Xia Xiang was melancholy in the long pavilion for a moment, and only turned around and went back until the backs of Li Dingshan and Xiao Jia disappeared between the peaks and loops of the mountain road.

At the beginning of summer, the village is full of flowers and greenery. In the fields, there are farmers and cattle busy, and by the lake, a waterwheel is turning. Under the waterwheel, several women are washing clothes while laughing. Farther away, the mountains are stacked, the clouds rise and the fog rises, the birdsong echoes from time to time, and then there is a little breeze, which makes people feel light and dusty.

Xia Xiang didn't want to feel the beauty of this situation, and hurried home while greeting people.

Xia Lai and Xia are brothers, the two are the sons of Xia Deshui in the west of the village, the age difference is two years, but they are like twin brothers, one is straight and the other is fast-talking. He looks alike, with broad shoulders and a round waist, thick eyebrows and big eyes, strong and mighty. In contrast, Xia Lai is more than half a head taller than Xia Qu, and he is also a little burlier.

The two and Xia Xiang grew up together since childhood, they were like brothers, and because they admired Xia Xiang's talent and learning, they obeyed Xia Xiangyan.

"Da Lang, is the gentleman gone?" Xia Xiang is a detached family in Zhongshan Village, has no cousins, and is the eldest in line, Xia Lai usually calls him Dalang. Xia Lai came over with a hippie smile, smiling extremely brightly, his eyes narrowed into a slit.

Xia Lai and Xia Go have uncles, according to the ranking of their uncle's peers, Xia Lai ranks eleven, and Xia goes to rank thirteen.

"Eleven Lang, as soon as Mr. leaves, are you very happy?" Xia Xiang slapped Xia Lai angrily, Xia Lai never listened well in class, either sleeping or making trouble, "However, although Mr. is gone, and I am still here, I will continue to supervise your homework." ”

"Da Lang, don't you want to hurt me, okay?" Xia Lai was sweating, grabbed Xia Xiang's arm and shook it, "For me, homework is more difficult than killing people and setting fires." I'd rather go up the mountain and fall into the grass than get a name for myself in the exam. Fame and fortune are like floating clouds to me. ”

Xia Qu laughed loudly: "Brother Eleven, did you say this against your will?" If you can get fame, would you say that fame is like floating fame? Don't say that Xia Xiang is ugly if you don't deserve Xia Xiang, it's too unreasonable. ”

"You don't want to spew blood!" Xia Lai glared at Xia Qu angrily, and said angrily, "When am I not worthy of Xia Xiang?" Take a thousand steps back, if you don't marry with the same surname, how dare I think about Xia Xiang? Take another 10,000 steps back, since Xiao Jia's little lady came, who in the village does not admire her elegance? Even if it is you, you have mentioned many times that you want to marry Xiao Jia as a wife. From now on, for an hour, I will not say a word to you again. ”

Xia Xiang is the daughter of Xia Laocheng in the village, fifteen years old, beautiful as a flower, and countless people come to the door to propose relatives in ten miles and eight towns. If it weren't for the rule of not marrying with the same surname, there would be no less than 100 people in Zhongshan Village who wanted to marry Xia Xiang. It's just that since Xiao Jia came, none of the school-age men in Zhongshan Village did not look up to Xiao Jia's demeanor and left Xia Xiang behind. However, although Xiao Jia reached the age of marriage, he was bent on waiting for Li Dingshan, no matter who proposed marriage, he refused to marry, claiming that he would not marry for life, which made many "talents" who knew a little poetry sad, and secretly wrote a few sad poems.

Only Xia Lai and Xia Qu knew that Xiao Jia's heart was all tied to Xia Xiang, and the two of them also saw that Xia Xiang had no love for Xiao Jia, just as if she was a sister.

"An hour? It's too little, how about two hours? Xia Qu grinned and pushed Xia Lai, "I don't believe you can not say a word to me for an hour!" ”

"Go away." Xia Lai was extremely annoyed and raised his hand to fight.

