"Zhang Xuan! Are you Zhang Xuan? Xu Jin couldn't help but blurt out.

Fei Maozhong glanced at Xu Jin strangely, and the old man was also slightly stunned, and nodded: "It's Zhang Xuan below, the words are used, Xu Jieyuan has heard of it?" ”

Xu Jin realized that he was a little out of shape, and said with a smile: "It turned out to be Brother Zhang, look up for a long time!" ”

Although Xu Jin did not seek to understand the history of his previous life, he still had an impression of the first auxiliary ministers such as Li Dongyang, Yang Tinghe, Zhang Xuan, Yan Chong, Xu Jie, and Zhang Juzheng, and Zhang Xuan was one of the important ministers in the early years of Jiajing.

"In the next is also the name of Xu Xie Yuan who has been admired for a long time!" Zhang Xuan smiled wryly.

Zhang Xuan has not yet made a career now, and he was born in cloth, and he was raised at the age of 24, but since then, he has entered Beijing for seven times to participate in the examination, and he has been 46 years old this year, and this is the eighth time he has entered Beijing to participate in the examination. Therefore, Zhang Sheng is now just one of the many unknown people, but Xu Jin said that he has admired the name for a long time, and even Zhang Xuan himself feels a little embarrassed.

Fortunately, the two didn't know each other before, and Xu Jin's tone of speech was very "sincere", otherwise Zhang Xuan would have thought that the other party was saying the opposite to sarcastically mock himself.

Xu Jin smiled and introduced: "Introduce to Brother Zhang, this is a fellow villager, Fei Maozhong, Jiangxi Lead Mountain, and the people are affected!" ”

The son of Fei Ge's hometown, Zhang Xuan naturally heard about it, and hurriedly said, "Zhang Xuan has seen Brother Fei!" ”

"Brother Zhang is polite!" Fei Maozhong returned the courtesy, and it always felt strange to be called "brother" by a forty or fifty-year-old man.

Zhang Xuan smiled and complimented: "Both of them are young and handsome, and they have admired their names for a long time. Xu Jieyuan's poems are superb, and the song "Linjiang Immortal" is even more resounding through the ages, and he admires it a lot. If Xu Jieyuan doesn't mind, I want to visit you one day, learn poetry from each other, and hope that Xu Jieyuan will give me more advice! ”

Literati visit each other and "tout" each other with their own proud works, which is also a way to gain fame. Of course, a better way is to participate in the literary meeting, or to visit the dignitaries with the works, if you can get the appreciation of the dignitaries and nobles, and praise a few words in the upper circles, the fame will naturally come up, and then you can take a look at the main examiner and increase the impression score.

This kind of cheating method of visiting dignitaries with works is called Xingjuan, and the famous Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi also played this hand. When Bai Juyi went to Chang'an to take the exam, he was still a lonely and unknown small character, so he took his work "Farewell to the Ancient Grass" and visited the well-known "big guy" in the literary world at that time. After listening to Bai Juyi's name, he teased: "Chang'an is expensive, and it's not easy to live in a big place!" ”

However, when he read Bai Juyi's poem "Leaving the Grass on the Plain", he immediately changed his words: "There is a sentence like this, what is the difficulty of living in the world? ”

Since then, Bai Juyi has become famous, and he has also successfully won the Jinshi.

Zhang Xuan participated in the examination seven times in a row and fell to Sun Shan, and now he is the uncle of Benwu, a little disheartened, but he is not willing to spend the rest of his life in mediocrity, so he has the heart to try again, and participates in the examination for the eighth time.

The so-called "nominal vacancy" is to give up and continue to participate in the examination, queue up in the official department, wait for the ministry to arrange a position for himself, and go there to serve wherever there is a post in the country, there is no room for his own choice, often wait for several years before it can be his turn, and most of the positions he waits for are small officials below the county level, which can be mixed with food and clothing, but it is difficult to make a big difference.

At an advanced age like Zhang Xuan, the reaction of the brain is definitely not as good as that of young people, and with the "old Zhuhuang", it is impossible to participate in the literary meeting to be in the limelight and make a name for himself. As for the line scrolls? The imperial examination system of the Ming Dynasty is different from that of the Tang and Song dynasties, and the role of the scroll is not great, not to mention those high-ranking officials and nobles, I am afraid that few of them have the leisure to receive a shabby son who has fallen seven times.

