The early autumn days are not yet cool, and the air is still the last temperature of summer. Ying Tianchang squatted under an old locust tree, with an earthen wall behind him, and behind the wall was a private school.

The sound of the wind and the rain, the sound of reading.

Ying Tianchang raised his head and looked at the slightly gloomy sky from the gap in the canopy branches, an autumn rain and a cold, and he estimated that the next autumn rain was not far away.

Under Chen Lin'an's instructions again and again, the young man had already put on an extra light robe over the long robe, but Ying Tianchang still deliberately cut off the sleeves of the robe with a paper cutter given to him by the old bookworm. In this regard, the scholar only gave the boy two chestnuts and did not say much.

The bun was napping on the tree, and it was Ying Tianchang who put it on it. Generally speaking, dogs are very afraid of heights, but Baozi is never an ordinary dog, so it is not afraid, even if Ying Tianchang throws it from the cliff into the bottomless abyss, it is not afraid. That won't hurt the bun at all. That's why it's so peaceful.

The sound of reading became louder and louder, Ying Tianchang slowly began to cover his ears, and now he began to pray for the autumn rain, hoping that the comfortable sound of the rain could drown out the sound of reading.

This is not the academy called "Xinzhai" that Ying Tianchang is going to, but just a small private school in a small county town in the land of Jinghu. The boy looked up at the sleeping bun, and was a little envious of this little black dog who had eaten, slept, slept, and had good eating skills.

He really didn't know how he was going to stay in the academy in the future, and he was tired of even the sound of reading. Ying Tianchang felt that Xu Lu and the girl on the shore of Yuhu Lake were right, he was not a scholar after all, and he might not belong to the academy.

"Little junior brother. ”

Chen Lin'an's voice came from the courtyard behind the wall.

Ying Tianchang sighed, got up and walked to the courtyard. He knew who was inside, his senior brother Chen, and an old master who was teaching here. Ying Tianchang didn't know who the old master was, and he didn't care.

The gate is not far away, just to the right of the locust tree.

This private school is actually not very large, so the courtyard is also very small. When Ying Tianchang walked to the gate of the courtyard, he had not yet stepped out of the shade of the old locust tree.

The boy had stopped at the gate of the courtyard, which covered half of his body. He didn't want to go into this courtyard, and he didn't know why.

There was nothing in the courtyard, and Chen Lin'an and the old master sat side by side on the right side of the courtyard, so as not to obscure their distant view from the huge canopy of the old locust tree.

Ying Tianchang stared at their stool and chair, it was the kind of small wooden stool, which seemed to have been moved directly from the private school.

Behind them, there are several flowers. Ying Tianchang couldn't recognize what kind of flower it was, but the position where the flower grew was orderly, and it should have been planted by the old master himself.

At this time, Ying Tianchang's gaze returned to the reason why Chen Lin'an stayed here for a day, the old master whose temples seemed to be covered with hoarfrost.

This old master is no more kind than the old bookworm, and he has always kept a straight face, and the seriousness between his eyebrows is like water overflowing from a basin.

Ying Tianchang guessed that he would definitely not survive an hour in his private school.

Chen Linan looked at Ying Tianchang, who stopped at the door, and had to shake his head and sigh.

The old master's face, which was already occupied by wrinkles, was now wrinkled, and Ying Tianchang felt a little funny from the bottom of his heart when he saw this scene.

This is his new disciple. The old master spoke, and his tone was not like inquiry, but more like reproach.

Chen Lin'an beckoned to Ying Tianchang and said, "This is Mr.'s newly accepted disciple, but the junior brother has not been to the academy yet, and he has been wandering in the rivers and lakes before, and he really doesn't know how to count etiquette, Mr. Wei forgive me." ”

Chen Lin'an was as unimposing as ever, and kept apologizing to the old master. Ying Tianchang looked at all this, and his heart was inexplicably bored.

He didn't think that the old master was qualified to make irresponsible remarks, but he was not qualified either.

So even if he saw Chen Lin'an's beckoning, Ying Tianchang didn't move his steps.

He doesn't like to be in contact with others, especially passively accepting others.

