As spring approaches, many scholars from all over the country go to Beijing to take the exam, either to make a name for themselves, to show off their talents, or to prove their knowledge. They often compete with humanities, essays, six arts, poems, and couplets at gathering places.
, between the battle of victory and defeat, there is always a lot of excitement to watch. Updates
At this time, on the street of the club, not far in front of Zhao Junchen, there was a simple martial arts arena, which was just made up of a few tables.
Next to the ring stands a bamboo pole, with a white cloth three feet long and two feet wide hanging on it, with the word "Dou Lian" written on it.
Obviously, this is an arena for invitations to fight couplets.
However, in the arena at this time, a young man who looked like the leader of the arena was sitting there. His eyes were dim and empty, and his face was gray and despairing. He seemed to have been hit hard, but for some reason he was wearing a white mourning dress and looked extremely...
garish.
Beside him, several other readers were softly comforting.
At the same time, a middle-aged scribe wearing a moon-white Confucian attire seemed to be about to leave the ring. The mocking and sarcastic sneer seemed to be etched on his face, making people look annoying, but he was blocked by a young student.
pace.
"Xiao Wenxuan, you go too far to bully others. Do you really think we can't defeat you?"
The young man pointed his finger at the middle-aged scribe, his eyes were fierce, his face was full of anger, and he shouted loudly.
The middle-aged scribe still sneered, not afraid, glanced at the young man in front of him, and asked: "Oh? Is it possible that you won this gambling battle? Isn't it true that you can't beat me? You people,
If you are pedantic and stupid, you are not as talented as others. What else can you do besides arrogant words? Since you have set up an arena to bet and compete for money, is it possible that we, the contestants, are only allowed to lose but not win?"
At this point, the middle-aged student named Xiao Wenxuan, the sarcastic tone in his voice became more and more obvious, and he said: "Also, Su Yao, what do you mean by blocking here? If you want to win back these silvers, you can come and compete again.
However, the premise is that you still have money in your hands. If you don’t have any money... Although you are not very knowledgeable, you must have heard of the saying ‘a good dog doesn’t block the road’?”
After hearing Xiao Wenxuan's sarcastic counterattack, the young man named Su Yao's face became even more angry. But he couldn't say anything to refute, he just pointed at Xiao Wenxuan with his finger, trembling all over.
Seeing Su Rao like this, Xiao Wenxuan was even more unforgiving. After sneering, he asked again: "What? You can't even understand people's words? Or are you saying that you can't afford to lose and want to regret it and want to take the money back? What if?
That's true. If you just say it, I will return the money with both hands. You have the strength in numbers. But I am alone, so I can't defeat you."
Su Rao was already furious and had already planned to use his fists, but after hearing Xiao Wenxuan's sarcasm, with everyone watching, he found it difficult to take action. His expression changed for a while.
"Brother Su." At this moment, the champion in mourning clothes finally managed to cheer up a little under the comfort of his companions. He also stood up, but his voice was sad. He said slowly: "Our skills are not as good as others.
I'm willing to admit defeat. Just let him go, don't lose your ambition in vain."
"But if we just let him go, wouldn't all the hard work these days have been in vain? Where can we find money to help you return home and observe your filial piety?"
Su Yao asked unwillingly.
After hearing Su Yao's rhetorical question, the champion in mourning clothes could not help but fall silent.
………
In fact, according to Zhao Junchen's slightly cold temperament, he didn't like to join in the fun, but when he saw the ring leader in mourning clothes and the argument between Xiao Wenxuan and Su Rao, he couldn't help but feel curious and moved towards the ring.
go.-
It is human nature to watch the excitement, not just Zhao Junchen. As the quarrel emerged, the arena that originally seemed a little lonely was quickly filled with people. Most of the onlookers looked expectantly, waiting for what would happen next.
develop.
However, although Zhao Junchen was a little curious, he did not want to crowd with the crowd, so he just stood on the edge of the ring and watched the conflicts in the arena. He was still curious. As luck would have it, a conversation between the two students in front of him made him
He understood the whole story.
………
"Brother Liang, it turns out you are here too. Brother Yu is a little confused as to what is going on here? Such a literary arena was originally a way for literati like us to prove our knowledge, but now it has turned into a quarrel in the street, giving way to passers-by.
It would be an insult to politeness to watch a joke."
Although he said this, while criticizing, this person was still watching the conflicts and disputes in the ring with great interest, without the slightest intention to stop them.
This "Brother Liang" obviously understood the whole story. When he saw an acquaintance asking about it, a trace of pride flashed across his face, but then he sighed and said, "Brother Zhang, you are here too. Hey, I do know a little bit about the things here.
