Red Mansion Reader

Chapter 7 Teacher and Student (Two in One)

After coming out of the ancestral hall, Wang Xianming led Chen Heng to walk ahead. The two talked and listened to each other. The content was not important, it was purely Wang Xianming chatting.They are all talking about the customs of enlightenment in various places, and the small nagging that we are in a hurry and simple.

From his non-stop complaints, Chen Heng felt that his master valued him.Strange to say, he always felt that Wang Xianming's attitude towards him had become more and more severe in the past few days, and it was rare to get along with him so relaxedly.

Chen Yushan silently followed behind the two, his eyes falling on the two in front from time to time.They were wearing similar long robes and scarves, striding with their heads held high, which made Chen Yushan more and more happy the more he looked at them.It seems that my childhood regrets have all been realized in my grandson.

Chen Huaijin was at the end, winked at his eldest brother Chen Qi, and laughed all over his face. Seeing that Chen Beg Mountain was far away, Chen Huaijin spoke a little out of tune: "Look, look, sir, he treats Heng'er as his own child. Big brother, can you bear it?"

Chen Qizheng concentrated on carrying the burden, just glanced sideways at Chen Huaijin, shook his head and said: "If Mr. can really teach Heng'er with his heart, it will be good for Heng'er and us."

Chen Huaijin thought about it, and it was the same reason, so he gave up the idea of ​​making fun of his elder brother.He just nodded: "I really hope that he can teach seriously, otherwise it would be too much of a waste of our money."

"Shut up." Seeing that Chen Huaijin started talking nonsense again, Chen Qi immediately glared at him, scaring Chen Huaijin to shut up quickly.

A group of people came to the master's house, and they had to complete the last step of the day.When Chen Qi carried the pole into the middle hall, Wang Xianming sat alone on the upper seat, and his wife Liu came forward with tea.Chen Heng bowed three times to Wang Xianming, then picked up the tea and handed it respectfully.

"Master, please drink tea."

Wang Xianming picked up the tea, took a sip, and immediately pulled Chen Heng up from the ground, saying, "My good boy, after drinking this cup of tea, my teacher will only treat you more and more severely in the future. You must be prepared and study hard with your teacher."

"Should be, should be." Chen Yushan kept nodding at the side, "Heng'er, from now on, you have to listen carefully to what Mr. has to say."

"I know, Grandpa." Chen Heng nodded obediently.

This matter seems very small, but to Chen Heng and Wang Xianming, it is not a trivial matter.The ancients paid attention to the teacher-student relationship, but what kind of teacher-student relationship is a formal teacher-student relationship?
Scholars like Wang Xianming, who make a living by teaching, have taught dozens of children, not a hundred, in their lifetime.Speaking of bad luck, there is always someone who makes a big mistake.Should this be blamed on Wang Xianming?

If it is counted, who will dare to accept students in the future, and what will the failed scholars rely on to make a living.

So today's scholars have gradually formed a consensus that only students who are officially accepted by the teacher can claim to be a disciple of a certain student after they go out, and the Fa and the world will also recognize it.If someone has not drunk this cup of tea, they will be laughed at if someone goes out and calls him a disciple.

Don't underestimate the identity of a teacher. For everyone in this world, parents have no choice.Some people have bad luck and fall into a poor family.

But just as women can change their predicament by marrying, men choose teachers as a way.As long as the teacher admits it, his interpersonal relationship can also be inherited by the disciples in the future.

Especially Wang Xianming's family with only one daughter.After a hundred years, Chen Heng will throw the pot and carry the coffin for him.Teachers and students are, to some extent, family members who are not related by blood.

Chen Heng knew this in his heart, and seeing that there was still a cup of tea on the teacher's mother's plate, he suddenly said to Chen Yushan and Chen Qi: "Grandpa, Dad, please sit down too."

Chen Yushan and Chen Qi were a little puzzled, but today was Chen Heng's big day, so he had to listen to whatever he had to say.

As soon as they sat down, Chen Heng knelt on the ground and bowed three times.

"Son, what are you doing?"

"Heng'er, get up, get up."

"Grandfather, Father, I know that without you, I would never have had the opportunity to study. In the past, I devoted myself to my studies. If I don't say how grateful I am today, I'm afraid there will be few opportunities in the future. Let me take this opportunity today..."

Chen Heng got up and took another cup of tea, and handed it to his grandfather with both hands, "Please, two elders, drink this cup of tea for grandma and mother. After the child, I must study hard and will not disappoint your expectations."

"Silly boy, silly boy."

Chen Yushan was still able to speak at this moment, the beard around his lips trembled slightly, and finally calmed down, he took the tea and drank it down in one gulp under Chen Heng's earnest gaze.

Chen Qi took the empty teacup with some embarrassment, so he had to lift the child up instead of Chen Yushan, patted the dust on his robe, and said emotionally: "You study hard, don't worry about anything. Everything depends on your father, your grandfather, and your mother."

