Zhu Ruilin knew the details of the Shi family. His ancestors, starting from his father, were all officials, and the family had a lot of money. The children of the Shi family had been studying and studying essays since they were young, but they only got a good result from the books. Mr. Shi failed to pass three exams in a row. Young Master Shi Xianhuang's generation could not break this curse, so he had no choice but to donate a prison student to his family.
Mr. Shi said, "I have long admired my brother Zhu for his knowledge. There are few people in my hometown who can match him in poetry, poetry and poetry."
Zhu Ruilin came to ask for help sincerely, and he had nothing to hide. He made his purpose clear in a few words. He believed that Mr. Shi must also know his purpose.
It was getting late, and the two reached an agreement. Zhu Ruilin got the first ill-gotten gain.
After walking out of the gate of Shifu in the evening, with the bright moon in the sky, Zhu Ruilin walked leisurely on the street, looking up at the moonlight. The world was filled with cold air, and the blue Milky Way lost its luster in his eyes. He was in no mood to recite poems and write poems, and he was in pain. While having fun, the doctor said that his mother's body had been worn out by hard work over the years. He never thought that his mother would also grow old. He thought that she had never said she was tired in front of him all these years. When he was reading late at night, his eyes were filled with tears. Even if he is sour and sleepy, his mother will stay with him in the room.
She mended clothes for him under the dim light without saying a word, and she would not tell him the trivial matters in her daily life.
He also knew that he was an orphan and a widowed mother who had been oppressed by his neighbors over the years. But when his mother was still there, she held up the sky above his head. He always thought that when he grew up, he would be able to take off his mother's shoulders. responsibility.
However, he failed to do it.
The moon moved the shadows of flowers, and Zhu Ruilin stood on the street, feeling the cold wind. He was very worried that his mother would leave him. Without his mother, to whom would he repay the kindness of raising him, and how would he walk in this lonely world.
He couldn't help but shudder as the cool breeze put on his clothes.
There was laughter not far away, "Is it Mr. Zhu?"
Zhu Ruilin hurriedly wiped away his tears and asked steadily, "Who is it?"
"Tang'er." She said.
Jin Tang'er is the sister of a student in the private school where he teaches. She often waits for her brother to finish school outside the private school. The carriage stops not far from the private school. When he passes by the carriage, she always comes down to salute. She is a very gentle person. Kind girl.
Jin Tang'er saw the redness of his eyes and quietly closed her purse. She wanted to give him the dozen or so taels of silver in her purse, but was afraid of breaking his heart. If he didn't want it, she would take the money back. Embarrassed, if she offered to lend it to him, he would probably refuse, which made her feel a little tormented.
Said, "Mr. Zhu, haven't you eaten yet?"
Zhu Ruilin was in a hurry to go home. He didn't know how his mother was doing now, so he said, "I'm going home to eat some."
Jin Tang'er had an idea, "Sir, wait for me for a moment. I'll be back soon. You must wait for me here." She said as she ran.
Ruilin didn't know what she wanted to do, so he had to wait for her there for a while.
After a while, she brought a food box, an exquisite red oak food box, and said, "It's hard to feed yourself with pearls and poems in your chest, and it's useless to have poems and books in your belly without food. Although I don't know those big guys like you men who study every day." It's true, but I know that if a person doesn't have enough to eat, he won't have the strength to follow his ambitions for nine days." He joked and gave him the food box.
Zhu Ruilin didn't know how to accept it, "No," he declined.
Jin Tang'er said, "I didn't buy this. I made it myself. It didn't take much effort. After my husband has finished eating, I can just give the food box to my brother tomorrow or the day after tomorrow and let him take it home."
Zhu Ruilin looked at her quietly.
She did not reveal his embarrassment, nor did she give any advice. She said this because she must have known that he had not taught in the private school for several days, and secretly advised him to return to the private school to teach.
Then he took it, put his hands over his forehead, and saluted, "Thank you, Miss Jin."
