The spring rain is continuous, and the drizzle is like silk.

In a delicate private courtyard somewhere in the inner city of Beijing, several scholars gathered in the lobby to chant poems and sit separately, staggered and staggered, and the atmosphere was warm. Each person is accompanied by a beautiful woman with outstanding appearance.

Sitting in the first seat was a man of about thirty or forty years of age, dressed in a Confucian robe, with a handsome countenance, who laughed loudly from time to time in a dissolute manner.

Dressed in a white shirt and with a jade face, Gongsun Liang sat in the third position on the right side, talking freely with friends and beauties.

…

…

The next morning, the spring rain continued. Jia Huan and Gongsun Liang, who was full of spring breeze, hired a carriage in the carriage and horse shop and returned to Wendao Academy. Gongsun Liang was in a very good mood, talking and laughing all the way, which made people feel like a spring breeze.

Jia Huan thought that Gongsun Liang was very excited in the Teaching Workshop Division last night, so he was in a good mood and smiled. He was sad last night, and he could do it occasionally. People always have to look forward.

If you take life seriously, life will take you seriously.

After returning to the academy, Jia Huan immediately resumed his tense life at three points and one line, studying hard to prepare for the exam. Under the guidance of Ye Jiaolang, he wrote three eight-strand essays every day, and actively prepared for the Wanping County County Examination on the 26th.

On the 15th, the college took the exam. Jia Huan's ranking rose to 15th in Class A. The progress is significant. His level of writing is improving by leaps and bounds. The top 20 children in Class A have written articles on craftsmanship for at least half a year.

As the exam date approaches, the learning atmosphere in the college is getting stronger and stronger. Jia Huan muttered a little in his heart: he won the title of head of the hospital, but he had not followed the mountain chief Zhang Anbo to see the magistrate of Wanping County. When the time comes to take the exam, he can't always write the words "Wendao Academy Head Jia Huan", right?

On the morning of the 17th, the sky was sunny and windless. Ye Jiaolang went out to visit friends. Self-study in Class A. Jia Huan was picking out words in the lecture hall and writing eight strands with great effort, when the mountain chief Zhang Anbo sent Gongsun Liang to inform him that the Wanping County Early Spring Literary Meeting was scheduled for two days later.

Jia Huan quietly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, and finally waited.

With his current level of eight-strand literature, it is very difficult to pass the Wanping County County Examination. Jingshi is a place where humanities gather. There is no shortage of excellent children. Luo Jiaolang said bluntly: If he can pass, he will call himself "sir".

Jia Huan is now pointing to leave an impression in front of Zhao Junbo, the county magistrate of Wanping County and the chief examiner of the county exam, so as to pass the county exam.

…

…

It is about 20 miles east from Wendao Academy, passing through Dongzhuang Town, Longquan Town, and Woniu Town to Xiangshan. After deviating from the official road into Beijing, the spacious loess avenue is flanked by large manors.

On both sides of the road are trees such as aspen, metasequoia, and sycamore. Fence walls, villages, farmers, buffalo, fields, chickens and ducks, build a beautiful picture of early spring.

Jia Huan and Gongsun Liang sat in the carriage of the mountain chief Zhang Anbo, enjoying the beautiful scenery in front of them through the window of the carriage.

The carriage of the mountain chief Zhang Anbo is luxurious and spacious. He was sitting on the soft couch, sometimes taking a sip of tea, comfortable and comfortable. Dressed in a light gray crane, with a kind smile, "Come here in early spring every year, the scenery is pleasant every year." Let me have the meaning of returning to the old spring forest. Do you have a good work? ”

Gongsun Liang was extremely relaxed in front of the teacher, and quipped: "Jia Qingsong is in front of him, and it is better for the disciple to hide his ugliness." ”

Jia Huan was suddenly a little embarrassed, searched his intestines and scraped his stomach for a long time, but he really didn't expect the right poems to copy, and said guiltily: "Mountain chief, the disciple is ashamed, he is not good at idyllic poetry." I only prepared a song for today's literary meeting. ”

The mountain chief asked this, in fact, it meant closeness. Of course, he was willing to copy a poem. But I really can't find a good idyll.

Hearing Jia Huan's answer, Gongsun Liang was a little nervous immediately. His teacher hated the fact that people were utilitarian. To be a man and do things, you can do it as a gentleman. Jia Huan said this, it is really a bit taboo.

But...

Mountain Chief Zhang Anbo smiled, "It's okay. The article is natural, and the good sentence is occasional. ”

Gongsun Liang quietly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. He still admires Jia Huan, a talented, talkative, and well-behaved little junior brother.

