Chapter 4 The first talk about the scholar of luck

The ancients said that thirty years is a lifetime, and every time a lifetime passes, all countries, society, customs and human conditions, all have slight changes invisibly: Sometimes chaos leads to governance, from bad to good, from poor to weak, And progress to pure honesty; sometimes from order to chaos, from good to bad, from pure honesty to honesty, and then into Qiaoli and stealth.Anyway, thirty years ago and thirty years later, there will always be various differences.This kind of reasoning should be criticized with old school terms, and most of it comes down to luck.To see with new eyes is the principle of human evolution.From ancient times to the present, there has been evolution and evolution, so there is today's phenomenon.If it remains the same forever, I am afraid that today we are still the stubborn people of the ancient times, ignorant, never interacting with each other, and the world will be negative. What civilization can we talk about, and what history can we remember?Therefore, the ancients also said that the way of heaven changes a little in ten years, and a big change in fifty years.In the end, don't worry about him for thirty years, fifty years, ten years or eight years. This change is always advancing with the times and never stops. Time is the track of evolution, but there is a difference in the speed.As long as you experience it carefully, no matter how it changes, there must be a long-term cause and a short-term effect.The author of the book observes coldly, but feels that in our China, regardless of the country, society, customs and human conditions, everything is changing very quickly.In the past ten years, there have been great changes, and even the former code of ethics, shame and morality have all disappeared.And so on, and the evolution is not fast, so I have to sit on the plane and fire the green steam cannon, smell a little civilization, and immediately turn the living into the dead, that is the extreme speed!Cough, then again, there are things that can be changed and things that cannot be changed; some things should be changed, and some things should not be changed.If everything changes completely, there is also great danger in it, because on the earth, a country has been established for thousands of years, and there must be a special national character.This kind of national character is like the soul of a person.If the soul of a person is separated from the body, the person will die; if the characteristics of the country are separated from the country, how can the country survive?Today's most fashionable new figures always want to completely cancel the national character of thousands of years, and they are not filial and prostitutes, and they actually speak in front of the public.All other novel and unconventional principles can be summed up in one sentence, which is called new culture.Whether or not the West was founded with this new culture, according to the moral old gentlemen of many religions, is quite different.It can be seen that this new culture is not common in European and American countries, but the views of some extremists.Our Chinese fashion should be completely imitated and promoted throughout the country. Is it possible to do this?However, to take a step back, different people have their own opinions, and the author of the book does not dare to judge whether the fashionable gentleman is right. In the end, you can also set an example, first set an example for everyone to see, and then try to force others from me.I don't know that when I observe it in practice, there is a big contradiction.Even his own father treats him like a passer-by, but he says that he is a great man and has no self; he even betrays his motherland, but it is beautiful for the world.Everything else is a one-sided new culture.It turns out that this new culture is only allowed to be taught to others, but not allowed to be taught to him.Like this kind of person, the writer does not know how many times he has seen and heard how many times.Now that I am slowly writing it out, I have the right to write a family biographies for them gentlemen.After all, goodness has good fruits, and evil has bad karma, and there is also a sense of punishment and persuasion in it.It's not that if you make fun of people casually through novels, you will lose the purpose of benefiting the world, and those who write books will definitely not dare.

