Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Huang Deming, one of the teachers of Zhengrong County School, is 33 years old this year. He passed the provincial examination eight years ago and this is his third time to take part in the provincial examination.
Before Huang Demin leaves, he must say goodbye to his friends.
Mr. Zhao from Anji Village is one of them.
At the beginning, Mr. Zhao had the opportunity to teach in the county school, but he had to take care of his family and the expenses in the county were high, so he returned to the village.
The position of teacher in the county school was very specific, and Huang Deming took the place of Teacher Zhao, so he was able to become a teacher in the county school.
However, when he came, his colleagues asked him to ask Master Zhao which student could write such a good sentence?
Huang T Demin came over to take a look and subconsciously asked the child.
When he saw the little boy in the bookstore, he felt that the child was extraordinary.
When he asked this, the child felt embarrassed.
Ji Yuan was naturally embarrassed.
It would be fine if he just said it in front of Master Zhao, but how come other people knew about it too?
An Changsun Jili and others who were originally making fun of Ji Yuan hurried away when they saw this.
They would inevitably feel guilty if adults saw them behaving like this.
Huang Demin looked at it and said, "Where does your Master Zhao live? I have forgotten where his house is."
Ji Yuan naturally led Master Huang forward, and Xiao Niu followed him slowly behind. Master Huang also saw from the corner of his eye that Ji Yuan's clothes were tattered and probably could not be worn anymore.
Such a poor child is still studying. He has only taken the provincial examination three times. Why should he be depressed?
This journey actually broadened Huang Demin's mind.
When they arrived at his friend's house, Master Zhao saw Ji Yuan's clothes and frowned deeply. He said, "Come here and change into the clothes made by your master's wife."
Madam Zhao used the fabric from Master Zhao's previous clothes. Since he seldom went out now, he had no use for those clothes, so she made several sets of clothes for Ji Yuan. According to custom, she left extra fabric so that when he grew up, she could let down the trousers and sleeves so that the clothes would still fit him.
Ji Yuan was very embarrassed. He could still loudly refute Ji Li and the others, but he felt guilty in front of Master Zhao.
Mr. Zhao's two grandsons and one granddaughter had not had new clothes for two years, and he was too embarrassed to give them any.
Master Huang smiled and said, "What a coincidence! I also brought some cloth. Let's make clothes for the children."
"I will take the provincial examination this year, and the county magistrate asked the instructor to allocate the clothing materials, charcoal and other items that are not distributed until the beginning of winter in advance. The cloth has just been brought here." Master Huang did not let Master Zhao refuse and handed the things directly to Madam Zhao.
Master Huang looked at Master Zhao and Ji Yuan. The two masters and apprentices looked very similar. He deliberately joked, "You little boy, go change your clothes with your mistress, or your master won't accept my things."
Only after Ji Yuan accepted the gifts from Master Zhao did Master Zhao have the nerve to accept the gifts from Master Huang.
Ji Yuan nodded in thanks, and Lady Zhao smiled, "Come here, I asked you to change into it early, and I even made a headband for you to look more energetic."
Wait until the era is over to change clothes.
Only then did Master Zhao and Master Huang greet each other truly.
Life was not easy for both of them.
Mr. Zhao has to support a family, and although Mrs. Zhao doesn't have to farm the land, she has to grow vegetables and sew to support the household.
Mr. Huang was in a similar situation. His parents were not around, but he had two children. In addition, the cost of preparing for the exam was quite high, so he saved up these clothes and other items.
The life of a scholar without any family wealth is generally like this.
After the greetings, Master Huang asked, "Is this your student?"
When this was mentioned, Master Zhao smiled with satisfaction: "Not bad."
Mr. Zhao took out the homework of the recent era.
After Master Huang heard the phrase "Let the wind blow from all directions", he has always been yearning for it. He will definitely pay attention to the homework of such students.
But when Mr. Huang got the homework, he said with a smile: "This handwriting is really not good."
"Who says it's not true?" Master Zhao said, "It's not his fault. His parents are not around. His uncle and aunt don't support him."
Just a few words express the sadness of Ji Yuan.
Master Huang sighed. He also had lost his parents and understood the pain.
Education costs money. Children whose parents are still around can barely make a living, let alone go to school.
From private schools to writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstone, everything costs money.
All the time is spent on reading. I don't do any work on weekdays, but I can't skimp on eating and drinking.
Every penny counts.
Master Huang knew that Master Zhao didn't like others mentioning these things, so he read the content of the Ji Yuan course carefully.
The more he looked, the straighter his back became.
To talk about the quality of the article.
Beautiful writing is good.
But the meaning is more important.
An article is like its author. The meaning of an article can allow a sharp scholar to see the other party's thoughts.
Mr. Huang couldn't help but sigh: "No wonder the student can write about the wind blowing from east to west, north to south. He is so determined and optimistic, so tenacious and upright, and it jumps off the paper."
Master Zhao stroked his beard and smiled, "Yes, I didn't expect that there is such a good seedling in our Anji Village."
