Chapter 1021: Becoming Ouyang Xiu's Disciple

When Ouyang Xiu and the others arrived, Wang Fuli arched his hands: "Two gentlemen, I don't know what brings you here?"

"I am Sheng Hong."

Wang Fuli suddenly realized, and hurriedly bowed: "Greetings, my lord. The little one is Wang Fuli, the steward. The young master is having breakfast, I will have the young master come to welcome you."

"No need." Ouyang Xiu waved his hand, "I ask you, what are these commoners doing gathered in front of your house?"

Sheng Hong was Wang Yan's future father-in-law and the Yangzhou judge; Wang Fuli knew all these things. Now seeing Sheng Hong standing behind Ouyang Xiu, with a very cautious and polite demeanor, even if he didn't know Ouyang Xiu, he should know that this was a bigger official than Sheng Hong.

"Returning to my lord, my young master recently thought that it is not easy for the common people, and he couldn't manage other places, so he wanted to do something in Wang Family Village, take care of the villagers, and lead the villagers to live a good life. Therefore, he recently bought seedlings of pigs, chickens, ducks, and geese, and distributed them to the villagers to feed. He will collect more chickens, ducks, and geese, eat their eggs, and supplement the nutrition of the elderly, women, and children in the family. As for pigs, he will sell meat at the end of the year, and use the proceeds to buy pig seedlings to feed with the villagers.

In addition, it rained a few days ago, and the young master thought that the road in the village was difficult to walk, so he wanted to pave all the small roads in the village with stone slabs. The young master also said that in the future, when he earns money, he will help the villagers in the village rebuild their houses..."

Wang Fuli spoke naturally, fluently, without stumbling, repeating the beautiful scenery of Wang Family Village that Wang Yan had described to him.

Ouyang Xiu and Sheng Hong were stunned. On one hand, they felt that Wang Yan was really good at bluffing, and on the other hand, they felt that if Wang Yan was really willing to spend money to bring up this small Wang Family Village, it was not a difficult thing.

Although Ouyang Xiu was still lamenting the high-walled mansion of Wang Yan's family and the dilapidated houses of other villagers, he would not have more thoughts, because this was the norm on this land.

It was rare that Wang Yan was willing to revolutionize himself.

He smiled and waved his hand: "You continue, we will listen and watch."

The steward bowed again, then turned to continue to instruct the villagers, there were still quite a lot of rules. Raising pigs required building pigsties, and chickens, ducks, and geese also needed places to be free-ranged, and most importantly, the sanitary environment had to be guaranteed.

This time, Wang Yan was taking advantage of the trend to change the hygiene in the village. After all, only their family's area was clean, and the sanitary conditions of other families were really not good, which was really dirty, messy, and poor.

Ouyang Xiu listened quietly for a while, without anyone leading, and walked into Wang's house on his own. It was as if he had entered his own home, walking around and looking around in the courtyard.

It was because he knew that there were not many women in Wang Yan's house, so he had no scruples, not because Ouyang Xiu was shameless.

After a good while, he came to the backyard and saw Wang Yan, who was wearing an undershirt, with his hair disheveled, closing his eyes and basking in the sun on a lounge chair for a nap.

Hearing the movement, Wang Yan shaded his eyes with his hand and looked, hurriedly got up, bowed and said: "I don't know that my uncle is here, it is really a loss of decorum, uncle must not blame me. I don't know who this is?"

"It is the Ouyang Drunken Old Man you want to see."

Wang Yan was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly bowed again: "I don't know that Master Ouyang has arrived, the student is rude."

"Forget it, forget it, since I didn't know we were coming, what rudeness is there?" Ouyang Xiu waved his hand.

"Thank you, Master Ouyang. Master Ouyang, uncle, please. Dongliang, make tea."

Ouyang Xiu shook his head: "Go to the study."

Wang Yan naturally had no objection: "Please this way."

The three of them arrived at the study. Ouyang Xiu didn't have much to say, as if it were his own home, looking around in the study, and standing in front of the bookshelf, pulling out a few books at random, looking at the annotations written by Wang Yan.