Gossip less, let's get back to the book.It is said that in Zichuan County, Shandong Province, there is a Pujiazhuang 20 miles away from the city. There are more than 200 households in total, and seven or eight out of ten of them have the surname Pu.Because the Pu family once produced a famous person in the early Qing Dynasty, that is, Mr. Pu Songling.This old gentleman was originally full of complaints, and he was born in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties. He couldn't help but feel the sorrow of the Forbidden City, so he wanted to vent his anger through writing.At that time, it was the era of autocracy, and the power of the monarch was as sacred. If someone said no, they would immediately punish the three clans.As a result, many literary hells occurred, involving hundreds of people, the beheading of the living, the killing of the dead, all kinds of cruelty and injustice, it is really hard to describe in words.Mr. Pu saw it with his own eyes, so he was naturally wary. After all, his full of knowledge and articles were fueled by complaints, and he had to vent them out.That's why I wrote one, which is full of fox ghosts, but it's actually all fables.If the reader thinks it is true, he will be wronged by the old man.It's a pity that although he was talented and learned, he never made a fortune in his whole life. He studied in the cold window, but he died all his life.Because he is a famous scholar, the descendants of his descendants will continue to be scholarly. After all, no one came out of his success. He is just a young man who still lives by teaching.Until the Guangxu period of the former Qing Dynasty, his ninth grandson, named Pu Shuhao Zhunian, went to the countryside and won the 70th Juren in the examination hall, which was an unprecedented honor in his family.Unexpectedly, in the future, I should only take the exam this time, so the imperial examination was suspended, and the age of the bamboo year has grown up, so I have lost my enterprising heart since then, and I am still studying in the village.One day, when he was lecturing to students in the study, an old man suddenly opened the door and walked in. Zhu Nian raised his eyes and recognized Zhang Shantong, the rich man of the village.His family planted seven or eight hectares of good land, and there was still a grain store in the city, and his business was booming. He was considered the first household in the village, but he was extremely stingy and refused to spend a penny recklessly.Although he and Zhu Nian are familiar with each other on weekdays, they don't communicate often. Today they suddenly opened the door and walked in, but Zhu Nian was taken aback. Blowing to the humble house." Shantong sat down and smiled and replied: "Who says it's not? I'm busy all day long. Either the grain store sends people to pack the grain, or the husband comes to pay the bill. Otherwise, just watch the work. Shuu, how can there be a moment of idle time, so there are many places where you neglect relatives and slow friends, don't take it wrong, old man." Zhu Nian smiled secretly, this is really the tone of a rich man.I heard him continue to say: "If you have nothing to do, you can go to the Three Treasures Hall. Today, I came to discuss something with my husband. My child Changsheng is fourteen years old this year. He has been studying for nothing for several years, but he still can't even read the words clearly." , I dismissed my husband. In the first month of next year, I would like to invite you to teach in the humble house. There will be two meals in the morning and evening, and a monthly gift of eight taels of silver. I wonder if you would like it?" Zhu Nian pondered for a while, thinking I think I teach this scattered hall, but only a dozen of old money per month, and I have to eat by myself.Nowadays, in a poor village, there are many restaurants with eight taels of silver.Then he laughed and said, "I'm sure you don't give up, that's it! But there is one floor that must be announced in advance. There are two proud students in my closed hall. The ones I want to bring over are your son's studies, and it is better to have a companion." Son, is it alright?" Although Shantong was not very happy, thinking that there were not many of them, he agreed.

From then on, it was settled, and the countryside didn't know how to send official letters.When school starts in the first month of the second year, I set up a car to pick up my husband.In the year of bamboo, he named one of his nephews Zijie in advance, who is also a scholar, and made an appointment to teach the family's Sanguan, so as to prevent other people's children from dropping out of school. This is also the kindness of scholars.Of the two students he brought over, one was his own son named Zihua, and the other was a son of the same village named Sun Nayan.After going to the restaurant, Bindong was very friendly.That Zhang Changsheng is really smart and has made great progress. He finished reading the "Four Books" in a year, and he comprehended everything he said as he recited.Therefore, Zhu Nian often praised the students to the master, saying that I have taught for more than half my life, and I have never met such a smart student.You old man is really virtuous and good-natured, and you will enjoy the blessing of your son in the future!After hearing this, Shan Tong's heart immediately blossomed, and he hurriedly bowed to his husband and greeted him again, and said with a smile: "This is all the cultivation of the teacher. In the future, if you order Hanlin, the first professional teacher on the Zhujuan must first send your old man Engrave it." Zhu Nian felt funny when he heard this, the imperial examinations had been suspended for three years, and he was still thinking of calling his son to the Imperial Academy, which shows that the rural people are really ignorant.He wanted to say something, but he was afraid of breaking up his joy, so he swallowed the words back to the tip of his tongue.

