Chapter 16 Consciousness, Preparing for Learning (2)
Shen Rong handed the ten-tael silver note to Yang Huaisheng and said, "This is from Mr. Wei's kindness to you, otherwise it would be useless for you to write me ten thousand letters!"
"Yes...I thank you too. Please also thank Mr. Wei for me."
"certainly."
Yang Huaisheng took the note and held it in his hand for a long time, his eyes shining like a person who is about to die of thirst suddenly holding a drop of nectar.
He just walked out of the library and turned to the street.
But Wei Huai still couldn't forget it. He sometimes asked his students in the Imperial College: "Do you know who Yang Huai Sheng is?"
Only one student answered: "Of course students know that this is a well-known poor man in Nanjing. It is said that he came from Xuzhou, took on a lot of debt, and sold calligraphy on the Huaiqing Bridge."
"I see……"
Looking for a good day, he asked for leave from the prefect, took a few slaves, and went to Huaiqing Bridge to find someone.
There were people coming and going on the Huaiqing Bridge. There were almost a whole row of stalls along the roadside, and a mixed crowd was crowded around the shops. Some businesses were busy, and the three floors inside and outside were full of people; even so, There are also many customers who insist on getting in.
When I got to the end of the bridge, I looked through many stalls, but I still couldn't see the man selling calligraphy, Yang Huaisheng.
Wei Huai raised his eyes and looked around, and suddenly noticed a deserted shop. A bearded man squatted there, greeting customers, but because there were too many people, his shout could not be heard.
Wei Huai leaned on the cane and walked over silently. He lowered his head and glanced at the words he was selling, "Good words."
The man moved his body over and faced him. His appearance was very similar to what Shen Rong said.
"Do you want to buy these paintings of mine?"
"Of course." He bent down and picked up one of them, sighing.
"What do you think?" He stared at Wei Huai with eager eyes.
"I bought it. How much does it cost?"
"One tael of silver." After saying that, when he saw Wei Huai shaking his head seriously, he became nervous and shuddered. "You..."
“The price is too low.”
"What?" He simply couldn't believe that this guest said such shocking words. Some people thought the payment was too little! He said secretly.
"I made it very clear. This calligraphy should cost a lot." Wei Huai glanced at the slave behind him and said, "Take the money, ten taels of silver."
The man was really frightened. He hurriedly walked out, pounced forward, and was about to kneel to the ground. Wei Huai hurriedly caught him.
"Good man! Good man! Dare you ask me your name? I will repay you with death!" After saying this, he burst into tears and wanted to kowtow.
Wei Huai held him down anxiously, "No need to kowtow, I can't bear it!" Seeing the man raise his head, he slowly replied:
"My name is Wei Huai."
"Mr. Wei?"
He was stunned for a while, looked at his face, and then grabbed his arm excitedly: "Mr. Wei! You gave me another ten taels of silver. I don't know... I don't know what to do!"
"Why talk about this? Get up quickly."
"I dare not get up, Wei Jijiu!" He still did not put down Wei Huai's sleeves, "I have never met Jijiu, but you gave me twenty taels for no reason..."
"I just see Brother Zhong Fang's extraordinary literary talents and don't want Nanjing to lose this talent." Wei Huai pulled him to stand up, "I heard that Zhong Fang still owes a debt to others?"
"Wei Jijiu..." Yang Huaisheng was too embarrassed to tell him.
"There's no need to call me the sacrificial wine, it's unfamiliar. Just call me 'Ji Min'."
"Oh, Lord Ji, just let me repay the debt..."
"No. How can I bear to see you in such embarrassment? As long as it doesn't exceed ten thousand, with my current salary, I can help you pay it off!" He patted Yang Huaisheng on the shoulder.
"I...I still owe fifty-seven taels of silver on credit in Nanjing..."
"It's easy!" Wei Huai turned to the servant in charge and said, "You give him a fifty-tael silver note."
The servant in charge glanced around and whispered, "This is your five-month salary..."
Wei Huai was furious: "You are a slave, you shouldn't listen to me? I don't want to spend your money, just give it to me!"
The servant in charge nodded hurriedly, took out a fifty-tael silver note from his pocket, took out some broken silver, weighed it on the counter, and gave it to Yang Huaisheng, no more than seven taels.
"You take it first and come to me if you need anything."
After Wei Huai finished speaking, he smiled at him, bowed again, and walked off the bridge. Yang Huaisheng kowtowed three times to his back.
Within a few days, Yang Huaisheng took the money to pay off all the debts he had incurred, and he felt at ease. He walked to Huaiqing Bridge, bumped into people he knew, and said to them: "This is Wei Jijiu's kindness!"
"
But Wei Huai was afraid that Yang Huaisheng would not have a stable livelihood and would be poor in the future, so he wrote a seal to the prefect, recommending him as a great talent.
Yang Huaisheng found a job as the Registrar of the Imperial College.
Although Wei Huai never mentioned this matter, Yang Huaisheng knew in his heart that he was just thanking him secretly for his kindness.
After that, he often came to Wei Huai's house to chat with him, and the relationship became better and better. When he called him, he called him brother and brother, and acted informally. They also had similar interests and had the desire to reform, and they talked happily.
At that time, Yang Huaisheng had shaved off the beard on his cheeks, leaving only a small beard on his chin. His face was also clean, but he was as frugal as before in dressing, eating and drinking. He only ate grains and vegetables on weekdays, except on important days.
, never eat fish.
But his attitude towards Wei Huai has also quietly changed over time. The reverence and admiration for God has long since disappeared, and it is more of a concern between friends and brothers. Although he still mentions Wei Huai from time to time.
The kindness of knowing someone, but the tone of speaking about it is completely different from the first time.
In addition, his character is not that humble and respectful. After Wei Huai has known him for a long time, he discovered that his temper is relatively upright. If there is something that makes him dissatisfied, he will express it no matter where he is.
He doesn't look at other people's faces, and vice versa; when he sees Wei Huai doing something inappropriate on weekdays, he speaks out. Although Wei Huai has never argued with him for this, his colleagues in the Imperial College are often offended.
He was not very happy. Wei Huai also repeatedly advised him to be more tactful in his actions and speech. Although Yang Huaisheng agreed firmly, he still went his own way and did not change his temperament.
But Wei Huai felt that this was a man with good intentions, so he always had a heart-to-heart relationship with him and had no intention of alienating him.
Seeing that the weather was fine that day, Wei Huai said to Huai Sheng, "I have some official business and have no free time to meet Brother Zhong Fang. I finally had a rest today. Why don't you and I take the chessboard and play outside the house?
It's time to have some tea and talk, how about that?"
Yang Huaisheng nodded and said: "That's right. But since the people are willing to give it up, why not go to Huaiqing Bridge to see the old place and play chess and talk in the teahouse?"
"Okay!" Wei Huai agreed firmly.
The two men immediately dressed in commoners, took the chessboard, and walked happily to Huaiqing Bridge without any slaves, accompanied by their hearty laughter.