Chapter 97 Moving to a new home
In a school, a dozen or so boys, aged thirteen or fourteen, were playing with Cuju.

These young men were all the foolish sons of landlords in southern Hunan. They were sent to the academy at the most reckless age, but only a few of them could concentrate on their studies.

At this moment, a young man ran in and shouted, "Everyone, do you know what news I just heard?"

"Say something quickly!"

"Fuck away!"

Inside the school, two young boys shouted with laughter.

"Senior Brother Ou Zanghua is back, and the dean is arranging for him to give lectures to the scholar brothers!" the young man shouted happily.

Several young men who were reading in the school looked up, and one of them asked with some surprise, "Is that the one who got third place in the palace examination this year?"

"it's him!"

After hearing this, the other teenagers all wanted to go to class.

But as soon as he reached the school gate, he was stopped by a scholar.

After listening to their request, the scholar smiled and said, "How could the headmaster forget you naughty monkeys? Remember, Senior Brother Ou is not only a senior brother, but also an editor of the Imperial Academy. This time when he returns home to visit his relatives, His Majesty has granted Senior Brother Ou the ceremonial guard of the Imperial Inspector, so you guys better behave yourself in front of him."

"Oh wow! Thank you, senior brother. We will keep it in mind." The teenagers responded in unison.

Then, under the scholar's command, they lined up and came to the courtyard where the scholars were taking classes in an orderly manner, and sat on the cushions that had been arranged in advance.

Compared to them, the scholars not only had a futon, but also a small table, which made the young men envious and they wanted one too.

Not long after, the headmaster and Mr. Wu came in with a fresh and handsome young man.

Led by a scholar, the crowd stood up, bowed and saluted, saying, "Greetings to the headmaster, the teacher, and Senior Brother Ou."

Ou Zanghua and the other two bowed in return. Dean Cai Rupu first introduced them briefly: "This is your senior brother, who was also the top scholar in the imperial examination in the sixth year of Zhengde, and is currently serving as an editor in the Hanlin Academy, Ou Zanghua."

"This time the editor is back home to visit his relatives, I took the opportunity to invite him to give you a lecture. This is a rare opportunity, so you must listen carefully."

"Yes, Shanzhang." The disciples bowed and said, "Please teach me, Senior Brother Ou!"

"Please take a seat, fellow disciples."

Ou Zanghua smiled and said gently: "I am fortunate to be able to share some learning experiences with you fellow students at Shigu Academy today."

"Have you ever read Scholar Jinglian's "Preface to Sending Off Ma Sheng from Dongyang"?"

Seeing everyone nodding, Ou Zanghua continued, "There is one sentence in it. After I finished writing it down, I ran to send it to them. I didn't dare to exceed the agreed time. Therefore, many people lent me books, and I was able to read a wide range of books."

".It was because after copying, Master Jinglian would return the books promptly and without delay. Over time, he gained a high reputation in the local area. So when friends who collect books buy a new book, they will think of this fellow countryman and will take the initiative to lend it to Master Jinglian."

"Mr. Jinglian took this opportunity to read widely and lay the foundation for his future success."

Seeing that the fellow students were listening attentively, Ou Zanghua continued, "My fellow students, please remember, start with a light relationship and then a strong one, start with distant friends and then a close one, this is the way to make friends. Scholar Jinglian did this, and he made great friends and rose to fame. I also believe that the success or failure of one's life is all related to the virtue of one's friends, so one must be careful."

After talking about "Preface to Farewell to Ma Sheng of Dongyang" and the topic of making friends, Ou Zanghua then recounted the process of going to the capital to take the imperial examination and the joint examination, focusing on which route he took and how long it took.

Afterwards, the headmaster Cai Rupu took out a stack of white paper and asked the scholars to take an exam on the spot. The exam topic was the palace examination policy essay "Start a business with military force and maintain success with literature", and Ou Zanghua was asked to evaluate it on the spot.

At this moment, the teenagers in the Tongsheng area secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, they did not have a small desk and did not have to write on the spot.

Who knew that the next second, the headmaster said, "All the students, go back and write an article of reflection and hand it in to the teacher tomorrow morning."

Ou Zanghua couldn't help laughing when he saw this.

What a familiar recipe!

By the time the twenty or so scholars' papers were reviewed, it was already three quarters past midnight. The headmaster, Cai Rupu, waved his hand and asked Ou Zanghua to stay in the academy for one night, saving him from having to go to the city to find an inn.

It seems that they are preparing to make another move in the evening.

