Patriarch, he doesn't want to take the imperial examinations

Chapter 42

When Mengzhen was preaching in the bamboo forest, not only some of the students who came in together with them came to listen, but also some students from other previous sessions also came to listen to the lecture.

Every time the college examination is taken, the county school will recruit a new batch of scholars. If these scholars fail to pass the provincial examination in the future, they will stay in the school to continue their studies.

If those who failed the provincial examination and the general examination, a small number would stay in the school, so there are not only scholars in the county school, but also a small number of candidates, but very few.

Mengzhen's second sermon was requested by those good students from the past. Only a few days later, these students came to him again.

The average age of these students is above 20 years old, there is little impetuousness on their bodies, and most of them have the appearance of elegant scholars. Because of the Taoism, their actions and demeanors are a little more elegant and free and easy.

If it were in the past, Meng Zhen would definitely accompany them to the bamboo forest and explain scriptures and Taoism to them.But he doesn't want to talk about it now, everything must be done with a degree, and he can't talk about the Tao too frequently. In his previous life, he spent most of his time in retreat and practice, and only occasionally gave a talk when he left the closed door. How can he talk about it every now and then? Don't let him get tired of talking, the listener will get tired of listening first.

Therefore, he rejected the requests of these students on the grounds of throat discomfort.The students were convinced, and some enthusiastic ones even sent him a few packs of clear tea the next morning, asking him to rest more and keep his voice clean. They waited quietly, looking forward to his next lecture.

Not only the students in the school knew clearly about Mengzhen’s preaching, but also the instructors. Their teacher, Instructor Yang, even went to listen to one of his Daoist scriptures.

Speaking of Instructor Yang, he can be regarded as a young man who became famous at a young age. He was admitted as a Jinshi at the age of 17. He was an official in the court for four or five years. Back to Xianghe County, he worked as a civilian instructor in the county school.

Instructor Yang is strict in self-discipline and good at teaching. He has been teaching for thirteen years, and there are many Jinshi under his hands. Among them, two are second in the list, one is Tanhua, and the other is the number one scholar.

Because of this, many students want to be his students. However, there is a rule in the school. Each instructor leads a class for three years, and after three years, he will lead the next batch of students. which one.

The students who were not assigned to Instructor Yang's hands were a little discouraged, but Instructor Yang comforted them. The teacher only played a guiding role. The only thing the students could rely on was themselves for the imperial examinations and even for becoming officials in the future.

Whether it is reading imperial examinations, becoming an official, or teaching and educating people, Yang's ideology always revolves around Confucian culture.

But look at things not just on the surface.Scholar-bureaucrats have been influenced by Confucian culture since they were young, so they should be supporters of Confucianism. However, the development of things cannot always be attributed to one school. While Confucianism is deeply rooted, Taoism and Buddhism also have many supporters.

The so-called "cultivate the mind with Buddhism, govern the body with old age, and govern the world with Confucianism", the three religions of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism have accumulated over a long period of time. mainstream thinking.

Whether they were rural scholar-bureaucrats or officials in the court, many of them were not only supporters of Confucianism, but also advocates of Buddhism and Taoism.Even many scholars regard it as elegant to associate with people from Taoism and Buddhism.

Instructor Yang is also one of them.Instructor Yang is proficient in Confucianism, and also has extensive contact with Taoism and Buddhism. In his opinion, cultural thoughts should flourish, and one family should not be respected. Therefore, when Mengzhen preached to the students in the school, he did not object.

It's just that the bibliographies of the scientific examinations in this dynasty are all related to Confucianism. At this stage, students still mainly focus on Confucianism. It is okay to make adjustments between Taoism and Buddhism, and they must not be obsessed.

For this reason, Instructor Yang talked to Mengzhen in private, and Mengzhen agreed with him. The year after next year will be the year of the township examination, and the students' top priority right now should be to study hard.As for those who want to hear him preach, he can speak to them once a month.

One month passed quickly, the autumn wind swept hard, and the autumn rain fell, and it soon entered November.

In the afternoon of this day, Meng Zhen was sitting in the classroom of Minglun Hall to give a sermon to the students who came to listen to the sermon. At some point, there was a mist of snow in the sky. When everyone came out of Minglun Hall, the ground was covered with a thick layer Layers of white.

"It's not like the catkins are blown up by the wind." A student reached out to catch a piece, admiring the cuteness of the snow.

