Chapter 38 Leyi Academy

Chen Heng went back to Shanxi Village this time, and he came and left in a hurry. As usual, Chen Qi accompanied him, but compared to the last time when there was a large crowd, this time there was not even one person.

Grandpa and second uncle were both in bed to rest and recuperate, and there was Shuangxi to take care of at home. Grandma and second aunt were too busy to get away. It was even more impossible for his mother Gu to come. I don’t know if his father’s mouth was blessed, and Gu was really pregnant.

Calculating the date, it should be the time before taking the county exam. Chen Heng smiled inexplicably, and he now knew how his father coaxed his mother.

Because it was still within the first three months, even if Gu wanted to come to see him off in person. The father and son were worried that she would cry non-stop on the road and disturb the fetus, so they rejected her idea.

The teacher had to teach, and it was not easy for the teacher’s wife to come alone. Fortunately, Chen Heng felt that it was easier to go out this way, but it was hard for his father Chen Qi to carry the big bag alone. It contained his clothes for all seasons, as well as bedding and so on.

The academy in Yangzhou provides accommodation. In order to make students concentrate on their studies, they are even encouraged to live in the academy. But they have to pay money, and only students in Class A can be exempted from this miscellaneous fee.

As the first in this prefectural examination, Chen Heng is naturally on the list of exemptions. But this is not fixed. The academy has an examination every three months, and the ranking will be re-determined by the results at that time.

Chen Heng is not very worried about this. He can take this opportunity to meet the students from various counties in Yangzhou. Instead, he looks forward to learning more from them.

The ambitious young man took his father's hand and embarked on the journey again. When passing by Taixing County, Chen Heng visited County Magistrate Xu on the way and thanked him again for the previous things.

County Magistrate Xu joked that he was begging for alms with the title of the first in the prefectural examination. He asked someone to take out twenty taels of silver.

"Just think of it as making up for your loss. Go to Yangzhou and study hard. Also fight for the reputation of Taixing County." Xu Pingzhi patted Chen Heng on the shoulder and said mysteriously.

What did I lose? Chen Heng was a little confused. After hearing the master say that every student who went to Yangzhou Academy had it, he took the silver and continued on his journey. What Chen Heng didn't know was that the county magistrate only gave five to ten taels to the other four students, but he was the only one who got twenty taels.

After several days of trekking, the father and son arrived at the gate of the academy on the last day of registration. The academy was built in Yangzhou City, and Chen Heng couldn't say whether he was happy or disappointed.

Influenced by the novels in his previous life, he always thought that the academy was built on the hillside with beautiful scenery. But now think about it, there are no mountains in Yangzhou, and the distant mountains are like black, and this mountain is like an eyebrow. It's a luxury to build it on the mountain.

But building it in the city also has its advantages, Chen Heng thought. At least Yangzhou has few mountains and a wide area, which does not affect the area of ​​the academy at all. Although he didn't go in to see the whole picture, he could see the white walls outside and the eaves vaguely, and he knew the style of the academy.

"Leyi Academy."

Chen Heng pointed to the high door plaque and read it out to Chen Qi. He also let his father know what the place where his son would study in the future would be called.

"What does it mean?" Chen Qi didn't understand it clearly, and thought it would be a more majestic name, and he always felt uncomfortable.

"It should be from the sentence in the Book of Songs, 'When you see a gentleman, you will be happy and have etiquette', which happens to be the last two words." Chen Heng thought about it and gave his own answer.

Chen Qi didn't reply again. He noticed that people around were looking at him, so he turned his head and looked curiously.

At this time, there were many carriages parked outside the door, all of which were students who came and their families who saw them off. The appearance of the father and son carrying large and small bags inevitably attracted the attention of those who were interested. Fortunately, nothing outrageous happened. Everyone just watched and passed the time.

Chen Qi was a little nervous when he saw so many scholars at once. But when he thought that his son ranked first among so many scholars, he immediately became proud again. He didn't know that among these scholars, there were several scholars who failed the provincial examination, who were more than one level higher than Chen Heng.

The father and son carried their luggage and walked into the academy together. After passing the gate, there was a screen wall. Walking further in, they could see a registered scholar.

After submitting the documents and materials, he spent fifteen taels of silver to buy the necessary books in the future. So this is what the county magistrate meant by the silver. It was really painful to spend this money. Chen Heng hugged them angrily and rushed to the dormitory he was assigned.

Walking through the path paved with flat stones, the students' dormitory was close to the edge of the back hall, but they did not set foot in it. There was a wooden fence between the two, which was purely to prevent gentlemen but not villains.

But I don't think there is a stupid scholar who is willing to ruin his lifelong reputation and run to the back hall, where the family members and women of the teachers live.

The dormitory, of course, can't expect it to be very good. No matter how big and luxurious Yangzhou is, it has to consider the situation when there are more students in the future. Except for the separate bookshelves in the house, everyone sleeps on the same bunk bed. Even if Chen Heng is in Class A, it is the same. Don't think you can be arrogant just because you are the first in the prefectural exam.

