noon
Pei Ziyun was performing formulas in the courtyard. It was said that this animal show looked similar to the folk fitness method. The movements were slow. People who watched it thought it was a scholar doing fitness and didn't take it seriously.
After doing this several times, unlike the days when I was sweating profusely, now I just feel warm and I think to myself: "My body is finally completely healthy."
"The first level of a Taoist is the physical body. Those Taoists told me about the ten levels. In fact, that's what it means. The first and second levels are health, the third and fourth levels are the generation of breath, and martial arts are the so-called internal strength, right?"
"It's a pity that this step requires spiritual roots. Everyone in this world has them. Spiritual roots may be big or small, good or bad, but I stopped at this step."
"However, this kind of internal power is not so magical and cannot be extraordinary. At this stage, the food intake increases greatly. You can eat several bowls of rice and pounds of meat in one meal."
"At five or six levels, you can become strong internally, and your physical strength is more than twice that of ordinary people. You can sleep only four hours a day and be full of energy. You can also do it with the number of women in the night."
"At the seventh or eighth level, you can develop great strength. You can draw a heavy bow, lift huge rocks, put on armor, and fight in and out of battle formations. You are a brave general."
"Ninety levels can make you strong and soft. It is similar to the light and dark energy in the novel in my previous life. If you nourish it and don't use it, you can die a hundred years old and become an immortal!"
"If you are above the tenth level, you can enter the Tao."
"Even if I don't have spiritual roots, the true teaching method is extraordinary. In addition, my body is young and my yang has not yet leaked. I have made rapid progress. Now I have reached the second level of perfection."
But too much is not enough. Today's practice can be over after reaching this level. I just took the pills and drank the rice wine, and I couldn't help but feel happy.
At this time, Member Chen had arrived earlier. When he saw Pei Ziyun changing his clothes and coming out, he hurriedly greeted him.
"Lead the way!" Pei Ziyun held a folding fan and waved his hand, showing even more coolness. Mr. Chen lowered his head and smiled to lead the way.
A hundred steps beyond the county seat is the dike.
The air on the river side is fresh. When we reach the embankment and look around, we can see all the nearby villages, built one after another. Everyone is busy at this time. Even the women and children at home are laying on straw mats, weaving fishing nets, and weaving gauze. One day at a time, No one can be idle.
But this is life in the countryside.
Fortunately, the war was just going on at this time, there were fewer people and more land, and the people worked hard and earned enough to feed themselves, so everyone seemed happy.
"If in a few years, the population increases and the land gradually becomes unusable, there will be no such atmosphere. After the middle period of the dynasty, feuding between neighbors and relatives often occurred due to family disputes over land disputes."
Arriving at a village and in front of a house, I heard a man named Lang Lang reading: "The way to a university is to be virtuous, to be close to the people, and to stop at perfection. Knowing the cessation will lead to concentration; concentration will lead to tranquility. "Be quiet and then you can be at peace; be at peace and then be thoughtful; be thoughtful and then be able to gain."
Pei Ziyun stopped and looked at this house: "Is it this house?"
"Yes, the former high-ranking member of the Gao family is now in decline. My husband, I will go ask him right away." Mr. Chen said diligently. He saw that the scholar and the old mother were all wearing patches and lived in a mud house. It looked very barren, but Mr. Chen just went in, took it out, and listened to the shouting inside.
"No, no, no, how can you sell this ancestral book? Son, if you want to sell, just step over my mother's body!" The scholar was still a little moved, but an old mother stopped him.
"Who is this?"
"Oh, I want to buy the Gao family's book. I paid 800 yuan for it, but I won't sell it."
"Oh, if you want to be a scholar, it's not a good sign to sell your ancestor's books. No wonder you don't sell them!" The villagers were talking and talking, but then they went off topic.
"Ms. sir, you saw it. The Gao family refuses to sell it. What should I do?"
