Enter the red building

No matter how powerful the rumors were outside, and how good the business of Zuixianju was, Xue Qiu didn't inquire about it, and these had little to do with him.For Xue Qiu now, the most important thing is the imperial examination three years later.

Xue Qiu just stayed in the room to practice drawing red and big characters and read the Four Books and Five Classics.Because my uncle has already replied, and the teacher has also invited me.Take advantage of this time to practice writing with a brush. The quality of writing in the imperial examination greatly affects the results of the examination.

The former Xue Qiu's handwriting is not bad, so it is not too difficult for Xue Qiu to write now.Xue Qiu's main practice is regular script, which is the current handwritten orthodox Chinese characters, which evolved from official script, also known as regular script and real script.

The rice paper on the desk is pressed with stones, spread out, and the arms are resting on the ivory carved mountain-patterned water figures to prevent the sleeves from rubbing the ink.Regular script is divided into lower case and upper case, the difference between the two lies in the size of the font.Xue Qiu now writes in lower case letters, all written vertically from right to left, with strong strokes, with oddly shaped characters and unique lines, which is extremely natural.The strokes of regular script include Teton, Zanglu, Fangyuan, and fast and slow strokes.Different methods of using the pen produce lines with different shapes and textures in regular script.The shape of the font must be elegant and have a sense of elegance, so that it is scattered on the paper; it must also be contained in the middle, and the tendons should not be exposed. Normal font size.There is no hanging, no shrinking, and no closing. Fang is Zangfeng, which is to make people think outside the words.The structure must be tight, otherwise it will be scattered and devoid of spirit, but if it is too dense, it may become involved in vulgarity.In short, writing is to start and close in an orderly manner, with clear strokes, solid and powerful, stop and go, straight but not stiff, curved but not weak, smooth and natural.

Xue Qiu practiced seriously for a few days and made great progress.Of course, Xue Qiu didn't just practice writing. He would also read the Four Books and Five Classics at other times. After all, this is the main content of the imperial examination.As for memorizing the Four Books and Five Classics, even with a good memory, Xue Qiu still finds it very difficult, because they are all in classical Chinese, and some of them are not easy to understand.Xue Qiu could only slow down, first understand the content roughly and try to memorize it.It is much easier to memorize after understanding.

"Master, shopkeeper Xu said that the martial artist he invited has already been brought." Bai Xia trotted in and said.

Xue Qiu put the brush in his hand on the white jade engraved pine and cypress characters, removed the ivory carved mountain pattern arms and water figures, rubbed his wrists, and said with a smile, "Oh, I see, let's go!"

The two went straight to the main hall, and saw shopkeeper Xu and a man beside him at a glance.Xue Qiu carefully looked at the man, about 30 years old, wearing a dark black robe and mandarin jacket, with ordinary cloth shoes on his feet, his hair tied up with a straw rope, not messy, bushy eyebrows, and bright and piercing eyes , with a beard on the chin, the most noticeable thing is a long scar on the left face, from the corner of the eye to the chin, it looks very hideous and terrifying, exuding a kind of arrogance. People dare to provoke him easily.

When Xue Qiu looked at the man, the man also looked straight at Xue Qiu, feeling that Xue Qiu was a little different from the young masters he had seen before.

Shopkeeper Xu stepped forward and Jian Shao said: "Master, this is the martial artist you invited, named Shi Tie. He has served as a soldier and as an escort."

Xue Qiu nodded to show that he understood, and asked Shi Tie: "How about martial arts?"

Shi Tie looked around, walked to a ginkgo tree in the courtyard of the main hall, and kicked it without saying a word. With a sound of "click", a crack appeared in the lower part of the trunk, which gradually became larger, and the tree gradually fell to one side. Slowly, it fell to the ground with a "bump", crushing many nearby flowers and plants, and raising a lot of dust.

Everyone was taken aback by Shi Tie's actions, and Xue Qiu couldn't help raising his eyebrows, he was still a fool.

Shopkeeper Xu quickly apologized and said: "Master, don't be angry. This Shi Tie is so upright, that's why he was fired by the Escort. But his kung fu is still very good."

He was really upright, and kicked the tree of the employer's house as soon as he came.

Xue Qiu waved his hand, indicating that shopkeeper Xu needless to say, walked up to Shi Tie with some excitement, and asked respectfully: "Master Shi, can you fly over the eaves and walk over the walls?"

Shi Tie shook his head, "No!"

"Then do you know how to tap acupuncture points?" Xue Qiu tried to draw two moves before asking again.

Still shaking his head, "No!"

"Then do you know any hidden weapons, the ones that hit the target without fail?" Xue Qiu looked at Shi Tie with bright eyes.

Shi Tie felt terrified, but still shook his head, "No!"

"Then what do you know?" Xue Qiu asked dejectedly.I seem to be asking about some martial arts that are not too outrageous, and I haven't mentioned those Taiji swordsmanship, Shaolin 72 stunts, how can I not know it.

Bai Xia and Shopkeeper Xu who were behind were quite speechless when they heard Xue Qiu's words, and silently rolled their eyes at Xue Qiu in their hearts.

Shi Tie was also quite speechless to Xue Qiu, and only said: "Swords, guns, swords and halberds, you can punch and kick!"

Xue Qiu twitched the corners of his mouth, forced a smile and said, "Hehe! It's amazing!" He doesn't even know some tricks, it's really boring.Xue Qiu thought for a while and asked, "Is your martial arts considered powerful in the military camp?"