"Xiang'er is back." Song Dingniang heard the noise outside the door, pushed the door out, and saw Xia Xiang and Xia Lai and Xia going to fight, she couldn't help laughing, "You are all about to be weak, why are you still fighting and making trouble?" Xiang'er, let Lai'er and Go'er come to the house for tea. ”

The yard is not large, and there is no green brick paving. There was an apple tree planted on the east side, and the tree was full of fruit, red and green, and it was very beautiful. There were several chickens and ducks under the tree, and a yellow dog was chasing the chickens and ducks and frolicking.

The three main houses are adobe houses, and the roofs are overgrown with weeds, but they also look full of life. When I entered the house, it was low and dark, and there was a slight smell of dampness. In the middle of the house is a table of eight immortals, and there is a Taishi chair on the left and right. On the wall, there is a picture of the country, and there are couplets on the left and right.

Uplink: Know all the words in the world, and downlink: Read all the books in the world.

It is the famous sentence of the car carried by the Taidou Sima of the dynasty.

"Eleven Lang, bring a pen." Xia Xiang looked up at the couplet and rolled up his sleeves, "Thirteen Lang, help me take off the couplet." ”

"Okay." Xia Lai and Xia Qu responded in unison, and the two of them moved neatly, and after a while, they prepared the paper and ink and took off the couplet.

"Xiang'er?" Song Dingniang didn't know what Xia Xiang was going to do, so she asked in surprise, "This is Mr.'s ink treasure, don't move it." ”

"I'm just adding a few words." Xia Xiang picked up the pen in his hand, waved it, threw the pen, and laughed, "Be angry and know all the words in the world, and be determined to read all the books in the world...... In this way, self-confidence and pride are removed. ”

"This ...... Is there any difference? Xia Lai's eyes were full of confusion, and he tilted his head for a long time, "It's just that there are four more words added to the snake, isn't the meaning still the same?" ”

"Stupid." Xia Qu sneered, knocked Xia Lai's head and said, "I know all the words in the world and read all the books in the world, there are so many words in the world, who dares to say that I must read all the books in the world?" Extreme arrogance. But with the addition of 'anger' and 'determination', it is different, from arrogance to ambition, not only does not make people feel arrogant, but makes people awe-inspired. ”

Xia Lai looked at Xia Qu a few times as if he didn't know him, and touched Xia Qu's head: "Strange thing, it's really a strange thing, when did your elm head also open up?" ”

"I'm smarter than you, okay?" Xia Qu pushed away Xia Lai's hand quite unconvinced, and snorted, "I'm not afraid to tell you, I've already decided to go to Beijing with Da Lang to catch the exam." ”

"You're right? Did I hear you right? Xia Lai's eyes widened, "Just with your article and bad words, you still want to enter Beijing to take the exam?" If you go to the capital for more than 600 miles, you have to waste a lot of cloth shoes and food, and it is better to farm at home. ”

Xia Qu was furious: "Eleven Lang, you look down on me too much, I went to Beijing to take the exam because I wanted to serve the imperial court, even if I wasted cloth shoes and food, why not?" The humble does not dare to forget the country, unlike you, who just want to be comfortable and not worry about the country. ”

Xia Lai was speechless by Xia Qu, and he was speechless for a long time before he came up with a sentence: "I also want to serve the court and share the country's worries, but I don't have the talent to help the world, what use does the court want me?" It's better to farm and raise cattle, and it won't drag down the imperial court. ”

"Right now, the imperial court is recruiting soldiers." Xia Xiang stepped on the chair and hung the couplet, "Since the founding of the Great Xia, although the emphasis has been on literature and suppression of martial arts, Taizu has ruled the world with soldiers, and he is also from the army, and he has always given preferential treatment to soldiers, and the imperial court has a recruitment system, with your physique, you can be conscripted." ”

Conscription is military service and is not paid. Recruitment is different, it is the imperial court that recruits soldiers, which is equivalent to mercenaries, is for selection, and the conscripts are recruits. The requirements for conscription in terms of physique and intelligence are stricter than those of conscripts, and generally speaking, there are tests of height and physical fitness.

