Hsu Fengnian and the poor scholar both automatically turned their heads. With a tacit understanding, they decided not to look or listen. This pair of man and woman, who had stirred up a great commotion in Gangnam-do, were in a deadlock. In the end, it was the female Taoist Xu Huipong who was defeated. She walked with Lu Baijie along the quiet and empty wall of Baoguo Temple. Before leaving, Xu Huipong did not forget to bid farewell to His Royal Highness. Then she told the scholar that there was no harm in entering the temple to debate. She had already told Baoguo Temple that no one would stop them. So there were only three people left by the spring. The scholar surnamed Zhang frowned slightly. Hsu Fengnian smiled and said, "My surname is Xu and my given name is Dian Xia. Dian as in classic, Xia as in sword case. What do you think of my name?"
The poor scholar smiled and said, "Dian in the case cannot cry. Hmm, a good name."
Princess Jing 'an Pei Nanwei, whose face was covered with a veil, could not help but roll her eyes.
Hsu Fengnian asked, "Since you have permission, why don't you go in and listen to the debate? As for me, I'm just an idiot. Since Sister Xu said that your talent is not ordinary and I want to bask in your glory, I'll sit with you. "
The scholar asked in return, "Sitting with me, aren't you afraid of being laughed at by the scholars and celebrities?"
Hsu Fengnian smiled strangely and did not answer. Instead, he turned his head and asked Princess Pei, "Tell me, am I afraid?"
Princess Jing 'an, who had suffered a lot along the way, did not dare to ignore the question. Her tone was stiff and cold as she said, "Not at all."
Hsu Fengnian was satisfied. He smiled and looked at the poor scholar. The latter sighed and nodded. He put down the finished watermelon and picked up the Four Classics, Chapter and Sentence Collection, which had been exposed to the sun, and carefully put it into his sleeve. The three of them walked out of the shade of the ancient pine tree and walked toward Baoguo Temple. Hsu Fengnian was in the middle, Princess Jing 'an was on the left, and the poor scholar was on the right. There was a difference between who came first and who came first. As soon as the three of them left, Hsu Fengnian saw a little girl who had been wandering at the foot of the wall trotting to the spring. Previously, because of his presence, the sallow and skinny little beggar-like child did not dare to come forward to enjoy the shade, so she hid in the corner. After the three of them left, she finally gathered her courage and went to the spring under the tree. First, she lifted the two halves of the watermelon and placed them on a rock by the spring. But when she inadvertently met eyes with Hsu Fengnian, the little girl in ragged clothes turned pale and quickly put the watermelon back to its original place. Seeing that this rich and imposing Childe was not angry, she timidly squatted under the tree. The scholar was afraid that this aristocratic "scholar" who was familiar with Tang Xi Sword Fairy and Xu Huipong would be unhappy, so he said softly, "This child is pitiful. She begs for a living and depends on her paralyzed grandfather. If it weren't for her, the old man would not have survived last winter. I taught her some words so that she can use some tricks when begging. Alas, her grandfather must have fallen ill again. Otherwise, she would not have come to Baoguo Temple to pick up copper coins. She doesn't dare to pick up too much each time. It's only a few copper coins, enough to buy half a basket of steamed buns, but it's enough food for her and her grandfather for several days. As for the watermelon …"
Hsu Fengnian said expressionlessly, "After slicing the watermelon rind, it can be fried as a dish."
The poor scholar nodded after a moment of shock, "Yes."
It must have been the first time Princess Jing'an had heard that watermelon rind could be used to cook a dish. She unconsciously glanced at the little girl.
The debate between Baoguo Temple's Wang and Ba attracted many Gangnam-do scholars. Those who had the qualifications to participate in the grand occasion had already entered the temple and taken their seats. There were also many ordinary scholars who did not have the qualifications to join in the fun and could only wander around outside the temple. The area under Wolong Pine Tree was a treasured land of feng shui. It was originally occupied by Hsu Fengnian. His Royal Highness was a dandy who did not need to speak and had a domineering arrogance. It was obvious that he was not a person to get close to. In addition, he came from the temple, so the scholars outside the temple could only stand far away. Most of them pointed at the "servant girl" whose face could not be seen clearly but who had an enchanting figure. She was a feast for the eyes.