She had already seen the book. Although she was a little far away, when Mei Hua felt it, she knew that there was indeed sustenance in it. Pei Ziyun thought to herself: "It is difficult to find the sustenance thing. I have searched several houses, but there is no sustenance thing. Even if there is, Or the thing you are entrusting to is low-grade and useless to you, or you are unwilling to sell it.”
"But the more this happens, the less urgent it is. The original owner is too eager and finds loopholes for others."
He shook his folding fan and said, "I don't care about this house. There are many old books in the world. Give it back to him. Let's go to the next house and have a look."
"Yes, I have found one in this village. Master, let's go and have a look. If not, we have to try our luck in other villages."
Pei Ziyun followed, and within a moment, he heard Mr. Chen's voice, "Ms. sir, this is the fifth family."
He led the way forward and saw a big house in front of him. The house was a bit dilapidated, but there was a lion at the door. The door was painted with red paint and two wooden plaques were inlaid on the pillars. This looked like it was quite official. Pei Ziyun Seeing this, I feel strange. Who sells ancestors' books in this mansion
Officer Chen led Pei Ziyun to one side and said: "The family I am going to is the glory of my ancestors. I was once a second-class Jinshi in the previous dynasty, and was a minister. However, I just experienced the war and came to this dynasty, and it was completely ruined." , there are only a few acres of land left at home.”
"The big house we passed just now was the former house of this family, but it no longer belongs to this family and was sold to someone else. Look, sir, that is where we live now."
Looking along Mr. Chen's direction, he saw only a few thatched huts. As he got closer, he realized that bamboos had been inserted into the fence around the huts, and an old woman was tending vegetables in the garden.
In this fenced yard, there are onions, garlic, green vegetables, radishes, etc., and this old woman is handling these vegetables, weeding, turning the vegetables and removing insects.
At this time, the sound of reciting came from the room. It was repeated several times before continuing with a new sentence. When people heard it, their hearts sank.
Officer Chen stepped forward and called the door: "Zhang Zeng, Zhang Zeng, I have a good deal coming to you. Come out quickly. If you miss this time, you may not have such an opportunity again."
The sound inside the door paused, became quieter, and seemed a little suppressed.
Mr. Chen seemed to know him, so he went straight forward, pushed the door open and entered the room, shouting to a scholar inside: "Hey, Mr. Zhang, you can talk. If you want, just come out with the book and let Mr. Pei have a look." Mr. Pei is also a scholar, good at both civil and military affairs. He made a plan to eliminate the Black Wind Bandits a few days ago, but he loves writings, especially books written by himself. Now I can find them everywhere."
"Your family has a book written by an ancestor who was a Jinshi. If you want, you can sell it to Mr. Pei. Mr. Pei is generous and will not lose you."
As Mr. Chen was talking, he heard a sigh from inside.
This picture is not young, about thirty years old. He is wearing a long gown with some dirt and patches. His hair is messy and his eyes have dark circles. He seems to have stayed up late to study hard. At this time, his face is tangled and hesitant.
Officer Chen stepped forward and said: "Scholar Zhang, think about how long it has been since your mother had eaten meat. Think about the money you need to take the exam. You are unwilling to sell books and work, so you rely on your mother to grow some land to survive." , what if you win the prize again?"
Zhang Zeng's mouth moved a little and he wanted to say something but couldn't. When he was young, the world was in turmoil. When peace came, he failed the imperial examination for two consecutive times, and his family became increasingly difficult.
Zhang Zengshen sighed and held out two fingers. Officer Chen was delighted and said, "Scholar, is it agreed? Two taels of silver is just right."
Zhang Zeng blushed: "It's twenty taels of silver. I won't sell it without twenty taels of silver. You must know that this is the handwriting of the former Hanlin. Without this number, I won't sell it."
Listening to the scholar's asking price, Mr. Chen cursed angrily: "You're such a poor scholar, do you know how much twenty taels of silver is a huge sum of money? This is the price of two acres of paddy fields, and this is just a book. Why is it worth two acres of prime paddy field?”
