Xu Rong didn't know what his mother was thinking about for the time being, and he didn't know that he was about to lose a benefit that he had regarded as usual. He is quite satisfied with Qin Jinrong, the little fiancée.

Although the other party is a little younger, it is not difficult to coax, and it has brought him many benefits, so that he can have a chance to show his face under the glory of his cousin. Now that everything is going well and his future is bright, what else is there to be dissatisfied with? The fiancée is a stubborn and eccentric one, and if she can coax her, it is not a big problem.

He had recently begun to study his homework under the guidance of a famous teacher in Xinbai, and he also realized that he was not as dull as he originally thought. It turned out that his parents praised him for being smart when he was a child, not because of doting. He is indeed a bit talented in reading. In this way, it was too stupid for him to indulge himself easily when he was a child and have no intention of studying. If he hadn't wasted a few years ago and worked hard, would he have been as famous as his cousin today?

Even if it's not as good as my cousin, it's half of it. In the past, the elders in the family always said that Qin Jian, the eldest cousin of the Qin family, was not as smart and studious as his cousin Xu Zheng, but now Qin Jian will also try to be on the list? Cousin Xu Zheng is still a lifter. If he is as smart as Qin Jian, at least he is expected to lift people, right? Xu Rong felt that he could be a lifter, which was already good. His father is also a lifter, if he wasn't reluctant to live a comfortable life in the capital, he would have been able to find a local official to release him!

Xu Rong lived his little life so hard and contentedly, studying, communicating, and getting along with his family every day, and went to visit his little fiancée the next day, sending her some gadgets to make her happy, and her life was very fulfilling. Maybe it's his attitude that reveals a sense of not being arrogant or impatient, and Mr. likes him a lot, and sometimes he will open a small stove for him. The son of the gentleman, he calls him a senior brother, and he is also willing to take him out to meet people. Slowly, Xu Rong made friends in the circle of scholars and the circle of lords and princes at the same time, and both sides were mixed, and people on both sides thought highly of him.

Xu Rong didn't feel proud because of this. He has seen Qin Jian, a cousin who also mixes well in both circles, and Qin Bai, the Marquis of Yongjia, who has a transcendent status in the circle of scholars, and Zhao Mo, the king of Suning County, who is very decent in the circle of princes and nobles. What confidence does he have to be proud? He knew in his heart that all the things he got today were just because he had Qin Jinrong, his fiancée, and the Qin family was willing to take him to play. If he doesn't know what to do, is self-righteous, and does something that people are not used to, the Qin family can abandon him at any time, but he doesn't even have the capital to intercede for himself. He didn't feel resentment or resentment, he just continued to actively strive to do better.

Since he was a child, he has understood a truth: he is not the best person, nothing he deserves, he just obeys the arrangement of his elders honestly. If you are not reconciled, then try to fight for it. If he can get it, it is his luck, and if he can't get it, it is also a matter of course, and he has no reason to complain.

To a certain extent, the differential education of the children before the Xu family split up is not necessarily a bad thing.

On this day, autumn is high and cool. Xu Rong made an appointment with a few classmates, and according to his brother's private instructions, he went to a street lined with bookstores to find a few books that might be needed for homework. He had already asked Qin Jian, this book was new in recent years, and even Qin Bai, the Marquis of Yongjia, did not have a collection in his study. If he bought this book, then he would buy an extra one, and he could also take the opportunity to donate the book to ask Yongjiahou for guidance. This is a rare opportunity! There is no good reason, and he has no face to disturb the tranquility of Yongjiahou. So, this book, he must find it!

He and a few of his classmates split up, and finally found the book in a small and inconspicuous bookstore on the corner, and each of them bought one or two copies, and they were all very happy. It happened that it was almost evening, and several people felt a little hungry, so they planned to go to the nearby teahouse together to have some snacks to cushion their stomachs. Now that the weather is getting colder and colder day by day, and dinner at home is late, a group of young men of all ages are in the middle of growing their bodies, and they can't bear to be hungry. When I was in school, I had to work hard for half a day to prepare a meal for them. Not to mention that after lunch today, they haven't eaten again, and the hungrier they are, the colder they feel, and everyone can't stand it.

It was also a coincidence that Xu Rong and his classmates walked to the door of the teahouse together, and met his cousin Xu Zheng and a young man he didn't know. He was stunned for a moment, and immediately stepped forward to salute. When Xu Zheng saw him, he seemed to be even more surprised than him, and looked at the man in his companion a little unnaturally, before greeting Xu Rong, and then introducing to the man next to him: "Brother Gui, this is my second brother Xu Rong." He did not introduce the identity of "Brother Gui" to Xu Rong.

Brother Gui looks to be in his early twenties, born with a talent and extraordinary bearing, although he is still young, he looks like an official, at least he is also the son of a high-ranking official. He was polite to Xu Rong, cold and cold, but he was not rude, and invited Xu Rong to have tea together.

Xu Zheng was reluctant in his heart, but he didn't want to refute Brother Gui's kindness, so he nodded at Xu Rong: "In this case, you can come together." He glanced at Xu Rong's companions a few times and did not say a word. Although those teenagers seem to be dressed as scholars, he knows that his cousin has no intention of learning, and what kind of serious and studious child can the latter's friend be?

Xu Rong had no choice but to confess to his classmates and accompanied Xu Zheng and Brother Gui to the upstairs seat. Xu Zheng and the two drank tea and talked about poetry and essays, and he ate snacks quietly.

