The literary giants of the late Ming Dynasty began by copying books

Chapter 105: Matchmaking with the Shen family
"Wow..."

All the guests present were shocked.

Most of the people present today are aware of Shen Jing's family background. The Shen family in Songlin, Suzhou, all like folk arts. There are six or seven writers who have left their names in the "Wujiang School" alone, which is said to be "an elegant art with many talents."

The premise for the family's love for opera is that the Shen family is rich and well-established in learning.

Several houses in the Shen family have singing children and geishas. The children in the family have grown up in an environment of performing arts since they were young. Without some money, they really would not be able to become opera singers these days.

It would be a great honor for any aristocratic family to marry into the Shen family. In the eyes of the guests, Shen Jing's sudden recruitment of a son-in-law was obviously extremely shocking.

Shen Jing looked at everyone and pulled Wang Wenlong aside to talk.

Everyone looked at it curiously, but it was difficult to get close.

Wang Wenlong was slightly startled, then his mind changed, and he asked reservedly: "I wonder what kind of person Ling's niece is?"

"He is a man of true love and character. He has memorized it by memory at the age of five. He is capable of adhering to the government at the age of eight. He has some talent and reputation in Suzhou, not to mention his appearance."

Housekeeping is the ability to manage the inner house. These days, there are often hundreds or thousands of servants in a big house, which is more complicated than a factory. The daily affairs of being a housewife are also quite cumbersome. This is something that women from wealthy families have to go to since childhood. Learned.

Shen Jing introduced:

"My niece lost her mother when she was young, and her father went out to seek an official position. She has been living in my house since she was a child. She loves to write poetry."

Listening to Shen Jing's introduction, Wang Wenlong felt more and more familiar.

Shen Jing dipped her hand in wine and wrote on the table: "I'll write two lines of her poems for you to read."

Wang Wenlong was completely convinced when he saw the first sentence, "The flowers are so beautiful that they are dripping with beauty, and the fine grass is so tender that they can float on the ground."

The niece introduced to him by Shen Jing was Shen Yixiu, a talented woman from the late Ming Dynasty.

This woman has more than 100 poems that have been passed down to later generations, and five or six volumes of poetry collections. She is the kind of person who can compete with the most talented woman in the late Ming Dynasty.

Wang Wenlong asked directly: "I wonder how old my niece is now."

"I'm already twelve years old."

Wang Wenlong was a little excited just now, but when he heard this grade, he was instantly speechless. The co-author was still a primary school student.

"I am turning 25 this year."

Shen Jing was quite shocked when he heard this: "It doesn't look like him."

Wang Wenlong said bluntly: "The age difference is really too big."

Shen Jing smiled and shook his head: "When I first read "History of Portugal", I thought you were four to fifty years old. Seeing that you look so young, I still haven't gotten used to it. If the time comes, you will be more than ten years old. Age is nothing. And she really likes reading your books."

"She still reads my books?"

"My niece has been raised like a boy since she was a child. She can read a subset of classics and history. She can read the set of 21 histories at home by herself. What's so difficult about reading your "History of Portugal"?"

Wang Wenlong's first reaction was that Shen Yixiu's family was really rich and could actually have a complete set of 21 histories.

21 History was a very large set of books. He didn’t know how much it sold for in those days, but by the end of the Qing Dynasty, Zeng Guofan bought a set for hundreds of taels of silver, and most of his set was a reduced version.

Because Wang Wenlong saw a complete set in Yu Xiangdou's library. The complete set of 21 histories has more than 500 volumes. It needs to be packed in a large cabinet and takes up half a room. If Zeng Guofan bought the complete set, he would have to hire several people. Only a porter can pick it home.

Wang Wenlong said frankly: "Both my parents are dead, I am alone, and I don't have much financial resources. If she marries into my family, all her education will be in vain."

Shen Jing said calmly: "That's exactly what I like. She has a delicate character. I really don't want her to suffer in a wealthy family."

Wang Wenlong thought about history and found that Shen Jing had a thorough understanding.

In the original history, Shen Yixiu married Ye Shaoyuan, the son of the wealthy Songhu Ye family.

The man is talented and the woman is pretty, well matched, but Shen Yixiu's life can hardly be called a happy one.First of all, there was a quarrel between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Her mother-in-law asked Shen Yixiu to give up writing poetry and concentrate on raising her husband and children at home. Shen Yixiu had been taught to be submissive since he was a child, so he couldn't compete with her mother-in-law.

Shen Yixiu's brother recorded in his notes that the way Shen Yixiu got along with his mother-in-law was that her mother-in-law was "rarely dissatisfied" and Shen Yixiu "knelt down to apologize."