Because of this, Zhang Xuan can only rely on visiting fellow scholars everywhere if he wants to become famous, and Xu Jin is undoubtedly a very ideal visitor.

Xu Jin's poems are famous, Fei Ge's protégé, Xie Yuan, who was hand-picked by the Son of Heaven, even won the four yuan in two years, and also participated in the rebellion of King Ning in Pingding, and he was full of dazzling halos. It can be said that it is the most famous move of this year, and there is no one.

When he signed up just now, Zhang Xuan stole a glance at Xu Jin's registration form and found that this young man was actually Xu Siyuan, who was now famous, so he chased him out after filling out the registration form.

And Xu Jin's unexpected "enthusiasm" made Zhang Zhang, who had been hit hard in the science field, surprised and delighted, so he proposed to bring his works to visit and learn.

"I don't dare to give advice, but it's not impossible to exchange and discuss knowledge with each other, it's better to choose a day than to hit the day, what does Brother Zhang think now?" Xu Jin smiled. The person in front of him is the future head of the cabinet, and Xu Jin naturally doesn't mind making friends.

Zhang Xuan said happily: "Then dare to be kind, Brother Xu lives in Jiangxi Hall?" I'll pay a visit when I get ready next time. ”

Xu Jin shook his head and said that he did not live in the Jiangxi Guild Hall, and told him his current address, and Zhang Xuan wrote it down and left in high spirits, probably going back to his residence to get his poetry and literary works.

Xu Jin and Fei Maozhong walked out of the Liubu compound, Er Niu and Mingyan were waiting by the carriage, the two got on the horse, Fei Maozhong couldn't help but ask: "Is this Zhang Xuan very famous?" Why does Ziqian look at this person differently? ”

Xu Jin smiled and said: "Minshou, let's make a bet, this person can be in high school today!" ”

Lieutenant General Fei Mao was suspicious, that Zhang Xuan looked almost fifty years old, he had never passed the exam at such an age, it can be seen that the talent in the womb is limited, although the imperial examination also talks about luck, but it mainly depends on real talent and real learning. What's more, one blow, then decline, three and exhaustion, three times if you don't win, it's basically no play, the older you are, the more slim the possibility of high school.

However, Fei Maozhong also knew that Xu Jin would not be untargeted, maybe this Zhang Xuan really had something outstanding, but he couldn't see it, so he smiled and said: "The bet is free, if Ziqian can pinch it, it will be calculated, but it will be calculated whether I can win this course." ”

"Naturally, it can be hit, and it is also a three-ding armor!" Xu Jin said with a smile.

The so-called Sanding A is the top three, champion, list, and flower.

Fei Maozhong said with a smile: "Cheng Ziqian has said auspiciously! ”

Fei Maozhong obviously only thought Xu Jin was joking, after all, there were as many as 3,000 people in the country, and in the end, only about 300 jinshi were admitted, so it was good to be able to win, he didn't dare to expect Sandingjia.

However, Xu Jin is serious, the four brothers of the Fei family, father and son, were officials in the same dynasty in the early years of Jiajing, which became a good story, so Fei Maozhong and Fei Maoxian are sure, it seems that Fei Maozhong is still Tanhua and the first.

Xu Jin took Fei Maozhong back to the house, and as soon as he sat down in the front living room, Xiao Wan turned out from behind the screen like a happy little butterfly: "Xianggong...... Oh, Fei Ergongzi is here. ”

Xie Xiaowan's face was slightly red, and she hurriedly gave a gift, this girl only had a husband and wife with Xu Jin not long ago, and it was when she was in love with each other, when she heard that Xianggong was back, she ran out happily.

Fei Maozhong hurriedly got up and saluted: "Good afternoon, Mrs. Xu!" ”

Xu Jin quipped: "It's only been a long time since I saw her, and the lady wants to be married?" ”

Xie Xiaowan suddenly blushed, glanced at her and said, "It's not!" ”

Since this Nizi was developed by someone, her body has become obviously plump and round, and she has become more and more feminine, if it weren't for the presence of outsiders, Xu Jin couldn't help but pull this girl into her arms and cast her claws.

Although Fei Maozhong has long been accustomed to Xu Jin's "casualness", he is still a little embarrassed to watch the little couple show affection at this time.