The old master, who was called Mr. Wei by Chen Lin'an, glanced at Ying Tianchang again and snorted. The scholar's face was embarrassed, but he didn't say much.

Ying Tianchang didn't move, just leaned his body against the courtyard gate, looking like a dead pig was not afraid of boiling water.

"His vision of accepting disciples and students is really declining, you and I like it the most, although Xu Er is frivolous, but he is good at learning, then Li San actually gave up his studies to do what he is a Jianghu person, and now there is this Ying Si who doesn't know the so-called ......" The old master became more and more excited, and in the end he simply shut up and stopped talking.

Ying Tianchang looked at this scene and pulled the corners of his mouth, it was better not to say so.

In fact, what the young man wanted to say most was "about your hammer", but thinking of Chen Lin'an, who was laughing beside the old man, Ying Tianchang didn't say it after all.

Over there, Chen Linan seemed to sense something, and turned his head to glare at the young man. Ying Tianchang shrank his head, a little dumbfounded. The scholar sighed and waved, turned back and continued to talk to the old master.

Ying Tianchang took a few steps back in understanding, and continued to sit back in the position under the old locust tree just now, and the score was exactly right.

In my ears is the sound of steamed buns breathing louder and louder, sometimes comparable to summer thunder. Ying Tianchang looked up at Baozi, and he didn't know if other ordinary dogs were sleeping like Baozi and making such sounds.

Ying Tianchang had a smile on his face, now he and Baozi have food for almost every meal, and they can still eat enough, which is very good.

Ying Tianchang watched Senior Brother Chen help Baozi refine and absorb the aura of heaven and earth for food, if he let Baozi eat food, it is estimated that it will not be enough to eat Senior Brother Chen's silver.

The sky was gradually dyed red, and the sky was still gloomy, but it still did not rain.

Before I knew it, the sound of reading had stopped, and many children rushed out of the courtyard in groups and went to the town.

Ying Tianchang got up and took the bun off the branch, looking at the children who were gradually moving away under the slanting sun, the smile on his face was not diminished.

No matter how much he hated the sound of reading, he thought it was good, it was good.

Chen Lin'an quietly walked up to the young man and patted him on the shoulder.

The young man turned around, and in addition to Chen Lin'an beside him, there was also the old master standing in front of the courtyard gate.

The old master's eyes were on the children who had returned home.

Ying Tianchang was in a better mood.

When the children disappeared from view, the old master turned and walked back to the courtyard. Before entering, the old master glanced at Ying Tianchang again, and his eyebrows were more than serious.

With a creak, the old wooden door of the courtyard was closed.

"Let's go. Chen Linan said.

Two people went to the town to stay, and there was only one room that could accommodate people in this private school, and it was not enough to live in the old master.

Elder Ying Tian honestly followed Chen Lin'an's side.

"The old gentleman's name is Wei Xian, and he is a classmate of the gentleman. Chen Linan explained to Ying Tianchang on the road.

"Unlike Mr., Mr. Wei once participated in the imperial examination and won the list, which was a good career, but Mr. Wei took the initiative to resign in the middle of his tenure and became a private school gentleman in this small county town who did not have a good life. ”

After Mr. took over the academy, he wanted Mr. Wei to come to the academy to teach, but Mr. Wei refused and scolded Mr. Wei. ”

Ying Tianchang still listened without a word, and he didn't care about it. He doesn't care much about anything.

Ying Tianchang didn't answer, and Chen Linan didn't say more. In fact, in the courtyard, Wei Xian and Chen Lin'an talked a lot, about Xu Er, Li Sanying, and Si. Although it is mostly criticism, Chen Yi, Xu Er, and Li San are very clear about what is behind the criticism, but the little junior brother still doesn't understand.

As for Ying Si, Wei Xian said the most is that even if Ying Tianchang goes to the academy, no matter how many books he reads and how much he is educated, he will not be a Confucian protégé. In this regard, even Chen Linan couldn't refute it, he, Xu Er, and Wei Xian all saw the anger that slowly grew under Ying Tianchang's deliberate suppression of his emotions. Among those of them who are elders, it is estimated that only Li Qinglian can put herself in the shoes of Ying Tianchang in some aspects. After that, Wei Xian gave more advice on how to teach Ying Tianchang and how to make him know his mistakes and correct them.

