Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 1207 Epilogue : My Grandfather is a Romantic
The Nanyishui River and the Hutuo River merge into one in Bazhou, and the name after the merger is called Duliu River.

The Duliu River meanders for more than 100 miles, merges into the old Yellow River in Duliu Town, and then flows northward into the Song-Liao Boundary River. The Boundary River passes through the urban area of ​​Tianjin in later generations and finally flows into the sea.

Today, the Yellow River has long since changed its course, but the old course from Duliu River to Jie River has been deepened and dredged to keep the waterway open.

Cangzhou Prefecture, Jinghai County, Duliu Town Wharf.

Not only did local gentry come to see him off, but even the county magistrate and the chief clerk came, which made Xie Shizhang very happy.

My grandson is really promising!
The passenger ship slowly left the shore and headed westward against the Duliu River.

Xie Yan's grandfather Xie Shizhang and second brother Xie Kan both went to Beijing after receiving the telegram.

Only the eldest brother is in a difficult situation. The provincial examination will be held before the Mid-Autumn Festival, so he has to stay in his hometown to prepare for the exam.

The south wind was blowing, and Xie Shizhang stood at the bow of the boat with his hands behind his back.

The old man seemed to have reached the peak of his life at this moment. His younger brother was a Jinshi official, his son was a Jinshi official, and his grandson was about to become a royal consort.

It doesn’t matter if I don’t have any abilities, but it’s awesome that all my family members are capable.

"Grandfather, the wind is strong at the bow, let's go in and take a rest." Xie Kan said.

"No rush." ​​Xie Shizhang continued to stand with his hands behind his back.

Only when the officials and gentry who had seen him off were only dark shadows in the distance did Xie Shizhang finally return to the cabin.

After sailing for more than 100 miles, we arrived at the confluence of the Nanyi River and the Hutuo River. We could go to Baoding via the former and Zhending via the latter.

They naturally went to Baoding because it was closer by train.

Baoding is not only the capital of Hebei Province, but also a railway hub. Trains there can go north to Beijing, northeast to Zunhua, southwest to Zhending, and southeast to Nanpi (the end point of the Yongji Canal).

Xie Kan accompanied his grandfather Xie Shizhang, first took a boat to Baoding, and then took a train to Nanpi.

Next, we will travel by water and head straight to Kaifeng along the Yongji Canal!
The old man was nearly 70 years old and was very nervous about the train. He insisted on going to Luoyang, and his family could not persuade him to leave.

It was finally a bit more comfortable to take a boat trip to Yongji Canal, and I stayed in the cabin all day to rest.

When I have nothing to do, I just scold my grandson for fun.

Xie Shizhang said, "Don't play all day. Your eldest brother is very likely to pass the imperial examination this year, and your sixth brother is about to become a royal consort. You are the only one in the family who didn't even pass the imperial examination. How can you go out and meet people in the future?"

"Grandfather's teachings are correct." Xie Kan could only listen obediently.

Xie Shizhang added, "I had a chance to pass the imperial examination. But there are only two brothers in my family. Since your second grandfather passed the imperial examination and became an official, I had to give up my career and take care of the family business."

Xie Kan complained in his heart: You passed the imperial examination at the age of 38, and you failed the imperial examination for nine years. Your qualification for the imperial examination expired, and you finally gave up the imperial examination when you were almost 50. Do you think I don't know?
Xie Shizhang continued, "Although I gave up my career in order to manage my family business, I still helped your father become a talent. Your father was a brilliant man. He took the imperial examinations for the second time and even passed the provincial and provincial examinations. When your father passed the examination, he was only 20 years old, which attracted the Baoding Wang family to marry their daughter to him!"

"Dad is really amazing." Xie Kan continued to agree perfunctorily.

Xie Shizhang stroked his beard and said, "It's all because of my good teaching. Although I didn't pass the imperial examination, I have a wealth of experience in the imperial examinations, and I passed all of this experience on to your father."

Xie Kan thought: Is it because of your rich experience of failing the exam? You failed the exam many times and it took you thirty years to face the reality.

"Ugh!"

Xie Shizhang sighed, "It's a pity that your grandmother passed away so early. If she could live till now, I don't know how happy she would be to go to Luoyang this time."

Xie Kan thought: If you loved your grandmother so much, you wouldn't have traveled so far away every now and then, and brought back a concubine every time you came home. If it weren't for the money sent home by the second grandfather, with your ability to spend money, I'm afraid you would have to sell the ancestral property to support your father's education.

Xie Shizhang recalled the past: "I know what you are thinking at this moment. Although I have taken in seven concubines in my life, your grandmother is the only one in my heart. Most of those concubines were given by friends. I am not polite but kind-hearted. I couldn't refuse my friends' kindness, nor could I bear to leave them alone, so I had to take them all home to raise them."

Is there such a thing?
Xie Kan was filled with awe for his grandfather and could not help asking, "Grandfather failed the imperial examinations many times and did not bring much money with him when he traveled far away. Why did his friends always give him girls as gifts?"

Xie Shizhang smiled proudly, "It's because I'm handsome, talented, and sincere to my friends. Your third aunt was a famous prostitute in Baoding, and she fell in love with me at first sight. She redeemed herself and followed me even though she knew my family was just a country gentry. You can't spread this matter to others. Although she has passed away, you have to take care of her reputation."

"Grandson will remember it." Xie Kan was extremely shocked.

My grandfather’s second concubine was actually a famous prostitute in Baoding. No wonder she was quite old when she entered the family, and no wonder she had such a high status in the family. It turns out that she was very rich!

