Standing up to the west wind and geese not returning

Dark clouds overwhelm the city.It's snowing...

A carriage creaked through the night.

In the Bazi Hutong in the suburbs of Beijing, there is an inn named Wenqu.The lights are on right now.From time to time, there were people talking and laughing.

The carriage stopped at the door of the inn.The driver turned his head, raised the worn cotton curtain on the carriage and said, "Officer, it seems to be snowing now. Go ahead and wait until you enter the city. I'm afraid you will need more money. Why don't you just stop here Stay here. The name of this inn is auspicious!"

Because the curtain was lifted by the coachman, the cold air rushed in.The person in the carriage took out a few copper coins and handed them to the driver, "Please trouble brother."

The sound is like the bright moon shining on the snow.A pleasure to listen to.

The coachman was not polite either, he stretched out his chapped and swollen hand to take the copper coins, and said with a smile, "You are welcome. My carriage is old, and you are the first one who is willing to hire me for the journey. It will be a few days for Chinese New Year. But new Add a silk flower to my wife."

The two chatted and laughed again.Yan Ci resigned from the coachman and walked to the inn.

Before entering the door, he glanced back at the street under the night.The quiet house is as silent as a blue-colored distant mountain.

There are scattered snowflakes falling from the sky.Falling on the cold street, or on the lantern under the eaves of the inn, it melts instantly.

This place is located five miles southwest of the capital, and the inn has two floors.It was full of scholars who came to obtain fame.

The waiter in the shop was used to doing business, watched the people coming, hurriedly cleaned a table, and came to greet him with hot tea.

"Yo, guest officer. Do you want to be a top player or stay in a hotel?"

Someone came in, and everyone was chatting and drinking tea, so they all looked this way.Scholars rushing to take the exam, most of them have bookcases on their backs. Everyone is looking at Yan Ci, and they can only see his handsome features and gentle manner.

He was born extremely elegant and handsome, but he was only wearing a half-worn blue cotton robe.A small cloth package of the same color is carried on the shoulder.

Just stop in front of the hall paved with bluestone bricks.It can be said that the sentence is as bright as a jade tree before the wind, and it is full of grace.

Like a scholar.Not like a scholar.

When Yan Ci came into the room, he felt warm and drank.Hearing Xiao Er's greeting, he quickly clasped his hands and said, "I'm in Fuzhou, Yan Shi. I've come to Beijing to rush for the exam, and I'm still looking at my second brother. Zhang Luo came out of a guest room."

The Wenqu Inn has been here for several years. The imperial court held an imperial examination every three years, and was used to seeing countless children from poor families jumping over the dragon gate.

Xiaoer sees that although Yan Ci's clothes are ordinary, but seeing his demeanor, he is quite extraordinary.

He couldn't help explaining with a smile, "I'm sorry for the guests, I will open a large-scale department in March next year, and everyone will not give up on the small shop. Since October, the business has not been interrupted, and until now, there is no separate guest room. "

Xiao Er said, looking at Yan Ci's expression a little bit, and seeing Yan Ci frown slightly, he couldn't help but continued, "If the guest officer doesn't dislike it, why not share a room with two or three of them like everyone else, and the villain will take it. The mats were laid out carefully, and there was enough hot water to scald your feet before going to bed. It was just as warm. Don’t worry, guest officer, we only charge [-]% of the rent per person. I don’t know what you think, guest officer.”

The humility Xiaoer talked about was actually predicting that Yan Ci would definitely agree.

Once it was getting late, and it was snowing again.At this moment, where to find a ready-made store.

Secondly, most of the people who come here to stay here are poor literati, and all young masters from rich families have already gone to live in Yuzhang Building in the city, who would come to stay here.

The few copper coins on everyone's body should be used to purchase the Four Treasures.With [-]% of the rent, you can have a place to stay.And who would mind spending two months with someone else?

Thirdly, this is the most mysterious thing, entering the court as an official, the same class as relatives.Who knows if the person who is squeezed into the same bed with you today will be the number one scholar tomorrow.

The literati are noble, and very few people are willing to take the initiative to cling to them. If they get this opportunity, it would be a wonderful fate to meet the upstarts in the future.

Yan Cicheng was worried that there was no room in the store, and when he heard Xiao Er's words, he bowed his hands to Xiao Er again and said, "That's very good."

Xiao Er is used to being yelled at by others, but now seeing the person in front of him treat him like a relative, friend or brother.

He, who didn't know a few words, actually felt that he had a bit of dignity, so he couldn't help helping Zhang Luo enthusiastically, and said to the others, "I don't know if there is any vacancy in the official's house, give this Brother Yan half a share." It's missing. In the evening, the shop will give you a plate of fennel beans." Xiao Er's business is brisk, and he made up his mind to settle Yan Ci down.

Everyone watched this moment and saw that Yan Cisheng was clean and extraordinary, and his demeanor was modest and polite.

For a while, several people started to make friends with Yan Ci, but because they came early, the room was already put together by other people.Can not help but secretly shake his head regretfully.

"Why don't you let Brother Yan come with me." A voice came.Loud and beautiful.

The speaker occupied a table by himself, with a plate of short cakes in front of him, a bowl of green tea in his hand, and a cotton jacket with embossed indigo blue.

The flat jade on the head tied the hair neatly.The eyebrows are narrow and long, and the streamer turns dark.At this moment, he was holding a cup and looking at Yan Ci.

Looking at the man, Yan Ci felt tidy and cold, with a somewhat arrogant expression. He thought that since the other party took the initiative to take him in, he would not make things difficult, so he cupped his hands and thanked him, "Thank you so much, brother. Dare I ask your name Gao? "

The man put down the teacup and smiled softly, "I don't dare to be it. The ninth branch of the Su Clan in Linzhou. So is Su Ce."

