The first fallen leaves in Taiping City are yellow, sit in the courtyard and enjoy the cool evening breeze. Zhang Bai held a book in one hand and a bowl of cold water in the other. Reading is always boring, sage books are difficult to understand, as a real reader does not endure hardship, how can you absorb the knowledge in books. followed Zhou Wen to study for two years, and now when it is time for the scientific examination, Zhang Bai has not been to Kunling Villa to study for a long time. Mr. once said that reading is in the state of mind, and there are thousands of scholars in the world who can apply what they have learned, and reading is the state of mind.

What is reading, Mr. explained: "Reading to nourish qi, what is qi, Haoran righteousness." There is no harm in reading, but a dead reader will never become a true scholar. There are many people in the world who read more books than the old man, why is it not called a generation of Wenzong. Reading and cultivating qi is not only to cultivate Haoran righteousness, but also to cultivate one's own qi, the so-called qi is the state of mind. ”

Zhang Bai thought so deeply and put down the book in his hand. In the past half a month, I have often held a book in my hand, and I have only turned a few pages. I don't understand why Mr. said that he should study less when he is approaching the scientific examination, and Zhang Bai does not understand it very much. Since childhood, every teacher has always said to review and read more books. Half a year ago, Mr. Zhou Wen once told Zhang Bai that in order to become a pillar of talent, reading is inevitable, but it is not necessary. Zhang Bai didn't understand it very much, and then listened to Mr.'s words and read the collection of the century-old history of Daliang collected in Kunling Villa.

Looking at the dim sky, Zhang Bai's mind was in the Lu's Restaurant not far away. I've been there a few times since the last time, and I know that Yulian has often gone to Red Sleeves to practice the piano recently. Zhang Bai secretly investigated the red-sleeved move, but the red-sleeved move seemed to be wrapped in a layer of mystery. Mrs. Fang, who only knows the red-sleeved moves, is not like several other green buildings that seem to be unbearable, but they have a clear owner.

Put down the book and worry in my heart, there are still three days before the temple exam. Mr. once said that he went to his home before the palace exam, and Zhang Bai knew that the only regret of the old gentleman in his life was that Liu Zhixing joined the army. In the past two years, I have studied with Mr. and learned a lot about the young general who didn't seem to care about anything. When I knew why Liu Zhixing did not choose the north where his father Liu Ce once sit, nor did he go to Liu Ce's generals back then, but chose the south that he had never been.

Liu Zhixing once said that he was unwilling to be a gentleman, whether it was to go to the north or Xuzhou, it was undoubtedly the best choice. Zhou Wen liked this talented and intelligent student very much, and once thought that if Liu Zhixing was dedicated to studying, there would inevitably be a person named Liu Zhixing. From the beginning of the sustenance, Zhang Bai knew that Mr. was very knowledgeable, which was very different from the world.

Get up early in the morning to wash up and rush to Kunling Villa when the city gate has just opened, it is practical not to leave so early. It's really shy in my pocket, and now I don't even have the money to rent a horse. Zhang Bai has been in a real embarrassment for the past two years, thinking about why he had to ride a horse back then, there were three first-class horses on his own mount at home, so why did he have to walk to Kunling Villa. I have walked a lot in the past two years, and I am a little afraid that these shoes will not pass this year. Kunling Mountain Villa is actually not far from Taiping City, and it belongs to the Kunling Mountain of Taiping City.

The name of Kunling Villa in the World Manor is not how big the villa is, but that there is an old man living in the villa. Zhang Bai used to think that Kunling Villa was very large, and in the past two years, he learned that there are actually many such mansions in Taiping City.

With a wine gourd on his waist, it was almost noon when he arrived at Kunling Villa. If others come according to the time, some people may think that they will rub the rice, and Zhang Bai will naturally walk in. The servants are all old men in the villa, and in the past two years, they have seen the difficulties of Zhang Gongzi. The old man has had students, and even the old man can't remember it, and the old servant can't remember it. Only the two young sons in recent years have deep memories, and Liu Gongzi can always get the favor of the old man. But Zhang Gongzi used to be the young master of a rich family, and suddenly his family fell into the middle of the road, not only did he stay in the villa to study, but at most he would stay late to listen to the master's lectures. I am afraid that the money of the servants in the villa is also heavier than that of Zhang Gongzi, and there are a few times when I feel sorry for the young scholar and want to help him, but the young man will only refuse with a smile: "Xiaosheng has already obtained the most precious, and he dare not ask for anything else." ”

Zhang Bai walked into the dining room familiarly, and the old man was still a simple coarse tea and light rice. After two years, Zhang Bai's own Mr. will serve a few more dishes during the New Year's Festival, and only the big birthday feast can see the luxurious meal. Holding the wine gourd and sitting down unceremoniously, the servants of the villa liked Zhang Bai very much. I remember that only two young people could sit down with the old man and eat coarse tea and light rice, and that young man was not young now. Zhang Bai took the dishes and chopsticks himself, and opened the wine on the road first, and he was reluctant to take a sip of wine when he was thirsty.

