Aspirations

Chapter 2 Making waves with ease

Xia Xiang felt melancholy in the long pavilion for a moment, until the backs of Li Dingshan and Xiao Jia disappeared between the winding mountain roads, and then turned back.

The village in early summer is full of flowers and greenery everywhere.In the fields, there are farmers and cattle busy, and a waterwheel is turning by the lake.Under the waterwheel, several women were washing their clothes while laughing.In the distance, the mountains are stacked, the clouds rise and the fog rises, the birds chirping is echoed from time to time, and there is a little breeze, which makes people feel light and out of the dust.

However, Xia Xiang had no intention of feeling the beauty of this situation. He hurriedly went home while greeting people. When he just arrived at the door of the house, Xia Lai and Xia Qu approached him.

Xia Laixia and Xia Qu are brothers, and the two are the sons of Xia Deshui in the village of Xi'an. They are two years apart in age, but they are like twin brothers.He looks alike, with broad shoulders and round waist, thick eyebrows and big eyes, strong and mighty.In contrast, Xia Lai was more than half a head taller than Xia Qu, and he was also a bit more burly.

The two and Xia Xiang grew up together, as close as brothers, and because they admire Xia Xiang's talent and learning, they obey Xia Xiang's words.

"Da Lang, sir is gone?" Xia Xiang is a single family in Zhongshan Village. He has no cousins ​​and is the eldest. Xia Lai usually calls him Da Lang.Xia Lai approached with a playful smile, his smile was incomparably bright, and his eyes were narrowed.

Xia Lai and Xia Qu have uncles, and they are ranked according to their uncles' peers. Xia Lai ranks eleventh and Xia Que ranks thirteenth.

"Eleventh Lang, are you very happy when Mister leaves?" Xia Xiang slapped Xia Lai angrily. I am still here, and I will continue to supervise your homework."

"Darang, don't you want to hurt me?" Xia Lai was sweating, grabbing Xia Xiang's arm and shaking, "For me, homework is more difficult than murder and arson. I'd rather go up the mountain and be a pirate than pass the exam. Fame. Fame and wealth are like floating clouds to me."

Xia Qin laughed: "Eleven brothers, do you say that you can do n’t say this? If you can get the reputation, you will say that the name is like a floating name? If you can't match Xia Xiang, you can say that Xia Xiang is ugly, too unreasonable."

"Don't you want to spout blood!" Xia Lai glared at Xia Qu, and said angrily, "When will I be unworthy of Xia Xiang? Take a thousand steps back and say, the same surname is not married, how dare I think about Xia Xiang? Taking ten thousand steps back, since the arrival of little lady Xiao Jia, who in the village does not admire her beauty? Even you, you have repeatedly mentioned that you want to marry Xiao Jia. From now on, within an hour, I I won't say a word to you again."

Xia Xiang is the daughter of Xia Laocheng in the village. She is fifteen years old and beautiful.If it weren't for the stipulation of not marrying with the same surname, there would be no less than [-] people in Zhongshan Village who wanted to marry Xia Xiang.It's just that since Xiao Jia came, all the men of the right age in Zhongshan Village looked up to Xiao Jia's graceful appearance and left Xia Xiang behind.However, although Xiao Jia has reached the age of marriage, he is waiting for Li Dingshan wholeheartedly. No matter who proposes a marriage, he will always reject it. .

Only Xia Lai and Xia Qu knew that all of Xiao Jia's hearts were tied to Xia Xiang, and the two of them could see that Xia Xiang had no relationship with Xiao Jia, and only regarded her as a younger sister.

"One hour? It's too little, how about two hours?" Xia Quxi smiled and pushed Xia Lai, "I don't believe you can stop talking to me for an hour!"

"Go away." Xia Lai was extremely annoyed and raised his hand to fight.

"Xiang'er is back." Song Dingniang heard the noise outside the door, pushed open the door, and saw Xia Xiang and Xia Lai and Xia Go sparring, she couldn't help laughing, "You are all approaching the age of weakness, why are you still fighting? No formality? Xiang'er, let Lai'er and Qu'er come to the house for tea."

The yard is not big, there is no green brick paving.An apple tree was planted in the east, and the tree was full of fruit, red and green, which was really beautiful.There are several chickens and ducks under the tree, and a yellow dog is chasing the chickens and ducks.

The three main houses are adobe houses, and the roofs are covered with old weeds, which seem to be full of vitality.Entering the house, it is low and dark, with a slight damp atmosphere.There is an Eight Immortals table in the middle of the house, and a Taishi chair on the left and right.On the wall is a map of Jiangshan Sheji, with couplets on the left and right.

The first couplet: know all the characters in the world, the second couplet: read all the books of the world.

It is the famous line of Lianche supported by Sima Zhuo, the leader of the dynasty.

