At dusk on the third day of the first month of June, Zeng Yu was reading the ten-volume "Shuo Yuan" given to him by Jian Zhen under the north window of the guest room, in the afternoon of long summer, making a cup of tea, sitting or lying, looking down to read a book, raising his eyes to see the Xiujiang boat coming and going outside the window, the cool breeze is coming, it is really pleasant, the shopkeeper suddenly came in and said that someone wanted to visit Zeng Gongzi, which made Zeng Yu surprised, who knows him in this place, Lie Licheng? Liu Xingzhi?

Putting on a long shirt and a headscarf, Zeng Yu followed Xiao Er to the small hall of the inn, and a strange scribe in his thirties greeted him with a smile: "Is it Zeng Gongzi, Ha Lu Ha, look up for a long time." ”

Zeng Yu also saluted: "Long admiration, long admiration, Ha Luha, may I ask your surname?" ”

The two of them greeted each other ridiculously, this scribe claimed to be surnamed Jing Mingyi Zi Yuanzhi, a native of Yichun, and also participated in the Yuanzhou Academy Examination, Jing Yi's mother's family was in Pingxiang, and he had heard of Zeng Yuzeng's prodigy before, and accidentally learned that Zeng Yu lived here, so he came to visit......

Zeng Yu had a smile on his face, and said in his heart: "This is Jiang Gan's plan to explore Jiangdong, it really bothered Liesheng and Liu Sheng, they found out that I was a candidate from Pingxiang, and they must have asked other Pingxiang candidates about me, of course, no one knew, I am not from Pingxiang, so I visited my residence again, and asked this Jing Yi to visit me, to explore my reality, and then I should discuss poetry and Baguwen with me." ”

Sure enough, after drinking half a cup of tea, Jing Yi said: "Friend Zeng, this inn hall is full of people, and it is inconvenient to talk deeply. ”

Zeng Yu's face was embarrassed, and he said: "The room is too messy, there are no tables and chairs for guests, it's better to be with Brother Jiang, no, no, Brother Yuan, it's better for Brother Yuan to take a walk on the bank of this river, and get along with the paper, how about it?" ”

Jing Yi said: "That's good, that's good." ”

Zeng Yu hurriedly returned to the room and told a few words of happiness, then he and Jing Yi out of the inn gate, along the south bank of the Xiujiang River strolling and talking, Jing Yi first and Zeng Yu discussed poetry, and recited the poem to ask Zeng Yu for advice, Zeng Yu praised a few words indiscriminately, came and did not be rude, Zeng Yu also chanted a few poems when he first learned ancient poetry, Jing Yi secretly remembered in his heart, and praised in his mouth: "Zeng Friend's poems have the atmosphere of the Tang Dynasty, and the two words summarize - atmosphere." He smiled in his heart: "It's not the atmosphere, it's childish." ”

Zeng Yu pretended to be conceited and said: "On poetry, I have been instructed by Mr. Xie Maoqin in the Qing Dynasty, Xie Maoqin, a native of Siming Mountain, the leader of the Seven Sons Poetry Society, have you ever heard of Brother Jing?" ”

"Ah, the Seven Sons Poetry Society, how can I not know that my friend has received the guidance of Mr. Xie of the Seven Sons Poetry Society, no wonder the poetry is so extraordinary, admire and admire."

Jing Yi praised Zeng Yu in his mouth, and despised Zeng Yu for bragging, how could such naïve poems be appreciated by the people of the Seven Sons Poetry Society!

On the poem, followed by the paper, on the eight-strand text, Zeng Yu thought that it was not good to show too weakness, the calligraphy showed the short "Lingfei Sutra", and the poem was shown to be less, and the eight-strand text must not be weak, otherwise Lie and Liu would feel that tomorrow's competition was not interesting, so when talking about the eight-strand text with Jing Yi, Zeng Yu did not have many reservations, speaking of breaking the topic, Zeng Yu listed fourteen kinds of breaking methods such as bright breaking, dark breaking, positive breaking, reverse breaking, reverse breaking, etc., and all of them were explained, and there were wonderful theories, such as "At the beginning of the opening of the book, when the soul is detained with flattering words, so that the marking officer will keep the volume, It's hard to give up, this must-sell skill", so that Jing Yi, who originally had a contempt for him, nodded his head frequently, and felt quite benefited.

The two of them talked while walking, although they had their own thoughts, but they were also quite like-minded, until the sun set, the sky was dark, Zeng Yu invited Jing Yi to the inn for a drink, Jing Yi declined, said goodbye, said goodbye another day, Zeng Yu watched Jing Yi go to the north gate of the county, then turned around and prepared to go back to the inn, shook his head and smiled, and said in his heart: "Lie Licheng and Liu Xingzhi also sent people to visit the camp, it's really funny, it's a pity that I can't burn Chibi, and I don't have a newly married Xiao Qiao, let alone my lovely little princess——"

"Great-friend."

