Chapter five hundred and seventy-two sudden filial piety
Gao Changjiang and Xing Yifeng walked a few steps outside the county school, and when they were about to go their separate ways and go back to their homes, Xing Yifeng suddenly stopped Gao Changjiang again.
"Actually, I have been thinking about where to find Qin Banqiao's articles, and I really thought of a place." Xing Yifeng said.
Gao Changjiang suddenly became interested and asked quickly: "Where is it? Where is it?"
Xing Yifeng replied: "Outside the Jubao Gate, Chang Qianli, is the Zhuangyuan School!"
Gao Changjiang suddenly slapped his forehead and said in surprise: "How could I forget this place!"
The Zhuangyuan School was formerly a private school opened by the old scholar Wang Yijing. At the end of the 10th year of Jiajing reign, Wang Yijing became Qin Dewei's tutor.
Ever since Qin Dewei won the first prize, Mr. Wang named this place Zhuangyuan School.
Since this is a place where Qin Dewei studied for a long time, it is indeed very likely that some of Qin Dewei's articles have been left behind.
Gao Changjiang happily got into the carriage with Xing Yifeng and walked out of the Jubao Gate...
When we arrived at Changganli, we saw a lot of traffic outside the Zhuangyuan School, and many people standing in front of the courtyard gate making noisy noises.
Gao Changjiang and Xing Yifeng were speechless, so many people had already thought of this.
At this moment, the two of them arrived too late and couldn't squeeze in, so they could only stand on the outside and watch.
But the door of Zhuangyuan School was closed tightly, and no one could get in.
There was a middle-aged man in a silk shirt, holding a banknote bearing the name Zhang Yuanfeng, and shouted to the courtyard gate: "I am willing to give you five hundred taels to buy all the articles of Qin Zhuangyuan!"
Then I saw the head of a servant sticking out from the wall inside, and shouted to the crowd outside:
"Everyone, please listen! My old gentleman has spoken. For the sake of fairness, none of Qin Zhuangyuan's articles will be published!"
Hearing this sentence, Gao Changjiang sighed to Xing Yifeng with emotion: "I have always heard that Mr. Wang is an upright man, has noble conduct, and does not follow the vulgarity. It is true!"
Different from the bustle outside the gate, the backyard of Zhuangyuan School is very quiet.
Mr. Wang Yijing, holding a stack of manuscript paper, stood alone in the kitchen and sighed.
I don't know how long it took, but finally the old man was so cruel that he threw all the manuscript papers into the stove.
In the roaring fire, all these manuscripts were burned to ashes.
Although Mr. Wang was sorry, he had no choice but to say to himself: "As a teacher, I can only help you in this way."
For the sake of the reputation of the number one scholar and the glory of the city of Nanjing, these old manuscripts of a certain student named Qin cannot be shown to others, and they should be burned and destroyed.
Even if they can be sold for a huge sum of five hundred taels, the lost reputation cannot be made up for with money!
Gao Changjiang and Xing Yifeng stood for a while. Looking at today's situation, it was unlikely that Qin Dewei's article would be reached, so the two could only return the same way.
Thinking of the provincial examination that will start on the 9th next month, Xing Yifeng, who comes from a poor family, is a little worried about gains and losses.
For people like Xing Yifeng, the reading test is almost the only way to change their destiny.
I was supposed to take the provincial examination three years ago, but I missed it because of the mourning system.
Gao Changjiang comforted him and said: "Don't worry! Your academic articles are already outstanding, and Qin Banqiao is the examiner, how could you fail?"
Xing Yifeng has never engaged in evil deeds and has always relied on his strength to speak his mind. This time in the provincial examination, he never thought about relying on people to understand each other.
However, his best friend Qin Dewei became the examiner, which made Xing Yifeng's thoughts complicated.
I couldn't help but ask: "Do you think Qin Dewei will really help us secretly?"
Gao Changjiang said with great confidence: "Definitely!"
Xing Yifeng had another question: "But we can't contact Qin Banqiao at all, how can he help us?"
If the examiner and the candidate want to collude, they must at least communicate in advance or have a tacit understanding.
They currently have no tacit understanding with Qin Dewei, so the top priority is how to contact Qin Dewei before the exam.
But this is a very difficult matter. Everyone has seen what the former examiner was like after he came to Nanjing.
Although hundreds or even thousands of people go to the pier to greet the examiner every time, the examiner does not see anyone every time and goes directly into the Gongyuan to isolate himself from the outside world. This is a system requirement.
If you secretly communicate information inside and outside while delivering food and supplies to the Gongyuan, there are too many links involved and it is easy to be exposed, or easily caught.
Gao Changjiang scratched his scalp in distress, gritted his teeth and said, "There are always more solutions than difficulties. How can a living person die from choking on urine?
The examiners are all our own people, how can we still find a way to clear the joints?
Anyway, there is still some time, so find a few of the most witty people to discuss this issue together, and you can always come up with ideas!"
