Li Jin learned from their conversation that this son of Chen Xiran was the only son who moved to the Chen residence.
Moreover, judging from Mr. Song's expectations for Chen Xiran, he actually hopes that he can work hard and become a scholar in one fell swoop next February!
Li Jin didn't take him lightly at first, but he didn't take him too seriously, and only regarded him as a passerby who met by chance.
Hearing Mr. Song's words, he was a little surprised. This young master Chen looked about the same age as him, and he didn't like to study...
What are you going to do to take the talent test
But since Mr. Song said so, this person must have something special.
After Mr. Song reprimanded Chen Xiran, he turned to Li Jin.
He introduced the two of them: "You guys are going to take the Tongsheng exam in February next year, and now you can get to know each other, you are classmates."
Mr. Song introduced Li Jin first, and said, "This is Li Jin, who is serious and hardworking, well-known and strong."
After a pause, he said, "This is Chen Xiran. This kid has an excellent memory and is a good reader, but he likes to be lazy."
Li Jin's clear eyes fell on Chen Xiran and said, "Brother Chen, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Chen Xiran said: "Let's not speak in an official tongue. We met once in the morning. My name is Chen Xiran. I'll invite you to Baishifang to eat delicious food after class."
Li Jin: "…"
Mr. Song said with hatred on his face, "His father was in the army before, and he gave him a rough appearance. He has read books for so many years, and he doesn't know how to write the words elegant and refined, but he still has to participate in the imperial examination. ."
Li Jin smiled and said, "Brother Chen has a hearty personality, and I admire him."
Mr. Song then tortured Li Jin about what he learned in the morning, and explained to him everything he didn't understand.
Chen Xiran was also listening next to him. It seemed that as long as he didn't need to write anything, he could devote himself to it.
Finally, Mr. Song asked the two to repeat what he had just said.
Because Li Jin had copied the notes before, and Mr. Song's speech was really good, he repeated it very fluently and did not stumble.
Chen Xiran looked at Li Jin in surprise, but before he could say anything, Mr. Song looked over.
Chen Xiran straightened his spine and repeated what Mr. Song had just said.
Although there was some pause, this really surprised Li Jin. After all, Chen Xiran didn't copy the "Sacred Mandate Guangxian" as many times as he did, and he also recited the entire text.
Mr. Song was very satisfied with the two of them. He took out a scripture and handed it to Li Jin, "Take this book back and copy it, and I will tell you tomorrow."
As for why Li Jin had to copy all the books first, it was because Mr. Song also knew that Li Jin probably didn't have the money to buy books.
After copying, it is convenient for Li Jin to take notes and review before the exam.
When Mr. Song was poor, that was the only way he could survive.
He was very considerate of Li Jin's situation. Before, he was afraid that Li Jin's mind was not right, so he asked Li Jin to come and copy the book.
Now that he has a better understanding of Li Jin, he simply lends the book to Li Jin to copy.
Afterwards, Mr. Song gave the two of them a lesson. Chen Xiran looked at Li Jin's bag in the morning, half of which was blank, and now it was full of writing.
I admired it very much, and insisted on taking Li Jin to go to Baishifang for dinner.
"I'll treat you, brother Li, don't be polite."
Li Jin said: "To be honest, my husband has just given birth, and there is only him and the child at home. I am really worried."
Chen Xiran was even more surprised now: "You have not only a husband, but also a child?"
Li Jin didn't intend to hide it, so he naturally replied, "Yes."
Then Chen Xiran dragged Li Jin to compare the age, Li Jin thought, fortunately, he had seen the original master's apprenticeship post in the house, which wrote the original owner's birth date, family population and address.
After Chen Xiran heard this, he covered his face: "Brother Li Xian, I'm one year older than you..."
Li Jin's body is eighteen this year, and Chen Xiran is nineteen.
Li Jin thought to himself, I am ten years older than you.
Too bad it can't be said.
Chen Xiran said, "My father said that if I didn't pass the exam, I wouldn't be able to marry a wife. I really envy you, Li Xiandi."
Li Jin said: "Then congratulate Brother Chen on the title of the boy's test gold list."
Chen Xiran felt that he was hanging.
Originally, he felt that with his intelligence, it was not an easy thing to take the Tongsheng test.
But after seeing Li Jin this time, he realized that this person was no worse than himself, and that Li Jin worked harder than himself.
People who are better than you work harder than you, and this world makes it impossible for people to live.
Chen Xiran thought that whoever of the two could pass the test would naturally be Li Jin.
Chen Xiran said: "To tell you the truth, Mr. Song said today's "Sacred Mandate Guangxuan", which I learned from the scholars there before I moved, so I can answer the questions asked by Mr. today.
On the other hand, Li Xiandi gave a fluent answer today, which I really admire. "
The two talked for a while, and agreed to have a meal together on the next Mu Xiuri, before Chen Xiran said goodbye to Li Jin.
While walking on the road, Li Jin nibbled at his own potatoes, thinking that it would be good to have a company in study.
Chen Xiran's own aptitude is quite good, and he has learned from other scholars before. With him by his side, he has a better reference point.
The two compete with each other to keep improving.
