Li Yanqing invited Zhou Tong into his home, and Zhou Tong saw a pile of polished semi-finished stones in the corner of the yard, so he picked up a piece, looked at it and asked with a smile: "Is this stone striking technique also taught to you by Hu Cheng?" ”

"Back to Master Zhou, Uncle Hu instructed the students on the techniques, and he also taught me a few swordsmanship. Pen Fun Pavilion www.biquge.info"

Zhou Tong nodded, "Hitting stones and archery are in the same vein, and a young master like you is rare, but.... Why don't you practice throwing knives? ”

Li Yanqing hesitated for a moment and said: "There is still room for turning around when the stone is beaten, and when the flying knife sees blood, it will be knotted." ”

Zhou Tong praised in his heart, this child knows things, does not go to extremes, and keeps his promises, does not betray his friends, is a rare good seedling, and he has the idea of accepting apprentices in his heart.

"You're right, if you use a flying knife tonight, even if I have face, I won't be able to untie this dead knot, take me to see who you caught!"

"Master Zhou, please go this way."

Li Yanqing took Zhou Tong to the back room, the two walked into the room, the light was on in the room, and I saw a big black man sitting on the ground with his feet tied, hanging his head listlessly, and there was a little lady of eight or nine years old standing next to him, holding a clothes-pounding mallet in her hand, staring at the big black man fiercely like a little eagle, as if she was ready to hit it at any time.

Li Kui is also quiet, he is really afraid that this little lady will mess around, as long as he moves, this little lady's mallet will have no head and no face, although a few hits are nothing, but if this matter spreads, where will he put Li Kui's face?

Li Kui saw Li Yanqing and hurriedly said, "You quickly call this little lady out, she is next to me, I am so angry!" ”

Li Yanqing said with a smile: "I have already negotiated with your leader, and I will let you go back now." ”

The magpie suddenly panicked, "Little official, you can't let him go, he said he would kill me!" ”

Li Kui was very proud, and opened a mouthful of white Sensen's teeth to the magpie and said, "Is the little lady afraid now?" Hurry up and get a bowl of wine for me to drink, and I'll spare you! ”

"I.... I'm not afraid of you! ”

The magpie raised her clothes-pounding mallet and was about to hit again, Li Yanqing hurriedly stopped her, "Don't be afraid, he just scares you, the dignified Liangshan hero can't get along with a nine-year-old lady, he can't afford to lose this face." ”

Li Kui snorted angrily, "Since I have reconciled with my brother, then let me go quickly, don't annoy me." ”

Li Yanqing had the heart to try Zhou Dong's ability, so he stepped forward and picked up the cow tendon rope on Li Kui's feet, and opened Li Kui's flail, Zhou Dong secretly laughed in his heart, this stinky boy actually wants to try himself?

Li Kui was suddenly freed, suddenly roared, and hit Li Yanqing's face door with a punch, which frightened the magpie to scream, Zhou Tong's hand was quick, and he pinched Li Kui's wrist, and his iron arm was so hard that Li Kui screamed like a pig, and his body immediately became weak.

Zhou Tong snorted and let go of his wrist, "Even if Lin Chong sees the old man, he has to kneel down obediently, you still dare to be presumptuous in front of the old man?" ”

Lin Chong is the person with the highest martial arts in Liangshanbo, even Li Kui does not dare to provoke, although Li Kui is reckless, he is not stupid at all, he immediately guessed who this old man is, "You.... Aren't you Old Man Zhou? ”

"I'll be the guarantor, Li Shaolang and Song Gongming have reconciled, you can go with me! I'll take you back to the inn. ”

Since Li Kui knew that the person in front of him was Master Lin Chong, the world-famous iron-armed Zhou Dong, he didn't dare to be presumptuous anymore and obediently followed Zhou Dong.

