【Narrator】 The Divine Decree of the Confused Son of Heaven soon spread throughout the Aolai Kingdom.

There is a 冇 (mǎo) county in Aolai country, and there is a scholar named Mei Zhe (zhè) in the county. He was born with a short body, big ears, and a slightly chubby body. Because he ranks sixth in the family, people also call Mei Zheren Mei Liu.

Speaking of the Mei family, it is also somewhat well-known in Jian County. The Mei family was originally a wealthy family, and there were many books in the family, so the Mei Zhe people read poetry and books since childhood.

But the good times didn't last long, when Mei Zheren was thirteen years old, his father Mei Dayun died of illness, and the Mei family has been on a downward slope since then.

Mei Zheren began to take the imperial examination at the age of eighteen, and by the first year of the confused Son of Heaven, he had taken the examination five times in a row, and he did not rank every time.

Under normal circumstances, the imperial examination is held once every two years. When he took the fifth imperial examination, Mei Zheren was already twenty-six years old.

At this time, not only did he have no merit and fame, but because he was studying and taking the imperial examination, his family was getting poorer and poorer, and no daughter from any family was willing to marry him.

At the age of twenty-seven, Mei Zheren was still a single person, and he became a well-known older leftover man in Yan County.

[Scene 1] At the entrance of the county yamen of Jianxian County, Mei Zheren read the list text.

After reading the content of the list, Mei Zheren couldn't help clapping his hands and said: "Oh, the imperial examination has to test riddles, brain teasers and tongue twisters, which is really wonderful!" ”

There were also scholars among the people who watched the list around, and they all felt inexplicable that the imperial examination was actually tested for riddles, brain teasers and tongue twisters.

A scholar named Zhuge Yan and Mei Zheren are from the same village, and the two of them read books together.

Zhuge secretly asked Mei Zheren: "Brother Mei, we read the books of saints on weekdays. Brain teasers, riddles, tongue twisters, what are these, not the way of a saint, nor the content that should be tested in the imperial examination. Why are you still applauding? ”

Mei Zheren: "It turned out to be a dark brother." ”

Zhuge Dark: "Mei Liu, how many times have I told you, don't call me Brother Dark." I am Zhuge Liang's N descendant, call me Brother Zhuge . ”

Mei Zheren: "Yes, yes, Brother Zhuge . We grew up together, and because you look black, you named it dark. I called Brother Dark to be Shunzui, didn't you also call me a six-year-old? ”

Zhuge Dark: "You have to listen carefully, I'm talking about Mei Liu, and there is no one behind." ”

Mei Zheren: "No. Brother Dark, no, it's Brother Zhuge , you just said that brain teasers and riddles are not the way of a sage, how do you know that a sage can't make brain teasers, guess riddles, and tongue twisters? ”

Zhuge Dark: "The saint will still do this?" ”

Mei Zheren: "Didn't you listen to the person who asked for food, Confucius had no food and trapped Chen Cai, thanks to Fan Dan's ancestor to help him with food." I borrowed you to eat, I borrowed you to wear, I borrowed the rice mountain and the noodle mountain, and I haven't finished paying it back until now.

If the saint doesn't know how to count the treasures, brain teasers, or whatever, can he borrow food from the beggar grandfather? ”

Zhuge Dark: "That's all nonsense from Shulaibao." According to what you say, beggars can be champions. ”

Mei Zheren: "Zhu Yuanzhang is a beggar, and he has become an emperor." A beggar can even be an emperor, and it is not uncommon for him to be a champion. It's a pity that beggars can't read, and Jianghu artists can't read much, so they can't take the imperial examination. ”

Zhuge Dark: "According to what you say, we are not even as good as beggars?" ”

Mei Zheren: "It's not necessarily comparable. My mother had a cold, and I had to buy him medicine. ”

Mei Zheren turned to leave. Zhuge secretly looked at Mei Zheren's back and said: "I mix with beggars and artists every day, no wonder the Mei family is getting poorer and poorer." Mei Liu, you really don't have six children. No matter what medicine you take, it won't work. ”

[Scene 2] After Mei Zheren finished buying medicine, he returned home and served his mother Mei Zheng to drink medicine.

After Mei Zhengshi drank the medicine, Mei Zheren said to her: "Mother, the king of our Aolai Kingdom has now changed his name to the Foolish Son of Heaven, and Enke will hold the imperial examination next month." ”

Mei Zhengshi: "What did the king change his name?" ”

Mei Zheren: "Confused Son of Heaven." ”

Mei Zhengshi: "It's called the Foolish Son of Heaven, it's the first time I've heard of it." However, he is quite confused, and the name is appropriate.

