Aspirations

Chapter 37 When it comes, let it be

Manto subconsciously shook his head.

Xia Xiang smiled: "The smart Daxia people came up with a way to press the porcelain on the bottom of the boat. The porcelain sank and made the boat more stable. Unexpectedly, after arriving in the countries of the South China Sea, the tea and silk were all sold out. The merchants of tea and silk were not reconciled. They got on the ship and wanted to see if there was anything else that could be traded, but they found porcelain. Little lady, do you know that the exquisite porcelain of Daxia is in the eyes of the people of the South China Sea countries, As gorgeous as jade, they can only burn very rough porcelain, and they have never seen or heard of porcelain that is as smooth as jade and exquisite as clouds... No one thought that the porcelain that was originally used to press the bottom of the boat has become the aftermath of tea and silk. The most popular item overseas. Today, porcelain is not only loved by the countries in the South China Sea, but also loved by Europa, Persia and the big cannibals.”

Mantuo was engrossed in hearing this, and for a moment forgot the real purpose of coming.I remember that when I was a child, I often heard my father talk about overseas affairs, and she was very fascinated. She yearned for the day when she could go out to sea by boat, go to a foreign country, and experience the exotic customs.I don't want to hear someone talking about overseas affairs again after many years. It is actually a scholar who has never met before, or a young man who has just been weak.She couldn't help but wonder in her heart, how could Xia Xiang know so much at such an age?

Thinking about it again, yes, maybe it is because of Xia Xiang's talent that he has learned a lot from others, so that King Jing and King Xing look up to him.

Xia Xiang usually chats with Zhang Hou and Shen Bao, either discussing poetry or state affairs, his business philosophy is not approved by the two, so he does not discuss this matter with them.Today it was rare for Mantuo to listen attentively, and the conversation suddenly became popular.It is also because he has recently thought about the good times and has a lot of experience, but he suffers from no one to communicate with. Talking freely today has swept away the stagnant spirit in his heart for many days.

"The imperial examination is no longer only admitted from the gentry, but everyone can take the test, so that students from all over the world have an enterprising path to seek their background. Seeds, men should be self-improvement', the trend of studying and studying arose throughout the summer, scholars were taught by Confucius and Mencius, and read the books of sages, how can the atmosphere not be clear? How can people not surrender? There is no noble family's unhealthy style, no mathematician read it at night, just to report to the court to live up to the people of Li, if Daxia is not strong, where is the law?"

Mantuo snorted coldly, and his expression changed: "Daxia's powerful ministers are in the way, and treacherous officials are rampant, how can they be strong?"

Xia Xiang was startled. He knew that after hearing the news that Xia Qu was safe and sound, he was excited and said a lot, saying that he still didn't know who Mantuo was and where he came from, so he asked: "Mantuo. Why did the lady say this?"

"The power of the three princes is in the court, Hou Pingpan monopolizes the court, and the two control the government. The Great Xia is dark, the emperor is seriously ill, and is in danger, but no loyal ministers stand up to turn the tide. If the century-old foundation of the Great Xia is allowed to be allowed to be the third prince and Hou Pingpan If you continue to act mischievously, I am afraid that you will be ruined. Xia Xiang, as a citizen of Daxia, and a scholar taught by Confucius and Mencius, you should share your worries and serve the country. Why are you still deceiving yourself and others, thinking that Daxia will be strong again? Mantuo suddenly became angry, originally she still had a good impression of Xia Xiang, but she was angered by Xia Xiang's praises, remembering that her father died in a foreign land because of the third prince and Hou Pingpan, she felt that Xia Xiang Xiang looked hideous, just like Hou Pingpan, immediately took out the letter and threw it on the table, turned and left.

In fact, Mantuo was hesitant just now. He wanted to wait for Xia Xiang's exam before handing over the letter to him. Otherwise, once the news of his mother's death came, it would definitely affect Xia Xiang's exam.But after listening to Xia Xiang's high opinion, she changed her mind again. Xia Xiang is in or not in, what does it have to do with her?She is entrusted by others to be loyal, just bring the letter to her.

