Chapter 224. My surname is Li and my name is Chunchen. [Chapter Two in One]
…
The visitor's name is Ma Min, and he is also a candidate for the National Examination. He is the best at finding tricks, but his talents and learning are average. He also has a passive personality, bullies the weak and fears the strong, and has always been looked down upon by other candidates.
It is worth mentioning that Liu Zimin followed Zhao Junchen's instructions and was active in the examination process to recruit candidates who were willing to join Zhao Junchen. Ma Min responded positively, not only shamelessly flattering Liu Zimin
, and even publicized his admiration and yearning for Zhao Junchen everywhere, and wanted to establish a relationship with Zhao Junchen through Liu Zimin.
However, although Liu Zimin at that time was dedicated to recruiting talents for Zhao Junchen in the examination examination, he did not ignore the good and the bad and accept both the good and the bad. After all, what Zhao Junchen needed was "useful talents", and Ma Min himself, regardless of talent or learning,
His character and family background were both inferior. Although he was good at flattering, Liu Zimin did not dare to really regard him as a "useful talent" and recruit him to Zhao Junchen. Otherwise, he would only cause Zhao Junchen's displeasure and dissatisfaction. In the end,
Affect Liu Zimin's own future.
As a result, Ma Min became one of the few candidates who wanted to seek refuge with Zhao Junchen but was turned away.
As a result, Ma Min not only failed to reap any benefits, but was regarded by his disciples as "a villain that even the corrupt official Zhao Junchen could not look down upon". His reputation became even more disgraced, and he eventually became a laughing stock.
Of course, this Ma Min has a character that bullies the weak and fears the strong. Regarding his unbearable situation, he did not reflect on himself, and he did not dare to resent Zhao Junchen, the powerful official in the DPRK who was becoming increasingly powerful. He did not even dare to resent his relationship with Zhao Junchen in the future.
The promising candidates Liu Zimin, Zeng Wei and other candidates.
But Ma Min always wanted to vent his resentment and unwillingness.
Fortunately, Ma Min, who bullied the weak and feared the strong, discovered Xiao Wenxuan, who was in a worse situation than him!
For Ma Min, Xiao Wenxuan's appearance is just to be ridiculed and vented by him!
Therefore, these days, Ma Min would often find Xiao Wenxuan and deliberately ridicule him to satisfy his inhumane and dirty mentality.
Today is the day when the apricot list is announced. Ma Min knows that she must be unknown on the list. She is unwilling to give up and cannot vent her emotions, but she comes to trouble Xiao Wenxuan again.
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Seeing the deep malice in Ma Min's smile and the undisguised jealousy and sarcasm in his eyes, Xiao Wenxuan frowned in disgust.
However, after experiencing this setback, not only did Xiao Wenxuan's mentality undergo a fundamental change, but the city also became much more depressed. Although he knew that Ma Min was here to cause trouble, he didn't intend to pay attention to it, but he didn't seem to notice it at all.
Like Ma Min, he walked towards his room with a calm expression.
Today, Xiao Wenxuan finally understands the importance of interpersonal relationships and the unpredictable nature of relationships. But Xiao Wenxuan does not think that he needs to have a good relationship with a villain like Ma Min.
On the other side, seeing Xiao Wenxuan ignoring him like this, Ma Min couldn't help but become furious, and his words became even more sinister.
"Actually, Mr. Xiao, I don't need to say it clearly. I also know, Mr. Xiao, that you are probably famous as Luosunshan! Speaking of which, this is already the fourth time that Mr. Xiao has failed the examination, right? Hey! I really don't know what Mr. Xiao should do after returning to his hometown.
How to face your fellow villagers! Especially Mr. Xiao, you originally had a pretty good reputation, but after this examination, not only did you fail to get the Jinshi title, but your reputation was ruined. I am afraid that even if you leave the capital, your future life will not be easy.
?”
While sarcastic, the malice in Ma Min's eyes became more and more undisguised, and his eyes were fixed on Xiao Wenxuan's face, hoping to see shame, anger and unwillingness in Xiao Wenxuan's expression - so that he could calm down the shame and anger in his heart.
Not willing to give in!
However, what disappointed Ma Min was that not only did Xiao Wenxuan still look calm, but he also continued to ignore him and just continued to walk to his room.