Imperial examinations, if you want to go, go there. But our family doesn't have much money, and all these years when you take the imperial examination, everything that should be sold at home has been sold. ”

Mei Zheren: "Mother, this year's imperial examination is very different from previous years, the examination subjects are different, and the number of admitted students is also more than in previous years, I will definitely be able to pass the examination."

If I can't pass the exam again, I won't take the exam in the future, and I will be a storyteller in Jian County, and I can support my family. ”

Mei Zhengshi: "There are also daughters-in-law and children, you can't go on like this anymore." The Mei family is such a lone seedling as you, you can't cut off the incense. ”

Mei Zheren: "Mother, I know everything." When I come back from the scientific expedition, I will find a way. ”

[Scene 3] At night, Mei Zheren pulled out a box from under the bed in his room, opened it and took out a book, the name of the book is "Trumpet Flower Cheats". Looking at the book, Mei Zheren recalled his past with his master Xi Shuo.

[Scene 4] A year ago, Mei Zheren failed the exam for the fifth time, and on the way back to Jian County, he passed by a tavern and ate in it. At the table opposite was an old man named Xi Shuo.

Xishuo said to Mei Zheren: "Young man, I see that you are extraordinary, and you must be the dragon and phoenix among people." ”

Mei Zheren: "This uncle, where did you see that I am the dragon and phoenix among people?" ”

Western Shuo: "From your big watermelon-like figure." ”

Mei Zheren: "I'm used to hearing people say that I am a dwarf winter melon, and this is the first time I've heard a big watermelon." ”

Xi Xishuo: "Big watermelon, how about I accept you as an apprentice?" ”

Mei Zheren: "I'm not called Big Watermelon, I'm from Jian County, surnamed Mei, called Mei Zheren." Uncle, I don't even know what you do, why do you want to accept me as an apprentice? ”

Xi Shuo: "A few days ago, Dou Shengfu dragged a dream for me, saying that when he was taking care of the Pan Tao Garden in the Heavenly Court, there was a watermelon garden next to the Pan Tao Garden, and the watermelons in it were big and sweet.

The person in charge of taking care of the watermelon garden is called Mei Liu, and he is the best friend of the fighting Buddha. Dou Shengfu said that Mei Liu was demoted to the mortal world due to a mistake, and he would pass by here at a certain time, so let me wait for him here and accept him as an apprentice.

Fighting over the Buddha also said that Mei Liu is a big watermelon figure, and he is surnamed Mei after going down to earth. ”

Mei Zheren: "It's a coincidence, my surname is Mei, and I am the sixth in the family, and the people in my family call me Mei Liu." In this way, I am really the watermelon official of the heavenly court. ”

Xi Xishuo: "That's right, you really don't have six children. ”

Mei Zheren: "Uncle, it's Mei Liu, it's not Wuliu'er." ”

Xi Shuo: "You're not tall, but your ears are quite good." ”

Mei Zheren: "My ears are too big, and I can't grow long." ”

Western Shuo: "It's kind of interesting. ”

Mei Zheren: "Having said so much, uncle, who are you and what are you doing?" ”

Western Shuo: "My surname is Xishi, and the single-word name is Shuo." ”

Western Shuo is known as the saint of quyi, and all kinds of quyi are all excellent. Mei Zhe people like to make friends, and several of them are artists who walk the rivers and lakes, and the name of Western Shuo has long filled his ears.

After listening to the other party's words, Mei Zheren was very surprised and said: "Xixi Shuo, you are the famous quyi sage Xishuo?" ”

Xishuo: "Gods and horses are all floating clouds." Come and apprentice, after this village, there will be no more this shop. ”

Mei Zheren immediately apprenticed. Since that day, the West has accepted Mei Zheren as a closed disciple and taught him all his skills.

When the master and apprentice separated, Xishuo took out the "Trumpet Flower Treasure Book" and handed it to Mei Zheren and said: "Apprentice, this "Trumpet Flower Treasure Book" is a peerless secret book in the quyi world, you must study it carefully. In the future, you will rely on it to soar. ”

Mei Zheren: "Disciple remembers." ”

Author's Note:

冇, pronounced mǎo, means no, 冇县 means that there is no such county.

柘, pronounced as zhè, Mei Zhe people just don't have this person.