Chapter 17: A Different Mr.
Zhu Hao's idea was to buy a few rabbits and send them to the flower and bird market to set up a stall to attract people coming out of Prince Xing's Palace.
Although this plan seems like looking for a needle in a haystack, after all, the child wanted to buy a rabbit several months ago, but there is really no better way at the moment.
However, it is not easy to purchase a batch of rabbits. You have to find channels first. After all, only hunters outside the city can occasionally get some.
In those days, except in the imperial palaces, no one kept rabbits as pets, and few people in the private sector raised rabbits for meat, because there were too many infectious diseases in rabbits in those days, and it was basically difficult to have a good harvest in centralized breeding without vaccinations and drug treatment.
When he arrived outside the city, Zhu Hao found several hunters through farmers who were drying salt. After asking, he learned that rabbits were not available just because he wanted them. He had to wait for a few days and it all depended on luck.
It is not easy to catch rabbits in the summer. There are many thorns in the mountains. It is difficult for rabbits to find food. They will hide in the weeds and disappear. Traps are also difficult to work.
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The next day, Zhu Hao returned home at noon, but saw a skinny old man in his forties standing behind Zhu Niang. He reeked of alcohol. If he was not wearing a scholar's blue shirt, he would not look like a serious scholar at all.
"Come and meet the gentleman."
Zhu Niang waited eagerly and finally waited for her son to come back. She hurriedly pulled her son to the old man and introduced him to him with a smile.
"Sir, this is my child. He is eight years old this year. I have taught him a few words before, but I am not very knowledgeable, so my teaching is very limited. I hope you can give him more advice in the future."
Zhu Niang was very happy.
It seemed that he felt that his son would be on the right track from then on.
Zhu Hao quickly pulled Zhu Niang aside and asked, "Mom, where did you find this? Didn't I say I was going to study at a private school? How come you really invited the teacher home?"
In Zhu Hao's idea, even if he wanted to go to school, he could not invite the teacher back for one-on-one teaching. Regardless of whether the teacher was really talented, even if he was, he believed that the two of them would be on par with each other.
In terms of knowledge, Zhu Hao, who had studied under a famous teacher in his previous life, had a doctorate in literature and the title of doctoral supervisor, and had extremely high attainments in classical literature, literary theory, calligraphy and painting, was far superior to ordinary students of this era. In order to seek "freedom", he naturally wanted to study in a crowded school so that he would have the opportunity to skip school.
Zhu Niang scolded, "Stop talking nonsense and go to see the master... The master is very talented, far more than a student, he seems to be a juren."
Zhu Niang said this very loudly, deliberately letting the old man hear.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Hao looked at the old man again.
The old man just nodded slightly to Zhu Hao, then burped, and a strong smell of alcohol hit his face.
Zhu Hao frowned, unable to hide his contempt.
The old man's blue shirt made of fine linen had become whitish from washing, with several patches of different sizes on the hem and his cuffs stained with oil, making him look slovenly. How could he dare to call himself a juren when he was so poor ?
Don’t you know that Juren has privileges such as exemption from corvée and taxes, and that farmers can make a fortune just by donating their land. Are you as poor as you?
"From now on, the master will teach you knowledge... Come, kneel down and kowtow."
Before Zhu Hao could refuse, the old man raised his hand and said, "Don't be too polite. It seems that your child doesn't want to be my disciple. You should discuss it with your child first... I'll go to the teahouse opposite and have a cup of tea to sober up."
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The old man is very sanctimonious.
After a simple conversation, Zhu Hao didn't think the old man had any ability. Instead, he thought that Zhu Niang was "trying everything possible" in desperation.
"Mom, where did you find this guy? How can you be so sure that he is knowledgeable?"
Zhu Hao was angry.
I work hard for my family, and you just grab someone from the street and ask me to be your disciple?
How embarrassing!
Aunt Li smiled and said, "This old gentleman was lying in the back alley this morning. Maybe he was drunk and didn't come back all night. No one paid any attention to him. Madam was kind enough to give him a bowl of sobering tea and then chatted with him for a while. The more they talked, the brighter Madam's eyes became. Finally, she said that she wanted to invite the old gentleman to be Master Hao's first teacher."
The story was so bizarre that Zhu Hao became extremely anxious after hearing it.
The mother really just picked up someone from the street to teach her son. Isn't this too far-fetched? ?
Zhu Niang said, "You don't understand. The old gentleman is really well-educated, and his words are eloquent. His insights are extraordinary. After he stood up, he casually chanted a poem. Although I couldn't hear the specific words, it was full of rhythmic beauty. It seemed to express his inner feelings and sigh that his talent was not appreciated... When he asked about his fame, he didn't just talk about the students. His words showed disdain for the students... Don't judge a person by his appearance!"
