It was the sixth year of Taikang.
It was a chilly spring. Spring had arrived in the south of Yongguo, but the northern border was still snowing. The snow was up to his ankles.
Nie Yang thought that after death, his soul would return to the netherworld. He would walk on the Bridge of Helplessness, drink Meng Po's soup, forget the past, and be reborn.
In the end …
He was still too young.
Nie Yang was the legitimate son of the Nie family's third branch. Although he was not valued by his elders, he was well-dressed and had never suffered.
He was sent to Jiang Pengji by Nie Qing to die. He only had time to say his last words before he was decapitated. He felt a chill on his neck.
After some time, he regained consciousness. Not only was his neck cold, but his limbs were even colder. It was as if he was in an ice cave.
He struggled to open his eyes and saw the broken roof of the house. When he turned his eyes, he saw that the room was pitch black. Nie Yang was shocked. He was surprised that hell was like this. He used all his strength to push himself up from the bed. He was shocked.
Underneath him was a "bed" made of dried grass and firewood. His body was covered with something black and smelly. His hands, which were exposed from his sleeves, were cracked and frostbitten. Not only that, but he also found that his feet were bare. His ankles and soles were blue from the cold.
"Could it be that Lord Lanting was so stingy that he didn't even leave clothes for me?"
Nie Yang murmured. As soon as he said it, he was shocked by his own voice.
In his previous life, Nie Yang's voice was not as elegant as Nie Qing's, but it was full of youthful vigor. What about now?
He sounded like he was about six or seven years old. Although his voice was hoarse, it could not hide his childishness.
At that moment, Nie Yang realized that his limbs had shrunk.
He used all his strength to get up. From the corner of his eyes, he saw white snow outside the broken window. He could vaguely see well-dressed people walking by.
Nie Yang was at a loss for a while. He panicked and realized that the situation was different from what he had imagined.
"Could it be … this isn't hell?"
When Nie Yang tried to go out, he felt a sharp pain in his head. An unfamiliar and slightly blurry memory filled his brain.
"It really isn't hell."
After a long while, Nie Yang revealed a shocked and panicked expression. He looked like he was about to cry, but he wasn't. He was at a loss.
Nie Yang died at the hands of Jiang Pengji. After his death, his soul did not return to the underworld. Instead, he was reborn in a completely unfamiliar dynasty.
This body was that of a beggar. His parents died of famine, and he relied on stealing and the support of kind-hearted people to survive.
Life was so difficult. The child beggar tried his best to survive, but he was still frozen to death by the sudden snowfall last night.
When he woke up again, his inner core had become Nie Yang.
Of course, he was happy to be reborn, but in this situation — he might as well die.
Nie Yang sneered, "You've done so much evil in your life, but you still have a chance to start over … Hah, this God …"
He really didn't know if God was treating him well or torturing him on purpose. This body was that of an orphan with no parents, no name, and no family. He was penniless and had no home. He was frozen to death in this broken temple. The people nearby called him "Dog", and the children called him "Fool".
With such a terrible life, if he didn't have the opportunity, he would probably never be able to turn over a new leaf.
Nie Yang was, after all, an ancient person. His thinking was more inclined to believe that this beggar was actually his reincarnation. But for some reason, the Soup of Mengpo didn't work, and it made him remember his previous life. According to this line of thinking, his current life situation could be explained.
He had done so much evil in his previous life, so there was no glory or wealth in his next life. He could only live a poor life.
Nie Yang's lips curled into a somewhat mocking sneer. In his previous life, he had been born into a gentry family and was the son of a respectable noble family. Now, he was a beggar. Even if he worked hard, at most he would be ranked among the poor, and people would look down on him. Thinking about it this way, he felt indignant.
However, it was too early to think about this. He had to solve the problem of food and warmth first.
Nie Yang thought about it and followed his memory to the only private school near the village.
The examination system in this world was not quite the same as the evaluation system he knew. It was the imperial examination to select scholars.
The form of the imperial examination was somewhat similar to the teaching and promotion system implemented by the Duke of Lanting in Wanzhou.
However, fortunately, it was the imperial examination and not the evaluation system. Otherwise, Nie Yang would never be able to climb up in this lifetime.
The evaluation of scholars was based on family background and appearance. Talent was actually secondary.
Nie Yang's identity in this life was only a beggar. He couldn't even be considered poor. Just based on his family background, he would forever be rejected from officialdom.
He still had a chance in the imperial examination to select scholars.
Nie Yang endured the cold and hunger and secretly peeked outside the window of the private school. He caught a glimpse of the content of the teacher's lecture and felt a bit more satisfied.
