After Father Xia left, Wang Yacha took out the list that he had defaced countless times, and thought about it from beginning to end. Every name on the list represented an identity and a background. Every swipe represents a contest behind the scenes, weighing the pros and cons of a trade-off with Wang Yacha.
Wang Yacha felt that it would be inappropriate to detain anyone. Guizhou has been under the control of chieftains since ancient times. From Qin, Han, Tang and Song Dynasties to the present, this has never changed. If he wants to gain a foothold in Guizhou as an inspector, he also cannot do without these inheritances. With the support of a thousand-year-old chieftain, how can he offend a person at will.
After thinking about it, Wang Haoming set his sights on the names of the five students who really passed the exam through knowledge and ability. Among the five, he had already seen Xu Boyi today, and he had a good impression. He had said hello, and he also knew that Xu Boyi was from the Tian family.
It's fine if the members of the Tian family didn't pass the exam beyond the quota they should have. Since they entered the "Top Five" based on their strength, he really didn't dare to erase them at will. Although he was the chief examiner, there were also two assistant chief examiners. If someone leaked the news, he would definitely offend the Tian family. So, he drew a circle on Xu Boyi's name, and stared at the remaining four names.
These four people are ordinary scholars with no power, power and background. After deliberating for a while, Wang Haoming randomly chose a person whose name didn't sound very nice. He was beaten back to the mortal world.
Wang Haoming wrote "Ye Xiaotian" stroke by stroke on the name that he erased, put the pen on the pen hill, leaned back on the official hat chair and let out a long breath.
Father Xia had already promised that he would greet the major chieftains, but since there was only one place left, the chieftains had to have some competition, and the competition would be more intense. He decided not to offend anyone and let Ye Xiaotian occupy a place with no background. The number of scholars. At that time, no matter which chieftain decides to give up a place, it will be a favor from him.
Wang Haoming tapped the armrest of the chair lightly, and after making up his mind, he suddenly thought of Cui Xiangsheng. He let go of harsh words in the car just now, but in the end Ye Xiaotian's reputation as a scholar was not cut off, but instead became a juror. How would he explain to his old friend
Wang Haoming thought for a while, then got up and rushed to Kuayuaner where Cui Xiangsheng lived. Cui Xiangsheng just finished bathing, wearing Taoist robes, with a simple bun, sitting on the couch with bare feet, cooking Gongfu tea.
This Gongfu tea is embodied in the three procedures of water, fire, and flushing. Both water and fire pay attention to a movable type, flowing water and fire. The water that Cui Xiangsheng used was the spring water brought by the boy to the top of the mountain. The high-quality black olive kernel charcoal was burned vigorously, and a simple purple clay pot stood on the small red clay stove.
Seeing Wang Haoming coming in, Cui Xiangsheng said with a smile: "Brother Haoming has long feet, you will be here just after my tea is cooked, come here, please sit down."
Wang Haoming was not polite either, he took off his boots and got on the couch, sitting cross-legged. Cui Xiang first ordered the boy to fetch the chessboard, set the black and white pieces, and the two played against each other while drinking tea.
When the chess game gradually became stalemate and the two sides were inextricably fighting each other, Wang Haoming picked up the chess pieces and said to Cui Xiangsheng: "Xiangsheng, the list of candidates will be announced tomorrow. After much deliberation, I decided to record that Ye Xiaotian as Juren."
Cui Xiangxian was toasting his cup of tea, he couldn't help being stupefied when he heard this, and wondered: "Brother Hao Ming, why did you say that? Could it be that Ye Xiaotian's article is really so outstanding that it cannot be denied?"
Wang Haoming slowly placed a piece on the chessboard, and said: "His article is well-regulated, not very exciting, but it should be selected. Cough! Of course, this is not important, the important thing is... I think if you cut him His fame as a scholar actually made him cheaper."
Cui Xiang frowned first, and said: "Brother Hao Ming's words are hard for me to understand."
Wang Haoming chuckled, and said: "Xiang Xian, in front of the Qiyun Pavilion, Ye Xiaotian lost his temper and was too rude. This matter will spread quickly. If Ye Xiaotian fails the ranking at this time, even if he was originally How do you think the world will treat you and me if you should fail the ranking?"
Cui Xiang was silent for a while, secretly trying to figure out what Wang Haoming meant.
Wang Haoming said again: "Once Tongren and Zhang Yi heard about your quarrel with Ye Xiaotian, and also learned that Ye Xiaotian had not won the election, he would definitely think that you and I were behind it. Didn't we offend the emperor for no reason? Now I will not only give him a To raise a person's name, but also to take him as an official... "
A cold smile appeared on Wang Haoming's face, and he said: "With his personality, once he becomes an official, are you still afraid that he won't be able to make a big fuss? At that time, who else can save him!"
When Wang Haoming said this, he quickly glanced at Cui Xiangxian's expression, fearing that he would see the real reason for his change of original intention. He lowered his voice and said, "I've made up my mind that when he wins the Juren, I will arrange for him to go to Hu County to be an official.
It has only been three years since the chieftain was dismissed from Hu County and established as a temporary official, and it was very chaotic. With the court's law to rule him, it will be ridiculous for you and me to see this arrogant person reaping the consequences without effort. "
Cui Xiangxian didn't believe Wang Haoming's shameful words, but he couldn't think of the real reason. He had just arrived in Guiyang, and he had the status of a great Confucianist. Naturally, others would not be so bored, telling the story of Ye Xiaotian and Miss Xia's love affair at the Huaxi meeting. He listened, so he couldn't understand it.
※※※
He came back after spending three days in the Xia mansion in winter. He knew the details of the Xia family, but he didn't know that Ye Xiaotian didn't know about it. With his taciturn personality, he would not tell these juniors about him and his old friends when he came back. Ye Xiaotian naturally wouldn't ask too much about the gathering.
Now that Ye Xiaotian has finished the exam, he has nothing else to do except touring around the mountains and rivers with Yingying and Yaoyao every day. When he came back from Xia's house in winter, he took the opportunity to ask the venerable to start practicing Gu skills. Ye Xiaotian was not easy to refuse, after returning today, he was dragged to his room by Dongdong.
A black jar was placed on the table, and it was full of poisonous insects of various colors. They squirmed one after another when they saw the light, making one's scalp numb.
Dong hunched his shoulders, squinted his eyes, and said to Ye Xiaotian in a "gloomy" way: "My lord, the cultivation of Gu skills is very complicated, but no matter how complicated the Gu skills are, you must first be able to practice Gu worms, otherwise it will be a waste of time." A tree without roots, water without a source.
Now what the subordinates teach the Venerable is the method of refining Gu worms. To grow different Gu worms, it is necessary to select different poisonous worms, put them into tanks according to a certain ratio, and feed them with fresh blood. If Gu worms can be raised, this first step is considered a success. Today the Venerable is practicing Yin Snake Gu, the proportions of various poisonous insects required, has the Venerable memorized it by heart? "
Ye Xiaotian nodded, looked at the poisonous insects in the jar, and said with some creepiness: "I know it by heart."
Dong Dong smiled slightly, his face even more gloomy: "Okay! Later, I will teach the Venerable to identify these different types of bugs, and learn how to catch them. Today, let's learn to raise Gu, and ask the Venerable to cut his wrist and let blood in to raise the Gu. insect."
Dong Dong handed over a small silver knife, Ye Xiaotian looked at the pot, bravely put the knife close to his finger, Dong Dong shook his head and said: "Honorable One, cutting your fingers can't guarantee that every insect can eat His blood. If the one that became a Gu worm in the end has not been fed with enough blood from the Venerable, it will not recognize the Venerable as its master, and it will not be easy to use, and it will have to scratch the wrist."
Ye Xiaotian grinned and said, "Cut your wrist? If the blood doesn't stop..."
Dong Dong showed a mouthful of white teeth, and said with a smile, "Don't worry, your lord, I have the best medicine for golden sores."
Ye Xiaotian said: "Okay, these bugs...how many days do you need to feed them?"
Dong Dong said: "Seven days!"
Ye Xiaotian was startled and said: "Seven days? Women only bleed once a month, and me for seven days? If this continues, I will lose too much blood and die."
Winter smiled and said: "No! We have prepared a lot of blood-enriching food for the Venerable."
Ye Xiaotian suddenly said: "Invigorating blood... I understand! I said that starting from yesterday, every morning, you will let me drink some sesame and red date porridge, there must be a pork liver soup at noon, and there must be a fried black fungus with lotus root slices for dinner. Before going to bed You asked me to drink donkey-hide gelatin honey soup before, so it was to fatten me up before killing me!"
Winter couldn't help laughing and said: "My lord, this is not raising pigs..."
Ye Xiaotian said: "Okay, okay, you don't need to talk, I know what to do."
Ye Xiaotian raised the knife in his hand, and said: "Putting out the head is also a knife, retracting the head is also a knife, anyway, you can't hide, let's fight!"
Ye Xiaotian closed his eyes, and slashed down with his knife!
Dong Dong coughed and said, "My lord, it's very difficult to cut your wrist with the back of a knife."
Ye Xiaotian's face became hot, and then he turned over the knife and swiped lightly with his heart.
Dong Dong said: "Please pour the blood into the jar, and make sure that every poisonous insect can drink the blood of the Venerable."
Ye Xiaotian raised his wrist above the jar, watching the blood drop by drop into the jar, although he didn't feel dizzy, his feet were still a little limp.
Ye Xiaotian's cut was a bit shallow, and the blood stopped flowing after a few drops. Dongdong urged him repeatedly until he wanted to do it for him. Ye Xiaotian had no choice but to ruthlessly cut the wound a little bigger. Seeing the blood pouring in continuously In the can, it really hurts.
Finally, Dong Dong nodded in satisfaction and said, "Okay!"
Ye Xiaotian hurriedly said: "Then why don't you apply medicine and bandage me!"
After taking the golden sore medicine in winter, seeing Ye Xiaotian's hand still on top of the jar, he couldn't help but wonder: "My lord, there is enough blood."
Ye Xiaotian quickly passed his hand in front of him, and said angrily: "I know, I just don't want to waste it."
winter:"… "
The technique of bandaging wounds in winter is very proficient, and he quickly applied the golden sore medicine to Ye Xiaotian and finished bandaging. Ye Xiaotian thought that those bugs in the jar were sucking his blood, so he didn't want to stay in this room. He clutched his wrist just now. After walking out of the house, Xia Yingying arrived in a hurry.
"Brother Tian, come quickly!"
Yingying hurriedly pulled Ye Xiaotian to the side of the big tree, let the family know Ye Xiaotian's venerable status, and taught Ye Xiaotian the words of her determination to let them separate, and said tearfully: "I don't want to leave you, Brother Xiaotian, we What should I do?"
"How to do how to do?"
Ye Xiaotian wandered around under the big tree for a few times, then suddenly turned around and looked at Yingying: "Yingying, are you really willing to follow me, don't you regret it?"
Yingying nodded vigorously, then shook her head vigorously, and said forcefully, "No regrets!"
Ye Xiaotian said: "Okay! Then we... just cook the raw rice first, would you like it?"
"willing!"
Yingying replied without hesitation, then hesitated for a moment, and asked in confusion, "How do you cook it?"