Chapter 16 Consciousness, Preparing for Learning (1)
eight years ago.
Nanjing.
The man who was offering wine in the Imperial Academy, whose surname was Wei, whose given name was Huai, whose given name was Ji Min, was planning his own reform career.
What was he planning? Seeing Wei Huai's absent-mindedness while counting the classics, a student also became confused.
But he didn't speak. He watched as Wei Huai finished his work and steadily left the bookstore.
Wei Huai walked through another section of the corridor, arrived at the door, and passed under the plaque with the name "Imperial Imperial College" printed on it.
He walked out of the Imperial College, walked through several alleys, and arrived in front of a library that was about to close. He stopped the owner of the library who was about to close: "Brother Shen, I have something to do with you."
"Please come in."
Wei Huai walked in and the owner closed the door.
His name is Shen Rong, and he is a native of Nanjing. He has known Wei Huai since he was a child. When he grew up, he still had a friendship with Wei Huai. He opened a library here on weekdays and hired people to write articles. For example, if you set up a few long tables at the door and call on customers to buy ink-scroll novels, the business will be pretty good.
"Ji Min came out so early today?" Shen Rong asked.
"Don't I want to come and see you today?" Wei Huai took off his robe and poured out three taels of silver from his robe. "I'll ask you to do something with this money." He said and put the silver on the table beside him.
"Oh, why did Jimin give you so much money?"
"I want you to ask someone to write an article for me." Wei Huai said.
"Want an article?" Shen Rong shook his head, "Hey, you can just tell me if you don't want it?" He pushed the money back to him, "I will pay for you to find someone to write it myself."
"That's not what I meant. Please listen to me and explain slowly," Wei Huai said. "I just want to take this opportunity to find a few knowledgeable people to work with me on reform and educate the people. If I go around speaking out all by myself, , being alone and alone will not be taken seriously by the court."
"So you want to attract those literati with lofty ideals so that you can talk to them. If there are like-minded people, we can work together to reform, save the world, and preach about righteousness. Isn't that right?"
"Exactly. Since Brother Shen understands," he pushed the silver back again, "then take it."
"Okay, then I'll accept it."
Early the next morning, Shen Rong sent people to publicize everywhere that he was willing to give two taels of silver as a writing fee. When everyone heard this, they all rushed to help Wei Huai write an article; but Shen Rong was afraid that many of them were just cheating. After wasting time, he posted a poster in the library: Wei Jijiu is a member of the literary world. If you want to get articles, you must strive for excellence. If you are not familiar with your skills and show off and make Mr. Wei angry, you will not get any money.
Some people who were illiterate in writing gave up.
Shen Rong thought that this would help him avoid the rest of the crowd, but after all, there is still a kind of thick-skinned person who stalks and tries to show off his skills. He is talking about the person in front of him who is still wearing a patched cotton-padded jacket in the hot summer weather. . His face seemed to be covered with a layer of dust, his hair was disheveled, and debris of various things adhered to his beard. He looked anxious. Looking at it, he really didn't think of any literati with lofty ideals.
"Didn't you see the words I posted?" Shen Rong yawned and said.
"Oh, look down there...see...I saw it." He stammered.
"I'm not telling you," Shen Rong saw that he still knew etiquette, so he gently advised, "No one believes you have any talent even if you dress like this... If you are really poor, and you see that worker next door... …”
"Please stop talking, I really need this money..." His eyes almost turned to tears, "I need it so much... Please!"
"Do you need to write an article?" The person standing behind him stretched out his neck impatiently and asked Shen Rong.
Shen Rong was afraid that he would delay things, so he replied impatiently: "If you are short of money, I will give you these two taels, okay? You are always willing to let others in, right?"
"No, no, no," the man spoke as fast as possible, "I can never take your money in vain! Then I will become a beggar? Why don't you believe me! Please let me..."
"Okay, okay, okay..." Shen Rong was upset by what he said, so he had to agree as if he was coping.
This person was invited into the hall, and Shen Rong stepped out and apologized to the person behind him: "This person is stalking you, and there's nothing you can do about it? I'm afraid of ruining Wei Jijiu's reputation, so I don't care about him. Really Feel sorry……"
The man waved his hand, muttered something dissatisfied, and walked towards the street.
Shen Rong's face was full of embarrassment, he lowered his head and turned back to the house, trying his best to restrain his embarrassment.
"What's your name?" Shen Rong asked.
"My surname is Yang, my given name is Huaisheng, and my given name is Zhongfang."
"There are actually words..." Shen Rong said to himself.
"how?"
"Nothing, nothing," Shen Rong raised his head and smiled at him, "Then please ask Zhong Fang to go upstairs and write."
"Yes, yes." Yang Huaisheng was afraid that he might have angered him accidentally, so he appeared very humble.
"Wait a moment." Shen Rong walked to the candlestick in front, took a knife from there, and handed it to him: "I think you haven't groomed it for a long time... You might as well use this to trim your beard."
"Thank you." He bowed, carefully took the knife from Shen Rong's hand, put it into his bag, and climbed up the stairs.
Shen Rong sat downstairs for a long time, feeling really uneasy about that person, so he strode upstairs and saw Yang Huaisheng sitting calmly on the chair writing, and he was quite elegant when he started writing. He really looked like that thing.
He slowly approached, and Yang Huaisheng looked back at him. He just smiled and nodded, then walked to the table to read his article.
This sight really shocked him.
His handwriting is neat and tidy, leaving no redundant strokes. He also combines hardness and softness, making him a style of his own. Looking at the article, the language is simple and there is no sloppiness, which is really admirable.
"Do you think it's okay to write it this way?"
"Great, great..." Shen Rong said to himself.
The article was written in just three days. Shen Rong took the manuscript to Wei Huai. Wei Huai looked at it carefully without moving his mind. When he read the end in one breath, he was deeply impressed: "This article can be said to be unparalleled in the world. !”
Shen Rong also had to admit this man's literary talent, and also sighed that "people can't be judged by their appearance." Despite this, something worried Shen Rong. He had made an appointment with Yang Huaisheng for two taels of silver, but suddenly he suddenly got a big deal. Yang Huaisheng opened his mouth and wrote a letter asking him to give him two more taels of silver. At first, he pretended to turn a blind eye, but Yang Huaisheng wrote four or five more letters in a row, with an urgent tone and insisted on four taels of silver.
Shen Rong was helpless and asked Wei Huai if he wanted this article. Wei Huai did not hesitate at all and said resolutely: "Of course! Brother Shen doesn't have to pay for it himself. I will give it to him. Not only will it be given, but it will be generous." , I will pay him ten taels of silver for this article!"
Wei Huai called the housekeeper's servant over, asked him to take a ten-tael silver note, and smashed it on the table: