Chapter 46

Although he was taking the test of the tea ceremony etiquette that he was most confident in, Zhen Tingyun was still a little nervous when things came to an end, and his hand holding the bamboo stick was also a little sweaty.

Fortunately, the tension was only for a brief moment. She quickly controlled her emotions, imitating Zhou Qingyun's appearance, she stepped forward, bowed her head and bowed her head to the middle-aged teacher sitting on it, and then handed the bamboo stick with the test number on it with both hands. The middle-aged teacher said neither humble nor arrogant: "The student drew the eighteenth question, tea ceremony etiquette."

The middle-aged teacher stretched out his hand to take the bamboo stick, looked at it, raised his eyebrows slightly, seemed a little surprised, and took the initiative: "This question is rarely drawn."

What the middle-aged teacher didn't say was: In recent years, there has been a voice in the women's school saying that the article on tea ceremony etiquette should be removed from the selection of the subject of etiquette.

Because, in addition to those daughters, there are also some female students who were born in poverty but are very good. Although these female students are talented, they are obviously not comparable to the daughters from aristocratic families, especially the tea ceremony. Etiquette needs someone to teach and teach. If you ask for more, you need to test the taste of tea and smell the fragrance...

If Zhen Yiyun were here, he might still be interested in comparing the present tea ceremony with the elegant pastime of the rich people tasting wine and tasting wine - just like many poor people in modern times can't taste Lafite and supermarkets for dozens of yuan in 1982. What's the difference between a bottle of red wine, and a female student from a poor family often can't drink tea made from rainwater and tea made from snow water.

Of course, this topic was not removed at the end of the discussion in the women's school, and the etiquette of the tea ceremony was still among the topics. After all, there are a lot of questions to choose from, and the probability of being drawn is not high. There are only a few female students from poor families who take the entrance examination for women's schools. If they actually get this question, it can only be said to be bad luck - bad luck There is no way for people who can't get into women's school.

The middle-aged teacher had already looked at Zhen Tingyun from head to toe: there were very few hairpins on his hair, his clothes were simple and there were no ornaments, and there was even a light-colored piece of embroidered shoes on the toes. The mud seal, think, has gone through a muddy road—mostly not from a powerful family. From this point of view, the female student's tea ceremony skills are probably not enough.

The middle-aged teacher groaned unconsciously.

Zhen Tingyun wasn't very clear about the middle-aged teaching's thoughts, he just bowed his head slightly, and waited respectfully for the other party to ask questions.

After a while, the middle-aged teacher finally said: "There are tea sets here, so you can demonstrate it in front of me."

Zhen Tingyun responded with a crisp voice, took off a whole set of tea sets from the shelf on the side, and placed it on the long table in the center. Then, she knelt down on the mat in front of the long desk, slightly rolled up her sleeves, revealing a section of white Ningshuang wrist, and began to make tea.

Of course, there is no stove, no water, and no tea, just a set of tea sets in front of you, and this so-called demonstration tea ceremony requires a little extra imagination.

Zhen Tingyun was indeed imagining, she remembered that on the way back to Beijing, many times, she and Yuan Hui were sitting in the carriage together, often making tea for fun.

Sometimes Yuan Hui is interested, and he will do it himself. Most of the time, she is the one who does the action, Yuan Hui is watching and giving pointers.

...

At this moment, thinking of those days again, thinking of what he had done many times in the past, Zhen Tingyun's heart suddenly calmed down, and he was no longer worried. Her posture is elegant and quiet, and there is something indescribably moving. Even if it is such a tedious and complicated process, it is still as smooth and elegant as running clouds and flowing water.

Even if there is no water or tea, the people present seem to smell the fragrance of tea faintly.

Zhou Qingyun and Yang Qionghua, who were standing in the back, also corrected their expressions, especially Zhou Qingyun, she stared at Zhen Tingyun, not letting go of each other's movements, her eyes were dark, and her expression was solemn and serious.

Even the middle-aged teacher who was sitting at the top couldn't help but take a deep breath—it's really, a little unexpected.

In the quiet of different thoughts, Zhen Tingyun poured water into the cup, and then used the tray to hold the tea cup. saw her bowing her head and holding a tray with both hands, which is the attitude of serving tea.

The middle-aged teacher looked at the female student in front of him.

Her profile face is slightly lowered, quiet and beautiful, and it seems to have a tea rhyme; she holds the tray, her fingers are slender, white and delicate, and even her slender nails are pale pink; finally, the tray is The teacup on the top.

Even if the teacup is empty, the middle-aged teacher actually feels thirsty and wants to drink at this moment. She was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly: "That's right." Just as she was about to pick up a pen to give Zhen Tingyun a score, she suddenly seemed to remember something, and smiled: "Speaking of which, this is the right time to drink Longjing—the spring tea that has been picked and prepared has been quiet. After a few months without the heat of the heat, it is just right for tea.”