Shock flashed across Yan Ci's eyes, and he asked aloud, "But Mr. Su Ziyang, the former scholar of Guanwen Palace, is a descendant?"

A smile flashed in Su Ce's eyes, and he said, "Brother Yan has also heard of my great-grandfather?"

Su Ziyang, a scholar of Guanwendian University in the former dynasty, was extremely talented and had a clear and bright government.Even if the founding emperor of this dynasty swept away the dust and defeated the capital of the previous dynasty, Su Ziyang would rather die than surrender, showing his arrogance as a literati.

Therefore, in the past hundred years, most scholars have regarded reading as Su Ziyang. First, they should be named as marquises and prime ministers, and second, they should be loyal to their souls.

Su Ce came to the inn earlier, and he doesn't want to interact with people on weekdays. Most of the people are already acquainted, but he is the only one who walks alone. Today, I don't want to be surprised to hear that he is a queen.

For a while, there was a lot of discussion among the people.There are those who want to make friends, some admire and admire, and most of them lament that Yan Ci is lucky.

Yan Ci smiled and said, "Let the ancestors have the same name as Doushan. Loyalty and pride, he is a role model for our generation. Yan Ci was fortunate to be able to read "The Story of the Pagoda of Yanshan Mountain" written by Master Su back then. The words and sentences are exquisite, and they are amazing. I am afraid that this life will be exhausted, and I will not be able to continue."

Su Ce's eyes became more and more approving, and he couldn't help standing up and walking in front of Yan Ci, cupping his hands and saying, "Brother Yan praised you absurdly. If the great-grandfather knows it, he must be grateful for the kindness of Brother Yan and Boya Ziqi, and he will definitely become a confidant. It's just Yan Brother Yan is exhausted, you and I, why don't you go upstairs to wash up, and prepare some wine and food with Xiao Er, so that I can have a good drink with Brother Yan. Wouldn't it be nice!"

Yan Ci traveled all the way from Fuzhou, and indeed he never took a good rest. Now that he heard Su Ce's invitation, he couldn't help but cupped his hands and said with a smile, "Being respectful is worse than obeying orders."

When Yan Ci cleaned up and came out after changing into clean clothes, Su Ce looked at it and said with a smile, "The ancients did not deceive me, as expected, the beauty of a gentleman. There is no limit to beauty..."

Hearing Su Ce's joke, Yan Ci couldn't help laughing, "Brother Su, don't be joking."

At this moment, Xiao Er had already warmed up the food and wine, and the two sat down, Su Ce asked, "I have something unclear, please enlighten Brother Yan."

"Brother Su, please speak."

Su Ce looked at the small bundle that Yan Ci put on the wooden sill, and asked, "Since Brother Yan is going to Beijing to rush for the exam, why don't you see the book case, pen and ink? Could it be that the Four Treasures and the books of Confucius and Mencius were carried by Brother Yan?" Is it in?"

Yan Ci smiled and filled up the wine for Su Ce, and said, "Brother Su, please take a look."

As Yan Ci spoke, he poured some wine into the dish in front of him.Holding a long chopstick in his hand, he lightly dipped it into the small dish.On the red lacquered wood table, two words were written squarely.

Yan Ci...

"Yan Ci?" Su Ce asked, "It should be your name. The font should be the Qiutang style created by Yi Yanqing, a famous calligraphy family in Luoyang. You can’t reach this state without hard training for more than five years.”

Yan Ci put down his chopsticks and exclaimed, "Brother Su really knows a lot."

Su Ce suddenly lowered his eyebrows, and said, "Brother Yan may be able to replace ink with water. But the department will start after the end of the year, and there are still three months left. Brother Yan doesn't bring the books of sages. Are you afraid that the articles will be unfamiliar?"

Yan Ci smiled and said, "Yan Ci grew up in a poor family. Except for the books left by his father, all the books he read were borrowed from classmates. Now it's time for the big competition. How dare Yan Ci take away people's love."

Su Ce cupped his hands and said with a smile, "Brother Yan studied so hard, it really makes Su Ce feel ashamed. I have books of sages and sages in my bookcase, all of which are official official titles. If you don't mind Brother Yan, feel free to read them. A place to think about. My foolish brother would like to hear a good opinion."

Yan Ci originally admired Su Ziyang's character and talent, but now seeing Su Ce's demeanor is a bit of a nobleman, he couldn't help but feel happy. The two talked very happily and hit it off at first sight. From the customs of the previous dynasty to the prosperity of the capital.Say nothing.

When the two talked about the current situation, Yan Ci's brows were a little gloomy, and he said, "The capital is leaning on Yaoguan in the north and Xia in the south. Since the capital was established, the originally bitter and cold ground has changed. It has become a prosperous and prosperous place, but now the imperial court implements double taxes. If the people can’t pay the good money, they will find someone to borrow money. The interest is so high that the people can’t afford it. The capital is prosperous and beautiful everywhere. The suffering of the people is really pitiful and deplorable."

It is now night.North wind call sign.The dilapidated window lattices were rattled by the wind and snow.

Su Ce got up and went to open the branch of Xiaoxuan's window.The cold wind was wrapped in little snow falling from the small gaps. Su Ce looked at the heavy snow outside and said, "Brother Yan, please be careful, this is already the boundary of the capital, and the walls have ears. If someone has the heart. Brother Yan I'm afraid I won't be able to get away with the crime of insulting the Holy Majesty.

You and I are both scholars, even if we have worries, how can a pair of bare hands save the situation.All I want is to be named on the gold list one day.You and I can also show our ambitions.Just be a good official for the country and the people. "