Do you know that it starts with Meng Tong?

Five minutes) Get up, wash up, and go out to the river to practice a set of guidance techniques.

Go home at Chenshi (seven o'clock), have breakfast, first write an ancient or contemporary essay, and then get a scripture to read. You must understand one scripture thoroughly before you can start reading the next one.

At the end of the day (eleven o'clock), we had lunch. The food was delivered by a restaurant owned by the Sheng family. It was a combination of meat and vegetables and balanced nutrition according to Wei Chen's requirements. It was different every day.

After lunch, Wei Chen used to take a nap.

Scholars of this era regarded "daytime sleep" as a scourge, and were afraid of being evaluated like Jaeyu, who said "a wall of dung and dirt cannot be conquered".

However, Wei Chen believed that this view was too pedantic, but he was not very interested in it. He still insisted on taking a nap every day to ensure that he was energetic in the afternoon.

In the afternoon, Wei Chen finished reading the remaining three books in the History Collection and wrote another article, which was considered as completing the task.

After the end of the day (three o'clock), Wei Chen would often go out and wander around the streets, or visit Sheng Changbai and Chen Jun to chat with them about his reading experience.

No matter how long he goes out in the afternoon, Wei Chen will rush home before Xu Shi (seven o'clock), and usually never goes out again in the evening.

After dinner, Wei Chen copied the copybooks for half an hour, then did some exercise and read some miscellaneous books he wanted to read to relax his mind.

After completing his daily homework, Wei Chen would go to bed before Hai Shi (nine o'clock), for no other reason than that regularly going to bed early and getting up early is good for the body.

After studying behind closed doors like this for a month, it was not immediately obvious how much Wei Chen had made in his knowledge, but his body and bones were obviously getting stronger day by day, and his mood was becoming calmer.

Confucianism says that tranquility can produce wisdom, and Taoism also says that tranquility can lead to the right path. This tranquility comes from daily self-cultivation and cultivation, and Wei Chen has first gained the three flavors.

That evening, Sheng Changbai came to visit.

Wei Chen was very happy and invited him to the main hall and made tea for him personally.

Sheng Changbai sat down and took a sip of tea. Looking at Wei Chen who was becoming more restrained and calm in front of him, he couldn't help but admired: "Brother Xingyun, your reading method is really amazing. You are looking more and more like a real person now." A Confucian."

Sheng Changbai lived in Uncle Youyang's house during this period and often interacted with Wei Chen. Naturally, he also heard about Wei Chen's methods of reading and daily use.

I just didn't expect that the effect would be so significant, which made Sheng Changbai feel a little itchy and wanted to imitate it.

"Haha, brother is so complimentary."

Wei Chen did not hide his secrets, and immediately talked to Sheng Changbai about his experience in practicing the eight methods of reading during this period.

Sheng Changbai listened attentively, listening with gusto, and praised the wonderful points from time to time.

At the end, Sheng Changbai slapped his thigh and said excitedly: "Brother Xian, this method is really wonderful. When Brother Fool returns to Yangzhou, everything will be settled. I will definitely follow this method to cultivate my moral character and live a good life."

"Yangzhou?" Wei Chen was slightly startled when he heard this: "Brother is going back?"

"Yes." Sheng Changbai looked sadly and said slowly: "Now that the boy's examination has been completed, Brother Yu was lucky enough to obtain the title of scholar, and he finally lived up to his parents' expectations. In total, it has been half a year since Brother Yu left home to take the examination. It’s time to go home and report back to your parents.”

"Ah, so it is."

Wei Chen's tone was full of regret.

"Actually, Brother Yu can't bear to leave you, Brother Xian. It would be okay to stay for a while, but..."

Sheng Changbai paused and then said: "It's just that my eldest sister's wedding is coming, and my mother has sent me several letters to urge her. As the eldest son in the family, I can no longer stay in Youyang."

Chapter 70 But not completely different

wedding date?

Wei Chen was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and then slapped his head. I was really stupid in reading, how could I forget this!

Counting the time, isn't next month the day when Sheng Hualan, Sheng's eldest daughter, will get married?

Looking at Sheng Changbai, whose face was full of reluctance because he was about to say goodbye to his friend, Wei Chen suddenly felt something in his heart. He smiled and said, "Brother, what guests did you invite when your eldest sister got married?"

Sheng Changbai subconsciously replied: "On such a happy day, it is natural to send out invitations widely and invite all the relatives and old friends of the Sheng family."

"That's it." Wei Chen nodded, and then pointed at himself with a smile: "I wonder if I can be called an old relative and friend. Are you lucky enough to go to Yangzhou for a wedding drink?"