"And your second uncle and me." Chen Huaijin came up and stood beside the little Chen Heng.

"Yes, and second uncle." Chen Heng smiled lightly and nodded to Chen Huaijin.

On the side, Wang Xianming and Liu Shi saw everything in their eyes, looked at each other and saw the comfort in each other's eyes.

is a good boy.

Can my eyesight be bad?

Wang Xianming raised his eyebrows at Mrs. Liu with some satisfaction,

…………

When Chen Yushan and the others returned home, Wang Xianming brought Chen Heng to the school.There are only two teachers and students in the school today, and the desks that were placed before have all been removed.

The two sat facing each other. Wang Xianming handed the "Thousand Characters" and "Yan's Family Instructions" that he had prepared to Chen Heng, and said, "Now you have a good memory and can read quickly. You can't waste your good time. You can take these two books home and read them yourself. If you come across something you don't understand, you can bring it back and ask me."

"Yes." After Chen Heng took it, he waited for Wang Xianming to continue speaking.

I saw Wang Xianming took out something from the book with great care, and handed it to Chen Heng. The latter took it and saw that it read "The Analects of Confucius". He couldn't help but feel a little excited.

From this moment on, he will study the legendary Four Books and Five Classics.

Seeing his disciple's excited appearance, Wang Xianming also secretly smiled, and then said seriously: "Calm down, get ready for class."

Chen Heng took a deep breath and nodded in agreement.

…………

In the central hall, Mrs. Liu opened the pole that Chen Qi picked up, and inside were some fresh fruits and vegetables, and a pair of bacon.Mrs. Liu nodded, these are all the repairs that should be done when formally appreciating a teacher.

This is the etiquette, not exceeding the rules.

Like the grandsons of Lizheng before, when they came to study at the door, what they paid was silver taels, not too much. It was purely used as a mouth-watering fee for Mrs. Wang, and the Liu family returned it later, which was the money.After taking out the things in the basket one by one and sorting them into categories, Mrs. Liu found a small red bag at the bottom.

Somewhat strangely, he took it out, Liu opened it, and found that there were dark and broken silver coins inside, and one could feel that the original owner had treasured them for a long time.

Liu's face was shocked, and she counted carefully, there were ten taels.

"This Wang Xianming..." Mrs. Liu looked furious. Is Old Chen's family rich?How to bring the customs of Yangzhou City to Shanxi Village.

As mentioned earlier, Wang Xianming worshiped under Liu's father in his early years. At that time, Liu's father was still a scholar, and the money he received was only ten taels.

No, I have to talk about this old man.Mrs. Liu wrapped up her silver and started to walk angrily, counting the time and waiting for the school to finish.

Chen Heng said that there is no rest in reading, as long as the class starts, he will not rest until the afternoon.In ancient times, it was difficult to study. Generally, as long as students had been to a teacher, they would choose to eat and live at the teacher's house if the journey was far away.

Fortunately, Chen's house was not far away, and when they left the hall, Chen Heng said goodbye to master and mother and went home for dinner.

Mrs. Wang, who had just finished class, was sitting at the table in a happy mood when she suddenly became suspicious and asked, "Ma'am, why is there only one dish at home today?"

"Isn't it because the family is poor, they can't even buy vegetables, so let's just eat." Liu said sarcastically.

I haven't done anything wrong these days?Wang Xianming was completely clueless.Simply put the years of struggle experience here, I know that what I should do is to talk less, eat well, and deal with it.

But when he picked up the chopsticks, put the bean sprouts in his mouth, he immediately spit them out.

"What a sour bean sprouts!"

Wang Xianming complained.

"Is it so sour? I've never tasted it before. Oh, if I had known it was so sour, I should have been here, so as not to dirty the mouth of my husband." Liu pretended to be surprised, her rich face was full of innocence.

Wang Xianming had no choice but to put down his chopsticks.He knew that if he didn't figure out the reason today, this meal and the next few days' meals might not taste good.

Liu Shi didn't care about him, and drank tea by herself, she didn't believe that the other party couldn't think of it.

Wang Xianming really thought of it, he asked in confusion: "Ma'am, is it because of the Shuxiu given by the Chen family?"

"Hmph." Liu's face continued to be cold.

That's right, Wang Xianming nodded, and couldn't help laughing: "Madam thinks I'm the kind of greedy person?"

"Just because I know you are not, you can still sit here now. If you can't say anything today, I will pack up and go back to Gusu to find my father, so I don't want to be with you like this."

Seeing his old lady's innocent words, Wang Xianming couldn't help but laugh.He couldn't help but think of Liu Shi who snickered behind a screen when he failed the first imperial examination and his only son went to Gusu to study with a teacher.