In the second half of the sentence, don't know if the teacher was unintentionally expressing emotion, or whether he asked a question intentionally.

Zhen Tingyun put down the tray in his hand and was hesitating whether or not to respond when he suddenly remembered the casual emotion that Yuan Hui had made when he first taught her to make tea—

"This tea is still not good enough. If it is a high-quality Longjing, its fragrance is like orchid and chestnut, and it is very clear."

Zhen Tingyun's thoughts moved, and he followed suit with an appearance of approval: "What you said is that if it is a high-quality Longjing, its fragrance is like orchid like chestnuts, and it is very clear, so drinking at this time is very comfortable."

"That's right," the middle-aged teacher heard her, gave her a deep look, then picked up the pen to score, and said softly, "If you're always like you, I'm afraid there won't be enough A-level places here. "

The implication is that she also gave Zhen Tingyun a armor.

Zhen Tingyun was overjoyed for a moment, and solemnly bowed to the middle-aged teacher, and then resigned respectfully.

Then, it was Yang Qionghua's turn - this person was relatively unlucky, and he drew a difficult problem and took a kneeling ceremony.

According to the "Zhou Li", there is a cloud: the first is called Jishou, the second is called Dengshou, the third is called empty head, the fourth is called vibration, the fifth is called auspicious worship, the sixth is called fierce worship, the seventh is called strange worship, the eight is called praise worship, and the ninth is called solemn worship.

In short, Yang Qionghua had to answer the question and act, and after several back and forth, his face turned slightly pale.

Thinking that it was Yang Qionghua who gave him the second chance to draw the question, and that he also made a start, Yang Qionghua would shake the question like a lottery, and the result was such a question... Zhen Tingyun felt a little guilty. Fortunately, the middle-aged female teacher sitting at the top didn't want to embarrass others. She skipped the test and gave Yang Qionghua an A.

As the middle-aged teacher said, she really wants to be like the three of them in the back, I am afraid that the first class in her hand is really not enough.

*********

After the exam is over, the next step is to take the exam.

Because there were still people lining up outside the music examination room, they had to wait in line at the back at this time, and you could vaguely hear the sound of music in the examination room—they were able to stand here with confidence to take the women's school examination. Yes, it must be a female student with outstanding grades. Naturally, she can also play a lot of elegant music. The music is melodious and quite touching.

Zhen Tingyun took advantage of the free time in the queue to talk to Yang Qionghua: "I heard that you can bring musical instruments in this class, why haven't you brought them?"

Yang Qionghua was relieved and blinked: "It can be stored in the school in advance, but it is not easy to bring things to the test. When I came to school, I put my piano in the women's school, so that when I take the test, it is directly can be used.”

Just as Zhen Tingyun said earlier, Yang Qionghua has a pair of extremely beautiful hands, and is best at playing the qin and strings. According to Yang Qionghua, Zhou Qingyun learned serenity.

Yang Qionghua said, I don't know what he remembered, his eyes rolled, and he quietly bit his ear with Zhen Tingyun: "Actually, a few people can work together in the music department. , the two of them, Qin Se and Ming, can shock a group of people as soon as they appear on the stage. It's a pity..."

It's a pity that although Yang Qionghua is learning the piano and Zhou Qingyun is learning the serenity, these two people have always been very difficult to deal with.

Zhen Tingyun couldn't help but glanced at Zhou Qingyun. Seeing that the other party was still standing upright, he didn't seem to hear the whispers of the two behind him. Zhen Tingyun also tentatively said, "How about we Qin Xiao and Ming?"

Saying that, Zhen Tingyun took out the jade flute from his arms.

Yang Qionghua: "..."

Sometimes, disgust doesn't need to be said.

Zhen Tingyun was actually just saying it casually, although Yuan Hui had planned to let her find someone to work with, Qin Xiao and Ming when he taught her how to play the flute. But now Zhen Tingyun has made a lot of progress in Xiao Qu, and is still willing to try it on his own. So, seeing Yang Qionghua's appearance of eating bitter gourd, she also smiled: "I'm just joking—for things like ensemble, even if you don't look at the tacit understanding, it will take some time to break in."

Yang Qionghua breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, it was an exam. No matter how lively she was, she wouldn't dare to use it to make fun of it. Although she and Zhou Qingyun didn't deal with it, she still trusted Zhou Qingyun's drumming skills and knew that the other party was not inferior to her. , it is impossible to say that she can overwhelm the audience with skills; although she and Zhen Tingyun have a bit of a familiarity with each other, and they are happy to talk, but the two are meeting for the first time, and they don't know each other's accomplishments in this regard. Tuoda played with others, and it went well, but if it didn't go well, wouldn't it hurt each other?

