Encounter with the Four Great Talents

And this person seemed to finally feel comfortable eating, and returned to his senses. He looked up and saw the other three stunned and blushed in embarrassment.Then he started talking: "Uh... I don't think any of you eat it, just...you..."

Tang Shen was startled when he heard the voice, and immediately waved his hands: "It's okay, it's okay, we have already eaten, and we are not hungry, brother, don't mind."

The man smiled naively, stretched out his hands and scratched his head, and said softly, "I was the one who was too rude just now. My money is almost used up. I haven't had enough food for the past few days. I'm so hungry, so..."

I really didn't eat for three days and three nights...

The three masters and servants were a little surprised, but they were well-trained and didn't mention it much.Yonglu asked Xiao Er to come over and remove the plates from the table and serve a pot of tea, Tang Shen chatted with this person.

This person said that his name was Wenbi, from Changzhou, and he was eighteen years old.I also came here to take the provincial examination, and it was my first time to take it, but unfortunately I didn't pass the examination due to my lack of talent and learning.Originally I wanted to go back immediately, but I was somewhat unwilling, so I stayed to meet some new imperial examination candidates, so that I could ask for advice for the next exam.As a result, after such a delay, the originally insufficient travel expenses were almost used up, and there was not much money left except for the travel expenses back home.So he wanted to have a good meal in the best restaurant in Suzhou before going home, but only after he came in did he realize that the food here was extremely expensive, so he didn't dare to order anything but a bowl of green vegetable noodles.Fortunately, he met Tang Shen, and this was his first full meal in the past four or five days.

It turned out that I was hungry not only for three days, but for five days.

Tang Shen liked this person quite a bit, he was polite, sincere and friendly, and listening to him speak, he knew that this person was actually quite knowledgeable.He is not lofty and pedantic, nor does he have much arrogance of a literati, he is a very simple and honest person.So Tang Shen had a rare conversation with him with interest, and soon began to call him brother.

Tang Shen had been to Changzhou, and he used it to raise the topic. He was very happy to hear that. He talked about Changzhou's scenic spots, large and small, citing classics, which are fascinating. He can even say which street and which store have the best food. Come out, it is really a good talent to be a tour guide.Tang Shen was surprised when asked why he went to Changzhou.

"It turns out that Brother Tang is a cousin of the Xu family. He must be the son of the Tang family in Wu County who was rewarded by the emperor two years ago!" Seeing Tang Shen's admission, he was very pleasantly surprised and said: "I don't know if it is Tang Yin who is Xie Yuan Tang Yin of the current department." ..."

"It's my brother. How did Brother Wen know?"

"Actually, my father is also an official in Changzhou. Although his official position is humble, he still knows something about the fact that the Tang family was rewarded by the emperor two years ago. This matter is very famous in our Changzhou, and many people are very envious."

Tang Shen was surprised, an official?Looking him up and down, he looks so poor, it doesn't look like he came from a family of officials!

Although Wen Bi was simple and straightforward, he was very perceptive and immediately understood Tang Shen's meaning.He smiled and said: "My father was born in poverty, and because of his honest and timid personality, he has never been liked by Shangguan. For many years, he just stayed in some unimportant small positions. The salary is limited, so the family background is really average."

Yonglu and Shitou slandered: "It's not that your family has no money, it's because you are poor."

Tang Shen smiled lightly. His being so straightforward made Tang Shen feel more fond of him. He smiled and said to him, "Brother Wen will be able to go to high school in three years, and he will be the best."

Wen Bi shook his head and smiled wryly. He knew that although he thought he was talented and learned well, he only had a little aura in poetry when he really said it.But after reading the papers handed out by the top three, he knew that he was really inferior, so he decided to go home disheartened.

"I don't know how to make a living. After I go back, I will continue to study hard to gain fame." Wen Bi sighed slightly. Although there is no shortage of food and clothing in the family, there is not much surplus. Although he is a scholar, because he has no salary, So there is no way to reduce the burden on the family.I don't know how disappointed my family will be if I don't win the exam this time.And the boy in front of him is only 13 years old, and he has already won the exam. He is really angry.

Tang Shen didn't want to say anything more, so he asked him curiously and asked for his paper.Wen Bi naturally took it out for him to read. Tang Shen was stunned when he saw the calligraphy, and asked hesitantly: "Brother Wen, are you good at calligraphy and painting?"

"I can't say that I'm good at it. I just studied since I was a child, and I have a little success."

"I don't know what is Brother Wen's name?"

"Let the upper sign and the lower clear, sign clear."

