Chapter 24: Return gift

As the two were talking, a sound of reading came from behind. Lin Nan couldn't help but feel a little surprised when he heard this. Chen Xiu smiled and said, "Don't you know yet? Haha, these are children of poor families and children of the people in the mansion. I was originally invited by your father to teach you, but you went to the palace as a companion and came back once a long time ago. It was not as good as a teacher. If you don't leave, you're a little bored. So he asked the old lady for his appointment and found these children to teach. First, it would not waste time, and second, it could also do something for these people who can't afford to read..."

Lin Nan stood up and bowed: "My teacher is still so helpful..."

"Haha, helping others is helping yourself." Chen Xiu said, looking at the fire: "Okay, the time is coming, come and bring the cup!" Lin Nan hurriedly reached out and took two cups from a small table. Chen Xiu lifted the copper pot and poured two cups of tea. The master and apprentice each had a cup, while tasting the tea while continuing to chat.

Chen Xiu looked at Lin Nan and asked, "What books have you read in the palace these days? How are the Grand Secretary and Professor in the Palace?"

Lin Nan put down the teacup after hearing this and replied, "I read the Analects of Confucius and Mencius, and I also read the Three Chapters of Study and the Complete Essays of the Loops, etc.... Hehe, as for those bachelors... Some of them are well-written, and some are clearly just reading according to the chapters. The lecture is a bit rigid, much worse than the teacher... For example, the Grand Secretary of Julien, whose book is not satisfactory, is just a comparison of the superiors and inferiors, and the rituals of the upper and lower levels are very demanding. He always recites it several times a day. Except for the prince, none of the princes would be annoyed him..."

"Haha!" Chen Xiu looked at the disciples who were talking endlessly in front of him, and felt a little emotional. When he first met a few years ago, he was still a child, but he never said much. Now that people have grown up, the relationship between the master and the apprentice has become deeper and deeper. After many days, he can't stop talking as soon as he opened his mouth. "You, now you have learned to talk about your shortcomings and strengths..." Chen Xiu lifted the copper pot and added tea to Lin Nan, and said warmly: "No matter how good the professor is, you are a teacher. After all, you are a student, and you must respect him. As for whether you speak well or not, you should understand it with some emphasis. If you don't have to make any mistakes, you should also point fingers with others..."

"Well..." Lin Nan lowered his head, disagreed.

Chen Xiu smiled and said, "You have good talents and you know how to study hard. But what is more important to you is that you are not as follow-up to others like other children. In the past, when teaching you, you often ask questions in a sentence or a word. Even if some opinions and questions seem contrary to the current principles, you will have some reasons when you think about it carefully. This is the rare thing you are worth. Even if you are studying in the palace now and it is inconvenient to ask questions, this advantage cannot be discarded. If you have any questions, write them down first and discuss with your teacher after you come back."

"Yes, I'll thank my teacher for your teachings."

Chen Xiu asked with a smile: "Well, it's been so many days. I've done almost the coursework assigned to you last time, right?"

"Yes, this time, I came back and brought back all the articles I wrote, and I have also recorded some puzzles." Lin Nan said as he took out a stack of book paper from his bag beside him. Chen Xiu put down the teacup, reached out to take it, flipped through it page by page, nodding his head slightly while looking.

At this moment, a shout suddenly came from a distance: "Brother, are you here?" Lin Nan heard it, it was Lin Zhi's voice. Lin Nan frowned slightly and turned to smile at Chen Xiu: "Zhi brother is reckless, mentor..." Chen Xiu smiled: "Don't worry, he is also my disciple, I know what kind of temperament is." As he said that, he waved his hand to Lin Nan: "You go first, I haven't seen you for many days, and you brothers must have something to say. When I have seen these things, I will talk to you tonight."

Lin Nan quickly stood up and bowed, then turned around and walked towards the Moon Gate. Before he could turn around, a figure came to him like a whirlwind: "Haha, it's true here! Brother, you miss me so much!" Lin Zhi looked happy and ran towards Lin Nan with his arms wide open and he came over. Lin Nan's face turned cold and said, "What are you doing when you scream? Don't you know this is the place for your husband?"

Lin Zhi was stunned for a moment, lowered his arms and said embarrassedly: "Hehe, brother, don't be wronged. I respected the sir very much. But today I heard that my brother was back, and I was happy for a moment...just..."

Lin Nan gave Lin Zhi a blank look when he heard this. The two of them turned around the corner one by one. Then Lin Nan looked at Lin Zhi carefully. After not seeing him for many days, Lin Zhi grew thicker, and his face became much darker. I think it was because he didn't have to study these days and ran in the yard all day.

Lin Nan patted Lin Zhi on the shoulder and asked, "Uncle went to the northern border to fight. What have you been doing these days? Is your strange disease not improving yet? If you don't have to study, you will probably spend your whole day playing in the mansion, right?"

Lin Zhi tilted his head and glanced at Lin Nan, saying, "It's not a joke. Although my uncle has left, he has left a few generals in the mansion. Brother, after you enter the palace, I will learn some fists and kicks with these people every day. It's just... just..."

"Just what?"

