Chapter 008 That Blooming Flower
Yang Xin said with a look of suspicion
In fact, Yang Xin did not take four days at all
Mind!
Huang Ying scolded angrily
A terrified scream immediately erupted from above.
Yang Xin, who has seen the light of day again, said gently
May I put you down
My lady, should we not have our meal now
The small boat immediately arrived beneath her. Yang Xin raised his head and stretched out his arms, almost simultaneously, the girl’s right hand could no longer hold on and slipped from the bridge railing. ... Then Yang Xin saw a long dress adorned with exquisite embroidery blooming above him like a flower. Before he could discern the center of the flower, it had already descended upon him like a giant blossom falling from the sky.
Which school of thought?
At this moment, the latter had already arranged her clothes and regained the grace and elegance of a distinguished young lady, standing by the shore watching the servants tidy up the sedan chair that had been smashed by the bull. However, upon hearing his words, her charming face immediately flushed, and her gaze emitted a murderous intent, yet her trembling hands betrayed her effort to restrain herself. It was evident that she was repeatedly imagining Yang Xin being torn to pieces in her mind, and it was also possible that she was replaying the scene from that moment.
Thank you for your assistance, dear sir. If it were not for your help today, my young lady would surely have been harmed. In the future, should you encounter any difficulties, you may come to Fang's residence at Fangjia Village outside Yongdingmen to seek me. My name is He Xiang
Yang Xin anxiously asked the young girl
Flip over the railing!
Then I will go find someone to borrow a little, you shouldn't mind, right
Nanhai Garden, the emperor's garden, has a wall that is one hundred and sixty miles long
There stands a high wall, but due to years of neglect, it resembles a dilapidated wasteland. Within, one can vaguely see the elevated pavilions. The river beneath them flows from a sluice gate located there, splitting into two paths: one heading east and the other south, eventually joining the Feng River that they came from. The water is murky, slightly worse than the Yellow River, and in fact, it is commonly referred to as the Murky River.
She gestured with her gaze
Do you think I endure the hardships of wind and rain with my father for what purpose? Isn't it to earn a little more money so that my younger brother can pass the examination and become a scholar? Don't tell others; my brother is fostered at my uncle's house, and to outsiders, just say he is my uncle's son. In our line of work, one never knows when an accident might happen, and it would be disastrous to involve him. Our family is counting on him; he is already a child student and has passed the preliminary examination. If he can take the next exam, he will be able to become a scholar. It would be wonderful if he could study under Mr. Fang.
Huang Ying spoke with boundless longing
Feeling the foreign object on her thigh, the young girl suddenly let out a scream
Isn't it possible to buy a scholar with money?
The inconsiderate little girl He Xiang finished speaking, and the young girl beside her took a deep breath. Yang Xin could see that something was rapidly rising and falling beneath the beautiful silk that was pressing down on him. After He Xiang finished, the young girl turned around without hesitation and the little maid quickly bowed to Yang Xin before hurriedly chasing after her.
Immediately, a young girl lifted the curtain of the sedan chair, and the bearers hurriedly descended. The ox had already charged onto the bridge surface. The bearers, servants, and maidservants all screamed in panic as they rushed to the bridge railing. The young girl also climbed over the stone railing, standing on the narrow stone edge outside the railing, which could barely accommodate half a foot. The two yellow oxen then charged forward, toppling the sedan chair. The fallen chair landed directly on the young girl's left hand, which was gripping the railing, causing her to cry out in pain and withdraw her hand. However, her foot slipped, and she fell downwards. Fortunately, her right hand still clung to the railing, leaving her suspended in mid-air. She turned her head in terror to look at the murky river surface below, nearly a yard away. The two yellow oxen then charged forward, toppling the sedan chair. The fallen chair landed directly on the young girl's left hand, which was gripping the railing, causing her to cry out in pain and withdraw her hand. However, her foot slipped, and she fell downwards. Fortunately, her right hand still clung to the railing, leaving her suspended in mid-air. She turned her head in terror to look at the murky river surface below, nearly a yard away.
On this point, the two are quite consistent, both possessing a healthy complexion, or one might say a wheat color, though Yang Xin's is somewhat darker. After all, he cannot shed the layer of old skin from his time as a beggar like a snake would
I am out of money
Yang Xin smiled and said
He gazed towards the east and inquired.
Uh, is this his granddaughter after all the hard work and effort?
Ha, this business is doing quite well. Fang Congzhe is the chief assistant, and his brother is at home teaching students. Those who study under his brother are essentially reserves under Fang Congzhe. Does it really matter how well his brother teaches? What is most important is being able to stand before Elder Fang and demonstrate loyalty to him. In this way, those gentry will not spare any effort in sending their offspring to study under his brother. Even when giving gifts to Fang Congzhe, they can do so with a clear conscience, as we are honoring the teacher, not giving gifts to the chief assistant. Thus, the gentry of Shuntian are all united under Elder Fang's banner.
Huang Ying quickly said
Yang Xin looked with a sense of nostalgia at the South Garden, which was larger than the city of Beijing. The small boat beneath his feet slowly passed through an elegant stone arch bridge, which is the origin of the name of this place. This was built by Zhu Qizhen, but during his second reign as emperor. To the south of this stone arch bridge, soldiers belonging to the Hongren Bridge Inspection Office were lazily sitting on benches, holding long spears and watching them, with a large temple behind them. Yang Xin instinctively touched his smooth face; in just four days, the wounds on his face had vanished without a trace. Even after four consecutive days of excessive eating and drinking, his previously somewhat emaciated body had swelled up like a water-soaked fat sea cucumber, and his once gaunt cheeks now had a bit of fleshiness.