At this time, Zhou Tong asked Li Yanqing in a low voice: "Hu Cheng's whereabouts, can't you even believe the old man?" ”

Li Yanqing smiled faintly, "If I can't trust Master Zhou, I won't accept Master Zhou's mediation, but Uncle Hu's whereabouts are another matter, and I won't tell anyone." ”

Zhou Tong laughed, "Okay! Good! ”

Although he didn't tell himself Hu Cheng's whereabouts, Zhou Tong could faintly guess a clue, Hu Cheng's father was buried in the Daimyo's Mansion, and Hu Cheng would definitely take his mother back to his hometown, his other apprentice, Lu Junyi, was a wealthy family in the Daimyo's Mansion, and I believe he could help him find Hu Cheng.

Zhou Tong took Li Kui out of the courtyard gate, turned back to Li Yanqing and said, "Calm down from now on, take the county school exam well, we will have a chance to see you again!" ”

Li Yanqing bowed and said: "Thank you Master Zhou for relieving Yanqing of today's misfortune, Yanqing will definitely take the county school exam seriously and live up to Master Zhou's high expectations!" ”

Seeing the figures of Zhou Tong and Li Kui disappear into the night, the magpie asked worriedly, "Little official, that black-faced villain won't come again!" ”

"Don't worry! He won't come again. ”

Li Yanqing looked at the sky, and asked with a smile, "What time is it now?" ”

"It's almost five watches!"

Li Yanqing stretched his body for a long time, although he didn't sleep all night, he didn't feel sleepy, he took a deep breath of cold, and smiled at the magpie: "Go to the kitchen and find me something to eat, I'm going to start running!" ”

At the same time that Li Yanqing started to run every day, Song Jiang and his entourage also quietly left Zhangji Town and went south, Song Jiang kept looking back to the north, he always had some regrets, he was not able to accept a talented young man like Li Yanqing under his command, and everyone left Xiangzhou, Song Jiang still remembered this matter.

.........

In the early morning of the fifth day of the second lunar month, Yao Ding called Li Yanqing to the study, Yao Ding looked a little sad, for five years, he taught Li Yanqing carefully, and finally it was time to part, Yao Ding had grown thin, at this time his back was rickety, and his back was as thin as a child, but he was pale and told people that he was close to the age of antiquity.

"Today is when you are leaving Lushan Academy, I still remember five years ago I asked you, why do you want to study, you said to read more books? If I were to ask you this question again today, how would you answer it? ”

Yao Ding said very slowly, but there was a trace of expectation in the old man's eyes, Li Yanqing did not answer, he has been thinking about this question, but he has not been able to think of a complete answer, he hopes to be admitted to the Jinshi, complete the title of the gold list that a scholar dreams of, and realize the long-cherished wish of his father and master for many years, and he also hopes to do his part for the upcoming disaster era.

These are all things he wants to do, but they are not complete, just like pieces of a puzzle, they are just one of them, but they can't show the whole picture of the puzzle, and Li Yanqing himself doesn't know what the whole picture should be?

After being silent for a long time, Li Yanqing lowered his head and said apologetically: "Master, I don't know myself!" ”

Yao Ding was not disappointed, his eyes began to flicker with a glimmer of light, and the wrinkles on his face were stretched open by a smile, "Actually, this is the answer I want." ”

Li Yanqing was stunned, he didn't understand why the master said this, Yao Ding took his hand and said slowly: "Lushan Town is just a small valley, when you walk out of the valley, you will see endless mountains, when you walk out of the mountains, you will find that there are endless plains outside, when you cross the plains and cross the big rivers, you will see a more magnificent sea, only then will you understand why you want to study back then?" It's a pity that I may not be able to hear your answer by that day, and I hope you don't forget the old man's entrustment to you today. ”

Li Yanqing knelt in front of his master, tears welled up in his eyes, and he choked up and said, "Master must live a long life, wait for Yanqing to come back and tell Master the answer!" ”

Yao Ding lovingly stroked his beloved disciple's head, "Go!" Go and give me the first place in the county school, go and give me the entrance examination to lift people, and to be admitted to the Jinshi, so that the master's hunchback can be straightened again. ”

"Master, take care!"

