Mr. Xiang teases her husband every day

Chapter 20 Fighting

Xiang Yuan looked coldly at Zhang Yan introducing himself to the scholar at the table with great enthusiasm, but he expressed how close he was to him both inside and outside the words. smile.

"Brother Congzi, I have admired your name for a long time!"

Bai Wenjing stood up shaking a folding fan, and cupped his hands at Xiang Yuan.

"Don't dare."

Xiang Yuan looked at Bai Wenjing's appearance of a respectful corporal, but with contempt in his eyes, he didn't want to get too intimate with this person.

Bai Wenjing didn't expect Xiang Congzi to be so ignorant. When he said that he had admired his name for a long time, he would reply dryly that he didn't dare to take it. It was really embarrassing.Immediately his face turned cold, he twitched the corners of his mouth, and said: "I was fortunate enough to read Congzi's article the day before yesterday, and I only felt that the words and sentences were all precise, and the reading was soul-stirring."

Xiang Yuan raised his eyebrows, these words are so exaggerated, are his articles about feelings just superficial vanity?

"However, Wen Jing dare not completely agree with some of Congzi's views."

Sure enough, but!

Xiang Yuan laughed secretly, this Bai Wenjing was only seventeen or eighteen years old, in his previous life he was a child who hadn't grown up at all, but now he wants to pretend to be profound and talk about words.

"The article has always advocated the contention of a hundred schools of thought, each expressing its own opinion, but it's okay for Wen Jing to speak."

Bai Wenjing choked.What Xiang Yuan said, it seems that he has a small belly and a small heart.

"Everyone knows that 'returning to basics, being diligent and pragmatic' was first advocated by Mr. Lin. I have been taught by Mr. Lin face to face, and I admire Mr. Lin's way of doing things. Wen Jing also pondered Mr. Lin's advocacy day and night, privately. I think Mr. Lin’s move is just because he is worried about people’s excessive extravagance and waste, and he uses his own power to persuade the world to be frugal and simple, and to respect nature. As for Congzi’s proposition, it is a bit far-fetched.”

Xiang Yuan listened to him with a smile on his face, and waited until the group of scholars from the Nanling Pingshan Society expressed their agreement with twelve points, then Shi Shiran said: "There is a saying that 'literature is the first, and martial arts is the second. ’, all the articles in the world express their own opinions. If everyone has exactly the same opinion on one matter, then from ancient times to the present, how can there be different schools of thought competing for excellence?”

Bai Wenjing's fair face flushed immediately, he frowned in thought, and finally he was unwilling to hand over his hands to show that he was being taught: "Wenjing is arrogant."

Xiang Yuan just smiled.

This Bai Cheng is a smart man.

Although arrogant, it is rare to have a clear mind.His family has only just arrived in Nanling, and his reputation is not obvious, but Bai Cheng can be crowned the first by all the scholars, either because his family is strong or because of his own ability.In this debate, if Bai Chengcheng had overwhelmed himself in the first place, it would be easy to talk about it, but unfortunately, he was dismissed by himself.Since ancient times, there has been no conclusion in the debate on articles. Whether it is good or not depends on one's mouth.For one round, Bai Chengcheng found out that Xiang Yuan was not easy to get along with, so he simply lowered his head, which not only appeared generous, but also prevented Xiang Yuan from being able to accept him as a superior.

It has to be said that Bai Cheng is not only smart, but also extremely quick in response.

The scholars who were at the same table with Bai Wenjing didn't expect Xiang Yuan to tell Bai Wenjing to quiet down with just one sentence, and they couldn't react immediately.

What a joke, they were ready for [-] rounds of verbal fighting, why did they stop cooking as soon as they came up? !

Look again, that Xiang Yuan seemed very indifferent, while Bai Wenjing pursed his lips and said nothing, his expression was cold and his attitude was alienated. The scholars at the same table looked at each other, and finally dared not make mistakes. The scene froze for a while.