Xia Xiang was stunned, and Mantuo suddenly changed his face. He was stunned for a moment, then he figured it out for a while, and hurriedly chased out of the room: "Ms. Mantuo, please stay behind and listen to me again. Although there are traitors in power today, my generation is a scholar. It is even more necessary to forge ahead, to obtain an official and half a post, and then to plead for the order of the ruler and the people, instead of being angry, what's the use of 'usually talking about one's heart and nature, and dying to repay the king' in danger?"

Man Tuo stopped, turned around and looked at Xia Xiang's bright and clear eyes, and said, "What do you mean?"

"If you want to talk about being loyal to the emperor and serving the country, empty talk is of course useless, and the courage of a man under anger is not advisable. Now that I am dressed in white and have only an empty fist, I have not even entered the door of being loyal to the emperor, so I am deceiving myself and others by talking about being loyal to the emperor and serving the country " Xia Xiang spoke earnestly, he didn't want to persuade Man Tuo, but wanted to take the opportunity to express his thoughts.

For some reason, Xia Xiang fell in love with Mantuo at first sight. Although it was not the love between a man and a woman, he also had a feeling of being a confidante, so he didn't want Mantuo to misunderstand him.Mantuo not only has the softness of ordinary women, but also the daring to love and hate of Jianghu women, and the knowledgeable and courteous manners of everyone. Famous woman.

"Hearing what you said, you're still going to follow the golden mean?" Man Tuo was still angry, but his mind relaxed a little.

"I have a saying, I have three treasures: the first is kindness, the second is frugality, and the third is not daring to be the first in the world..." Xia Xiang bowed his hands to Mantuo, "Thank you for the friendship and letter delivery of Lady Mantuo. The world first."

"Lao Tzu also said: If you are not virtuous at the top, you are virtuous; if you are not virtuous at the bottom, you are not virtuous. If you do nothing at the top, you have nothing to do; if you do nothing at the bottom, you have ideas." Man Tuofei stepped forward, from Xia Xiang snatched the letter back in his hand, "Man, you are so timid and afraid of getting into trouble, you dare not be the first in the world, I will!"

After speaking, he turned and left without looking back.

Xia Xiang spread his hands and smiled bitterly: "This, this, what is the reason? It is obviously my letter, why was it taken back again? Miss Mantuo, who are you? But you are right, a A truly moral person does not think that morality is a great good thing. Morality is just his daily behavior, which is the state of doing nothing but doing everything. And if a person is seen to be very moral, it is intentional. In terms of realm, it has fallen behind. But then again, Confucius said that a gentleman does something and does not do it. He knows what he can do and does it, and he knows what he can’t do and doesn’t do it. This is what a gentleman does and what he doesn’t do The way! Knowing that you can’t do it, aren’t you a fool? Madam Mantuo, you are unreasonable..."

"Who is unreasonable, sir?" Xiao Wu came back from outside the inn, holding a glass of cold drink in his hand, and was eating with gusto, "Miss Mantuo is really a kind person, she gave me a glass of ice drink, and said she would take me as an apprentice, sir , from now on you teach me to read, and Madam Mantuo teaches me to practice martial arts, and I will be a prodigy in both civil and martial arts."

Is it a genius? Let’s not talk about it, just talk about a glass of iced drink and was bought by Mantuo. Xiao Wu is really promising. Xia Xiang gave Xiao Wu a dissatisfied look: "Isn't it a punishment for you to face the wall and think for three days? Who told you to come out?" gone?"

"Ms. Mantuo said that the master has changed his mind and will no longer punish me, so I will come out." Xiao Wu said confidently, took another sip of the iced drink, and smiled, "Sir, the iced drink is delicious, man. Madam Tuo also bought a bowl for you, but for some reason, she accidentally fell."

Xia Xiang couldn't laugh or cry, so he waved his hand: "Okay, okay, you go down first, I'm going to study."

"Yeah." Xiao Wuyi sat on a stone in the courtyard, and continued to compete with the ice drink in the bowl, "Sir, don't worry about studying, I will guard the gate, and no matter who makes trouble, they will be beaten away with sticks. Except... Except for Lady Mantuo."

