160, About Reading

160, About Reading

"When I studied, I never considered passing any exams, achieving any kind of honor, or even becoming an official. I enjoyed reading more for its own sake. Reading was simply a hobby in my life, a way to find myself and my ideals. What truly delighted me was navigating the ocean of knowledge, absorbing the insights of scholars throughout the dynasties, and understanding their thoughts through their writings. These are the most precious things."

"Of course, it would be great if I could achieve some success in my studies."

"If I don't achieve any results, I will face it calmly." Today, Lu Mingfei told his three good friends here about his views and thoughts on studying.

"Zhuoran and I have the same idea. If I fail the provincial examination three years from now, I will probably stop taking it and do something else that I enjoy."

"But now that I'm studying, I will do my best and give it my all so that I won't have any regrets when I think about it in the future." When Lu Mingfei said this, he was more calm, without any inferiority complex, or fear that he would not get good grades.

After hearing what Lu Mingfei said, Fu Boming, Zhang Lingxuan, and Ye Zhuoran all felt as if everything had suddenly become clear in their hearts.

Indeed, most people study for fame and fortune rather than for the enjoyment of reading itself. But today, hearing Lu Mingfei say that he enjoys reading itself, and the knowledge and gains it brings, is the greatest enjoyment and insight.

Fu Boming immediately stood up and bowed deeply to his junior brother. "After listening to Mingfei's words today, my mind suddenly became clear. I am far behind you. I will definitely work hard in the future to catch up with you."

"Senior brother, don't be like this..." Lu Mingfei hurried forward to hold their eldest brother's hand, trying to help him up.

But before he could help the person up, Zhang Lingxuan and Ye Zhuoran also stood up and bowed deeply to him.

"Listening to your talk today is worth ten years of reading."

"Stop messing around, both of you! Get up!"

After Lu Mingfei helped the eldest senior brother up, he turned around to help Zhang Lingxuan and Ye Zhuoran.

Later, the four of them sat in the teahouse for a while, talked a little, and then left together.

After leaving the teahouse, the four of them returned to the private school together and told their teachers the good news that all four of them had passed the college entrance examination. They also talked to their teachers about their future plans and listened to their teachers' suggestions and ideas.

Upon hearing that the three students planned to stay in Kyoto Prefecture to study and take the Imperial College entrance exam, Mr. Fu naturally supported them. "If you can get into the Imperial College, it will definitely be much better than studying in an ordinary academy."

"Father, I also want to stay in Kyoto Prefecture to study and not go to Qinglan Academy." Fu Boming struggled for a long time, and finally told his father and his three junior brothers here that he wanted to stay in Kyoto Prefecture.

"Are you staying here because of Mingfei and the others?" asked Mr. Fu.

"That's one of the reasons." Meeting his father's gaze, Fu Boming told him what Lu Mingfei had said about the four of them applying to the Imperial College together. "It would be great if we could all get in together this time. If we don't get in this time, we can try again next year. I believe as long as we work hard and put in the effort, we'll definitely be able to get in."

Another big reason why Fu Boming wanted to stay in Kyoto was that he felt his parents were getting older and in poor health. If he went to study at Qinglan Academy, thousands of miles away, he would be unable to help if something happened to his parents at home.

It would be better for him to stay in Kyoto Prefecture to study. If he was lucky enough to pass the palace examination, obtain the title of Jinshi, and get an official position, it would be best if he could stay in Kyoto Prefecture to serve as an official. If he went to other places to serve as an official, he could also bring his parents and family with him.

However, this is still a long way off, so for now I should decide whether to stay or go.

Hearing this, Mr. Fu nodded and looked at the child in front of him who was looking at him anxiously. He also saw three such outstanding students. He smiled and said, "If you want to stay, then stay."

"Thank you, father." Fu Boming stood up happily and bowed to his father.

Putting his hands away and meeting his father's smiling eyes, Fu Boming said, "As for Mu Chun, I'll go talk to him about it."

"Okay." Mr. Fu thought for a moment and nodded in response.

When Lu Mingfei, Zhang Lingxuan and Ye Zhuoran left the private school, it was their senior brother who saw them out to the door.

Lu Mingfei invited his senior brother, Zhang Lingxuan, and Ye Zhuoran: "Come to our house for a barbecue in a couple of days?"

"Okay, I still remember the barbecue we had at your house last time." Ye Zhuoran became interested when talking about food. "I went to your second uncle's house twice to buy barbecue later, but it didn't taste like the one you had."

Looking at the person whose eyes lit up when he mentioned food, Zhang Lingxuan shook his head helplessly.

