Chapter 9 6. Young Confucius

In the National History Museum, seeing so many books for the first time, little Kongqiu opened his eyes wide and vowed to read them all. Yan Zhengzai took Kong Qiu, who was twelve or thirteen years old, to meet Yan Pingzhong, the principal of Qufu Official School. This school is a school that only the children of nobles can attend.Before entering the gate of the school, Confucius heard the sound of students reading aloud. Kong Qiu was so excited that he also started to read. When they arrived at the school, Yan Zhengzai led Kong Qiu into the principal's office. "Sir." Yan Zheng said after saluting Yan Pingzhong, "I sent my dog ​​Kong Qiu to study in your school, and I beg you to give me your advice in the future."

"Yes, yes, I have heard for a long time that Kong Qiu was eager to learn since he was a child, and he is extremely intelligent. He will definitely be an outstanding talent in the future." "Thank you sir for your compliment, Qiu Er, I haven't even paid homage to my teacher." So little Confucius bowed down to Yan Pingzhong very politely and piously. "Get up quickly." His mother, Yan Zhengzai, paid the tuition with the savings she had accumulated for several years.Because Kong Qiu came from a noble family and was a descendant of the hero Kong He, he was approved by the principal.From then on, little Confucius began to study in government schools.

When Confucius entered the classroom and saw his brother Bernie (Meng Pi) sitting in the last row, he walked over and called out, "Brother, I'm here to study too." "it is good." "Brother, I'll sit with you." "Ah, no, no, I'm stupid, I want to sit in the back and learn slowly, you're smart, you can sit in the front." "Ok!" When Confucius came home from school, he ran to the field to help his mother break the corn and told about the school. "Mother, brother Bernie is also at school." "Oh, you need to help him more in the future, his leg is sick, it's very poor."

"Well. He doesn't like talking." Little Confucius complained: "Mother, sir is teaching too slowly." After hearing this, Zheng Zai said solemnly: "Qiu Er, don't be proud, remember, you must be respectful to your husband. No matter how slow you speak, you have to listen carefully." "The child understands." Zheng Zai suddenly felt a little flustered, she covered her chest with her hands and gasped for breath. "Mother, what's the matter with you?" Kong Qiu hurriedly supported his mother. "Oh, it's nothing, I just feel a little out of breath..."

"Mother, your complexion is not good. Let me help you go home and rest." Kong Qiu helped his mother and walked slowly towards the house. After Zheng lay on the bed, Kong Qiu said, "Mother, I'm going to see a doctor." "No, no, just lie down for a while and you'll be fine." Before dawn, Kong Qiu got up, tiptoed and gently opened the door, and then went to the field to break the corn under the stars. Just after dawn, I saw my mother staggering in. "Qiu'er, who told you to come, why don't you go back and have dinner so you can go to school."

"Mother, let me take two days off. Let me clean up the place. Mother, you come back when you are sick. You can go back." Zheng Zai said angrily: "My illness is cured, I'm fine, why don't you ask for leave, if you don't go back, mother will be angry." "Mother……" "You lost your father when you were three years old, and your mother is determined to raise you up. Don't hurt your mother." "But, mother... your face..." "What's the face? I'm fine. Let's go!" "Okay, mother, if you feel unwell, go home and rest, and don't be exhausted."

"Mother knows, let's go, it's getting late. Oh, yes, two eggs, you eat one, and bring one to school for your brother to eat." "Hey." Kong Qiu agreed and walked into the room step by step. One day after class, the principal Yan Pingzhong called to stop Kong Qiu. "Confucius, Han Xuanzi from the state of Jin will visit the state of Lu tomorrow. He wants to visit the collection of books in the state of Lu. The monarch is going to invite some famous people to accompany him. I will take you to see and see." "Thank you sir." Kong Qiu was overjoyed.

The next day, Kong Qiu dressed neatly and followed Principal Yan Pingzhong to the court of Lu Kingdom. He saw that the inside and outside of the main hall were full of ministers of civil and military affairs according to their ranks. Yan Pingzhong took Kong Qiu to stand in the ranks of famous scholars. He pointed to Kong Qiu and introduced to them when he met everyone: "This is the most talented student in our school." After a while, Confucius heard the shout of "Lu Jun is coming", and saw Lu Zhaogong enter the hall and take his seat.In the sound of ritual and music, Lu Zhaogong received Han Xuanzi, and the two sides exchanged pleasantries for a while. After Han Xuanzi presented a gift, he said:

"Dear Lord Lu, I have always heard that the State of Lu is a land of etiquette and a land of poetry and books. I heard that when Zhou Tianzi was entrusted, when Boqin, the son of Duke Zhou, the ancestor of Lu State, was the first Lord of Lu, he brought a large number of poems from Haojing, the capital of Zhou State. Books and classics, so Xuanzi begs to have a look, I wonder if it is possible?" "Of course, the book is placed in the National History Museum, so please ask Tai Shi to accompany you to visit." "Thank you Lu Jun." So Han Xuanzi, under the leadership of Lu Guotai Shi, went to the National History Museum.Yan Pingzhong walked behind with Confucius and the invited celebrities.