The news that Qin Dewei was appointed as the chief examiner not only detonated the Jiangning County School, but also caused a huge shock in the Shangyuan County School next door in the same city.
Of course, compared with the joyful singing and dancing in Jiangning County School, Shangyuan County School is more troubled.
Although Jiangning County and Shangyuan County are in the same city, they are both part of Nanjing City, and outsiders often cannot tell them apart.
But after all, these are two counties, and the students belong to two county schools respectively. Who knows whether Qin Zhuangyuan, who was born in Jiangning County County School, recognizes Shangyuan County?
Many top students in Shangyuan County couldn't help sighing. If they had known, they would have settled their household registration in Jiangning County. Otherwise, what would they be worried about today?
Qin Zhuangyuan's stepping stone to fame. He claimed to be Qin Zhuangyuan's biggest rival. Wang Fengyuan, a new celebrity in Jinling, was a student of Shangyuan County School.
Then someone gathered around Wang Fengyuan and asked: "Jishan, you should be most familiar with Qin Banqiao. Do you think Qin Banqiao will take care of Shangyuan County?"
Wang Fengyuan said a little bit harshly: "You have thought too much and have never thought about what it means to be strong and you need to be tough?
In the two counties of Nanjing combined, there are more than 100 people taking part in the provincial examination. Could it be that Qin Dewei can take care of them all?
In the final analysis, it depends on the individual, and it has nothing to do with how Shangyuan County is!"
Wang Fengyuan's usual life style can be regarded as a weakened version of Qin Dewei.
Immediately, someone who had no dealings with Wang Fengyuan laughed and said: "No matter what, Qin Banqiao can't waste the opportunity to take care of your enemy."
Wang Fengyuan snorted disdainfully, "The path has been pointed out to you. It requires "individual efforts." If you don't understand, it will be your loss."
He immediately left school in Shangyuan County and traveled south to study in Jiangning County.
I studied in two counties in the same city and were very familiar with each other, so Wang Fengyuan walked in with ease.
After walking around, he saw several scholars gathering to discuss matters in the study hall.
Wang Fengyuan glanced around a few times, recognized Gao Changjiang, and walked into the study hall.
Facing everyone's gaze, Wang Fengyuan took the initiative to mock and said: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you don't contact Qin Dewei, why do you still want to waste time chatting here?"
As an active member of various gatherings, Gao Changjiang also recognized Wang Fengyuan.
"You can make it easy, this is what we are discussing!" Gao Changjiang shouted.
In the debate just now, some people said that they would take the initiative to go north and intercept Qin Banqiao halfway; another person said that they would wait until Qin Banqiao was locked into the Gongyuan, and then fight at home to break the isolation between inside and outside.
But they are not suitable and the risks are too great.
Wang Fengyuan was secretly happy. These scumbags really didn't have much resourcefulness. It seemed they hadn't figured out a way to communicate with Qin Dewei yet.
That's fine, otherwise you won't have the chance to brush your existence.
So Wang Fengyuan said: "Then I have a method here, which may give you a chance to communicate with Qin Dewei. It depends on whether you dare to use it or not."
As the main person who is most familiar with the examiner, Gao Changjiang has no clue. Why is it so difficult to go through the back door?
Hearing that Wang Fengyuan had a solution, he quickly urged: "Speak quickly! If there is any benefit, you will be indispensable!"
This Gao Changjiang businessman came from Shaodong's family, and he was not stupid. He immediately understood what Wang Fengyuan meant when he came from Shangyuan County, so he took the initiative to promise to share the benefits.
Wang Fengyuan got what he wanted and didn't hold back anymore. He replied: "Actually, the key person is Qin Dewei's uncle. He can communicate with Qin Dewei through him!"
Gao Changjiang still doesn't understand, what can Qin Dewei's uncle do?
Wang Fengyuan confidently said: "Qin Xiang, a member of the Qin family, has been very kind to Qin Dewei in his upbringing. His status is comparable to that of his father, and he is also the one to whom Qin Dewei must fulfill his filial piety.
Making a fuss around the word "filial piety" gives Qin Dewei a reason to break the routine of not having contact with the outside world, and won't he get the opportunity to communicate with us?
As long as Qin Dewei has the heart to support his fellow countrymen, then things will definitely go smoothly. But the premise is that we give Qin Dewei a chance to perform."
Gao Changjiang said sincerely: "Don't imitate Qin Banqiao and pretend to be sophisticated, just say something I can understand."
Wang Fengyuan: ""
What a bunch of scumbags! Ever since Qin Dewei left Nanjing and went north, there really was no one who could match him in Nanjing.
Qin Dewei, who is still on his way, is currently unaware of the commotion in Nanjing city.
He could only guess that the three to four thousand candidates who had gathered in Nanjing city all wanted to kneel down and call him daddy.
Qin Dewei has walked this section of the road between the two capitals several times, so there is basically nothing new about it.