"Madam, you don't know something." Wang Xianming pondered for a moment before explaining, "Madam is the only daughter in the family. When her father-in-law was not elected, she was a well-known scholar in Gusu. Since you were young, your family had no shortage of food and clothing. You don't know the hardships of peasants studying."

"Oh, then let's talk about it." Liu said reluctantly.

"You think, reading the imperial examination is not a one-time achievement. Their Chen family can work together to support Heng'er's study today. It is not only because Heng'er is smart, but also because there is only this one grandson. How can he be a child? The daughter-in-law of the second room of their family is about to give birth. Heng'er's parents don't look like they can't give birth."

"Are you worried that they will repent in the future?" Liu Shi expressed doubts. She has met scholars since she was a child and never gave up without success. Where can she think of this, "This... can you still repent?"

"Don't worry about scarcity but inequality." Wang Xianming smiled mockingly. The mockery was not aimed at Liu Shi, but rather at his own past. "Maybe they won't let Heng'er study, but other grandchildren are also clamoring to study? There are some good things, but these small things are bad. They are all their own grandchildren. When the time comes, will they all go to school, or not at all?"

Only then did Mrs. Liu remember one thing. Their family has been back to Shanxi Village for so long, and they have never seen a few people surnamed Wang come to their door. At this time, comparing Wang Xianming's expression, she seemed to understand something in her heart.

"Only after paying this money, they will not take chances." Wang Xianming's face darkened, "My family background can only support a scholar, and only Heng'er's temper is suitable for continuing to study."

"You sound like Heng'er will definitely pass high school as long as he keeps reading." Liu's tone was a little slow, and he couldn't help but wondered.She would not disturb Wang Xianming when he was in class, and she rarely inquired about the school on weekdays.

"He has a good memory and good comprehension." When it comes to this, Wang Xianming is full of pride, "He can understand what I taught this morning on the spot, and he can even draw inferences from one example. In addition, he is willing to work hard and endure hardships.

A person like him... If he doesn't go to high school, who else can go to high school?
Let's just watch, madam, now he is still a child in the mountains, ignorant and ignorant.In ten or twenty years time, we will take advantage of him and say that we are Heng Er's teacher when we go out.

Hahaha, Master Juren's mentor, not bad.Indeed, it sounds better than Xiucaigong. "

At the end of Wang Xianming's speech, there was still some embarrassment on his face.

"Since a disciple can be proud of his teacher, why can't the master be proud of his good disciple? At this time, you, an old boy, can feel proud. Teachers and students share weal and woe." Liu's tone was calm. She had seen her father get along with her disciples, so she accepted it much faster.

"Yes, yes." Wang Xianming nodded with a smile, "As for the ten taels of silver, you can save it. When Heng'er goes out to study in the future, we will take it out and add some taels of silver to him for travel expenses on the road."

"That's right." Liu laughed loudly, got up and said, "Sit down for a while, and I'll serve the dishes."

"That's really a good lady." Wang Xianming got up and cupped his hands repeatedly, "Please hurry up, madam, after a while, Heng'er will have dinner and come to study."

"It's all warmed up, I'm sure it won't delay your teaching."

Mrs. Liu went back quickly, and the two husband and wife sat together to pick up dishes from each other and chatted about past topics.

"However, listening to you praise Heng'er like that before reminds me of someone." Liu's eyes suddenly lit up, and she said to Wang Xianming, "Do you... still remember Lin Xiucai?"

"Lin Xiucai? There are so many students in the teacher, and I went there late, so I can remember them all." Wang Xianming was puzzled, and then suddenly realized, "You mean the student who won the exam with Dad?"

"That's him." Liu said happily, "Later they went to Beijing to take the exam together, but in the end Dad failed the exam, isn't he in high school?"

"At that time we regretted that if teachers and students went to high school together, it would definitely be a good story." Liu shook his head full of regret, the past was vivid in his memory, "At that time, Lin Xiucai was worshiped by my father, and it seemed that he was only Heng'er's age. Later, my father told mother that Lin Xiucai would definitely go to high school in the future, and he had heard of Jiugao. The words that praised him are not bad at all compared to what you praise Heng'er now."

Wang Xianming was taken aback for a moment, and suddenly said urgently: "Then what happened to Lin Xiucai in high school?"

"It seems... It seems to be Tanhua." After finishing speaking, Liu's face was shocked.

The two were speechless for each other, and for a moment they didn't know what to say.Just when the two of them were silent, a childish voice came from outside the door, "Master, teacher's wife, I'm here, first go to the school to endorse."

A small figure was stepping through the door, bowing to the two people in the hall, and then walked to the school on the left side by stepping on the path.

　You are so smart, you should know who this Lin Xiucai is.This [-] words, I can be regarded as catching up.Ask for a recommendation ticket, and I will continue to write.Sister Lin is also on her way to the stage, hahahahaha
　　


(End of this chapter)