Jin Tang'er added, "Sir, you must be open-minded. My brother always said that everyone is lucky, and luck will always arrive one day, so please relax, sir."
He nodded, "I took note of it." He showed a rare smile.
He turned around and returned home. After putting his mother to rest, he washed himself and went to bed.
Shi Xianhuang, on the other hand, was full of pride and had obtained another popular book. He looked like a flower stand, but when the boy brought his poems and articles, he was really a born reader.
Soon Shi Xianhuang held a banquet at home and invited Zhu Ruilin to come and drink.
He personally poured wine for Zhu Ruilin and said, "This is perfumed pear mixed with sugar. It is my favorite. I wish you to try it, brother."
Delicacies such as bird's nest and deer tail, suckling pig and bear's paw were served on the banquet. Shi Xianhuang changed the cups and cups. Shi Xianhuang did not forget the purpose of his banquet with Zhu Ruilin.
He said, "Thank you for your kindness and willingness to agree to my request. I hope Brother Zhu will help me a lot."
Zhu Ruilin never felt that he was an outstanding talent, but since he promised others, he had to do it, "I will definitely try my best."
Mr. Shi said, "The next autumn will be the year of the Provincial Examination. I will be No. 1 then. If you meet No. 1 in the field, please help me."
"Is there any reason not to do everything possible?" Zhu Ruilin said.
From then on, Shi Xianhuang provided money to Zhu Ruilin and hired a famous doctor in the village for Mrs. Zhu. The Zhu family's life gradually became better.
Zhu Ruilin did not dare to explain clearly to his mother why Shi Xianhuang took so much care of them.
Time flies, and before I know it, spring comes back at the end of the year, and soon it’s time to go to the imperial city to take the exam.
Mr. Shi asked the maid at home to take care of Mrs. Zhu. During this period, Mrs. Zhu used the best medicine, and her eyes gradually recovered.
Ruilin bid farewell to his mother and told her that he would be back from Liangzhu soon. Mrs. Zhu told her, "I know you are going to Beijing to take the exam. You must not let down your father's teachings. You must do well in the exam so that Mr. Shi's treatment of you will not be in vain." of respect."
His mother didn't know about his deal with Mr. Shi, so these words struck Ruilin's ears, which seemed a bit ironic. He didn't agree, but just changed the subject and asked his mother to take good care of herself while he was away. take care.
Traveling day and night, Shi Xianhuang and Zhu Ruilin soon arrived at Liangzhu. In the imperial city, there were piles of jade and peonies everywhere. The prosperity of the imperial city could be seen outside Liangzhu City. There were women picking lotus on the road, singing, and the wind blew through the lotus leaves. Fresh fragrance.
When they arrived in Liangzhu, Shi Xianhuang and Zhu Ruilin stayed at an inn to discuss the following matters.
At night, when he saw the streets in Liangzhu City were busy with traffic and it was not yet curfew, Shi Xianhuang wanted to take Zhu Ruilin to go shopping together.
Zhu Ruilin was caught in the wind during the day and was dizzy. Seeing that he was not feeling well, Shi Xianhuang stopped forcing him.
Shi Xianhuang left the inn by himself and asked the boy feeding the horse at the door.
The boy pointed with his whip and said, "Among the brothels in the city, Chutianfang is the best. Of course, some people say it is Zhangliu Garden. If you want to go, you'd better call a carriage. Both of these places are quite far away from here." Far."
Shi Xianhuang threw him a tael of silver.
I took to the streets and walked in wherever I wanted to take a look. This place was not like my hometown. In Liangzhu City, everyone had an aura of wealth and nobility on their faces.
While he was praising the beauty of Liangzhu women, he suddenly saw a woman with skin as white as pear blossoms in spring. He stared at her for a long time, unable to move his eyes away. He had never seen such a woman before. He had never thought of marrying a wife before. She left it at home, but the moment he saw her, he had this idea. When he took another look at her, he even thought of wanting to stay with her for the rest of his life. Such a woman is so beautiful in the world.
(End of chapter)