But this time I went south as the examiner of the Nanzhili Township Examination, which was a little different from the past.
In order to prevent collusion and fraud, Qin Dewei is theoretically not allowed to have contact with others, and his colleagues are monitored by the Jinyiwei Official School.
Therefore, there were no greetings or receptions along the way. Apart from eating, sleeping and traveling, the itinerary was very simple.
And if there's anything different from the past, it's probably that there's Miss Li next to me.
As a maid, she and Qin Dewei were inseparable. They were on the same boat when they were out and in the same bed when they were in.
Without Sister Xu being in the way and her brother restraining her, on that dark and windy night in Tongzhou, Mrs. Li took the initiative to deal with Qin Zhuangyuan.
Hongzhuang from the Northern Kingdom beyond the Great Wall dares to love and hate like this. But Qin Dewei swears that he is not lustful.
He was just worried that if Mrs. Li, who was armed with a sharp sword, failed to seek pleasure, she would be embarrassed and angry, and there would be serious consequences, so he just went along with it.
Many story-telling stories, including tragedies in later martial arts novels, all begin with the male protagonist rejecting a woman.
So Qin Dewei knew that the tragedy must be cut off at its source.
So for Mrs. Li, the journey south has become a very rare world for two people.
Moreover, Miss Li has always grown up in the North. This time she took the boat all the way south along the canal, which was also full of curiosity and freshness.
There were no unnecessary social activities and no distractions from other people, just myself and Qin Dewei accompanying me all the way. It was a perfect honeymoon!
Arriving in Jiangdu County, Yangzhou Prefecture, Qin Dewei said goodbye to Mr. Feng again.
But the two couldn't talk or even get close. They could only say goodbye in a distance, one on the boat and the other on the shore.
After passing Yangzhou and turning from the canal to the river, we are very close to Nanjing.
Qin Dewei was sitting on the bow of the boat, looking at the scenery on both sides of the strait. The Jinyi Guards Officer School stood behind him, performing surveillance very dedicatedly.
Longjiangguan Pier in the north of Nanjing City is still crowded with people and the sound of gongs and drums.
Just to avoid suspicion, there were no officials to greet them, only prepared carriages.
Qin Dewei abandoned the boat and landed on the shore. Without communicating with the people on the shore, he took Mrs. Li directly to the carriage.
The Jinyiwei officer school also got on the horse and escorted him on both sides of the carriage.
According to usual practice, the examiner will enter the inner courtyard directly and then lock the door to isolate the inside and outside.
The officers and soldiers who opened the road pushed aside the crowd blocking the road, and when they were about to guide the carriage forward, a man suddenly rushed in front of the carriage.
Before he could be scolded, the man shouted loudly: "Qin Zhuangyuan! Your uncle is seriously ill! Go home and have a look!"
Qin Dewei: ""
As quick-witted as he is, he couldn't tell for a moment whether this was true or some kind of showmanship?
The Jinyiwei officer who was responsible for following the surveillance looked around suspiciously.
But as a "filial son" hearing such news, Qin Dewei could only reply painfully: "It's difficult to have both loyalty and filial piety. Now that the king's life is on his side, he can't even enter the house."
Someone from the crowd on both sides shouted: "Qin Zhuangyuan! Your uncle has raised you since you were a child and regards you as his own son. You should be an example for the whole city, how can you be so cold and cold!"
Some people also shouted: "Qin Zhuangyuan! You can't forget your ancestors! You must know that cultivating kindness is better than giving birth to kindness. Qin Yuan is actually equivalent to your father. No matter how prosperous you are now, you can't forget your gratitude!"
Someone else shouted: "How many principles in this world are greater than filial piety! If there is really urgent official business, that's it, but the exam is not today!"
Qin Dewei seemed to be ashamed of being held accountable. He turned to the armored guard beside the carriage and said, "Look, how about letting me go home to visit my relatives first?"
The gilded guard frowned and replied dutifully: "Don't cause trouble!"
Then he scolded others: "Get out of the way! Go to Gongyuan!"
The crowd suddenly surged up, tightly surrounding the carriage and the Imperial Guard School, and started hurling accusations.
The royal guards scolded the crowd repeatedly, but to no avail, and the scene became increasingly chaotic and out of control.
Qin Dewei requested again: "Let me go home to visit my relatives first, and then you can continue to follow me and monitor me.
Otherwise, if the public sentiment is like this, I will have no choice but to resign as the examiner and go home to support my relatives."
The Jinyi guard cursed a few times in secret, "There are only a few days until the exam, who dares to take responsibility!"
Is this Nanjing man able to hold on after eating enough? His sense of justice is overwhelming for such a small thing. It’s really inexplicable!
After much deliberation, I was really afraid of causing trouble here, so I could only change my words and said: "You can visit relatives first, but you are not allowed to leave my sight, and you are not allowed to talk to others behind my back!"