Mother Chen paused, sighed and continued: "Who knew that last month, Shopkeeper Liu lost ten taels of silver, and insisted that Xing'er stole it, and asked Xing'er to return the silver to him. Xing'er insisted that he didn't steal Liu's shopkeeper's silver, he studied art in the past, how could he steal Liu's shopkeeper's silver and cut himself off. What's more, he has read all the books of sages, and he will not do things like chickens and dogs. Shopkeeper Liu didn't believe it, and took the opportunity to laugh at Xing'er fiercely, at that time, many people around who were watching the excitement knew about Xing'er's past, and they also laughed with ridicule, Xing'er was difficult to distinguish, and fled home in a panic.

Later, Shopkeeper Liu also reported to the official, but the government did not find evidence of Xing'er's theft of silver, nor did it find the lost silver of Shopkeeper Liu in our house, so the matter was over. Feasible, and our family, it has become a joke in everyone's mouth.

Xing'er stuffed himself in the room for half a month, didn't eat or drink, refused to go out of the room, Xing'er and I were really worried, and kept persuading and comforting him in front of the door. This fried horn is also made for Xing'er to eat, but he refuses to look at it, he hasn't eaten seriously at home for several days, I see that he has lost a lot of weight in the past few days, what can I do in the future? ”

Mother Chen said that when she was sad, tears rolled down her eyes, and she kept wiping her tears with the back of her hand while frying the corners, Chen's father lowered his head and smoked a dry cigarette, and Chen Ying also held his head against his head and did not speak.

He put the last bite of fried horn in his mouth, chewed and swallowed it carefully, and said slowly: "Uncle Chen, Aunt Chen, there is a saying that there are unpredictable circumstances in the sky, and people have unpredictable blessings and misfortunes. The world is unpredictable, no one knows what will happen tomorrow or the day after tomorrow? All we can do is do what we can do today. Congxi turned his head and glanced at Chen's father and Chen's mother and said, "Uncle Chen, Aunt Chen, although Chen Xing's current situation is different from what you and everyone expected. But Chen Xing tried his best to do what he could, there was nothing to be ridiculed, it was just that the world was unpredictable. As long as your own family members don't make Chen Xing a joke, don't treat yourself as a joke because Chen Xing is your son. Then, your family is not a joke, and the ridicule of others has nothing to do with you. ”

Chen's father, Chen's mother, and Chen Ying all stared at Congxi with doubts in their eyes, as if they didn't understand whether they understood or not, and Congxi sighed and continued: "Uncle Chen, Aunt Chen, Chen Xing was originally an ordinary person, just like the neighbors around you, an ordinary person who needs to eat, dress, sleep, and do work every day. It's just that God gave him a dazzling childhood, what is there to be ridiculed? If he should be treated as a joke, then everyone around you, an ordinary person who didn't have a dazzling childhood, isn't it a joke, who should laugh at whom? ”

Father Chen frowned and thought for a long time, still half confused and half puzzled, and did not speak.

Congxi paused for a moment and said: "Shopkeeper Liu wronged Chen Xing for stealing silver, since the government has already investigated, it should not be able to find anything." However, if Chen Xing wants to learn the craft of making lanterns, I know an expert who makes lanterns no worse than that of the shopkeeper Liu. I can ask him to teach Chen Xing how to make lanterns, and if Chen Xing is willing to continue learning, let Chen Xing come to Qingyuan Street Qufu tomorrow morning to find me. ”

Qufu Youyun Garden, Qu Zaichen returned to the study, and as soon as he sat down at the desk, there was a knock on the door, and Qu Zaichen came in.

Luo Yi pushed the door in, walked to the desk and said, "Son, I found out, the man who was with the young lady and Miss Lan today is named Chen Xing." A native of Jinzhou, 27 years old this year, Chen Xing memorized four books and five classics at the age of four, could write poetry at the age of five, and was admitted to the examination at the age of 16. Not only Mr. Shuyuan, but even the prefect of Jinzhou at that time praised Chen Xing, thinking that he would definitely be the champion candidate in the future, and the neighbors were jealous and envious, and the Chen family was prosperous for a while.

But Chen Xing entered Beijing at the age of sixteen to take the exam, and after nine years in Beijing, he lost his name to Sun Shan four times in a row. It is rumored that he is now nervous and trembling as soon as he enters the examination room, and he is no longer able to take the exam at all. So, last year he had to give up the imperial examination and return to Jinzhou.

In the neighborhoods around the Chen family, most of them were originally envious of Chen Xing's intelligence and enjoyed climbing the Chen family's parents. Later, he learned that Chen Xing had repeatedly failed and could not continue to participate in the scientific examination, so he turned to ridicule Chen Xing's situation and looked down on the Chen family's parents. Many people ridiculed Chen Xing and called him a 'prodigy show'. After Chen Xing returned to Jinzhou, he was also ashamed of his fate, became silent and said little, and hardly dared to talk to others. The Chen family's parents also felt shameless, and rarely went out unless they had to.

Chen Xing made a living, sold calligraphy and paintings on the street, and taught private schools, but it was difficult to make a living. Later, he learned the art of building a house and painting it with his father. Two months ago, when his craftsman team was building a house at the house of Master Li, a former waiter of the Ministry of Rites, a stucco craftsman named Xiao Yuan killed Miss Li San, and Chen Xing's craftsman team suffered from a damaged reputation and could not gain a foothold in the industry, so it was forced to disband.