"That's a good idea." Xia Lai slapped his thigh and was overjoyed, "I'm going to enlist in the army, maybe I can become Wu Luolang in the future." ”

"It's too unproductive, with your eloquence, Wu Luolang from the seventh grade is too talented." Natsu went and laughed.

Xia Lai puffed out his chest proudly: "Yes, I will at least be a group training envoy from Wupin." ”

"The regimental training envoy from the fifth grade is still too small." Xia went to urge a narrow smile, "You must at least be Chengxinlang." ”

Xia Lai was stunned by Xia Qu, and touched his head: "How many products is Chengxinlang?" ”

Xia Xiang laughed: "The lowest grade, from the ninth grade." ”

Xia Lai was furious: "Thirteen Lang, I'm not done with you!" After speaking, he raised his hand to beat Xia Go.

was stopped by Xia Xiang.

Xia Xiang smiled: "Don't make trouble, I will go to Beijing early tomorrow morning to catch the exam, and it is estimated that I will go for at least half a year." Eleventh Lang and Thirteenth Lang, my mother asked the two to take care of them on my behalf. ”

After speaking, Xia Xiang bowed.

Xia Lai and Xia went to the table and returned the salute.

Xia Lai Zhengse said: "Da Lang can rest assured, with me and Thirteen Lang here, my aunt will be fine." ”

Xia Qu also said: "Yes, yes, my aunt is the same as my mother, Da Lang doesn't have to worry, after being the champion in high school, don't forget the poor brothers, Gou Fugui, no forget." ”

Xia Xiang nodded and smiled: "When Chen Sheng was plowing the fields, when he talked about Gou Fugui, he forgot about it, and was laughed at by his companions, saying that he didn't have the life of wealth and nobility. He said with emotion, the bird's nest knows the ambition of the bird. Later, when Chen Sheng became king, his companion went to ask for wealth, but was killed by Chen Sheng. Since then, no fellow villagers have gone to him. ”

Xia Lai feigned surprise: "Ah, Da Lang, do you mean that you don't want us to go to you?" ”

Xia Xiang laughed and punched Xia Lai: "The implication of my words is that some people want others to be rich and noble, don't forget him, but it's not that he is rich and noble, and he doesn't forget others." ”

"It's time to eat." Song Dingniang made a meal, a plate of cold dishes, two plates of hot dishes, plus steamed buns and pancakes, simple but abundant, "Eleven Lang and Thirteen Lang also stayed to eat." ”

Xia Lai and Xia Qu's family situation is much better than Xia Xiang's, and the two often help Xia Xiang, understanding that it is not easy for Song Dingniang to run a family alone, and never eat at Xia Xiang's house. Today, the two did not shirk and sat down separately.

After the meal, Song Dingniang cleaned up the dishes and chopsticks, and Xia Xiang came to the courtyard with Xia Lai and Xia Go. Xia Xiang saw it, and the two had something to say to him.

Under the fruit tree in the courtyard, there was a square table and a few wooden tables, and Xia Xiang and a few people sat down. The yellow dog shook his head and shook his tail and came over, sniffed a few people in turn, and then lay down under the shade of the tree as if nothing happened, dreaming of Qingqiu.

"It takes a lot of money to go to the capital and the mountains are far away, which is a little bit of my heart." Xia Lai changed his previous hippie smile, took out a bag seriously, and handed it to Xia Xiang, "For more than 100 years, Zhongshan Village has not produced a Jinshi, let alone a champion. If you are the top student in high school, my two brothers can also have a good time. ”

"After all, there is only one champion, but there are dozens of Jinshi, and it is enough to get the second class Jinshi." Xia Qu also took out a small bag, "Da Lang, I also have the heart to give it, you can accept it." Don't shirk, when he returns to his hometown to serve as a magistrate, I will serve as a dog and horse. ”

Xia Xiang had the heart to refuse, he didn't want Xia to come and go but he said it to death, and under the agitation of the mood, his eyes were slightly warm for a while. For as long as he can remember, Xia Lai and Xia Qu have taken care of him and his mother like brothers, and if it weren't for Xia Lai and Xia Go, he and his mother might not have been able to live a long time ago. Now that he has entered Beijing to take the exam, the two of them have given him a gift, and he should remember it in his heart.