"It's just right, when you go back, everyone will write a five-character and eight-rhyme test poem with the title of this poem chanted by the student, and get the word "wind", which will be handed in tomorrow morning. "

Instructor Yang came out of the classroom, just in time to hear a student reciting a poem, without even thinking about it, he assigned a homework.The student who recited the poem immediately "snacked" twice, as if he was choking on the cold wind blowing in his face, and the interest in admiring the snow that had just risen was extinguished in an instant.

Soon some students said: "Instructor Yang, we don't have to do it." The implication is that they are not his students, and this poem should be invalid for them.

Instructor Yang said: "All the students in the school have to do it. If you are not a student here, you don't have to." The student was ashamed when he was told that, and he suddenly fell silent, and turned his head to stare at the student who just recited the poem , Complaining silently, you said that when you look at the snow, you can only look at the snow, and recite some poems in a good manner.

The student who recited poems said that he was wronged. This was the first snow this winter, and the snowflakes were flying and dancing. Even a blind man would not make a sound.

"Okay, everyone, let's go home after school. It will be hard to go when the snow is heavy." Instructor Yang said with his hands behind his back, and the students went out the door one after another.

After leaving the county school, the students began to speak loudly, but it was not to complain about the poem that the classmate sang just now. Instructor Yang would often leave homework for them from time to time. Instructor Yang has the habit of asking students to do five-character and eight-rhyme test post poems every festival and scenery, and they will inevitably make poems.

They just rejoice in the first snow this winter, as if it came from the mountains, crystal clear and spotless.

When Meng Zhen stepped on the snow and came home, Wang Xiucai had been waiting for him in his room for a long time.

Wang Xiucai's face was sullen, his temples were stained white with frost, and he looked much older.Meng Zhen once heard Meng Hong say that Wang Xiucai's mother was nearly [-] years old, she died of old age naturally, it was regarded as the end of her life, and in the eyes of the world, it was joy and mourning.

No matter how sad Wang Xiucai was, he shouldn't look like this, Meng Zhen thought to himself, and asked, "It's snowing outside, why is Wang's family here?"

For some reason, Wang Xiucai was a little cautious, reached into his bosom and fumbled for a long time to find a collection, and handed it to Meng Zhen, "I'll come over to see Xin Yu, and I'll give you this by the way."

Wang Xiucai gave Meng Zhen a collection of stereotyped essays. In the past few years, Meng Zhen was wandering in the street accompanied by Meng Hong. During the period, he ran into Wang Xiucai. He happened to have a few articles that didn’t make sense, so he wrote Wang Xiucai Invite the family to discuss together.

Wang Xiucai saw that he was studying hard, so he gave him a stereotyped model essay he had just got from a friend. Meng really didn't want to take away people's love, so he didn't accept it.

Now this stereotyped model essay was handed to him by Wang Xiucai again, Mengzhen was a little puzzled: "Give it to me?"

Wang Xiucai explained: "I don't need it for the time being, and I will be idle at home. It just so happens that you will take the provincial examination next year. I think you will need it, so I brought it for you."

This collection is the painstaking effort of Wang Xiucai's friend for many years. The stereotyped essays above are painstakingly collected by friends. Wang Xiucai originally wanted to rely on it to pass the provincial examination next year, but unfortunately, his mother died of illness suddenly.

In the imperial examination system of this dynasty, if candidates encounter bereavement, they must report to the government and observe filial piety for their parents (mother) for three years. After the expiration of the period, they can take the exam.

Wang Xiucai had just lost his mother, and he would definitely fail the next year's provincial examination, so he gave this collection of stereotyped essays to Mengzhen.

"You don't have to be polite, my in-laws. Just accept it. This collection was compiled and written by my friend. Even the bookstore doesn't sell it. If you read it more often, you may be able to pass the provincial examination next year."

Meng really thought that this collection would be beneficial to him, after thinking about it, he accepted it.

"Alas..." Wang Xiucai sighed to himself, "Three years and three years, how many three years can there be in a life?" He has already participated in the rural examination twice, and the next rural examination will have to wait until three years later. Can you pass the exam?

"Old Meng, is Lao Meng at home?"

When Wang Xiucai was sad and on the verge of defeat, someone suddenly called Meng Zhen at the door. Wang Xiucai didn't know who it was, but as soon as he stood up, the heavy curtain was lifted by a corner.

