Traveling through time and space to become a child, supporting the family by catching fish and shrim

After dinner, Chen Lang prepared to leave.

However, unexpectedly, the issue of address caused some trouble.

"Madam, I'm leaving first." Chen Lang said to Sheng Chuliang's wife.

Madam Sheng frowned and said unhappily, "This child, why is it so awkward to call me Madam? Call me Master's Wife."

"Master..." Before Chen Lang could even finish the second word, Sheng Chuliang became angry.

"Don't call me Master's Wife!" Sheng Chuliang slammed the table and yelled, "I'm not his teacher! And he's not my student!"

Madam Sheng was also angry: "You old thing, the older you get, the more trouble you make."

"Why isn't Xiao Chen your student anymore?"

Sheng Chuliang was furious. "If I say no, then it's no. If you keep nagging me, I... I..."

Madam Sheng showed no fear at all, and even puffed out her chest. She said, "Why, you still want to hit me? Come on, hit me here."

Seeing that the old couple was about to break out into a "war", Chen Lang quickly spoke up to smooth things over, saying, "Madam, my husband must have his reasons for not recognizing me. There is no need to make you and your wife unhappy over such a small matter."

Madam Sheng said, "Xiao Chen, this old man has become increasingly crazy in recent years. Don't bother with him."

The corners of Chen Lang's mouth twitched, and he thought, Madam, I don't know how to respond to what you said.

Sheng Chuliang said, "It's said that you women are all long-haired but short-sighted. You treat me as... Never mind. Go out first. I have something to say to him."

Mrs. Sheng snorted, but did not argue with her husband anymore. She called two maids over, took away the bowls and plates, and left the dining room for the two of them to talk.

"Please sit down." Sheng Chuliang said calmly.

After Chen Lang sat down, Sheng Chuliang sighed and said, "The fact that I don't acknowledge you as my student is not because I look down on you. It's because being my student will not end well."

"When I was young and hot-tempered, I made many enemies."

"Now these enemies either hold high positions in the government or have great reputations in the literary world."

"You write excellent poems. If you study hard, passing the imperial examinations will be a piece of cake."

"But if my enemies knew that you were my student, no matter how talented you are, being a scholar would be your limit."

Hearing this, Chen Lang muttered in his heart: "Sir, I just want to pass the exam to become a scholar. Juren and Jinshi are not in my plan."

However, this must not be said in front of Sheng Chuliang, otherwise, with the old man's violent temper, he will definitely not recommend him again.

"Besides that, there's another reason."

"In recent years, young and talented students have sprung up like mushrooms after rain, and many of them are students of my enemies."

"Even if my enemies don't target you, these students won't let you go."

"Their knowledge, experience, and cultural level are far superior to a country farmer like you. If you pass the imperial examination and become an official in the future, these people can easily dig a hole to bury you."

"If you were not my student, you might have a chance to be sent abroad. If you were my student, you would most likely die in the capital."

"As your recommender, I can still pass the buck to the county magistrate. But if you become my student, it will do you no good."

After saying this, Sheng Chuliang waved his hand listlessly and said, "Go back and study hard. On the county exam, try to fill in all the questions at the front. Don't leave them all blank like today."

"Don't come to my house again during this period."

At first, Chen Lang really thought that Sheng Chuliang didn't recognize him because he looked down on his background.

I didn't expect there was such a deep reason.

Chen Lang's impression of this old man also changed.

Perhaps his old-fashionedness and irritability are all disguised.

There is only one purpose, which is not to implicate the people around me.

It is said that you can offend no one but scholars. Once scholars hold a grudge, they will probably remember it for the rest of their lives.

At the same time, the means of revenge used by scholars are more insidious than those of warriors.

A warrior wants your life, but a scholar not only wants your life, but also your reputation before and after your death!

Chen Shimei, what a good man, but because he offended his colleagues, he became a famous scumbag in history.

Pan Renmei was such a good imperial advisor, but because he offended some scholars, he was listed on the list of treacherous ministers of the Song Dynasty.

Therefore, Sheng Chuliang's considerations were by no means groundless worries.

"Teacher, please accept my student's greetings."

When Sheng Chuliang was lamenting the unfair treatment he had received in his life, Chen Lang's shout scared him so much that he stood up from his chair.

"What are you doing? Didn't you hear a word I said just now?" Sheng Chuliang said angrily.

Chen Lang knelt on the ground and smiled, "Teacher, I understand, but I am not afraid."

Sheng Chuliang's anger subsided: "You are not afraid because you have no idea how terrifying the struggle in the court is."

"You, you, you...you are really going to piss me off to death."

Chen Lang said, "Teacher, the court is terrifying, I won't go."

"What's more, for the sake of my so-called future, I even disown my teacher. My teacher's enemies may not deal with me, but all the scholars in the world will curse me to death."

Sheng Chuliang was stunned for a moment.

What Chen Lang said makes sense.

The fact that I was his recommender had to be reported to higher authorities one by one.

It is extremely rare for a juren to recommend a tongsheng.

There is only one explanation for this situation: the two are teacher and student.

And they are not ordinary teacher and student, but direct disciples!

When I agreed to be the recommender, I just wanted to repay the county magistrate, but now thinking back, wasn't there a thought of cherishing talent at that moment?

"People laugh at me for being too crazy, I laugh at them for not seeing through me."

Isn’t this poem the most true portrayal of my life?

What's the big deal about having an apprentice? If those people dare to attack my apprentice, the worst that can happen to me is that I will go crazy again!

"Have you really thought it through? If you accept me as your master, you will hardly have a career in politics in the future. Even if you do, it will be fraught with obstacles."

Chen Lang said: "The students think very clearly."

At the same time, he added in his mind: "Scholarship does not count towards a career in the government."

Sheng Chuliang nodded slightly, "In that case, I will accept you as my student."

"From today on, you are my Sheng Chuliang's first and last disciple."

"Master has no other requirements for you, just eight words."

"Look up to the heavens and look down to the earth."

Chen Lang kowtowed and said, "I will remember your teachings."

"Go ahead." Sheng Chuliang said, "If you encounter any problems with your studies, feel free to ask me."

"Thank you teacher, student. I'm sorry."

Chen Lang stood up, holding the book that Sheng Chuliang lent him, and left the Sheng Mansion.

Sheng Chuliang stood in the yard, stroking his beard with a complicated expression.

Madam Sheng came forward, put a piece of clothing on him, and said, "It's autumn now, wear more clothes."

"Don't overthink it. I'd say Xiao Chen is much smarter than you. If he were to become an official in the imperial court, he would definitely be a hundred times more capable than you."

"At least I won't get into such a bad situation with my colleagues."

Sheng Chuliang didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Hey, you old woman, you won't feel comfortable if you don't bully me for a day."

Madam Sheng said, "Then divorce me."

"What nonsense are you talking about? How can you divorce your wife when you are old?" Sheng Chuliang said unhappily.

Madam Sheng said angrily, "What you mean by that is, if you were younger you would have divorced me?"

"What a mess! I've never thought of divorcing you. I'm just afraid you'll divorce me!" Sheng Chuliang said, "After all, you've never had a good day following me."

Madam Sheng said, "I've gotten used to it a long time ago."

Sheng Chuliang sighed, "I'm just afraid that Chen Lang will end up like me."

"But what you just said makes some sense."

"He should be able to do better than me."

Having said that, Sheng Chuliang paused for a moment, then his tone became incomparably firm: "He will definitely do better than me!"