Chapter 602 As long as he wants to go, he will not be unable to cross

Sang Zhixia believed that I had tried something new and wanted to bring it home for everyone to try, no matter whether it was delicious or not, so she took Xu Yu and Xu Minghui to wander around the tea mountains for half a day.

If it’s not the right season, even if you put in a lot of effort, the final harvest will be very limited.

The bottom of Xu Yu's clothes, which he pulled up, was not even full of pockets, but he still washed it clean and had Sang Zhixia send it home that same day.

Even Jiang Yubai, who happened to be at the Xu family visiting the old man, got to try something new. But if you want to describe the specific taste, it can only be said that everyone has different opinions.

One day, it was too late after wandering around, so Sang Zhixia and the others simply stayed on the farm.

The furnishings here are not as complete as those in the northwest, and the living quarters are also simple, a two-story bamboo building with an open lower floor.

Xu Minghui explained: "It's hot here, with snakes, insects, rats and ants running rampant. Plus, the humidity is so hot and humid that it makes people uncomfortable if they live there for a long time. That's why most houses in the forest are built like this."

"Here, this is a mosquito repellent sachet. Hang it in a well-ventilated place in the house. It will give you a little peace at night."

Xu Yu took the sachet, rubbed it in his hands, and asked critically, "Just one?"

"How many more do you want?"

Xu Minghui said expressionlessly, "I found this one somewhere else."

"If my sister-in-law hadn't come with you, I wouldn't have bothered to give you this one."

People like Xu Yu deserved to be bitten by mosquitoes and unable to sleep at night in this deep mountain forest.

This guy deserves it.

Xu Minghui was exhausted after a day of running around. He gave Xu Ou a cold look and turned to leave, but was stopped by Xu Ou just as he was about to move his feet.

"When I went to the Lingnan Palace today, the old prince wanted to give you a civil servant position in the capital, but I refused."

Being appointed as an official at this time meant being branded as a confidant of the King of Lingnan. From then on, one would be solely under the jurisdiction of the royal palace, and the official position would have nothing to do with the legitimacy of the imperial court.

Even if Jiang Yubai ascends to the throne in the future, Xu Minghui can no longer follow the orthodox path of selecting officials for the imperial court, and the former mark of the Lingnan Palace will never be washed away.

It's not that this kind of mark is bad, but...

Xu Yu stroked the rough stitching of the sachet and paused, then said calmly, "For you, the starting point is too low."

Intellectuals have always looked down on each other since ancient times.

These scholars and students who studied for the imperial examinations and aspired to join the cabinet were like those who had been blinded and bewitched by some evil spirit when they opened the books of sages. They looked weak and incompetent on the outside, but in fact, the arrogance in their bones was more genuine than gold.

Moreover, scholars value their background.

The orthodox imperial examination is the best way to be selected, recommendation by aristocratic families is the second best, and being recommended by an affiliated family is the easiest.

After agreeing to the old prince's reward, Xu Minghui's future may indeed be much smoother. At least he doesn't have to roll around in the mud.

But his starting point was low, and it would not be easy for Xu Minghui to establish his reputation with his real talents and knowledge in the future.

Except for the time when Xu Yu had the patience to explain a few more words in front of Sang Zhixia, the rest of the time he would just throw the words out there, and whether you could understand them depended entirely on your ability.

Xu Minghui waited for a long time but he didn't say anything else. He laughed in anger, "You were so straightforward in rejecting me, which really shows your scholarly pride. But have you ever considered what would happen if I couldn't follow the path you proposed?"

Xu Yu's eyes were indifferent and he didn't respond.

Xu Minghui said self-deprecatingly, "Brother, the imperial examination is a difficult and arduous journey. There are many talented people, many more talented than me. If I can't get through this narrow path, won't you ruin my bright future?"

Xu Yu ignored the provocation in Xu Minghui's words and said calmly, "If you can't pass the exam and get into the top three, forget it. Just stay home and farm, idiot."