Li Yanqing kowtowed three times, stood up and left the Lushan Academy quickly, Yao Ding watched the apprentice walk out of the school, his old eyes were full of expectation.

A quarter of an hour later, more than 20 students in Lushan Town took six ox carts and went to the county seat to take the county examination together.

Every student's feelings are very complicated, this is the first test of their life, admitted to the county school, which means that they can continue their studies, two years later, either to take the liberation test, or to take the state school exam, can continue their life journey.

If you can't get into the county school, most people will have to say goodbye to their study career, or go home to farm, or go out to do business, and embark on another path in life.

Li Yanqing and the four of them sat in the second ox cart, and Li Er also squeezed together with them, but Li Er was not too depressed, he smiled at everyone: "The patriarch has already contacted me, if I can't get into the county school, I will go to Anyang Academy to study, and I can take the state school exam in two years." ”

Anyang Academy is a privately founded school, belonging to the same level of primary school as the county school, far from being comparable with the four major academies in the world, but it is also a relatively famous academy in Xiangzhou, founded by a retired official 20 years ago, Li Wengui's eldest grandson Li Feng also went there to study.

Li Er's words were actually said that Li Yanqing listened, he was a little proud in his heart, the patriarch didn't only care about Brother Qing'er, this time the patriarch didn't even help Brother Qing'er, only helped himself.

However, Li Yanqing was looking out the window and was stunned, and he didn't hear his words, Li Er was a little disappointed in his heart, and poked Wang Gui next to him with his arm, and asked with a smile: "Your grandfather should have found you a good relationship, right?" ”

Wang Gui snorted disdainfully and said, "Of course, the strip personally approved by the county magistrate of the big sword, my name is already on the admission roster of the county school, and so is Lao Tang!" ”

Li Yanqing had gradually come out of the sadness of parting with his master, he had never heard Tang Huai mention this matter, so he asked Tang Huai with a smile: "Old Tang, is that so?" ”

"I don't know!"

Tang Huai glanced at Li Er, and said in an ominous voice: "My family asked me to concentrate on the exam, don't worry about other things, and I don't bother to ask." ”

With Li Er, an 'outsider', Tang Huai obviously refused to tell the truth, so Li Yanqing didn't ask any more, and then Yue Fei said slowly: "I heard that this martial arts exam is personally conducted by the county magistrate, and the exams for archery, weightlifting and running, as long as you pass the two, you can be enrolled." ”

All four of them sat up straight and asked in surprise, "Didn't you say before that you must pass all three items to be admitted?" ”

Yue Fei smiled, "It should be the state interfering, if all three must be qualified, then the vast majority of students will be planted in archery, and few can be admitted to the county school, this is too much, now it is changed to two qualified, in fact, as long as the running passes, there is basically no problem in the martial arts test." ”

Tang Huai said again: "There is also a difference here, if you can't pass archery, then the head of the martial arts sect in the future will still be the old beetle, but if the archery passes, then Master Zhou will be the head of the martial arts sect." ”

Not only Wang Gui and Tang Huai were extremely excited, but Li Yanqing and Yue Fei were also leisurely yearning, if they could learn martial arts from Zhou Dong, it would not be in vain for them to participate in this county school exam.

.........

Everyone is still living in the Tang Inn, the room has already been prepared, and when everyone is carrying their luggage, Li Yanqing suddenly heard someone calling him behind him, and when he turned around, it turned out to be the second patriarch Li Wengui, which was beyond his expectations.

Li Yanqing hurriedly stepped forward to salute, since Li Wengui stepped down from the post of Du Baozheng, he has been in Tangyin County for a long time, in charge of Li's industry in the county seat and Anyang County.

This is also the division of labor between him and his brother Li Wenyou, Li Wenyou is in charge of the land, he is in charge of the industry, nominally the property of the clan, but in fact most of it is owned by them personally.

Li Wengui rarely showed a smile on his face, "Does Qing'er have time?" How about we go for a light meal? ”

There is a teenager standing next to Li Wengui, who is his favorite little grandson Li Baoer, who also took the county exam with Li Yanqing this year.

