Rise From the Humble

On the third day after the scientific examination, the county government posted the scientific examination list, and all students on the list could participate in the next Enke Township Examination. As for those students who are not on the list, they can go back and forth wherever they want. Of course, if they are interested in watching other people's exams from a distance, no one will object.

Early that morning, the fat man Xue Chi dressed up like a groom and ran to look at the list.

In fact, this guy came to ask Zhu Pingan to look at the list before dawn, but Zhu Pingan was not interested. He was already firmly on the list, so why waste time looking at the list. But the fat man was very interested. He had been waiting for this day for too long, and he couldn't wait to show off. He couldn't help but want to scream in front of the scholar at the table next to him.

Don't show off, young man.

Zhu Ping'an looked at the fat man's back, and for some reason he always felt like there was faint thunder rolling in the sky.

Zhu Pingan and Fatty parted ways at the door of the inn. Fatty excitedly went to the government office to wait for the results of the scientific examination, while Zhu Pingan slowly walked to his usual woods with a black board under his arm.

Repeating the previous preparations, he sat on a stone with a black wooden board and started practicing calligraphy.

Situation arises from the heart, and the heart is like still water.

When practicing calligraphy today, Zhu Pingan felt that he had entered a very wonderful state. He felt that his calligraphy had entered a new state since Taihu broke through the bottleneck last time. This state could almost be described as superb. The lone sail that was originally riding the wind and waves in the sea seemed to suddenly burst into the sky from the sea and soar in the sky.

Practicing calligraphy to perfection is a very mysterious state. How should I put it? It’s like the heart and the pen merge into one. The heart is the pen and the pen is the heart. Wherever the heart goes, where the pen looks, the pen follows the heart, as long as the heart can think of it. Yes, it can come out with just one stroke of the pen. Now Zhu Ping'an feels that his calligraphy has reached a state where the mind and the pen are one, and there is no pen and no self.

When Zhu Pingan first started practicing calligraphy, he felt uncomfortable holding the brush, and the brush did not follow the strength of his hand. Gradually, as Zhu Pingan practiced diligently and persistently day and night, the brush gradually became familiar in his hand, and the brush felt good. It's as if it has become my sixth finger, and the brush seems to have become a part of my body. As long as I have an idea, the brush can answer it. At this time, I have roughly achieved the unity of hand and pen.

So at this moment, Zhu Pingan felt that he had reached the third realm mentioned by Mr. Jin, where the human and the pen are one, the pen is me, and I am the pen.

Zhu Pingan had an epiphany in calligraphy. Many famous calligraphers in ancient times have experienced this stage of epiphany. In calligraphy, it is almost as beautiful as Bodhidharma's epiphany under a tree.

Wang Xizhi is a well-known calligrapher. At that time, Wang Xizhi also had such an epiphany process. Wang Xizhi particularly liked white geese. He would watch the white geese swimming when he had nothing to do. One day, when Wang Xizhi was watching the white geese swimming in the green water, he suddenly had an epiphany. , he invented the "floating goose hook" calligraphy when he returned home. He is unparalleled in the calligraphy world and is looked up to by calligraphers from all over the world.

There is also the cursive script monk Huai Su. This monk does not practice Zen or chant sutras. He just goes to the beach to watch the sea when he has nothing to do, and then he suddenly realizes the extraordinary calligraphy in cursive script. He is also a master of cursive script, which no one can match. His random piece of paper has been hanging around for eternity.

Zhu Ping'an reached this state. I feel that my calligraphy not only has flesh and blood, but also has spiritual energy. It has a kind of momentum of riding the wind and waves.

at this time. Zhu Pingan feels that he has a pen or not, a good pen or a bad pen. Even if you give yourself a rotten branch or a dogtail grass. I can write wonderful calligraphy myself.

This feeling is like chewing Xuanmai, which makes people unable to stop. Zhu Pingan splashes water on it, feeling a little stuck in it and unable to extricate himself.

Until the silky drizzle fell from the sky, waking up Zhu Pingan who was in a calligraphy frenzy.

Is it raining?

Zhu Pingan, who was practicing calligraphy, raised his head and wiped the raindrops from his forehead. Afterwards, he realized that he was almost soaked.

How long has it been raining? I just felt it myself. That’s it for today.

Zhu Pingan shook his head, put away the pen and bamboo tube with some reluctance, got up and walked out of the woods unhurriedly. Looking up at the sky, I saw silky drizzle falling from the sky. The raindrops were so small and the rain curtains were so dense, covering Yingtian City with white gauze like cicada wings.

On the way back to the inn, the rain became heavier and heavier, and the rainwater on the bluestone slabs formed a stream, gurgling forward along the city's drainage system.

Back at the inn, the innkeeper saw that Zhu Pingan was soaked by the rain. He quickly handed Zhu Pingan a dry towel to wipe the rain off his head, and asked the waiter to make a bowl of ginger soup.

"Thank you, shopkeeper. I'll send you a breakfast upstairs if you can." Zhu Ping'an wiped the rain off his head and returned the towel to the shopkeeper to express his gratitude.

"You're welcome, Mr. Zhu. Oh, I almost forgot. Someone came here just now to announce that Mr. Zhu has passed the examination." The shopkeeper took the towel and was about to turn around and tell the shop assistant to send a breakfast upstairs when he suddenly thought Thinking of what happened just now, he hurriedly thanked Zhu Pingan with a smile on his face.

"Oh, it's so early this time?" Zhu Ping'an was a little surprised.

"No, but someone sent someone to tell me that Master Ti Xue Guan had arranged to release the results after reading the papers all night without taking any rest." The shopkeeper seemed to have a good impression of Mr. Zhao, Ti Xue Guan.

"Oh, that's it. Well, thank you to the shopkeeper, please send me another bucket of hot water." Zhu Pingan thanked the shopkeeper with his hands, asked the shopkeeper to send a bucket of hot water upstairs, and then went upstairs.

Soon, several shop assistants brought ginger soup, breakfast and hot water upstairs. Zhu Pingan drank ginger soup and had breakfast, took a simple hot bath, changed into dry clothes, and then sat on the desk in front of the window and continued reading.

But the weather outside seems to be getting worse.

The wind was howling and the rain was heavy. The wind made the windows bang. The heavy rain outside seemed like someone was splashing water on the roof. The closed windows were also smashed open by the storm. The cold autumn rain flowed into the room along the gaps. , simply not a lot.

Zhu Ping'an had to close the window tightly again and move the desk several steps back to avoid the interference of the roaring wind and rain.

"Uh, isn't it because the fat man is overdoing his pretense? He caused so many thunders." Zhu Ping'an looked out the window and cursed. He felt that he was right this morning.

But with the fat man's virtue, he must be able to pretend to be ten points but not nine points! I just don’t know how this guy feels when he sees the lightning and thunder outside, and I don’t know if he dares to continue pretending.

The results were released today, and the Enke Township Examination is not far away. After Zhu Pingan moved the table a few steps back, he continued to devote himself to preparing for the exam. Only by working harder can he be qualified to see the scenery on the single-plank bridge of the imperial examination. Reading, writing... The lightning, thunder, wind and rain outside did not hinder him at all.