Gongsun Liang didn't know that the mountain chief Zhang Anbo had heard Ye Jiaolang say about Jia Huan: his mother didn't like it, and his concubine was hard. Be a little more tolerant of Jia Huan's utilitarianism. The mountain chief is a generous elder.

…

…

Gossiping, the carriage made it in and out of the fine manor. Similar to a modern farmhouse holiday villa. Pavilions loom in the mountains and forests. A servant had already come up to lead him and led Zhang Anbo, Gongsun Liang, and Jia Huan to a palatial living room. There are already several people here. They are all scribes' attire.

Zhang Anbo smiled and greeted the host and guests, and then sat down on the first side of the case on the right. Zhao Zhixian sat on the first side of the case on the left. The owner in the center is a handsome thirty-four-year-old man who occasionally laughs. Very distinctive.

Today's meeting adopts a separate meal system. In the middle of the living room, there is a space for singing and dancing. The guests were seated on three sides.

Jia Huan and Gongsun Liang stood half a meter behind the mountain chief Zhang Anbo. Not eligible. It's kind of here to broaden your knowledge. Of course, if asked, you can answer it. At the end of the meeting, the county magistrate will ask the names of the students and test the school's knowledge. At this time, there are only six days before the county test, and what this means is self-evident:

Escort students of the college. The magistrate interviewed in advance.

After Jia Huan and Gongsun Liang stood still, another old man with Eguanbo came in with two young scholars. There was a flurry of greetings in the living room.

Gongsun Liang took the opportunity to whisper: "This is Yang Shanchang of Shuanghe Academy. The round-faced older gentleman is called Wang Zixuan, and I don't know the young white-faced gentleman. Shuang Hor College does not have a good relationship with our college. ”

"Senior Brother Gongsun, why is this?"

"There are three academies in Wanping County: Wendao Academy, Baitan Academy, and Shuanghe Academy. It was maintained by donations from the squires and wealthy families in the county. Whoever gets more silver, the other two get less. The Baitan Academy is relatively small, with only about 30 people. The overhead is small, and there is no such concern. ”

Jia Huan understood as soon as he heard it, and nodded lightly. I actually sighed a little in my heart. Sponsoring is a tough technical job.

Jia Huanzheng sighed, the literary meeting had already begun.

First of all, a team of eight beautiful singers performed a dance. The beauty of the main dance in the middle is excellent. The appearance is clear and beautiful, and the talent is beautiful. The eyes are flowing and the face is intimidating. When dancing, the long sleeves are fluttering, and the posture is graceful. The white clothes are fluttering, like cranes dancing.

Even a rookie like Jia Huan, who doesn't know how to sing and dance, knows that she dances well. The small bunting that killed later generations, Korean girl groups, etc. Gongsun Liang couldn't take his eyes off it, and exclaimed: "The poetry girl is worthy of being the Oiran of the capital." ”

After singing and dancing, the praise was endless. The singers then retreated. The members of the literary assembly began to talk casually, expressing their opinions.

An hour later, the meeting came to an end. Zhao County ordered to start the school entrance examination. The three mountain chiefs all smiled with twisted beards. The first to take the exam was a student from Baitan Academy.

Zhao Xian Ling took a few words of scripture and righteousness, and then tested a few pairs, and said with a smile: "A good disciple of Professor He." ”

He Shanchang of Baitan Academy smiled and drank a cup with Zhao Xianling. It's all in plain sight.

Zhao Xian Ling then set his eyes on Wendao Academy. Mountain Chief Zhang Anbo introduced Jia Huan to Zhao County Order: "This is the head of this hospital, Jia Huan. "With his status as a veteran jinshi, it is naturally inconvenient to sell and boast.

Jia Huan walked to the middle of the living room like a talented scholar, bowed and saluted, and said loudly: "Jia Huan, a schoolboy under his rule, has seen his old parents. "Old parents are an honorific title for the prefectural order.

Looking at the young Jia Huan, Zhao Xianling's gaze was slightly stagnant, and he picked up the teacup without moving.

Da Zhou learned the lessons of the power ministers of the previous Ming Dynasty, and Shilin did not have the atmosphere of praising prodigies, but it was precisely the popular suppression of prodigies. The famous ministers of the Ming Dynasty were basically prodigies. For example: Yang Tinghe, Yan Song, Zhang Juzheng.

Zhao County Ling is a square person, and when he saw Jia Huan's age, he was reluctant to ask him to pass the county test.

