Chapter 249 Congratulations
Jishan is located in the north of Shaoxing City. It is famous for the lectures given by the late Ming scholar Liu Zongzhou. Over time, it became a college. It was later destroyed due to war. It was rebuilt during the reign of Emperor Kangxi and became an official college. For more than 200 years, famous scholars often gave lectures here. It can be regarded as one of the most famous colleges in Shaoxing.
Shou Jingwu recommended Zhang Xingjiu to study here, hoping that he could achieve success in his studies.
As a fourteen-year-old scholar, it was not difficult for Zhang Xingjiu to study at Jishan Academy. The school principal and teachers were all very welcoming. After passing the entrance examination and paying the tuition, he was successfully admitted to the academy.
Since then, Zhang Xingjiu has lived in a college outside the city, and only returned home to visit his parents in his spare time. However, compared with when he was in Sanwei Bookstore, his pressure was less. At least now his livelihood is no longer a problem, and he has a certain social status, so he doesn't need to be so anxious.
Therefore, in addition to his daily studies, he often socialized and sang with students in Shaoxing City, and also got to know many famous figures in later generations.
For example, Xu Xilin, who is seven years older than him, passed the imperial examination and became a scholar last year. He can be considered as Zhang Xingjiu's predecessor. He is just 20 years old this year. His ancestors have been in business for generations and have considerable assets. His parents hope that he can concentrate on his studies and pass the imperial examination as soon as possible to bring honor to the family.
Xu Xilin had no such plan. He was indignant at the corruption of the Qing Dynasty and was determined to find a way to save the country. He began to study mathematics, surveying, gymnastics and other subjects. It happened that Zhang Xingjiu was quite talented in mathematics, and the two became friends.
However, Zhang Xingjiu seldom discussed state affairs with Xu Xilin. He was conceited that he did not have Chen Ke's ability and confidence in forming a team to overthrow the corrupt old court. Of course, more importantly, he vaguely felt that doing so would lead to unexpected disasters.
After a while, Xu Xilin stopped talking to him about these things. After all, there were many young students like him in Shaoxing City. If Zhang Xingjiu didn't want to chat with him, he could just find someone else to chat with.
That day, Zhang Xingjiu came out of the academy as usual and went into the city to go home. Halfway through, he suddenly saw a familiar figure. He hurriedly walked a few steps and shouted, "Ah Zhang, Ah Zhang!"
Unexpectedly, Zhang quickened his pace and ran forward as if he didn't hear anything. Zhang Xingjiu hurriedly took a few steps and chased after him, relying on his better health than Zhang. "Zhang, I haven't seen you for a long time. How is your family doing recently?"
Ah Zhang's face turned red and he held the package tightly in his arms, seemingly unwilling to talk to Zhang Xingjiu about family matters.
Zhang Xingjiu looked up and saw that Ah Zhang was going to a pawnshop. He understood everything now. "Is your uncle still not well? Come on, I'll go with you to finish your business, and then we'll go visit your uncle together."
"A Tu, I'm sorry to embarrass you!" Ah Zhang revealed the truth at this time. It turned out that since being stripped of his official title, Zhou Fengyi had been either sulking or drinking all day long. Over time, his health was ruined.
Their family spent a high fee of one yuan and forty cents on medical treatment and invited several famous doctors in Shaoxing City to treat the disease, but the condition did not improve. Instead, the family savings were exhausted. Now they can only pawn their household items to get money to pay for Zhou Fengyi's medical treatment and medicine.
"Alas, uncle is suffering from a heart disease. Medicine alone may not be enough!" Zhang Xingjiu sighed. He wanted to help but was powerless. Zhou Fengyi was worried about his father's safety and his own fame. Neither of these two things could be interfered with by a mere talent.
He could only take Zhang to the pawnshop. "Pawnshops always look down on people. At least I have a long gown. Maybe I can get a few more dollars by accompanying you."
Ah Zhang regarded Zhang Xingjiu as his best friend and did not need to worry about his face in front of him. They walked in together. When they reached the high counter, he stood on tiptoe and handed over the mother-child association that his mother had given him.
This is a treasure brought from the temple. There are two jade Buddhas, one large and one small, which look like mother and child, hence the name.
"Are you going to pawn it dead or alive?" Huizhou Chaofeng asked in a long voice.
"It works!"
Chao Feng looked through it carefully, and even whispered a few words to the people around him, and then he shouted like singing an opera, "It's a piece of old stuff from the Mother and Child Association, it's not very useful, but for the Buddha's sake, I'll pawn it for twelve dollars!"
Zhang was shocked. "Mom said this thing is very valuable, why is it only worth twelve dollars?"
Hearing this, Chao Feng immediately pushed Zi Mu Hui forward and said disdainfully, "If you don't want to be the president, just take it back!"
"Hehe! The jade of this mother-and-child jade is so fine, and the carving is also excellent. It should be worth more than twelve dollars, right?" Zhang Xingjiu immediately stood up to speak for A Zhang.
The court official turned around and saw Zhang Xingjiu's long gown first. Then he looked at his appearance and quickly stood up and greeted him. "So it's Mr. Zhang. Since you are your friend, I will give you six more silver dollars."
The pawnshop already had a bad reputation to begin with. If it offended the scholar again, people would say some bad things about it in the literary circle. Even if the pawnshop could resolve the issue, it would have to spend a lot of favors. So it might as well just give him face.
After taking out the money and buying some gifts, Zhang Xingjiu accompanied A Zhang to Zhou's house. On the way, he reminded him that if he needed to pawn any valuables in the future, he could go with him.
"A Tu, thank you."
"Why are you saying this? We are friends, and this is what I should do."
When they arrived at Zhou's house, they presented gifts and chatted with Zhou Fengyi for a while. Zhang Xingjiu also advised him to be more open-minded, but unfortunately he was too obsessed and these words were of no use.
The next day, Zhang Xingjiu did not go back to the academy for class, but followed Xu Xilin to Cangqiao Street. Today was an auspicious day, suitable for marriage, so a young scholar in the city named Wang Ziyu took advantage of this good day to hold a wedding with a woman named Zhou.
Xu Xilin was quite close to him, and Zhang Xingjiu had also met Wang Ziyu several times at literary gatherings, so it was only right for him to come over and congratulate him.
When they arrived at the Wang family, the two presented gifts and were welcomed in. A well-educated member of the Wang family took them to sit at the table and drank tea and talked with them.
After a while, the auspicious time arrived. Prince Yu and the bride wore auspicious clothes and began to worship heaven and earth under the guidance of a highly respected person.
Xu Xilin watched Wang Ziyu making a fuss, while Zhang Xingjiu's eyes fell on the bride with her veil on.
It was not that he had any ill intentions, but the bride came from a very noble family. Her father and Wang Ziyu's father used to be friends in Huai'an, Jiangsu. After a while, they felt that they had similar interests, so they married their children to each other.
The surname of this assistant was Zhou. His daughter, today's bride, was named Zhou Guizhen. Zhou Guizhen would have a nephew a few years later. When his nephew grew up, he would go to study at Nankai Middle School in Tianjin. During this period, he became interested in writing and created a chivalrous novel "Heroine" under the pen name "Fei Fei".
Later, the young man stopped updating in order to save China.
When Zhang Xingjiu thought of the young man's experience, he felt ashamed of himself and at the same time had the idea of doing something for China.
(End of this chapter)
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