The father and son were silent for a long time, and they kept making eye contact.

Finally, Zhu Ming decided to reduce the price: "One hundred runs." ”

"It's still too expensive." Bai Chongyan shook his head.

Zhu Ming carefully observed the other party's expression and speculated about Bai Chongyan's true thoughts.

He once read a record that there was a scholar in Jiangnan in the Song Dynasty, who usually did not show the dew of the mountains, but donated more than 100,000 yuan to help the people in the year of the disaster.

The big families in the Song Dynasty should be very rich.

Why is Bai San Gongzi so stingy?

But from Bai Chongyan's point of view, people are really bargaining.

At the beginning, in order to be the county chief bookkeeper, Lao Bai spent more than 3,000 yuan to build relationships, which greatly shrank the family's assets, and he did not earn back his capital until he retired.

Bai Chongyan really wanted to buy that pen, if he replaced it with that little white member, he would directly take it.

The little white man takes the road of heroism outside, as long as there is benefit, he can do anything.

The old white man is developing in the gentry, and the gentry of course also do heroic things, but relatively speaking, they pay more attention to the rules.

It can also be said that the gentry were the people who set the rules, they were eager to establish order in the countryside, and they had the right to speak about this order.

Bai Chongyan thought about it and counteroffered again: "How about forty runs?" ”

"Ninety times, it's already very cheap." Zhu Ming said.

The two sides haggled, back and forth for several minutes.

Zhu Ming felt that he really couldn't sell it, so he could only say: "Then sixty times." ”

"It's a deal!"

Bai Chongyan was afraid that they would regret it, and his face was still full of joy, as if he had taken advantage of it this time.

"But there are conditions." Zhu Ming said.

Bai Chongyan put away his smile: "Your Excellency, please speak." ”

Zhu Ming stretched out his right index finger: "First, my father and son are here and want to settle down in the village. Ask San Langjun to sell ten acres of mountain land and ten acres of mountain forests, and must be close to the waterhole in the mountain. ”

"Yes." Bai Chongyan said without thinking.

The location of the waterhole is already far from the riverbank.

In the mountains there, you can't grow a lot of food. The mountains and forests there are only used to chop firewood, or to chop some wood to make furniture.

The surrounding area is full of mountains and forests, and you can occupy it again at any time, but it is less valuable than not being next to a waterhole.

Zhu Ming stretched out another finger: "Second, five acres of land, please ask San Langjun to help transfer the household in the county office." ”

Bai Chongyan didn't immediately agree this time, but looked at Zhu Ming thoughtfully, and asked with a smile: "The two of you want a local household registration, and it is the household registration of the main household?" ”

Zhu Ming didn't answer, and stretched out a finger again: "Third, if I go to take the imperial examination, please ask San Langjun to help as a guarantee!" ”

"Sure enough," Bai Chongyan shook his head and sighed, "If it weren't for the imperial examination, who would want to be the master of only a few acres of thin land?" ”

The threshold for the imperial examination in the Song Dynasty was stricter than that in the Ming Dynasty.

First of all, it must be the main household, that is, to pay taxes to the imperial court.

Secondly, there are identity restrictions, not for monks, not for those who sell their arts, and not even for industrial and commercial practitioners.

The qualification examination of the imperial examination in the Song Dynasty can probably be summarized into seven articles, and Zhu Ming has committed three of them: first, he is not a native and has a fake name; second, three generations of ancestors, the crime is unknown; Third, he used to be a "businessman" or a "monk".

But the rules are set and they are used to break them.

There were a lot of candidates in the Song Dynasty who changed their household registration indiscriminately, and the imperial court didn't bother to care about it at all, unless someone reported that it was a big problem.

There are also industrial and commercial practitioners, who follow the regulations of the Tang Dynasty and do not allow the imperial examination. But in practice, there are more industrial and commercial children who take the imperial examination, and even Song Yingzong issued an edict: "Industrial and commercial miscellaneous, there are geniuses who are different and outstanding, and they are also allowed to be sent." ”

This edict is tantamount to admitting that the children of industry and commerce can become officials through the imperial examination.