After Li Jin returned, he gave the twenty-four texts to the boy.
The boy raised his eyebrows and smiled happily. In front of Li Jin, he put the money into the small hole in the bed, and then flattened the mattress so that nothing could be seen.
After Qin Muwen put the money away, he said to Li Jin, "A Jin, can you buy some cloth tomorrow, and I'll make you clothes."
Now the family has more than 100 yuan in savings, not to mention buying a piece of cloth, just pull some cloth, enough to make clothes.
The kind of people who buy cloth and buy pieces are big families.
Li Jin almost forgot to make clothes.
He now only has two sets of robes that he wears to study, and he washes them back and forth and changes them.
There are quite a few short burlaps, but they are all made of burlap, and their arms and shoulders hurt when they work.
Thinking of this, Li Jin felt that when he pulled the frame car before, the worn places on his shoulders didn't seem to be swollen yet.
But in fact, he often walked with the basket on his back for more than an hour, and at the end he couldn't feel the soreness in his shoulders.
It was only when I stopped doing farm work that I felt a throbbing pain in my shoulder.
Li Jin also knew that this body was too thin and tender, and he had to go through this step if he wanted to change from a young master who had never done farm work to a man who took on the responsibility of supporting the family.
Anyway, he was never hypocritical.
The sun outside is still very bright now, but it is not as dry as it is at noon.
Li Jin copied the scriptures on the locker, and the teenager went to the kitchen to cook some mung bean porridge to cool off the heat and hang it in the well.
The young man is not healthy now, so he can't eat cold food. This is for Li Jinbing.
After a while, there was a knock on Li Jin's house. It turned out that Li Dahe's two sons came in with a case.
Li Jin hurriedly opened the door so that they could put the table in the yard.
Li Dahe's eldest son is twenty-five this year, and he has three children at home.
As soon as he saw Li Jin, he smiled and said, "The youngest child in my family ate your braised pork yesterday. After my father hears it, he will quickly settle the case for you. Let me tell you, It's not easy at home now, don't pay attention to these loach-like children."
Li Jin smiled and said, "Each child only took one piece, and my family has enough to eat."
The man continued: "Li Daniu previously boasted that it is easy for a scholar to make money, but in my opinion, it is indeed not as hard work as our Zhuangjiahan, but it is not easy at all.
Each line of business has its own difficulties, so we should not be greedy for your home. "
The people in the village are so sincere, Li Jinzhen can't do anything about them.
The two brothers moved the case to the back room for Li Jin, and Kaoka was just on the other side of the bed, near the window.
The young man filled the two of them with mung bean soup, and mixed wild vegetables with his hands and feet.
Li Jin greeted them in the kitchen, and the boy went to get the final payment of forty wen, string it up and hand it to them.
According to the rules of the village, after new furniture is made, the host invites the person who moved the things to drink a bowl of soup as a token of thanks.
After all, the villagers make things for the villagers, which is much cheaper than in the town, which is basically a hard work.
The two brothers finished eating and left with the money.
Li Jin cleaned up the rest of the tableware by himself, and he let the boy sit on the bed: "You can't be so tired just after giving birth, otherwise how can you have a second child in the future?"
The teenager originally wanted to finish the housework, but when he heard the second half of Li Jin's sentence, his whole body froze.
He still wanted to have another child, so he didn't dare to mess around this time.
Li Jin tidy up the kitchen, then swept out the dust when the desk came in, and finally put his books and papers on the desk.
Standing in front of the window, the sunlight poured in from the oiled paper window, and Li Jin was bright in front of him.
He couldn't help feeling something, and thought of a few poems—
"The lights are on at the third watch and the chicken is on the fifth watch. It's when the man is studying. The black hair doesn't know how to study early, and the white head regrets studying late." [Note]
Only then did Li Jin realize that he had put the cart before the horse in his previous studies.
The ultimate goal of his reading should be to enrich himself.
As for imperial examinations and scholars, these fame and fortune can only prove that his recent studies have been fruitful.
However, Li Jin thought about it, he was a layman.
It is precisely because he takes the exam that he can improve his reputation, protect his family, and live a good life, so he can't say that he is wrong by taking these as his goals.
Li Jin copied half of the book, drank a bowl of mung bean porridge, and went to the kitchen to cook a bowl of noodles for the boy with a poached egg lying on it.
He said, "I'll continue to grow vegetables. After I'm tired, I'll go to bed. Put the bowls here and I'll clean up when I come back, you know?"
The young man nodded obediently. He had also heard in Shangshu Mansion that his aunt had to rest after giving birth to a child, but he foolishly thought it was an expression of squeamishness. In order not to let Li Jin dislike him, he never dared to be lazy.
It turns out... I really need to rest a lot after giving birth.
The boy nodded obediently, he thought, if he was not sleepy for a while, he would wash the dishes. It's not tiring to wash only one bowl.
Today, Li Jin not only has to plant new rapeseeds, but also has to water the fields that were planted yesterday, so in the end, until it got dark, only half of the fields were planted yesterday.
He thought that he would have to pick up a few buckets of water tomorrow, otherwise the vegetable field would have to be grown for several days.