I have taught for two years in a blink of an eye.In the first month of this year, Changsheng is seventeen years old.My husband went home to celebrate the new year. After the 15th day of the first lunar month, he went to the library regularly. The 19th day was chosen as a good day for enrolment. Shantong came to pick up his husband in his own car.The distance between his two families was only half a mile, so there was no need to take a car.The rich man in the country wants to put on airs, so that people in the same village know that his family has invited an old master of Xiaolian, and he wants to show off his new curtain car in the first month. became a custom.The two students from the attached library all came to the library for business reasons, only Zhu Nian came to the library with his master, and when he looked up, he was surprised.But I saw that the four white floors in the room were newly framed, and there was an Eight Immortals table in the middle, with a big red tweed table hanging on it, and an incense burner and candlestick on the table.There are two nine-inch plates behind the incense burner.On the upper plate was a big hat with a crystal cap embedded in it; on the lower plate was a large ingot of fifty taels.Then look at the whole strand of sandalwood high incense stuck in the incense burner, which is lingering and fragrant.There are huge red candles inserted in the candlesticks on both sides.Behind the table was a chair with a scarlet tweed draped over it.Just when Zhu Nian was about to ask, he was pulled by one hand and pushed by his boss until he pushed him to the top of the chair, forcing him to sit down.He turned around and came to the front of the table, knelt down on both knees, and kowtowed three times.So frightened that Zhu Nian hurriedly jumped down from his seat, knelt down by himself, and at the same time pulled him with his hands, gasping for air, and asked, "Dong Weng, are you crazy! I'm a living person, why did you give me a hand?" Isn't it a joke to get up for the sacrifice?" Shan Tong still refused to get up, and slapped his head three more times before standing up, but he didn't make a sound.I saw the workmen at home come over, remove the incense table, move the hat and silver on other tables, adjust four sets of cups and chopsticks, and move three chairs.When I was young, an old man with gray beard and white hair came out from the backyard, followed by two younger generations, one was Changsheng, the other was in his twenties, with a leopard head and eyes around him, and he looked very dignified, they went into the study together.Shan Tong hurriedly introduced him, saying: "This old man's surname is Cao. He is from Jiangsu. He is my uncle from a distant family. He has been in Shandong for many years. This young master is his son named Cao Yulin, who lives in the provincial capital. What kind of school is studying, saying that sooner or later we will be officials. I don’t know when our son will be born, but we can also be an official like his father and son. It’s not in vain to curry favor with me. So I beg the teacher today In any case, I will be able to teach your students within three years, and it is not in vain to ask for an official position." At this time, Zhu Nian suddenly realized, and laughed out of intention, and was afraid that he would be embarrassed. , I had to greet everyone, the year of the high and low bamboo took the first seat, accompanied by Cao Weng, Cao Yulin sat opposite Shantong, and Changsheng took the next seat.When I was young, the food and wine were served, although it was in the countryside, there were all kinds of chicken, duck and fish.Drinking with each other, Zhu Nian asked Cao Weng why he came to Zichuan. Cao Weng said that he was appointed by the vassal constitution to help try a case here, and he went to the house of his relatives by the way.Zhunian asked Yulin if she was Guigeng this year, whether she should study or come out.Yulin replied respectfully: "My nephew is now studying at the Hakka School in Jinan, and he will graduate next year. The old man was on the list in the middle of the country, so he is naturally a master of Confucianism. Today, my nephew wants to learn something. Do you want to teach me?" Zhu Nian hurriedly said: "How dare you dare, I don't know what brother has to ask? This old man always knows everything about people, and he can say everything, and he is afraid that I don't know, so he dare not force it." Yulin smiled and said, "My