Sangbei Township·Xiaodonghe
Chen Yuan and Pei Ziyun walked along the river for a while. Chen Yuan stopped, pointed and said, "Ms. sir, it's not difficult for you to buy scattered fields."
"But it's not easy to buy a whole field. The fields of each household are intersecting. Often, it's very troublesome to buy a whole field for more than a dozen families."
"But you see, this Xiaodong River was attacked by water bandits along the river, resulting in a sparse population, but this land is all good land. If water is diverted for irrigation, it will be a top-quality paddy field."
"My husband, you can take advantage of this opportunity to get this piece of land. The current price is only 3 taels per mu!"
When Pei Ziyun saw it, he nodded secretly in his heart: "This member Chen really has some talent and luck."
"It turns out that a few years later, the government built embankments on the Xiaodong River, planted willows, and diverted water for irrigation. The nearby abandoned fields suddenly turned into good irrigated land, and the price rose to 10 taels of silver per acre. In addition, if wasteland was opened up, it would still be irrigated in the first two years. It’s tax-free and you’ll pay taxes as normal in the third year.”
"I don't want this to be obvious to Mr. Chen at a glance."
After all, my mother was a woman, and there were many inconveniences in this society. Pei Ziyun said: "Okay, you can take my name sticker and go to the county to buy this land."
"Mr. sir, how much do you want to buy?" Mr. Chen was eager to give it a try.
"The price is so cheap, just buy 500 acres. If it's close to the clan temple, 50 acres will be allocated to the clan temple!" Pei Ziyun said lightly.
The clan's land is the entire clan's property, and its output is used for clan studies, sacrifices, and to provide relief to the poor in the clan. This is what it should be in this era.
"Ms. sir, there are three thousand acres near Xiaodong River..." Mr. Chen was a little unwilling.
Pei Ziyun closed the folding fan with a "snap" and pointed: "Idiot, don't tell me that I am just a scholar. I am not a scholar. Even if I am a scholar, it is taboo to eat alone."
"If I take all these three thousand acres of wasteland into my name, even if I am a judge, even the county magistrate will be jealous, and it will cause unnecessary trouble and disaster - you are just short-sighted."
What is not said is that this member Chen was smart and capable in small things, and could sing and dance well, so he made a fortune, but he did not know how to advance or retreat. Later, he was imprisoned and his property was confiscated.
At this time, Mr. Chen didn't really understand the meaning, so he had to respond: "Yes!"
Pei Ziyun stopped stepping forward and looked back. He saw farmers working in the fields. The construction of his ancestral hall on the riverside had already begun. Looking from a distance, he saw a dozen people busy.
"I have already said goodbye to my mother."
"It's up to you to handle this wasteland matter. I hope it will be completed when I come back." Seeing that the bullock cart was not far away, Pei Ziyun got on the cart and gave instructions.
I thought to myself: "When I win the election, maids and servants will be indispensable, and an ox cart will also be necessary."
"This is what counts as gentlemanly dignity."
… …
Luhe
Pei Ziyun looked from a distance and saw a painting boat docked on the shore. The river was sparkling and the sun was shining. He glanced at it and saw that there were many scholars on the boat. They were leaning on the boat to enjoy the scenery from a distance, or maybe 20 to 30 percent. The group talks together.
Pei Ziyun boarded the ship and saw many scholars gathered around Jiaoyu and talking. Jiaoyu seemed to have arrived early. Looking from a distance, Jiaoyu had a serious face, only listening to a few words, and nodding from time to time.
"I've seen the teachings!" Pei Ziyun went up to salute. This courtesy was indispensable.
Seeing Pei Ziyun salute, Jiao Yu nodded with a smile but said nothing.
"Brother Pei, you're finally here. Come on, let me introduce you. This is Brother Chen, who ranked second in the previous government examination." Tang Zhen appeared and said with a smile.
"I've met Brother Chen!" This person was Chen Yigui. After he got his name, Pei Ziyun smiled and said, "By the way, what's so special about this boat party? It's my first time here."
Chen Yigui smiled and said: "Actually, it is to let the scholars in the county get to know each other, go boating and swim on the river. There will be a poetry meeting and a literary meeting, and the scholars in the county will compete. The judges will be judged by teachings. After the literary meeting, there will be a banquet, and there will be a play in the middle. .”
"New talents must show their talents so that they can be accepted by the scholars in the county."
Then he said: "The boat meeting is not far from the provincial examination. Generally speaking, after the boat meeting is over, you can set off for the province. In fact, our Jiangping County has water transportation and is not far from the provincial capital. If you go to other counties, you can go to the province in advance. We’ll be leaving in half a month.”
Pei Ziyun nodded. In ancient times, the road was not easy to travel, and what to do if there was a disease, so he went to the provincial capital in advance. If he had a minor disease, he could be treated for ten days and a half, so as not to delay the examination room.
Tang Zhen smiled and said: "Brother Chen always recommends new talents, he is really a kind man!"
After saying that, everyone walked in. The hall was very large, with painted boats and carved beams and pillars. Pei Ziyun met many people. They all greeted each other and said a few words, but their friendship was nothing more than that.
While he was talking, a servant came up with a copper plate: "My lords, these are the poems and essays written by the princes at the last boat meeting. Please take a look."
Pei Ziyun took it and saw a thin booklet with the word "Ship Gathering" written on it. It contained poems and texts, landscapes and scenery, gifts and farewells, and history and nostalgia. More than thirty scholars in the county started reading it.
"The poems and articles are all average!" Pei Ziyun read it over. Now his level seems to be generally average, but he also understands the purpose of this boat party.
