After being exiled to Lingnan, Prime Minister Quan's family collapsed and his people were set u

Xu Daniu parked the ox cart outside the county gate, "I'll wait for you here. The ox cart cannot enter the city to avoid accidentally bumping into those wealthy families."

They only have one cow, which they must protect.

The Zhou family expressed their understanding.

Zhou Shitang pointed to the bag in the corner, "Brother Danniu, this is the grass we pulled. Feed the cow some when it's hungry."

Xu Daniu scratched his head and smiled honestly, "I also brought some grass from home."

The Zhou family got off the oxcart and walked towards the city gate. They looked a lot darker and did not dress up specially to try to reduce their sense of presence.

Zhou Yancheng looked at the family and finally said: "There are too many of us. It is not convenient to go shopping anywhere. Let's go shopping separately to see what we can do to make money. We will meet at the city gate at noon."

No one else has any comment.

Zhou Shitang pulled Zhou Shiruo and ran away.

Zhou Rushan didn't dare to walk around alone, so she followed her parents.

Zhou Yancheng and his wife also left.

Zhou Shimu and Zhou Shiye were left looking at each other in confusion.

Zhou Shiye: "Brother, they are all in pairs. I am with you. Anyway, our way of making money is copying books. I remember my mother gave you some pocket money to see if you can buy paper, ink, pens and inkstones. "

Zhou Shimu glanced at his younger brother and corrected, "Watch your words."

Zhou Shiye covered his mouth and said, "I made a mistake."

"Don't just focus on copying books. Can't you draw? You can give full play to your talents. If someone really takes a fancy to your paintings, it's not impossible to make a fortune for them." Zhou Shimu knocked on his brother's head and signaled. He doesn't want to limit his ideas.

Zhou Shiye frowned and curled his lips in dissatisfaction, "Brother, you are too vulgar. Calligraphy and painting are used to cultivate sentiments, how can they be used to make money? When I was in a good mood before, I would just paint a picture and give it away to others without taking any money from them. "

Zhou Shimu raised his eyes lightly and said, "Now that our family is so poor that we can hardly survive anymore, are you telling me to cultivate our sentiments?"

Zhou Shiye pursed his lips and said, "What you said makes sense. Well, I'll just see who likes my painting and I'll paint it. Speaking of which, I haven't painted for nearly a year."

The brothers entered the city and walked all the way there.

Vendors set up stalls on the street and shouted loudly.The salesman carried goods from one side of the street to the other, shouting loudly.

There are also children who hold the hands of their parents and go out shopping. Their clear eyes are full of curiosity about the world. They look here and there and cannot rest for a moment.

Zhou Shiye saw some beggars begging in the corner. He subconsciously touched his flat wallet. He didn't have a penny and sighed softly, "I don't have any money. I can't help them."

Zhou Shimu lowered his eyes slightly, "Take care of yourself first."

Zhou Shiye nodded heavily.

The two of them asked some people, came to the largest bookstore in the county, and walked in slowly.

The people who come to the bookstore to buy books are all from relatively wealthy families and wear robes. There are also some poor scholars who come to make money.

The waiter saw Zhou Shimu's clothes and asked with a smile: "I wonder if the two guests want to buy books or copy them?"

Zhou Shimu looked around and said, "Copy the book."

The waiter still had a smile on his face and said, "Come this way."

The waiter took them to a corner and asked, "Have you ever copied books before?"

Zhou Shiye said quickly: "No, is there anything special about copying books?"

The shop waiter introduced them one by one, "As long as the handwriting is good-looking, our store provides paper, ink, pens and inkstones. You can buy or rent them. The handwriting is good-looking and the books you copy will be more expensive. You can write a few words here." , let’s see how much money you can make by copying a book.” Zhou Shimu took up his pen and wrote down a few words.

The waiter in the shop was literate. When he saw the few characters written by Zhou Shimu, his eyes changed instantly. The characters were written so well that no one in more than ten years could not write such beautiful characters.

Those who have been able to study for more than ten years must have some savings at home. Alas, studying does cost money, and they have to copy books to make a living.

Zhou Shiye also wrote a few words, and his handwriting was also very beautiful.

The waiter was shocked. They looked like two brothers at first sight. There were two scholars in the family, and both of them wrote very well, which was amazing.

Ordinary families simply can't afford one scholar, but there are two scholars in their family. In the eyes of the waiter, they are really powerful.

The waiter bent down slightly and said with a smile: "Your handwriting is very beautiful. I can give you the highest grade by copying a book, a book of two hundred words."

Zhou Shiye didn't know what the price was, so he approached Zhou Shimu and said, "Brother, is this price high or low?"

Zhou Shimu nodded, "Okay, we plan to rent a set of paper, ink, pen and inkstone."

"Wait a minute!" A scholar was dissatisfied with what the waiter said and came over angrily, "Waiter, I often copy books at your place, and you only gave me a book of fifty words. What kind of characters are you actually giving me? Two hundred coins."

The waiter showed him the calligraphy written by Zhou Shimu and others generously.

When the scholar saw it, he was speechless. He looked at Zhou Shimu and Zhou Shimu with slightly widened eyes, "Your handwriting is so beautiful..."

Zhou Shiye was full of confidence, "I can still see through it."

He remembered what Zhou Shimu said and turned to ask the waiter, "Do you collect paintings here?"

The waiter nodded repeatedly, "I'll take it."

Zhou Shiye: "What types of paintings do you collect?"

The two waiters in the shop said seriously: "Flowers, birds, insects, fish, all types are accepted."

Zhou Shiye asked again: "How much does a painting cost?"

The waiter in the shop didn't quite understand this, "It depends on how well you paint. The specific price has to be negotiated by our shopkeeper. I don't understand this."

Zhou Shiye nodded. He preferred painting to copying books.

Finally, Zhou Shimu rented the worst set of paper, ink, pen and inkstone.

The scholar waited for them to finish their work and then came forward to get close to him, "Where do you live? If you have time, come to my house and sit down. We can chat and exchange some ideas, such as how to take the imperial examination. Depending on your age, so do you. Are you going to take the imperial examination?"

Zhou Shimu was once a Juren, but his family was exiled before he could take the examination. His title of Juren was also revoked by the emperor and has not been restored to this day.

Zhou Shimu's temperament was light and he said, "No test."

Zhou Shiye shook his head, "No exams, we just want to live an ordinary life."

He was not interested in becoming an official in the court, and he never participated in the imperial examination system.

Scholar: "..."

Your handwriting is so beautiful, yet you don’t take part in the imperial examination?

Forget it, there would be no future if he didn't take the imperial examination, and he didn't want to associate with such people.

The scholar turned and left.

Zhou Shiye watched the scholar's attitude towards them change from enthusiasm to indifference, and couldn't help but poke Zhou Shimu's arm, "Brother, his face has changed too quickly. Just now he smiled brightly at us and invited us to visit him." Sitting at home." (End of chapter)