"Oh, really? Then I want to try what it tastes like too." Fu Boming replied.

"Okay, let's make a deal. These two days... I'm sure you all have a lot on your plate, so let's move on to the afternoon of the 20th. Come to my house after sunset. I'll prepare everything in advance, so just bring someone to eat." Lu Mingfei hadn't had barbecue in a while, and he missed the taste. Everyone was waiting for the results, and he was busy helping his family make money, so they hadn't gotten together.

Now that the results were in, they could relax a bit and have a barbecue or something. Otherwise, if they were to decide on the academy, they might not have any free time or relaxation for the next three years.

"Sure, no problem." Ye Zhuoran replied.

Zhang Lingxuan and Fu Boming also nodded.

After making an appointment to meet again in a few days, Lu Mingfei, Zhang Lingxuan and Ye Zhuoran said goodbye to their senior brother, and the three of them left together.

***

When he returned home alone and found no one at home, Lu Mingfei closed the door and went out. He went to the pancake shop and found his mother and stepmother, and told them his college entrance examination results.

"I knew it, Mingfei, you'll definitely pass the exam." Upon hearing her adopted son say he had taken first place in the college entrance examination again, Xu Yueniang happily discussed with Liu Sanniang, "How about we set up two tables of food here tomorrow so we can celebrate?"

"I wonder what the rules are in the clan." When Liu Sanniang heard that her eldest son had ranked first in the college entrance examination, she thought of telling the people in the clan tomorrow.

"Oh, yes, it's such a big happy event, we should tell the people in your clan." Xu Yue Niang thought for a moment and suggested, "Why don't you tell Lu Chunping to tell him to notify the people in the clan to come to the city? Then we can set up a few tables of food in your courtyard or at the pancake shop. It won't be difficult, and it will save us from running around with Mingrui, Mingcong and the others."

"If that's too much trouble, we can find a restaurant in advance and order a few tables of food. It won't cost much. We'll each pay half of the money."

"Let's discuss this after Mingfei's father and Qingfeng return." Liu Sanniang was thinking that ordering a few tables of food at a restaurant would be too expensive. But she didn't want to go back and face the people in the village and the old house if she went back to her clan to hold a wedding.

But if they wanted to hold the wedding banquet in the city, they were worried that the people in the clan would not agree. So after thinking about it, Liu Sanniang decided to wait for her husband to come back and discuss it with everyone.

Lu Mingfei could see through his mother's thoughts and suggested, "How about we just have a meal together as a family? There's no need for a banquet."

"That won't do!"

"no!"

Liu Sanniang and Xu Yueniang said in unison.

Unexpectedly, his proposal was rejected by both mothers. Lu Mingfei could only shrug his shoulders and obey the adults' arrangements.

In the afternoon, when his father and adoptive father returned from outside the city, they sat down to discuss the wedding banquet for him. After the four adults discussed it, they all agreed to hold the banquet in the city and invite the old neighbors, relatives, friends, and clan members to come over for dinner.

As for the location, they decided to stay near the Shaobing Shop because it was bigger. One reason was that the courtyard they rented was a bit out of the way and hard to find, and another reason was that the place over there was a bit small and couldn't accommodate too many people.

Given the current relationship between the two families, holding the wedding banquet at the pancake shop would be beneficial to both of them.

"Then it's settled. We'll have the wedding banquet here." Lu Qingfeng looked at Lu Youtian and Liu Sanniang and said, "Tell Lu Chunping tomorrow and have him go back and say hello to your clan leader. We'll have the banquet in the city the day after tomorrow."

"Okay." Lu Youtian nodded, then remembered something and said, "I wonder if I should take Mingfei back to the village when the time comes. The last time we went back, the clan leader told us that if Mingfei passed the college entrance examination, we should go back and tell the ancestors the good news."

"Then let's not go out of the city tomorrow. Wait for Lu Chunping to come to the city to deliver things, and then you can discuss it. Or you can take Mingfei back to the village tomorrow and tell your clan leader the news?" Lu Qingfeng suggested.

"Mingfei, what do you say?" Lu Youtian asked his eldest son.

Seeing his father's hesitation, Lu Mingfei simply said, "Then let's go back tomorrow."

Lu Mingfei has not forgotten that the clan leader had helped them in the past. They have been doing business with the clan over the years. The bean sprouts sent to their stall by the clan are definitely tender and good, and the price has never increased.

Moreover, during festivals, the old clan leader and the uncles in the clan would ask Lu Chunping to send gifts to their homes. Although the gifts were not valuable, he kept this kindness in his heart.

The people in the Lu family's old house are not good people, but that doesn't mean that the whole village is full of bad people.

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