Jing Yi, who had just walked dozens of steps, stepped back again, Zeng Yu turned around and took a few steps to meet him and said, "What else does Brother Yuan have to advise?" ”

Jing Yi under the twilight was a little unrecognizable, hesitated for a moment, and said, "I heard that my friend made a bet with others in the name of this subject?" ”

Zeng Yu was a little surprised, he didn't understand how Jing Yi could pick out this matter, and asked, "Where did Brother Jing hear about this?" ”

Jing Yi said: "This matter has been spread widely, and there are people in the tea shop and restaurant who are talking about it, and it is quite worthless to be a friend." ”

At this moment, Zeng Yu couldn't guess the intention of Jing Yi Jing Yuanzhi, and said: "Lie Licheng and Liu Xingzhi accused me of cheating in the field, otherwise there is no way to prove my innocence. ”

Jing Yi sighed: "Friend Zeng is still a young man, how can he gamble with others on fame, losing is three years of precious time." The tone was full of regret.

Zeng Yu was surprised: "Are you crocodile tears, after testing me, I decided that I would lose the gamble, and you want to come and see my down-and-out appearance, won't you be able to see it tomorrow, so anxious!" Said: "I can't afford to bet a hundred taels of silver, I can only gamble for three years, and I don't necessarily have to win this subject. ”

Jing Yi said: "I listened to my friend Zeng talk about the eight shares, I really have insightful opinions, it is not difficult to enter the school to make up for students, why waste three years of time for a momentary battle of will?" ”

Zeng Yu smiled and said, "Why does Brother Jing Yi think that he will lose in the next place? ”

Jing Yi said: "I mean that friends should not gamble with fame. ”

Zeng Yu said: "But a bet has been made, then it is like a pawn crossing the river, only to move forward." ”

Jing Yi said: "I am a native of Yichun below, and I also know Liesheng, if my friend wants to give up this three-game competition, you can try to say peace in the middle, and this kind of competition is not a gamble." ”

Zeng Yu looked at Jing Yi and asked, "When we meet in Pingshui, why does Brother Yuan help me like this?" ”

Jing Yi said: "Friend Zeng is a master of eight strands of literature, and I can't bear to be frustrated by Friend Zeng in front of Yichun scholars, and there are often things like slumps." ”

This Jing Yi's tone was quite sincere, which made Zeng Yu's heart warm, this kind of warmth in a foreign place is precious, and he arched his hand and said: "Thank you Brother Yuan for reminding me, but these three competitions may be imperative, the restaurant tea shop has been circulated, Yi Lie, Liu Ersheng is so proud, how can he cancel the gambling contract, take a step back, even if he loses, three years will not be wasted, life in the world is not all for fame, Lie, Liu Ersheng is not a prefectural judge, can you still reduce my life span by three years, Ha Luha." ”

Jing Yi saw Zeng Yu so free and easy, and said with a smile: "Since Friend Zeng said this, he was too worried, farewell, farewell." After a while, he turned around and left, but saw Zeng Yu coming up, and said side by side: "It's a blessing to meet Brother Yuan today, and tomorrow's gamble, whether you win or lose, I hope to see Brother Yuan, let's have a glass of wine together, okay?" ”

Jing Yi couldn't help but feel a little ashamed when he heard Zeng Yu's sincere words, and nodded and said: "It's like old at first sight, it's like old at first sight, I'll come to invite Zeng's friend to drink at dusk tomorrow, and I'll be in the east." ”

Jing Yi said goodbye to Zeng Yu, hurriedly returned to the city, and went to a restaurant in the north gate, Lie Licheng and Liu Xingzhi were there, Lie Licheng greeted: "Brother Yuanzhi, have you seen Zeng Yu?" ”

Liu Xingzhi said with a smile: "Brother Yuan has been talking with Zeng Yu for a long time, do you know Zeng Yu's bottom carefully?" ”

Jing Yi sat down and drank two sips of tea before he spoke: "This kind of gambling is not gambling, it doesn't have much meaning." ”

"What does that mean?" Lie Licheng and Liu Xingzhi asked in unison.

Jing Yi said: "Zeng Jiuli is indeed a clever person, and he never needs to rely on bribery and fraud to enter school, the two of them should have a misunderstanding." ”

Liu Xingzhi and Lie Licheng glanced at each other, and Lie Licheng sneered: "Misunderstanding, the full court official praised him for an eight-strand essay, and before he left the examination booth, a scribe caught up with him and asked him to see Huang Xuezheng the next day after the list was released, this is what I and Xingzhi have seen and heard with our own eyes, is this a misunderstanding?" ”

Liu Xingzhi said: "Whether there is a misunderstanding, we will see tomorrow, if there is a misunderstanding, let him win a hundred taels." ”

Lie Licheng despised and said, "Brother Yuan, you said that Zeng Yu can win the two of us?" ”

Jing Yi said in his heart: "Zeng Jiuli is accurate, I think it is very difficult to make peace in the middle." To tell the truth: "You have all seen Zeng Yu's calligraphy, I just heard him chant a few of his poems, and it is not very good, only eight strands of writing are admittedly clever, I am not as good as him." ”

"Then the two of us will win." Lie Licheng was elated: "Even if it is Baguwen, I am not afraid of him." ”

Liu Xingzhi nodded and said: "This is good, the competition is still a bit interesting, otherwise it will be boring." ”

Jing Yi said: "I have talked with Zeng Jiuli for a long time, and I think that his character and learning are not bad, and the two of them will beat him tomorrow, don't force him too much, you have to be forgiving and forgiving." ”

Lie Licheng and Liu Xingzhi said perfunctorily: "It's easy to say, it's easy to say." ”

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