Although the history of this dynasty was very different from what he knew, the characters in both were the same. Nie Yang didn't have to be illiterate anymore.
The private school teacher also noticed the beggar outside the window but didn't pay much attention.
This beggar often came over to pick up the students' leftovers. He looked very pitiful, so the teacher would occasionally soften his heart and give him alms.
The teacher randomly tested a few students on yesterday's homework. Every student stuttered, which made him very disappointed.
At this time, he heard a murmur outside the window. He listened carefully and didn't miss a single word. He looked again and saw that it was the beggar.
"Do you know how to recite?" the teacher asked.
Nie Yang was secretly happy, but he said, "I remember everything just now."
The teacher was slightly surprised and asked with interest, "Then what else can you recite?"
Nie Yang opened his mouth and recited the few Analects of Confucius that the teacher said today.
It was strange that Confucius and Mencius were still alive in a strange dynasty. How stubborn.
The teacher murmured, "How smart. What a pity …"
If he had money to go to school and receive education, he might even be able to pass the imperial examination. Unfortunately, he was a beggar who didn't know his next meal. No matter how talented he was, it would only be a waste. Nie Yang showed his doubts and asked the teacher about his confusion about one of the Analects of Confucius.
The teacher smiled indifferently, "What confusion can you have?"
It was good enough that he could recite it word for word. How could he have his own opinion?
If it was the previous beggar, he probably couldn't. But Nie Yang was different.
In terms of talent and learning, ten teachers together might not be a match for Nie Yang.
Why?
Nie Yang was born in a noble family in his previous life. The educational resources in front of Nie Yang were the best at that time. He received an elite education and never lacked writing brushes, ink, and paper. The teachers were all famous scholars and he could read the rare books of the poor.
Not to mention that Nie Yang was talented, even if he was stupid, with so many educational resources, he would be much better than the ordinary poor. The teacher in front of him had studied hard for more than ten years and failed several provincial examinations. He was discouraged and came back to teach.
Nie Yang's acting skills were beyond doubt. Even if he was at a disadvantage, he could still create the most suitable opportunity.
The teacher was shocked after hearing this.
Nie Yang said again, "I can do all kinds of dirty and tiring work. Teacher, please do me a favor and give me something to eat."
The teacher frowned, "This is not a charity hall."
Although he didn't look down on Nie Yang, the strong sarcasm in his words could be heard by anyone who wasn't deaf.
Nie Yang had always been a smiling tiger in his previous life. All his emotions were hidden deep in his heart and no one could see them.
He knew how to prioritize things. Right now, survival was the most important thing, and he could still endure this little bit of setback.
"Although I'm not talented, I know shame." Nie Yang lowered his posture and said word by word, "If you have any work like copying and engraving, I can do it. It's so cold now. If I don't find a way out, I'm afraid I won't be able to survive until spring. "
Nie Yang had a good eye for people and the teacher in front of him had a good reputation in the surrounding villages. He could play the emotional card.
Sure enough, the teacher heard Nie Yang's words and asked him, "You can copy and engrave?"
Nie Yang nodded and showed his two frostbitten hands. He said awkwardly, "I can write. I used to secretly watch the teacher teach and practiced with a branch for a long time. But my hands are a little hard from the cold. If I write with a pen, I'm afraid it won't look good. "
The teacher looked down at Nie Yang's hands. They were almost black from the cold. The cracks and frostbites made people feel sorry for him.
Thinking of this, he felt pity for him.
If this child could really copy well, it would be fine to give him some food to eat.
Words were no proof. Even if the teacher was a kind person, he would not believe Nie Yang's words. He still had to test his handwriting.
The teacher did not think that a child who had not gone through systematic learning could write well.
Nie Yang felt relieved when he saw the teacher's attitude soften.
He endured the pain and washed the stains off his hands and arms with ice and snow. Then he rolled up his sleeves and started writing so that the table, paper and pen would not be dirtied. Nie Yang's attitude was sincere and kind. The teacher liked him a lot. Nie Yang's handwriting was good. After all, he was a student of a famous calligrapher. It was just that he had changed his body and his wrist strength was not good enough. He could not write as well as he did in his previous life.
Even so, the teacher was still shocked.
Nie Yang was from an aristocratic family. He was best at writing two types of characters. One was the popular "Wan Ti" in Zhongzhao, and the other was the "Mo Ti".
These two types of characters were created by Zhongzhao's modern calligrapher.
The person who created the "Wan Ti" was a woman from an aristocratic family. At that time, the "Four Self-Accomplishment Classics for Women" had not been created. Women from aristocratic families had a high status. This lady's handwriting was charming and graceful. Many noble ladies followed her example. Many young aristocratic families who pursued fashion also liked to copy and learn. Nie Yang was also a fan. His "Wan Ti" was more charming than many women's.