Fortunately, Wu Xun stepped forward in time and took Ou Zanghua and his party back to his residence in the city.

But before going home, Wu Xun asked his old butler to take Ou Zanghua to Ou Garden and reminded him: "Remember the way, don't go the wrong way tomorrow morning."

Ou Zanghua did not refuse his teacher's kindness. He had studied at Shigu Academy for three years and would occasionally come to Hengyang City for a stroll, so he knew the way.

After walking around Ou Garden, Ou Zanghua asked Zhao Hu to stay here and open the door for him tomorrow.

Then he returned to his teacher Wu Xun's courtyard, washed up with the help of Qu Feiyan, and fell asleep early.

At 3:15 on the second day, when Ou Zanghua came out after washing up under the care of Qu Feiyan, his teacher Wu Xun had already prepared a small stove for him.

Under the command of the old housekeeper, Ou Zanghua took a few pieces of burning charcoal from Wu Xun's stove and put them into the small stove. Then he walked out of Wu Xun's house carrying the small stove and took a carriage to Ou Garden.

Zhao Hu opened the door early, and when he saw the old housekeeper driving the carriage, he decisively lit a pack of firecrackers. Amidst the crackling sounds, Ou Zanghua protected the small stove and walked into the Ou Garden, with Qu Feiyan following him happily.

Led by Zhao Hu, the group came to the kitchen. Ou Zanghua put the red-hot charcoal into the stove, added pine branches, blew gently a few times, and with a "whoosh!", the fire rose.

Seeing this, Qu Feiyan excitedly put a few pieces of firewood in, then bowed and said, "Congratulations, young master. May the three suns shine upon your peaceful home, and may the five lucky stars come to your auspicious house!"

Zhao Hu, who was standing by, followed suit and bowed, saying, "Congratulations, sir. Good luck is shining on this beautiful place, and the purple air is surrounding Xinliang!"

The old housekeeper also said cheerfully: "Congratulations, Master Ou. The rising sun brings joy to our family, and the gentle breeze brings new beauty to the world."

"Thank you very much! Congratulations." Ou Zanghua looked at the jumping flames and felt an inexplicable emotion in his heart, which he had not felt when he moved to the capital before.

At this moment, he seemed to understand why Teacher Wu Xun required him to go through this procedure.

Qu Feiyan took out some food from the carriage and made breakfast in Ou Yuan's kitchen. The old butler was also invited to stay and eat together.

Then, under the guidance of Zhao Hu, Ou Zanghua began to familiarize himself with his new home, including the bedroom, study, hall, storeroom, wing rooms, martial arts room, etc.

He even found six deeds in the table of the study. As long as he moved in, the human traffickers would arrange for slaves to take care of him.

After a tour, Ou Zanghua was deeply touched. Old Liu had really arranged everything properly. He, as an apprentice, only needed to pack his bags and move in.

Qu Feiyan followed him around and said with emotion: "Grandpa Liu treats you so well, you deserve the reward from Grandpa Liu."

Ou Zanghua smiled and corrected: "Master treats me like his own son, so I repay Master."

"Fei Yan doesn't quite understand this, but I know that Grandpa Liu and the young master have a very good relationship!" Qu Fei Yan thought about it and concluded happily.

Ou Zanghua was too lazy to explain to the little girl. He looked at Ou Yuan, thinking about what else he could add.

In the morning, upon learning of Ou Zanghua's new house, the headmasters Cai Rupu and Wu Xun each brought gifts to congratulate him.

Wu Xun brought the original painting "Sparse Trees and Bamboo Houses" by the early Ming Dynasty painter Xu Ben, and Cai Rupu brought the original painting "Jian Cai" by his good friend Jiang Ligang.

As a great calligrapher of his generation, Jiang Ligang may seem less famous than Zhu Zhishan, but in fact his regular script and cursive script were unique in the Ming Dynasty.

He initially learned from Huang Meng, then followed the styles of Zhong Wang, and later developed his own style, known as "the master of calligraphy of his generation". The large characters on the gate of Kyoto were written by him.

Xu Ben may be more famous. He was one of the ten talented men in the early Ming Dynasty and was once an aide to Zhang Shicheng.

In the 13th year of Hongwu, he was executed by Emperor Taizu for "not rewarding the army adequately".
The gifts chosen by the two teachers were obviously thoughtful. After Ou Zanghua received them, he hung them in the study himself.

After hanging two paintings in the originally empty study, it seems to have a more elegant atmosphere, which is pleasing to the heart.
(End of this chapter)