Chapter 44
A moment later, the old man came over. He glanced at Wen Shi, but didn't seem very surprised.
"Come in first."
After Wen Shi went inside, he respectfully placed the article he had written on the table to the side.
After picking it up, Mr. Huang glanced at it briefly, then looked at it very carefully. His expression remained unchanged throughout. Wen Shi, standing to the side, couldn't help but hold his breath and concentrate.
To be honest, it's really hard to keep your emotions in check, but he'll have to learn how to control them as much as possible in the future.
Sometimes, when people panic, they tend to make the wrong choices.
After reading the last article, Mr. Huang put it aside and looked at Wen Shi.
"Your knowledge is somewhat shallow, and your handling of this case is rather rigid. Do you know that your judgment is a case of 'giving both sides equal blame'? Although the one who started the fight was wrong, his land was encroached upon, so he was naturally wronged as well. Clearly, the other party was also at fault first. Judging from these articles, your understanding of the law is not solid either."
"I suppose your math skills are just average, and as for your writing, they're not exactly impressive either."
The old gentleman's words could almost be considered a denial of Wen Shi's claims.
He remained calm upon hearing this and then said, "Thank you for your guidance, sir. I will certainly strive to improve and study diligently when I return."
"It's getting late, I won't disturb you any longer, I'll take my leave now."
After hearing this, he turned to leave.
"Wait a minute."
He was taken aback when he heard this.
At home, Yingxiang stayed in the house waiting for someone. You know, Wen Shi usually doesn't stay out until dark, but it's so late today and he still hasn't come back.
It was pitch black outside, and Yingxiang couldn't help but feel a little worried.
Several times she wanted to go out and look for him, but she held back in the end. First, it was snowing heavily outside, and second, what if she went out and Wen Shi came back right away? Wouldn't that mean she would miss him?
This prefecture was quite large, and Yingxiang finally couldn't sit still any longer. She paced back and forth in the room, very anxious.
Just as she was about to go out to look for him, the door was suddenly pushed open, and she saw Wen Shi.
Wen Shi ran all the way back. He was excited and visibly happy. He was panting heavily and seemed a little out of sorts.
"Husband, are you alright?"
Yingxiang asked with a worried expression.
“It’s alright, the old man agreed. He agreed to let me become his apprentice and is willing to take me in.”
After hearing this, Wen Shi sniffed, almost bursting into tears of joy. Ying Xiang, after recovering, nodded repeatedly.
"That's wonderful! I knew this old gentleman had a discerning eye."
After being criticized, Wen Shi secretly felt he had no hope. He figured it was okay if he wasn't selected; he would just find another academy after the New Year to study hard and continue his studies.
It is certainly good to have a famous teacher, but if not, the path of learning cannot be abruptly cut off.
He was about to leave when the old man suddenly called him back.
"You are not very knowledgeable and have limited experience, but I can see that you are very hardworking and serious. Go back and pack your things, and come to study tomorrow. Be there before dawn. You haven't forgotten what I told you before, have you? Ten articles a day from now on. Can you handle that? This is a lot of pressure for me."
"In addition, you need to bring your own meals."
When Wen Shi heard what the gentleman said next, he was overjoyed and felt as if the situation had taken a dramatic turn for the better. He nodded repeatedly.
After being escorted out by the Huang family servants, Wen Shi felt a little elated. His previous perseverance had really been worth it. After leaving the Huang family, he was even more excited and ran all the way home. He hadn't been this happy and excited in a long time.
Unexpectedly, he actually succeeded in becoming an apprentice. The road ahead is long, but he has already taken a big step forward.
"By the way, Yingxiang, have you eaten yet? I'll go make you something."
"No need, I've already eaten. I even saved some for you. Go to the kitchen and get it."
In ancient times, husband and wife were considered as one. Yingxiang knew very well that if he smelled good, she might not necessarily benefit as well, but if he smelled bad, she would definitely suffer along with him. She hoped that he would get better and better.
Huang Family
After watching Wen Shi leave, the old gentleman picked up the article Wen Shi had left behind and placed it directly on the top shelf of his bookshelf.
Since his return and the announcement of his return, he has met with at least five or six hundred students, if not a thousand. Among them, regardless of wealth or poverty, Wen Shi is one of the most dedicated students.
His writing is not particularly outstanding; at present, his only advantage is his beautiful handwriting. No one can be born with such beautiful handwriting; it must be the result of hard work.
Many principles are actually the same, but few people are willing to put them into practice. Diligence and hard work are easy to talk about, but really difficult to do.
Based on his previous conversation with Wen Shi, he could predict what kind of person he was.
Even if he is not very knowledgeable now, as long as he works hard, his knowledge will not be bad in the future. If he knows everything, then what is the point of having him as a teacher? He is not old. As long as he is smart and can integrate knowledge, he will definitely be able to pass the imperial examination in the future.
Back in the backyard, seeing that his wife was still awake, Mr. Huang shared the news with her.
"Looks like a good kid. Such a serious attitude is really rare. He's a bit like you back in the day."
The old woman had gray hair, a kind face, and spoke gently. Her needlework never stopped.
"It's getting late, let's stop and rest."
