Xiaoyaoshanjun

Chapter 62 Reminiscing about the past

It wasn't that long since the two of them last saw each other. Soon, Hu'er went out to get some wine and came back with some meat and vegetables from a nearby restaurant.

The three children sat aside and ate steamed buns with three dishes given to them separately.

Tian Buli and Hu Yuwei ate at a separate table and ate several times slower than the three children.

The three children had almost finished eating. Tian Buli and Hu Yuwei just drank a glass of wine, ate a few bites of food, and chatted about things in the countryside and the city.

"It won't hurt to take care of farm matters for a year or two. Just focus on your studies and try to pass the imperial examination as soon as possible."

Hu Yuwei knew the benefits of studying, and advised Tian Buli to study hard and not waste his time on meaningless business.

Tian Buli smiled and said, "I know what I am doing. I will definitely take the exam to become a scholar next year. Whether I can pass it depends on my luck."

Hu Yuwei said: "You are talented, there will be no problem."

Tian Buli waved his hand, "Don't flatter me too much. I know what I am capable of. I have little experience in studying, and I am not as hardworking as you. If I can get half of your score, it is just luck. I am sorry for those scholars who have been taking the exam for a long time."

Hu Yuwei said: "If you don't pass the exam next year, you can wait until the year after. You are young and have plenty of time."

Tian Buli looked at Hu Yuwei, "What about you, sir? Are you confident this year?"

Hu Yuwei smiled and said, "My dear teacher showed me the essays of many members and champions of the past. The emperor likes writers who can do practical things, not those who talk nonsense."

"My benefactor, you were ranked last on the list of Tongsheng last time. County Magistrate Chen mentioned this to my mentor when we were having dinner. He said that although your writing is nonsense, it is done in one go and does not look like plagiarism. He also felt that you are a decisive person regardless of your literary talent, so he allowed you to become a Tongsheng."

Hu Yuwei smiled and said, "Later, when we took the exam, County Magistrate Chen saw that you knew your own limitations and did not test you on the spot."

Tian Buli smiled awkwardly, "I see. I will definitely thank County Magistrate Chen when I get a chance. I will go see him off when he leaves office."

Hu Yuwei comforted him by saying, "I was able to get the top spot thanks to your teachings. You taught me a lot about how to be a good person and do good things. But I feel that you are not interested in fame and fortune. I wonder why?"

When Hu Yuwei asked this, Tian Buli reached out and took out a handful of more than ten copper coins, "You three go to the entrance of the alley and buy some fruits and vegetables, wash them and bring them in."

When the three children who were about to go out to play after dinner heard this, they quickly came over happily to take the money.

Hu'er ran fast, and when he got the money he shouted, "Okay! Second Dad!"

After saying that, he ran out, and his two younger brothers hurriedly chased after him.

After the child went out, Tian Buli looked at Hu Yuwei.

Hu Yuwei obviously knew that Tian Buli had deliberately sent the three children away. Children could not be trusted, and no one knew whether they would tell others.

Tian Buli said: "I am not interested in being an official. I took the imperial examination mainly to live a more comfortable life. I am more interested in martial arts and Taoism."

Hu Yuwei nodded, "I see. I've always thought you had lofty ambitions, so you didn't mind the trivialities and hardships."

"I thought you wanted to become a high-ranking official, or have some other ambition, but I didn't expect you wanted to practice Taoism and martial arts."

Hu Yuwei looked at Tian Buli with a serious expression.

"I think you definitely have the talent for martial arts. If nothing else, during the time you took care of me, I could clearly feel your strength and skills improving."

"Niupi Kungfu is a very common martial art, and it is considered a low-level martial art. I also know that you later learned Xia Bayuan's martial arts."

"If you are interested in these, I will ask for you later to see which sect is accepting disciples and recommend you to go there."

After hearing this, Tian Buli smiled and said, "Forget it. I am fine practicing martial arts alone now. If I go to another sect, I will have to start as a disciple. I am used to being alone these days and I will feel uncomfortable." "Sir, you should be busy with the provincial examination first. You don't need to take care of my affairs for the time being. It's better to rely on you than on me now."

Hu Yuwei smiled and nodded after hearing this, "That's right, with your help, I can study hard these days. The Xia family and several classmates from the academy in the prefecture city sent me some money recently."

Hu Yuwei stood up and sat down again a second later, saying with a smile: "I will give the money to you to manage later. Thank you for your hard work during this period."

Tian Buli nodded and agreed, "Sir, you are too polite. From now on, please call me Tian Sheng, so that you won't be unable to change your words when outsiders are around."

Hu Yuwei smiled but said nothing, and then he talked about something else, "Hu'er can't learn anything around me, so you're here to discipline him, so that he won't eat and drink for free all day and steal with a bunch of alley kids."

"If the child is really useless, send him back to be taken care of by Dou Niang, or let him go to your place and be a village manager."

Tian Buli nodded, "How is Gou'er doing in school?"

"He's doing pretty well." Hu Yuwei smiled and said, "I didn't ask the teacher at the school, but I saw that he can also write and recite, so that's good, just take your time."

Gou'er is the focus of Hu Yuwei's training. Tiger and Leopard will be separated in the future, and Hu Yuwei and Dou Niang will definitely live with Gou'er.

We chatted for more than ten minutes and the food on the table was less than half eaten.

Soon the three happy children came back with some melons, and they were happy about eating the melons and hiding the money.

"Dad! Second Dad! The melons are washed!"

The dog was holding a wooden plate with four slices of watermelon on it.

The watermelons here are not soft or rotten, and do not have many seeds. They taste very good and are cheap, so ordinary people can buy several at a time.

The dog put the watermelon on the table and started to clear the dishes.

Seeing this, Hu Yuwei said, "I have already eaten. Leave a plate of pig liver for me and share the rest."

"Okay, Dad!" Gou'er left the remaining half plate of fried pork liver and prepared to take the rest of the stewed chicken soup and side dishes and peanuts away.

Tian Buli stood up to help, holding the chicken soup in one hand and said, "I'll take it back to the house for you."

"Okay, second dad!" The dog agreed quickly.

Tian Buli brought some snacks to the children, washed his hands, and went back to the house to find Hu Yuwei.

Hu Yuwei had already left the table. When Tian Buli entered the room, Hu Yuwei took out a bag of silver.

"Here are eighty taels of silver. There is also tonic medicine sent by a nobleman in the room. I listen to you and dare not take too much of this tonic. See if there is anything you need and take it."

The two of them are friends for life and death, and Hu Yuwei trusts Tian Buli very much.

Tian Buli smiled and said, "It just so happens that I have also learned medical skills recently, so I will take a look too."

Hu Yuwei smiled and said, "That's good. There's no need to be polite between us. I'm usually busy with my studies and don't have time to do other things. If you're free, you can go out and play. I know you can't sit still."

Tian Buli knew that Hu Yuwei was talking about looking for a woman, so he smiled and said, "Okay, I see that you, as a father, don't have time to play with the children. I will take the three of them out to play tomorrow, let them learn the way, eat something delicious, and bring it back to you at noon."

Hu Yuwei sighed, "That's true. Gou'er has to go to school tomorrow. You take Hu'er and Bao'er out for a walk. When I have time in the fall, I will teach them to read too."

Tian Buli soon settled down in the small courtyard lent to Hu Yuwei by someone else. He also cooked for Hu Yuwei, cleaned the room and took care of the children, preparing for Qiu Chu's exam.

(End of this chapter)