Chapter 20: The Eight Hundred Year Old Gate of the Sect (Second Update Seeking Votes)

  At the end of Kaihuang, the style of official schools began to appear, but the number was not large, and the popularization degree was not too high.

  In the aristocratic families, family learning has risen. Especially in the Guandong aristocracy, the popularity of family learning is already very high. Of course, the real aristocratic children are mostly taught by private tutors invited by their families. The people who take on this role are usually famous scholars of today, and ordinary scholars do not yet have the qualifications to become teachers. Family learning, also known as village learning, mainly focuses on elementary education, based in the villages and towns, with the aim of cultivating some reserve talents.

  The village school is almost semi-public in nature, and the students it recruits are not very strict.

  Being able to recognize characters and keep accounts is basically enough. If you want to get a higher education, you need to have some opportunities.

  The Zheng family also had a village school, which was quite famous in Xingyang.

  If it's really just for learning and accounting, with Zheng Shi'an's ability, he can easily send Yan Qing to study inside, why bother coming to Luoyang?

  Zheng Shi'an knew that Zheng Renji just wanted to use this method to comfort his emotions.

  However, Zheng Shi'an could also refuse, but this would only make Zheng Renji even more disgusted. He bowed his head in gratitude and then took his leave.

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  Later, Zheng Yanqing heard that Zheng Renji gave Choi Dae-lin dozens of lashes, while Choi was slapped in the mouth a hundred times, and several teeth were knocked out.

  Xu Shiji indeed gave the letter to Cui Sheng, but when he did, he said a sentence.

  "The old steward said this letter is very important and asked Steward Cui to read it immediately."

  This word "let" has a commanding tone. Cui Sheng was furious as soon as he heard it!

  You're a crippled old thing, now relegated to Tianzhuang, and you still dare to come over here and order us around?

  So he left the letter on his desk and went out to have fun, putting it out of his mind.

  While Cui Daolin returned home, he was drunk. The next day when he woke up, Cui Sheng didn't remind him and he also didn't notice.

  Later, it was thrown away by Cui Daolin when he asked someone to clean the desk, and the letter was also discarded together!

  In short, for a period of time, Cui Daolin and his son will probably not dare to be arrogant again.

  Yan Qing felt a little regretful that he couldn't take advantage of the opportunity to get rid of the Cui family father and son, and they would definitely cause more trouble in the future. But he also knew that getting rid of the Cui family father and son wouldn't be easy. With Mrs. Cui around, it would be difficult to succeed for the time being.

  Just bear with it for now!

  Anyway, days are still long, Zheng Yanqing is still young, there is plenty of time, and he will have a showdown with Cui Daolin father and son.

  Moreover, he didn't even bother with Cui Daolin and his son because Zheng Shian came back and told him that he was going to school soon...

  "Xu Dou Ling? Sounds like a barbarian's name, is there such a family in Luoyang?"

  Zheng Shi'an smiled and said, "How can there not be? The surname Xiāo Dòu Líng is indeed a surname of the Hu people. During the Northern Wei dynasty, after Emperor Xiaowen of Wei moved 38 surnames and 98 tribes from outside the Great Wall to settle in Luoyang, Xiāo Dòu Líng was changed to the surname Dòu, understand?"

  What's your surname?

  Zheng Yanqing lost his voice and said: "Could it be that Anfeng Jun Gong's surname is Dou?"

  Zheng Shi'an nodded in agreement.

  This surname Dou is actually a genuine Han Chinese family name.

  As early as the Han Dynasty, the Dou surname was divided into Qinghe Guanting Dou and Fufeng Pingling Dou, and many famous figures emerged.

  During the Western Han Dynasty, the wife of Emperor Heng of Han, Liu Heng, was a woman from Qinghe Guanting in Hebei Province surnamed Dou. She was also the grandmother of Emperor Wu of Han and was known as Empress Dowager Dou. The elder brother of Empress Dowager Dou, Dou Zhangjun, died early, but his son Dou Pengzu became the Marquis of Nanpi under Emperor Wu. Meanwhile, the younger brother of Empress Dowager Dou, Dou Shaokun, was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Zhangwu, and his nephew, who was also a very famous figure during the reign of Emperor Wu, was Dou Ying, the Marquis of Weiqi.

  During the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a famous minister named Dou Rong of the Dou clan in Pingling, Fufeng.

  Yu's great-granddaughter was an empress of the Eastern Han dynasty during Emperor Huan's reign, and her father was the prominent general Dou Wu.

