Cao Hongxun and Shoupeng Wang, the two top scholars in Wei County, both live in Nanguan New Lane in Beijing, and the two families live next to each other.
Chen Hengqing, the author of Notes on Jian 'an Temple, was a scholar in the 12th year of Guangxu reign in Qing Dynasty (1886). You guess, in his eyes, the champion is also a scholar, and the difference between himself and the champion is only the ranking order. Because they are fellow villagers in Wei County, Shandong Province, scholars and officials in Beijing, Cao Dian of Qinghe, Chen Heng should be familiar with them. Now that everyone is familiar with it, speaking may not be so taboo. I remember once, Chen Hengqing once wrote to Cao Dian:
"When I took part in the palace exam, I spent a lot of time and respectfully completed the seven-and-a-half test paper of the palace college entrance examination. I wrote down every word carefully. I worked so hard that I only got a second grade (the so-called "second grade"). "
Here, it is necessary to explain that the "Palace College Entrance Examination has seven and a half papers": since the Palace Examination, the official of the Temple of Cracking will lead the candidates to sit at the examination table and then answer the questions. ("The Complete Record of the Examination in the Same Year in Guangxu Xu Bing") Together with the examination paper, there is also an answer sheet. The answer sheet is one foot and four inches long, and it is white rice paper with * * * octaves and red columns. Each column has 12 lines, with 22 words in each line, two words in the top column and 24 words in * *. In this way, each page is not a top grid, and a * * * can write 264 words. A: After seven and a half pages, it is the whole volume, 1980 words. To prevent mistakes, make a draft. The original text should be written in regular script, with strict format and no alteration. It can be seen that imperial examinations compete not only for ideas and literary talents, but also for calligraphy and carefulness, and even for toughness and physical strength.
Because it is obvious that Shoupeng Wang and Cao Dian are neighbors, Chen Hengqing also joked:
"Now think about it, it's some regret! I regret not learning from the ancients. His so-called'1000 to buy a house and 10000 to buy a neighbor' seems quite reasonable now! "
As for Jiya's buying neighbors, it should also be noted that Jiya, a Song Dynasty man in the Southern Dynasties, bought a house next to Lu Sengxiu, the then general of the auxiliary country, after being demoted as the chief of Nankang (now Ganxian County, Jiangxi Province). Monk Lu really asked Gia how much the house price cost? Gia replied, "The total value is eleven million yuan". Lu Sanzhen was surprised and said, "This house price is too expensive!" Gia explained: "I1100,000 bought this house, and this neighbor was bought by me1100,000!" "
Chen Hengqing's implication is that he is sour in Shoupeng Wang. His subtext is: Did Shoupeng Wang get the secret help from Cao Dian, a fellow countryman who lives next door, when he was among the best in the imperial examinations in junior high school and senior high school? Of course, when Chen Hengqing attended palace examination, he might have a little complaint about Cao Dian's writing style. More, it is Chen Hengqing's regret that he didn't take the first place.
Cao Dian listened to Chen Hengqing, but did not shy away. He smiled and said to him:
"In my opinion, even if you learn from Gia and buy a good neighbor, the neighbor probably can't help you much. You really put a lot of effort into the paper in the palace exam, and I can't say anything bad about your handwriting. The main problem is that your calligraphy is too individual and self-conscious. At best, it's self-contained, at worst, it's my font. Your calligraphy is neither the corpus luteum of Huang Tingjian nor the Su style of Su Dongpo. According to the general standard of marking papers by the imperial court, if nothing else, even if I read your papers in person, I can't put you in the A list (the so-called "first place"). "
After hearing what Cao Dian wrote, Chen Hengqing was really a little embarrassed. He blushed and left Cao Dian's writing place in shame.
Scholars at that time, for their own face and personal honor, they still cherish it. Since Cao Dian wrote an evaluation of Chen Hengqing's calligraphy, Chen Hengqing has never written calligraphy for others.
I still remember when Shoupeng Wang was born, Chen Hengqing was an official in Beijing.
According to informal practice, some fellow villagers took the court exam. On the day of the biography, the Beijing official will bring the "loyalty and filial piety belt": "Loyalty and filial piety belt is called wind belt, also called Pei. Depending on the commonly used belt, it is slightly wider and shorter. Plain towels, also called handkerchiefs, must be worn when packing. Song Wenqing, a Mongolian official, said that in the early days of this country, food was stored in wallets and people replaced horses. However, Ling Jun, who was in court in the Qing Dynasty, thought that Wenzhi's predecessors thought it would be used to tie a thief. Anyone who suddenly appears with his entourage and has no rope is bound by it and covers his ears for safety. Or, sin deserves it, so take it instead, so be loyal and filial. " Let's go together and wait for the announcement and list.
If people in the same village rank in the top ten in the court examination, they will generally be introduced to meet the saints and pay homage to the emperor. According to the etiquette of the Qing Dynasty, people who visit the emperor must wear loyalty, filial piety and financial power. Therefore, the kyou-kan will go with the people who take the court exam with the prepared purse of loyalty and filial piety. Once a fellow villager is in the top ten, the Beijing official will bring the prepared purse of loyalty and filial piety to him to wear, and then introduce it, so that it will not be abrupt and conform to etiquette.
Of course, this small detail can also show the importance of fellow villagers in the Qing Dynasty and the intimacy of their friendship.
(To be continued)