old man is too modest. My nephew is 24 years old this year. My father once donated a county magistrate to the newspaper. According to his old man's wishes, he will be spared as a candidate when he graduates next year. My nephew is studying on his own. No, I want to go abroad to study for a few years, and then enter the official career when I come back. I wonder if the old man agrees?" While Zhu Nian was obedient, he drank a few more glasses unconsciously, feeling a little drunk, and was caught by Yu Lin's question unknowingly aroused his complaints, so he laughed loudly and said, "Brother Shi, today you are willing to ask me about this matter related to my lifelong studies, which shows that you have good eyesight and see that I am not a pedantic and corrupt man. , A person who only reads rote books. I dare to speak out in front of Senior Cao today, but don’t laugh at me as a mad student. I am indeed not a mad student.” Cao Weng said: “It’s unreasonable! I am so grateful, how can I laugh at you?" Zhu Nian said: "Although the old man is a man of old learning, I want to buy all the new books on current affairs that have been dug out. Therefore, the safety of the country, the situation of the world, and the problems of China and foreign countries I have also carefully studied the differences in human feelings, customs, politics, and laws. After all, to say a cliché, it has to be attributed to luck. According to the old man, the luck of the Manchu Qing Dynasty has come to an end, within ten years, The Qing Society must be in ruins. The death of the Qing Dynasty was not caused by the true old-fashioned, but by the fake reform. Nowadays, sending students abroad is finally the most fashionable policy, but the more foreign students, the faster the Qing Society’s demise. Cultivating more foreign students is a sharp weapon for killing oneself. The old man has seen through the future results at a glance, but I am extremely in favor of it in my heart. For example, the Qing dynasty was incompetent and violent, the provincial governors were domineering, corrupt officials were unscrupulous; The people are unemployed; the customs are thin, the ethics are degraded; the government is corrupt, and the discipline is lost; it must be completely destroyed for a while before it can be built. In my opinion, even this heinous monarchy cannot survive for a long time. .Brother, what are you going to do with this county magistrate as a candidate in various provinces? If you take advantage of your prime of life and go abroad to learn some real skills, you will be able to become a pioneer when the Qing Dynasty dies in the future. Although It is said that there is no such thing as a general, and you have to have real education and real ability, and then you can take advantage of the situation to rise. If you want to follow the past, step by step, and become a ready-made official, I'm afraid it will be a bit difficult in the future." Zhu Nian's words, Yulin and Changsheng were all in high spirits, smiling all over their faces.Only Cao Weng's face showed a gloomy and displeased color.Shantong was at a loss, but he just listened to the excitement.Yulin said: "The old man's arrogance is so great that my nephew has never heard of it. After graduating next year, I will definitely go abroad to study. There is no second opinion." Is it worthwhile to go abroad for a while?" Zhu Nian drank another glass of wine slowly, but he didn't answer Chang Sheng's words, instead he said to Shan Tong: "Dong Weng, we have been friends with Dong for three or four years, but today we are together. You need to open the window and speak plainly. Let me ask you, do you want your son to be prosperous, promoted and rich, and become a famous person in official career, or do you want your son to be a good man of the whole town, a dutiful son of the family, and a master of Confucianism for a generation?" Asked, but Shantong stared blankly at the question, unable to answer for a long time.It was Cao Weng who explained it on his behalf, and Shan Tong smiled and said: "Sir, you have to know that I only have this son in front of my knees, and I don't have three brothers or two brothers. If I don't win the election for him, I will be a year old." Will you come up with one or two hundred silver to invite Mr.? I don’t know what a filial son, a good scholar, and a Confucianist are. I can only hope that he will become an official. He is not a rebellious son. I am also happy in my heart.” Year of