Wen Zhengming, one of the four great talents.Of course Tang Shen knew this person, and this person was extraordinarily dramatic.Thinking of his life experience, I couldn’t help but twitch the corners of my mouth, and I really wanted to say to him: Brother, you didn’t pass the exam until you were 53 years old. Just give up.You are the longest-lived one among the four great talents, and you lived to be 90 years old very bravely.What are you doing wrong, why hang yourself on the imperial examination tree?You can live a good life just by painting and selling calligraphy.

But how can these words be said, so Tang Shen just continued to read his paper with grief and indignation.To be honest, the content of this paper is really average.It's mediocre, nothing outstanding.Of course, writing well is very brilliant.And I don't know if it is due to the influence of personality and living environment. There is a feeling of cynicism between the lines, which makes people uncomfortable to read.Even in the Four Books and Five Classics, there are mistakes in comprehension and silent writing, so it is really impossible to get a high score.

Tang Shen didn't hide it either, and explained it to him as soon as the paper was spread out on the table.Bit by bit, I explained clearly to him as if I crushed the paper.Where is wrong, where is right, where should be restrained, where should be bold.It's just that he didn't talk much about poetry and prose, and Tang Shen also bluntly said that he was not particularly good at it, so he didn't talk too much with him.But that policy article really explained word by word, and Wen Zhengming was amazed when he heard it.

Only then did Wen Zhengming realize that he was really inferior in skills.He always thought that it must be tricky for the brothers of the Tang family to win the exam together.In fact, he wasn't the only one who thought so, many of those who didn't pass the exam and even those who passed the exam were muttering in secret, after all, he was only 13 years old, how could he learn any great knowledge?Especially before the exam, he was not well-known.Although his elder brother Tang Yin is indeed well-known, it cannot prove that he is equally outstanding, so he is dubious about his results in the examination.

But seeing him pointing to himself now, every word and every word is serious and rigorous, like enlightenment, Wen Zhengming felt a little enlightened, and felt that he had really learned a lot of things that he hadn't noticed before.He even thought that if this 13-year-old kid took the exam in another three years, he would definitely be a Jieyuan again.

Finally finished speaking, Tang Shen took the tea from Yonglu and drank it, really thirsty.Looking at Wen Zhengming's clear yet confused expression, he smiled and said softly, "Brother Zhengming, this imperial examination is different from doing essays at home after all. If Brother Zhengming really wants to make further progress in the imperial examination, how can you solve the problem?" You might as well change some of your thoughts, and you can also restrain your words a little, because it is too sharp and most of the time it is not flattering."

Wen Zhengming nodded and took back his paper, and said with a satisfied smile: "It really is meaningful for me to stay in Suzhou until today."

Yonglu helped clean up, nodded his head, thinking to himself, and earned a good meal.

Tang Shen shook his head with a smile: "Brother Zhengming, my opinion may be one-sided. After all, my talents and learning are not particularly outstanding. If you really want to know more, I dare not tell other people, but you can. Take you to meet my elder brother, maybe he can tell you something different."

Wen Zhengming's eyes lit up, and Tang Shen knew that he agreed, got up and asked Yonglu to pay the bill, and took him home.

Tang Yin was still sulking, so he was copying scriptures and meditating in his closed room.When Gao Fu said that the second master had brought a young man surnamed Wen over, he was not surprised.His younger brother has always been not sociable. If there are any banquets or parties, he will definitely not attend if he can. If he must attend, he will let his father or himself do it for him.So there are very few friends, and this time he even brought someone back. Could it be that this person surnamed Wen is very special?

Because he was curious about this young man surnamed Wen, Tang Yin politely cleared the table and prepared to receive him.

Tang Shen brought Wen Zhengming in. Looking at the short and fat Wen Zhengming, Tang Yin couldn't help judging others by appearance, but he immediately corrected his younger brother's disapproving look and exchanged a few polite greetings.After chatting for a few more words, knowing Wen Zhengming's reason for coming, and thinking that it was introduced by his younger brother after all, Tang Yin took his paper and read it graciously. Although the words were not as detailed as Tang Shen's, the content and meaning were similar. , the language may be more subtle, but Wen Zhengming, who was pointed out by Tang Shen, could not understand, and thanked the two brothers very gratefully.

Then, Tang Shen casually mentioned that Wen Zhengming was good at calligraphy and painting, and Tang Yin suddenly regained his energy.He had just read Wen Zhengming's paper and knew that he might be good at calligraphy. When he heard Tang Shenyan, he was pleasantly surprised and immediately pulled Wen Zhengming to the table to read the scripture he had just copied.Wen Zhengming talked about the field he was good at, and he even recognized a calligraphy and painting hanging on the wall as Tang Yin's own work.Tang Yin chatted with him very happily as if he had found a treasure.