Li Yanqing didn't know what the second patriarch was looking for him, so he nodded silently.

Li Wengui took Li Yanqing to the Li Ji Tavern not far away, which was opened by Li Wengui in the county seat, and was one of the three major taverns in Tangyin County, and Anyang County and Daimyofu also had a branch each.

They sat down by the window on the second floor, and Li Wengui poured Li Yanqing a glass of wine with a smile, "Qing'er, we haven't seen each other for almost three years!" ”

Li Yanqing suddenly had a feeling that he had lived so peacefully in the past few years, was it because Li Wengui moved to the county seat and was not in Lushan Town?

Li Wengui saw that Li Yanqing didn't answer him, and asked with a smile: "Your father is okay in Anyang!" ”

"Thank you for your concern, my father is still in good health."

"That's good!"

Li Wengui drank a glass of wine, and said slowly: "Over the past few decades, my biggest experience is that the clan can help each other and help each other, so that the family can prosper, I wonder if Qing'er recognizes this?" ”

There is nothing wrong with this in itself, but it depends on what occasion it is said, for example, now, Li Yanqing looks at Li Bao'er sitting next to his grandfather, this kid is the worst one among their batch of Lushan Academy candidates, seeing that the county exam is going to be held tomorrow, but Li Wengui said that the clansmen want to help each other, what does this mean?

Li Yanqing nodded with a smile, reluctantly agreeing with his words.

Li Wengui was secretly happy in his heart, so he touched his young grandson's head and sighed: "Tomorrow is the county exam, I'm very worried about Bao'er, Qing'er also knows his situation, to be honest, I'm really at a loss!" ”

"This shouldn't be difficult!" Li Yanqing said with a smile.

Li Wengui knew what Li Yanqing was referring to, so he said: "Of course there is a way, but it is always ugly, to be honest, I hope Bao'er can perform well, so that the county can also send good news to the door, and glorify my ancestors for me, my first few grandchildren did not have this opportunity to perform, Bao'er is my last hope, can Qing'er understand my feelings?" ”

"Of course I can understand that every old man wants his children and grandchildren to be able to make a living, which is human nature."

Li Wengui saw that Li Yanqing didn't go on the road, so he simply got straight to the point and said: "Qing'er, you are a smart child, why don't we make a deal!" ”

'Deal? Li Yanqing suddenly became disgusted, just now he said that the clansmen want to help each other, and now it has become a transaction again, I am afraid that mutual help is just a beautiful word, and the transaction is the real idea in Li Wengui's heart.

Li Yanqing restrained the disgust in his heart and asked lightly: "I don't know what the transaction that the ancestor of the two clans is talking about?" ”

"Anyway, Qing'er is only twelve years old this year, and she is the youngest of this year's county school candidates, can Qing'er give up this year's opportunity to Bao'er and take the county school exam next year, in return, I will let your father take charge of all the account books of the family property, what do you think?"

Li Yanqing couldn't say a word, he actually let himself give the opportunity to his grandson, and he couldn't think of it!

Li Yanqing was angry in his heart, but he didn't have any expression on his face, and still asked calmly: "I don't quite understand what the second patriarch means, the county exam has always been very strict, how can I give the opportunity to Bao'er." ”

Li Wengui thought that Li Yanqing was tempted, so he lowered his voice and said: "At the end of the exam, when you write your name on the paper, write Bao'er's name on your paper, and write your name on Bao'er's paper, so it will be seamless." ”

Li Yanqing couldn't believe his ears, he died in this kind of thing in his last life, and his father ruined his life because of it, and now Li Wengui actually wants to let himself be a knife catcher again.

Li Yanqing's heart suddenly burst into anger, and he stood up and said: "Elders should have the morality of elders, although Yanqing is young, he also knows honesty and shame, I will never agree to this matter, and I will leave!" ”

After speaking, Li Yanqing turned around and left angrily, Li Wengui's face was so angry that his face turned pale, and he didn't speak for a long time, and suddenly, he slammed his fist on the table.