The two were talking, but soon it was their turn to enter the examination room.

Because the order has been sorted out just now, this time it was also Zhou Qingyun who stepped forward to answer the questions first, followed by Zhen Tingyun and Yang Qionghua last.

Zhou Qingyun raised his hand to drum, his fingers were slender, and everyone could hear the melodious music coming from the drum.

The sound of music rose up layer by layer, like waves surging up layer by layer, as if to connect the blue sky one after another, just when the snow-white waves were about to meet the sky, the waves suddenly rolled down and returned to the deep sea again. The ocean is infinitely quiet, and the undercurrent is turbulent under the sparkling sea, driving the next more intense and grander waves...

Between the rise and fall of the music, the beauty of change, the beauty of transition, and the beauty of emotion are all in it.

Zhen Tingyun suddenly understood a little bit why those people regarded Zhou Qingyun as a talented girl, and why they were able to lift their chin and look at people with a cold eye—people who are capable, and it is natural for those who are capable to have some temper.

Sure enough, after this song, Zhou Qingyun got a first class again.

With Zhou Qingyun and Zhuyu in front, Zhen Tingyun became even more nervous when he went up. Fortunately, Ziyuxiao's tentacles were slightly cold, and her fingertips inadvertently touched the word "Xi" engraved on the sound of the flute, and suddenly calmed down again and began to hold the flute to blow. flute.

Compared with Zhou Qingyun's "Fishing Boat Sings Late", which is full of changes and emotions, Zhen Tingyun's "Three Lanes of Plum Blossoms" is different.

At the beginning, the sound of the flute was smooth and clear, depicting the clearness of plum blossoms with the clearness of the sound of the flute, and the beauty of the sound of the flute to show the rhythm of the white and frosty plum blossoms; Ling Shuang and Aoxue, the beautiful image of both movements and movements suddenly appeared in front of her eyes. The so-called Plum Blossom Sanong, Sanong means that the same tune is played repeatedly three times, and it also refers to three variations. This time, the sound of the flute seems to reverberate again and again, like frost and warm wind, like movement and stillness, and the sharp contrast even further highlights the unyielding and unyielding spirit of Hongmei in the snow.

The flute stopped, and the young teacher sitting at the top looked up at Zhen Tingyun. Instructors like her who are responsible for grading music generally rarely speak, mainly because there are too many candidates, and they are too busy to speak. They listened to it all day long, no matter how good the music was, they would enter the room of Zhilan, and they would not smell its fragrance for a long time. What's more, the music of these students is beautiful, but it is far from being able to impress them.

But the young teacher suddenly became interested in speaking, looked at Zhen Tingyun and said, "Actually, this song "Three Lanes with Plum Blossoms" is more suitable for Zhou Qingyun in front."

This is the truth - Zhou Qingyun is cold and beautiful, cold and arrogant, but has the charm of plum blossoms. If you invite her to play this song, maybe she will show her true colors.

Therefore, Zhen Tingyun didn't get angry when he heard such comments from the teacher, and just lowered his head slightly and listened to her next words.

Sure enough, the young teacher immediately praised her again: "However, your song "Three Nongs of Plum Blossoms" is good, although the skills are not very skilled, but the emotional grasp is very good, especially the coldness of plum blossoms Unyielding and unyielding are integrated into the song. In this regard, I am afraid that Zhou Qingyun may not be able to beat you..."

As soon as these words came out, Zhou Qingyun looked at Zhen Tingyun with more complicated eyes.

Zhen Tingyun still looked calm, waiting for the last teacher to finish his words.

Who knows, this teacher doesn't seem to like giving people a good time, just smiled, and smiled at her ambiguous: "So, should I give you an A, or a B... It's really sad. ."

Zhen Tingyun: "..."

Before Zhen Tingyun could speak, the young teacher waved his hand, motioning for Zhen Tingyun to go down, and then let Yang Qionghua come forward to play the piano.

Yang Qionghua's ten fingers are slender, and the sound of the piano flows from her fingertips, which is sweet and smooth, as lively and cheerful as herself, as clear and clear as a stream with a clear bottom, the water is gurgling, attracting people to stop.

After listening to the song, the young teacher couldn't help but stretch his eyebrows and said with a smile: "Your piano sound deserves a first-class."

As a result, both Zhou Qingyun and Yang Qionghua got an A, but Zhen Tingyun didn't know whether he got an A or a B until he walked out of the examination room.

Zhen Tingyun complained in his heart: If I have money, I must find a teacher who can speak clearly!

The next imperial shot was much simpler. Zhen Tingyun cooperated with Ma Lantou and performed exceptionally well. He actually won an armor in the imperial division.

