Do you know: I am Qi Heng

"If we buy this calligraphy, our livelihood in Bianjing will be in jeopardy."

Su Xun looked at Su Zhe and said, "Why didn't you stop your brother?"

"Father..." Su Zhe recounted what had happened.

Su Xun breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that the two hundred taels could be returned, and said, "Alright, let's eat first. Later, Ziyou will go to the Duke of Qi's mansion and tell the young master that we can't afford it, so we've given him that calligraphy."

"Father, I'll go by myself," Su Shi said.

"OK."

Su Xun didn't want Su Shi to go because he was worried that Su Shi would feel embarrassed, but since Su Shi insisted on going, he didn't stop him.

After the meal, the father and his two sons tidied up and went out together to visit Ouyang Xiu, the prefect of Kaifeng.

Ouyang Xiu also lived in this area, but his residence was closer to the South Gate than the one rented by the Su family.

The father and his two sons carried some gifts and walked to the Ouyang residence.

The gatekeeper had clearly been instructed to do so, and upon learning their identities, he sent someone to inform them and welcomed the father and his two sons inside.

As soon as I arrived at the entrance of the Intermediate People's Court, a young man came out to greet me.

"My name is Zeng Gong, and I have come to greet you on my master's orders!"

Zeng Gong bowed respectfully and said, "My master has unexpected guests and is currently entertaining them. Please forgive any rudeness!"

"Young Master Zeng was right!"

Su Xun returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "Since Prefect Ouyang has guests, my son and I will not disturb you further. We will visit another day!"

"It's alright, the teacher said it's nothing to worry about," Zeng Gong said.

Su Xun then gave up and followed Zeng Gong into the central courtyard.

Upon arriving at the main hall, one sees a scholar of about fifty years old with a refined and scholarly demeanor sitting at the head of the table.

To the left sat a middle-aged man in his thirties with a resolute face.

"Mingyun has arrived."

When Ouyang Xiu saw Su Xun and his son enter, he treated them with great courtesy, stood up, looked at Su Shi and Su Zhe behind him, and said, "These two must be your sons?"

"It is indeed my son."

Su Xun bowed respectfully and then introduced his two sons.

"Su Shi (Su Zhe) pays his respects to Prefect Ouyang!" the Su brothers said, bowing.

"No need for formalities."

Ouyang Xiu smiled and said, "Mingyun and I hit it off immediately, you can just call me Uncle!"

Su Xun was deeply moved upon hearing this, even though he and Ouyang Xiu had only met once, just yesterday.

He got to know Ouyang Xiu thanks to the prefect of Chengdu.

Although Su Xun only began studying diligently in his twenties, he quickly became famous in Meizhou.

A few years ago, the prefect of Chengdu read his articles and liked them very much. He not only summoned him to court but also wrote a letter to Ouyang Xiu recommending Su Xun.

The letter also included an article by Su Xun. After reading it, Ouyang Xiu was greatly impressed by Su Xun's article, praising it as "pure and steadfast in conduct, and clear in understanding the Way."

Ouyang Xiu also wrote to Su Xun, inviting him to the capital.

However, at that time, Su Shi and Su Zhe were at a crucial stage of their studies, and Su Xun had not yet entered the capital.

After arriving in the capital, he first visited Ouyang Xiu. Since it was their first meeting, he didn't bring Su Shi and his brother, but only some of his own and his two sons' writings.

After reading their articles, Ouyang Xiu was even more amazed, believing that their talent was no less than that of Su Xun.

His skill level was no less than that of his favorite student Zeng Gong. Although he never said it publicly, he always believed that Zeng Gong had the talent to become the top scholar.

Such extraordinary talents, three in two generations of one family, it's practically an incredible stroke of luck!

So he suggested that Su Xun bring his two sons to meet him, since he had official business to attend to in the morning, so he decided to do so in the afternoon.

Seeing that their father did not object, Su Shi and Su Zhe bowed again and addressed him as their uncle.

"Ha ha."

Ouyang Xiu laughed heartily and said, "You've already met Zigu. He'll also be taking the imperial examination next year. You can discuss scholarship together."