Looking back on his youth, the old man could only sigh with emotion, but this was just the beginning, and as for the future, more observation was needed.
Before going to sleep, Wen Shi held his wife in his arms, his hands unconsciously starting to caress her waist. Yingxiang was a little sleepy and kicked him.
After calming down, I closed my eyes and went to sleep.
The next day, around 4 a.m., Wen Shi dressed and washed up, then went to cook, following the same routine as before. However, this time he brought his book box with him, as the New Year was approaching and he couldn't let his guard down.
On the road, the cold wind howled and the snow fell heavily, but he didn't feel as uncomfortable and tormented as at the beginning. On the contrary, his steps were very light.
This time, he got in without any problems.
“Student Wen, this is the classroom. You cannot go to the backyard. From now on, you can come directly here to study. If the teacher is not here, you can review your lessons in advance. When he comes, he will naturally teach you and answer your questions.”
"good."
After watching the servant leave, there were quite a few desks and chairs in the classroom, but only fewer than twenty people were sitting there. Everyone glanced at him and then turned their heads away.
Some people didn't even pay attention to Wen Shi from beginning to end, focusing solely on the content they were writing.
To be able to study under a famous teacher is, to some extent, a matter of bringing honor to one's ancestors. However, the pressure on them is also immense. Master Huang is exceptionally strict, and punishments are often doubled. Many people are trembling with fear, lest they be punished.
As dawn broke, Wen Shi sat up straight. It was time for class, and the old gentleman slowly walked over.
At home, Yingxiang got up early, which was unusual for her. After she was fully awake, she touched her hair, which was still dry, but her belly had begun to protrude slightly.
Yingxiang thought of the baby in her belly, so she stopped staying in bed, heated up her breakfast, and came back to sign in.
Among a large pile of food, something suddenly caught her eye, and she chose it without hesitation.
"System, you're so smart! How did you know I was thinking about this?"
The spicy and fragrant rice noodles are topped with a thick layer of meat sauce, which looks and smells delicious. After opening the box, a wonderful aroma wafts out. Yingxiang only took one bite of the rice noodles and her eyes widened in surprise. It was so delicious.
In the end, she didn't even leave a drop of soup. After eating and drinking her fill, she simply threw the plastic box into the system's trash can without any trouble.
At the academy, Wen Shi felt exhausted after a morning of classes. The old teacher was very strict and explained things in great detail, even combining theory with practice to analyze and explain things to them. The law was precisely his weak point, so he was particularly attentive.
There is a one-hour break at noon. Meals are to be brought by the students themselves. Private academies usually do not provide meals, let alone this newly opened academy. When Wen Shi arrived in the morning, he put a bowl in his book box with two mutton buns inside, which served as his lunch.
The book box didn't keep the food warm, so the buns were already cold and hard. There was a charcoal fire in the classroom, so the food could be heated. Other students also brought their own food and placed it next to the charcoal fire. As soon as the food became warm, they could eat it. Some even brought sweet potatoes and potatoes to roast on the side.
The teacher left after class and naturally didn't care about them. The hot water and charcoal in the back were replenished and replaced regularly, so the classroom was very warm.
Wen Shi stuck chopsticks into the buns, brought them close to the fire, and turned them over and over, which was a way of baking the buns. He didn't like eating raw or cold food. After the two buns were heated, the skin became dry and golden. Although they weren't as delicious as steamed ones, they were still edible. He wasn't that picky, especially since his wife had made them especially for him.
After eating and drinking his fill, Wen Shi lay down on the table and fell asleep. In the afternoon, he continued with his classes.
Yingxiang wrapped herself up tightly and went out for a walk. She couldn't stay indoors all the time because it was very cold outside. She walked around the neighborhood and got a little sleepy before going back inside.
She felt tired and went to sleep soon after returning home. When Wen Shi came back in the evening, she was still asleep. Wen Shi moved very quietly. He put the book box away and went straight to the kitchen.
He glanced at his wife, who was still asleep, and his expression softened. A short while later, he went to the kitchen.
Starting a fire, cooking, making porridge, stir-frying vegetables—the aroma alone is enough to satisfy any craving.
When Yingxiang woke up, it was already completely dark. But she felt really comfortable after a good night's sleep. What made her even happier was that dinner was ready right after she got up.
After fixing her hair and drinking a glass of water, she began to question Wen Shi, who didn't hide anything and told her everything.
“Husband, there aren’t many buns, but we can’t eat this every day at noon. Tomorrow we’ll get up earlier and make some rice and stir-fried dishes. It’s very convenient that we can heat up our food at the academy.”
Yingxiang said this.
"Well, how are you today?"
"Don't worry, everything is fine, I'm not showing much."
Yingxiang glanced at her abdomen subconsciously. Counting the time, she was four months pregnant. Her belly was a little big, but not obvious; it couldn't be seen through her clothes.
Eat more.
A bowl of hot white porridge was placed in front of her. Yingxiang smiled, picked up the spoon, and began to eat slowly and methodically.
"I wrote a letter home while I was at the academy today. I think I can send it back soon. We won't go back for the New Year. I'll go to the market to buy some things when I'm resting. The New Year is approaching, and there will be fewer and fewer people in the city."
"good."
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