Kaifeng Bistro

The discussion outside is getting louder and louder, and they are all talking about the recent examination at the Taixue Hall and the recruitment of talents.Many scholars are eager to try to be admitted to Taixue. They listened to those great Confucians talking about the way of sages, but many people complained that more and more scholars gathered in Kaifeng now. I am afraid that the chances of being admitted are not high.

Tan Zhifeng listened, and suddenly heard a familiar voice: "Zijin, you still decided to stay and take the exam with us? I think you did the right thing. You don't care if you want to find your mother for a year or two. Well, you've been studying hard for so long, why don't you want to try it out! If it wasn't for... If it wasn't for what happened to your father, he might have some connections to send you to the Imperial College, but... now the Imperial College invites you The few direct speakers who came here will also go to Taixue to give lectures, and it will be the same if you can be admitted to Taixue."

Tan Zhifeng took a look outside, and sure enough, it was Chen Qing, Zhou Yanjing, and Lu Yang who came together.It was Lu Yang who spoke just now.Tan Zhifeng concluded from the scorching gossip these days that the Lu family is one of the more prominent aristocratic families today, and the most prominent member of the family is the prime minister and privy envoy Lu Yijian.Although the branch that Lu Yang belonged to was a little distant from Lu Yijian, many members of the Lu family held important positions in the court, and the whole family had great influence in Kaifeng.Lu Yang's grandfather used to be Wailang, a member of the Ministry of Punishment. His father was the eldest son of the family, and he also became a sixth-rank official in the Ministry of Punishment thanks to his shelter.

But nowadays, the imperial court is more and more interested in scientific examinations, and it is often difficult to make breakthroughs in official careers that are only recommended or for Zu Yin to be an official. Therefore, Lu Yang's family attaches great importance to his studies. Although his father's official position is above the seventh rank, He could go directly to the Imperial College to study, but he still entered the Guangwen Institute first, and worked hard to learn how to write articles, because he was afraid that he would become slack when he entered the Imperial College and mixed with those officials' children, and he would not be able to stand out in the imperial examinations. Take the old way of shelter.

"That's right, Zijin, what the director said makes sense." Zhou Yanjing's voice was as generous and gentle as ever: "I advise you, don't worry too much, study hard, I see that the articles you have written these days are better than before. It has made a lot of progress. If you are admitted to Taixue and prepare seriously for a few more months, then Qiuwei High School will be more or less an explanation to your parents and yourself for all your hard work over the years."

"Yeah." Chen Qing nodded, and said, "Thank you two for taking me to study in the academy today. Alas! I also think that after studying for so long, at least I have to take the imperial examination again!"

It seems that Zhou Yanjing and Lu Yang have already comforted him today, or maybe it was the heavy schoolwork at the Guangwen Museum that diverted his attention. They chatted calmly about the few articles they wrote today, as if they had forgotten the matter that they took Tan Zhifeng and the others to escape from Kaifeng that day.As for the rest of the scholars, many of them took out their own poems and strategies to criticize each other, and some even got red-faced because of the discussion, and put the bamboo chopsticks away without even eating.

Seeing this, Tan Zhifeng could only ask Zhuo Zhuo to go out to comfort him. Zhuo Zhuo sat down at the counter, interrupted their argument, chatted and laughed with those people, and soon they put down the articles and books in their hands, and began to behave pleasantly again. Complimented each other with glasses of wine.

Tan Zhifeng's food was ready, so he came out and walked to Chen Qing's table.He wanted to see if Chen Qing was really back to normal, and by the way asked if they had anything to add.Before he opened his mouth to speak, Zhou Yanjing asked him first: "Shopkeeper Tan, I heard that your brother was injured last night, so the door was not opened this morning. How is his condition now, does it matter?"

Tan Zhifeng simply sat down and told them in a low voice about Bai Yutang's provocation last night. It seems that although many people have heard about what happened last night, many people, even the taxis in Wheatstraw Lane Neither of them knew what happened.Tan Zhifeng finally sighed: "The doctor said...fortunately, he was in good health and didn't hit a vital point, otherwise...it must be a disaster."

After hearing this, Lu Yang said dissatisfiedly: "Then Bai Yutang is a man of the world, even though the imperial court granted him an official position, he refused to abide by the rules." He lowered his voice and said mysteriously: "I heard... I just heard from my family... Then A Yuan may have something to do with the King of Xiangyang, but why did Brother Ling provoke him?! Is it because he and A Yuan live in the south of the city and have a good relationship? He is really too vicious and loves to marry Kill them all."

"Oh, that's not it." Zhou Yanjing also sighed: "Perhaps he was killed by the King of Xiangyang and almost lost his life before he did this ruthless attack, but it is too much to hurt brother Xu Xian. By the way, isn't Brother Xu Xian still going to take the Imperial Academy exam? The exam at the Imperial Academy is coming soon, he...his body..."