Xu Minghui: “…”

If you can’t get into the top three, you are a fool.

Xu Minghui really wanted to pry open Xu Yu's head to see if this man's brain was damaged by practicing martial arts.

Does he think the top scorer is cabbage?

Can you just pick up that thing?

Xu Minghui was so angry that he wanted to roll up his sleeves and break Xu Yu's neck.

Xu Yu glanced at him disdainfully and signaled with his eyes: If you can't win, stop struggling as soon as possible.

Xu Yu was too lazy to respond to Xu Minghui's outburst. He tossed the sachet up and said lightly, "When your sister-in-law takes over the farm, you can go home and study hard."

"Don't just wander around in the wild for a few years and forget everything."

Xu Minghui's breathing gradually became lighter. He leaned against the handrail of the bamboo building as if he had let go of some energy. He lowered his eyes and said, "We've just figured out something here. If my sister-in-law takes over everything, it will be very busy. Are you willing to let her go?"

"That's not your concern."

Without even turning his head, Xu Yu said, "I've already discussed this with my grandfather, and he agreed."

"When you go back, you can also keep an eye on the studies of Xu Mingyang and the other boys, so that Grandpa can worry less."

Xu Minghui grimaced as if he had been kicked in the head, and said with obvious disdain, "Then I might as well just farm here."

If he wasn't a legitimate grandson, someone like Xu Mingyang would have been thrown out of the study by the old man years ago.

Now there is also Sang Yanyou who is on par with Xu Mingyang...

Who would be so desperate as to stare at them?

Xu Yu sneered and refused to continue. Xu Minghui suddenly said, "Brother."

"What about you?"

Xu Minghui was arranged to go home and take the orthodox imperial examination, but what about Xu Yu?

The Xu family came here and received great care from the Lingnan Palace. The grain seeds sent by Sang Zhixia were not enough.

Xu Minghui narrowed his eyes sharply, his voice inexplicably lowered: "What did you promise the old prince?"

Xu Yu paused for a moment and said slowly, "I will join the army."

"you……"

Xu Minghui's throat tightened but he didn't know what to say, but Xu Yu himself was very calm.

"The Xu family rose to prominence through military exploits. It was so a hundred years ago, and it will remain so a hundred years from now."

"My joining the military shouldn't surprise you."

But compared with the numerous difficulties and dangers on the road to the imperial examination, the battlefield in the army is a life-and-death situation.

What benefits can be obtained for free?

The most unattainable benefits require your life to obtain.

Xu Minghui knew that anything he said would be hypocritical. He was silent for a moment and whispered, "It is a big taboo to be more successful than your boss. Just don't forget this."

"besides……"

"Nuonuo and Yuanbao are still young, so they should keep an eye on their own heads."

Xu Yu made a disdainful click of his tongue, waved his hand to signal Xu Minghui to leave, and went to find Sang Zhixia with the sachet in his hand to happily present the treasure.

Xu Minghui looked like a fool, silent and standing there in a daze for a long time, then quietly went down the second floor of the bamboo house.

Xu Minghui could actually guess Xu Yu's plan.

The current situation is special, so Xu Yu must first establish his career through military merit, so that the Xu family can gain a foothold in front of the King of Lingnan.

But Xu Yu cannot always be the spearhead charging forward.

Otherwise, when the birds are gone and the bows are put away, the Xu family will still end up in decline.

When Xu Yu needs to temporarily avoid the spotlight, the Xu family needs the next person to step forward and help the Xu family stabilize its foundation in a less conspicuous way in order to maintain its long-term survival.

That person is him.

Xu Yu was helping him to walk a broader path.

"Are you going to take the imperial examination to join the cabinet?"

Xu Minghui glanced down at his hands, which were dry and cracked from rolling around in the fields for too long, and sneered, "Just looking at this hand, who would tell it was once used to hold a pen?"

"but……"

"Who can say that a hand that has held a hoe can no longer hold a pen?"

This road is not easy to walk on.

But as long as he wants to go there, he will not be unable to get past it.