The lights are on at midnight and the rooster crows at dawn. It is the time for men to study.
As the provincial examination approached, Xu Yan naturally studied harder and more diligently to prepare for the exam.
The task of the little servant Shuangxi is to ensure logistics so that his young master will have no worries about food and drink.
But Xu Yan was reading the Four Books and his collected annotations when he heard a noise outside the house and couldn't help frowning.
"Shuangxi, go see what's going on."
The most important thing for reading is quietness. If the environment is noisy, how can you concentrate on reading?
The young servant boy opened the door and saw the waiter who had shown them the house yesterday standing outside the neighboring house, arguing with a scholar-like man. He turned back and reported to the young master, "Young master, it's just an ordinary dispute."
Seeing that the noise outside was getting louder and louder, Xu Yan could no longer sit still and stood up and walked outside.
He had just walked out the door when he heard the waiter sarcastically address the scholar in the next room, "Mr. Chen, you've been staying here for a few days now. You should know the rules, right? We only accept cash payments. We don't accept credit. You want to stay here, so it's only natural that you should pay, right? We're not a dilapidated temple outside the city. How can we let you stay here for free? Since you can't pay the rent, please move your gold body and free up a room so that we can continue to sell our shop."
The scholar surnamed Chen was so embarrassed by the waiter's words that his face flushed red. After a long pause, he replied, "Young man, could you give me one more day? I will definitely lend you the money."
Upon hearing this, the waiter shook his head and said with a stern face, "Mr. Chen, didn't you hear clearly? Our shop does not accept credit. If you don't have money, please pack up and leave. Don't make things difficult for me."
Xu Yan felt very uncomfortable when he saw this scene. A penny can make a hero fall, and seeing that the scholar surnamed Chen was about to be kicked out, he really couldn't bear it anymore.
"Ahem. How much is the room fee for this young master? I'll pay it."
The waiter turned around when he heard the voice and saw Xu Yan, immediately putting on a smile and saying, "Oh, isn't this Mr. Xu? Are you acquainted with this Mr. Chen?"
Xu Yan shook his head and said, "We've never met before."
The waiter was surprised and asked, "If that's the case, why are you paying for his room?"
"Does this require a reason? This young master is willing!"
The waiter thought to himself that he was indeed a spendthrift, with too much money to spend and so he came here to show off. However, he remained amiable and said, "It is only because I am not very eloquent, please do not blame me, sir. This Mr. Chen's room is not as well-facing as yours, it is the middle room, and the price is three taels of silver a night."
"How much do I want, Shuangxi? Give me five taels of silver first. The room and meal expenses will be deducted from it."
Xu Yan thought to himself that money couldn't buy his master's happiness, so if he was going to be a spendthrift, he had to do it thoroughly.
Although Shuangxi was a little reluctant, he still took out five taels of silver from the package and handed it to the waiter.
The waiter was even happier to receive the silver than to marry a wife. He smiled and said, "Mr. Xu is indeed a man of integrity. I admire you very much. Well, I'll bring you breakfast in a moment. Let's chat."
After saying that, he turned around and trotted downstairs.
Xu Yan was about to speak when the scholar surnamed Chen bowed deeply and said, "Thank you very much, benefactor."
Xu Yan was stunned. A long bow was a gesture used by younger generations when meeting their elders. The most common gesture between peers was a folded handshake. Besides, this scholar surnamed Chen should be older than him.
"No, no, why is this brother doing such a great honor?"
Xu Yan stepped forward and helped the scholar surnamed Chen up, sighing, "It's just a small favor, not worth mentioning."
"My benefactor, please don't say that. If it weren't for your righteous help, I'm afraid I would have been kicked out. The provincial examination is approaching, and losing my manners is a small matter. If I miss the exam, everything will be ruined."
The scholar surnamed Chen said with deep emotion, "Even a drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring, let alone such a great favor. Rest assured, benefactor, I, Chen Maoli, will be there whenever you need me."
Huh? Chen Maoli?
Xu Yan was quite surprised to hear this name.
"Brother, are you Chen Luqing from Cixi?"
Now it was Chen Maoli's turn to be confused. He stumbled and asked, "My benefactor...my benefactor, how could...how could you know my hometown and courtesy name?"
"Uh, well..." Xu Yan said with an awkward smile, "I have a cousin from Cixi. He once told me about a scholar named Chen Luqing in Cixi who was very knowledgeable and talented. I never thought I'd meet him here today."
Xu Yan thought to himself, "After all, I'm a professor specializing in the history of the Jiajing period. How could I not know the name Chen Maoli?" He was the 21st-place Jinshi in the imperial examination of the 29th year of the Jiajing reign, a second-class Jinshi, and later selected as a Shujishi. A true figure of his generation! Of course, his department was filled with outstanding figures, like Tang Ruji, the reigning champion and pioneer of the Yan Party; and Lü Diaoyang, who entered the officialdom with the second-place ranking and later rose to become Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion. But just because there are so many great figures, we shouldn't ignore other talents.
After all, Chen Maoli was a distinguished scholar in the Jiajing Dynasty. Being a scholar was not something you could just get; to put it bluntly, it was extremely valuable.
More importantly, Chen Maoli and he were from the same hometown. Although one was from Dinghai County and the other from Cixi County, they were both from Ningbo Prefecture.
In the Ming Dynasty's imperial examination system, the importance of fellow townsmen is self-evident.
If Xu Yan could pass the exam in three years, he would be in the same year as Chen Maoli. Fellow townspeople and the same year, that was an unbreakable friendship.
The thought of having such a cold stove to stir up made Xu Yan extremely excited. More importantly, this opportunity was won because of his "spendthrift".
It seems that occasionally spending money has its benefits.
Of course, Chen Maoli had no idea what Xu Yan was thinking. His face flushed with shame, and he shook his head, saying, "Your Excellency, I am too kind. I am but a mere student, not even a scholar. How can I deserve such praise?"
Xu Yan waved his hands repeatedly, "Brother Luqing, please don't underestimate yourself. With your talent, you can easily pass the imperial examination, not to mention the title of scholar. Oh, by the way, Brother Luqing is older than me, so please call me by my courtesy name, Yishi."
"Well... uh... Brother Yishi, I want to thank you for your righteous act today."
"Brother Lu Qing, please don't say that again, or I, Xu Yan, will be angry."
Xu Xiaolangjun pretended to be angry.
"My dear brother, are you Xu Yan from Dinghai County?"
"Exactly."
Chen Maoli was stunned at first, then exclaimed in ecstasy, "A seven-foot dragon coils around a black silk sash, a Japanese sword hangs from a Han waist. From whose hand could I get this? A hundred charges, like rolling sea dragons. My dear brother, you are truly a man of great talent! Even the governor boasts of a man of extraordinary talent. You are truly a young man with the spirit of a rainbow, with talent as brilliant as the fragrance of spring orchids. A hundred cups of wine are wasted, a thousand hairs of poetry shed in an instant. I have admired you since we met, and always regret that we haven't known each other well. I hope your good ideas and opinions will be put to use, instead of crying like Jia Sheng in vain. I am ready to take up my pen to compete in the Spring Examination, and I still have three thousand scrolls in my box. Success is easy, but turning the tide is the blessing of the people."
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