Zhu Hao asked in surprise: "How can you still feel that your talent is not appreciated even though you have already passed the imperial examination? Isn't this a contradiction?"
Zhu Niang glared at Zhu Hao: "I didn't despise you because you were an ignorant child, how dare you despise others? Come on, let's become my disciple."
Zhu Niang took Zhu Hao to the teahouse.
To show her sincerity, Zhu Niang specially set up a teacher-apprentice banquet in the teahouse, probably wanting to make the matter a fait accompli so that the Zhu family would have no reason to take their son back to study, and the mother and son would never see each other again.
"Sir, I hope you don't mind. My son is young and ignorant, and I was rude to you just now." Zhu Niang said expectantly.
The old man put down the teacup in his hand and said with a smile: "If you want me to accept him as my disciple, I still need to test him... I wonder if Madam can let me talk to him alone?"
Zhu Niang nodded and quickly winked at Zhu Hao, meaning that if he failed the test, she would hold him accountable.
Then Zhu Niang retreated to the second floor of the teahouse.
After Zhu Niang left, the smile on the old man's face faded, "You are lucky to have a good mother."
Zhu Hao said bluntly: "Don't think about my mother."
"Ha ha."
The old man smiled and said, "You are a little brat. Your mother is a chaste woman. Ordinary people don't dare to mess with her. I just drank a few glasses of wine. I have no intention of staying in this small place of Anlu for a long time."
Zhu Hao said: "Is Anlu a small place? This is where many hidden talents are."
The old man was just joking at first, but his expression suddenly turned cold when he heard this. He stared at Zhu Hao and asked after a while, "Who taught you that?"
“No one taught me.”
Zhu Hao just said it casually, but he noticed that the old man's expression was different, and his heart moved. It seemed that this old man was indeed an extraordinary person.
The phrase "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is extended to the sensitive position of Prince Xing's Mansion in the court. Most scholars would not study the issue of the succession of the royal heirs, after all, it is none of their business. But a drunk old man living on the street actually understands this?
Doesn't this mean that when one is in a high position in government, one worries about the people, and when one is far away in the world, one worries about the ruler?
"Where is the dragon, where is the tiger?" the old man asked.
Zhu Hao smiled and said, "You asked me where I heard it from, so I'll just make up a few words... Isn't there an Anlu County to the east of our Anlu Prefecture? There is a Tiger Milk Rock there. According to legend, during the Spring and Autumn Period, Dou Ziwen, the prime minister of the Chu State, was abandoned by his grandmother when he was born and was suckled by a female tiger here. In addition, the Han River is entrenched, like a dragon. Isn't it a place where dragons and crouching tigers are hidden?"
Sounds reasonable.
But how could the old man not hear that Zhu Hao was really making fun of him?
How could a seven-year-old child who had not yet been enlightened fool a well-read scholar?
A rare and wonderful story.
"Have you been to school? How many words do you know? Write them down and see." The old man quickly entered the testing mode.
“No pen.”
"Just dip your finger in the tea and write anything on the table."
“Sorry, I forgot how to write it.”
Zhu Hao’s purpose is very simple. Don’t accept me as your student. I have nothing to do with you. We should go our separate ways.
The old man smiled and said, "You know what, this place of Anlu is full of surprises. Originally, I was just passing by and got drunk on the street to make a name for myself as a visitor, but I never thought that because of these few drinks, I would meet an interesting little guy like you... I will tell your mother now that I will definitely be your mentor!"
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He won't move when you lead him, and he will move backwards when you hit him.
Zhu Hao really wants to ask, are you born in the year of the donkey?
It's obvious that others have no intention of becoming your disciple, but you still insist on taking them as your disciples?
Then, Zhu Niang was called upstairs.
"Sir, do you agree to take me as your apprentice?"
When Zhu Niang heard the old man's intention, she was extremely happy.
The old man smiled and said, "I admire your son's quick wit, but this time we are going to Jiangxi, passing through Huguang, and cannot stay in Anlu for too long. At most, I can help him get started. As for daily teaching, I am afraid I have to find someone else."
"Then...what is it?" Zhu Niang didn't understand.
Zhu Hao said: "What he meant was that the Anlu temple is too small to accommodate his huge Buddha statue."
"Xiaohao, how can you be rude to the teacher? Apologize and admit your mistake."
Although Zhu Niang was not well educated, she cared a lot about respecting teachers and thought this was a good time to shape her son's values, so she immediately corrected him.
The old man smiled and said, "I quite admire his straightforwardness in speaking. He is not shy at this age, but he is a man of temperament. It seems that he will have his own way of exploring knowledge in the future and will not stick to the rules."
