Chapter 71: When Moving Houses and Opening a Store (Part 2)

  Entering the classics course, it's not possible for Shen Mo to be so relaxed and casual. If Meng Xue courses only require memorization, then the classics must be understood in depth on the basis of memorization, and integrated into one's own body, so that they can be used freely, even if others try to confuse or disrupt them.

  In fact, before he last participated in the imperial examination for children, he could recite "The Divine Boy's Poem" and "Tang Poetry", was familiar with the "Four Books" and "Five Classics" and other exam books, had read a certain number of eight-part essays, and had also learned to write eight-part essays and test poems. With these, if luck is good, it may be possible to pass the examination for Xiucai.

  But in front of Shen Lian, this great scholar and old whiz kid, this little trick was obviously not enough to impress him. With a casual remark "When villagers drink wine, the one who gets drunk first is the one who leaves early", he let him break the topic, but Shen remained silent, unable to grasp the key point.

  "Zhu Zi said: 'The elderly, sixty years old in the countryside, do not dare to go first when they have not gone out, and do not dare to go later when they have gone out.' Shen Lian only needed a few light words, and he suddenly understood. After several times like this, Shen Mo finally knew that on the road of Four Books and Five Classics, he was still far behind... It's not just about being clever and having good memory, but also needs to work hard to study and comprehend."

  Shen Mo finally knew how lucky it was to have a teacher who was a jinshi... The best teachers in the county school were only juren, and as for the jinshi masters, they were either serving as officials outside or staying at home to enjoy their old age. There wasn't another one like Mr. Shen, who happened to be at home mourning his father, in all of Shaoxing City.

  Having made up his mind, Shen Mo put aside his prejudices and devoted 120% of his enthusiasm and effort to studying hard with Mr. Shen, for his own future and the future of the two men, thoroughly devoting himself!

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  The days passed like flowing water, and suddenly it was August. The weather gradually turned cool, and the season of blooming laurel trees and fat crab shells arrived.

  After school that day, Shen Mo had just entered the Wen Tao Academy when he saw several short-shirted men carrying large and small boxes from upstairs to downstairs.

  He was just about to speak up and ask, but then Seventh Sister came out of the building, beaming with joy as she walked up to him, exclaiming excitedly: "Young Master, we're moving house! I was just going upstairs to tell you!"

  "Move?" Shen Mo was somewhat perplexed and asked: "Has the main house been relocated again for you all?"

  "Ha ha ha......" Seventh Girl covered her mouth and laughed: "You really are a noble person who forgets things easily, didn't I tell you the other day? Tian Qi used the silver you gave him to rent a small building in the front street's front shop backyard..."

  "Oh......" Shen silently nodded, embarrassed: "You see me recently, fell into a pile of books, became a bookworm... You guys want to open a store, right?"

  "Right." Seventh Young Lady's face was full of helplessness, and she couldn't help but feel triumphant: "Ever since that time when we ran into Young Master Shen at Xuan Ting Kou, there have been people coming to find Tian Qi every day to settle debts. Although this is a good thing, firstly, it's not like it's happening in our own home, so it's annoying the neighbors and causing them to gossip; secondly, all that clanging and banging every day is affecting Young Master Shen's rest and studies."

  "It doesn't matter."

  "But it's still not good." Seventh Sister smiled and said, "My husband and I have already planned that once Mr. Shen recovers from his illness, we will rent a small house outside and move out, open a gold shop, and after ten years of marriage, finally start our own business."

  He looked around quietly and saw that those workers had already walked far away, then said in a low voice: "If you are short of money, just say it, I still have some silver here."

  "Can't be helped, can't be helped," said Seventh Young Lady hurriedly, waving her hand with a smile. "Last time I accepted those eighty taels, it caused the master of the house to harbor resentment."

  "Just don't tell him." Shen Mo smiled and said, "These days, thanks to your care, my father recovered so quickly. I have nothing to repay you with, only some worthless silver coins."

  "It's indeed enough." Seventh Young Lady sincerely refused, "A gold and silver craftsman makes a living by his skills, no need for any capital. Ten taels of silver to pay rent, ten taels of silver to pay the official fees, twenty taels of silver to buy household items, and with the remaining money, he can still afford to add some handy tools, leaving a surplus of ten or eight taels, enough for several months' worth of living expenses."

  "Silence nodded and said: 'If you're short of money, just say so, don't be shy.'"

  The seventh girl giggled and said: "People say that if you don't see someone for three days, you'll look at each other with new eyes... Young Master has also become wealthy and arrogant."

  "It's 'after three days, one should look at each other with new eyes'." Shen Mo couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Seventh Sister's mouth is really something..."

  As they spoke, Tian Qi also came out. He thanked Shen Mo again and then made a small request: "Can I ask the young master to write a plaque for me?"

  "Shenmo smiled and said: 'My father's handwriting is much better than mine, why don't you ask him instead?'"

  How can two people say 'we think you are more promising'? Then said 'The young master writes in the same way.'

  He didn't mind their little thoughts, and nodded his head in delight: "Alright, I'll write it for you now." The two were overjoyed, went upstairs into the house, took out a roll of paper that had been prepared earlier, one person on each side held it down, waiting respectfully for his arrival.

  Shen Mo went up first and put down his school bag, picked up a brush for writing big titles, held the ink box and came down saying: "Prepare to be called what name?"

  The couple exchanged a glance and muttered: "Haven't thought about it yet."

  "Then think of one." Shen Mo smiled and said, "Don't rush, it's a matter of importance."

  The two of them started scratching their ears and cheeks, but after half a day, they still couldn't think of a suitable one, so they had to turn to Shen Mo for help: "Young master, give us one?"

  "It's more meaningful to come up with it yourself." Shen Caizi shook his head and smiled, "However, I can give you some reference opinions... usually there are two ways to name a store. One is to seek good luck, such as 'Baodaixiang Jewelry Store' or 'Rishengfa Jewelry Store', the other is to directly use the owner's name, such as 'Qiguniang Jewelry Store' or 'Tianqi Jewelry Store'. Which way do you prefer?"

  "The latter." They looked at each other and said in unison.

  "Is it called Qiuniang Shop or Tianqi Shop?" Shenmo asked with a smile.

  "It's Tian Qi store." The seventh girl said with a big smile: "He is the boss, I am the shopkeeper; he is the master, I am the apprentice, of course it should be called Tian Qi store."

  Division line

  This weekend is lazy, just two chapters, and I'll work harder tomorrow...