"Thank you." Xia Xiang bowed his hand slightly, and with the friendship between him and Xia Laixia and Xia Go, the superfluous words seemed rusty.

"You'll be out of sight." Xia Lai waved his right hand quite arrogantly, he was more than half a head taller than Xia Qu, and his body was much stronger, and between the waves of his hand, he really had a bit of a general's style, "Da Lang, who is your father?" Auntie really didn't say it? ”

"Not really." Xia Xiang shook his head, "I'm also curious about who my father is, my mother doesn't allow me to ask about my life experience, and every time I mention it, I always avoid answering." If you ask in a hurry, you will scold me a few words and blame me for being ignorant. ”

"It's also strange, Daxia has a clear atmosphere, and she doesn't object to women remarrying, and my aunt doesn't know what to worry about?" Xia went to understand it, so he didn't bother to think about it, and said, "Da Lang, what I said just now was not a joke, I really wanted to go to Beijing with you to take the exam." ”

"Huh?" Xia Xiang was really taken aback, "Do you really mean this?" ”

"I'd like to give it a try." Xia Qu smiled embarrassedly, "It's not that I don't have to find a background, I also want to go out to see the world, and besides, walking with you, I can take care of you on the road." ”

Xia Lai nodded again and again: "From Zhongshan Village to the capital, it will take more than a month to say the least, and while walking and reading, maybe Xia Go can really open his mind, even if it is only a fourth or fifth Jinshi background, it can be regarded as a glorious ancestor." It is better to read 10,000 books than to travel 10,000 miles. ”

"It's better to travel thousands of miles than to read countless people." Xia went and nodded in agreement.

"Reading countless people, it is better to have a famous teacher to show the way." Xia Xiang added.

The rank of Jinshi is called "and first" in the first and second ranks, "origin" in the third class, and "Tongjinshi origin" in the fourth and fifth classes. Its first, second and third places are also known as champions, list eyes, and flowers.

"I just got a hexagram from Xia Lao Road in the south of the village, and it was signed." Xia Lai took out a bamboo stick and read, "Hearing the news of the imperial court's selection of talents, everyone feels uplifted." At the moment, don't worry about it, and the osmanthus will bloom naturally in the middle of the month...... Toad Palace Zhegui is Dengke, Da Lang, if you go to the capital to take the exam, you must be in high school. ”

"Haha, Zi Bu is strange and confused, he has great talent in his chest, and his fame is in the pen. If a bamboo stick can determine a person's future, what is the use of a sage book? Xia Xiang laughed loudly, he stood up and arched his hand towards the west, "Mr. has repeatedly taught that many families in ancient and modern times are nothing more than accumulating virtue; The first character in heaven and earth is still reading, my generation should remember the words of Mr., cultivate the heart, and ...... together"

Before he finished speaking, there was a sudden chaotic noise outside.

"Ordered to arrest the Qin criminals of the imperial court, those who hide and do not report will be guilty of the same crime as the Qin criminals!"

This person's voice is loud and full of energy, and he can say a word, echoing in the mountain village, and it will not disperse for a long time.

Zhongshan Village has been quiet for many years, not to mention that there have been court criminals, even if there has never been a case of theft. Today, I heard that the official family came to arrest the Qin criminal, and suddenly it was like a boulder and water, stirring up a thousand waves.

Moments later, no less than a few hundred people gathered in the open space west of the village.

The vacant lot in the west of the village was originally a dwelling, but it was later abandoned. After Li Dingshan and Xiao Jia came, they moved in. Later, the strong wind blew the house, and after Li Dingshan and Xiao Jia moved to Xia Xiang's house, a fire broke out late one night and burned a piece of the house to the ground. After the villagers' consultation, the ruins were simply cleared and turned into an empty lot.