Seeing this, Zhang Yan quickly stood up to smooth things over.

"Hahahaha, Congzi still has this temper. The articles that provoke others are all thorns. When it's his turn, there are a hundred reasons. Come on, we don't know each other, why don't we cooperate at the same table?" table, let’s have tea together?”

I don't know what is the background of this Bai Wenjing, so tired that Zhang Yan is so busy, careful to please.Xiang Yuan was displeased, and he didn't want to make any more entanglements here, and was about to refuse, when he saw Lin Hong coming over, he declined politely: "Xiu Lin, don't bother, I have an appointment with Congzi to go to the bookstore, if I don't leave now, God I'm afraid the bookstore should be closed later."

Zhang Yan didn't seem to expect that Lin Hong would say that, he was stunned for a moment, and his warm expression suddenly turned cold. "Oh, that's not a coincidence."

Lin Hong didn't seem to want to say more, he just nodded to Bai Wenjing and the others with a smile, and Xiang Yuan also cupped his hands, said goodbye by fate, and got up to leave.

On the way, Lin Hong smiled wryly and said to Xiang Yuan, "I think Congzi can see it too."

"Well, Zhang Yan is planning to find a backer?"

Lin Hong's expression became more bitter, and he let out a long breath.

"Bai Cheng is the young son of the Bai family in Nanling. He has been titled a child prodigy since he was a child, and he is also an outstanding person cultivated by the Bai family. The Bai family not only has the name of a first-class family in Nanling, but also in the capital. There are quite a few officials, and Bai Wenjing has always been a star, so Xiulin must be very happy to be able to join his line this time."

Xiang Yuan always felt that Lin Hong's tone was weird, maybe it was his illusion, why did he feel that Lin Hong's tone sounded like a boudoir's resentful woman?He patted his forehead, thinking to himself that he was thinking too much.

"I hope Zhang Xiulin can get his wish."

Xiang Yuan said so on the lips, but he was not very optimistic in his heart.

If it was as Lin Bozhi said, then Bai Wenjing definitely had no shortage of flatterers, but what about Zhang Xiulin?From the performance just now, it can be seen that he has always been arrogant and arrogant, and he still can't bend his waist and keep a low profile. While trying to get on board Bai Wenjing's boat, he also put on an appearance of wanting to be equal to each other. Relying on his seniority, he would unconsciously show his elder brother's air from time to time, who would like such a flatterer?

Zhang Xiulin wanted to stand out from the crowd of flatterers, ask Bai Cheng to remember, and then win him over, so he had to show his strength.I just don't know, but Bai Cheng doesn't like Zhang Xiulin's strength anymore.

Xiang Yuan thought clearly, but he had no idea that this brief confrontation was far from over.

This rural examination is destined to be unsettled.

I don't know when, all the taverns and teahouses in Nanling City started to talk about one more thing, that is, the short debate between Xiang Yuan and Bai Cheng that day, mixed with some other people's remarks, spread wildly, and when Xiang Yuan heard about it, the version was circulated. five or six.

This is not the point, the point is that according to the rumors, Xiang Yuan is said to be very tall, and it is easy to crush Bai Cheng, while Bai Cheng has become an arrogant boy relying on his family's bluff.

Zhao Shen grabbed a handful of copper coins to send off the boy who came to report the news, and turned to Xiang Yuan with a serious expression and worried.

"Xiaozi, this matter is not simple. There must be someone behind the scenes who is pushing you maliciously and deliberately asking you to match up with Bai Cheng."

Having been in business for so long, Zhao Shen has seen many dirty tricks behind the scenes, and when he heard about this, he felt something was wrong.

Xiang Yuan put down the book. "Well, the Bai family is very powerful in Nanling, so there must be many opponents. This time, I'm afraid the idea of ​​'both sides will be hurt'."

"Isn't this going to put you on fire? If you and Bai Cheng do not do well in the provincial examination, you don't know how to spread the word to the outside world! A good reputation will stink!"

