A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 2: The former prodigy Yan Shu

Song Xuan waved his hand.

He wants to be admitted to Yingtianfu Academy this year.

Except that the family only allows untalented members to study until the age of sixteen, those who can be admitted to the county school can go to the county school, and those who are capable can go to the state school.

If you can't pass the exam, forget about taking the imperial examination.

Song Xuan never took the exam and was familiarizing himself with the Six Classics at his own pace.

Of course, he also wanted to wait for Fan Zhongyan.

Let’s see when he comes to Yingtianfu College to teach so that we can have better dealings in the future.

However, Song Xuan had inquired through some of his connections and found out that there had never been a student named Fan Zhongyan in Yingtianfu College.

After getting this result, Song Xuan vaguely recalled that Fan Zhongyan had changed his name because his mother remarried, but he completely couldn't remember what Fan Zhongyan's previous name was.

The matter was left on hold.

Zhang Fangping skillfully dug up earthworms and picked up firewood.

Song Xuan would take a bow and arrow to shoot a pheasant or rabbit for a snack.

hum.

An arrow shot straight out.

The pheasant struggled and flew away.

Song Xuan was really a little scared of the imperial examination in the Song Dynasty.

The good news is that we have not yet reached the stage of the perverted eight-legged essay of the Ming Dynasty.

Song Xuan looked at the direction the pheasant flew away and ran over quickly. It couldn't fly far.

This thing has a strong vitality. Not only will it flutter around the yard after bleeding, but there are also examples of it being able to survive for a while even after its head is chopped off.

After tracking for a while, Song Xuan carried the pheasant and strolled to the side of Wolong Bridge.

Zhang Fangping had already set up the fishing rod. Seeing Song Xuan holding the pheasant that had not been bled, he quickly took out the lotus leaves and mud he had prepared in advance.

Song Xuan took out the pheasant's internal organs, and prepared to make a nest to catch some small crabs, and started to make beggar's chicken.

There weren't many fun things to do in the Song Dynasty anyway, so Song Xuan had to find something to pass the time.

Zhang Fangping looked at Song Xuan's skillful movements of using a dagger to kill the chicken and get the eggs, and couldn't help but sigh secretly.

Even though they had known each other for a long time, Zhang Fangping still didn't understand why Song Xuan didn't take pride in being a scholar and always did these unprofessional things.

Although he didn't understand, Zhang Fangping still respected his friend's little hobbies.

Especially in Zhang Fangping's opinion, Song Xuan seemed to be quite elegant even when he was gutting the chicken.

No one else can learn it.

Song Xuan was washing his hands by the river and watching the fish float, while Zhang Fangping was tending the fire and turning the grilled fish from time to time.

There were two middle-aged scholars standing on Wolong Bridge.

"Legend has it that Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty hid here when he was being hunted by Wang Mang. After he became emperor, he named it Wolong Bridge. The other side of the bridge is called Lema Town."

The man with three strands of beard is the child prodigy Yan Shu from his early years, listening to his friend's introduction.

Yan Shu violated the order of Empress Dowager Liu, was kicked out of the central government, and finally came to Yingtian Prefecture.

Accompanying him was Song Shou, who had a wisp of beard. He had offended Empress Dowager Liu earlier than Yan Shu and was also sent to Yingtian Prefecture.

The two of them felt sorry for each other and went out together to relax.

Song Shou stood on the bridge and saw two young students fishing and grilling fish there, looking very happy.

He couldn't help but stroke his beard and sighed:
"Uncle Tong, you and I are really not teenagers anymore."

"Now that we're out of Tokyo, let's stop thinking about those troubles."

As a child prodigy, Yan Shu went to Kaifeng Prefecture when he was young.

He was eager to walk around when he came out, but when he saw this scene, he became very interested and took the servant's basket and went down the bridge.
"You and I should go eat grilled fish."

Song Shou originally wanted to comfort Yan Shu who had just left the central government, but he never thought that he didn't need to comfort him at all.

So he smiled and lifted his outer robe a little as he stepped off the bridge to prevent himself from stepping on his robe and falling off.