In this world, when the rich and powerful went out, they usually looked at the people and horses. As for the noble and famous people, they looked at the beautiful women by their side. The female Daoist nun who came from a noble family was the first class. People like Xu Huipu could only be found but not sought. Next, the beautiful and talented courtesans were also the first class. The young and beautiful maids in one's own residence were second. The more there were, the more it showed one's status. A great scholar in Gangnam-do, such as Yuan Jiangyan of the Yuan family, had once gone out with almost a hundred young boys and girls. When the Hsu Fengnian finally made room, a few well-dressed young masters and daughters immediately went up to enjoy the cool air. The little beggar who had rolled up his trousers and bent down to pick up the money in the spring was undoubtedly an eyesore. A triangular-eyed young master sneered and kicked a watermelon into the spring, splashing water everywhere. The little beggar was so scared that he shivered and did not dare to pick up the copper coins anymore. He wanted to dodge, but he walked too fast in the water and accidentally fell into the spring, causing a burst of laughter. A woman from a noble family with heavy makeup gloated and scolded sharply, "Little bastard, who let you come here to pick up the wishing money? Aren't you afraid of being beaten to death by the monks in the temple?"
The spring was surrounded by the rich and powerful young masters who were enjoying the cool air. The little beggar had nowhere to hide and could only stand in the spring. He lowered his head and said with red eyes, "The temple said that as long as I pick up a few copper coins each time, it's not a big deal."
The woman shouted, "You still dare to talk back?"
She was angry. Since there were no outsiders around, she was too lazy to pretend to be a virtuous lady. She picked up a stone from the ground and threw it fiercely. The little beggar instinctively dodged, but the woman did not hit him. She was already angry because she was not allowed to enter the temple, but now she was even more annoyed. She picked up a stone the size of an egg and laughed gloomily, "You still dare to dodge? If you dodge again, I'll break your legs!"
She threw the stone with all her strength and it hit the little beggar's chest with a thump. The men and women around her clapped and cheered, praising her accuracy. The little girl's thin and weak body could not withstand such torment. She swayed and her face was pained, but she still did not dare to dodge. She stood in the water and said with a sobbing tone, "I won't dare to pick it up again. I won't dare to do it again!"
The young woman sneered and picked up a few more stones. She even distributed them to her friends. It was better to be happy together than to be happy alone. They prepared to play a game similar to throwing bamboo arrows into a pot. Gangnam-do scholars always had the custom of throwing pots in a song to liven things up. Many famous scholars were good at blind throwing screens and back throwing. The Dragon General Xu Gong could even fill a pot with more than a hundred bamboo arrows. In the end, it presented a scene like a forest of arrows and mountains of arrows. This throwing pot could be considered the evolution of "shooting" in the Six Arts of Gentlemen. It was very popular in Gangnam-do. However, today the bamboo arrows were replaced with stones and the pot turned into a little beggar. In the eyes of the young masters and ladies, it was a different approach to achieve the same result. Those who got the stones were eager to try and aim. It seemed that they did not care if the little beggar's body could withstand a few throws. To Gangnam-do scholars, smashing a little beggar to death was nothing.
The poor scholar, who already had one foot in the door of Baoguo Temple, apologized and ran back. He angrily said, "Stop!"
With this roar, the foppish young masters and ladies were stunned. However, it was only for a moment. They looked at each other and laughed, no longer paying attention. The two impatient young masters instead increased their strength and threw stones at the little beggar in the water. One hit his chest and the other hit his arm. The little beggar bit his lip and did not dare to make a sound. He only crouched in the cold spring water that reached his knees and curled up. Where was the human heart not colder than water? However, the little beggar, who was in extreme pain, still squeezed out a pale smile. He said to the poor scholar who stepped forward bravely, "Brother Zhang, it's okay. It won't hurt after a few hits."
It won't hurt.
How could it not hurt?
Facing Lu Baijie and Xu Huipong, the most outstanding young masters in Yang Province, the poor scholar could still jump into the water without being servile or overbearing. He no longer cared about whether or not the books in his sleeves would get wet. He stood in front of the little beggar to protect him. His face was mournful. Looking at this group of gentry men and women who relied on their families for their entire lives, there was no greater sorrow than a dead heart.
He did not even question them.
The arrogant woman who started it all had a face of disdain. She said condescendingly, "Where did you come from, you poor pig?"
At this time, a mellow voice came from behind the gentry. "I came from Beiliang."
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