  When Cao Jie and other eunuchs were causing trouble, Duan Wu, as a relative of the emperor by marriage, joined forces with the imperial court's aristocratic families to prepare for the elimination of the eunuchs. Unfortunately, the news leaked out. As a result, Duan Wu was killed, while his family members were exiled beyond the borders, and they became the ancestors of the Hu people of Xiāo Dòu Líng. The reason why the surname "Duan" was changed to "Xiāo Dòu Líng" is that due to the threat from Tuò Bá Lì Mǐ, they were forced to change their surname to the Hu surname of Xiāo Dòu Líng.

  When Northern Wei Emperor Xiaowen moved the capital to Luoyang and ordered the Hu people outside the pass to settle in the Yellow River, Xie Douling restored his ancestor's surname Dou.

  What Zheng Yanqing said is that Anfeng Jun Gong was a big shot.

  This man, named Dou Rongding, was also the son of Dou Shen, the third ancestor of the Dou clan in Fuzhoulingsi. Since childhood, he had a good relationship with Yang Jian. During the time of Emperor Wen of Western Wei, he served as Qian Niu Bei Shen. In the Northern Zhou Dynasty, he was granted the title of Front General due to his meritorious service. Dou Rongding's wife was also the sister of Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian. Therefore, when Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, usurped the throne of the Northern Zhou, Dou Rongding supported him.

  In those days, when Xiedou Ling returned, there were five brothers in total.

  Lao San Doudou, Lao Si Doudou, and Lao Wu Doudou all left behind great military achievements. Therefore, later generations habitually referred to the Douduo clan as the "Three Ancestors of the Dou surname". The son of Doudou was none other than Dou Yi, the Duke of Godly Martial Prowess of the Sui Dynasty. And Dou Yi's daughter was even more famous, marrying Tang Taizong Li Yuan and becoming known to later generations as "Empress Taimu". Of course, at this time, the most famous member of the Dou family was Dou Rongding. Although Dou Rongding had already passed away, his son Dou Kang held the position of Governor of Youzhou and was a major figure with real power.

  "So, in that case, isn't the Duan family just like our Zheng family, both being aristocratic families?"

  Zheng Shi'an smiled and nodded, then shook his head again.

  Well, let's just say... If we're talking about the length of time, the Dou family might be the longest. From the beginning of the Dou surname in Qinghe to now, it's already been 800 years. However, the Dou and Pingling families have both been assimilated by the Hu people, their bloodlines are no longer pure, how can they compare with my Zheng family?

  The Guanting Du clan, since the third year of Northern Qi's Tianbao era, after Duan Tai died in battle, had already been cut off and had no more news.

  The Pingling Duan family's sinicization is the most severe, and it can't be considered a pure aristocratic family... Hehe, actually, the Duan family is quite embarrassing now. In the eyes of the Wugou people, the Duan family is an aristocratic family; but in the eyes of the aristocratic families, the Duan family comes from Wugou and refuses to acknowledge it.

  It's just that the Dugu family has good luck. During the Northern Zhou, Empress Dowager Dugu was from the imperial family of Northern Zhou; after the Kaihuang era, Dugu Rong became the emperor's brother-in-law. However, the Dugu family also had considerable influence, especially the granddaughter of Dugu Lao San, who married the Duke of Tang and solidified her position even further... Yan Qing, if you don't want to go to Dugucun village school, I can turn it down for you."

  I didn't expect the Dou family's affairs to be so complicated!

  Zheng Yanqing didn't mind getting close to the Dou family, because behind the Dou family was not only the Emperor of the Sui Dynasty, but more importantly, Tang Guogong Li Yuan was the son-in-law of the Dou family. Maybe he could take this opportunity to get in touch with Li Yuan?

  Well, it's not a bad idea!

  Yan Qing had long wanted to get in touch with Li Yuan.

  Especially when he learned that Li Yuan's eldest son Li Jiancheng was engaged to the Zheng family, he began to have ideas.

  It's been five years since then, and Li Jiancheng hasn't even shown his face, let alone Li Yuan.

  Now there is this Dù family's path... well, it just so happens that I can give it a try.

  Although it's just a village school, it can't enter the core of the Duan family. But having such a relationship will make it easier to talk in the future.

  The reason for preparing for the unexpected, Zheng Yanqing understood very well.

  I don't know how old that wise and powerful Tang Taizong is now?

  "Yan Qing, why aren't you saying anything?"

  "Ah, Grandpa, what did you just ask me?"

  Zheng Yanqing was lost in thought and didn't hear Zheng Shi'an's question.

  Zheng Shi'an smiled and said: "I just said that if you don't want to go to the Niu Doulings' house, I can go find the eldest young master right now."

  "Go, why not go?"