Wei Xian doesn't have a good face for anyone, Chen Linan knows this very well, and at the same time, Chen Linan also knows that Wei Xian is good to people, and he is talking about him.

"The reason why we are here is not only to see Mr. Wei. A few days ago, Mr. Wei wrote to the academy and said that there is a good student in this town, and he asked me to bring it back to the academy to teach well. Chen Linan said.

Ying Tianchang let out a "hmm", and he remembered the picture of Chen Lin'an taking himself away from the dilapidated pavilion.

"Then I will not be in a hurry to go back to the inn, but go to the child's house first. Chen Lin'an pulled Ying Tianchang to turn around and said.

Chen Linan actually has an idea in his heart, but it is not suitable to talk to the little junior brother now, or he doesn't dare to open his mouth and doesn't know how to open it.

Maybe it was intuition or maybe Chen Lin'an couldn't hide his thoughts, Ying Tianchang probably had a little sense, but the young man just glanced at his senior brother Chen, thought about it a little more, and didn't ask.

There are some things that can't be asked, and Ying Tianchang doesn't like to ask for the root of things. What kind of person is Chen Lin'an, now Ying Tianchang has some opinions of his own, if Senior Brother Chen wants to tell himself, he doesn't need to ask at all.

Next, Chen Lin'an talked more about the truth and knowledge in the books, as well as the situation of the child mentioned by Wei Xian, and told Ying Tianchang and others to be polite in front of the child and his family.

In this regard, Ying Tianchang has heard it even more than he has heard it, and the left ear goes in and the right ear goes out.

Ying Tianchang is very annoying and nagging, but it is different for Chen Lin'an. He thought that Chen Lin'an might not only be a breeze on his sleeves, but also a spring breeze.

It didn't take long for them to reach their destination.

The child's home, like Wei Xian's private school, is on the edge of the town, close to the fields. It's just that compared to Wei Xian's private school, this house made of bricks and stones and a few tiles seems more simple.

Ying Tianchang looked at this ordinary and not-so-ordinary house, and had some kindness.

In front of the house, a teenager squatted on the ground and wrote and drew on the ground with stones. He also carried a sleeping baby in his arms.

In his sleep, the baby's little pink hand stretched out slightly, and his fingers pressed against his brother's cheek.

Chen Lin'an exhaled, his face full of smiles.

Sensing the approach of outsiders, the young man put down the stone in his hand and immediately stood up, but the speed was not very fast, probably for fear of disturbing the baby in his arms.

Ying Tianchang saw the young man who seemed to be two or three years younger than himself secretly sliding on the ground with his feet, probably to erase the marks he had left on the ground before.

The young man approached Ying Tianchang and Chen Lin'an with a red face, and asked tentatively, "Is there anything I can do to help you?"

Ying Tianchang tugged at the corners of his mouth, probably this is the kind of person he is very annoyed with. But looking at the baby in the boy's arms, Ying Tianchang, who rarely smiled, had a touch of softness on the corner of his mouth.

Chen Lin'an could see the fluctuations in Ying Tianchang's state of mind, and he didn't interfere, and took the initiative to explain to the young man that he was entrusted by Wei Xian.

Hearing that it was a guest on behalf of Mr. Wei of the private school, the young man immediately took a few steps back, gave a junior salute to Chen Lin'an and Ying Tianchang, and invited Chen Lin'an and Ying Tianchang into the house.

After the young man made this salute, Ying Tianchang annoyed him even more. He was reluctant to enter the house, not because he disliked or annoyed the humble and polite young man. This is the same reason why he was reluctant to go to a private school.

Ying Tianchang looked at the oil lamp hanging in front of the young man's house, only the wick did not have a drop of lamp oil.

The days are still long and the nights are still short, they will live their lives, and they really love their children.

It's just that this time Chen Lin'an didn't let Ying Tianchang go back to him, holding his sleeve and walking into the house with the young man.

