The Ming Dynasty also attached great importance to infrastructure, following the legacy of the Qin and Han dynasties. Basically in all areas, a long pavilion was built every ten miles and a short pavilion was built every five miles to provide pedestrians with a place to rest. In ancient times, relatives and friends would often see people off when traveling far away.
There was a long pavilion every ten miles, so people from several miles around who were going to the county town for the boy's exam said goodbye here. More and more people gathered, and more and more students in blue shirts and long robes carrying bags were on their backs. Uncle Zhu Shouren was good at dancing with long sleeves, and he got along well with many students. Zhu Ping'an didn't know anyone, not even the other four people that his teacher had guaranteed. Of course, this was also related to Zhu Ping'an's age. The youngest of those students was in his twenties, and you were a thirteen-year-old kid. There was at least a three-generation gap between them, so who would know you
After sending you thousands of miles away, we must eventually say goodbye. The neighbors and their families left one after another, and only a dozen students from several miles around were left at the Ten-Li Pavilion, as well as a few servants of wealthy students.
"Brother Wang, I have long admired you. I am sure you will pass the imperial examination this time."
"Brother Zhao, nice to meet you. I would like to wish you success in the imperial examination in advance."
"Brother Zhu, long time no see. After you pass the exam, you must have a drink with me."
A dozen students were praising each other. When they heard each other say that they had been admitted to a high school, they were as excited as if they had drunk a few glasses of wine.
Zhu Ping'an was the only one left, carrying his luggage, isolated outside. He watched them complimenting each other with a smile on his face.
"Hey, who is this little brother?" Amid the flattery, someone finally noticed Zhu Ping'an. What was a boy of about twelve or thirteen standing here? Could he be someone's page boy? But judging from his clothes, he didn't look like one, so people couldn't help but ask curiously.
"Oh, this is my little nephew. Mr. Sun from Shanghe Village is the guarantor for five people and one is missing, so he is here to make up the number and learn from his experience." Uncle Zhu Shouren said calmly.
"Oh, haha, it's a great experience, that's right."
The students laughed when they heard this, and they didn't pay much attention to Zhu Pingan. After all, he was just a little brat who was making up the numbers, not a genius or prodigy. If he was a genius or a prodigy, we are all from miles around, how could we not have heard of him? So, he must be just a little brat who was making up the numbers, so there was no need to pay attention to him.
More than ten students discussed going to the county town together, so they could keep each other company on the way. A group of people were chatting and laughing at the Ten-Li Pavilion, and it was very lively. Before leaving, someone suggested that they should leave a poem at the Ten-Li Pavilion before leaving, which would be a good story for them when they get into high school.
The crowd was filled with excitement, and everyone was ready to start painting.
The poems they wrote were all very ordinary, and Zhu Ping'an couldn't tell who stood out. However, every time someone finished writing, someone would pretend to comment on it, which would cause a round of applause.
It was so boring. Zhu Ping'an stood aside and watched coldly.
My uncle Zhu Shouren also wrote a poem with one hand holding up his sleeve. His level was not much better than these people, but he was very impressive. After he finished writing, someone commented on it and there was constant applause from all around.
I guess it's because we have similar tastes. Everyone is at this level and everyone can appreciate it, so there is a lot of applause.
Everyone left their calligraphy works, and listening to the compliments from all around, they couldn't help but feel proud and satisfied, as if they were going to pass the exam today, and they were extremely satisfied.
After a long while, someone finally noticed Zhu Ping'an and teased him in a joking tone, "There is a child prodigy here, don't hide away, show us your skills."
Then everyone noticed Zhu Ping'an standing in a remote place. Seeing that he was standing so remote, everyone thought that Zhu Ping'an was illiterate and could not write a poem, so he hid aside embarrassedly. They all laughed and urged Zhu Ping'an to write one as well.
People all have this bad taste: If you are unhappy, then tell me what makes you unhappy and make me happy.
Everyone believed that Zhu Ping'an was uneducated and was just a fake to make up the numbers. However, the more this was the case, the more everyone wanted to see Zhu Ping'an make a fool of himself.
Therefore, everyone was very enthusiastic, and some people even took advantage of their tall and strong bodies to grab Zhu Ping'an and carry him to the table where writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstone were placed.
A group of students, who looked like they were injected with chicken blood, gathered around.
"I, I can't write poetry."
Since everyone was in such high spirits, Zhu Ping'an just wanted to cooperate, and his silly face was filled with an embarrassed smile.
When everyone heard Zhu Ping'an say that he couldn't write poetry, they became even more excited. He said, "You can't write poetry? That's great. Please write one soon to make us happy."
"My dear friend, don't be so modest. Write it down quickly."
The crowd was outraged and Zhu Ping'an could not refuse the invitation, so he had to put on a bitter face and grab the brush with one hand.
How is this position to hold a brush? Why is it like holding chopsticks? It's held too high. The people watching were whispering to each other and then chuckling.
Zhu Ping'an felt even more embarrassed by the laughter and hurriedly corrected the way he held the brush.
Amid the crowd's murmured laughter, Zhu Ping'an uttered the first sentence.
"Once Bitten by a Snake"
When everyone saw this, they stopped laughing for a moment. What was this? Isn't this the common saying of "once bitten by a snake"? How come he used it as a poem? Let's see what his next sentence is.
Without letting everyone wait too long, Zhu Ping'an added another sentence.
“You can hear birds singing everywhere”
As soon as this sentence was uttered, many people could not help laughing. What is going on? It's nonsense. Has this kid ever been to school? He wouldn't be using everything he knows to deal with things.
Amid everyone's laughter, Zhu Ping'an continued writing.
"Outside the long pavilion, beside the ancient road, a line of egrets fly into the blue sky."
After finishing writing, Zhu Ping'an looked at his masterpiece, and pretended to be waiting for everyone's comments and praise, as if he was very satisfied with the poem he had put together.
Once bitten by a snake, you will hear birds singing everywhere.
Outside the long pavilion, beside the ancient road, a line of egrets fly across the blue sky.
The onlookers looked at the poem that Zhu Ping'an and Hu Ping had put together, and then looked at Zhu Ping'an's silly look as he waited for everyone's praise, and they could no longer hold back.
Are you here to make people laugh
The whole poem rhymes, but the first line is a five-character ancient poem, while the second line becomes a ci tune. Moreover, except for the long pavilion and the ancient roadside, which are common sayings that everyone can say, the rest of the poem is pieced together from other poets. Once bitten by a snake is a common saying, and the line "hearing birds singing everywhere" comes from "Spring Dawn" by Meng Haoran of the Tang Dynasty, and the line "a line of egrets flying in the blue sky" comes from "Quatrains" by Du Fu of the Tang Dynasty.
"How disgraceful..."
"The characters don't make sense, but the poetry is just complete nonsense..."
"You are really ignorant and incompetent..."
Everyone was almost laughing. Whose silly kid is this? He is so low-class. He is just making up the numbers. Old Scholar Sun must be too old to send this kid to make up the numbers. Uncle Zhu Shouren even kept away from Zhu Ping'an, fearing that everyone would remember his relationship with Zhu Ping'an.
What made everyone laugh especially was that the silly boy was looking at everyone and laughing along with them.
People are stupid because they don't know it.
At this moment, everyone's thoughts were the same as Zhu Ping'an's.
(This is the first time I recommend a new book. I hope all book lovers will support me by collecting and recommending it more, so that I will have a reason to continue recommending it.)