The two were discussing, Lin Hong came over in a hurry, seeing that Xiang Yuan's expression was not anxious, he breathed a sigh of relief. "I heard these words outside, and I was anxious. I was afraid that you would get angry, Congzi."

"Don't worry, this drizzle won't hurt me."

Zhao Shen brewed a cup of tea for Lin Hong and served it, taking advantage of the opportunity, he sat back beside Xiang Yuan.When Lin Hong saw him, he concealed the surprise in his eyes by lowering his head to drink tea.

Everyone said before that Xiang Yuan had no choice but to marry the younger brother of the Zhao family, but in fact he was very dissatisfied with the marriage.Now it seems that it is a myth.

The two behaved intimately and naturally, and they looked at each other inadvertently, showing warmth.Xiang Congzi spoke to Zhao Jinyan with a gentle tone, which was completely different from the coping gentleness towards outsiders.And what about Zhao Jinyan?Although his appearance is not satisfactory for a younger brother, his words and deeds are not twitchy at all, he is graceful, quick and quick, and to be honest, he looks like a man.Touching his nose, Lin Hong felt that it was not kind of him to speculate on Xiang Congzi's other half.

"Xiaozi, the Bai family is powerful, and the rumors outside are so bad. What if the Bai family wants to trouble you, what should we do? Do you want to go out and clarify?"

Hearing this, Xiang Yuan put down the teacup and shook his head slightly. "I want to trouble us, no matter whether I clarify or not, the result will be the same. And this matter is obviously caused by false rumors. If the Bai family is a sensible family, not only will they not care about it, but will try to get Bai Wenjing to act in a low-key way. I will wait until I pass the township examination before making any calculations."

"I don't know which wicked person is talking nonsense! You and Bai Wenjing didn't say a few words in total that day, but it was rumored that the two of you almost had a fight. You have nose and eyes. If I wasn't the person involved, I'm afraid I would Believe it."

Xiang Yuan laughed a few times. "Since ancient times, literati have looked down on each other. It is very common for scholars to disagree, quarrel and fight."

Lin Hong also laughed when he thought of the scene where they had cross-eyed fights between Qianxinshe and Baqu whenever they disagreed.

"Gongzi's words are indeed good!"

After Lin Hong left, Xiang Yuan closed the door and concentrated on memorizing for the upcoming rural examination, ignoring the chaos outside.During this period, Li Guangyu, who lived at a relative's house on the other side of Nanling City, came here twice. Seeing that Xiang Yuan was calm, he was relieved and went back to concentrate on preparing for the exam.

Taking advantage of the east wind of the township examination, Zhao Shen's shop opened, and was so busy all day long that the two of them had no guarantee of meals, so they had no choice but to hire a little girl to help with the cooking, only three meals a day, nothing else There is no need to do anything, the wages are generous, the work is easy, and the money for buying rice and vegetables is all in hand, the little girl is doing very hard.

The days passed in a blink of an eye, and the first round of the rural examination was tomorrow.

"Listening to Congzi's words, it's refreshing."

During these days, Lin Hong came over from time to time to discuss the previous test questions with Xiang Yuan, and the two of them also pressed down about two questions and made strategies to comment on each other.

"Bozhi's writing is like flowing water, steady and elegant, but this is beyond my reach."

Lin Hong waved his hand. "This is precisely my shortcoming. You also know that the chief examiner of Nanling this year is Zhang Ji, the magistrate. He is the biography of Jing'an for eight years. His writing style has always been sharp and unconventional. I'm afraid he is the most unaccustomed to my smooth and steady style. article."

"Prefect Zhang is said to be Duke Lin's proud student?"

"Well, the year Prefect Zhang took the exam, Mr. Lin was the chief examiner."

From this point of view, the students in their Nanling examination room this year are probably all under the prefect Zhang's school.From this point of view, they can also be regarded as indirectly becoming Duke Lin's disciples?