Seeing Xiao Wenxuan about to walk past Ma Min, as if Ma Min didn't exist from beginning to end, Ma Min's unwillingness, shame and anger became more and more uncontrollable, and she actually grabbed Xiao Wenxuan's sleeve.
"Mr. Xiao, why are you leaving in a hurry? Those who have failed at the same time, let's have a heart-to-heart talk." Ma Min barely maintained a false smile, but the fingers holding Xiao Wenxuan's sleeves turned pale because of too much force: "On the way here, little brother,
I also saw Mr. Liu Zi, Min, Mr. Liu, Zeng Wei and Mr. Zeng, who were having a gathering to celebrate. I heard that Mr. Xiao, you had made good friends with them. Now they are all famous, why didn't Mr. Liu go to congratulate them? "
After being grabbed by his sleeve, Xiao Wenxuan sighed slowly, then turned around and looked directly at Ma Min in front of him. In his eyes, there was a sense of oppression that could penetrate people's hearts.
Under Xiao Wenxuan's direct gaze, Ma Min subconsciously shrank her body slightly and avoided her eyes.
Then, Xiao Wenxuan finally spoke.
"Are you so unable to face your own failure?" Xiao Wenxuan's voice was indifferent and cold, but it directly hit the most sensitive part of Ma Min's heart, making Ma Min tremble: "Or, do you really think,
By humiliating me, will you forget your own failures or even change your own failures?"
Ma Min was told what he was thinking, and finally could not maintain his false smile, and Xiao Wenxuan's voice became colder: "Failure is failure, failure is failure, this is a fact, irrefutable, but if you dare not face your own failure, you don't know
Looking for reasons from failure, only knowing how to cover up failure by humiliating others, only knowing how to find reasons to numb yourself, will only make you continue to fail, and eventually become the most failed one... Have you thought about these? Or
Say, do you have the courage to think about this?"
Then, Xiao Wenxuan pushed away Ma Min's hand on his sleeve, as if pushing away a piece of garbage, and said: "If you want to continue to fail, you can continue to pester me, I won't care, because I
I have found the reason for my failure, and I want to change it, so I won’t care about your pestering... But if you are not willing to continue to fail, you should use the time you pestered me to do something practical."
Then, Xiao Wenxuan turned around and continued walking towards his room, but never looked at Ma Min again.
As Ma Min's expression changed, the shame and anger in his eyes grew more and more. When he finally reached the critical point, he turned around and was about to yell something at Xiao Wenxuan.
However, before Ma Min spoke, another gentle and elegant voice suddenly came.
"Okay! With these words and this realization, Brother Xiao, you can be my friend."
It turned out that the conversation between Xiao Wenxuan and Ma Min was not concealed at all, but was overheard by a scholar sitting next to him.
And this admiration was uttered by this scholar.
After Xiao Wenxuan heard this, he couldn't help but be stunned. He turned around and looked at the scholar carefully, and saw that this man was only in his early twenties, with a slender figure, a moon-white scholar's shirt, a fair and handsome face, and bright and profound eyes. He was always capable.
It gives people an intuitive impression of a "smart and talented man", which makes people feel good about him.
The scholar stood up, nodded to Xiao Wenxuan, walked up to Ma Min, and said warmly: "Brother, please give me a face and stop pestering Brother Xiao. Leave here immediately.
how?"
Looking at the scholar in front of him, Ma Min's expression suddenly changed, but he no longer dared to be presumptuous. He said calmly: "It turns out to be Brother Li... Since Brother Li has spoken, I dare not disobey, so I will leave now.
Leave now."
After saying that, Ma Min left immediately. But he did not dare to look at the scholar and Xiao Wenxuan again.
Seeing this scene, Xiao Wenxuan was stunned again. With Ma Min's bullying character, the scholar in front of him obviously had some ability.
Thinking of this, Xiao Wenxuan looked at the scholar's eyes thoughtfully.
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"Thank you for speaking up. Otherwise, with Ma Min's character, I don't know how long he would have been entangled with me. Although such a villain is despising, it will always be troublesome if he is entangled." After Ma Min left.
Xiao Wenxuan did not dare to be negligent. After thanking him, he asked: "I just don't know your name yet? Can you give me some advice?"