After Xie Xiaowan was teased, she stopped in the hall for a while and fled back to the backyard, leaving Yue'er to wait for tea in the hall.

Xu Jin and Fei Maozhong chatted for about half an hour, and Zhang Xuan really came to the door, with a retinue in his thirties and forties.

Xu Jin beckoned Zhang Xuan to sit down, Yue'er served fragrant tea, and chatted with each other. Zhang Xuan took out the poems and essays he made on weekdays and asked Xu Jin and Fei Mao to "axe".

Zhang Xuan's scientific field is unfavorable, and he is nearly fifty years old, but he does not have the pedantic bookish atmosphere of a scholar, he speaks and does things smoothly and skillfully, and his posture is also very low.

Xu Jin looked at Zhang Zhang's poems and found that this person's poems were passable, but he lacked the kind of aura that made people shine, which shows that it is not accidental that he failed the exam at this age. However, hitting people does not slap their faces, and exposing people does not expose their shortcomings, so Xu Jin picked a few advantages and complimented a few words, and pointed out some innocuous mistakes.

When people interact with each other, avoid making superficial and deep statements, and when we meet for the first time, we will mercilessly criticize the shortcomings of others, and most of these friends will not be able to do it.

Fei Maozhong also casually complimented Zhang Xuan after reading Zhang Xuan's poems, but he was obviously not optimistic about this person by looking at his expression.

Zhang Xuan was also self-aware, but he didn't continue to talk about his poems, and said with a smile: "Can you enjoy Brother Xu's masterpieces?" ”

Xu Jin asked Dabao to go to the study to take out the articles he had made during this time, Zhang Xuan took them and read them, both ashamed and admired, no wonder this son could connect the three yuan, and said tentatively: "Xu Jieyuan, the titles of these articles are from the hands of Fei Ge Lao?" ”

Xu Jin nodded and said, "Yes!" ”

Zhang Xuan couldn't help but be overjoyed and said, "Can you go back to a copy of these questions?" ”

Fei Hong is the top student in the imperial examination, Xu Jin is also the top student in the imperial examination, and both the master and apprentice are both test masters, so Zhang Xuan feels that it is necessary to study it, and it may be beneficial.

Xu Jin naturally didn't care, nodded and said, "It's all right!" ”

Zhang Xuan thanked him repeatedly, immediately took out his pen and ink, copied the title of the eight-strand article prepared by Fei Hong for Xu Jin, and prepared to take it back to practice. Hey, Zhang Sheng earned it this time, and it was because of today's move that he finally got his wish after failing the exam seven times, and since then he has reversed his fate and reached the pinnacle of his life.

While Zhang Xuan was transcribing the question, there was a knock on the courtyard door, and Er Niu ran to open the door, and after a while, he brought in a man who looked like a housekeeper.

"Master, this person said that Wei Guogong sent you an invitation!" Two cows buzzed to report.

As soon as these words came out, Zhang Xuan, who was transcribing, stopped his pen and looked up in surprise. The man who looked like a family man glanced at everyone in the hall, his eyes fell on Xu Jin, and he said without humility or arrogance: "Presumably, this little Langjun is Xu Siyuan!" ”

is the so-called three-rank official in front of the prime minister, this subordinate of the Wei State Mansion also has a sense of arrogance, and he has no stage fright in front of several people.

Xu Jin stood up calmly and said, "It's Xu Jin down there!" ”

Jiading handed over a beautifully made invitation with both hands and said: "Grandpa Guo has heard of Xu Gongzi's talent and fame, and specially invited Xu Gongzi to participate in the Spring Festival of Shangyuan Festival. ”

Xu Jin took the invitation casually, nodded and said, "Thank you for the invitation of Wei Guogong, Yue'er, give a reward!" ”

Yue'er hurriedly took out a piece of broken silver, estimated to be nearly one or two pieces of silver, and the famous family of the Duke of Wei accepted the reward, and immediately smiled on his face, thanked him repeatedly, and then withdrew.

Zhang Xuan looked at the exquisite invitation in Xu Jin's hand, his eyes were full of envy, even Fei Maozhong was a little undecided, and said with a wry smile: "Ziqian just came to the capital and received an invitation from Wei Guogong, I don't know how those people who sharpened their heads to participate in the cultural meeting felt after knowing it?" ”

"If you want to participate, take it!" Xu Jin generously handed the invitation to Fei Maozhong, others will flock to the so-called spring appreciation text, but Xu Jin is not very cold, it is better to write a few more articles if he has time.