When we arrived at the National History Museum, Taishi ordered the librarians to open the various bookstores, and there was a burst of chrysanthemum fragrance. On the bookshelves, there were all kinds of bamboo slips neatly arranged, and these books were well preserved. Taishi introduced Said: "The librarians often light incense candles, open the windows to ventilate, and wipe the bamboo slips. Therefore, despite the age, the books are still intact." Han Xuanzi nodded in admiration and flipped through the booklet. "these are." "There are several houses." Tai Shi introduced.

"It's so good, it's so well preserved." Han Xuanzi went to visit another library.The librarians opened the windows, and bright sunlight streamed in. "Ah! This is it." "This room is full of them." Tai Shi said. "Okay, that's great." Han Xuanzi praised while flipping through the pages. Han Xuanzi followed Taishi into another room. "Please look, my lord, this room is full of Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals." Han Xuanzi flipped through it and said, "Okay, that's great." Taishi took Han Xuanzi to a room to read the "Oath" and other documents of "Shangshu". Han Xuanzi looked at it and sighed: "The rites of Zhou are all in Lu! I only now know the great virtues of Duke Zhou and the reason why the Zhou Dynasty was able to rule the world." Confucius followed to visit the Museum of National History. It was the first time he saw so many ancient books and imperial edicts, and it was an eye-opener. Kong Qiu was very excited. what!When will I be able to read all these books. In the evening, in Xiangguo Ji Wuzi's mansion, a banquet was held for Han Xuanzi. Many dignitaries and celebrities were invited to attend.After drinking for three rounds, Ji Wuzi stood up and recited a poem praising the ancestor of the Zhou clan, Gugong Xuanfu, who led the Zhou people to move from Zhouyuan to Qishan and create a foundation: Han Xuanzi was very excited when he saw it, and he also got up and wrote a poem about being a brother, being close to others, and being greedy for money and position: Ji Wuzi got up and said: "I would like to thank your noble son for coming to our country." Then he recited a poem about not being allowed to cut down Gantang trees, in memory of Duke Zhao: After hearing this, Han Xuanzi said, "This is a poem in honor of Duke Zhao." Others recited some poems one after another. Han Xuanzi praised Qiu happily: "The State of Lu really deserves to be called the land of rites and music!" Beside the banquet, Kong Qiu, who was standing behind the principal Yan Pingzhong, watched the poetry meeting from beginning to end. He was very excited and made up his mind to read it all. This afternoon, Yan Zheng was weaving alone in the house, when the neighbor Mrs. Man came to call the door: "Qi Erniang, open the door...it's me, Mrs. Man." "Oh, here we come." Zheng is letting Mrs. Mann into the house. "Qiu Erniang, I'm here to announce the good news to you." "What joy?" "Someone is going to make the girl your Qiu'er's daughter-in-law." "Ah, whose family is the girl from?" Yan Zheng was asking. "Oh, the girl's name is Qi Guan. Her family is in the south of the city. The girl's father fell in love with Qiu'er. He said that he is polite, smart and eager to learn. He will definitely not be an ordinary person in the future." Zheng Zai asked: "How is that girl's character?" Mrs. Man said with a smile: "Young girl is good-looking, and she is very kind. She must be a good helper when you get married. Seeing that you are so tired all day, it will be good to have a wife to help you in the future." "What does her father do?" "Her father used to be a petty official, so he is also well-educated and reasonable. Although the current family situation is not as good as before, it is still passable. You think about it, I think it is quite appropriate, if you agree, you can hire her family first!" Yan Zheng thought for a while and said, "That's right, but Qiu'er is only sixteen or seventeen years old." "It's not young, my Man'er is only three years older than him, and he is now a father." "Then I have to ask Qiu Er." "Okay then, both of you mothers will tell me after you have made up your mind, and I will go back. Manfu is going to come back quickly." "Okay, thank you for your concern." "You're welcome, we were neighbors and friends when we were in Zouyi." After dinner, Kong Qiu practiced archery against tree stumps in the yard, while Yan Zheng sat under the window panting to weave brocade, and sold it when he was going to the market, so that he could pay Qiu'er's tuition.She looked at her son. He was not yet seventeen years old, but he was almost as tall as his father. He really deserved to be a descendant of a warrior.Zheng Zai thought again, his health was getting worse and worse, and he had done his son's important business, and also fulfilled a wish. After Kong Qiu practiced archery, when he went into the house to wipe his sweat with a towel, he saw his mother staring at him, so he asked: "What's the matter with mother today, she keeps staring at me." "My Qiu'er, you have grown up without knowing it, and mother wants to call you a daughter-in-law." "No, mother, the child is still young, and the child does not want to get married yet." "Son, if you are a boy, you should get married, and if you are a girl, you should get married. Besides, my mother's health is getting worse and worse. If I don't do this, my mother will not be at peace." "Which girl is that!" "Her name is Qi Guan." "Qi Guan...don't know him." Kong Qiu shook his head. "It was her father who fell in love with you." While the two were talking, Mrs. Man came again. "Qiu'er, you're not young anymore. Besides, it's good to marry a daughter-in-law to help your mother. Your mother is too miserable." But this sentence touched Confucius too much. He thought, as long as it is beneficial to my mother, I can do anything, so he said: "Mother, you can figure it out, I don't care." So Yan Zhengzai discussed with Mrs. Mann, and planned to give a dowry to Qi Guan's family.