Since then, the vacant land has become a place for villagers to gather, chat and hold meetings.

Five tall horses stood under the big locust tree in the clearing, and there were five people on the horse, all dressed in short clothes, although they were brocade clothes, but they were not ordinary officials, so that the villagers who had only seen the Lingshou County officials pointed and pointed, and they didn't know where they were.

is the first person, with one-word eyebrows, a national face, square and mighty, a solemn face, and a hint of murder in his eyes. Holding a portrait in his hand, he sat on his horse and looked down indifferently at the surrounding villagers.

"The person in the painting is a felony of the imperial court, and there is a cable report that this person has been hiding in Zhongshan Village for three years, and anyone who has seen this person and knows his whereabouts will be rewarded. If he conceals and does not report it, he will be guilty of the same crime as Qin. Whoever has seen this person will report it quickly. ”

The national character face raised the portrait in his hand high, and then let go of his hand, and the portrait floated down. Several do-gooders rushed up and snatched the portrait. The portrait is painted in great detail, like the person on it, between the eyebrows and eyes, quite heroic.

"I don't know, I'm not a villager from Zhongshan Village."

"I've never seen this guy."

"How did you hide in Zhongshan Village for three years? Zhongshan Village is a small village, with a total of more than 1,000 people, where are there any court repeat offenders? ”

The portrait was passed to Xia Xiang's hands, Xia Xiang gasped, although the person in the painting was much younger, he recognized at a glance that the person in the painting was the gentleman Li Dingshan who had taught him for three years!

How could it be Li Dingshan? How could it be sir? Countless thoughts quickly flashed in Xia Xiang's heart. Without thinking much about it, he secretly wet his fingers with saliva, soaked the ink on the portrait, and quietly pressed a mole on the portrait.

"There is no such person in the village." Xia Xiang smiled casually and handed the portrait to Xia Xiaoxian beside him.

Xia Xiaoxian was a well-known fool in the village, he grinned and glanced at the portrait a few times upside down: "It's not like, no one is like it." ”

"No, this person seems to be ......" The portrait was passed to Xia Laocheng, Xia Laocheng was stunned for a moment, his fingers covered the mole, and he jumped to his feet and shouted, "I know, I know who he is!" ”

"Who is it?" Guozi's face was expressionless, and his eyes fell coldly on Xia Laocheng's face, "Say it quickly!" ”

Xia Xiang was shocked, Xia Laocheng and Li Dingshan had more contact, and Xia Laocheng was a person who forgot his righteousness, he must betray Mr. Li, what should I do? Xia Xiang had a plan, pulled Xia Xiaoxian and whispered a few words in his ear.

Xia Xiaoxian nodded again and again, and raised his right hand high: "All heads, the little one knows who it is, and the little one knows it!" ”

Guozi glanced at Xia Xiaoxian coldly: "Say!" ”

Xia Xiaoxian bent down and said, "Please reward the small one!" ”

When Xia Laocheng heard that there was a reward, he immediately held the portrait tightly in his hand and refused to let go, and stretched out his right hand with a smile: "The small one said first, and the small one please give the first reward." ”

Xia Laocheng didn't know what the official position of the person who came, he knew that it would not be wrong to see the official master call him the head of the capital, and he would call the other party the head of the capital.

"Reward!" The face of the national character turned cold, and he motioned to his entourage to reward. Among the retinue, there was a man of short stature, who raised his hand and threw out a silver ingot. The size of a fist of silver was as much as fifty taels.

"Coax!" The crowd surged, erupting in a wave of envy and admiration.

Xia Laocheng took the silver, overjoyed, if it weren't for the fact that he was surrounded by villagers, he would have jumped up and cheered. Fifty taels of silver can be worth a few years of his income, to tell the truth that he is not afraid of other people's jokes, he has lived a handful of years, and it is the first time he has seen such a large ingot of silver.