Chapter 002: I will not study anymore

Zeng Gong shook his head and said, "How could I dare to boast in front of Jie Fu that my strategy and theory are well done"

"Do not mention this in front of others, Brother Zigu," Wang Anshi said. "There are countless talented individuals in the world, and even Brother Zigu has wasted several years due to his lack of proficiency in contemporary literature. If talent were assessed through essays, Brother Zigu would surely have achieved fame long ago"

Despite Wang Anshi's outward demeanor of "my son is just average," he truly believes that his son is the most intelligent and adorable child in the world. Even when Wang Bang is humming nonsensical songs that draw the attention of those around him, Wang Anshi does not feel angry; after all, he has just arrived in the capital and does not know many people, so he has nothing to fear

There he was, Wang Fang, sitting there with a furrowed brow. Wang Anshi put down his book and pointed out the flaws in his writing, saying that the strokes here were incorrect and that the characters there were not aligned properly. In any case, there were numerous mistakes that needed to be corrected, and each one required careful revision. When I was your age, my writing was already quite good.

A new lecturer has arrived at the Imperial Academy, of a similar age to me, yet he teaches exceptionally well. Occasionally, we accompany each other to attend his lectures. On the way back, Zeng Gong recounted to Wang Anshi his experiences studying at the Taixue, saying, "Jiefu should have heard of him; he is the Mr. Sima who 'smashed the vat to save a friend.'"

Can we leave some room for my ordinary son with average talent

Many people listening to this song couldn't help but turn their heads to glance at the father and son. Seeing Wang Wang energetically scrubbing his father's back with his little arms and legs while repeatedly singing the song, everyone couldn't help but chuckle.

Jade must be carved to become a gem

The paper he used for practicing calligraphy was all discarded official documents that Wang Anshi shamelessly retrieved from the Yanzhou government office. Various government orders and documents had to be dealt with after a certain period; some needed to be archived, while others were sold for money. As the signing official of Huainan, Wang Anshi was justified in obtaining some waste paper for his son to practice calligraphy.

Wang Anshi was always focused when reading, but it was different when his son was nearby; he would occasionally glance at his son out of the corner of his eye

As it seemed they were about to enter a mode of mutual flattery among scholars, Wang Tang hurriedly interjected, "Uncle Zeng, what does it mean to speak directly?"

"It is indeed remarkable! Although Zeng Gong admired Sima Guang and Wang Anshi for achieving the highest degree early on, he had an exceptionally open mind and praised them without any jealousy, saying, 'Among my peers, I find that Jiéfǔ and Mr. Sima are the most outstanding.'"

The couple talked for a while and then had dinner with Wang Wang. After the meal, Wang Anshi wanted to read, while Wang Wang sat beside him, with paper and ink in front of him. His hands were still quite small, making it difficult for him to hold the pen. No matter how hard he tried to write neatly, his characters were terribly ugly, completely wasting paper.

Seeing his son furrow his brows tightly, with a face full of distress as if to say, "How can my handwriting be so ugly?" Wang Anshi felt a secret delight in his heart

I love taking baths, my skin feels great ~ Oh oh oh ~ Be careful of the jumping fleas ~ Oh oh oh ~ My father wants to escape ~ Up and down, wash and rinse ~ Scrub left and rub right ~ Come back to shake hands when you have time ~ Up and down, wash and rinse ~ Scrub left and rub right ~ My father is clean now ~ ~ '' The large bathhouse is divided into male and female sections, and on this side of the male bathhouse, the fresh and tender voice of Wang Tang is floating.

Wang Fang was completely ignorant of the official positions in the Song Dynasty and could only remember the title "Director of the Imperial Academy" as mentioned by Zeng Gong, preparing to find an opportunity to sneak out and look for someone. However, it didn't really matter if he couldn't remember https://mhetushucom.com, as long as he could find "Sima Guang, who smashed the vat to save a child." He was grateful that the nine-year compulsory education included the story of smashing the vat to save a child in the textbooks; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to confirm that this Mr. Sima was the person he was eager to find.