Ying Tianchang knew from Chen Lin'an that the boy's parents were from a small town, his mother had never read and did some manual work at home, but his father knew some words, but that's all, he worked in the fields on weekdays, otherwise he would go to the mountains to hunt some game.

Now they all say that they can eat enough to study, so they sent their children to Wei Xian's private school, and they wanted to send their children to the private school.

In addition to the boy in front of the door and the baby boy in the boy's arms, the couple also has a daughter of four or five years old.

Ying Tianchang carried a long sword and a bag, leaned down and touched the chin of the bun, thinking that this was really good, but it was not good.

At this time, the boy's mother brought the meal to the table and was about to go out to call her son to come back for dinner, when she saw her son bring in two strangers.

Ying Tianchang looked at the doubts and worries on the woman's face that couldn't be hidden, and there seemed to be an empty place in his heart. At the same time, he felt Chen Lin'an's palm on his back.

It's a little warm.

Chen Lin'an didn't speak first, but waited for the young man to explain the situation before he spoke: "My name is Chen Lin'an, I am the junior of Mr. Wei Xianwei, and I am also a teacher. ”

Ying Tianchang just stared at the bun at his feet in a daze, and did not speak.

The woman hurried into the house and took the baby from her son, who greeted them.

Ying Tianchang took a step back and said, "I'll wait for you outside." ”

Chen Lin'an thought about it, but he no longer insisted.

Ying Tianchang glanced at the young man before leaving, and he knew that the young man's name was Lin Xuan, and he was the reading seed in Wei Xian's mouth.

And Lin Xuan was also looking at him.

Ying Tianchang smiled at him reluctantly, walked out, and stood under the oil lamp.

Ying Tianchang looked up at the sky, not knowing if he was right like this.

In fact, he hopes that someone will tell him some things, such as what to do and what not to do, and to figure it out by himself, which is too troublesome and tiring.

Ying Tianchang picked up the bun and said with a smile: "In other words, don't you just eat everything cleanly?"

Baozi stuck out his tongue and licked Ying Tianchang's nose.

It was getting dark, Lin Xuan came out to add oil to the oil lamp, and did not go back directly, but chose to stand next to Ying Tianchang.

Ying Tianchang glanced at him and didn't say anything, but he also saw Baozi wagging his tail at the young man.

"Are you a student of Mr. Chen?" asked Lin Xuan.

Ying Tianchang shook his head and replied.

Ying Tianchang found that the young man's eyes were always secretly glancing at the peach blossoms behind him, so he took the long sword from behind his back and said, "I'm not a swordsman, let alone a Jianghu person. ”

Ying Tianchang handed the peach blossom to Lin Xuan, who carefully caught it.

"Don't ask me what it is, I don't know. Ying Tianchang saw that the young man tried to pull out the long sword, but the peach blossom pattern did not move.

The young man touched the peach blossom black scabbard, this is the envy that Ying Tianchang can read, and Ying Tianchang also looked at Li Qinglian who wore the peach blossom sword before, but Ying Tianchang clearly knew that he was far inferior to Li Qinglian.

may be out of reach for Lin Xuan, a young man in a small town, any ranger with a sword.

Ying Tianchang remembered a ranger in his memory. If he could, Ying Tianchang wanted to give him the peach blossom, so that he wouldn't be teased because of the broken sword he picked up at his waist when he went out in the future.

It's just a pity. There is no way, there are too many pity things in the world, and Ying Tianchang has long been commonplace.

Lin Xuan returned the peach blossom to Ying Tianchang and walked back to the house. Ying Tianchang looked up at the oil lamp that burned and bloomed in the dark night, and his thoughts drifted in no direction.

The light drew a small circle on the path, and Ying Tian grew in the circle, inexplicably wanting to go into the darkness.

By the time Chen Linan walked out of the house, the oil lamp outside had been extinguished. Chen Lin'an looked up, probably knowing that Ying Tianchang had used peach blossoms to extinguish the lights early.

Ying Tianchang didn't speak, and followed Chen Lin'an in the night.

