Iron-Blooded Guards", please click to collect it!
"Iron-blooded Guards" will be updated twice a day this month.
First update between 10am and 11am, or later.
The second update will be at 17:00, so stay tuned!