The nearby city is called Stone Creek City, which is the only city within a radius of dozens of miles, because there are many small streams nearby, as well as strange stones of various shapes, so it is named.

Compared with the backward villages, the county town is full of prosperous atmosphere, the people here are much more decently dressed, look clean and decent, and have abundant spirits, while Zhao Xuanqi and the others are wearing tattered, and their clothes are also sewn and repaired, which looks a little nondescript.

Zhao Asan took Zhao Xuanqi around the nearby shopping mall, bought the pen, ink, paper and inkstone that must be used for reading, bought the cheapest ones, and then hurried towards the academy.

While it was still early, he had to let Zhao Xuanqi enter the academy as soon as possible, and he had to enter the inn for the night in the county seat, even the cheapest inn cost several copper coins, he couldn't afford it, and he also needed to rush back to the village before dark to save a sum of money.

The name of the academy is Shixi Academy, and it is the only academy within a radius of dozens of miles, and people from nearby villages and towns who want to study will be sent to this academy to study.

Zhao Asan took Zhao Xuanqi to find the master of the academy.

The master frowned, stared at the embarrassed two people in front of him, sewing and mending all over his body, and at first glance he was from a poor family, and finally focused his eyes on the young man, and couldn't help but ask: "Are you sure that he is already 16 years old and has not completed even the most basic enlightenment?" ”

Zhao Asan touched his head and replied with a simple face: "I grew up watching the weeds, he must be 16 years old, there will be no mistake." ”

The master emphasized with a black line on his face: "My point is that he is already so old, but he has not even completed the most basic enlightenment, are you sure you want to send him to study in the academy?" ”

"Yes......" The strong man was a little embarrassed at this moment, even if his height and body completely crushed the thin master in front of him, he also consciously lowered his head.

Only then did he understand that the master was not optimistic about weeds, thinking that weeds were too old to study.

Zhao Asan tried hard to refute: "Being old is not a problem, weeds are very smart, they will definitely be able to read books and become famous!" ”

The master shook his head, he had seen too many such poor families over the years, and he hoped that the children at home could be admitted to the meritorious service, but where was the meritorious name so simple to be admitted?

I don't know how many poor families spend a lot of money to let their children study, but not only do they not read the books, but the money spent has no effect, and even survival has become difficult!

The child in front of him is sixteen years old, he has never even read a book, and he has not touched the pen and paper a few times, how can he compare to a big family that has been reading and practicing calligraphy since he was a child?

Those big families have written more words than you have read in your life, why do you compare with them?

Why? Are you poor?

His tone became very unkind, and he waved his hand and began to drive people away: "Go and go, leave quickly, reading is not as simple as you think, in addition to the most basic pen, ink, paper, and inkstone, you have to study hard for at least a few years before you have the ability to conduct scientific examinations, and a lot of resources will be consumed every day in the past few years, once you can't get famous for more than ten years, it is a bottomless pit, no matter how much money you throw into it, there is no sound, it is not a place where poor people like you should come at all!" ”

Zhao Asan looked at the master's attitude of driving people, and he was angry for a while, he felt that the master looked down on people: "My weeds are definitely talented, how can you look down on people so much?" He's not like everyone else! ”

Zhao Xuanqi grabbed Zhao Asan, this man doesn't understand the master's hard work, but he is different.

Although his body is only 16 years old, he has an extremely mature soul in his body, and he has a lot of sophistication in human feelings.

The master seems to be mean and vicious, but his intentions are good, and he doesn't want those poor families to waste their time on such a luxurious thing as studying.

Reading is not something that the poor should do, it is something that only the children of rich families can play.

In a poor family like him, it is difficult to eat and wear, and one person in 10,000 can go to burn high incense if he is admitted to the fame.

In the eyes of the master, he is too old, and I am afraid that the sow will have a better chance of being famous than she will be admitted to the tree.

The Master's persuasion did not have the intention of scolding, but was more based on reality, and for the sake of a poor person like him, he could be regarded as a good Master.

Zhao Xuanqi can understand this truth, so he doesn't hate the master at all.

The master persuaded the man not to move, so he set his eyes on Zhao Xuanqi, who was holding the man.

He felt that this young man had smart eyes, he should know how to understand his family, and he should also know that it was too late to study at such an old age, and he should not force his elders to let him study.

That's right, he could see from the man's reaction that it was completely a teenager who wanted to study, so the parents would be so nonsense, as long as the child took the initiative to give up studying, it would be enough.

The master sat up straight, stared at the young man, and said seriously: "You are already so old, it is too late to study, you even have tattered clothes, are you sure you want to study?" Don't think about it for your family? Do you insist on this illusory reading regardless of the life and death of your family? ”

Zhao Xuanqi knew his ability and knew what he should do, and he replied with certainty from beginning to end: "I must study!" ”

The master was angry, he didn't expect this child to be so unreasonable, and he no longer had patience, so he said angrily for a while: "Rotten wood can't be carved!" ”

In the end, the master could only admit Zhao Xuanqi to the academy, and he was responsible for the academy's recruitment work, and he did not have the right to refuse students.

……

"I finally sent you to your academy, these pen, ink and paper are very expensive, and a big bag of heavy copper coins can be exchanged for such a small thing......"

Zhao Asan complained bitterly.

He was afraid that Zhao Xuanqi would think too much about it, so he changed his words and said: "Don't be afraid, no matter how expensive it is, the clansmen have decided to send you to study, and they will definitely give you full support, and we will find a way to help you buy what you should have for reading!" ”

The man slapped his chest loudly.

"Thank you." Zhao Xuanqi was extremely grateful.

He looked up, only to feel that the tall man holding a pen, ink, paper and inkstone at this moment was not as strong and fearless as he imagined, but was crushed by the light paper and pen, and looked a little rickety and thin, so he was even more eager to read and get ahead.

Next, the two spent a lot of time back and forth, and then moved all the things that Zhao Xuanqi needed in his life into the college dormitory.

Most of the students of Stony Brook College can only live in the dormitory, with eight people in a room, which is convenient for serious study and management, and if you want to leave the college, you have to pass approval.

All the scattered things were properly placed, and Zhao Asan instructed Zhao Xuanqi to take care of himself before leaving the academy.

Looking at the man who was far away, Zhao Xuanqi understood that he was going to start living alone today, and he relied on himself for everything in the academy.

He returned to the dormitory, and at this time there was already a teenager in the dormitory, a tall and thin boy wearing a literati robe, quite bookish.