Seeing Zhao County Ling drinking tea, Yang Shanchang, who was sitting in second place on the left, sneered and said, "Brother Zhang, why did you let this child participate in the county exam this year?" Your academy is really in decline, last year's eldest disciple Gongsun Liang did not pass the government examination, and this time the head of the academy even let the boy win the championship. ”

Gongsun Liang, who was standing behind Zhang Anbo, exposed his shortcomings in public, and his face turned red. The right hand is clenched into a fist. The surname is Yang! Wendao Academy and Shuanghe Academy are old rivals, and it is normal to ridicule him. But he felt bad and angry!

Zhang Anbo smiled faintly, and shot back strongly: "Brother Yang is talented, and he can make his disciple and Jia Bi test." ”

He Shanchang of Baitan Academy shook his head lightly and said, "Brother Zhang, what you are doing is a little inappropriate. This is the case today. Even if the disciples are highly talented, it is only in vain to make the Ming Mansion difficult. "Mingfu is another name for the county order.

Yang Shanchang of Shuanghe Academy chuckled and said, "I don't know what kind of talent the disciple has? makes Brother Zhang so confident. If Brother Zhang wants to create a prodigy, I think it's better to be free. It's just a façade. Ha! "Zhang Anbo is really stupid.

The mountain chiefs of the two academies blamed at the same time, and the pressure was very high.

Jia Huan's heart sank slightly. Just now, Zhao Xianling just had a bad impression of him. And the two mountain chiefs are now helping. Zhao County's order as long as he pushes the boat down the river..., he is afraid that he will not be able to pass the county test. It's a realm of no return!

He meowed.

Before Jia Huan's meeting, he definitely didn't expect that the meeting would become such a situation. He just prepared a poem. There were no plans at all. But if he doesn't fight, if he doesn't discern, the opportunity will flow away from him. This is absolutely intolerable.

Jia Huan took a deep breath, and was about to speak, when he was fighting, the middle-aged man sitting in the middle of the gorgeous living room suddenly asked: "The boy in the hall is Jia Huan and Jia Qingsong who want to ask Jiang Mei how much weight he has lost?" ”

Jia Huan seized the opportunity and said loudly: "Exactly! ”

In a word. A low exclamation rang out in the living room. He Shanchang of Baitan Academy, Yang Shanchang of Shuanghe Academy, and the four disciples they brought with each other all had shocked expressions on their faces.

At present, there are three poems by Jia Huan circulating in the capital: On Poetry, Yong Begonia, and Huanxi Sha - I want to ask Jiang Mei how much she is thin. Famous. But no one associated Jia Huan with the young man in front of him.

Yang Shanchang of Shuanghe Academy had a slightly gloomy face. He also said just now that Jia Huan has nothing to show for himself, and he is not worthy of his name. It's really... Slap in the face.

But no one paid attention to his feelings.

The middle-aged man stroked his palms and laughed, a little profligate, and said, "Hurry." I have heard the name of Jia Qingsong for a long time, and his poetry can be compared to Luo and Wang in the early Tang Dynasty. It's a great pleasure to see you today. Come on, add a seat, and invite Jia Qingsong to take a seat. ”

And servants came up and added tables and couches; The maid sets up fine porcelain tableware. Chopsticks, plates, plates, bowls, cups, cups, etc.

That's a good assist. But Jia Huan was a little confused. With his mind turning, he saluted his master and refused: "Everyone here is my division commander, Jia Huan doesn't dare to take a seat." I hope you will forgive me! ”

The middle-aged man laughed and praised: "Sure enough, he respects the teacher and has a good character." As he spoke, he turned his head to Zhao County, who was sitting on the left, and said: "Zhao Daling, this son is a great talent, and he can be the head of the trial case in Jinke County." ”

The Great Order is still another name for the prefectural order. A wry smile appeared on Zhao Xianling's serious face. Before he could speak, the white-faced young man behind Yang Shanchang of Shuanghe Academy raised his head and said in a loud voice: "Mr. Longjiang, Tong Sheng Zhang is not talented, and he is willing to try it with Jia Bi." ”

said, looking at Jia Huan, "Friend Jia, everyone in the world says that you have a poetic talent, but in my opinion, you are just a vain name." If you want to ask Jiang Mei how thin she is, how can you write such a good sentence at your age? Today, I'm going to expose your true colors of deception. Do you dare to compete with me on the spot? ”

The white-faced young man Zhang Luo raised his chin slightly and looked at Jia Huan.