Moreover, Ye Shaoyuan had to concentrate on the scientific examination. Not only could he not help her, but he also spent a lot of money on repeated landings. Shen Yixiu ordered all her dowry jewelry to supplement the family income, and also had to take care of her husband's frustration. In 20 years, she gave birth to eight children. Male and three female.

Later, Ye Shaoyuan spent 20 years in his junior year before he was admitted to Jinshi. After high school, he went out to work as an official, while Shen Yixiu took care of the family alone. After sending away several children who died young, he became ill from overwork and died of grief. Only 45 years old.

If Shen Yixiu could marry into a family like Wang Wenlong as Shen Jing said, there would be no conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and she wouldn't have to take care of her husband's emotions all the time, and her life would probably be much happier.

Shen Jing smiled at Wang Wenlong and said: "I have been thinking about this for a long time, but I have been reluctant to speak. Today I saw your talent. I guarantee that my niece and you are a perfect match. You should think about it."

He patted Wang Wenlong on the shoulder and walked away with a smile. Wang Wenlong sat there and saw everyone turning back to look at him from time to time, smiling and giving him advice and comments.

At this time, Xu Xueju came over and asked, "How is it? Jianyang thinks that the Shen family member is a good match?"

"Hui Zhilan has a heart, and she is good at chanting. She is a rare and beautiful woman in the world."

Xu Xueju's eyes lit up and he said with a smile: "What exactly does Jianyang think? You can tell me, I won't tell anyone about it?"

Seeing Xu Xueju's excited look, Wang Wenlong couldn't help but be speechless. It was the first time he discovered that Lord Fantai still had this gossip hobby.

"I'm afraid her family's family status is too high."

Xu Xueju nodded: "I was quite surprised when Boying said this. If it weren't for Brother Boying's favor, I'm afraid there would be no chance of Jianyang."

There is nothing to refute, they are telling the truth.

Wang Wenlong thought for a while and found that Shen Yixiu was indeed a good match for him, regardless of practical factors or level of interest, so he nodded and said, "I'll go talk to Mr. Shen."

"Jianyang needs to be taken care of."

Wang Wenlong smiled, with Shen Jing's help, this matter is quite simple. As for Shen Yixiu, he is only 12 years old now. Even if he wants to get married, he has to wait three or four years. Isn't he just lying to little girls? After three or four years of hard work, he There are still tricks.

……

After the banquet, Wang Wenlong returned home. He didn't even have time to write the manuscript of "Enlightenment of Rhythm" before he spread out the manuscript paper and copied a poem. Then he took a volume of "History of Portugal" from his bookcase and copied the poem. Tucked in a book.

After that, he began to write "Enlightenment of Rhythm" silently, and asked Deng Zhimo to release the news and wait for others to come to ask for manuscripts.

The whole book "Enlightenment of Rhythm" is only over 8000 words, and I wrote it in one night.

In the next few days, Wang Wenlong did nothing else but sang with Shen Jing. He was very well-behaved. Shen Jing also knew what he was thinking, but because Wang Wenlong pleased him so much, Shen Jing was happy to facilitate Wang Wenlong's marriage.

Five days later, Fuzhou Pier.

Shen Jing was about to return to Suzhou. Wang Wenlong asked Wang Pingbao to carry a small book box and give it to Shen Jing's servant.

He put together the printed versions of all his works, "History of Portugal", "The Scholars", "European Regular Script 92 Laws", "Treatise on Heavenly Evolution", and a manuscript of "Enlightenment of Rhythm" and wrapped them in brocade. , please Shen Jing give it to Shen Yixiu.

Shen Jing smiled and said: "She is not my daughter. After all, this matter is decided by her family. You have to think carefully. If you don't like her family by just taking these books, I can't force them."

This time when Shen Jing returned to Suzhou, she had brought Wang Wenlong's birth date and a letter from Wang Wenlong. If everything goes well, she can directly go to Yuan Wuya's desk to pay the manuscript fee. Five or six hundred taels of silver is enough to make a betrothal gift.

Wang Wenlong smiled and said: "We have a few books to express our feelings."

Shen Jing nodded and took the servant on board.

Shen Jing is not a patient person at all, otherwise she would not have come to Fuzhou from Suzhou.

After Xu Xueju, Wang Wenlong and others were completely invisible, he asked his servant to bring Wang Wenlong's book box and open it directly for the old man.

After flipping through the pages, a piece of paper suddenly fell out from a volume of "History of Portugal", and Shen Jing quickly picked it up.

(End of this chapter)