Fei Maozhong hurriedly waved his hand and said: "How can this be made, Wei Guogong invited you and not me, if Ziqian didn't want to go, he should clearly refuse just now, if he accepted the invitation, it would not be good." ”

Xu Jin was right when he thought about it, this Wei Guogong was not small, but it was not easy to offend, so he handed the invitation to Yue'er and asked her to put it away.

Zhang Xuan couldn't help but secretly speak, others wanted to get Wei Guogong's Spring Festival Appreciation Literature to ask for advice, this one is good, he doesn't care at all!

After Zhang Xuan finished transcribing the topic, they chatted with each other for a while, and in the evening, Zhang Xuan said goodbye and left, but Fei Maozhong stayed for dinner.

……

As night falls, fine snowflakes fall like elves.

There are three candles lit in the study, Xu Jin is sitting behind the desk, holding a pink letterhead in his hand and reading it, this is a letter brought by Ruyi Tuo Fei Mao, the content of the letter is very simple, there is only one poem: red beans are born in the south, and a few branches are sent in spring. May you pick more, this thing is the most lovely.

Xu Jin took out a delicate mandarin duck sachet from the envelope, poured out a red bean from it, put it under his nose and smelled it, only to feel the fragrance, and couldn't help but think of Ruyi's pretty face.

If you want to ask if the return date is not due, the night rain in Bashan rises in the autumn pool.

He cut the candles in the west window together, but when it rained at night in Bashan.

Xu Jin sighed lightly, it was more than four months since he said goodbye in a hurry last year, and he would really understand that in the backward traffic situation in ancient times, the distance could be so far away, no wonder the ancient poets had endless sorrows and farewells.

Xu Jin calmed down his emotions, picked up his pen and wrote an affectionate reply to Ruyi, and then began to enter the question sea mode. During the day today, Fei Maozhong not only gave Xu Jin Ruyi a letter, but also dozens of questions on the Four Books and Five Classics that Fei Shi later formulated.

When he parted last year, he promised Ruyi to go back to meet her in August, Xu Jin didn't want to break his promise and fatten himself, he wanted to do his best to get the Jinshi fame, of course, it would be better if it was the champion.

……

Leadshan County, the middle courtyard of Feijiazhuang Courtyard.

The spring is cold, the cold plum in the courtyard is in full bloom, and a few peach and plum trees have also bloomed sporadically.

In a few days, it will be the Shangyuan Festival celebrated by the whole country, and the ladies of the boudoir can also go out to enjoy the lanterns generously.

In the boudoir, Fei Xiaoyu was sitting on the couch playing chess with her sister Fei Ruyi, one foot playfully hanging on the edge of the couch and dangling, obviously in a very good mood, the Shangyuan Festival is coming soon, and then you can run out to play for a day in the open.

Fei Ruyi, on the opposite side, was dressed in a pear-white cardigan skirt, which was lined with white skin and snow, sitting cross-legged quietly, faint from the dust, as beautiful as a hibiscus out of the water.

Next to the coffee table opposite the small couch, Fei Jixiang was wearing a goose-yellow Luo skirt, holding a sketching easel in front of him, holding a charcoal pen and drawing seriously, and the scene of Fei Ruyi and Fei Xiaoyu playing on rice paper was already on the paper. Fei Ruyi's demure and graceful, Fei Xiaoyu's liveliness and playfulness are all vividly portrayed, if Xu Jin sees it at this time, he will definitely be surprised, this level has surpassed his own teacher!

At this time, a handsome scholar raised the curtain and walked in, it was Fei Maoxian.

"You know you're all here!" Fei Maoxian walked behind Fei Jixiang with a smile, glanced at the drawing paper and praised: "The level of the fourth sister's sketch has grown more and more, I'm afraid that Ziqian is not as good as it." ”

Fei Jixiang gently brushed the hair around his ears and chuckled: "Big brother, how can people be so powerful, Xu Gongzi is someone's teacher." ”

"What about the teacher, haven't you heard that the blue is better than the blue, I also think that the fourth sister is better than Xu Jin...... Ahem, a little, a little! When Fei Xiaoyu saw the third sister Fei Ruyi angry, she immediately stuck out her tongue and changed her mouth.