The calligrapher who created the "Mo Ti" was Nie Yang's teacher. At the same time, it was also the character that Nie Yang wrote the most.
This type of character was famous for being thick, square, and clear. Nie Yang studied the "Mo Ti" to hide his true nature.
After all, people said, "Calligraphy is like the person." One could see a person's nature through his calligraphy.
Reality proved that this was nonsense.
Nie Yang had learned 70% of his teacher's "Mo Ti". Outsiders thought that he was a gentleman. Who knew that he was a scheming villain?
At this time, the calligraphy was naturally Nie Yang's best "Mo Ti".
"Did you really … practice it yourself?"
The Headmaster looked at Nie Yang with a complicated expression. He did not know that this beggar had such a talent. He had almost been buried.
Nie Yang nodded and twisted his fingers pitifully. He said pitifully, "I beg the Headmaster of the Academy to do me a favor and let me have a meal."
The Headmaster sighed. "Forget it. I'll leave the copying and engraving to you. Two meals a day. Is that okay? "
Nie Yang smiled. "Thank you, Headmaster. If I have a chance in the future, I will not forget your kindness."
"A chance in the future?" The Headmaster smiled and waved his hand. "It's not that simple. Take care of yourself first."
Why did Nie Yang set the private school as his goal?
Because he needed a way out. He was not willing to be an ordinary person. If he did not work hard to find a way out, would he freeze to death or starve to death in the ruined temple?
The private school had some books. Nie Yang helped here. He could read the books and understand the details of this era. He could also solve the problem of food and clothing.
He looked at the rice paper on the table and sighed in his heart.
Although there was paper in his previous life, it was very precious and produced in small quantities. Many small gentry families could only use thick bamboo slips to carve words.
At this moment, even a scholar from a poor family who taught in a private school could use such uniform and fine paper.
It could be seen that the overall standard of this era was much better than in his previous life.
His hands and feet were itchy and painful from frostbite, but Nie Yang did not seem to feel it. He began to copy as usual.
At first, he was not used to it. After a whole afternoon, he was much faster.
After a while, the Headmaster brought him a set of clothes that had been washed white. There were two wooden boxes on the clothes.
"You can wear this set of clothes. There is also some ointment for frostbite." The Headmaster asked him, "Do you have a place to stay?"
"I'm living in a ruined temple three miles away."
"That ruined temple is drafty. What's the difference between living there and living in the open?" The Headmaster frowned. A ruined temple could not keep out the wind and rain. Living there would be courting death. "If you don't mind, you can stay in the woodshed. We'll decide when the weather gets warmer."
Nie Yang's eyes showed gratitude. He said sincerely, "Thank you, Headmaster."
From that day on, Nie Yang lived in the woodshed of the private school peacefully.
During the day, he diligently copied the books that the Headmaster borrowed from everywhere. At the same time, he secretly recorded the contents of the books.
The Headmaster provided two meals a day, but the portions were always sufficient. Unknowingly, it was March. One day, school ended. The Headmaster went to the town to run some errands. Nie Yang did not have any tasks, so he lay in the corridor and took a light nap. When he opened his eyes, the sky was already red.
The Headmaster sat beside him and looked at him. "You've been here for more than a month, but I still don't know your name."
Nie Yang said, "My surname is Nie, and my first name is Yang."
His parents died early in this life and they did not have time to choose a name. Nie Yang did not know their surnames, so he simply used the surnames of his previous life.
"Nie Yang? There are many westerners. The river is vast, and it flows northward. "The Headmaster smiled." It's a wonderful scene. "
After a pause, the Headmaster asked him, "Do you have any other family members?"
Nie Yang was startled and shook his head. "No …"
He was already alone and deserted by everyone. How could he have any other family members?
"When I heard you murmuring 'Nie Qing' in your dream, I thought it was your living relative." The Headmaster said regretfully, "You're very talented. If your family is willing to support you in your studies, you can still have a future in the officialdom. Even if you don't bring glory to your ancestors, at least you won't have to worry about food and clothing. "
When the Headmaster said the two words "Nie Qing", Nie Yang's face turned completely white, without any color.
Ever since he woke up, he had been busy making a living. In the dead of night, he restrained himself from thinking about his previous life.
Who would have thought … that he was actually talking in his sleep?
"What's wrong? Do you feel uncomfortable? "
"Thank you for your concern, Headmaster. I'm fine. It's just that I suddenly thought of my cousin and felt very sad."
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