"The doctor said that after two more days of training, it should be no problem to take the exam, but it may take a while to fully recover." Tan Zhifeng replied according to what they had discussed in advance.As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Yang said: "It's just right, my family hired several teachers for me, and they are all famous in Kaifeng. I think your brother is very knowledgeable. Give me the article he wrote, and I will take it back to you. Let them see, if they are willing to recommend him, it may be easier for him to enter the Imperial Academy! By the way, Zijin, please give me your article too. Brother Zhou said that you have not improved recently. Little, I’ll let the gentlemen see which one of the two of us writes better articles now!” After that, he added half-jokingly: “Zi Jin, you don’t dare to compare with me, do you?”

Tan Zhifeng also smiled and said: "I haven't read many books, and I don't know how well my brother's articles are doing, but I don't think he will refuse Brother Lu's kindness. How about this, I will go and urge him to write in the evening." The two articles are about strategies and theories, let’s see if he can write them.”

Zhou Yanjing, Lu Yang, and Chen Qing all laughed, not only at their table, but also the other scholars sat around in the warm tavern eating delicious meals, and soon forgot the exhaustion of the day and began to relax , You chatted about other things with me.Soon, several other people also remembered the accident last night, and asked about Tan Zhifeng and Xu Gan's condition. Tan Zhifeng got up and answered one by one, and everyone felt very sad——Kaifeng has not been peaceful since last year, and border wars have continued The past two years have been the year of the Great Competition. The capital, which has been more and more prosperous, and the dynasty that has become richer and richer, has been peaceful and prosperous for decades, but it seems that it has reached an uneasy turning point at the turn of winter and spring. superior.

Scholars are always very sensitive to this kind of thing. The few people who were arguing over a piece of Fu sighed: "'The wind and rain are like darkness, and the roosters are crowing!' How are Xianggong, Master Fan, and the soldiers who were sent to help in the war now?! I envy Li Weiming, at least he can do his meager power for the war under Fan Gong's command!"

Zhou Yanjing listened, and persuaded: "Everyone don't have to be so pessimistic. As scholars, even if we go to the frontier, we may not be able to kill a few enemies. It is better to work hard and study hard. If you can pass high school next year, you will be able to enter the court. Share the worries for the Tian family. At that time, we can jointly write a letter to persuade the Tian family to open up their voices, fight hard, recover the lost land in the northwest, and revive the Song Dynasty!"

The people he spoke to cheered up again, Tan Zhifeng specially asked Zhuo Zhuo to go out and drink some light good wine, and the scholars drank happily in the tavern, discussing the strategy of defeating the enemy, and they didn't get up until the middle of the month Say goodbye and leave.

……

"Do you really want to write an article now?" Tan Zhifeng looked at Xu Gan worriedly, and said, "There are still a few days before the opening of the Taixue library, and Lu Yang didn't ask you to give him the article right away."

"They know exactly how my injury is." Xu Gan replied, "They won't let me stay out of the matter in this museum test. If that's the case..."

"Since this is the case, we have to be more active?" Zhuo Zhuo asked while resting his chin, "Uh, my god? Do you want us to polish your ink? I used to envy those who stood behind scholars to help them The maid who grinds ink looks very elegant and intellectual."

"You are really a maidservant." Yi Yi couldn't help but sarcastically said: "Grinding ink is hard work, do it, I promise you will put down the stall in a while."

"You dare to underestimate me?!" Zhuo Zhuo lost his temper, "Mo! Changshang, go get me ink for my sister!"

Seeing that the original serious atmosphere was suddenly disturbed by Zhuo Zhuo, Tan Zhifeng's mind was still echoing with everyone's discussion in the afternoon, and it had already become chaotic. He pondered for a long time before asking Xu Gan: "Then...how to write What?"

Xu Gan said: "I have no way of knowing what they taught before. But I think it should not be too different from the previous dynasty - it is nothing more than poems, prose, and policy theory, and the rest is to study the scriptures: pasting scriptures and ink meanings. Good. From ancient times to the present, the four books and five classics have been tested, and I have memorized them countless times in so many lives, so I can't make mistakes."

Changshang had already brought the inkstone and grinding stick, Zhuo Zhuo happily rolled up his sleeves, grabbed the ink stick and swiped vigorously in the inkstone, saying as he stroked: "Oh, oh, this is probably called red sleeves adding fragrance, right? "

Xu Yan sat silently at the table, while Tan Zhifeng and Yi Yi watched Zhuo Zhuo tirelessly tossing and turning.Yi Yi whispered to Tan Zhifeng, "Do you think they will really let Xu Yan into the examination room?"

"I don't know." Tan Zhifeng sighed: "What if he doesn't go?"

Yi Yi stopped talking, Tan Zhifeng finally couldn't stand it anymore, he said to Zhuo Zhuo: "Zhuo Zhuo...have you never seen how Yi Yi grinds ink to keep accounts? You need to add some water."

Zhuozhuo looked suddenly enlightened, and ran to the back to add half of the inkstone water. This time, just as he threw the ink stick in, a puddle of water splashed on Changshang's face. Changshang was startled, and it was still black Suddenly, he didn't dare to complain to Zhuo Zhuo, so he could only wash his face at the back with a sad face.