What is a genius who is different and outstanding?

Those who can be admitted are not, and those who can't be tested are not!

Bai Chongyan pondered carefully for a moment: "In this way, the mountains and forests sold to you will all be selected without land deeds." Your future identity is that you are refugees who fled from Jingxiang and have been cultivating the wasteland in the local area for several years. Those mountainous lands are all wasteland that you have reclaimed, and the government will give you household registration and land deeds according to the law. ”

"So, Great Goodness!" Zhu Ming was very satisfied.

The Song Dynasty not only encouraged annexation, but also encouraged the common people to open up wasteland, as long as the land was reclaimed, the imperial court would grant household registration and land deeds, and even tax exemptions for newly opened wasteland.

It seems to be a good policy, but in fact, it has long been deformed.

Take Jingnan South Road as an example, next to Jingxi North Road, where the capital Kaifeng is located, it stands to reason that it should be densely populated and the people are rich. The reality is that the land is vast and sparsely populated, and the fields are barren!

There are large areas of wasteland, but the people do not want to cultivate them.

One is that you have been cultivating for several years, and you have finally cultivated it, and you can go to the government to register and get a certificate, and suddenly a strong man jumps out and says that this is obviously our family's land. Even if Haoqiang doesn't make a move, it is not easy for the government to do it, it is difficult to get the land deed, but the tax collection is more and more active than the other, and you will go bankrupt again in minutes. Or, if you have cultivated 10 acres of land, and when it is time to pay taxes, you suddenly find that you have to pay 20 acres of tax.

In this way, the common people were more willing to flock to the cities to work, and the proportion of urban population in the Song Dynasty even exceeded that of the Ming Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty, the Republic of China, and the early years of New China—but due to the lack of rural population, the number of cities and towns in the Song Dynasty was far less than that of the later dynasties.

Of course, there are more complex reasons for the desolation and withering of Jingnan Road, so I will not discuss them here.

Zhu Ming and Zhu Guoxiang, father and son, want to obtain household registration through "land reclamation", someone must dredge up the relationship in the county office. This is the top priority, network resources are the key, and it is still secondary.

Bai Chongyan continued: "The imperial examination is a guarantee, I can agree. The premise is that you have been working in the village for at least one year and have not committed any acts of adultery. Otherwise, it will be difficult to obey. ”

"Of course." Zhu Ming expressed understanding.

Bai Chongyan asked, "Are you sure that you will be sent to the capital (Zhongju)?" ”

Zhu Ming smiled: "You have to try." ”

In fact, Zhu Ming is not sure, he just prepared in advance, and whether he will take the imperial examination in the future depends on the specific situation.

With an official body, it is more convenient to do anything.

After all, Bai Chongyan was a scholar, and after finalizing the brush transaction, he began to discuss knowledge: "If you want to take the imperial examination, what is your Excellency's great scripture?" ”

"Zhou Yi." Zhu Ming replied.

Bai Chongyan did not study the Book of Changes deeply, so he turned to the school and the scriptures: "Junren is not benevolent, and Junyi is not unjust." What is it? ”

Zhu Ming didn't have to search for information in his head, because these two sentences were too simple, and he immediately replied: "Those who are ministers should be anxious about the righteous monarch (the emperor does not cultivate benevolence and righteousness, and the courtiers should correct it)." ”

Bai Chongyan asked again: "The gentleman is virtuous, and the villain is cherished." The gentleman is punished, and the villain is favored. What is it? ”

Zhu Ming said: "Gentlemen and villains have different interests, just public and private. ”

"Public and private?"

Bai Chongyan suddenly straightened up, carefully tasted this meaning, and then stood up and said: "Thank you, Your Excellency, for your advice!" ”

The popular version of the Analects in the Northern Song Dynasty is the Analects of the Analects annotated by He Yan of the Three Kingdoms. The content of its annotations has been said a lot, and the words are cut to explain the difference between a gentleman and a villain.