"Yo, do you have any guests?" When Deng Yuming opened the curtain and came in, he happened to see Wang Xiucai in Mengzhen's room, the smile froze on his face, and he stopped in his tracks.

Seeing the excitement and eagerness on the man's face, Wang Xiucai thought that there must be some urgent or happy event for someone to find Meng Zhen, so he bid farewell to Meng Zhen and left first.

Meng Zhen sent the man out of the courtyard, and when he returned to the house, he couldn't help but think, this Deng Yuming has been here since the day he received the scholar's banquet, and he hasn't seen him since then, why is he suddenly visiting this place.

When Meng Zhen was thinking this way, he lifted the curtain and entered the door.Deng Yuming sat by the charcoal fire and roasted his hands. When he saw him coming back, he raised his eyes and said, "Oh, old Meng, brother, I haven't seen you for many days. I miss you."

Meng Zhen actually disliked this Deng Yuming very much, mainly because what this man said didn't catch his ears, so he ignored his words, and Meng Zhen asked directly: "What are you doing here?"

"Tut tsk tsk..." Deng Yuming clicked a few times, his expression unchanged, "Old Meng, you say you, every time I come, you don't look good, as if I owe you millions. I I came here today to tell you good news, I, Deng Yuming, will be a father again."

After Meng Zhen heard the good news, there was not much change on his face, he just said: "Congratulations!"

Deng Yuming then said: "What you said is so perfunctory, brother, I'm going to be a father, shouldn't you be happy for me, why such a reaction, it's uglier than crying."

Meng sincerely said, you are going to be a father, you are just happy, what does it have to do with me, if you insist on coming to me to say, I will congratulate you and you say I am perfunctory.

It’s not true to say it, and it’s not true if you don’t say it, so he just didn’t say it.Deng Yuming said again: "Old Meng, just now I went to do a fortune-telling and asked me whether this child is a son or a daughter. The fortune-teller told me to find a family with more sons to be lucky, the greater the possibility of having a son. It just so happens that you have many sons in your family, so I came over..."

After Mengzhen heard this, he wanted to give the fortune teller a meal, obviously he was fooling people, Deng Yuming thought that his son was crazy, so he came to him for good luck.

"Then you're rubbing against the wrong person. I'm a rather unlucky person, and I'm afraid I won't bring you good luck."

If he had good luck, he would have already ascended smoothly, so why would he be tortured here.

Deng Yuming laughed and said: "What's wrong with you? You gave birth to five sons and passed the examination as a scholar. This must be the good fortune of several lifetimes of cultivation. I know you want to read now, don't worry, I don't care. Excuse me, I'll bake my hands here, and I'll leave when it's hot."

Meng Zhen took a few glances at him and saw that he was indeed sitting by the fire to enjoy the fire, and there was no more nonsense in his mouth, so he ignored him and sat at the table by himself to write the five-character and eight-rhyme test post poem arranged by Instructor Yang .

He was only halfway through writing this poem, when Deng Yuming suddenly stood up and waved to him: "It's snowing too much, Lao Meng, I'll go first, and I'll come back to your family's good luck some other day. You continue to copy your book, I'm leaving now, you don't have to come out to deliver it."

Meng Zhen looked up, then lowered his head and continued to write the second half of the poem. He had just written a few words when Men Zi suddenly ran in and said, "Master, it's not good. Be careful and fall, and you won’t be able to get up.”

Meng Zhen was startled, quickly put down his pen, and followed the door to go out.

The author says:

I’m a piece of trash. I went to a friend’s house for dinner last night. I couldn’t write anything when I came back. I wrote it again today. I’m not in the mood during the day. At night, I really wrote all night before I wrote it. Huh...

1. Cultivate the mind with Buddhism, govern the body with old age, and govern the world with Confucianism, from Song Xiaozong's "Three Teachings"

2. Weiruo catkins blow up by the wind, from Xie Daoyun

感谢在2022-04-1423:42:40~2022-04-1623:57:57期间为我投出霸王票或灌溉营养液的小天使哦~

Thanks to the little angels who threw mines: Lemangecat and Lishui 1;

Thanks to the little angel of the irrigation nutrient solution: taro paste Bobo｜~ )!! 10 bottles; Boing ice, such as 2 bottles; Lishui 1 bottle;

Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!