"You deserve it, you deserve it!"

Sheng Changbai was startled for a moment, then came back to his senses, and said overjoyed: "Brother, you are from the Wei Xiaoniang tribe, and you are related to my Sheng family. Besides, you and I are sworn friends. Isn't it worth a piece of cake?" Invitation? I will write a letter and ask mother to send the invitation!"

"It doesn't have to be so troublesome."

Wei Chen waved his hand and said: "I'm going to Yangzhou. Firstly, I want to congratulate your eldest sister on her wedding. Secondly, I'm going to see my aunt in Yangzhou. I heard that she has been pregnant for several months. As a junior, I , is there any reason not to visit?"

"Yes, yes, it's time to visit."

When Sheng Changbai heard this, a look of surprise appeared on his face. He had previously thought that Wei Chen had been studying behind closed doors for too long and was restless, so he wanted to go to Yangzhou to relax. The reason was to visit Miss Wei!

Sheng Changbai had already known about Wei Xiaoniang's pregnancy.He was in Youyang, but he kept writing letters with him in Yangzhou. His mother, Wang Ruofu, often chatted with him about trivial matters at home in her letters to express her longing for him.

There will be a new member in the family soon. Although Sheng Changbai is happy, that's it. After all, he already has an older sister and four younger brothers and sisters. It's not unusual to add another one.

In comparison, Wei Chen agreed to go to Yangzhou with him, which made Sheng Changbai even more happy.

Thousands of gold are easy to get, but confidants are hard to find.

Sheng Changbai has long regarded Wei Chen as his best friend. The time when he came to Jiangning Mansion to take the childbirth examination, although he studied hard behind closed doors and studied contemporary literature all day long, was boring and boring, it was the happiest time Sheng Changbai spent.

When Sheng Changbai said goodbye to Wei Chen, the reason why he was so reluctant to say goodbye was because he knew that he was not just going back to Yangzhou.

After taking care of his sister's marriage, if nothing unexpected happens, his father will soon be promoted to a Beijing official, and he will inevitably join him in Beijing.

Although Yangzhou and Youyang are hundreds of miles apart, they are in the same province after all. It is convenient to travel by water. And the distance between Beijing and Youyang is more than a thousand miles?

By then, if Sheng Changbai wants to meet Wei Chen again, he may have to wait until the provincial examination in three years.

Therefore, Sheng Changbai cherishes the days with this close friend even more.

Sheng Changbai and Wei Chen finalized the date to go to Yangzhou together. Sheng Changbai sat in Wei Chen's small building for half an hour and talked with Wei Chen about Yangzhou's customs. It wasn't until the sun set that he reluctantly said goodbye and left.

After seeing off Sheng Changbai, Wei Chen found Wei Ruyi and told her that he wanted to visit Wei Shuyi in Yangzhou.

thing.

"To Yangzhou?"

Wei Ruyi immediately shook her head. Although she had been thinking about her sister in Yangzhou, she was really worried about letting Wei Chen, a boy under 12 years old, go alone.

Wei Chen patiently explained: "Don't worry, aunt. I am not going alone, but with the Sheng family's fleet. There are many servants on board to protect me. I will definitely arrive safely."

"So it is."

Wei Ruyi felt relieved, and after thinking for a long time, she finally approved Wei Chen's trip to Yangzhou.

Wei Ruyi went back to her room, rummaged through the cabinets for a while, and took out a small, exquisite wooden box with a lock. When she opened it, she found a stack of large banknotes with a face value of 100 taels.

The amber wine sells well in the south of the Yangtze River, making money every day. Wei Ruyi and Zhang Ming account for [-]% of the winery, and naturally make a lot of money. After this year, their own belongings alone have been countless. Thousand taels.

Wei Chen couldn't help but tease: "So my aunt has hidden so much private money, does my uncle know?"

"Any private money, all the money in the family is under my control, your uncle's money is called private money!"

Wei Ruyi rolled her eyes at Wei Chen, counted ten bills from the box, and handed them to Wei Chen solemnly: "Take these 1000 taels of silver with you and keep them safe. When you get to Youyang, hand them over to your aunt."

"so much?"

Wei Chen was surprised.

Although Wei Ruyi is already a rich woman, she rarely shows off her wealth on weekdays. Her living habits are still the same as before. When she goes to the street to buy a bunch of vegetables, she has to ask the vegetable vendor to add a few spring onions.

Now he actually took out 1000 taels of silver without batting an eyelid?

"What's 1000 taels of silver?"

Wei Ruyi looked at Wei Chen's surprised expression and said disapprovingly: "At first, my sister would rather save money and save money from her teeth, but also asked someone to send it to Youyang. She helped us a lot, but now we are prosperous. , naturally we can’t treat her badly!”