Ouyang Xiu didn't sit, so Wang Yan and Sheng Hong, the cheap father-in-law, naturally couldn't sit either, so they had to stand on the side and watch.

"You set up such a big battle at the door, did Changbai send you a letter?" Sheng Hong asked his cheap son-in-law in a low voice.

"No." Wang Yan shook his head, also in a low voice, "After returning from uncle's house that day, I started to handle these things. It was really a coincidence, if it was half an hour later, it would have been dispersed."

Sheng Hong finally nodded, picked up the tea and drank it, and asked: "Is this the new stir-fried tea that Changbai mentioned?"

"Exactly, it's just not perfect yet. Unfortunately, there is no good tea at home. Uncle, please make do with it."

Glancing at Wang Yan, Sheng Hong said: "My Sheng family's main house has a tea garden in Youyang. I will make the decision to use it as a dowry when you and Hualan get married."

How could Wang Yan not understand that the father-in-law thought he was hinting at him.

Speaking of which, Sheng Hong was the second branch of the Sheng family. The main branch was doing business. Sheng Hong's family in Yangzhou, the big mansion in the capital, plus their family's various expenses, part of it was the dowry of Old Madam Xu, part of it was the dowry of Madam Wang, part of it was the family background of Sheng Hong's branch, and then there was the support of the Sheng family's main house, breathing together and helping each other.

After all, business without the protection of officials would definitely not be done well. Although Sheng Hong's official position was not big, he was also a Jinshi, and he was also widely connected, with acquaintances everywhere, and if there were no acquaintances, there were common friends, all of whom could be contacted. This was of considerable help to the business of the Sheng family's main house.

Although there was no ability to bully others, and even had to be bullied by more powerful people, it was definitely not bullied too severely. As long as you were willing to bow your head, many things could be settled...

Wang Yan smiled and said: "Uncle misunderstood his nephew. Money is like floating clouds to me. Eating and drinking well is enough. How can I ask for a tea mountain from uncle? How about this, uncle, call the main house to send some people over to study the stir-frying technique together, and go back to use better tea leaves to stir-fry. In this way, nephew has the good fortune to drink some good tea, and the main house can also take the lead and earn more money."

"Do you think that tea made in this way will be loved by scholar-officials in the future?"

"Exactly, because it is simple and direct, without complicated manipulation, brewed and drunk, with the natural fragrance of herbs, this is the true flavor of tea, and it is the elegance that suits scholar-officials."

Sheng Hong nodded noncommittally: "Someone will come in these few days."

At this time, Ouyang Xiu, who was looking at Wang Yan's annotations, closed the book, stuffed it back into its original place, turned around, looked at the two people who were upright and smiling, and couldn't help shaking his head with a laugh: "My eyes are blurred, but my ears are not deaf. You two father-in-law and son-in-law are really harmonious. Sit down and talk, and I will also taste this new tea that suits the elegance of scholar-officials."

Seeing him sit down, Sheng Hong sat on the side, and naturally it was Wang Yan who served people.

He stepped forward to pour tea for Ouyang Xiu and said, "Master Ouyang, please."

Ouyang Xiu held the teacup, took a small sip, and nodded: "It is indeed as you said, with the natural fragrance of grass and trees. However, in the past, we all took boiling tea as a pleasure. A cup of good tea needs to be cooked with warm fire, accompanied by sheep oil..."

He said a lot about the cooking, tasting, and various famous people's comments on tea soup, and asked with a smile, "Why replace tea soup with this clear tea?"

"The clear is clear. The soup is turbid."

Wang Yan moved a chair and sat opposite Ouyang Xiu and Sheng Hong, as if being interviewed. He smiled and said, "The pleasure of tea soup mentioned by Master Ouyang, student thinks it is nothing more than scholars being sour, crowning it with pleasure. According to this, clear tea also has its pleasure. For example, tea species, this is an unnamed wild rock tea in the mountains. If stir-fried with Longjing, it will definitely have a different flavor. Furthermore, brewing, what is the taste of the first brew? What is the taste of the second brew? What about the third brew? As for the tea set, Master Ouyang can imagine the interest in it."