Brother Zhang, can you see that student in mourning clothes? His name is Li Rui, a famous talent in Jiangxi and the leader of the arena here. Although his family is poor, he is very knowledgeable and is best at couplets. This is
The next spring, with his talent and learning, he is very likely to be shortlisted for the apricot list. Unfortunately, God is not fair. A few days ago, his fellow villagers in Jiangxi brought news that his mother had passed away."
"Brother Zhang" exclaimed softly: "That's it. No wonder he is wearing mourning clothes."
"Brother Liang" also shook his head and sighed, his voice full of sympathy: "Yes, I have met this Li Rui a few times, and I know a little about his situation. His father died young, and his mother has taken care of him all these years."
I am a very filial person. When I heard the news of my mother's death, I felt so sad. Needless to say, I even fainted from tears several times after hearing the news. Then I got seriously ill again. Now I finally recovered from the illness, but I can no longer care about it.
I stayed in Beijing to take the Spring College Entrance Examination, and I wanted to return to my hometown to honor my mother."
"Brother Li Rui is truly admirable for his sincerity and filial piety."
"Having said that, things in the world are always unsatisfactory. Li Rui is from a poor family. In order to treat his illness a few days ago, he not only used up all his money, but also owed a lot of money to the hospital. How can he still have money to return to his hometown to observe his filial piety?
?Although some fellow villagers donated money, it was only a small amount of money, so he set up an arena here five days ago and used money as a bet. He was betting on couplets and wanted to win some money for his return home. Although he did this
It's insulting to politeness, but it's excusable."
At this point, "Brother Liang" changed the topic, and suddenly there was a little more contempt in his voice, and said: "Everything went well originally. Brother Li Rui is good at couplets. After several days of gambling, he finally accumulated some silver coins.
, just enough to return home to pay off the debt, and was about to stop, but Xiao Wenxuan suddenly appeared and provoked him with words. And while brother Li Rui was recovering from a serious illness, he was mentally and physically exhausted, winning many games in a row, and actually took all the money.
You win. Hey, speaking of it, Xiao Wenxuan and Li Rui were friends, but they suddenly turned against each other a few days ago for some unknown reason. Now Xiao Wenxuan is acting like this, probably with revenge in mind. And if you win, you win, it all depends on your ability.
, I never thought that Xiao Wenxuan would make a lot of sarcastic comments after he won. Li Rui’s fellow countrymen were naturally dissatisfied, so that was the reason for the current conflict."
Hearing what "Brother Liang" said, "Brother Zhang" also spat at him and said bitterly: "He takes advantage of others' danger and prevents them from fulfilling their filial piety. He is also narrow-minded. This Xiao Wenxuan is really a villain!"
"Brother Liang" also nodded, then sighed again and said, "It's a pity. Although Xiao Wenxuan has a bad character, his knowledge is solid. Li Rui's close friends are no less talented and knowledgeable than me, but
In order to stand up for Li Rui, he fought with Xiao Wenxuan, but he was still no match. Not only did he fail to get justice for the Li Rui brothers, but they both suffered a total defeat, and his own money and reputation were involved. From this point of view, I'm afraid that's not the case either
His opponent, otherwise he must seek justice for Brother Li."
"Oh? If even Brother Liang is not Xiao Wenxuan's opponent, I will be even worse. It's such a pity."
………
While "Brother Liang" and "Brother Zhang" were talking, Zhao Junchen understood the whole story and subconsciously frowned.
Not only because what Xiao Wenxuan did was indeed excessive, but also because these two "honest gentlemen" in front of him were honest and moral.
Without him, although these two people looked angry and spoke with righteousness, looking at their clothes, they did not look like people who were short of money. However, since they knew Li Rui's plight, they did not intend to help.
He didn't intend to stand out, he just stood aside and watched the excitement, making various comments with great interest, and there was excitement in his voice and expression. Zhao Junchen had already seen through the two people's character.
The fact is that it is not just the two students in front of me. Among the spectators at this time, there are probably many people who know the truth. Regarding Li Rui's experience and Xiao Wenxuan's actions, some are angry, some are sympathetic, but most of them are.
They were still watching the excitement with great interest. Apart from Li Rui's fellow villagers, no one else had the intention to intervene.
"That's right. Now that the test is approaching, this arena uses money as a bet. In addition, Xiao Wenxuan is not low in knowledge. If he rashly steps forward and loses, he will not only lose money but also lose his reputation. Who will do it?
Are you going to cause trouble for yourself?"
While thinking secretly, Zhao Junchen shook his head.
It is human nature to care about things that have nothing to do with oneself, including Zhao Junchen.
At the same time, Xu Qingyan also heard the whole story, and couldn't help but show anger, and suggested to Zhao Junchen: "Master, this Xiao Wenxuan is really not good at preventing people from fulfilling their filial piety. Do you want Master to teach him a lesson?"