Bamboo Hearing this, he sighed unknowingly, and said, "Dong Weng, since this is the case, I don't need to teach at home this year. Now that the imperial examinations have been suspended, even if I study at home for the rest of my life, there is no way out. Your name is Changsheng. Follow Cao Shixiong to the school! To tell you the truth, my ability can only make him an ordinary person and influence him into a dutiful son; I really don't have the confidence to achieve the goal on your table. It is best if you ask him to go to school, and if he has the opportunity to study abroad for a few years in the future, he will not worry about not being an official after returning to China. This is the best shortcut to the south now. Don’t miss it, and I can’t afford to delay your children. Our today You don’t have to open a tavern, just use it as a farewell bar!” Cao Weng, who was at the side, also strongly agreed, saying that the old master has a long-term vision and refuses to make limited money, which hinders the infinite progress of the students. , is really admirable.In Shantong's mind, he originally wanted to make his son an official and change his family, so he was willing to spend a lot of money every year to invite his husband.Now it is hopeless to listen to Mr.'s words, immediately displeasure appeared on his face, but he couldn't say anything, he just felt remorse in his heart.Zhu Nian drank two more cups, and suddenly said loudly: "Dong Weng, if your son enters the school and seeks fame, he will surely become famous in the future, but you must remember this old man's words, this child Changsheng is more than smart and honest. Insufficient, and his brain power is changing too fast. In the future, I am afraid that he will respond to the words of the ancients: he is a capable minister who governs the world, and a traitor in troubled times. Not only will the country not be able to enjoy his glory, but even you old man may not be able to enjoy his blessing. .I now change his Changsheng’s name to Jingzong. I want him to live up to the name and not forget his roots in the future, but I don’t want him to learn from Xu Jingzong in the Tang Dynasty. I wonder if you would like it, Mr. Shan said: “I’m an idiot. Wenmo’s man, Mr. will definitely give him a name, let’s call him Jingzong.” At this time, the workmen served the rice, and everyone was full.

Sure enough, Zhu Nian packed up his books, bid farewell to his host, and went back to his home to teach and dismiss the hall.Shantong didn't feel consoled at this time, but was busy discussing with Cao Weng, and asked him to take Jingzong to the Jinan Academy, and Cao Weng readily agreed.Two days later, Shantong prepared two hundred taels of silver and handed them over to Cao's father and son for Jingzong's admission.Sure enough, Jingzong followed them to Jinan, just in time for middle school admissions.At that time, the school was first established, and English was not taken.Jingzong's Chinese language has been in the second year of the bamboo year, and he has a little foundation, and his writing is naturally lively, so he was admitted to middle school.After studying for one year, the supervisor appreciated him very much and promised to send him to study in Dongyang after graduation.His father, Shantong, was very happy to receive this letter, and discussed with his old wife, Mrs. Xu, to marry his son early so that he would not be able to return home half the time after going abroad, which would delay his daughter-in-law and prevent him from getting married.In the second year of vacation, he married Jingzong.The daughter-in-law, whose maiden name is Pu, is a granddaughter of Yuanmen in Zhunian, and her father is also a granary student, who is extremely old-fashioned and pedantic.When my daughter is at home, I have taught her to read all the "Naughty Classics", so Pu Shi is very good at being a woman.After passing through the door, all kinds of etiquettes are respected and abstained, such as sleeping in the morning, serving meals and asking about bedtime.Therefore, Shantong and his wife are very satisfied, and often boast to others, saying that we are an old couple, we have a beautiful child and a beautiful wife, and we will be happy together under our knees, and our future blessings will be limitless.Even the neighbors in the neighborhood are very envious.It is said that old man Zhang's son will definitely become a high-ranking official in the future, and his title is firmly established.