After speaking, he looked at the resolute-faced middle-aged man and introduced him, "This is Wang Anshi, the Vice Prefect of Changzhou."

"I have met Magistrate Wang."

Su Xun and his son did not know why the Prefect of Changzhou was at Ouyang Xiu's residence, but they still bowed and greeted him.

Wang Anshi rose to return the greeting, then cupped his hands to Ouyang Xiu and said, "Since Your Excellency has guests, I will not trouble you any further. I hope Your Excellency will give the matter I mentioned earlier much consideration!"

"Jiefu, now is not the time for reform."

Ouyang Xiu shook his head and said, "After you go back, think carefully about what I said. Zigu, see Jie Fu off for me."

"yes!"

Zeng Gong stepped forward in response, making a show of leading the way, saying, "Brother Jiefu, please!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Anshi did not say anything, but simply bowed to Ouyang Xiu and followed Zeng Gong out of the main hall.

Su Shi watched Wang Anshi leave, shaking his head inwardly.

Although he didn't know what Wang Anshi's proposed reforms included, it was too naive to propose reforms at this time.

"I apologize for the neglect, please have a seat," Ouyang Xiu said.

…………

Qi Heng had no idea about the meeting of the six major families. In the afternoon, the group continued to stroll around and each bought some things.

After offering incense at the Daxiangguo Temple in the evening, they left to go home.

Inside the carriage, Qi Heng looked at the giant panda in its cage, happily munching on bamboo shoots, and chuckled, "Since you like bamboo shoots, shall we call you Bamboo Shoot?"

Hearing the commotion beside it, the bamboo shoot turned its head to look at Qi Heng, as if to say, "Are there any pandas who don't like eating bamboo shoots?"

It couldn't speak, but after glancing at the bamboo shoots, it went back to eating them.

"Young master."

He asked with some concern, "I doubt Madam would agree to you keeping this as a pet, would she?"

Qi Heng's smiling gaze remained fixed on the bamboo shoots as he said, "We'll know whether it's okay or not when we get back. Remember, if Mother asks, just say you advised me against it but I didn't listen."

"But won't that make Madam even angrier?"

Buwei suggested, "If Madam punishes me to vent her anger, perhaps she won't be so angry with Young Master."

Are you stupid?

Qi Heng said irritably, "Just because you punished your mother doesn't mean I'm allowed to support her?"

"This…"

"Stop with this and that, just do as I say."

Qi Heng waved his hand and said, "If they don't listen, I'll have Mother find another obedient child to follow me."

"Yes, sir!" Buwei nodded quickly.

Qi Heng teased the bamboo shoots along the way, and before he knew it, he was home.

The carriage stopped, and Buwei got off first, then called a gatekeeper to help carry the cage away.

After Qi Heng entered the mansion, many servants saw him.

Soon, Princess Pingning learned that Qi Heng had bought a strange beast and immediately stormed into Qi Heng's courtyard in a rage.

When Qi Heng returned to the courtyard, he ordered the cage to be opened.

Perhaps because it had been captured for some time, the bamboo shoot was neither afraid of people nor used to being in the cage.

When the cage was opened, it did not move.

"Come out quickly!"

Qi Heng squatted down, waved, and called out.

Only then did the bamboo shoot take a step, wriggling as it emerged from the cage.

It looked around before continuing to walk towards Qi Heng.

"Good girl!"

Qi Heng rubbed its head, pointed to the purple bamboo grove beside it, and said, "You'll be living here from now on. Do you like it?"

The bamboo shoot turned its head and stared blankly for a while before coming to its senses and running into the bamboo forest.

"No, have someone build a small wooden house for the bamboo shoots!" Qi Heng ordered.

"Why build a wooden house?"

Princess Pingning stormed into the courtyard, glanced at the cage on the ground, looked around, and saw the bamboo shoots that had burrowed into the bamboo grove. She frowned and asked, "What are these things?"

"Greetings, Mother!" Qi Heng bowed and said.

Princess Pingning looked at Qi Heng and said coldly, "I didn't say anything when you went out to play during your vacation, but why did you buy this thing back?"