Chen Xing changed jobs and learned to make lanterns at a lantern shop. More than a month later, the shopkeeper Liu of the lantern shop sued the official that Chen Xing stole ten taels of silver from him, but Chen Xing denied it, saying that the shopkeeper Liu had framed him, and the government did not find any evidence that Chen Xing had stolen the silver, nor did he find the ten taels of silver, so he had to give up in the end. After the silver theft incident, Chen Xing became even more withdrawn and silent, borrowing wine all day long to drown his sorrows, and he was drunk and unconscious.

The young lady and Chen Xing met last year selling calligraphy and paintings. At that time, Chen Xing's calligraphy and painting stall was close to Congran's painting stall, and every time Congran went to sell calligraphy and paintings, the young lady was by his side, and he met Chen Xing and Chen Xing's sister Chen Ying. I followed the young lady and Chen Xing into the Chen family in the morning, and the young lady seemed to plan to let Chen Xing come to Qufu and let Yun Gongzi continue to teach Chen Xing to make lanterns. ”

Qu Zaichen frowned for a moment: "It seems? ”

Luo Yi will tell the story in detail about what he heard at Chen's house.

Qu Zaichen: "Congxi and Chen Xing just know each other? ”

Luo Yi nodded and said, "As far as I can see, they do just know each other. After Chen Xing stopped selling calligraphy and paintings, the young lady and he should never have seen each other again. Today, the young lady happened to see Chen Xing drunk on the side of the road, so she and Miss Lan sent him home. The young lady also inquired about Chen's father and Chen's mother, and only then did she know about Chen Xing's recent situation. ”

Qu Zaichen paused for a moment and said, "That fried corner seems to be common on the street, it's really delicious?" ”

Luo Yi was stunned for a moment, and hesitated: "I think. It's okay, some vendors make it delicious. ”

Qu Zaichen looked at Luo Yi: "Why haven't I eaten it?" ”

Luo Yi was stunned for a moment, and carefully explained: "Fried horns are a kind of folk snack, and they can't be used on a big scene, and if you eat too much, you will get angry." Childe doesn't like too greasy food, so the cook in our yard hasn't done it. Childe also goes to famous restaurants when he eats outside, and they generally don't do this, and it's normal for Childe to have never eaten. Well, when on the street.. Childe didn't ask me to buy it for you. ”

Qu Zaichen: "You have been by my side since you were a child, how have you ever eaten it?" ”

Luo Yi: "When I am out running errands, I often eat at street stalls, which are cheap and fast, and many snacks are very authentic. ”

Qu Zaichen nodded: "You tell Sister-in-law Yu and let them always prepare some of that kind of street food in the future, including that fried corner." ”

Luo Yi was stunned for a moment, and suddenly said, "Childe is for the young lady?" ”

Qu Zaichen didn't say a word, glanced at Luo Yi, and Luo Yi hurriedly said, "Yes, I'll go now." ”

Early the next morning, Congxi, Qu Zaichen, Yun Xian, Luo Yi, Lan Chu, and Congran just sat around a table, ready to have breakfast, and the porter Uncle Sun came to the dining room and told Congxi that there was a person in front of the door who claimed to be named Chen Xing, as well as Chen Xing's parents, saying that he wanted to see Congxi. Congxi was slightly surprised, and hurriedly asked Uncle Sun to bring them in, and Uncle Sun took the order and turned to leave.

Congxi picked up the spoon and took a sip of Qizhen porridge and said, "So early, it must be Uncle Chen and Aunt Chen who dragged Chen Xing here, pity the hearts of parents all over the world." ”

Congxi looked at Yun Xian and said: "Master Yun, it's up to you below, Chen Xing is not calm, I can't allow you to hold the master's shelf, hide it, and teach it slowly and leisurely." Chen Xing used to fail in the imperial examination, selling calligraphy and painting, teaching private school, and doing painting. He urgently needs to make some achievements now, regain some self-confidence, and still need a camp life plan to survive, how long will it take for Yun Gongzi to let him out of school? ”

Yun Xian didn't speak yet, so he said first: "Sister, don't wronged Brother Yun, Brother Yun didn't hold a shelf, didn't hide it, Brother Yun taught me everything I wanted to learn." ”

Congxi: "I can't make an analogy, you've only been messing around with Yun Xian for a few days, I said a word to him, you just protect him like this, you want to treat him as your own brother and recognize me as your godsister?" ”

Cong Ran hurriedly said: "I didn't, what I said was the truth." You have wronged Brother Yun, can I still help my relatives and help you? ”

Yun Xian answered: "How long will it take to be out of the school, it's not me, it's in himself." The so-called master leads him into the door, and the cultivation is in the individual, and I drag him into the door, if he is dedicated to looking outward, his heart is not here, his ambition is not here, and I can't do it. ”

Cong Ning frowned: "Are you worried that Chen Xing has not made up his mind to do other things, or is his heart in the imperial examination?" ”

Yun Xian: "A young prodigy, a sixteen-year-old middle talent, no matter whether he has a gold list title or not, at least he is smart enough." There are many competitors in the imperial examination, and it is rigid and difficult to enter. The cultivation of calligraphy and painting requires a certain talent, and it is understandable that he has nothing to gain. Even if it was a little difficult to run a private school, learn to paint, and make lanterns, he could find a way to solve it with his cleverness, but he didn't insist, and let himself get drunk all day long, and live in a mess. I'm afraid that I can't let go of the imperial examination official sea route, and I am unwilling to fall into mediocrity, so I can't advance or retreat, and I am uncertain. ”

Congxi pondered: "What you said has some truth, I will persuade him later." ”