Mang Shusheng's Ink Painting Practice

Chapter 37 The Master Will Broaden Your Horizons

I have to say that asking Fan Jinlai to help study the official documents was a very correct decision.

Because this old student has very solid book knowledge, no matter what he sees, he can quote from the classics and find the original text in the classics.

This may seem pedantic to others, but it is a necessary practice to write for the imperial examination.

This is exactly what Zhao Yifu lacks.

Although Fan Jin could quote extensively, he was not very sensitive to some of the things described in the official documents, so Zhao Yifu had to think about it and explain it to him clearly.

But once the explanation was clear, Fan Jin was immediately able to quote some allusions from classics and apply them... No matter whether it was appropriate or not, as long as it could be explained.

In this way, the two of them promoted each other and their academic abilities increased greatly in a short time.

At the end of the ten days, after Zhao Yifu handed in the official document he had copied as homework, Zhou Su took out the official document from the previous year without saying a word and gave it to Zhao Yifu to copy again.

Zhao Yifu did not complain at this time. After thanking him, he discussed the matter with Fan Jin again. After discussing the contents of the official documents for two consecutive years in detail, he actually discovered some of the political connections of Mozhou and even the entire Nanhu Province.

This was a scene that neither of them had ever seen before, and they couldn't help but think more about it. At the same time, they also considered the changes in their lives and surroundings during this period to judge whether these policies were effective and what their effects were.

At this time, because Fan Jin had always lived at the bottom of society, he reacted quickly to this.

As for Zhao Yifu, he didn't have so many feelings. After all, his family had already killed two disobedient county magistrates...

……

As summer deepens, the weather gradually becomes hotter.

Zhao Yifu was not afraid of the heat as he had his true qi to protect him, but Song Jie next to him was sweating profusely.

At the same time, business is not very good under the scorching sun.

But the two of them didn't care and started chatting instead.

"Jun Xin, you've been studying hard with Fan Jin lately. It seems you're preparing for the Autumn Imperial Examination next year?"

Zhao Yifu nodded and said, "Next year's exams shouldn't be a problem. Then it will be the Autumn Examination."

Song Jie said enviously, "That's great! If only I could have persevered back then, at least I could have taken the exam with you next year..."

Zhao Yifu said, "It's not too late to try harder now. Brother Zitai has already passed the imperial examination, so it shouldn't be difficult for him to pick it up again now."

Song Jie heard this and said, "It's so difficult, so difficult, how can it not be difficult?"

"In fact, I barely passed the annual exam back then. The thought of having to take it again every three years, and being reprimanded if I did poorly, or even expelled from the imperial examination... makes me so anxious I can't breathe."

"It's better to live a stable life now, and then find a job as a teacher when you are older, and then you can live a peaceful life."

Zhao Yifu was silent after hearing this incredible plan to lie down. Then he asked, "Brother, are you planning to give up your cultivation?"

The word "Senior Brother" represents Zhao Yifu's current stance.

Song Jie was stunned for a moment, then he sighed deeply and said, "Yeah, it's time to give up."

Zhao Yifu felt a little uncomfortable. He had thought that Song Jie had started doing 'custom-made' work, which would at least help him regain the motivation to practice. But who knew...

Song Jie had already said, "My business has been doing much better these days, and I can bring home a lot more money."

"Brother, do you know how it feels when every time you come home, your wife and children are expecting you to bring back good news, but you always disappoint them?"

"I don't want to disappoint my family anymore."

Zhao Yifu sighed and said nothing more. He could only say that everyone has their own aspirations.

His situation was exactly the opposite of Song Jie's. There was really nothing at home that made him feel nostalgic. Before he achieved fame, he was not loved by his father or mother.

The two quickly dropped the topic, as if such a conversation had never happened.

However, Zhao Yifu understood that the two had made different choices and would go their separate ways sooner or later.

They were about to say more, but at that moment, Yiyi, who had grown quite a bit, suddenly pricked up her ears and meowed towards the street corner. It wasn't a warning, but rather a reminder to Zhao Yifu.

Zhao Yi Fu quickly turned his head and saw a familiar figure walking towards him quickly.

He and Song Jie, who had also seen the man, were both stunned for a moment. Then he reacted and quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Hello, sir. Why are you here?"

He was astonished.

The only one who could address him as "Sir" so cordially and naturally was Mo Shan Danqing Menliang Zhongzhi.

Liang Zhongzhi took a step forward, and it seemed as if he had taken dozens of steps. He suddenly came to Zhao Yifu from the street corner and said, "I have something to do in the city today, so I'd like to take you with me to broaden your horizons."

"Hurry up and pack your things and follow me."

Zhao Yifu was startled when he heard this and immediately packed up his stall in a hurry.

At this moment, Song Jie finally woke up from his dream and said, "Master Liang...you are Master Liang..."

Liang Zhongzhi looked at him and nodded slightly, but said nothing.

It seemed that he had seen what choice Song Jie had made, and they became strangers from then on.

Seeing this, Song Jie gave a bitter smile and said nothing more.

Zhao Yifu sighed inwardly, but didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

This is what it is like because our paths are different.

He packed up his things and said to Song Jie, "Brother Zitai, I have to accompany you on some business this time, so I'll be leaving first."

Song Jie forced a smile and said, "Go ahead and serve Master Liang well."

The two then said goodbye.

Similar farewells have actually happened many times, but only this time... Song Jie looked at Zhao Yifu's back as he disappeared with Liang Zhongzhi, and felt that the two of them were already people from two different worlds, and felt extremely melancholy.

……

Zhao Yifu followed Liang Zhongzhi and looked around with some surprise.

"Why, do you have something to say?"

Liang Zhongzhi asked.

Zhao Yifu replied, "I just didn't expect you to go find Xu Zhizhou?"

Liang Zhongzhi smiled and said, "If something happens in Moyang City, we should first go and inform the parents in Mozhou. This will make it easier for us to act later."

Zhao Yifu asked, "What on earth could it be that would require such trouble, sir?"

Liang Zhongzhi said nonchalantly, "It's no big deal. This secular world is full of filth and dirt. Every once in a while, there are always evil spirits causing trouble. That's why we have to come down to the mortal world from time to time to clean it up."

Zhao Yifu was shocked when he heard this... Oh my god, a monster?
He became excited. This was a great opportunity for him to observe.

It’s great to be able to witness the senior masters of the sect subdue demons with my own eyes.

He was thoroughly looking forward to it.

Liang Zhongzhi also completely lived up to the image of a master in Zhao Yifu's mind.

After just a short stop in front of the prefectural government office, the prefect Xu came running out with a look of panic on his face and asked, "Is it Mr. Zheng Fang who is here in person?"

"Why bother to trouble such a world-renowned scholar like Mr. Zheng Fang? I am truly guilty of not coming to greet you."

Zhao Yifu never expected that Liang Zhongzhi, who seemed to be out of touch with the officialdom, could be so respected by a fifth-rank official.

It should be said that he is worthy of being called a gentleman.

(End of this chapter)