"With Master Ouyang's great reputation today, student thinks that as long as Master Ouyang takes the tea back, entertains three or five guests, and talks about it in letters with friends, in less than half a year, this new method of tea will sweep the Great Song, and everyone will seek it. At that time, major tea merchants will definitely study the new method, and the interest in it will naturally be clear."

"Ziyan has insight."

This is not a difficult truth to understand. Ouyang Xiu understood the cause and effect as soon as his brain turned. He smiled, turned to chat with Wang Yan about family affairs for a while, and asked about the past.

After this, he looked at the tea leaves unfurling in the teacup and said, "Gu'an previously brought the "A Cut of Plum Blossoms" you wrote to see me. The lyrics are good, and the calligraphy is even better. I am not as good as you. Precisely because of this, I had the idea to come here to see what kind of person you, Wang Ziyan, are. Ziyan makes new tea, and must have gained something. Why not chant it?"

This is the time to test acting skills. Seeing Wang Yan stunned for a moment, then silent for a moment, he slowly opened his mouth to speak.

"I have a seven-character poem, please Master Ouyang correct it."

Seeing Ouyang Xiu nod with a smile, Wang Yan slowly said: "The catkins and floating threads are in the third month, the wind blows and the rain washes the flowers of the city, I don't know the Qingming wine in the east city, how is it compared to the Grain Rain tea at the west window."

"Very good." Ouyang Xiu stroked his goatee and nodded with satisfaction, "Qingming has just passed, the wind and rain have just collected, very good."

"Thank you, Master Ouyang. In this way, this poem is named "Drinking Clear Tea with Master Ouyang Drunken Old Man and Uncle Sheng in the Third Month"."

Ouyang Xiu waved his hand and urged: "Write it, write it."

Wang Yan arched his hands, not humble at all, walked to the large desk, used the undried ink, and wrote it down with a big brush in one go.

Ouyang Xiu and Sheng Hong stood on the side watching together, all quite fascinated. After all, Wang Yan's calligraphy was like a startled swan, like a swimming dragon, quite aesthetic. Fluent, elegant, without losing squareness. Scholars at this time couldn't help but envy, and it was the same when they reached Ouyang Xiu's level. Not as good is not as good, especially since Wang Yan was still excessively young, which really made people jealous of this talent.

Even if Ouyang Xiu and Sheng Hong were the smartest among the smart people, without talent, it would be impossible to stand out in the imperial examination army, and it would be impossible to be a high official in the place. However, meeting Wang Yan, who was pretending to be young, they couldn't help but sigh at their own dullness, recalling the hardships of practicing calligraphy with suspended arms in those years, wiping away a tear of bitterness, and feeling sorry for their own efforts...

Unsurprisingly, it was another long chat about calligraphy, from ancient times to the present, from various masters, to pen, ink, paper, and inkstone.

Ouyang Xiu's chat was quite jumpy, but Wang Yan could also keep up with the train of thought, which could be said to be a pleasant conversation.

After this, the three of them sat down to drink tea again.

Ouyang Xiu asked: "When I came, I saw that your door was lively, and I heard that you wanted to lead the neighbors to live a good life. You haven't had this action before, but now you have thoughts, where did it start?"

"Thinking about the student's past, Master Ouyang already knows. I didn't do it before because the family background was not thick and the prestige was insufficient. Now, after accumulating for a few years, I also have some money. In addition, the student is preparing for the imperial examination, confident that I can pass the exam, and I will definitely be an official for a term in the future. I have heard of "enriching the country and strengthening the army", and I have thought about how to make the country rich and how to make the army strong. Unfortunately, the student's knowledge is shallow, and I don't have the high-level insights of the officials in the imperial court.

Privately, I think that if the people are rich, the country will be rich, and if the people are strong, the army will be strong, and if the country is rich, the army can be raised. Therefore, to strengthen the army, we must first enrich the country, and to enrich the country, we must first enrich the people. The story of Chen Fan and Xue Qin in the Former Han Dynasty, Xue Qin said "If you don't sweep a house, how can you sweep the world". The student also thought that what is obtained from books is ultimately shallow, and one must practice it to know it. In this way, I will first enrich the people of Wang Family Village."

