Chapter 14 Meeting Jia Zheng
Finally, when Jia Zheng was tired of talking, Jia Cong bowed and said, "Second Master, please allow me to report that my nephew has not gone to the clan school, but there is a reason."
"Why?" Jia Zheng sneered, "Then tell me, what is the reason?"
"In the clan school, Brother Rui only asked us to read the Three Hundred Thousands. I have already read them well, so I want to study the Four Books and Five Classics! But Brother Rui did not provide them in the clan school, so I..."
Before Jia Cong could finish, Jia Zheng shouted angrily, "You little rascal, you don't know how high the sky is or how deep the earth is! Well, since you are talking about the Four Books and Five Classics, let me ask you, how are you doing with your reading?"
"I have only read four books so far, and I can recite them by heart!"
"Mencius met King Hui of Liang..." Jia Zheng said suddenly!
Jia Cong blurted out, "The king said: "The old man has come from afar, will he benefit our country?"..."
"The prince returned from Chu and met Mencius again!" Jia Zheng asked again.
"Mencius said: Your Excellency, do you doubt my words..."
The two of them asked and answered questions for nearly half an hour, and Jia Cong answered fluently!
At this moment, Jia Zheng was no longer angry. His eyes were shining and he stared at Jia Cong as if he was looking at a rare treasure!
He has loved reading since he was young, but now his two sons are both unsuccessful. Could it be that this nephew who has always been dull is actually a potential scholar?
"This is called knowing the origin, this is called knowing the ultimate! What does it mean?"
Jia Cong was slightly stunned, and then he answered again! Lin Ruhai's annotations were very detailed, and Jia Cong had studied hard these days, so he was naturally not stumped.
Looking at Jia Zheng again, he had already stood up, and his whole body was even trembling a little .
"If jade is not carved, it cannot become a tool; if people do not learn, they cannot know. Therefore, the ancient kings who established their country and ruled their people put teaching first..."
This time, Jia Cong was completely stunned. After a moment of confusion, he said with shame, "I am ashamed. I only asked my second sister to borrow the Four Books from Miss Lin, but I have not read the Five Classics yet. Therefore, I only vaguely remember that this statement came from the Book of Rites, but I don't know what happened next!"
Jia Zheng also reacted. Instead of being angry, he was happy and pulled Jia Cong to his side. "It's okay, it's okay. This is my fault, not Cong's fault!"
"Sit down!"
"No tea yet?"
After a series of questions and answers, Jia Cong's status had obviously changed.
Jia Zheng picked up the tea and drank it all, then continued to ask with great interest, "You said that the four books you read were borrowed from Yu'er by Ying-ya? Why didn't you buy them yourself?"
Jia Cong's face showed shame again, and he stood up and said, "Second Master... my nephew is short of money! In order to study hard these days, I bought a lot of pens, inkstones, and paper..."
He didn't say anything else, but Jia Zheng understood! He felt a little guilty, but also relieved! He felt guilty because he was the only one in his family who loved to read, but he couldn't afford to buy books. How ridiculous was that? He was relieved because, even though he was poor, Jia Cong kept writing and studying hard!
"Alas, it's hard for you!" Jia Zheng sighed.
"Second Master, there is no need to do this! Mencius said that poverty and humbleness cannot change one's character. Although I am a concubine's son, I am also a member of the family. I have no other ability but to study hard. If I can get a good name on the list of successful candidates in the future, I will not only be able to help my father and Second Master to establish a good family, but also be able to carry on the aspirations of our ancestors!"
"Ouyang Yongshu was poor when he was young, so he borrowed books to copy and eventually became a great scholar! Although my nephew cannot compare to Ouyang Yongshu, I am willing to take him as a role model!"
"Good, good, good!" Jia Zheng clapped his hands in praise. Today, Jia Cong had opened his eyes and made him extremely pleased.
"Brother Cong, you are a good man, much better than Baoyu! From now on, your uncle will allow you to study in Mengpozhai. How about that? You can use all the writing brushes, inkstones, and paper!"
"This..." Jia Cong was happy , but then he hesitated.
Jia Zheng laughed, "I cannot refuse a gift from an elder! Why are you so hesitant?"
After hearing this, Jia Cong nodded and bowed, "Nephew thanks you, second uncle!"
"Okay, okay, get up quickly! Although our family cannot compare to the Lin family in passing down poetry and literature, Second Uncle has accumulated quite a few books over the years! Some of them are even unique copies that have been read and annotated by several generations of Yansheng Dukes! Return the books later, and our Jia family will have enough books to read!"
"Nephew obeys your command!"
Jia Zheng chatted with Jia Cong for a while, then waved his hand and said, "You can go by yourself. From tomorrow on, you can come anytime, no matter the time of day or night!"
"Someone, turn on the lights and send Cong back!"
Jia Cong thanked him and left!
"God bless our Jia family!" Jia Zheng was so happy that he walked around the room. Thinking about how Jia Cong had answered questions fluently and calmly just now, he was overjoyed.
Suddenly, he stopped and said, "Go, call Baoyu over to me!"
It is said that in Mengpozhai that night, Jia Zheng's angry curses, Baoyu's screams, Mrs. Wang's wailing, and the old lady's scolding were intertwined, and it was not until midnight that they finally calmed down...
Jia Cong went straight back to the yard and slept peacefully, hiding his achievements and fame!
Meeting Jia Zheng today, the reason for "playing a show" is of course not without purpose! In any case, it is extremely difficult for him, a bastard, to make a name for himself in the mansion. Not to mention other things, if he takes the imperial examination in the future, he won't even have enough guarantors. Therefore, he must find a supporter in the mansion.
After much consideration, only Jia Zheng is suitable.
Although Jia Zheng is a bit rigid, he is upright and pedantic, but he has a good character! He wants to bring honor to his family, but he has given up the path of imperial examinations, so he attaches great importance to studying and making progress. With Jia Cong's ability to remember everything he sees, it is easy for him to please Jia Zheng.
Of course, this would also bring some disadvantages! After all, by contrast, Jia Zheng would definitely urge Baoyu more. If some disputes were caused, Wang Furen and even Jia Mu would definitely hate Jia Cong as the source. However, there is always a gain if there is a loss. Jia Cong has nothing, so he is not afraid of them targeting him now.
In the future, even if they want to target us , they may be powerless to do anything.
After a sound sleep, Jia Cong packed up the books the next day and headed for Yingchun's residence after eating! Jia Cong had memorized the four books by heart and had copied them several times, so it was time to return them.
When they arrived at Yingchun's residence, they heard the maid in the courtyard say that Yingchun had gone to Daiyu's place. Jia Cong simply took Xiao Que'er and continued to go to Daiyu's courtyard.
When I got outside, I heard a lot of chatter in the yard! The little girl at the door shouted, "Master Cong is here!"
After entering the courtyard, Jia Cong couldn't help but stop! This small courtyard is full of fragrance, which is overwhelming! Daiyu, Baochai, and Sanchun are all here, plus a group of maids, big and small, it can be said that the house is full of pearls and jade, and smiles to welcome people!
"Hello, Sister Bao and Second Sister!"
"Meet Sister Lin, Third Sister, and Fourth Sister!"
Jia Cong bowed and greeted everyone one by one!