  That's right, Zheng Yanqing is knowledgeable about many poems and songs, but the problem is that he has a very weak understanding of Sui and Tang Dynasty culture. He can learn more deeply through village studies, and most importantly, he can take this opportunity to get closer to the Li family, why not?

  Zheng Shi'an saw that Qing's attitude was firm and resolute, so he didn't say anything more.

  A few days later, Zheng Renji sent someone to Tianzhuang to inform Zheng Shian that Zheng Yanqing could go to the Duan family to study.

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  "Brother Shiye, tell me again about the story of the Three Kingdoms."

  When Zheng Yanqing started his enlightenment education, Xu Shiji was living a carefree life in the old Zheng family mansion in Luoyang City.

  He was originally older than Zheng Hongyi, so he automatically took on the role of an elder brother.

  Zheng Hongyi was spoiled since childhood, although his mother died early, Zheng Renji only had him as his only son.

  So, even if it was Mrs. Cui, she also doted on Zheng Hongyi extremely.

  Xu Shi wanted to make Zheng Hongyi bow his head, so he thought for a long time and decided to use his killer move: the story of the Three Kingdoms.

  His stories of the Three Kingdoms were all heard from Zheng Yanqing. In just a few days, Zheng Hongyi had indeed become obedient to him, but Xu Shijie's stomach was also empty... Yan Shiguo was a strict teacher, and it was difficult for Xu Shijie to go out normally, let alone find Zheng Yanqing to get new stories. Actually, he wanted to hear new stories more than Zheng Hongyi did.

  Zheng Hongyi grasped Xu Shijie's hand and begged with a milky voice.

  Xu Shi Ji's face was bitter, and he had no choice but to say: "Hong Yi, it's not that I don't want to talk to you, it's just... I'll tell you the truth, those stories I told you were all heard from other people's mouths."

  Zheng Hongyi curiously asked: "Shi Jie brother, who told you that story?"

  Xu Shiji hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice, "I told you, but you're not allowed to tell anyone else... actually, I heard it from Yan Qing."

  "Who's Yan Qing?"

  Zheng Hongyi didn't know who Zheng Yanqing was, even though they had slept in the same train car years ago.

  It's no wonder that Zheng Renji dislikes Zheng Shian, and also doesn't like Zheng Yanqing.

  As for Mrs. Cui, she didn't even know there was a person named Zheng Yanqing, so how could Zheng Hongyi possibly know who Zheng Yanqing is?

  Xu Shiji said: "Yan Qing is your old housekeeper's grandson."

  "Which old steward? Choi Do-rin... How did I not know, he has a grandson?"

  "It's not Cui Daolin, it's Zheng Lao's housekeeper."

  Zheng Hongyi suddenly enlightened, nodded and said: "I know Zheng Lao Guanjia, but it seems that Father and Mother don't like him, saying he's a eunuch dog... What about the grandson of that old steward, is his surname also Zheng? How old is he, why isn't he with us?"

  Xu Shi Ji frowned and said in a low voice, "Hong Yi, the old steward is a good person, you must not be rude to him. Otherwise, Yan Qing will no longer tell stories in the future, and we won't have anything to listen to... Yan Qing is about the same age as you, and he's extremely intelligent and kind-hearted. When you meet him in the future, you'll know that he's incredibly capable."

  "Zheng Yanqing, Zheng Yanqing?"

  Zheng Hongyi tilted his head and remembered the three words "Zheng Yanqing" in his heart.

  Just then, a crisp bell sound was heard. This was Yan Shigong's habit, carrying a small bell with him.

  Every time class is in session, as soon as he strikes the bell, everyone must sit down inside within a hundred breaths.

  Otherwise, he would use a ruler to hit the palm of his hand. Zheng Hongyi and Xu Shiji had both been hit by Yan Shigus ruler before, so they immediately ran back to the study room.

  "Today, we continue with the chapter on Warehouse Management..."

  Yan Shigu saw Xu Shi and Zheng Hongyi sitting well, with a smile on his face, ready to begin.

  To be honest, Yan Shigu was very satisfied with these two students. Especially Xu Shi, who often could raise one and infer three, extremely intelligent. Getting talented people and teaching them is a pleasure. The Yan family values education, so they attach great importance to it.

  It's strange, I don't know if it's because he hadn't heard the story or what, but Zheng Hongyi, who was usually well-behaved, suddenly started causing trouble in class. "Teacher, 'The Warehouse' is so boring, it's not as interesting as the story of 'Oath of the Peach Garden'."

  Xu Shi's side heard, startled.

  This little ancestor, how dare you speak in front of Mr.? Didn't I just tell him not to say it to others?

  Indeed, Yan Shigong's face sank, "Hongyi, what is the origin of this Peach Garden Oath?"