What Zhu Ming answered just now was the content of Zhu Xi's commentary.

Zhu Xi did not pick out the words, and only used the word "public and private" to accurately explain the difference between a gentleman and a villain.

A gentleman pays attention to justice, and a villain indulges in self-interest.

"Don't dare to be." Zhu Ming smiled and returned the salute.

"Public and private, public and private ......" Bai Chongyan muttered to himself, combining these two words, he began to recall the content of the "Analects of Liren", and found that several verses could be deconstructed according to this.

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became, and he got up and walked around, almost dancing with his hands.

Being taught the word "public and private" is Bai Chongyan's biggest gain, which is much more important than buying a superb brush.

And Aunt Yan and Shen Yourong also showed surprise when they saw Bai Chongyan so abnormal.

In their minds, Bai Saburo is full of wealth and is a well-known local talent. But Zhu Dalang's casual words made Bai Saburo lose his temper like this, in comparison, how much knowledge Zhu Dalang should have!

After being happy for a long time, Bai Chongyan finally sat back and suppressed the excitement in his heart: "Brother Zhu......"

"Call me Dalang." Zhu Ming has accepted this title.

Bai Chongyan asked: "Which Confucian disciple did Da Lang study from?" ”

Zhu Ming said: "I have traveled all over the world since I was a child, and Mengxue was taught by my father. As for the Confucian classics, I listened to some here, some there, and pondered it myself. ”

Bai Chongyan admired it even more: "It turns out that Da Lang is self-taught, and the foolish brother is really ashamed!" ”

Bai Chongyan asked Shen Yourong to bring the Analects and Mencius, intending to ask for advice word by word, hoping to get more new solutions.

Zhu Ming got up and clenched his fists: "San Langjun, it's too late." ”

"Yes, yes, it's me Meng Lang," Bai Chongyan hurriedly got up and said goodbye, "Da Lang, please rest, come back tomorrow to ask for advice!" ”

Zhu Ming said: "Go slowly. ”

Bai Chongyan looked at the table: "This brush, I will bring the money over tomorrow, and the white deed for selling the field will also be delivered." ”

"There's no hurry." Zhu Ming is really not in a hurry, anyway, he has already fooled this guy.

Bai Chongyan said again: "Brother Yu has a good friend, who is Langjun of the Yangzhou General Judgment Minister's family. Tomorrow I made an appointment to go up the mountain together, I wonder if Dalang would like to go together? ”

The son of the state judge?

Of course you have to go!

Zhu Ming's face was calm, upright and awe-inspiring, and he did not admire the powerful at all: "I am happy." ”

This Bai Saburo left with the housemaid, and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law sent them out, and after they returned to the house, they treated the Zhu family father and son with more respect.

Great talent, if you can always be Brother Qi's teacher......

Bai Chongyan returned to his house with an umbrella, and he was inexplicably excited all the way, not only the pleasure of buying a good pen, but also the pleasure of seeking new knowledge.

As for the scandal of the widow of a classmate, Bai Chongyan no longer believes it.

On a rainy day, the road was slippery, and if I was not careful, I fell half of my body into mud.

He did not change his clothes, but went straight to his father's study.

The old white man was reading a book by the lamp, and glanced at the muddy water on his son's body: "You're back?" ”

"That's it." Bai Chongyan said.

The old white man said: "It can be done tonight, it seems that the father and son have very means, and they have persuaded you." ”

Bai Chongyan roughly recounted the experience and said: "Father, the father and son of the Zhu family must not be evildoers. Even if they are villains, with their talents, there is no need to deceive some village husbands and slang women. Especially the little Zhu Xiucai, although he only asked for two sentences, he has already made the child admire. ”

Lao Bai was the county master bookkeeper outside, but the knowledge in his stomach was enough to take the exam, and he asked, "Is it really that talented?" ”