Fei Maoxian was a little amused, took out a letter from his arms and said, "Third sister, Ziqian's letter to you." ”

Fei Ruyi's beautiful eyes lit up, and he immediately stood up and put on the clogs, and happily took the letter from Fei Maozhong's hand, only to see that the envelope read: Brother Fei Maoxian opened it personally, and the beautiful italics on his hand were undoubtedly Xu Jin's handwriting.

Naturally, the girl's name cannot be written on the envelope at will, so the cover of this letter has Fei Maoxian's name on it, but the letter inside is written by Xu Jin to Fei Ruyi.

"Hee-hee, what's written in the letter...... Hey, the third sister is so stingy! Fei Xiaoyu was very gossipy and came over to take a peek, but as a result, Fei Ruyi glanced at her sister and hid aside with the letter.

This letter was written by Xu Jin when he was temporarily living in Baoding last year, and it was sent to Leadshan County, Jiangxi Province after nearly two months.

Fei Ruyi couldn't help but show worry after reading the letter, Sister Xiaowan was sick, more than two months have passed, I don't know if Sister Xiaowan's illness has recovered, has Xu Lang arrived in the capital at this moment?

Fei Jixiang saw that his sister was worried after reading the letter, and couldn't help asking, "Third sister, what happened?" ”

Fei Ruyi said worriedly: "Sister Xiaowan is sick, the north is cold, Xu Lang is weak, I am worried that he is also sick." ”

Fei Maoxian comforted: "Third sister, don't worry, Ziqian has always been stable and knows how to take care of Mrs. Xu and herself." Didn't Ziqian say in the letter that Mrs. Xu's illness had improved, and also said that she would stay in Baoding temporarily and enter Beijing after the year, and it was estimated that it should be no problem. ”

Fei Xiaoyu nodded and agreed: "Then it must be fine, Xu Jin's guy runs circles every morning to exercise, and his body is strong, third sister, you just wait for him to come to our house in August to propose marriage." ”

Fei Ruyi's face turned red, expectant and shy!

Fei Jixiang chuckled and said: "If Gongzi Xu wins the Jinshi, it is okay, if Sun Shan comes back in disgrace, we don't agree to marry the third sister and let him come back in the next exam." ”

Fei Ruyi said angrily: "Fourth sister, you are also making fun of me, you are still worried about whether Wei Yuanzheng can pass the exam!" ”

Fei Jixiang's face turned red, and he said unnaturally: "He's ...... Whether he passes the test or not, what's the matter with me! ”

The Wei family is also one of the big families in Shangrao County, Wei Yang's uncle is currently the right attendant of the Ministry of Industry, and Wei Yang's father is also a scholar in Nanjing, and his family background is not much worse than the Fei family, and someone from the Wei family came to visit the Fei family before the year, and it seems that he intends to match Wei Yang and Fei Jixiang. Of course, the two sides are only in the tentative stage, and there is no matter of the ten strokes, but the rumors of this matter have spread all over the Fei family's back house.

Fei Jixiang has no special feelings about this, the education she has received since she was a child is three from four virtues, marriage is the name of her parents, and the words of the matchmaker, so if her parents decide to marry the Wei family, they will marry her. As for that Wei Yang, Fei Jixiang has also seen it, and his character and appearance are obviously the best choices, however, Fei Jixiang has a faint sense of amazement in his heart.

"Alas, the third sister and the fourth sister are going to get married, and I will be the only one left in the future, it's so unfair, why do women have to marry, and men don't have to marry!" Fei Xiaoyu said indignantly, and her originally good mood became depressed in vain.

Fei Maoxian couldn't help crying and laughing: "Fifth sister, it's better to say less of your deviant words in the future, if your father hears it, he can't say that he will lock you up." ”

Fei Xiaoyu pouted and said: "People are not afraid, if only I could be as high as Huang Rong and roam the rivers and lakes freely, maybe I can also meet my own brother Jing!" ”

Fei Ruyi sneered: "Little fool, you still take what Xu Lang wrote, how can there be such a powerful kung fu in this world!" ”

Fei Maoxian smiled bitterly and shook his head, it seems that Nizi can't be allowed to read miscellaneous books in the future, especially Ziqian's martial arts, which are simply poisoning the girl's mind.