As for whether Zeng Gong loved to listen, Wang Anshi did not care at all; in any case, he felt completely at ease after showing off.

Zeng Gong met Wang Tang and praised, "So this is your son Tang, right? You often mentioned him in your letters, and I have long wanted to meet him, but I never had the chance. I didn't expect to see him in the bathhouse." In the end, he added a teasing remark, "Jiefu, you are indeed a rare guest in the bathhouse."

Wang Lang stood obediently beside Wang Anshi, blinking his eyes as he looked towards Zeng Gong. In this era, everyone had both a name and a courtesy name, making it quite difficult to remember. Just based on the name "Ziguxiong," Wang Lang truly did not know who this person was

Wang Anshi, styled Jiefu. Wang Anshi, with a tense expression, glanced sideways at his son who was bouncing behind him, signaling "Stop singing".

Wang Wang had originally pricked up his ears out of curiosity to listen to their conversation, and upon hearing the phrase "smashing the vat to save a friend," his heart began to race. It was truly a case of searching high and low without success, only to find it effortlessly! Unable to contain himself, Wang Wang asked, "What does 'smashing the vat to save a friend' mean?"

It seems that his face was originally dark! Wang Fang is very satisfied with the results of his efforts; his father now insists on washing his face every day, and his face is clean now

Wang Anshi found that he could neither scold nor hit his son; he could only maintain a stern expression while allowing Wang Fang to rub his back. This is perhaps the change brought about by marriage. In the past, he would have definitely chosen to read a few more books during this time, but after his son learned to speak, he unconsciously began to spend his time interacting with his child instead of with books.

Wang Lang could only cover his head and obediently change his words: "Uncle Zeng."

With a son present, Wang Anshi could not help but take the opportunity to educate him: "To devise a method to break the jar is cunning, while to dare to use a stone to break it is bravery. This Mr. Sima has possessed both courage and wisdom since childhood, and indeed has achieved remarkable success as an adult"

"Zigu, my brother, is a talented individual," Wang Anshi remarked, "It is a pity that the current methods of selecting officials in the court do not favor him. However, Zigu has already entered the service of Master Ouyang, and it is not a matter of concern if he serves later; he will undoubtedly achieve great success in the future"

Wang Lang immediately cast a reproachful glance at Wang Anshi, as if to say, "Father, look at yourself; your aversion to bathing has made it known to everyone." After reproaching him, Wang Lang suddenly realized that his father often mentioned him in correspondence with this friend! Wang Lang's eyes sparkled with curiosity as he eagerly asked, "Oh, Uncle Zigudu, what does my father say about me?"

Although this song uses simple language, it is indeed catchy and would be nice to teach to one's own children. However, the lyrics need some modifications; phrases like "My father wants to escape" and "My father is clean now" would certainly lead to trouble if sung by one's own naughty child.

Zeng Gong had not seen Wang Anshi for a long time. While chatting and bathing, the snow became even heavier as they prepared to leave. Wang Anshi waited for Wu to come out and exchanged greetings with Zeng Gong, then they walked back together. Their "public rental housing" was next to the Guozijian, and the Taixue was connected to the Guozijian, so the way back was the same.

Wang Lang scratched his head in frustration while looking at a piece of paper he had wasted.

The "Shiweng" refers to the so-called examination essay, which requires a beautiful writing style and a positive message. The "Celun" is a type of argumentative essay that critiques current issues, presents a thesis, and even proposes solutions.

Other families' children, like those from mhetushu.com, at such a young age, not only could they not write, but they also couldn't recognize all the characters. Yet, his son is already worried about his poor handwriting! His son is indeed exceptionally intelligent

Big shot, big shot, please be a person!