Zhou Wen kept swallowing and said, "Xiaobai came to give the old man a drink." ”

The servants who served Zhou Wen were terrified, and they were afraid that the old man would drink every time they did. Zhou Wen drank a lot of alcohol when he was young, and he didn't drink much in the early years. Zhang Bai burped and squinted his eyes and said, "Sir, this is not good wine." ”

Seeing that the old man stretched out his hand and handed the gourd over, let the old man smell it and immediately take it away, Mr. is so old and in poor health, how dare he really give wine to drink, if Zhou Yingxiang, the head of the family, knows about it, he will not break his hand. Zhou Wen naturally didn't drink, and said with a smile: "It's really bad, the old man has never seen such a bad wine in his life." ”

Zhang Bai smiled, eating side dishes and drinking spirits, although the wine was not good, it was also taken from the old shopkeeper. The old man often said that he couldn't drink and watch others drink was also a big joke. Others seem to be talking back, but Zhang Bai doesn't think so.

After the meal, Zhang Bai quietly put away the little Feng San left, and Zhou Wen took Zhang Bai to the study. He took a book from the bookshelf and said, "There are still a few days to go." ”

Zhang Bai changed his previous activity and was respectful and polite, and the old gentleman was not a decadent, but he was rigorous in his studies. Outside of academics, when you are older, you can see it lightly, but you don't dare to be sloppy in academic teaching, otherwise how can there be a half-out of Zhou's protégé in the world. As the last master of the dynasty, he deserves everyone's respect, and since the resignation, the emperor will be honored as Mr. when he is not in the court.

He replied, "There are three days left today." ”

The old man nodded slowly, put the book in Zhang Bai's hand and said, "Half a year has passed in the blink of an eye, and the time has come to test more than two years of hard work." Xiaobai, have you ever thought about what you want to do? ”

For Zhang Bai, the old man knows in his heart that there must be a place in the top three. If you can't see Zhang Bai's talent, the examiner for more than 20 years has done it in vain. Today's chief examiner is a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, and Zhou Wen can naturally see that His Majesty the Emperor has a more profound view of this palace examination than in previous years. Shuangshang seems to be a good friend of many people, but it is really a rotten person who does not understand the flexibility, otherwise there should be a big word on the Hanlin bachelor now. There is only a world of difference between one word, and the world's scholars think that this is the arrogance.

Zhang Bai has never thought about this matter, and it is good for people to read, and a few people have thought about how to use it. Zhang Bai was naturally the same, and the old man said with a serious expression: "The ancients said that they were useless scholars, and no matter how many books they read, they would be useless if they didn't learn and apply them." Xiaobai, the book of sages teaches people to be people, if everyone is like the book of sages to be a person, what will the world be like? The ancestors compiled the world's holy words into a book to teach people, not fixed people's thoughts, throughout the thousands of years of sages emerge one after another, only a thousand years can achieve saints. The appearance of a saint is not how high the person's thinking is, how many students he teaches, and how many things he does for the world. The appearance of a saint is often just a thought, and a single thought has influenced countless people for generations, and the saint has established his thoughts, and future generations have carried them forward. The world remembers only the saints, and only the thousands of people who have walked this road. The old man does not require you to be a generation of saints and sages, as long as you can leave footprints on the long road, you are already proud. ”

Seeing that Zhang Bai was about to turn over the book, Zhou Wen pressed down his withered hand in the depths of Zhou Wen and continued: "This book is the old man's lifelong academic experience, so don't be in a hurry to read it first." Just take a look at it after the palace exam, people will always think about it when they get old. I don't know if these things are useful to you, the old man wants you to take a look at it, and you don't necessarily have to do it according to the old man's ideas. Everyone has their own way to go, whether it is the sunny avenue or the sheep intestine road, it is the road, no matter which road you take, you can reach the end. ”

After the meal, with a little drunkenness, under the teaching of Mr., Zhang Bai remembered them one by one, and after studying for more than two years, Mr. taught most of the knowledge in books. Today's teaching has nothing to do with books, and Zhang Bai also listened carefully, and the only time he didn't ask questions. Holding the thin book in his arms, this book is the thinnest but heaviest book that the husband has given himself.

