Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 25 The Young Man Promises Lingyunzhi

In the following days, Lu Beigu went to Erlangtan to look for Lu Guangyu every day. As he studied hard, his understanding of "Spring and Autumn Annals" and "Book of Rites" became increasingly profound.

So much so that in the end, Lu Guangyu was unable to give answers to many of Lu Beigu's questions.

This kind of hard study also came to a temporary end on the Qingming Festival.

Lu Beigu planned to rest at home for half a day today. After packing his luggage, he would do some more physical work such as fetching water and chopping firewood, especially firewood. He would be away from home for a long time because he would be going to the county school next. He had to prepare more firewood so that he would have enough to cook.

In their own courtyard in Gulin Town, Lu Yuchi and Lu Yanqi were eagerly waiting for their mother to give them the last bit of snacks.

"The ice is about to melt. Which of you still wants to eat snow cheese?"

"I, I want to eat snow yogurt!" Lu Yanqi said excitedly, clapping his hands.

In his heart, nothing else in the world can compare to the taste of snow cheese. The glutinous texture mixed with a hint of milky aroma is even sweeter than any honey he has ever eaten!

"What if my sister wants to eat it?"

At this time, Lu Beigu, who was packing his luggage, came over and interrupted.

Lu Yanqi fell silent.

He swallowed hard, then whispered, "Then let my sister take it."

Pei Yan couldn't help laughing. She lifted the rope on the well and took out the two remaining pieces of snow cheese that were frozen inside.

"Here, one piece each, no one is allowed to snatch it, understand?"

"Know!"

Lu Yanqi responded loudly, his little hands already holding the bowl impatiently.

The snow cheese shone with a crystal luster in the sunlight. He licked it carefully and squinted his eyes happily.

Lu Beigu smiled at the scene, then turned around and continued packing his luggage. He carefully wrapped up the two notebook books, the "Spring and Autumn Annals Collection" and his handwritten half-volume "Guliang Supplement", and put them at the bottom of his bag.

These books are his most precious personal possessions.

There are two notebook versions of the book. He didn't know the name of the predecessor who took the notes, but there was no doubt that they gave him a lot of help. Although the imperial examinations in the early Tang Dynasty were very different from those now, "The Five Classics" is still the kingly reference book, and it is always right to study it seriously.

"It's a pity that these books are so old. If I have the chance, I should buy some Confucian books by 'Three Masters of the Early Song Dynasty'."

Lu Beigu was in a remote place and had no idea which of the three great Confucian scholars who were pioneers in Neo-Confucianism had passed away and which was still alive. Even if the one was still alive, he had no chance to ask him in person.

But he can be sure that the knowledge of these three great scholars is definitely the closest to the current views on the imperial examination.

Therefore, although learning the knowledge related to "Spring and Autumn Annals" and "Book of Rites" before the Tang Dynasty can help to correct the original source, the version is still somewhat outdated.

But these are things for the future. The books he has on hand now are enough to deal with the county trial.

Then, Lu Beigu took out half of the Jiaozi from the depths of his bag and handed it to Pei Yan.

"Leave 10 strings of cash at home. There's no rush to rent a house and transfer your residence. You'll have time to do it after you return from Chengdu."

Pei Yan didn't take it, but said, "Renting a house will cost five strings of cash, and when you're away from home, it's best not to let the magistrate spend some money on the journey. If you can pay for it yourself, then do it yourself. It's better to bring some extra money with you."

After thinking for a while, Lu Beigu took out three Jiaozi notes and put them into his bag, leaving one for Pei Yan.

"Then the family left 5 kan, and I took 15 kan. Does anyone have any change?"

"Yes." Pei Yan nodded. "We have copper coins and iron coins. There are enough small amounts to use."

"Uncle, are you leaving?"

After finishing his snacks, Lu Yuchi suddenly ran to him and asked with his little face tilted up.