After the scholar smiled lightly, he raised his hand to lead him to the seat where he had just been sitting, and said: "If Brother Xiao is not in a hurry, why don't you drink and talk with me at the same table? I have no other thoughts, I just want to make friends with Brother Xiao."
After Xiao Wenxuan hesitated for a moment, he finally nodded in agreement and sat with the scholar.
After sitting down, the scholar finally introduced himself: "My surname is Li and my given name is Chunchen. Brother Xiao, just call me Chunchen."
Upon hearing the scholar's self-introduction, Xiao Wenxuan couldn't help but be stunned again.
It was not because he had admired the name for a long time, but because he had never heard of the name "Li Chunchen".
It's just that Li Chunchen's demeanor and demeanor are extraordinary, and he shouldn't be an unknown person.
Xiao Wenxuan looked at Li Chunchen again for a moment, and then asked tentatively: "Looking at Brother Li's dress and age, is it possible that he is also a candidate for the undergraduate examination?"
Li Chunchen nodded with a smile and said: "That's right. I am also a candidate for the undergraduate examination, and I got the news half an hour ago that I was lucky enough to pass the examination and ranked fourth on the apricot list. However, I am withdrawn.
I don’t have many friends, and I don’t want to accept those false congratulations, so I came here alone to drink and celebrate alone, but I didn’t expect that I met Brother Xiao, and I was really destined.”
After hearing what Li Chunchen said, Xiao Wenxuan was suddenly shocked.
Ranking fourth on the undergraduate examination list, doesn't that mean that the Li Chunchen in front of him is ranked second only to the first assistant Zhou Shangjing's grandson Zhou Suwen, the world-famous Jiangnan talent Zhao Shancai, and the son of an official himself?
Zeng Wei and the other two people have taken refuge with Zhao Junchen again?
This is really amazing. If it were another session of the conference, he might be the top candidate!
Therefore, Xiao Wenxuan did not dare to be negligent, and said: "I didn't expect Mr. Li to have such a great talent. I am ashamed to say that I am so ignorant that I have never heard of Mr. Li before today."
Li Chunchen laughed and shook his head, saying: "It's not to blame that Brother Xiao is ignorant. I am a bit withdrawn and don't like to interact with others. I rarely attend gatherings of literati, so my reputation has never been obvious. Brother Xiao doesn't know and it's right. But that person just now
Although Ma Min is a bad character, he is good at research and found out about my origins from nowhere, but it is precisely because of this that I was able to send him away."
"Oh? I didn't expect that Brother Li is not only admirable for his knowledge and magnanimity, but also has an extraordinary family background." Xiao Wenxuan followed the topic and began to talk about Li Chunchen's family background. This was something Xiao Wenxuan disdained in the past, but now Xiao Wenxuan always wants to do it for his own.
When planning for the future, if the person in front of you is born into a wealthy family, you will always have one more choice in the future.
Li Chunchen did not hide anything, and nodded generously: "Actually, my family background is nothing. I am not from an official family, and I am not even close to a scholarly family. It's just that my father was a salt merchant in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui, so my family has some spare money."
Although Li Chunchen said this, Xiao Wenxuan did not dare to underestimate him.
In the Ming Dynasty, the power of Huizhou and Zhejiang salt merchants was very important. Their local influence was no less than that of the local prefects and county magistrates. They could even influence the policy direction of the court, and their potential power was huge.
In fact, even if Zhao Junchen had not handed over the benefits of the "Sichuan Salt Reform" to Shanxi merchants and received the full support of Shanxi merchants, his current development in the DPRK would not have been so smooth.
Li Chunchen claimed that his family only had some "spare money", but Xiao Wenxuan estimated that the Li family's so-called "spare money" was probably calculated in hundreds of thousands or even millions.
And just when Xiao Wenxuan was thinking deeply, Li Chunchen suddenly extended an olive branch to Xiao Wenxuan: "Actually, I have heard about Brother Xiao's reputation a long time ago, and I also know that Brother Xiao has great talents. However, due to bad luck, he turned out to be...
I failed the undergraduate examination, but I don’t know what Brother Xiao’s next step is? If there is nothing good to go to, Li will take the liberty to invite me. Please invite Brother Xiao to follow me back to my hometown after the examination. Now my family is developing rapidly, and it is what I need.