"Eleventh Lang, get a pen." Xia Xiang looked up at the couplet, rolled up his sleeves, "Thirteenth Lang, help me take down the couplet."

"Okay." Xia Lai and Xia Qu agreed in unison, and the two of them moved neatly. After a while, they prepared the paper and ink and took down the couplet.

"Xiang'er?" Song Dingniang didn't know what Xia Xiang was going to do, and asked in surprise, "This is Mr.'s calligraphy, and you can't touch it."

"I'm just adding a few words." Xia Xiang started the pen, swiped it, threw the pen, and laughed, "Furious to know the words all over the world, determined to read all the books in the world... Only in this way did I show confidence and Get rid of your pride."

"This... is there any difference?" Xia Lai's eyes were full of confusion, and he tilted his head for a long time, "It's just adding four words to the snake, and the meaning is still the same?"

"It's so stupid." Xia Qu sneered, knocking Xia Lai's head and said, "Know all the words in the world and read all the books in the world. There are so many books in the world, who dares to say that they must know and read all of them? Extremely arrogant. But With the addition of 'angry' and 'aspiration', it's different, from arrogance to ambition, not only does it not make people feel arrogant, but it makes people awe-inspiring."

Xia Lai looked at Xia Qu as if he didn't know him, and touched Xia Qu's head: "It's a weird thing, it's really weird, when did your elm head open up?"

"I'm already smarter than you, okay?" Xia Qu pushed Xia Lai's hand away unconvinced, and snorted, "I'm not afraid to tell you, I've decided to go to Beijing with Dalang to catch the exam."

"You said it right? Did I hear it right?" Xia Lai opened his eyes wide, "On the basis of your essays and bad handwriting, do you still want to go to Beijing to take the exam? How much cloth shoes and food will be wasted if you travel more than [-] miles to the capital? It’s better to farm at home.”

Xia Qu was extremely angry: "Eleven Lang, you underestimate me too much. I went to Beijing to take the exam to serve the imperial court, so what if I wasted cloth shoes and food? Wei Wei dare not forget the country, unlike you, just want to Be at ease for yourself and not share the worries of the country."

Xia Lai was left speechless by Xia Qu's words, and after a long time of murmuring, he finally said: "I also want to serve the court and share the country's worries, but I don't have the talent to help the world. What use does the court want from me? It's better to farm and raise cattle. It’s not a drag on the court either.”

"The court is recruiting troops now." Xia Xiang stepped on the chair and hung up the couplet, "Since the founding of the Great Xia Dynasty, although the emphasis on literature has been suppressed, the Taizu established the world with soldiers. , with your physique, you can be recruited."

Conscription is military service, unpaid.Recruiting soldiers is different. The imperial court recruits soldiers, which is equivalent to mercenaries. It is for selection, and the candidates are recruiters.The requirements for recruits in terms of physique and intelligence are stricter than those of recruited conscripts. Generally speaking, there are tests for height and physical fitness.

"It's a good idea." Xia Lai slapped his thigh, beaming with joy, "I'm going to apply for the army, maybe I can become Wu Lue Lang in the future."

"Too unpromising. With your great talent, Wu Lue Lang from the seventh rank is too weak." Xia Qu laughed.

Xia Lai puffed out his chest proudly: "Yes, at least I have to be a group trainer from the fifth rank."

"The group trainer from the fifth rank is still too young." Xia Qu smiled narrowly, "You must at least be Cheng Xinlang."

Xia Lai was dazed by Xia Qu, and he touched his head: "What grade is Cheng Xinlang?"

Xia Xiang laughed: "The lowest grade, from the ninth grade."

Xia Lai was furious: "Thirteen Lang, I will never finish with you!" After speaking, he raised his hand to hit Xia Qu.

But Xia Xiang stopped him.

Xia Xiang smiled and said: "Don't make trouble, I have to go to Beijing early tomorrow to take the exam. It is estimated that I will go there for at least half a year. Eleven and Thirteen, my mother will ask the two to take care of them."

After finishing speaking, Xia Xiang made a bow.

Xia Lai and Xia Qu hurriedly put their words together and returned a salute.

Xia Lai said solemnly: "Da Lang, don't worry, with me and Thirteen Lang here, everything will be fine for Auntie."

Xia Qu also said: "Yes, yes, my aunt is the same as my mother. Dalang doesn't have to worry about it. After high school, don't forget the poor brothers, Gou Fugui, and no one else."

Xia Xiang nodded and said with a smile: "When Chen Sheng was plowing the fields, when he talked about being rich and honored, he would never forget him. He was ridiculed by his companions, saying that he had no destiny to be rich. , his companion went to seek wealth, but was killed by Chen Sheng. From then on, no fellow countryman went to join him."