Lu Beigu squatted down and looked at her at eye level: "Yes, my uncle will go back to the county school later."

"Then when will you come back?" The little girl's eyes were a little red, and it was obvious that she was reluctant to leave Lu Beigu.

"I'll be back in two months." Lu Beigu ruffled her hair. "When your uncle passes the imperial examination, I'll take you and Yan Qi to visit the Daxiangguo Temple in Kaifeng, okay?"

Lu Yuchi nodded vigorously and suddenly pulled out a purse embroidered with a crooked peach blossom pattern from his bosom: "Here! It contains some beautiful little stones that my brother and I picked up these days. They can bless uncle to have good luck in the exam!"

The stitching of the purse was rough, but it made Lu Beigu's heart warm.

He tied it solemnly around his waist. Just at this moment, a gust of wind blew, and a few petals fell from the old peach tree in the yard. One petal fell on the purse, contrasting with the clumsily stitched peach blossom pattern.

After chopping several piles of firewood for the family, Lu Beigu washed the wood chips and ash from his hands, and it was finally time to set off.

If you take the Anle Creek waterway from Gulin Town and go downstream, you can reach Hejiang County in half a day, which is much easier than the return trip.

At this time, Tofu, who had just returned from a fight with the cat next door, brought a trophy fish and placed it next to Lu Beigu's luggage. Then he squatted beside him, with his tail elegantly wrapped around his front paws, and his amber eyes staring at him without blinking.

"A parting gift for me?"

Lu Beigu laughed and gently scratched its chin.

The white cat squinted its eyes in enjoyment and made a purring sound in its throat.

The sun was at its zenith. Lu Yuchi, who had been taking a nap every day because she was still growing, was now so sleepy that she was falling all over the place in order to wait for Lu Beigu, but she was still forcing herself not to go back to sleep. Her little head was nodding like a dozing bird, while Lu Yanqi was lying on her lap, snoring soundly.

Seeing Lu Beigu leaving, Lu Yuchi quickly came to his senses, stood up, pulled his brother and insisted on sending their uncle to the door.

"The two children are at home. I'll take you to the ferry."

Pei Yan went into the house and came out with a blue cloth bundle in her hand, her voice very soft.

"it is good."

The Qingming Festival in Gulin Town is quite quiet and peaceful, with dew still condensing on some places on the bluestone road.

There were many passenger ships moored at the pier, and a few men panning for gold in the distance.

"Just send it here."

Lu Beigu took the bag and felt it was heavy.

"The weather is getting hot. Besides the short shirt and lining, there are also a few pairs of linen socks inside. The county school is different from home, so remember to wash and change them frequently."

She rubbed her fingers on the bundle and added, "I sewed 18 copper coins in the interlayer for emergency use."

Pei Yan looked up at Lu Beigu, her cheeks a little thin.

"We can't sell our ancestral home. Our ancestors' graves are all here. If everything goes well for you, and we rent a house, we can move to Hejiang County. I should be able to find some work there and save enough money to send Yu Chi to a private school to learn a few words, so she won't be looked down upon by her in-laws when she grows up."

Pei Yan straightened his clothes and said, "I'll take care of everything at home, don't worry."

Lu Beigu opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just nodded.

When the passenger ship left the shore, Lu Beigu stood at the stern, watching the figure at the ferry getting smaller and smaller until it disappeared.

The fog gradually dissipated, and the sunlight sprinkled on the water, breaking into millions of golden lights.

He took out the purse embroidered with peach blossom patterns from his waist, held it gently in his palm, then took a deep breath and turned to face the direction of the flowing water.

Ahead is Hejiang County, Luzhou, and a wider world.

The river flows, carrying a small boat and the heavy hopes of a family, heading towards where the sun rises.

Looking at the sky in the distance, Lu Beigu's eyes were extremely firm.

"The young man promised himself to have lofty ambitions and vowed to be the best in the world!"

(End of this chapter)