Xie Shizhang said, "Later, we claimed that the money used to purchase the land was sent back by my brothers who were officials. But in fact, half of it was paid by your third aunt."

Grandpa, you are so awesome, please teach me how to pick up girls.

Xie Shizhang never mentioned these things at home. He was probably bored because he had been staying in the cabin all day. He closed his cloudy eyes and continued to recall: "I am not a playboy. I treated each of them sincerely. Over the years, they have all lived well and no one has complained. They even said that they made the right choice to marry me in this life."

Xie Kan thought: I finally understand why you failed in the imperial examinations so many times. You have one wife and seven concubines, and they all treat each other sincerely. How can you have time to study for the imperial examinations? You spend all your energy on coaxing women!

Xie Shizhang said: "You can't learn from me. You should focus on your studies."

"Yes!" Xie Kan sighed secretly. He was at the age of full of vigor and vitality, and he really wanted to taste the taste of women.

Xie Shizhang asked his grandson to fetch the guqin, and soon the cabin was filled with melodious music. He had traveled this river many times when he was young.

At that time, he was extremely handsome and his piano playing skills were superb. The sound of his piano alone could make girls fall in love with him.

Alas, time is merciless.

The young man in white clothes back then has become an old man with white hair.

It is not convenient to pass on this piano skill to my children and grandchildren, so as to prevent them from following in my footsteps.

However, now that I have a grandson who is going to be a princess-in-law, I can teach him everything I know. Anyway, I don’t have to worry about affecting his studies and work.

He failed the imperial examination the first time and was almost recruited into the Hanlin Academy as a zither player.

Unfortunately, he was out of his mind at the time, always thinking that if he worked harder, he would be able to pass the next imperial examination. Even with the recommendation of a noble, he did not take part in the examination of the Hanlin Academy!

The grandson felt that his frequent travels showed that he did not care about his family at all.

But Xie Shizhang never explained that he traveled far and wide to collect music scores. He was a music fanatic, but somehow he became a lover.

This time he insisted on going to Luoyang in person. In addition to attending his grandson's wedding, he also wanted to present the piano scores he had compiled to the court.

He spent forty years compiling this music score, which is worth at least a Jade Scholar!
The grandfather and grandson came to Kaifeng with their servants, and soon changed boats and headed straight for Luoyang.

They followed the address to the Li family in the south of the city and were warmly received by Li Minqiu. After some small talk, they learned that his children and grandchildren had already moved to a temporary mansion and were busy spending money to buy a grand betrothal gift.

"Father!"

"grandfather!"

"Let's talk after we go in."

When Xie Yan met this cheap grandfather for the first time, he felt that he had an immortal look at first glance, and his every move was free and easy.

This is completely different from the style of my parents, eldest brother and second brother.

"Take it." Xie Shizhang threw out a book casually.

Xie Yiqin hurriedly reached out to catch it, but almost dropped it to the ground: "What is this?"

Xie Shizhang smiled proudly and said, "All your betrothal gifts combined are not as valuable as my piano score. There are three lost ancient songs, which I found. There are also seven incomplete ancient songs, which I spent a lot of effort to complete. The rest are all piano songs I composed myself."

Xie Yiqin said, "Father, you are joking. Your piano skills are indeed one of the best in Cangzhou, but they may not be good enough in Luoyang, where famous piano masters from all over the world gather. As for the piano scores, it is really difficult to include them in the gift list."

"Asshole, you unfilial son, how dare you despise my life's hard work!"

The old man who looked like a sage picked up his walking stick and started swinging it, instantly turning into a peasant beating his rebellious son.

The brothers Xie Yan and Xie Kan hurriedly grabbed their grandfather and supported him.

Xie Yiqin ran a few steps away and said earnestly, "Father, please calm down. But your piano score can be used for your own entertainment in Cangzhou. It is not convenient to use it as a betrothal gift for Liu Lang. I know you have been repairing piano scores all your life, but if it is really valuable, you would have been awarded a bachelor's badge long ago."

"That's because I, your old man, am a freeloader and didn't show it to them for evaluation!" Xie Shizhang was so angry that his beard was shaking.

Wang Yitong pulled her husband aside and rebuked him, "You better stop talking so as not to upset Father. I have also heard a little about how famous Father was in Hebei."

Xie Yiqin muttered, "Jinghai Qinchi, this is not a good reputation, but it is mostly a joke."

Xie Shizhang was too lazy to talk to this rebellious son anymore, so he turned to his grandson and said, "Liu Lang, go get the music score. Don't let this ignorant person dirty it."

Xie Yan thought the old man was quite interesting, so he walked up to his father and spread his hands: "Dad, give it to me."

Xie Yiqin slapped the music score into his son's hands.

He really didn't think this thing was that valuable, and he even felt unfamiliar with the old man. In his childhood and teenage memories, his father was often away from home, always going out to spend money and drink in the name of studying.

He himself had passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi, but his old father had failed. He looked down on his father from the bottom of his heart.

He had been an official in various places over the years and had only seen his father a few times. They only spent the most time together during the few months of mourning for his mother. Only then did he know what the old man was doing at home all day, repairing music scores.

What the hell is this music score? He gets angry whenever it’s mentioned. He always feels that his father has let his mother down!

Xie Shizhang said to his grandson, "Don't you know someone from the Royal Society? Pass this music score of mine over and let the music master of the society appreciate it carefully!"

"My grandson will be sent there tomorrow." Xie Yan didn't care.

My grandfather is a piano fanatic, but he is music-deaf. Reading piano music is like reading a book written in heaven.

(End of this chapter)