Zhou Wen stared at Zhang Bai with soft eyes and said, "Xiaobai, as a gentleman, can teach you, I have already taught you, and the rest of the way can only be walked by yourself." Sir does not ask you to be a saint, but you must have a clear conscience in everything. After entering the DPRK, whether to form a party for personal gain or to be an upright official, Mr. will not be able to teach you if he does not teach you. Only remember one thing, the people of the world are already bitter enough. There are many wicked people in the world since ancient times, and there are many people who demand human nature, and there are countless people who have passed down to this day, are they wrong? ”

"Not necessarily, although corrupt officials are greedy for money, they may not be able to benefit one party. Virtuous ministers are upright and upright, and everything they do may not be right, and the first thing that comes to mind when they encounter trouble is whether doing this will affect their reputation. In the same way, those who do one thing and are smooth think a lot about things, and those who are stubborn in temperament decide not to change, do not care about suffering, face difficulties, and finally achieve what they want. Have you ever thought that you can do the same thing, one doesn't pay much and just says a few words, and the other person lives his life? There is no right or wrong, just to be worthy of the word! ”

Zhang Bai doesn't understand and doesn't want to understand, who doesn't want to be simple. Taoist doctrine is also involved, which is nothing more than the rule of inaction, the Tao is natural, and the world is the same.

The old man stood and said so many words, feeling a little tired, Zhang Bai hurriedly helped the old man sit down and poured a bowl of tea, touched the teacup to warm it before handing it to the gentleman, Zhou Wen smiled at Zhang Bai. As a student, why do you need to be like Mr. in everything, if this is the case, there is only one kind of person in the world, how can such a world be stable, the sage has no class of teaching, teaching according to aptitude, and since then the knowledge has been spread, and the same rice raises a hundred kinds of people. People are good at learning, as long as they learn, they will change.

Ask the first question of the day: "What about being a courtier?" ”

Zhang Bai, who listened carefully, was stunned, and he didn't expect that Mr. would ask a question and replied directly: "Eat the king's luck, be loyal to the king's affairs, and bear the king's worries." ”

Hearing Zhang Bai's reply, the old man just said with a smile: "Is it true?" Zhang Bai felt weird, and only listened to the old man say: "People always like to listen to good words when they are old, the old man is called a slippery head at the age of twenty, and the old ghost is called behind the forty-year-old civil and military ministers, and when he is in his sixties, he is dedicated to studying and serving as a teacher, and the young man respects and scolds the old ghost!" Living to the present, the most important reputation, when I was young, I sought wealth and power, and when I was old, I had everything I wanted, and I only had a name, and what happened after my death was commented on by future generations. ”

Zhang Bai heard the unexpected words for the first time, and he didn't say that he was wrong or right. A young man seeks wealth and power, and if he has no financial power, he will not be famous. Deeply remembering the teachings of the old man, he did not ask questions or answers, and the old man was very satisfied with this. There are not a few proud students, and there are really not many who have said such things.

After drinking a cup of warm tea, he gently compared his eyes and said: "A pot of wine for thousands of generations, a pinch and a drink taste is strong." Taste the world's hundreds of wines, only spring and autumn are the most satisfying. People have a hundred hardships in a hurry, and it is a mirage to get old. Prosperity passes, the old people leave, and the new people send to open the peace. ”

Seeing Mr. slowly falling asleep tiredly, Zhang Bai took the cloak and covered Mr. and closed the door and faded. I vaguely remember the contempt of everyone when I first came, just a student in a small county town, and I wanted to worship under the old gentleman's door and dream. But under the door of Mr., Zhang Bai never felt that Zhou Wen, the old lady who was once a high-ranking and powerful person and above 10,000 people, looked down on him from the bottom of his heart, and now Zhang Bai feels very lucky, and thanks to Liu Zhixing's letter.

When I walked out of the room, I remembered the teachings of Mr. in my mind, and I didn't dare to forget a word. Holding a wine jug in one hand, he staggered out of the villa, and said in his mouth: "A pot of wine for thousands of generations, the taste is stronger." ”

Never before has a book felt so heavy.