Social and cultural events also have the meaning of promoting the county's literary style. Of course, if you are very good, you can increase your reputation through this - participating in the boat party are all the best of the county. If you have outstanding talents, your reputation will soon spread throughout the country. county, and then spread throughout the county.
Chen Yigui flipped through it, smiled, and looked back and said, "You can use the pen and ink here as you like. You can think about it. If there is a masterpiece, you can even put it on the screen."
He pointed to the screen and said, "You can see these annual boat gatherings without a brochure."
It turns out that there is still something like this. Pei Ziyun went up to take a look and saw that the works on the screen were indeed better. Just as he was thinking about it, he suddenly smelled a faint fragrance.
"Hey, what kind of fragrance is this?" Pei Ziyun had already thought about it and was suddenly surprised.
"I don't know what the incense is, but as soon as the incense burns, the literary meeting officially begins. You see, everyone is thinking hard." Chen Yigui said with a smile.
Pei Ziyun saw it and saw that it was a small stove in the corner with incense sticks. The smoke rose slowly and spread throughout the hall. He thought to himself: "Here he comes!"
At this time, the curtain was raised, and Jingyu came into the hall. Everyone saluted together, and after taking their seats, Jingyu said: "Every boat party is not limited to the title, whether it is articles, poems or lyrics. If there are fine works, it is also an elegant thing, even It can be recorded in the county annals, so don’t slack off.”
"Yes, teachings."
There was the sound of grinding ink in the hall, the breeze was blowing outside the window, the window screen was fluttering, and the aroma of the banquet was constantly coming up from below, which showed that the banquet was being prepared.
The scholars raised their sleeves and started writing. In fact, few of them acted on the spot. The boat party once a year was an opportunity to become famous. Some even spent a year preparing, so they had drafts in mind and started writing. soon.
Pei Ziyun spread out a piece of paper, held it at one corner, and after grinding the ink, Pei Ziyun picked up a pen, dipped the ink in it, and started to write. If he was afraid of plagiarism, he was afraid of plagiarizing a famous article. When someone asked him, His true identity was immediately exposed, but now that Pei Ziyun has the talent of the Imperial Academy, he is not afraid of anything. He just wrote: "The ancient scholars must have teachers. Teachers, so they can preach and learn from their work to solve their doubts."
"People are not born with knowledge, how can they be free from confusion? If they are confused and do not follow the teacher, they will be confused, and they will never understand it. They were born before me, and they heard the Tao before me, so I learned from them; they were born before me. Later, when he heard the Tao, he also came to me first, so I learned from him."
Pei Ziyun wrote down these five hundred words, only deleting the last sentence. After finishing writing, the poetry writers had already handed in their papers, and some of the essay writers were confident enough to hand in their papers, and Pei Ziyun also handed them in.
Jiaoyu glanced at the paper, raised his head and glanced at Pei Ziyun. Without saying anything, Pei Ziyun bowed and retreated.
I read the edicts one by one and took out a few relatively well-written poems and essays to comment on, but Pei Ziyun put the article at the end, read it, remained calm and said nothing.
The poetry meeting ended and the banquet began.
Tang Zhen hinted at this, and the Qian family's boat, which was not far away, gradually came closer.
The banquet was held on the deck, and the emperor personally poured wine from a pot. Everyone was flattered.
Pei Ziyun was eating silver carp, steaming saury, and drinking wine. At this time, the Qian family's painted boat approached, and the sound of silk and bamboo was heard. Everyone saw that the Qian family's painted boat was setting up a stage opposite.
Under the sunshine at noon, listening to the melodious music, everyone was intoxicated. When they got closer, they found that the person singing on the stage was a famous literati from the previous dynasty, who won three yuan in a row and won the first prize in the street.
Everyone looked at the palace flowers on the stage, dressed in python robes, and riding horses on the street. They all clicked their tongues and were envious. This was just right for their appetite. Tang Zhen said: "Teach me, how can you do it with wine and no singing? The Qian family has always Respecting scholars, since there is such a show, why not lean on the boat and enjoy it together."
All the ministers immediately cheered. After hearing this, Pei Ziyun sneered in his heart. This man seemed sincere and did not want to be so treacherous, but everyone thought it was normal and even nodded to the instructions.
The two ships were leaning against each other, side by side. It is said that both boats had a wide front deck with a semicircular arcade. Once they were connected, the area suddenly became much larger.
"It turns out that the second son of the Qian family took his family on a boat trip to listen to the opera."
After a while of greetings, servants moved the banquet. Everyone gathered around the stage and ate the banquet together, and bursts of cheers could be heard.
Winning three yuan in a row is really a scholar’s dream.
The second young master of the Qian family seemed to be very generous. He ordered his servants to add wine and food. Each scholar paid for the banquet at the boat party himself. Although it was passable, it was not exquisite. But at this time, the wine and food were good, and he was famous on the stage. For a time, the scholars all praised it.
Pei Ziyun looked around and found the Qian girl not far away from him. She was with the maid on one side, seeming to be watching a play or the scenery.
To be fair, this young lady is sitting on her knees at this time, wearing a blue and white undershirt, half of her body is shrouded in the light, her face is calm and pretty, her eyes are deep and thoughtful, she looks really beautiful, and she has been investigated these days. , sighing in my heart: "This woman is called a famous lady in the county. She is beautiful and gentle, good at calligraphy and painting. She looks even more dignified and beautiful now, but who knows her real life?"
Pei Ziyun was thinking about it as he ate the food. This time, a dedicated servant brought the wine. Tang Zhen came up at this time and took the initiative to pour the wine: "Come, Brother Tang, let's have a drink."
(End of chapter)