Although Xu Qingyan is a villain, he still has basic moral concepts.
Even in Xu Qingyan's eyes, preventing people from fulfilling their filial piety is a heinous crime.
And in Xu Qingyan's opinion, Zhao Junchen was the number one pick in the year after all, so he was naturally very talented. He couldn't deal with the unknown Xiao Wenxuan, so he couldn't handle it easily.
Zhao Junchen did not answer, but shook his head slightly, then turned back and walked out of the crowd.
Seeing Zhao Junchen like this, Xu Qingyan couldn't help but be stunned. He didn't understand what Zhao Junchen meant, but he still hurriedly followed.
After leaving the crowd, Zhao Junchen came to the other side of the street, took the birdcage from Xu Qingyan, and then ordered: "Qingyan, go see that Li Rui and help him with some money. It doesn't need to be much. I want to give him thirty or fifty."
Two is enough for him to return home and pay off his debts, but that's it, there's no need to do more or say more, just think that we are doing a good deed every day, and I will wait for you here."
Although a filial person like Li Rui only met by chance, Zhao Junchen didn't mind helping him.
Regarding Zhao Junchen's decision, Xu Qingyan was puzzled and asked: "Master, don't you plan to teach Xiao Wenxuan a lesson? Let me tell you, with your ability, Master, it is not easy to win against him? It can be regarded as teaching him a lesson.
Let him know that there is someone there, and it will save him the trouble of being a villain."
Xu Qingyan thought highly of Zhao Junchen's talent, but his words were not wrong. Zhao Junchen still vaguely remembered some famous pairs in later generations. If he used them to fight Xiao Wenxuan, he might not win, but he would think so.
Will not lose.
But Zhao Junchen didn't want to do this.
"Qingyan, with my current status, I don't have to join in the fun, and I don't need to be in the limelight. So what if I win against Xiao Wenxuan? It's okay to help me when I see this kind of thing, but
There’s no need to get involved.”
Hearing Zhao Junchen's explanation, Xu Qingyan thought about it and it was indeed true. With Zhao Junchen's current status, many things he did would be embarrassing.
Therefore, although he was a little reluctant, Xu Qingyan nodded and went back to find Li Rui.
………
At this time, in the arena, Xiao Wenxuan has not left yet. He is still arguing with Li Rui, Su Yao and others with a mocking and sarcastic look. Li Rui, Su Yao and others are obviously not good at eloquence, and their faces are dark.
Or red, but there is no ability to refute.
But soon, Zhao Junchen saw Xu Qingyan squeeze through the crowd, enter the ring, say something to Li Rui, throw away some silver coins, and then leave quickly regardless of the stops from Li Rui and others.
However, for some reason, after seeing what Xu Qingyan did, Xiao Wenxuan stopped entangled with Li Ruisurao and others, and followed Xu Qingyan out of the ring.
After a while, Xu Qingyan returned to Zhao Junchen, and Zhao Junchen did not delay and took Xu Qingyan deeper into the street.
In Zhao Junchen's opinion, this matter is just an insignificant episode, and there is no need to continue to waste time.
However, although Zhao Junchen did not want to cause trouble, before he took two steps, someone not far behind him called out: "The young master in front of me, please stay and talk."
Hearing someone calling, Zhao Junchen turned around helplessly, but when he saw the person calling behind him, he couldn't help but be startled.
He originally thought that it was Li Rui who came to thank him, but he didn't expect that the one who told him to stay was Xiao Wenxuan, who had been in trouble with Li Rui and others in the ring before.
On the other side, Li Rui and others were still crowded by the crowd of onlookers, unable to move even an inch.
Xu Qingyan had a very bad impression of Xiao Wenxuan. When he saw that it was Xiao Wenxuan who asked to keep him, he couldn't help but sneered and said: "What? Are you addicted to preventing others from fulfilling their filial piety? You yourself took advantage of others' danger and used the money that others used to return home to observe filial piety.
Not to mention taking it away, now that my young master is kindly sponsoring it, do you still want my young master to take back the money?"
When Xu Qingyan was sarcastic, Xiao Wenxuan had already walked up to Zhao Junchen. He was slightly startled when he saw that Zhao Junchen was young, dressed in luxurious clothes, accompanied by his entourage, and carrying a birdcage in his hand. He looked like a dandy.
Obviously, Zhao Junchen's image is somewhat different from what he imagined.
Xiao Wenxuan didn't care about Xu Qingyan's sarcastic words, and had no intention of refuting. He actually nodded with a serious face and said: "Young Master, your servant is right. This is what I mean when I meet you."
, if possible, please take back the money that was used to support Li Rui. I wonder if you are willing?"