"Ziyan has the ambition of reform?"

Reform is a heavy word. Wang Anshi and others are all outside, and it hasn't been a few years yet. Ouyang Xiu was amazed that Wang Yan had such insights at such a young age, and it seemed that there was already a theory in it, and he was also amazed at Wang Yan's ability to act as soon as he said it, and his confidence that he would definitely be an official.

But he frowned, because people who reform, whether they succeed or not, don't end up very well.

"Master Ouyang looks up to the student." Wang Yan shook his head and smiled, "At such an age, the student has not yet penetrated the laws of our Great Song, how dare I talk about change? It's just a delusion to enrich the country and strengthen the army, and restore our Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. A man is in the world, holding a three-foot sword, establishing unparalleled achievements, which is my lifelong wish."

Ouyang Xiu nodded, because Wang Yan still had a sense of proportion.

He smiled and asked: "What is obtained from books is ultimately shallow, and one must practice it to know it. This sentence is well said, is there a first part?"

"The ancients spared no effort in learning, and the skills of youth were only achieved in old age. What is obtained from books is ultimately shallow, and one must practice it to know it. It is called exhortation, and it is a work of self-encouragement." Wang Yan was shameless, speaking in a high-sounding manner.

"Ziyan truly has good literary talent." Ouyang Xiu sighed and clapped his hands.

The father-in-law Sheng Hong spoke at this time: "Master Ouyang, Ziyan's parents died early, which is truly not easy. Since the marriage has been settled with my family, I should be half a father to Ziyan. Master Ouyang has always been generous, so I will speak straight. Since you think so highly of Ziyan, why not accept him as a disciple and teach and carry him by your side, cultivate good talents for our Great Song, and it can also become a beautiful story."

Ouyang Xiu stroked his goatee and laughed loudly: "I have this intention, but I don't know how to speak. Gu'an understands my heart, understands my heart. However, teaching and carrying cannot be talked about. I also have places where I am not as good as Ziyan. Moreover, there are many people in the court who hate me to death, I am afraid that it will implicate Ziyan. I don't know if Ziyan is willing?"

Wang Yan didn't say a word, got up to pour tea, and then knelt down and kowtowed three times: "Student Wang Yan pays respects to Master, Master please drink tea."

Even if he had lived for more than a thousand years, he had no such burdens in his heart, and there was no obstacle to kowtowing to others. Even if there were obstacles, he comforted himself by thinking that Ouyang Xiu was an ancient person a thousand years ago, and he was kowtowing to the sages of China. If he thought utilitarianly, the benefits of apprenticing to Ouyang Xiu were great...

"Good, good." Ouyang Xiu laughed and drank the tea, then waved his hand, "Get up, silly boy, why are you kowtowing so loudly?"

"Student knows some hard work, my head is very hard." Wang Yan got up and added tea to Sheng Hong, "Uncle, drink tea."

Sheng Hong laughed: "Good, people say that a teacher for one day is a father for life, and you can be considered to have a family in the future."

"That's the truth." Ouyang Xiu nodded with a smile, "We won't announce it to the four directions. I will write a letter to inform you later. Tomorrow you come to my mansion, take some books I annotated, and if you don't understand, come and ask me. The imperial examination should be the priority."

Ouyang Xiu had many disciples, and he was more willing to carry promising juniors. Su Shi, Su Zhe, Zeng Gong, etc., were all his disciples, and he also had the grace of carrying Wang Anshi, a serious big shot.

"Yes, Master." Wang Yan responded respectfully, "It's almost noon, Master, uncle, let's have lunch first, and talk while eating?"

"That's fine."

Wang Yan served the two half-fathers, ate a sumptuous lunch around the table, and drank a lot of wine, listening to Ouyang Xiu chanting about Fan Zhongyan's reform from his perspective, talking about the political situation, and also telling Wang Yan about other disciples, and telling Wang Yan a lot of matters about the imperial examination.

