I originally thought that after the excitement, everyone would return to the theme, not only reciting poems and writing poems, but also criticizing the current ills. However, I unexpectedly underestimated the passionate admiration of these men for Li Xiaotian, and began to discuss the Minister of the Ministry of Finance in detail. Each one of them praised Li Xiaotian.
He kept saying that as long as he met him once, he would have the feeling that he would have no regrets in his life. Li Xiaotian, as the person involved, heard the praise that was almost a song of praise. No matter how thick-skinned he was, he couldn't stand it anymore and couldn't bear it, so he hurriedly ran away downstairs.
After leaving the Juxian Pavilion, the warm wind blew on his face. Li Xiaotian felt a burning sensation on his face. It must have been those guys' gorgeous eulogies just now that made him feel shy. But when he thought about it carefully, what they said seemed to be the truth. It was the truth.
, Why feel ashamed? Thinking of this, Li Xiaotian suddenly became cheerful and calmly accepted the praises, feeling the spring breeze on his face.
boom.
Li Xiaotian was strolling on the street and passed by an inn. Suddenly, a man flew out of the inn, lying on all fours like a dog eating shit. Several old sacks were scattered on the ground. The most conspicuous thing was lying on the ground.
Next to it was a straw mat with residual thread and several yellowed books.
"You dare to stay in an inn if you don't have money? I think you're laying on the floor next to a cesspit and seeking death!" the inn staff said viciously.
Obviously, the guy lying on the ground lives in Bawang Store.
After the hotel staff left, the man slowly got up, touched his sore face, and began to pick up the items that had fallen to the ground.
"Are you an examinee?" Li Xiaotian asked. As a former national examination candidate, he knew very well that the books on the ground were used for the national examination, so he asked this question.
The man looked at Li Xiaotian with suspicious eyes and nodded.
Li Xiaotian asked again: "There are still a few days until the national exam, what are your plans now?"
The man did not answer in a hurry until he had finished sweeping up the grass. He sighed slightly and said: "It is not easy for a poor scholar like me to travel thousands of miles to Beijing safely. As for my plan, of course I will find a way to survive these few days."
God, wait until the exam starts."
Li Xiaotian asked again: "How to survive?"
"I see that my brother is wearing brocade and has a good air. He looks like a scholar. He is definitely not a poor scholar. He wouldn't ask me for advice on how to make a living, right?" Seeing Li Xiaotian insisting on asking, the man expressed his doubts.
Li Xiaotian said awkwardly: "It's just out of curiosity. If brother doesn't want to talk about it, that's okay."
"There is an abandoned house on the outskirts of Kyoto. Many cash-strapped candidates gather here to keep warm. I plan to go there to deal with it." The man said helplessly, forcing a wry smile.
Li Xiaotian laughed at himself: "Brother, can you take me with you? I have no other intention. I have a strange problem, that is, I am more curious than a cat."
"It doesn't matter. It's not a big national secret anyway. If you want to come, just come."
In this way, Li Xiaotian followed the man and went straight to the suburbs of the city to break up his house.
Halfway through, he thought that it would be inappropriate to go empty-handed for his first visit, so Li Xiaotian bought a jar of wine and packed ten kilograms of meat. For a man who was about to have a meal and sleep in the open, this was undoubtedly a huge expense. When they met for the first time,
He was so heroic, and he couldn't help but change his mind about Li Xiaotian a lot.
As the man said, there is indeed an abandoned house that occupies a large area on the outskirts of Shang'an City. As soon as you enter the door, you can see figures scattered everywhere in the large courtyard, some sitting on the steps, or leaning against the faded pillars, or
Standing under the tree, without exception, they were all looking at the books attentively, muttering words from time to time, mostly reviewing.
The two of them entered the house, and no one paid attention, because this small house always added people every day. The man entered the house and found a temporary sleeping place, laid out a straw mat, and put down his baggage. Li Xiaotian looked around the house and above the beams.
It was covered with intricate white spider webs, the ground was full of pits, the roof was like a sieve, and there were windows on all sides. For a moment, Li Xiaotian recalled the difficult years of sleeping in the wilderness.
There was no time to express too many emotions, and then Li Xiaotian came to the courtyard and greeted all the candidates to come in to drink and eat meat. Everyone heard this and looked at Li Xiaotian with suspicious eyes, doubtful. At this time, the man was holding a bowl of wine in one hand and gnawing on it in the other.
The big chicken legs showed with practical actions that what Li Xiaotian said was true. Upon seeing this, they all put away their books and went into the room to have dinner.
Since the spring cold has not gone away, although there are leaks everywhere in the house and sunlight seeps in, it is not as bright as an oil lamp after all. So, a bonfire is lit and everyone sits around it. At first, they are still cautious. After a few sips of wine,
It started to become lively, chatting and laughing, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.
"I see that your brother is elegant and elegant. He must also be a scholar. He must be here to take the national examination, right?" At this time, someone suddenly asked Li Xiaotian.
"I used to be a candidate. Due to unexpected events, I was unable to take the national exam. After that, I went around in circles before settling in Kyoto. I started a small business and made a little money. To be honest, I was also born in poverty. I know that it is not easy for you. I can help you a lot.
If not, we can only express our feelings over a meal of wine and meat." Li Xiaotian replied without missing a beat, still not revealing his identity.
"Brother, you are humble. As the saying goes, a drop of kindness should be repaid by a spring. This meal of wine and meat is simply a timely help, which shows your deep affection." The man who led Li Xiaotian to the deserted house said sincerely. Regarding Li Xiaotian's kind deeds,
It can be said that he saw it in his eyes and remembered it in his heart.
"Come, let's toast him together!"
One person suggested it, and everyone responded happily. As a result, everyone unanimously raised their glasses to Li Xiaotian, and Li Xiaotian also happily drank back.
"Since you live in Kyoto, can you ask me about someone?" As soon as the wine finished, one person started to search for someone with Li Xiaotian. No, it was not so much one person, it was more like everyone. From their eager eyes, it was obvious that
That one person represents everyone.
Li Xiaotian spoke quickly and said: "But it doesn't matter."
"Brother, I have heard about the newly promoted Minister of Household Affairs and told us that we admire him very much."
Hearing the familiar topic, Li Xiaocai suddenly realized what everyone was expecting.
"Unfortunately, I haven't seen you, I've only heard about it." Li Xiaotian said, with a look of pity on his face, just like the so-called showmanship.
"There may be something new in Kyoto that we don't know about. Brother, why don't you tell us about it?" One person suggested, and everyone agreed.
At the request of everyone, Li Xiaotian had no choice but to briefly summarize what the candidates described in Juxian Pavilion. Everyone was quite disappointed to hear that there was no difference from the information they knew.
Although we didn't get any more information from the admirer, it opened up a rare conversation box with a common language. From then on, everyone started talking about the mysterious Shangshu of the Ministry of Finance. Every word you said to me showed your strong admiration for Li Xiaotian.
What's more, in order to praise Li Xiaotian's noble sentiments, he proposed to compose poems and recite them. The most terrible thing is that no one objected and they hit it off. Li Xiaotian was extremely embarrassed by this kind of commendation meeting and quickly found a friend.