That Brother Gui seemed to be quite kind, and he never ignored Xu Rong, occasionally beckoning him to drink tea and snacks, and asking him what he wanted to play, as if he was taking care of his younger brother. He also said to Xu Zheng: "My brother is not a few years younger than him, but he is as tall as him, and he is used to taking care of him when he is at home." ”

Xu Zheng smiled and thanked him for his kindness, and felt that the second son of Gui was so kind, and he couldn't seem too cold to his cousin, so he asked Xu Rong: "What are you doing here?" I heard that you are studying in the Outer Annex, why don't you go to class, but you run out to mess with your friends?"

Xu Rong hurriedly defended: "My brother misunderstood. My husband only had half a day of class every day, so I went out with a few classmates to visit the bookstore and look for the books that my husband wanted us to read. ”

Xu Zheng was skeptical, and smiled: "You actually go to the bookstore? It can be seen that you have really made progress, and I just hope that it will not be three days of fishing, but two days of drying nets." Then he asked him what books he had bought. Xu Rong took it out and showed it to him, Xu Zheng glanced at the book cover, and said: "There are no books like this at home, why don't you look for them at home, but you have to buy them outside?"

Xu Rong said in his heart, almost all the books at home are divided into long rooms, even if he has the heart to borrow books, it depends on whether the uncle is willing to let him in. Why bother looking for that unpleasant?

However, Xu Rong didn't say it explicitly, just smiled: "Mr. said that this book is well compiled, and asked us to read it, so I went to buy it." ”

Second Prince Gui also glanced at the book and said, "This book is indeed well compiled. In recent years, this new book has been the most elaborate and complete analysis of the Analects, and it has almost exhausted all the theories. With a book in hand, you save a lot of effort. For children who have just entered school, it is the best support at the moment. Brother Ling's husband has a good vision. He asked Xu Rong which gentleman he worshipped. Xu Rong said, and he nodded: "Liu Gong has solid knowledge and is a famous teacher in the capital. ”

Xu Rong suddenly smiled. This sentence was also said by Yongjia Hou Qin Bai. It was precisely because Qin Bai had such an evaluation of Mr. that his parents were relieved to let him go to apprenticeship. He didn't know who this "Brother Gui" was, but since he could say such a thing, he must be very knowledgeable.

Xu Zheng was noncommittal, returned the book to his cousin, and continued to chat with the second son of Gui. When the sun set, the two parted and went home. Xu Zheng took Xu Rong on the way home, and it seemed a little strange not to speak on the way, so he began to preach according to the routine, persuading his cousin to study more hard and not waste time.

Xu Rong felt bored in his heart. He's been studying hard for so long, it's been almost a year, hasn't it? His parents didn't often mention it in front of the elders in the long room, why in the eyes of his cousin, he was still the same young man who had no intention of learning? No matter how good and good his cousin was, he couldn't ignore his brother to this extent, right? He didn't plan to correct anything. Even if he said it, would Xu Zheng be able to care? Anyway, there were not many opportunities for the brothers to meet and talk, so he still put up with it.

Xu Rong was used to listening to Xu Zheng's preaching, but he didn't feel that there was anything intolerable, so he responded all the way to "ahhhhh

When Xu Zheng saw him like this, what else did he not understand? sighed and said, "Why are you still so temperamental? I don't know how many things I have said to persuade you, and you are still so ignorant." When I was a child, I just did it, but now that I have grown up, I have even decided on my family, and you are still not sensible, but you tell your parents what to do in the future? What will your wife and children do in the future? Uncle Qin will marry his beloved daughter to you, hoping that you can have a career and can protect your cousin through wind and rain, and I don't expect you to rely on them for a lifetime!"

The smile on Xu Rong's face faded, and he looked at Xu Zheng, feeling that sometimes it was not a good thing to tolerate too much, and it was still necessary for him to let his cousin know how far he had grown now. He said to Xu Zheng: "Brother, I am now studying under a famous teacher, and I am already planning to take the county exam next spring." My husband thinks I'm sure, and I haven't been lazy and truant, and I've always studied seriously. What year did you take the old Huang to tell me these words?"

Xu Zheng's face changed. Without waiting for him to say anything, Xu Rong continued: "I know that you have always been excellent, so you don't think much of me. I didn't dare to compare with you. It's just that I study honestly, filial piety to my father and mother, and I am also very respectful to the Yue family, and I don't have anything I can't do, and the elders praise me for being good, why do I only have a few words when I come to my brother? How long have you not asked me about me? Why do you think that I will not be able to stand up in the future, and I have to rely on the Yue family for the rest of my life?"

Xu Zheng kept a straight face and stopped talking.

Xu Rong sighed: "Okay, I know that I am relying on the Yue family, maybe I will really rely on it for a lifetime." But I didn't do anything bad, did I? My father-in-law was quite satisfied with me, he was going to be released as an official, and he said that he would take me with him, and my aunt and grandmother already had the intention of relenting. I told my family that if I really have the opportunity to go out and increase my knowledge, I must go. It is better to read 10,000 books than to travel 10,000 miles. I haven't seen the world and people's livelihood, how can I write a good article? Even Yongjiahou and Brother Jian persuaded me to go out and have a look. ”

He looked at Xu Zheng: "What about my brother? Do you want to go out for a walk? Traveling around to study? Staying at home for a long time, working behind closed doors, can you really do well in the exam?"

Xu Zheng was silent, turned around and walked to the door of his house.