It's really weird, Xiao Wuzhi and Mantuo only met once, how could he have such a good impression of Mantuo?Xia Xiang's curiosity grew, and he couldn't help asking: "If Miss Cao comes, you won't let her in?"

"Miss Cao..." Xiao Wu hesitated for a while, and finally made a decision, "Don't let me in, just let Mrs. Mantuo come in alone. Sir, don't blame me for talking too much. If Mrs. Cao and Mrs. Mantuo get along Bi, I still like Lady Mantuo."

"Why?" Xia Xiang was even more surprised. It is said that Mantuo's cold appearance was not more lovable than Cao Shuli.

Xiao Wu's reason was straightforward and simple. He raised his head and said earnestly and firmly: "Ms. Mantuo knows martial arts and is stronger than Xiao Wu, and can protect Mr.

Xia Xiang's heart warmed up. In Xiao Wu's simple concept, he would like anyone who was beneficial and friendly to him. On the contrary, he would not like it or even hate it.Why is such a pure and kind Xiao Wu disliked by his brother and sister-in-law?Xia Xiang secretly made up his mind that he must treat Xiao Wu kindly and not let him be wronged again.If you want to be kind to the people in the world, start by being kind to those around you and your family.

Xia went here to the South China Sea, hoping to achieve something.Since Xia Qu is fine, I believe Xia Lai will be safe too.Xia Xiang went back to the room, picked up the pen to write the letter, and put down the pen after writing a few words. He still wrote the letter back home after high school, and reported the good news to his mother at the same time.Before leaving, his mother repeatedly told him not to worry about his family. He had been dependent on his mother since he was a child, and he developed the habit of relying on himself in everything, and he also knew his mother's tenacity and independence.If he had nothing to do and wrote a letter to report his safety to his family, he would be blamed by his mother for being useless.

Withdrawing his thoughts, Xia Xiang began to study with peace of mind.For every student, taking exams is the most important thing in life.All things are low-ranking, only high-ranking studies. It is a blessing for the people of the world to replace the nine-rank Zhongzheng system with the imperial examination system. From then on, students from poor families have the opportunity to stand out, and it also allows countless talented scholars from poor backgrounds to enter the upper class. social road.Although there are thousands of troops pouring into a single-plank bridge, it is much better than going nowhere.

But Mantuo left the Quanyou Inn, and after bidding farewell to Xiao Wu, he walked alone on the bustling streets of Shangjing, and suddenly felt boundless loneliness and helplessness.She just got angry at Xia Xiang, but her heart has been smoldering for a long time, and there is nowhere to release it. It happened that Xia Xiang's words aroused her long-standing dissatisfaction.Only now did she deeply feel that no matter how powerful her martial arts were, she would not be able to enter the palace of the Third Prince with a sword.

Not to mention that she has no definite evidence to show that Dad was persecuted to death by the Third Prince, even if Dad was demoted to Hainan at the behest of the Third Prince, it was just a normal court battle.The third prince was not the murderer who personally killed her father. Even if she was able to enter the palace by herself, within half an hour, she would be hacked to death by the palace soldiers.

In the battle of the imperial court, there are winners and losers. Once you enter the imperial court, you must have "the people who live in the temple are worried about the people, and the people who are far away from the rivers and lakes worry about the king. It is also worrying about advancing, and worrying about retreating. But what? Joy from time to time? It must be said: Worry about the world's worries first, and enjoy the world's joy later".

Mantuo understood the reasoning, but it was still difficult to swallow the anger in his heart.Just looking around at a loss for a while, not knowing where to go, she reined in the horse and came to a teahouse not long after. She looked up and saw that the banners were flying, and the four big characters were particularly eye-catching: good times always exist.

Is it good times again?Along the way, the most inns I saw in Mantuo were the good times in the semicolon inns and the all-you inns. It was good that there were all businesses, but only the inns. The good times were always in addition to the inns, but there were restaurants, tea shops, and caravans. Businesses are spread across all walks of life, and they are almost invincible. It is difficult not to be remembered.

