A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 56: Blackie

Song Xuan stood at the door of his shop, looking at the people passing by.

Many young students come here because they want to be admitted to Yingtianfu Academy.

The four major academies in the Northern Song Dynasty were Shigu Academy, Yuelu Academy, Bailudong Academy, and Yingtianfu Academy.

Among them, Bai Ludong Academy was a place for learning before the Song Dynasty, but it ended after it was occupied. It was not until more than 30 years later that the school was re-established for teaching.

Although Shigu Academy was established, it took more than ten years for it to become famous after Emperor Renzong of Song bestowed the plaque "Shigu Academy" and changed it into a provincial school.

Yuelu Academy is also developing nowadays, but it is still not as famous as Yingtianfu Academy.

As for other academies, such as the Songshan Academy famous for the Cheng brothers, it had not yet had time to become famous.

Shi Jie, the founder of Cuolai Academy, came to Yingtianfu Academy to study under Fan Zhongyan, and founded the academy more than 20 years later while he was in mourning at home.

As for Jinshan (Maoshan) Academy, it was also founded this year in Maoshan, and was taught by the hermit Hou Yi to teach students.

Yingtianfu Academy was indeed the highest institution of learning in the Northern Song Dynasty. Students who wanted to pass the imperial examinations would come here.

As a result, in the past month, many foreign accents have been heard in Songcheng.

However, there are only a few people like Song Xuan who buy a house directly next to the academy.

Song Xuan was looking at the "competitors" passing by, and suddenly he saw the one who was left alone.

He looked extremely burly, but his skin was a little darker than others.

What attracted Song Xuan's attention most was the crescent-shaped scar on the young man's forehead.

The look on the passerby's face made Song Xuan stand up immediately.

Why does it look more and more like Bao Zheng?

So Song Xuan took the initiative to ask, "Is this classmate with a dark complexion also here to take the exam?"

Bao Zheng actually didn't pay any attention to Song Xuan, but the word "dark complexion" made him turn his head and nod slightly.

"My name is Song Xuan, the twelfth in the family. I'm also a student hoping to enter Yingtianfu Academy. May I ask if your name is Bao Zheng?"

Only then did Bao Zheng turn around.

He looked carefully at the young man in front of him.

This boy has good looks and looks very sunny when he smiles.

But Bao Zheng was very sure that he did not know Song Xuan.

Bao Zheng's father had resigned from his post in Nanjing and had returned to his hometown in Hefei to recuperate.
As for Bao Zheng, he studied in a Buddhist temple in his hometown of Hefei, and even though he became famous, it was in his hometown.

That was because Luzhou prefect Liu Yun admired Bao Zheng very much, which played a huge role.

"My classmate, I have never seen you before."

Bao Zheng was already 25 years old at this time, with doubt in his eyes:
"How do you know me?"

"Your reputation in Luzhou has spread here."

Song Xuan was not at all panicked. He confirmed that this person was indeed Bao Zheng. The Bao Qingtian in the opera was quite interesting.

He always felt that Bao Zheng did not look like that, and that it was completely an exaggeration in an opera.

"Oh?"

Bao Zheng was very surprised.

He never imagined that his fame had spread eight hundred miles away.

But when he thought about the fact that his father had just left office in Nanjing not long ago, he felt relieved.

This boy might be the son of an official, which is why he heard of his reputation. After all, his appearance is very distinctive among the crowd.

"My name is Bao Zheng, courtesy name Xiren, and I'm from Hefei, Luzhou."

"Nice to meet you." Song Xuan pointed to the small bamboo stool beside him.
"Brother Bao, there are a lot of people signing up right now. Why don't you sit down and have some tea and rest your feet until there are fewer people?"

Bao Zheng was always busy on the road. Although his father was an official and his family was not short of money, he did not spend much money and lived a simple life. He even refused the invitations of wealthy merchants in the village to dinner.

Bao Zheng pursed his cracked lips and spoke:
"Thank you, Twelve Lang."

Song Xuan was indeed a little surprised that Bao Zheng would also come to take the entrance exam for Yingtianfu Academy. It seemed that the competition was really fierce, and many people who studied locally had some reputation.

Bao Zheng was also looking at Song Xuan, and was a little surprised to see that the tea he brewed was not crushed tea powder.

Even though Bao Zheng lived a simple life, he had seen others compete in tea-drinking competitions.

People like Song Xuan put tea leaves in the teapot, but were reluctant to eat it, and had to add water several times. This is like the practice of roadside tea stalls, and it is obvious that this is the habit of poor people.

Judging from his clothes and facial features, he doesn't look like someone from a family that struggles to make a living.

This kid is a little strange.

"Please." Song Xuan poured a cup of warm tea for Bao Zheng:

"Brother Bao, it's not suitable to drink cold tea when it's hot. Calm down and moisten your throat first."

Bao Zheng thanked him again, withdrew his scrutinizing gaze, and sat on the stool to catch his breath.

After a while, Bao Zheng took the initiative to talk:

"Shi Erlang, have you submitted your registration certificate?"

The public certificate is a pass, your proof of identity, but according to the relaxed governance of the Song Dynasty, you don’t need this thing even if you go to Tokyo City.

There are laws, but the more prosperous the place, the less strictly they are enforced.

This is how Guifanlou and others exist. It doesn’t matter whether you are an illegal resident or not.

But most students need to carry it to prove their identity.

"Not yet. I was planning to go with my good friend Zhang Fangping. If Brother Bao is not in a hurry, we can go together then."

"Good good."

Bao Zheng was certain that Song Xuan had a strong accent and was definitely not from Songcheng.

Perhaps it was because his family was strict, so he was always sent to study hard in the countryside.

Look at the Spring and Autumn Annals he placed next to the coffee table, all the corners are worn out.

"How did Brother Bao get here?"

"Walk first, then take a boat if you come across a river."

Song Xuan nodded. Because he was close to him, he could smell the sour scent on Bao Zheng.

Especially in the summer, long hair is more likely to get lice if it is not combed and washed frequently.

Things like lice were still very common until the 1970s and 1980s.

A mature female louse can lay about ten eggs a day, which will hatch after eight days and reach adulthood in twenty days, continuing to lay eggs.

"It's really hard to be alone and sleep in the open air."

"The road to study is not easy, but that's nothing." Bao Zheng is really used to it. He is not a person who likes to enjoy himself.
"Where is Shi Erlang from?"

"My hometown is Lema Town, Ningling County, Yingtian Prefecture. Some time ago, I took a boat all the way south to Songcheng and settled here to prepare for the entrance examination to the academy."

"I see." Bao Zheng nodded repeatedly, picked up the teacup and took a sip:
"Shi Erlang, do you know how much it costs to rent a house in Songcheng?"

"Hmm?" Song Xuan was a little confused:
"If Brother Bao is admitted to the academy, he can naturally live in the academy. Why would he spend extra money to rent a room?"

"I know about this, but I snore quite badly at night. In case I disturb my classmates, it's better to make plans in advance."

"Hahaha." Hearing Bao Zheng's words, Song Xuan couldn't help but burst into laughter.

It turns out that Bao Qingtian was also afraid of living in a dormitory, worried that it would ruin the relationship with his roommates.

Song Xuan waved his hands and said, "It's okay, it's okay. I can cure snoring."

(End of this chapter)