"Oh!" Lin Zhi sighed, leaned over and picked up a stone, and threw it at the wall not far away. "Brother, if you follow your younger brother's eyes, you will learn those things with them, it is far better to learn with your uncle. My younger brother thought that studying should be like a well-educated scholar like Mr. Shen and Mr. Yang; if you practice martial arts, you will naturally have to practice with famous people, people like uncle. Those generals..."

Lin Nan glanced at him sideways and smiled, "Why, do you look down on those generals?"

"I don't look down on them," Lin Zhi said, "but I always feel that they don't seem to have much ability. I know that I can hold those postures every day and don't teach anything else. It's very boring!"

"Haha! Then what are you talking about?" Before Lin Zhi could answer, Lin Nan reached out and pulled Lin Zhi over and said, "Brother Zhi, don't underestimate those generals. They are all people who have been on the battlefield. Since the uncle can leave them to you, it means that they are all people that the uncle can see. Since this is the case, how can he be incompetent?"

"But...why..."

"Haha, do you remember that when I was studying in the western suburbs of Changning Prefecture, I had to go to a place every afternoon?"

Lin Zhi's eyes widened when he heard this: "Ah, why don't you remember? I'm so curious until now. Where did you go at that time? I even secretly followed you, but my father scolded me..."

"It's okay to tell you now. At that time, I was going to learn what you are learning now..." Lin Nan looked at Lin Zhi and smiled: "Didn't you say that my brother is very smart? Hehe, I have been suffering a lot in those years. When you were playing, my brother was sweating... You said that these families will only let you practice a few postures, and that is they are teaching you basic skills seriously. If they were to deal with uncle, would they still teach you so hard? Brother Zhi, remember, no matter whether you study or practice martial arts, there is no easy and freehand thing in the world..."

"well……"

"What a sigh, haha!" Lin Nan patted Lin Zhi's back and smiled: "Your body is good. As long as you work hard, you will definitely not disappoint your uncle. Don't worry, as long as you do well, you will be able to learn something new in a short time."

"New stuff?" Lin Zhi murmured and asked suddenly: "Brother, what did you learn when you were in Changning Mansion?"

"Haha, this...I won't tell you." Lin Nan replied with a smile, seeing Lin Zhi a little unhappy, and hurriedly said, "If you really want to know, learn from them. If you can beat them one day, I will tell you. Not only will I tell you, I may also find you a better master."

"Take it! Are you serious?"

"Well, really! When did my brother deceive you?"

"This is what you said..." Lin Zhi's eyes suddenly ignited with excitement.

The next day, the East Courtyard, the main room.

The old lady looked out of the window for a while and turned to ask her close maid Hongyu: "Have he left?"

Hongyu replied, "Yes, the maid watched the young master go out of the mansion and came back only now."

"Oh, I've come back once every few days, and I've only stayed for one night and left again..." The old lady sighed and said, "Have you brought all the things I should bring with him? This grandson is a companion, but he's just an empty name. Although the food and accommodation are all in the palace, I still have to have some spare money in my hand. Besides, if I bring back those things from the palace, it's not reasonable to say that if I don't give me a gift..."

Hongyu replied, "Old lady, Master Yinzitang took some, but the old lady ordered... Master Tang didn't take it, said yes... said yes..."

"Ah? What did you say?" Zhao couldn't help frowning when he heard this.

"It's said that the old lady doesn't have to worry about it, he...he has his own opinions..."

"What?" Zhao was stunned for a moment, angry and happy: "How old he is, he has made a claim? Can he argue about the gifts to the palace? If the gifts are not well received by someone, wouldn't it be..."

Hongyu hesitated for a moment and said, "Old lady, I think since the young master of the hall has said that, he should know it in his heart."

"Oh? How do you know?" Zhao felt strange and turned to look at Hongyu.

Hongyu smiled and said, "The old lady may not think it's just that, but the maid looks at it. The young master of Tang seems to have grown up a lot when he comes back this time. If I ask me to say something in detail, I can't say it. I just feel that the young master of Tang looks a bit like... like an adult..."

Zhao was silent for a while after hearing this, and suddenly laughed, "Sir... Haha, this is true. Not to mention now. When he came back for the first time, he was only a few years old. His words and deeds on that day were really like a little adult... Forget it, let him go for this matter for the time being."

After the two of them answered each other, they stopped talking, and the room fell into silence for a moment. Zhao looked out the window and frowned from time to time. After a while, Zhao asked, "How many pastries are there left that Nan'er brought back yesterday?"

"There are two big boxes left."

"The pastry is rich and soft, and it's easy to digest. Well... divide it into a box and wrap it." Zhao ordered: "In addition, I will find some of the southern local products that the third brother brought back from the new year. If there is not much, add the ones that the second master brought back."

Hongyu responded and asked hesitantly: "Old lady, is this... going to give it to someone?"

Zhao nodded: "Yes, you have to give it out. As the saying goes, "reciting the rituals" is a gift that cannot be missed even among relatives. Moreover, after so many years, you cannot just accept gifts from others but not return them..." Hongyu listened quietly, not daring to answer for a while. After pausing for a while, Zhao continued: "Clean the things cleaner, don't let those who have thick hands and feet do it, you can do it yourself. Pack it carefully and look better. After packing it up, you can ask the butler to send it to Liufang Street."
Chapter completed!