If the teachers in the academy heard that someone had such an idea, they would probably scold: Studying hard in the cold window, the hardship is gone, what's the point of studying. If anyone has this idea, it is better to learn from the young master and stay at home, spend some money to hire two teachers, you lie down, he stands. You drink tea, and he reads to you. Isn't it more comfortable to study this way?

"What a pity."

Chen Heng shook his head at the big bunk bed. Chen Qi thought his son was dissatisfied and couldn't help wondering. This child has never been picky about these things since he was a child.

"Does Heng'er feel uncomfortable?"

"Dad, what are you thinking about? Just having a place to sleep is enough. It's not an exam, why do you need peace and quiet?" Chen Heng shook his head and laughed, and continued, "I was watching a play before. Isn't it often about a woman disguising herself as a man and entering the academy to study? It seems that the play is really a lie."

Whose girl can come to squeeze into the big bunk with you? Chen Qi laughed and felt that his son was also ignorant. Just as he was about to tease, he immediately became alert and asked, "When did you watch the play????"

"I heard it, I heard it. Dad, I read books every day, right under your nose." Chen Heng was also innocent. You can't blame me for the things in the previous life.

Chen Qi felt relieved after hearing this. Apart from anything else, he really didn't have to worry about Chen Heng's thoughts on studying.

"Dad, I'll help you pack your things."

"What do you want to eat later?"

"Just two cakes will do. Dad, what about you? Are you staying in Yangzhou tonight, or?"

"It's just a short distance. Dad can walk back. Why waste money?"

"Oh, why don't you walk for me?" Chen Heng rolled his eyes silently in his heart, knowing that the elders were worried about the money. After the two of them packed up the bed and bookshelf, they walked out of the academy together.

Today is not the day for classes, so the academy naturally doesn't provide meals. The father and son found a porridge shop, ordered a bowl of white porridge, and ate a pancake each. After eating, they went to the post station to see if there was a convoy to Taixing County, but they were unlucky and didn't meet it.

Then this matter could not continue to be done according to Chen Qi's wishes. Anyway, Chen Heng had some money in his pocket. He dragged his father to the inn to open a room, and then gave up Chen Qi's idea of ​​walking home.

"Okay, okay, hurry back to the academy." Chen Qi was very impatient. He always felt that letting his son take care of him was a sign of his old age, but he also felt that being taken care of by his son was good, and there was a little indescribable sweetness in his heart.

Chen Heng could not guess his father's thoughts, and thought he was just being angry about wasting money. He quietly stuffed ten taels of silver into his father's bag.

His mother was pregnant, so she couldn't be short of food. But if he gave too much, Chen Qi would definitely wait in Yangzhou tomorrow and send the money back to him.

After finishing the last thing, Chen Heng hurried back to the academy for fear of being discovered.

From today on, he would live in the academy to study.

Back to the dormitory, there were already a few more students inside, and the students in this room were not very old. After paying respects to the elders and the young, except for the two who had not yet arrived, Chen Heng was still the youngest present, and the oldest was only thirteen years old, and he also passed the prefectural examination this year.

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"Ke'er."

"Dad."

As soon as the Xue family carriage stopped at the entrance of the academy, it attracted everyone's attention. Xue Zhen had long been accustomed to this, and just reminded his son: "Do you remember what Dad told you yesterday?"

"Remember." Xue Ke nodded seriously and said in a deep voice, "Study hard in the academy, don't bully others, and don't spend money recklessly. If your classmates are in trouble, you should help them with all your heart."

"Well." Xue Zhen glanced at the shopkeeper He who lowered his head and dared not speak in the carriage. He hesitated for a moment before saying, "Remember to treat others with sincerity. Only if you do this, others will treat you with sincerity. If you lend money to your classmates, If you want to have fun, don't think about borrowing it. If you need it in an emergency, don't think about him paying you back. Just spend the money yourself and have fun."

"Our family is not short of money, but we don't want you to spend it without thinking. I will increase your monthly salary to 50 taels. You can go to the store in the city to get it yourself during the holidays every month."

The more Manager He listened, the lowered his head. He felt that the second master of the Xue family was trying to stab him, hinting that he should use 5,000 taels to get him out and let the Wang family let him go.

In fact, Xue Zhen didn't have the leisure to think about it. He didn't even want to see Manager He. If it weren't for his sister-in-law, he would have kicked Manager He down and returned to Jinling alone.

"Remember, you must bow when you see your headmaster, and respect him as your own elder." Xue Zhen emphasized his tone.

Xue Ke knew what Xue Zhen meant. He nodded and said, "My son will work hard."

"Go ahead. There are too many people inside. Dad won't see you off." Xue Zhen looked at Xue Ke who got off the carriage, and couldn't help but pull up the curtain and said, "Ke'er, remember... to write a letter to Dad."

"Don't worry, Dad." Xue Ke stood on the road, turned his head and smiled.

Thank you for your votes and support, I really appreciate it. Next, let's start the academy chapter, hahahaha

PS: By the way, I'll tease you. Baidu said that the highest mountain in Yangzhou is Datong Mountain, which is 149.5 meters high and is known as the highest peak in Suzhong.