"Not only is there to be talented," Bai Chongyan praised, "The child studied from Xixiang County to Yangzhou, and met more than one or two scripture teachers. The famous Confucian of Yangzhou also interpreted the "Analects" according to the words of Uncle He Ping. One or two, the tongue is full of lotus flowers, and the head is the Tao, but who said the word 'public and private'? ”

The old white man said: "These two words are not difficult, I will know the meaning as soon as I hear them." ”

Bai Chongyan said: "It's one thing to be able to understand, and it's another thing to say it." If you don't study the Analects to perfection, how can you say this? The simpler the word, the more wonderful it is, as the so-called road to simplicity. ”

The old white man understood: "You mean, the scripture teachers in the entire Yangzhou are not as knowledgeable as this young man?" ”

"Not necessarily, the word 'public and private' may have been acquired by him." Bai Chongyan said.

"He wants to be an official in the imperial examination?" The old white officer asked again.

Bai Chongyan said: "I really have this intention, and let the child help as a guarantee." ”

The old white man muttered: "In this case, a little mountain, why not send him?" If you can't pass the imperial examination, it's just a few acres of thin land, and there is no loss for us. When Erlang (Bai Ergongzi) came back, he asked him to help make a household registration. Your grandmother's birthday banquet also invites the father and son of the Zhu family to sit inside, and you should not be confused with ordinary people. ”

"Father is wise." Bai Chongyan also admired his father's arrangement.

The old white man warned: "Don't look at my family's power in the township, what is it if you go out of Xixiang County?" Be kind to others, and don't quarrel with others. The one downstream is not stingy, and he still claims to be a little white member, fish and meat are next to each other, making enemies everywhere, colluding with bandits, selling salt and tea privately, and sooner or later he will have to break his family and die! ”

When he was young, he was also a ruthless character, and more than ten years ago he finally kicked the iron plate, resigned from his position as the chief bookkeeper and went back to the countryside.

Since then, self-cultivation and generosity towards neighbors have gradually mixed up a good reputation.

"Father is right." Bai Chongyan said.

The old white clerk said: "I forgot to ask you yesterday, Zhong Xiucai is willing to come to my house to teach?" ”

Bai Chongyan said: "The child has been invited, and Zhong Xiucai is willing to come, but the requirements are more demanding. The monthly salary is four times, and every year you have to give another bundle. ”

"He's crazy!" The old white man was furious.

Bai Chongyan said: "We are too remote here, the child asked several gentlemen, but anyone who has some ability, either does not want to come, or asks for a high price." The salary given by the father can also hire a teacher, but the child does not look down on his knowledge. ”

The old white clerk said: "It's okay to be poor in learning, after all, it's just a professor Mengtong." Liang Xuexue at home is too old, dazzling and deaf, he can't hear the trouble in class, and he must change to a western seat this year. ”

Bai Chongyan hesitated again and again, and couldn't help but say: "The child thinks that the private school should be changed to a village school, so that all the children in the village who are interested in learning can come to study." ”

"I still want to build a village to study, really think I am a good person?" The old white man sneered.

Bai Chongyan said: "Father, there is no village school, and my family can only be regarded as a local tyrant. Only by establishing village schools and educating the township can it be called the home of the gentry. ”

"House of the Gentry, House of the Gentry ......"

The old white man was moved by this title, and after muttering repeatedly, he nodded and agreed: "Indeed, there is no village school in the village, and you will lose face on a diplomatic trip." Fifty yuan of money, you should be able to start a village school, right? ”

Bai Chongyan said: "More than enough. ”

The old white man immediately clapped his head and said: "After your grandmother's birthday, you will set up a few thatched huts, let the children in the village come to study, and let Liang Xuexue continue to teach for the time being." ”

Bai Chongyan suggested: "Then the Zhu family, since he can compile the "Three Character Classic", he must have a lot of experience with Professor Mengtong. He also claimed that his Mengxue was taught by his father Zhu Xianggong. When the child goes to test his knowledge again, he may be able to hire Zhu Xianggong as Mr. Village Learning. ”

"Okay." The old white member agreed.