Soon, Xiao Guoliang hired an old Confucian for Xiao Yiran, and after the banquet to the west, it was Xiao Yiran's apprenticeship ceremony. When Xiao Yiran came to the living room, he saw his father Xiao Guoliang talking with an old man about sixty years old and in good spirits. Seeing his daughter come in, Xiao Guoliang said to Xiao Yiran:

"Ran'er, this is the old Mr. Kou Xiang, a famous man today, who was the champion and the first in the second year of the Kaiyun of the King of Qi in the Later Jin Dynasty, and is now at home. Mr. Kou is not only knowledgeable, but also proficient in piano, chess, calligraphy and painting. Hurry up and see you. ”

Xiao Yiran never expected that the gentleman invited by his father turned out to be Kou Xiang recorded in the state chronicles, so he hurriedly stepped forward, bowed his knees, and then picked up a few tea cups, held them in both hands and sent them to Kou Xiang.

He bowed again, and said:

"Sir."

Kou Xiang took the teacup, took a sip lightly, put it back on a few, looked at Xiao Yiran with two eyes, and said to Xiao Guoliang:

"I have heard the name of Ling Ai for a long time, and when I see it today, it is really dignified and elegant, and I know that the rumors are true."

"Mr. praised it falsely, and the rumors outside are insignificant."

"Lord Xiao doesn't know, my Kou family's ancestors have passed on the learning of Qingjian, and if you look at people's appearance, you will know your character and learn. At a young age, Ling Ai is already full of economy and a bookish atmosphere. If he is a son, his future will definitely not be under Lord Xiao. ”

"Sir, Yiran has read the state chronicles, and knows that Mr. Xianju is in the lower state, how could he come to Huayin?"

"Hehe, after Zhao Song established the country, I traveled all over the world. The children in the Xia Bang family are all adults, and they do not need to be taken care of by the old man. I came to Huayin at the invitation of a friend, and it coincided with Lord Xiao's appointment to Xixi. To be honest, the old man came here. ”

"Mr. said with a smile, what kind of reputation can Yiran have, I just hope not to disappoint Mr."

Since then, Kou Xiang has lived in Xiao Mansion. Every morning, he taught Xiao Yiran the piano for an hour, and taught Xiao Yiran chess for an hour in the afternoon. Half a year later, he began to teach Xiao Yiran's painting skills. As for calligraphy, Xiao Yiran has practiced every night since he was a child. Under Kou Xiang's guidance, there has also been great progress.

A year later, it was the fourth year of Taiping Xingguo, and Xiao Yiran was eight years old. This autumn, August 17, is the time for the triennial township examination. Xiao Guoliang, as the governor of a state, is naturally the chief examiner of the township examination. All the people who have passed the examination under Xiao Guoliang are Xiao Guoliang's protégés.

From August 17 to the end of August, Xiao Guoliang was busy with the township examination, and after the list was released, he had to receive the people who came to visit the master. Among the many lifters, there was an eighteen-year-old man named Kou Zhun. When Kou Zhun came to the Zhizhou Yamen to bow to Xiao Guoliang, Xiao Guoliang felt that Kou Zhun was a little familiar, no matter how he looked at it. Looking at Kou Zhun's hometown, he is also a person from the lower state. I couldn't help asking:

"Kou Zhun is also from the lower state?"

"Master Huixiao, the student is a person from the lower state."

"There is a well-educated Kou Xiang in Xiabang, can Kou Zhun know him?"

"Back to Lord Xiao, that's my father."

"What?!"

Although Xiao Guoliang guessed that Kou Zhun should have something to do with Kou Xiang, after all, there were not many surnames Kou. But he never expected Kou Zhun to be the son of Kou Xiang.

"Where is Ling Zun now?"

"Ling Zun went out to visit guests last year and has not returned. There was not a single piece of paper sent to the family, and the students did not know where their father was. ”

"Huh. Kou Zhun waited. ”

Xiao Guoliang smiled, turned back to his subordinates and commanded:

"Go and ask the gentleman to come over."

After a while, Kou Xiang came to the living room under the leadership of his subordinates. Kou Zhun and his father Kou Xiang actually walked out of the Zhizhou Mansion, and he didn't have time to be surprised, so he walked a few steps first, came to his father, and knelt down to salute.

"The father is on top, and the child is polite."

"Yes, I've already read the township test list and know that you won the first place."

"Mr. Kou, please sit down and talk, Kou Zhun will also sit."

After the next person served tea, Xiao Guoliang asked Kou Xiang:

"It's so hard for the old gentleman to hide from the official."

"Lord Xiao, forgive me, it's not that the old man deliberately concealed it, but I really didn't have a chance to mention it. Before the township test, I had calculated that I knew that Zhun Er should participate in this year's township test, and I wanted to reveal one or two to Lord Xiao, but after thinking about it, I felt that it was inappropriate. ”

"Mr. Kou is really letting go, Ling Lang participated in the township test, no matter how he said it, it was a big deal, and he didn't even care."

Xiao Guoliang said with a smile.

"Children and grandchildren have their own children and grandchildren, if there is no book in the belly, even if you ask, what can you do?"

"I don't know what happened to my father in Lord Xiao's mansion?"

"My father is now Lord Xiao's Xixi. I guess you've also heard that there is an unusually smart young lady in Lord Xiao's mansion, right? ”

"Yes, father."

Kou Zhun turned his head to Xiao Guoliang again and said:

"It has long been spread that the young lady in Lord Xiao's mansion is unmatched in terms of talent and conduct."

"How can there be such rumors?"

Xiao Guoliang was a little puzzled by this.

"Not only that, but there are also legends that when Miss was in Taicang, she once helped Lord Xiao break the headless case."

After hearing this, Xiao Guoliang just smiled, neither denying nor affirming.

"With Miss's talent and astuteness, it may not be groundless. Isn't it, Lord Xiao? ”

Over the past year, Kou Xiang and the Xiao family have become acquainted with each other, and they have spoken relatively casually. Especially Xiao Guoliang and others, they all admired Kou Xiang's talent and learning, so they never talked about any rules with Kou Xiang.

"Ran'er did have an idea."

The three of them talked about speculation, and at noon, Xiao Guoliang left the father and son to have lunch together. During the banquet, Xiao Yiran was also asked to come out and meet Kou Zhun.

"Student Kou Zhun has seen Miss."

"Polite."

"Ran'er is a student of the old gentleman, and Kou Zhun is a student of his father, so you will be commensurate with your brother and sister in the future."

When the two heard Xiao Guoliang say this, they greeted each other again and addressed each other as senior brother and sister.

"Kou Zhun, participating in the Spring Wai in the spring next year should be as easy as it for you to explore your bags, when are you going to leave for the capital?"

"Lord Xiao, father, I want to go home and discuss with my mother before making a decision."

"It's okay, go back and tell your mother, I'll go back as my father at the beginning of the month, it's okay to be here with Master Xiao, no need to worry."

"What do you mean, old man? Will you still teach Ran'er next year? ”

"Hehe, Lord Xiao, forgive the old man. Soon, Lord Xiao will be promoted. Even if the old man has the heart to continue to teach Yiran, I'm afraid he will be powerless. After many years of travel, it's time to go home to spend the rest of the year with my old wife. ”

After hearing this, Xiao Guoliang looked at Kou Xiang with some confusion.

"Lord Xiao doesn't need to wonder, after this promotion, Lord Xiao has another chance. It's just that after ten years, Lord Xiao had better find a way out. ”

"Don't hide it from the old man, Guoliang has long had the heart to return to the field."

"Haha, it's early, it's early. After ten years, it is not too late to retreat bravely. ”