Wang Lang pouted his lips, threw down his pen, and ran to the bed, burying his head in the blankets and thrashing about, shamelessly throwing a tantrum: "I won't study anymore! I won't study anymore!"

"Children can be called however one wishes." Zeng Gong, with his open and cheerful personality, smiled as he revealed Wang Anshi's background, "Your father always mentions in his letters how clever you are. In the past, we interacted through literature, but since you have grown a bit, his letters have all been filled with your amusing stories. I have yet to meet you, yet I already know from his letters that you have learned several characters!"

Wang Anshi pulled Wang Lang aside and looked towards the person greeting him. Upon recognizing the visitor, Wang Anshi smiled and said, "How have you been, Brother Zigu? I have just arrived in the capital and haven't had the chance to visit the Taixue to look for you."

Wang Fang still showed great respect for his father. Instead of giving him a back rub, he walked in front of Wang Anshi, stood on tiptoe, and vigorously wiped his slightly darkening face with a wet tissue. Oh, the tissue didn't turn black at all!

Children are always curious about these unusual matters, and Zeng Gong did not find it strange. He recounted to Wang Bang the story of Mr. Sima breaking a vat to save a friend: "When Mr. Sima was a child, he was playing in the courtyard with friends. One friend fell into a large vat and could not get out. Fearing for his friend's safety, Mr. Sima picked up a stone nearby and broke the vat to rescue his friend"

Wang Fang: "... ..."

I do not understand these matters. Wu said with a smile, "It is rare for you to have a good friend; you should interact more. Remember to find a day to invite him over for a visit."

Wang Anshi and Zeng Gong parted ways and returned home. Mrs. Wu lit the lamp and casually conversed with Wang Anshi: "Is this the Zeng Zigong you mentioned before?"

The term "Zhi Jiang" refers to the instructors at the Guozi Academy. Zeng Gong patiently explained, "Mr. Sima possesses exceptional knowledge and outstanding character. As long as we are willing to ask him, he is more than happy to share his insights without reservation."

Wang Anshi usually did not praise Wang Lang; not only did he refrain from doing so, but he would also sternly point out where Wang Lang fell short and what needed to be corrected. When he could no longer contain himself, he extended his desire to show off his child to friends with whom he corresponded, such as, well, Zeng Gong.

This person is surnamed Zeng, named Gong, with the courtesy name Zigui. In earlier years, he became acquainted with Wang Anshi, and they shared a deep friendship. Zeng Gong was generous in character and sincere in his dealings with others. Upon meeting Ouyang Xiu, he even recommended Wang Anshi to him.

Pride aside, Wang Anshi would not express it openly. Two years ago, he wrote an essay titled "The Sadness of Zhongyong," which tells the story of a child named Fang Zhongyong from his hometown in Linchuan. This Fang Zhongyong had never been exposed to poetry or literature, yet he could compose poems effortlessly, astonishing people of his time, who eagerly sought his poetry for a high price. His father, seeing the potential for profit, did not focus on properly educating his child to nurture his extraordinary talent. Instead, he took him around to visit fellow townsmen, relying on poetry to earn money and gain fame. The result was that while he was brilliant in his youth, he faded into mediocrity as he grew older. His father, seeing the potential for profit, did not focus on properly educating his child to nurture his extraordinary talent. Instead, he took him around to visit fellow townsmen, relying on poetry to earn money and gain fame. The result was that while he was brilliant in his youth, he faded into mediocrity as he grew older.

Wang Anshi, with a stern expression, tapped his head and said: "Call me Uncle Zeng."

One should not speak too absolutely. Just as Wang Anshi was thinking this, he heard someone call out: "Isn't this Jie Fu?"

Wang Fang's gaze towards Wang Anshi suddenly changed. No wonder this uncle came to undermine his father; it turns out his father is actually a hidden enthusiast for showcasing children! Undoubtedly one of the toxic elements in the social circle! It's not even his own child; who would want to see how your son eats, drinks, relieves himself, or learns to run and jump?