He didn't know if Senior Brother Chen would ask him why he put out the oil lamp, in fact, Ying Tianchang himself didn't know that the reason for doing this was that he was a little more tired of light or wanted to make some unnecessary savings for the young man's already poor family. This kind of thing, Ying Tianchang knows that it is difficult for him to think about it.

Ying Tianchang guessed that if he asked Senior Brother Chen, Senior Brother Chen would ask him not to think about it.

Fortunately, Chen Linan never asked about it.

"What do you think of us scholars?" Chen Lin'an said beside Ying Tianchang.

Ying Tianchang hugged the bun and felt that Chen Lin'an's sentence should not include himself in our sentence, and it is better not to include himself.

Ying Tianchang was silent at first, he really didn't want to answer this question, this is not something that can be explained by whether he is tired or not. But Chen Linan was always waiting for an answer, and Ying Tianchang had to speak: "The old bookworm said a sentence when he taught me to read before he left, self-cultivation and Qi family rule the country and level the world. The old bookworm said this nonsense, I didn't understand it at the time, I thought it made sense, and the old bookworm who was Mr. Master should not say such a thing. But after the old bookworms and old bald heads left, I found out that this is indeed a after I wandered around or fled the famine. ”

Ying Tianchang turned his head to look at Chen Lin'an and said: "It is naturally right to cultivate the Qi family to govern the country and level the world, but now those gentlemen, scholars, officials, and masters, the self-cultivation Qi family has not done a good job, but their vision is to govern the country and level the world." It can be said that if they can rule the country and level the world, Baozi and I will not run away from the famine for so many years. ”

Ying Tianchang said a word, there are few scholars like Senior Brother Chen or Senior Brother Li, and it is estimated that even fewer scholars are like Senior Brother Xu. Ying Tianchang remembered the reading seed Lin Xuan in Wei Xian's mouth, took a deep breath, and the cold air at night stimulated Ying Tianchang's lungs.

Chen Lin'an was surprised that a junior disciple of such an age could say such a thing, and he said with a smile: "If Mr. Wei hears your words, he will probably like you, a junior." ”

Ying Tianchang rolled his eyes, and the ghost cared if he liked him or not.

Having said that, Chen Lin'an still understands Ying Tianchang's views on readers. That's a good thing, but it's not entirely good. Chen Lin'an was a little worried.

Chen Lin'an pointed to the stars in the sky and said: "You are in suffering, naturally you see more of this, the next days in the academy, I hope that the little junior brother will not be disappointed in the scholars, and will not be disappointed in the principles of the world." ”

"Like the stars of heaven, which shine in darkness, shine on darkness. ”

Chen Lin'an is like a long day, and he also saves a word, don't be disappointed in yourself.

Now Ying Tianchang is disappointed in himself, but fortunately, he has our group of senior brothers, Mr., countless masters in the academy who have both ability and political integrity, as well as the heavenly master of Longhu Mountain and the Buddha of White Horse Temple.

Ying Tianchang guessed a little and looked up at Chen Lin'an.

Chen Lin'an continued: "Lev Zi traveled far away, Feng Xuan resisted the wind, and the vast and vast were as independent as immortals; ”

The breeze came out of Chen Lin'an's sleeve, wrapped Ying Tianchang, and slowly sent to the sky.

"Senior brother is entrusted by Mr. Wei, and there are still some things here, so I won't delay the little junior brother to return to the academy. Chen Lin'an said to the sky, "Viewing the vastness of the world, seeing the magnificence of the mountains and rivers, eating the six gases and drinking the Lian, gargling the sun and containing the morning glow, it is the little master who travels far away." ”

Ying Tianchang smiled helplessly on his face, and he didn't know if Chen Lin'an's words were because of humor, and he didn't know if it could be called humor. He also wanted to explain that he was not a little master at all, and the breeze under his feet was far away from the world, and he was nine days high.

If you sit on a cloud car, the breeze is calm.

The vastness of heaven and earth is in full view.

Overhead is the vast sea of stars, and at the foot is the lamp volcano river.

The transformation of clouds and mist around him is impermanent.

Ying Tianchang took a deep breath and then exhaled, with a long roar.

Nine days.