Xia Lai pretended to be shocked: "Ah, Dalang, do you mean that you don't want us to go to you?"

Xia Xiang laughed and punch Xia Lai: "The implication of my words is that the people in the population are not forgetting to be wealthy. .”

"It's dinner." Song Dingniang prepared the meal, one plate of cold dishes, two plates of hot dishes, plus steamed buns and pancakes, simple but abundant, "Eleven and Thirteen also stayed for dinner."

Xia Lai and Xia Qu's family situation is much better than Xia Xiang's. The two often help Xia Xiang, and they understand Song Dingniang's difficulty in running the house alone. They never eat at Xia Xiang's house.Today, the two did not refuse and took their seats separately.

After the meal, Song Dingniang cleaned up the dishes, and Xia Xiang, Xia Lai and Xia Qu came to the courtyard.Xia Xiang saw it, and the two had something to say to him.

Under the fruit trees in the courtyard, there was a square table and a few wooden benches, Xia Xiang and the others sat down.The yellow dog shook its head and came closer, sniffed several people one by one, and then lay down under the shade of the tree as if nothing had happened, dreaming the big autumn dream.

"It takes a lot of trouble to go to the capital. This is a little bit of my mind." Xia Lai changed his previous hippie smile, took out a kit and handed it to Xia Xiang, "Zhongshan Village has been around for more than a hundred years. , I have never been a jinshi, let alone a champion. If you are a champion in high school, my brothers and I will be able to make a lot of difference."

"After all, there is only one champion, but there are dozens of jinshi. It's enough to get the second-class jinshi." Xia Qu also took out a small bag, "Darlang, I also have the intention to send it, you accept it. Decline, I will do my best when I return to my hometown as a jinshi in high school and serve as a county magistrate.”

Xia Xiang deliberately refused to accept it. He didn't want Xia to come and Xia to go, but he said it to death. Under the agitated mood, his eyes were slightly warm for a while.Since he can remember, Xia Lai and Xia Qu have taken care of him and his mother like brothers.Now that he is going to Beijing to take the exam, the two of them have given a gift to him. He should keep in mind such a relationship.

"Thank you very much." Xia Xiang bowed his hands slightly, considering his friendship with Xia Lai Xia Qu and his two brothers, the extra words seemed unfamiliar.

"You're welcome." Xia Lai waved his right hand quite proudly. He was more than half a head taller than Xia Go, and his body was much stronger. When he waved his hand, he really had the style of a general, "Dalang, Who is your father? Aunt really didn't say anything?"

"It's really not." Xia Xiang shook his head, "I'm also curious about who my father is. My mother doesn't allow me to ask me about my background. Every time I mention it, I always avoid answering. Blame me for being ignorant."

"It's weird too, Da Xia has a clear-cut atmosphere and doesn't oppose women's remarriage, and my aunt doesn't know what to do?" Xia Qu couldn't understand, so he was too lazy to think about it, and said, "Darang, what I said just now is not a joke, it's true. I want to go to Beijing with you to take the exam."

"Ah?" Xia Xiang was really taken aback, "You really mean that?"

"I want to give it a try." Xia Qu smiled embarrassedly, "It's not that I want to find a background, I also want to go out and meet the world, and, when I walk with you, it's good to have someone on the road. "

Xia Lai nodded again and again: "From Zhongshan Village to the capital, it will take more than a month at least, reading while walking, maybe Xia Qu will really be enlightened, even if it's just a four- or five-level jinshi background, it will be considered a glorious ancestor. Read ten thousand volumes of books. , it's better to travel thousands of miles."

"Traveling thousands of miles is worse than seeing countless people." Xia Qu nodded in agreement.

"It's better for a famous teacher to guide you than to read countless people." Xia Xiang added.

The grades of Jinshi, the first and second grades are called "Jidi", the third grades are called "Born", and the fourth and fifth grades are called "Born with Jinshi".Its first, second, and third places are also known as No. [-] Scholar, No. [-], and Tanhua.

"I just asked for a hexagram from Xia Laodao in the south of the village. It's a sign." Xia Lai took out a bamboo stick and read, "Everyone feels up to the wind when he hears that the court is promoting the selection of talents. Don’t worry, don’t worry about it, Dangui will open naturally in the middle of the month... Zhangui in the Toad Palace is the entrance exam, Dalang, if you go to the capital to take the exam, you must be in high school.”

"Haha, you don't talk about strange powers, you have great talents in your chest, and your fame is in your pen. If a bamboo stick can determine a person's future, what's the use of a sage's book?" Xia Xiang laughed loudly, he stood up, She cupped her hands towards the west, "Mr. has repeatedly taught that many aristocratic families from ancient to modern times are nothing more than accumulating virtue; the No. 1 product in the world is still reading. We should remember Mr.'s words, cultivate our minds, and keep ourselves together..."