Ever since Wei Chen regained consciousness, he had often heard Wei Ruyi nagging in his ears about her sister who was married to Yangzhou.

When Wei Shuyi was first accepted as a concubine by Sheng Hong, because she was young, beautiful, knowledgeable and courteous, she had been favored by Sheng Hong for a period of time, so she had no worries about spending money.

Although Wei Shuyi was in Yangzhou, he still missed his little sister in Youyang. More than once, he asked someone to bring some silver and valuable jewelry to Youyang to supplement Wei Ruyi's family.

It may not be much, but it can save lives.

Later, Zhang Ming and Wei Ruyi encountered difficult obstacles several times, and they were able to survive by selling jewelry sent by Wei Shuyi.

Wei Chen was raised in the Zhang family since he was a child, and he was able to live peacefully until now, which can be regarded as a lot of credit to Wei Shuyi. Therefore, although Wei Chen has never met Wei Shuyi, he also has a good impression of her and is willing to Just like Wei Ruyi, call Wei Shuyi "aunt".

Of course, as Wei Shuyi's favor gradually waned, her situation in the Sheng family became increasingly difficult.Now Wei Shuyi can't protect himself, and he is powerless if he wants to support his younger sister.

Wei Chen's eyes turned red when he saw Wei Ruyi talking and he was about to cry. He quickly comforted him: "Aunt, that's not what I meant. I just thought that there are only two mothers and daughters over there. The money you gave No matter how much they spend, they will have nothing to spend. On the contrary, they will make people jealous and cause trouble for nothing. It is better to send a few capable servants to take care of their daily life and help them out on weekdays. This is the real benefit. ah!"

What Wei Chen said was very sensible and reasonable, and Wei Ruyi also listened to it, weighing the pros and cons in her heart.

After a long silence, Wei Ruyi finally asked: "What you said makes sense, but our family has never bought any maids. Where do these people come from?"

"Auntie, don't worry." Wei Chen smiled calmly: "Last time, regarding the tribute and purchase, the Sheng family still owed me a favor, so just leave this matter to Uncle Sheng."

Wei Ruyi's eyes lit up when she heard that, yes, the Sheng family is big and the Fang family has a big business. In Youyang alone, there are nearly a thousand people who rely on the Sheng family to eat. Isn't it possible that they can't find a few capable servants? What? "

Chapter 71 Yangzhou

With a waist of [-], he rode down to Yangzhou on a crane.

Yangzhou has been synonymous with prosperity since ancient times, and this was also the case in the Zhou Dynasty.

Adjacent to the Yangtze River, with a canal running through it, the unique geographical location and convenient water and land transportation made Yangzhou an important water transportation center in the Great Zhou Dynasty, and also created a metropolis between the Yangtze River and the Huaihe River.

In the evening of this day, the north gate of Yangzhou City was still bustling with people and merchants coming and going.

Suddenly, two rows of government officials came from a distance, lined up to control the city gate, and loudly asked passers-by to please take a detour.

Seeing the titles of "Yangzhou General Judge", "Avoid" and "Quiet" displayed by the leader, the noisy crowd cursed in a low voice and wisely turned around.

After a while, a carriage was escorted by the government officials to the city gate. After it stopped on the outskirts of the city, the carriage curtain was opened, and the couple walked out hand in hand.

The man is about thirty years old, with a fair face and a strange appearance. Coupled with the wide robe and big sleeves on his body, he looks like a man from the Wei and Jin Dynasties.

The woman is about the same age as the man, and her facial features are just average, but her clothes are luxurious and her demeanor is graceful. From a distance, she looks like a lady.

This man and woman are naturally Sheng Hongsheng, the general magistrate of Yangzhou Prefecture, and his wife Wang Ruofu, Wang Ruofu's wife.

The couple chuckled and chatted, and came to a pier on the shore. After waiting for a short time, they saw several large ships approaching in the distance.

Wang Ruofu stood on tiptoe and looked around. When he saw the "Sheng" flag on the bow of the ship, he couldn't help but jump for joy. He pointed at the fleet approaching the dock and excitedly turned around and shouted: "Look, sir, it's our family." The fleet is coming!"

Sheng Hong forced a smile on his face, but deep down he was quite dissatisfied with his wife's noisiness.

He glanced around calmly and saw that the area near the dock had been cleared by the government officials and no one else was passing by. Then he waved his sleeves with relief and walked forward to greet them.

When the Sheng family's fleet approached the shore, the boat's head pushed against the current, slowly swung toward the pier, and then landed steadily on the shore.