Yang Xin elongated his voice and said
Since it is a garden, it certainly cannot be entered by just anyone; it must be enclosed by walls, much like the Old Summer Palace. The common people can only gaze from outside the walls, and if they wish to enter, it must be through the benevolence of the emperor
Three minutes later
For instance, the various old scars and calluses on his body are shedding due to the drastic changes in his physique. It can be said that at this moment, Yang Xin not only lacks the scars on his face, but even if he still had them, when he stands before someone like Xiong Tingbi, whom he has only met a few times, they would find it difficult to recognize him at once
It is evident that after gaining weight, Yang Xin has undergone a transformation, and can now be described as handsome.
In the dazed gaze of Huang Ying, the young girl looked down in confusion at her dress
Is it really not permissible to rob the rich to help the poor
Yang Xin merely needs to row to the Ma Ju Bridge and then change direction
Yang Xin leaned forward and looked at her, saying
Huang Ying looked at him with a complex expression in her eyes
Yang Xin tilted his head to avoid the object pressing directly against his face and continued to speak gently
Quickly retreat!
Yang Xin tossed the money bag and said with satisfaction
What kind of expression is that? Do you not feel even the slightest ripple in your heart when I tease a young and beautiful lady like this?
The girl stumbled slightly, then turned around with an angry glare, and forcefully threw a purse at him before turning her head and leaving with an elegant run, disregarding him.
Quick, save the person
Nonsense, how can a scholar be bought? What is purchased is a candidate for the examination, costing several hundred taels of silver. Moreover, even if one buys a candidate, it is merely a nominal position; unless one continues to spend silver endlessly, it is impossible to attain an official position. One would need to spend several thousand taels of silver just to secure a very minor post. Powerful and influential families can buy a candidate, and later, with someone to support them, they can rise in rank. Wealthy families can continuously spend silver to buy positions as well. What use is it for ordinary families to exhaust their fortunes to buy a candidate? It is better to work hard; perhaps heaven will show mercy, and one might pass the examination and attain a degree, even if it is just that of a scholar. In the future, one would not have to pay taxes, and even while sitting on a boat passing through the toll gate, our vessel could sail without paying a single coin.
Huang Ying said with a sense of bewilderment
The Fenghe River of this era is essentially equivalent to the Yongding River, or what is currently referred to as the Lugou River, which is also a branch of the Hunhe River. Below the Lugou Bridge, the Lugou River splits into two branches, both flowing southeast, ultimately converging into the Sanjiao Diao. However, the left branch splits again at Gu'an, with one branch connecting to the Huitong River, also known as the Daqing River, flowing eastward into the Diao, while the other directly flows over Yongqing into the Diao. The right branch, after the Duoliangshui River, further divides at the Hongren Bridge, also known as the Majiao Bridge, with one branch continuing eastward to join the Grand Canal at Zhangjiawan, and the other heading south to merge with the Fenghe River, flowing into the Diao.
Where is that place
At this moment, the girl's mind should be completely blank
"Nonsense, as soon as his student displayed the sign, the examiner immediately made a decision! By the way, how do you know so much? Could it be that you..."
It is somewhat darker
Huang Ying maintained a look of shock as she spoke
Or they can do it themselves
Huang Ying, in a huff, threw her small purse at his feet and said
You have a small head but big dreams!
Yang Xin said with confusion
Yang Xin said with confusion
Otherwise, we will have to wait until the invaders slap our emperor in the face
"Miss, you are startled!"
The sedan chair has already reached the bridge, and their small boat is about to enter beneath it. However, at that moment, accompanied by panicked shouts, two furious yellow cattle came charging from opposite directions, with several farmers chasing behind them.
The young maid beside her said gratefully
You wouldn't kill me to silence me, would you? I haven't seen anything at all
Yang Xin expressed his sentiments
Yang Xin poured out the last copper coin from inside, then held it up in front of him, looking at the shore through the square hole in the middle, as a blue cloth sedan chair continued to move. The sedan chair had just exited the temple and was being slowly carried by four bearers up Hongren Bridge, accompanied by two young maidservants and four servants, presumably carrying some official's wife inside.
Although he is indeed in the process of molting
She certainly knows what Yang Xin's borrowing means
Huang Ying said
Yang Xin expressed his dissatisfaction from behind
Yang Xin said
The Fang family, oh the Fang family!
This is it, and yet they call her a refined young lady, not even a single thank you, and I haven't eaten anything today
Nonsense, Mr. Fang truly possesses knowledge; his students have been successful in the imperial examinations year after year
The porters hurriedly retreated, but the bridge is 25 zhang long with nine openings, and there are two donkey carts already on the bridge behind them
Liangshui River runs through the southern garden and exits through the eastern wall, while Fenghe River directly originates from the southern garden and exits through the southern wall
Huang Ying, however, remained completely still
Amidst the chaos, a voice of reproach emerged
Yang Xin said
Listen to what my brother's teacher said
Let's go, it's time to eat with money
Huang Ying said
Yang Xin continued to gaze at the sedan chair and spoke
His granddaughter certainly lives in the city within the residence of the cabinet minister; how could she possibly live outside the city? Fangjia Village is his ancestral home, and it is naturally where his brothers reside. His elder brother teaches in the countryside, the renowned Mr. Fang, under whom scholars from all over Shuntian Prefecture dream of studying.
Huang Ying said
This is the current Yongding River system
This is Nanyuan
Huang Ying hurriedly rowed the boat forward
She lifted it with the utmost speed
Huang Ying said
He said
Do you have a younger brother?
The current Prime Minister is Fang Ge Lao, located outside Yongdingmen at Fangjia Village
Ah!