Shi Tie shook his head and said seriously: "It doesn't count!"

"No wonder I can't get along in the military camp. Presumably there are reasons for this," Xue Qiu muttered to himself, "That's all!"

Xue Qiu nodded, and said to Shi Tie: "Okay! You will teach me martial arts, do you want to kowtow and offer tea?"

Shopkeeper Xu behind him stepped forward and said, "Master, if you are willing to worship Shi Tie as your teacher, you must serve tea. If you don't want to, it doesn't matter, it's just a random trick to learn."

Xue Qiu shook his head, "How can you be casual? Bai Xia, hurry up and prepare tea, sir, I will learn from Master Shi today." He also invited Shi Tie to enter the main hall and sit on the chicken wing wood south official hat chair in front of the hall.

Xue Qiu brushed off his clothes and knelt down, "Master, please accept my apprentice's obeisance!" After the obeisance, Xue Qiu took the tea from Bai Xia and offered it with both hands, "Master, please drink tea!"

Shi Tie took the tea, took a big sip, and said uncomfortably: "I will teach you well, don't be afraid of getting tired!" Shi Tie never thought that this would happen, he thought he was just teaching Xue Qiu casually. After a few tricks, but Xue Qiu was willing to worship him as a teacher, Shi Tie was very happy in his heart, and made up his mind to teach his apprentice well.

In fact, this apprentice ceremony is relatively simple, after all, it is just learning martial arts.If you are worshiping a scholar as your teacher, you should ask your disciples to present the teacher with a bundle of six rites. These six rites include celery, which means hard work and learning, and hard work; lotus seeds, which means painstaking education; red beans, which means good fortune. Photo; jujube, which means early high school; longan, which means the completion of merit; dry lean meat strips to express the disciple's heart.Then kneel down and offer tea with both hands.At the same time, the teacher will also give gifts to the disciples.

After the apprenticeship ceremony, Xue Qiu directly called Shi Tie his master.Shopkeeper Xu gave the money for hiring Shi Tie to teach martial arts, Xue Qiu just told shopkeeper Xu to give more.

Shopkeeper Xu should be right.

Early the next morning, Xue Qiu came to a remote courtyard in the southwest of the outer courtyard to learn martial arts.Some things needed to learn martial arts have also been placed in the yard, such as chained wooden stakes, swords, guns, swords and halberds.Shi Tie lives here. Shi Tie's home is not far from Xue's house, and he can go back anytime.

Shi Tie had very strict requirements on Xue Qiu as an apprentice. Presumably, he did not regard Xue Qiu as a young master. He had to do horse riding for an hour at the beginning, and it was very standard.Then it is carrying water and running, running wooden stakes, boxing, and practicing swords.

For learning martial arts, Xue Qiu didn't talk about it verbally, but made up his mind to learn it hard. In most cases, fists are the last word.

Xue Qiu stood in the sun, his clothes were soaked with sweat, his legs and feet were trembling, but Xue Qiu still gritted his teeth and persisted.In the previous life, he could only lie on the bed. In this life, he finally had such an opportunity, so how could he not cherish it.

"Master, do you want to—" Zhu Qing put medicine on Xue Qiu's shoulders, her eyes were red, and she felt sorry for her, "Don't learn martial arts anymore, look at your injury!"

Xue Qiu's shoulder was blood red, injured from carrying water.Xue Qiu endured the pain and asked Zhuqing to apply the medicine, while smiling, "It doesn't matter, it will be fine when the scabs form. You must tell Ziyu and the others not to let mother know."

Zhuqing could only agree.

On the third day of learning martial arts, Xue Qiu's uncle came with the invited teacher.

Xue Qiu's uncle, Chen Yuanqiao, is almost forty years old, and he is an official. He wears a blue double-breasted narrow-sleeved gown and indigo trousers. The small carved crown tied the hair, showing the elegance of a literati and the arrogance of an official.

"Qiu'er, come and meet the teacher!" Chen Yuanqiao said to Xue Qiu with a smile.

Xue Qiu already knew from his uncle's letter that the man in his 40s in front of him was the invited teacher. His surname was Jiang and his name was Zhexi. He was admitted in the same year as his uncle. .Xue Qiu respectfully stepped forward to say hello to his uncle, then turned to say hello to Jiang Zhexi, "I've seen the teacher!"

Jiang Zhexi is in his 40s, but his temple hair is already graying. His face seems to be covered with wind and frost, but there is a bookish air between his brows and eyes. He is wearing a blue green bamboo robe and nodding to Xue Qiu.Originally, it was a friend who asked him to help him, but now seeing Xue Qiu's performance, he felt that he was also a talent to be made.I originally wanted to become an official, but my fate was too many. If I can teach a good student, it is not in vain for me to study hard for ten years.

Mrs. Xue had already prepared the six rites of worship, and when the gifts and money were presented, Xue Qiu bowed down and offered tea, and then finished the ceremony.

Jiang Zhexi also said a few words about being modest and prudent, and stayed at Xue's house.Chen Yuanqiao saw that he had already apprenticed as a teacher, so he took his leave and went back to Anping County, and asked Jiang Zhexi's wife and children to come to meet him not long ago.

Mrs. Xue resolutely asked Chen Yuanqiao to stay after dinner, but Mrs. Xue just gave up because Chen Yuanqiao said that he had something to do and couldn't stay for long.But he also prepared a lot of cakes and cloths for Chen Yuanqiao to bring to his sister-in-law, nephew and niece.

In this way, Xue Qiu's career in literature also began.