Tang Shen rubbed his nose. He only looked at the appearance of these words and paintings at most. He was not interested in this, so he didn't bother the two addicted people. He signaled Gao Fu to take good care of him and turned around. walked out.

Back in his room, he changed into a loose and comfortable robe, took off his shoes and crawled on the couch to lean on.After all, he has not fully recovered yet, and he is indeed a little tired after a day of fuss.Xingniang brought a thin cloth towel and put it on his stomach, and said softly, "Second Master, a letter came from home today." Tang Shen opened his sleepy eyes, stretched out a hand, and Xingniang immediately took the letter and put it away. in that hand.Tang Shen yawned, pulled out the letter paper and unfolded it to read.

The letter was written by Tang Guangde. First of all, they knew the news that the two brothers had been promoted. They were very happy, very excited and very proud.Tang Guangde was already so happy that he didn't know what to do, he was so excited that he even wrote crookedly.The second is to hope that they will go home earlier to reunite with their families, who miss them very much after being separated for such a long time.One last thing was mentioned, Tang Yin's marriage.

Tang Yin was 19 years old, his age had come, and he had achieved fame again. Since the day when the news of his selection came back, this marriage has always been a topic that people who visit the Tang family will definitely bring up.Although Tang Shen was also talked about, but he was only thirteen after all, and his eldest brother was not married yet, so how could it be possible to talk about him.Tang Guangde and his wife were also very moved, and the Qiu family had already visited several houses, waiting for their return to discuss.

Holding the letter, Tang Shen narrowed his eyes, thought for a while and read the whole letter again while lying on his side on the saddle with his face propped up, and couldn't help but smile.I really don't know, what would his elder brother who had an affair with Zhu Yunming think of this letter?

At this time Yonglu came in and said that the uncle left Mr. Wen Zhengming for dinner.Tang Shen nodded and told Xingniang to ask the cook to prepare a few more dishes, and then looked up to see Yonglu's hesitant face and raised his eyebrows and asked, "What's wrong?"

Yonglu thought for a while, then approached and asked in a low voice: "Second Master, just these few dishes, Mr. Wen... are you full?"

Tang Shen was taken aback, and laughed, and Yong Lu couldn't help laughing too, he was really scared by Wen Zhengming's appetite today.Scratching his head, he said, "I'll ask the kitchen to prepare a few more dishes."

"Haha, let's go."

Tang Yin has a feeling of confidant towards Wen Zhengming. Although Wen Zhengming is slightly inferior to Zhu Yunming in terms of painting and calligraphy, compared to Zhu Yunming, Wen Zhengming gives people a more gentle and appropriate feeling.Given Zhu Yunming's birth experience, he is naturally much more arrogant than others. Even in the face of Tang Yin, he is confident and arrogant when talking about his professional field.Wen Zhengming, on the other hand, is much more gentle, because he knows a lot, so it is easy to talk together, and he looks like an all-rounder.Especially this person is honest and honest, which makes Tang Yin very novel.

So even at the dinner table, Wen Zhengming could chat enthusiastically with Tang Yin with his mouth full of vegetables, and Tang Yin was also in a high mood, pulling him to talk endlessly.

After the meal, the two of them continued talking non-stop, and Tang Yin had the intention of keeping Wen Zhengming overnight.

But this time Wen Zhengming himself refused. He had already made appointments with some fellow villagers, and he would leave for home early tomorrow morning.He has been out for a while, and he is also homesick. Now that he has set a date, he doesn't want to change it.So it was almost time to resign by myself.

Tang Yin had no choice but to send Wen Zhengming away regretfully.Thinking that Wen Zhengming will leave tomorrow, this parting will not be easy to meet again, and I can't help but feel disappointed.Wen Zhengming also understood the kindness, kindness and outstanding talent of the two brothers, and he was reluctant to make such a rare friend.In the end, it was Tang Shen who comforted the two of them, saying that Wu County, Changzhou, is close to each other anyway, and it will be convenient for travel and communication in the future, so there is no need to be sad.

The three said their goodbyes, and Wen Zhengming took the Tang family's carriage back to the small courtyard where he was temporarily staying, and went to bed early that night.Leave Suzhou early the next morning.

Tang Shen who returned to the room also took out Tang Guangde's letter and handed it to Tang Yin.