Brother Xiao is such a great talent."
Xiao Wenxuan was stunned again, but he did not expect that Li Chunchen would invite him so directly, whom he had only met once.
Being able to become a guest in the palace of a salt merchant is actually a good destination for Xiao Wenxuan.
However, for Li Chunchen, whom he had just met, Xiao Wenxuan still had a sense of caution and caution in his heart, so he tried with a half-hearted and half-false smile: "Brother Li, please don't make fun of me, saying that you have heard the name for a long time, but I'm afraid
Is it just a bad reputation? Now that I have failed the test again, how can I still be considered a great talent? How can I be worthy of being so valued by you, Brother Li?"
But Li Chunchen shook his head solemnly and said: "I have deliberately inquired about Brother Xiao's experience out of curiosity. But I don't think there is anything wrong with what Brother Xiao did a few days ago. Other actions are against Brother Xiao.
My good opinion is just that Brother Xiao planned to join Zhao Junchen, and he had made things difficult for his former friends in the fighting arena to raise travel expenses to return home for the funeral."
Seeing Xiao Wenxuan sighing, Li Chunchen said: "However, I don't think there is anything wrong with these two points. Brother Xiao wanted to join Zhao Junchen. Although he did not achieve his goal in the end, it was just the nature of people to climb up. Those who criticized Brother Xiao
Princes, although they seem to be righteous today, I am afraid that after entering the court for only a year or two, they will forget their obsession today and start to find ways to cling to the powerful officials in the court. Brother Xiao, you just understand better than them.
It’s just earlier, this can only show Brother Xiao’s vision, so how can it be Brother Xiao’s fault?”
After a pause, Li Chunchen continued: "As for Brother Xiao, before the joint examination, he made things difficult for his former friends in the Wen Dou Arena and prevented him from earning travel expenses back home to attend the funeral. Although other people will despise him for this, I can.
I guessed Brother Xiao’s true intentions. I heard that Brother Xiao had given up the opportunity to take the exam and went home to attend the funeral because of a bereavement in his family for the first time. However, he didn’t expect that he missed the opportunity because of this. He failed the exam three times in a row, which was a delay.
He has a great future. And Brother Xiao, you also saw that his opportunities were similar to yours before, so you couldn't bear that he missed the undergraduate examination because he was attending a funeral, so you made things difficult for him, right?"
Xiao Wenxuan was surprised, but Li Chunchen touched his palm and said: "And this is why I think you are so talented, Brother Xiao. How many scholars are there in this world? But 99% of them are bound by secular concepts and cannot speak.
They are called 'keep silent' saints, but most of them forget their goals because of this. Brother Xiao, you have broken free from the shackles of worldly concepts and have unique ideas in your heart. How can you compare with other scholars?"
At this point, Li Chunchen's expression of admiration became more obvious, and he continued: "If it were just like this, I would not deliberately recruit Brother Xiao. After all, Brother Xiao's previous conduct... was slightly lacking and lacked some city power. However,
I just listened to the conversation between Brother Xiao and Ma Min, but I know that after experiencing this setback, Brother Xiao has realized the "qingren" of the world, and even dared to reflect on himself... Although the saint said that he should examine himself three times, but this world
How many people really have the courage to face their own shortcomings and correct them? That’s why Li took the liberty to invite me today, and I ask Brother Xiao not to be offended."
After finishing speaking, Li Chunchen looked at Xiao Wenxuan in front of him frankly, without urging him, but just waited quietly for Xiao Wenxuan's reply.
When Xiao Wenxuan heard what Li Chunchen said, he not only felt like a confidant, but was also greatly moved by Li Chunchen's invitation.
However, at this moment, not far from the two of them, someone suddenly smiled and said: "You have seen clearly. I thought that no one could notice Xiao Wenxuan's advantages except me. Fortunately, I came early, otherwise
Xiao Wenxuan is afraid that you will take the lead."
Hearing this person's voice, Xiao Wenxuan and Li Chunchen were both startled, and both turned their heads to look where they came from.
After seeing the speaker, Li Chunchen was still fine, but Xiao Wenxuan's expression suddenly changed.
Without him, at this time, Zhao Junchen was sitting next to him, looking at the two of them with a smile.