Three years later, Jingzong graduated from middle school, and he passed the exam to study abroad.There are four people in his main hall and eight people in the normal school. There are twelve people in a group. They are scheduled to go abroad to Japan in February next year.Jingzong returned home in the next year, packed up his luggage, and said goodbye to relatives and friends, but at the moment he was busy with Shantong.Because my son went abroad to study, as if he had been released from the government, we had to celebrate with gongs and drums, so that all relatives, friends and neighbors would know.By inviting spring wine in the first month, more than a dozen tables of dishes were prepared, and all relatives and friends from the village and other villages were invited to have a feast.Seeing that he was so happy, everyone followed him to make fun of him, some sent happy couples, some gave snacks, and looked at him with kindness, making him happier.After everyone had finished eating, he and his old wife Xu drank again, called their son over, stood up and put a smile on their faces, and let their son take the seat.Jingzong was stunned for a moment, thinking that my father is really confused, there is a reason for father and son to let the son sit at the same table, so he just stood still.Shantong said with a smile: "My son, sit down yourself. My father has something to tell you." Xu pulled Jingzong to the top and forced him to sit down.Shantong then poured a glass of wine, drank it all, and said: "You will get up tomorrow and go to the provincial capital. From then on, you will become an official step by step, honor your ancestors, and change your family. It is not in vain to curry favor with my old man. Ever since you entered the school, even Baozheng and the yamen servants in this village have treated you differently. Qianer County sent someone to ask for a car, and the worker told him that the young master was sent to the province to catch the exam. The neighbor Li Da told him secretly The man said, there are foreign students in their Laozhang family now, and sooner or later they will be foreign masters! Don't make a fuss, just do as before. Now even the emperor's family is afraid of foreigners, and the foreign students are the apprentices of foreigners , you can't even offend your master, why do you ask for trouble? There is no car anywhere, just come to this village. These few words actually scared the policeman out of his ass and left in a hurry. I was so happy when I heard it It turns out that the word "foreign student" has such great influence. If you go abroad for a few years, you must be a foreign master when you come back. It's not sure how prestigious you will be if you are a foreign master! I'm afraid that all the magistrates will come to greet you. Then At that time, my old man was also in your favor, as a foreign master, who dares to disrespect us?" Xu said: "I don't know what color hat the foreign master wears?" Shan Tong pondered for a moment and said with a smile: "Master foreign The official crown is big, so it must be a red cap. Mr. Yang Tai is the father of Mr. Yang, and he seems to be a step older than Mr. Yang, so he must wear a green cap!" Xu said: "Why do you wear a green cap?" Comrade Shan said: "What do you women know? The blue, white, and gold caps are all less important than the red caps. Now they are bigger than the red caps. How can you not wear green caps?" The old couple were arguing. He came in and said to his parents-in-law: "I've already packed all his luggage. I don't know if I have anything else to bring? Mom and Dad reminded me earlier, so I don't have to be busy all the time." Tong Shan said: "Good boy, you are tired. Sit down and have a drink, too! In the future, Jingzong will become a foreign master, and you will also be a first-class wife. When you meet people, you must always put on airs, and don't lose our dignity as an official family." Pu said: "Daddy is drunk Come on, why do you even flatter your son and daughter-in-law? You just pamper him like this, and you don’t even talk about family etiquette. Will he recognize you as his father in the future?" Jingzong was a little uneasy when he was told by his wife. Slowly retreated from the seat and said: "It's getting late, parents should go to bed too, I have to get up early tomorrow." Shan Tong said: "Okay, you young couples go to sleep, our old couple I'm going to bed too." The workmen removed the cups and trays, and all the couples, old and young, rested.The next morning, Shantong got up first, ready to see his son off, and waited in front of the door after the car was fitted.Jingzong got up, washed and washed, had some snacks, said goodbye to his parents and wife, and then got into the car to enter the province.At this time, the old couple was reluctant to part with her. Pu Shi also burst into tears and said to her husband: "When you go abroad this time, don't forget the old and young at home. You must write to your family at any time so that your parents don't worry. Time, you might as well come and live at home for ten and a half months, but don’t wait until you graduate to go home, and you will blind the old man’s eyes.” Jingzong snorted twice, stepped into the car, and wandered away.The parents-in-law and daughter-in-law stood in front of the door until they could no longer see the car before turning around and going home.

Speaking of Jingzong alone, there was no delay on the way, and he arrived in the provincial capital in four or five days.Just after entering the middle school, the hall attendant Zhang Shun greeted An and said with a smile, "Master Zhang! Why did you come today? There was a registered letter from Japan the day before yesterday, and I kept it for you. " Jingzong didn't wait to enter the house, he took the letter from Zhang Shun's hand, opened it, and was shocked.If you ask what surprised you, let's see the next chapter to break it down.