Song Xuan picked up the fishing rod from the water, and a six-inch crucian carp came out of the water with the hook in its mouth. He threw it aside in a few strokes.

Song Xuan then took out a dagger and quickly cut open the fish's belly.

Fortunately, no one in the Song Dynasty has yet to resort to rebellion by stuffing a piece of cloth into a fish's belly.

Thinking of this, Song Xuan smiled. He caught a glimpse of a middle-aged scholar carrying a basket and sitting directly opposite Zhang Fangping. He said with a grin:
"I'm tired from walking, so I came to ask for something to eat. Please don't be offended, little brother."

Zhang Fangping saw that the man was dressed elegantly and looked like a scholar, so he bowed before speaking:
"My husband, these fish were caught by my twelfth brother. I'd better ask him if he agrees."

Even though Zhang Fangping knew that Song Xuan was a generous person, he would not use other people's generosity to do him a favor.

Yan Shu then took a look at Song Xuan who was cutting a fish. He saw that Song Xuan was very graceful in killing the fish and had a good appearance. It was obvious that he was a good candidate to be an official.

"Twelfth Brother, can you share a few fish to fill your stomach? I brought some wine and snacks in exchange."

Song Xuan glanced at the handsome middle-aged man who was speaking and said:
"Just eat a few fish, why bother changing them? Wait a moment, sir, I'll catch a few more to satisfy your hunger."

"Good good."

Yan Shu immediately became interested and quickly asked the servant to bring his fishing rod. He then sat down next to Song Xuan and said:
"Twelfth brother, I'm here to help you."

Didn't wait for a while.

Yan Shu even pulled out a few strands of his beard.

He didn't understand.

Why was it that I didn't catch any fish even though I was sitting next to Song Xuan and even switched positions left and right, while Song Xuan started to catch fish in a row?

How come the fish in this river don’t recognize the bait from outsiders?
Yan Shu found Song Xuan's manner of killing fish extremely pleasing to the eye, but judging from his clothes, he did not seem to be from a wealthy family.

By the time Song Xuan had cleaned up the fish and put them on the fire to roast, Yan Shu was still empty-handed.

Song Shou pinched his beard and couldn't help laughing:
"Hahaha, Uncle Tong, you still need to practice."

Listening to Song Shou's joke, Yan Shu's competitive spirit was aroused:
"I just don't believe it."

Song Xuan took off his outer clothes and wore only a white vest.

Yan Shu was wearing a loose robe, and he was not surprised by Song Xuan's clothes.

Not taking off all your clothes is a sign of respect for both of them.

After all, grilling by the fire is really hot.

But when Yan Shu looked at Song Xuan's exposed arms, he knew that this boy was definitely not a weak scholar.

He doesn't look like someone who is obsessed with reading.

Song Xuan made the beggar's chicken. Fortunately, it was wrapped with enough stuff so that it was not burnt. The skin was a little burnt.

He pinched some cumin powder from the basket Zhang Fangping was carrying and sprinkled it evenly on the grilled fish brushed with soy sauce and then on the beggar's chicken.

Song Xuan placed the cut beggar's chicken on a new lotus leaf and invited everyone to eat and drink.

Seeing Song Xuan's quick movements and smelling the fragrant aroma, Yan Shu couldn't help but ask:

"Twelfth Brother, I have never seen such a way of cooking a chicken."

Song Xuan went to the river to wash his hands before returning:
"Sir, this is a trick I came up with when there's no stove in the wild. The scientific name is beggar's chicken. I learned it from a beggar."

This was not the first time that Zhang Fangping had a meal with Song Xuan.

The pheasant meat is firmer, but Brother Twelve is willing to add spices, so it must be delicious.

Then he saw the two gentlemen acting as if they had discovered some delicious food, with no manners at all.

Song Xuan did not show any courtesy. He picked up the chicken leg and started eating it slowly.

Listening to this scholar with three strokes of beard, he sounds like he has an accent from another place.

The other one also had a local accent, but when he spoke fast his accent was mixed with the intonation of Hebei.

Song Xuan guessed that they were probably officials from other places.

(End of this chapter)