"You know, he has been studying since mid-February, and now it's only early May, and he already has such insights."
"He is extremely talented." Master Huang made a direct statement, "He is definitely extremely talented."
Master Zhao did not deny it, but instead mentioned Master Huang's story: "I heard from your letter that you didn't plan to take the exam again this time?"
Master Huang smiled less: "To put it bluntly, relying on your wife to pawn her jewelry to take the provincial examination is not what a real man should do."
But he said he would not take the exam, so his wife exchanged the silver and brought it home overnight, telling him not to worry.
At worst, I can come back and continue teaching.
The county school instructor also said that this position would still be reserved for him.
My original feeling of being impressed by the fact that Ji Yuan was still studying despite his ragged clothes, faded away.
It just so happened that Ji Yuan had already changed his clothes and came out.
Madam Zhao's craftsmanship is impeccable. The size of the clothes is just right, and the reserved fabric is also sewn up so that ordinary people cannot see it.
During these few months, although Ji Yuan was not full, he was able to have three meals a day. He grew a lot taller and was not as thin as before.
Now his hair was combed up and tied with a headband, making him look like a heroic young man.
Master Zhao said, "Ji Yuan, Master Huang is here today, can you really not write the other two lines of that poem?"
ah?
Asking him to write poetry right after he arrives?
Ji Yuan looked confused, and Master Huang took over the conversation: "The provincial examination is so difficult. To be honest with you, Old Zhao, this is the last time anyway. You don't need to persuade me anymore."
Only then did Ji Yuan understand.
It turns out that Mr. Huang no longer wants to take the exam.
I took the exam for eight or nine years and it was indeed difficult.
It’s not that there aren’t people who took longer to take the exam, but Mr. Huang also seemed to be from a poor family.
The last time I met Mr. Huang in the bookstore, he said that if they were destined to be together, they could become teacher and student again. I guess he was just thinking about it for the last time.
Master Zhao asked him to compose a poem so that he could use the poem to comfort Master Huang.
Ji Yuan thought of the fabric that Master Huang gave to Master Zhao, then looked at the clothes he was wearing, gritted his teeth, and carried it on.
If there is one, there will be two.
He can still hold on.
"That poem is called "Bamboo and Rock." Ji Yuan said slowly.
"Hold fast to the green mountain and never let go, for the roots are in the broken rock."
"No matter how many blows you make, you will still be strong. No matter which direction the wind blows!"
Bamboo grows on rocks, clinging to the green mountains and refusing to give up, no matter whether it is scorching heat or severe winter, no matter whether it is east wind or west wind.
It is still strong and upright, still standing firm.
"Bamboo and rock." Master Huang stood up. "What a beautiful bamboo growing on a rock."
Master Huang looked stunned, and his hands were shaking slightly.
Plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum are known as the Four Gentlemen.
Bamboo is especially known for its unyielding nature.
It just happens that bamboo grows on hard rocks.
Such bamboo can withstand thousands of blows and remain strong, and can withstand winds from all directions.
Why couldn't he.
When Master Zhao wrote to them, he said that this poem was inspiring.
A great man in the Song Dynasty said: "The prosperity or decline of a person depends on his vital energy, and the order or chaos of the world depends on the morale of the people."
"When the vitality is strong, the skin and leather are full; when the morale is high, the court is safe and strong."
The general idea is that the health of the human body depends on the vital energy, and the health of the world depends on the morale.
This kind of morale can bring peace to the world and bring glory to the people.
This kind of morale that only an ordinary person can write about is manifested in this little child.
"What a good sentence! It's really a good sentence." Master Huang was excited, and Master Zhao was almost the same.
Master Zhao asked Ji Yuan to write the other two sentences intentionally or unintentionally, but he did not expect it to be like this.
It turns out it was about bamboo and rocks.
What a great poem about bamboo and rocks!
Master Huang turned around and said goodbye to Master Zhao: "I won't say much else. I will do my best in the provincial examination in August. Now you should go back and prepare for the exam."
He said goodbye to the people around him, and he might have thought of avoiding them.
This poem about bamboo and rocks completely broadened Mr. Huang's mind.
For the sake of his family and himself, he will try his best in this exam.
What does it matter if I fail?
Mr. Huang left as soon as he said he would, without even waiting for the village ox cart. It seemed that he wanted to walk to the county town by himself.
Fortunately, their village is not far from the county town.
Ji Yuan followed Master Zhao and saw him off from a distance. Unexpectedly, Master Huang turned back and said, "Such a good sentence will definitely be shared with other masters."
"Ji Yuan, we are waiting for you at the county school."
ah? !
Want to share more?!
Ji Yuan was dumbfounded.
Really, there is no need!
Master Huang was in high spirits at the moment, and he couldn't say anything, so he had to hold his breath and say goodbye to Master Huang.
Oh, forget it.
He should memorize the book quickly.
It would be even more embarrassing if I couldn't even get into the county school.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