The old man here spoke lightly, but he didn't know what Zhu Niang was really thinking.
Zhu Niang did not want to hire a nominal teacher who would come halfway to teach her son for a few days and then leave. She wanted to hire a long-term tutor who would teach her son systematically.
The old man boasted about himself and acted like he was very powerful.
But it is true that these days, it is not easy for ordinary people to travel around the world. Passes and road permits can stump many people. Saying that you can travel around the world is also a kind of pretense.
But for Zhu Hao, this is actually good news. The old man said that he wanted to take him as his apprentice, but he couldn't stay in Anlu for too long. Isn't it the same to have a master as to have no master?
"Sir, why don't you stay in Anlu for a while longer? Why not... wait until autumn comes and the weather gets cooler before leaving? I can arrange your accommodation and meals, and I will never neglect you."
Zhu Niang settled for the next best thing.
Since the old man said he was going to Jiangxi, she thought of using the old man to get rid of Zhu Jia first. When the Zhu family was sure that Zhu Hao had a husband and would not forcibly take their son away, she would have enough time to hire a new husband.
The old man smiled and shook his head: "I have already arranged my schedule, I am afraid I can't stay in Anlu for long. Thank you for your kindness, madam."
No matter how well-intentioned you are, people just won't appreciate it.
Zhu Niang was very disappointed, but she couldn't just chase him away when things had come to this point, so she said to her son, "In this case, Xiaohao, you must try to learn from the master as much as possible during this period of time, so that the master's appreciation will not be in vain... I haven't asked your name yet, master?"
The old man said, "My name is Lu."
From his slight hesitation, Zhu Hao judged that this was definitely not the old man's real name.
Even his surname isn't real, and he's so wary. It's amazing that Zhu Niang still treats him like a treasure. Zhu Hao was full of contempt for this old man.
Don't you really have any bad intentions towards mother?"
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The next day, Mr. Lu came as promised.
He was no longer the half-dead drunkard he had been yesterday. All the dirt on his face had been wiped off, and he had put on a clean white Confucian robe, which added some scholarly spirit to him and made him look very energetic.
Zhu Hao even thought that if he had seen the old man in this outfit when he first met him, perhaps his impression of him would not be so bad.
But now he has seen the sloppy side of this old man, and the stereotype will not change just because this man has washed up and put on clean clothes, it will remain the same.
"Mr. Lu, the four treasures of the study have been prepared in the courtyard. Please move."
Zhu Niang changed into a gorgeous brocade shirt with brilliant embroidery, looking noble and elegant.
Her son was only marrying a temporary teacher, but she treated him as if he were marrying his own daughter-in-law, and even put a little powder on his face. As a widow, she had not treated anyone so solemnly for a long time.
Mr. Lu smiled and said, "I am going to go fishing in the city today. I want to take my apprentice with me. I want to chat with him and ask him about his studies. If there is anything I can teach, I will teach him right away. He won't have to go into the inner courtyard."
Zhu Hao originally looked at the old guy with a wary eye.
After hearing this, I felt a little relieved. Fortunately, this guy was sensible and knew that there would be a lot of trouble around a widow, not to mention that there were two widows in this yard.
But you go fishing in Anlu city...what's the method?
You said you traveled a long way to Jiangxi, passing through Anlu, and you stayed here for a few days, most likely staying with friends or relatives. How could you have the mind to fish in a foreign land?
The city is basically an artificial river , connected to the moat outside the city, connecting the Han River in the west and the North and South Lakes in the east. The water flows slowly and it is difficult to catch fish.
As for being in a good mood?
What happened when you drank alone the day before yesterday?
Even though Zhu Hao felt that he was very good at judging people, he could not see many clues about Mr. Lu. He always felt that this person was very cunning and was involved in officialdom, but also seemed to have nothing to do with it.
Aunt Li asked in confusion, "If you are not at home teaching, how can you fish?"
She said what Zhu Niang wanted to say but was too embarrassed to say.
Zhu Hao smiled and said, "Mom, I think Mr. Lu's suggestion is very good. There should be a process of mutual familiarity before we start to learn to read. For example, he could ask me where I am in the book. If he starts by teaching me "Three", "Hundred", "Thousand" or asking me to recite articles from the Four Books and Five Classics, it would be too rigid."
Zhu Niang looked at her son in surprise.
Why did you change your personality today?
It seemed like it was his own son who attacked Mr. Lu in every possible way yesterday! ?
"Madams, please go back. I will take my disciple out."
After Mr. Lu finished speaking, he bowed and said goodbye to Zhu Niang and Aunt Li, then took Zhu Hao out of the shop and headed north of the city toward the canal that crossed Anlu Prefecture.