Chanting that the state examination was originally presided over by him, now that he had accepted Wang Yan as a disciple, he had to avoid suspicion and hand it over to others to handle, etc. He also urged Wang Yan to write the later poems, and when he left, he took them away together with the previous one. He also said that he had the true work of Chu Suiliang in his hand, and waited for Wang Yan to come over to appreciate it.

The Drunken Old Man is a true drunken old man. Ouyang Xiu's alcohol capacity is not very good. When he drinks too much, he has a bit of a crazy scholar meaning. When he left, he was drunk, didn't want anyone to support him, and even tucked the two pieces of calligraphy written by Wang Yan under his arm. Passing by the courtyard, he pointed to the newly made lounge chair and said it was very good, so Wang Yan sensibly called someone to load it into the carriage, and returned to the city with Ouyang Xiu. It can be seen that he had taken a fancy to it when he came in.

He also promised a lounge chair to Sheng Hong, who was on the side and wanted it very much but didn't say it, saying that it would be delivered the day after tomorrow. The latter left satisfied with the two pieces of calligraphy written by Wang Yan. Only then did he send away the two half-fathers.

To tell the truth, even without Sheng Hong's introduction to Ouyang Xiu, if Wang Yan performed well in the imperial examination, he would still be able to see people, and he would still apprentice at that time. Even in the remaining few months, if he performed well and marketed himself, he might be able to attract Ouyang Xiu to meet him. It was just a different order.

Like now, Sheng Hong did play a key role. However, it was also good for Sheng Hong. He was originally just Ouyang Xiu's subordinate official, but now with Wang Yan as a link, and today's events, he also established a relationship with Ouyang Xiu. Diligent maintenance and deepening the relationship in the future would also be of no small benefit to him.

So Sheng Hong, who didn't go to work for a day, returned home in a blissful mood and went to Madam Wang's courtyard.

Sheng Hong came over, and Madam Wang was naturally blissful. Sheng Hong had been sleeping here for the past few days, and she didn't nag about her eldest daughter who was silly and lovesick, because she knew it was because Hualan picked up Wang Yan on the street.

"Da Guanren, didn't you go to Wang Family Village? What good thing makes you so happy?" Madam Wang asked with concern while serving to take off his outer robe.

Sheng Hong was still smiling, glanced at Hualan and Changbai who ran over, and smiled: "Master Ouyang accepted Wang Yan as a disciple."

"Really?" The three asked in unison, their voices overlapping.

Madam Wang was surprised first. She didn't expect that the rural landlord she didn't think much of would have this opportunity.

Hualan and Changbai were simple, happy, and admiring, all of them.

"Could that be fake?" Sheng Hong waved his hand impatiently, "Prepare a table of wine and dishes, I want to eat some."

"Yes, husband." The nanny who served on the side responded and turned to go out to order people to do things.

Sheng Hong sat down, spread out the two pieces of calligraphy written by Wang Yan on the table: "Changbai, come and see, the two new poems written by your Brother Wang, especially this one "Drinking Clear Tea with Master Ouyang Drunken Old Man and Uncle Sheng in the Third Month", it was composed by Ziyan in an instant, not weaker than Cao Zijian's seven-step poem. This exhortation is even more popular, and the last sentence "What is obtained from books is ultimately shallow, and one must practice it to know it" will surely be a famous sentence passed down through the ages. You have to learn, Changbai."

"Da Guanren, tell us about it. How did Master Ouyang accept Wang Yan as a disciple?"

"Although Ziyan does have great talent, if it weren't for my efforts to promote it, it would be hard to say." Sheng Hong told the story triumphantly, praising himself very highly...

Hualan served on the side, first making tea soup, and when the wine and dishes came up, she served food and poured wine, and the smile on her face never stopped.

Listening to Wang Yan wanting to lead the neighbors to live a good life, listening to Wang Yan's great principles, listening to Ouyang Xiu's examination from beginning to end, and Wang Yan's response, she thought of Wang Yan's spirit at that time, and she was drunk without drinking... ===== CHAPTER 1022 =====