Zeng Zhui only found out after leaving Xieyue Tower that the first person who stood up to speak for him was actually Lin Qinnian.
Lin Qinnian single-handedly fought for fair opportunities for scholars from poor families to take the imperial examinations, allowing more scholars from poor families to be employed. He was the most respected person of his time.
The other gentlemen also had distinguished backgrounds, all of them being prominent officials in the imperial court. Mr. Du Hui, in particular, was the Director of the Imperial College and possessed his family's long-lost masterpiece, "Ziyun's Four Fu."
This is simply God's will. The ancestors must have seen his hardships and sincerity, so they allowed him to get help from all the nobles when he was in danger.
But before Zeng Zhui could get too excited, several gentlemen poured cold water on him, saying that he still had some shortcomings and suggested that he postpone taking the imperial examination for a year.
Zeng Zhui was both embarrassed and unwilling to accept the result. Du Hui saw this and specially organized a discussion meeting in his house, inviting Zeng Zhui to discuss and debate with several scholars waiting for the imperial examination.
After attending the "Shiwen Yaji" gathering, Zeng Zhui developed a prejudice against the imperial examination candidates in Beijing, believing them to be nothing special. Consequently, he was let down. As a result, he was completely defeated at the Qingtan meeting. He went there full of confidence but returned dejected.
It turned out that there were indeed many hidden talents in the capital, and not all of them were as useless as Xieyuelou, especially the one named Hu Xu, whose talent made him feel ashamed of himself.
Zeng Zhui knew that with them around, he had no hope of getting the first place. After the Qing Tan meeting, he decided to stay in Beijing and study, returning to take the exam the following year, without anyone's persuasion. However, his remaining money was insufficient to support his expenses in Beijing. He had originally hoped to earn some money through his poetry, but instead, he had offended everyone.
In desperation, Zeng Zhui shamelessly went to Zhanchun Bookstore and begged Xu Jiang to take him in. However, the bookstore already had a fierce little maid and a black-faced god, so he had no need for help.
When Zeng Zhui was in trouble, Xu Jiang came up with an idea and asked him to ask Du Hui for help, maybe he could find a job.
Zeng Zhui was humiliated at the discussion meeting held by Du Hui, and he didn't want to go at first, but he felt that Xu Jiang was right. When you go out, you have to keep your face in your pocket and ask for help when you need it.
He went to Du Hui in a hesitant manner and asked for help. Unexpectedly, Du Hui was not only willing to help him, but also wanted to accept him as his disciple and asked him if he was willing.
Only a fool would not agree to this!
Zeng Zhui knelt down on the spot and worshipped Du Hui as his master. After that, he hugged Du Hui's legs and cried.
His father died when he was young, and he had not received any fatherly teaching or love for many days. Now that he received the care and love from Du Hui who was like a teacher and a father, he could no longer hold back his grievances and poured them out all at once.
Du Hui felt sad and pitiful at first, but after seeing Zeng Zhui wipe his snot and tears all over his trouser legs, all his good intentions disappeared. He then frowned and scolded him. Only then did Zeng Zhui shut up, wiped his tears, and got up from the ground.
After learning of his predicament and knowing that he had a hot temper, Du Hui was afraid that he would cause trouble outside again, so he put him under his supervision.
Zeng Zhui moved into the Du Mansion from then on and studied under Du Hui. Du Hui not only provided for his food, clothing, housing and transportation, but also found him a substitute teaching job in the Imperial College. He treated his own son in the same way.
His only flaw was that he was too strict, treating everyone like his own son, which made Zeng Zhui terrified whenever he saw him. However, it was precisely because of his strict guidance that Zeng Zhui's knowledge improved by leaps and bounds, and his character became even more resilient.
Zeng Zhui's arrival also brought a touch of freshness and novelty to the Du family, whose family traditions were strict and almost harsh.
After becoming Du Hui's disciple, Zeng Zhui did not forget Mr. Lin, Lou Jing, Xu Jiang and others who stood up for him that day. He never gave away good things when he got them, and never refused help when they needed him.
After a while, he not only had teachers and elders, but also friends, brothers... and a sweetheart.
Zeng Zhui often wondered how he could have fallen for a little hoe who cooked terrible food and was so mean. And she was the person he respected the most, the apple of Lin Qinnian's eye.
Sometimes he couldn't help but admire himself for being so brave.
Perhaps it was because they shared the same suffering, perhaps it was because he admired her gentle exterior but strong interior character, or perhaps it was because he saw in her the same tenacity as his mother and elder sister... In short, when he realized what he was thinking, he couldn't take his eyes off her.
In the spring examination in February, Hu Xu passed.
In addition to envy, I couldn't help but imagine the future, where I would get a good score on the imperial examination, bring honor to the family, and then... have a wedding night.
He made up his mind to study hard with Du Hui and realize his goals one by one.
But who knew that the situation would change suddenly. Du Hui was falsely accused of leaking the test questions and cheating, and was unjustly imprisoned. All the members of the Du family were also confined to the mansion.
When the eldest brother heard the news, he was afraid that he would be implicated, so he secretly let him leave the house.
He watched Du Hui fall into danger but was powerless to do anything, and saw his reputation ruined but unable to recover. It was not until this moment that Zeng Zhui realized how insignificant and humble he was as the number one in Shu.
But even though he was humble, he could not do nothing and allow his teacher to be slandered at will, so he went to Taikang Restaurant and wrote an article to denounce Zhao Xiu, the culprit who falsely accused his teacher.
Fortunately, he was not fighting alone. In the court, Lou Yunchun, Hu Xu and other upright ministers assisted him. Behind him, Xu Jiang, students of the Imperial College and students from poor families echoed him, all of whom spoke up for Du Huizhen.
In addition, since the innocent are innocent and there was no actual evidence, Du Hui saved his life and official position, but was dismissed from his post and exiled to a remote and barbaric area.
Therefore, teachers, students, fathers and sons had to be separated.
I once felt unfair and indignant about it, but I knew this was the best outcome.
Du Hui was very calm, but he was most worried about him, so he entrusted him to Lin Qinnian before leaving Beijing.
Zeng Zhui looked happy on the surface, but deep down he was reluctant to leave Du Hui. He was afraid that Du Hui would be sad, so he acted heartless and let him go to his post without any worries.
Du Hui also knew the truth, but he did not point it out. He endured the reluctance and set out on the journey south.
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