Before he could finish speaking, there was a sudden commotion outside.

"Following the order to arrest imperial criminals, anyone who hides and does not report will be guilty of the same crime as imperial criminals!"

This person has a loud voice, full of energy, and he can say a word, echoing in the mountain village, and it will last for a long time.

Zhongshan Village has been peaceful for many years, not to mention any crime committed by the imperial court, even a small case of theft has never been reported.Today, when I heard that the officials came to arrest the criminals, it was like a huge rock like water, stirring up thousands of waves.

After a while, no less than a few hundred people gathered on the open space in the west of the village.

The open space in the west of the village was originally a residence, but it was abandoned later.After Li Dingshan and Xiao Jia came, they lived in.Later, the house was damaged by the strong wind. After Li Dingshan and Xiao Jia moved to Xia Xiang's house, a fire broke out in the middle of the night and burned down a piece of the house.After discussing with the villagers, they simply cleaned up the ruins and became an open space.

Since then, the open space has become a place for villagers to gather and chat.

Five tall horses stood under the big locust tree in the open space. The five people on the horse were all dressed in short clothes. Although they were brocade clothes, they were not ordinary officials' attire. The villagers who had only seen Lingshou County's official officials pointed at them. Either way.

The head of the person, the eyebrows, the face of the national character, the square and majestic, the face is solemn, the eyes are sharp, and the murderous aura is faintly revealed.He held a paper portrait high in his hand, sat high on the horse, and looked down at the surrounding villagers indifferently.

"The person in the painting is a felon of the imperial court. The cable reported that this person has been hiding in Zhongshan Village for three years. Anyone who has seen this person and knows his whereabouts will be rewarded. Qin committed the same crime. If anyone has seen this person, please report quickly."

The national character face raised the portrait in his hand high, and then let go, and the portrait floated down.Several good people rushed forward and snatched the portrait.The portrait is very meticulous, and the person on the image has a heroic spirit between his eyebrows and eyes.

"I don't know, I'm not a villager from Zhongshan Village."

"I haven't seen this person before."

"How did you hide in Zhongshan Village for three years? Zhongshan Village is a small village with a total population of more than 1000 people. How can there be any serious criminals from the court?"

When the portrait was passed to Xia Xiang, Xia Xiang took a deep breath. Although the person in the painting was much younger, he recognized at a glance that the person in the painting was Mr. Li Dingshan, who had taught him for three years!
How could it be Li Dingshan?How could it be Mr.Countless thoughts quickly flashed through Xia Xiang's mind.Without thinking, he secretly wet his fingers with saliva, soaked the ink on the portrait, and quietly pressed a mole on the portrait.

"There is no such person in the village." Xia Xiang smiled nonchalantly, and handed the portrait to Xia Xiaoxian beside him.

Xia Xiaoxian is a well-known fool in the village, he grinned, and looked backwards at the portrait a few times: "It doesn't look like anyone else."

"No, this person seems to be..." When the portrait was passed to Xia Laocheng, Xia Laocheng was stunned for a moment, his fingers covered the mole, and he jumped and shouted, "I know, I know who he is!"

"Who is it?" Guo Zi's face was expressionless, and his eyes fell on Xia Laocheng's face coldly, "Say it quickly!"

Xia Xiang was shocked. Xia Laocheng and Li Dingshan had a lot of contact, and Xia Laocheng was a man who forgot his righteousness. He must betray Mr. Li, what should I do?Xia Xiang had a plan and pulled Xia Xiaoxian to whisper a few words in his ear.

Xia Xiaoxian nodded again and again and raised his right hand high: "All heads, the little one knows who it is, and the little one knows!"

Guo Zi's face gave Xia Xiaoxian a cold look: "Speak!"

Xia Xiaoxian bent down and bowed: "Please reward the little ones!"

When Xia Laocheng heard the reward, he immediately held the portrait tightly in his hand and refused to let it go. He smiled and stretched out his right hand: "The little one said it first, the little one please give me a reward."

Xia Laocheng didn't know the official position of the person who came, he knew that it would not be wrong to see the official as Dutou, so he called each other as Dutou.

"Reward!" Guo Zi's face turned cold, and he signaled his followers to reward him.Among the entourage, there was a short man who raised his hand and threw a piece of silver.The size of a fist of silver is as much as 50 taels.

"Coax!" The crowd surged, and there was a burst of admiration and admiration.

Xia Laocheng took the money, his face was full of joy, if it wasn't for the people around him, he would have jumped up and cheered. 50 taels of silver can be equivalent to his income for several years. To tell the truth, he is not afraid of being laughed at by others. This is the first time he has seen such a large ingot of silver in his old age.

(End of this chapter)