However, despite Mr. Chen's words, he was only willing to pay two taels less for this piece, and would not sell it for any less. This made Mr. Chen unable to make up his mind, so he had to get frustrated.
Pei Ziyun actually heard it a long time ago, but asked: "This scholar refuses to sell?"
Mr. Chen was a little downcast: "This scholar is willing to sell it. He just said that this book was written by the former Hanlin and it was handwritten. He must get twenty taels of silver. No matter what, he is only willing to pay less than two taels. Come and talk to Mr. Pei. .”
"Twenty taels?" After staying in this world for a long time, he knew the value of twenty taels. Pei Ziyun couldn't help but smile. In fact, Hanlin handwriting, if it is popular, can also be worth this price, but outdated Hanlin handwriting is not worth it. This price is about the same as two taels.
"However, I actually heard the name, Zhang Zeng, and I remembered that when I took the imperial examination, this person won the title of scholar."
"And if Hanlin's handwriting has something to rely on, why wouldn't twenty taels be worth it?"
"We can make a good connection."
Thinking this way, he said: "Go and ask Zhang Zeng to fetch the book. If it is suitable, we can naturally discuss it."
Officer Chen went in and talked, and after a while, he led a middle-aged man out. He was still wearing patches, his hair was a little messy, and he was holding a volume of books.
Zhang Zeng came to Pei Ziyun. Seeing that Pei Ziyun was so young, a trace of envy flashed in his eyes. He handed over the book. The words on the cover were square, just like engravings. Pei Ziyun then came over to take a look and check. At this time, the petals of the plum blossoms moved, and the book was in the right shape. It was a gift of sustenance. I couldn't help but be overjoyed, but remained calm. I bowed to Zhang Zeng and said, "So it's Brother Zhang. I've heard of your name in the countryside."
"As for the price of this book..." Pei Ziyun deliberately stopped, glanced at the hut, and said, "Brother Zhang is really poor."
Seeing that Zhang Zeng looked complicated and a little ashamed, he said slowly: "My ancestor is a Hanlin scholar, but this book is worth it. How about I pay thirty taels?"
Upon hearing this, both Chen Yuan and Zhang Zeng were stunned. They only heard someone cutting the price, but there was no increase in price. After a long time, Zhang Zeng suddenly realized that twenty taels of this book was already asking for a sky-high price, let alone thirty taels. His face turned red and he kept saying: "How can it be done? How can it be done?"
Pei Ziyun sighed: "I admire Zhang Hanlin's reputation very much. I asked for his book and advice day and night. Brother Zhang will keep these thirty taels. With his talent, he will not stay in this luxurious house for a long time." , you will definitely ask for advice sooner or later.”
As he said that, he took out three banknotes, all of which were ten taels.
Zhang Zeng blushed and didn't want to accept it, but when he saw his mother's haggard body, he immediately became jealous and was about to burst into tears. He choked up and said, "Brother Pei is so kind that I can't express it in words. I feel ashamed to accept it."
Pei Ziyun bowed, gave him a banknote, and received a personal letter from the Imperial Academy. He was overjoyed. The former Hanlin returned to the previous dynasty, and he was also a genuine Jinshi. After entering the Hanlin, his knowledge was naturally extraordinary. Now he has made a fortune!
The two of them bowed and left. Mr. Chen's face was full of envy. Pei Ziyun's heart moved, and he suddenly had an idea and said: "Mr. Chen, you did a good job. I will give you another job. Help my mother find some fields for me in the countryside. It’s best to work together to clear the fields, then I’ll be satisfied and I’ll be rewarded.”
Then he threw another piece of broken silver over: "This is two taels of silver. It is your reward this time. If you do something for me, I will not lose you."
Officer Chen was overjoyed, took the money, lowered his head and said to Pei Ziyun, "How dare you refuse to serve me."
(End of chapter)