Forget it, I'm just thirsty, so go up and have a cup of tea first.Man Tuo made up his mind to hand over Song Dingniang's letter to Xia Xiang after Xia Xiang passed the exam with peace of mind, lest Xia Xiang would be disturbed by Song Dingniang's death and affect the exam, and then she made plans.

Mantuo fastened the horses, and there was a plaque on the tea shop. On the upper left corner of the plaque, there were four small characters "good times always exist", and three big characters in the middle - Anzhiju. The handwriting seemed to be written by a woman, but there was no signature.

"In the guest officer, please."

The enthusiastic and handsome shop waiter showed his beautiful white teeth, greeted him, and saluted with fists together: "Do you want the first floor or the second and third floors, the first floor is a shop, and the second and third floors are pavilions."

"Third floor." Man Tuo answered casually, and entered the tea shop with the waiter.

It is more appropriate to call it a tea house. After the entrance, the main corridor is about a hundred steps long, and the two corridors on the north and south patios are full of individual tourists. There are three or five people at a table. He sings softly and sings Li Yu's "Waves and Sands": "The rain is gurgling outside the curtain, and the spring is fading. Luo Qin can't stand the cold. It's easy to see and difficult to see. When the water falls, the flowers and spring go away, heaven and earth."

Going up the stairs to the second floor, the second floor is still the main corridor with more than a hundred steps, and there are no individual tourists on both sides, but one pavilion after another.Outside the hanging window, the flowers and bamboos are set off, the curtain is lowered, and the lights and candles are shining brightly, illuminating each other from top to bottom.Man Tuo was also considered a noble lady from a family of officials, but it was the first time he saw such a luxuriously furnished tea shop, and he couldn't help but admire in his heart, it's true that the good times are always here, and I don't know who the owner of the good times is always there, Not to mention how strong the financial resources are, but only the atmosphere and taste of the tea shop, you will know that this person is extraordinary.

"That's it." Man Tuo stopped walking when he saw a pavilion named Shuilongyin.

The waiter in the shop responded, and pushed open the door. The pavilion is not big, with tables and chairs, and a soft couch for resting.On the table, there are flower arrangements, on the four walls, calligraphy and paintings are hung on three walls, and there is another flour wall on which someone wrote a poem.

Man Tuo had no intention of admiring the poems on the wall. After sitting down, the waiter said: "The guest officer invites you, Qibao Leicha, Sanzi, green onion tea, salt drum soup, plum blossom wine soaked in snow..."

Mantuo waved his hand: "Shuangjing tea."

The shop assistant took a sip, turned around and went out. He soon came back to serve tea, and gave another plate of melon seeds before carefully closing the door.From beginning to end, the attitude is respectful and meticulous, and there is no hint of impatience.

Man Tuo drank a few sips of tea, opened the window, and outside the window was the Anding River.Thinking of the rush and exhaustion along the way, she leaned over the window, feeling a little tired, and fell asleep unconsciously.

I don't know how long I slept, and I was woken up by the voice of two women talking outside the door.Mantuo just got up, the door slammed, and two women broke in.

The two did not realize that there was someone in the room, and they talked as they walked.The woman walking in front has a green temple, a phoenix and green, the autumn water is the divine jade and the bone, the hibiscus is like a willow and eyebrows, a slender waist, a slender and lovely, a pair of long legs, a thin and pleasant appearance, and an unparalleled appearance, which can be called a peerless elegance.

Although the woman behind him is not as stunning as her, she also has a unique style when she frowns and smiles. Her hair is in a bun and her temples are exposed, her eyebrows are lightly sweeping and her eyes are full of spring smiles, her skin is as moist as jade, her mouth is as delicate as a drop of cherry, and her cheeks are full of charm. The two strands of hair on the side gently brushed against the face in the wind, adding a bit of seductive and charming style.

If it is said that the dignified woman in the front reveals a hint of nobility and coldness, then the woman in the back is a bit more charming in addition to being beautiful, and the two women can be said to have their own merits.

The woman in front came to stand in front of the pink wall. She did not notice the existence of Mantuo, because the mantuo was in front of the window, and was hidden by a screen.

(End of this chapter)