Of course, Zhou Qingyun was not bad either. She rode a red horse, galloping like lightning, and she was very heroic, and she also got a armor.

Only Yang Qionghua, she was born petite, and she seemed to be a little afraid of heights, and she was swaying when she stepped on the riding boots. When she rode the horse and ran down in a circle, the snow-white face was dripping with sweat, and the legs between the horse's stomach were soft. She stared at Zhen Tingyun and whispered, "Tingyun..."

Zhen Tingyun had to go to help her dismount - this is what Yang Qionghua agreed with her before getting on the horse.

Therefore, Yang Qionghua only got a C in this subject, which is just a pass.

Just like that, when Yang Qionghua helped Zhen Tingyun to get off the horse, he continued to murmur: "I was scared to death, I almost thought I was going to fall..."

Zhen Tingyun endured it, but still couldn't hold back, so he asked her, "Your riding skills..." She thought about it for a while, instead of directly attacking the other party's riding skills, she only said euphemistically, "Why don't you follow chess and painting? , Poetry, Ci and choose one of them to replace?" Although after the replacement, the highest can only be a B, which is better than Yang Qionghua's current C. For example, Zhen Yiyun, last year she took the women's school entrance examination, just used painting instead of shooting, and got five top and one second.

Yang Qionghua wiped his sweat with the veil, and explained to her in a low voice: "My father often told me that the more afraid you are, the less you can't be afraid of difficulties. The Yang family is from a military commander background, and among the girls in the Yang family, I am the only one who can’t ride and shoot, if I don’t even take the exam, I will choose another one instead, and my father will have to beat me when I go back.”

Zhen Tingyun was silent for a moment before he said, "...you got a third, wouldn't he beat you?"

Yang Qionghua was also a little silent, and for a long time he said with a guilty conscience: "Yes, maybe not." After a while, Yang Qionghua was still a little unwilling, puffed up his cheeks, and muttered: "Oh, so angry! I thought at least there would be one. What about B..."

Zhen Tingyun couldn't help laughing when she saw her pouting and thinking.

After laughing, Zhen Tingyun raised his eyes slightly to look at the blue sky on the school grounds.

It was a sunny day, there were no clouds in the sky, and the entire sky looked like the clearest and brightest sapphire.

Zhen Tingyun looked up at the sky, and his mood was also very good: No wonder so many people wanted to take the women's school. Women's school is indeed a good place to impart knowledge and memory, and to meet many respectable or lovely people. At least, she is no longer the frog at the bottom of the well. She is no longer bound by the size of the Zhen family, and she is no longer afraid of the vague long dream. She can finally see the broad, blue sky.

******

In the last archery, every female student can have ten arrows, and the one who hits the bullseye with all ten arrows is the first class.

Zhou Qingyun won another A for doing his part.

Even Yang Qionghua had to sigh with emotion: "She must be able to win the sixth grade this time. Whether it is the Kyoto Women's School or the Yuhua Women's School, she should be the leader."

Zhen Tingyun was also amazed, and nodded in agreement: "There are talented people in Jiangshan."

Otherwise, Yang Qionghua and Zhen Tingyun hit it off, she understood what the other party meant when she heard what Zhen Tingyun said, and raised her eyebrows to look at the person: "You mean to say that in a few years, it will be your turn as a newcomer. Out?"

Zhen Tingyun looked like I didn't say anything, went up to grab a bow and arrow, and shot with a bow.

She still remembered how she and Yuan Hui rode together when they were in Xishan, and Fu Changxi taught her how to draw a bow hand in hand.

At that time, the deer was in front of her, like an arrow target not far away.

In the dark, Zhen Tingyun seemed to hear Yuan Hui's voice that day.

[Don't talk, pick up the bow first, pull the string and load the arrow]

Zhen Tingyun calmly picked up the bow and arrow, pulled the string on the arrow, and adjusted the direction little by little.

[Okay, let go of the arrow]

Zhen Tingyun subconsciously loosened the bowstring that had been pulled to the extreme, and the long arrow swiftly came out of the string and shot straight forward.

The arrow in my memory hit the right eye of the deer, and the arrow in front of me directly hit the red dot in the middle of the target.

At this moment, the entire school field was quiet, as if it were the silent woods when the wild deer were shot that day.

Zhen Tingyun took a deep breath, drew the arrow again, then drew the bow, and then another arrow.

This second arrow also hits the bullseye.

If there are ten arrows, except for two arrows that deviate from the bull's-eye red dot, the rest of the eight arrows are all fine, and Zhen Tingyun also gets an A.

Zhen Tingyun suddenly discovered that although Yuan Hui was not by her side, she could always think of him easily—after all, she was able to have Yuan Hui's help most of the time; and she was willing to share her joy at the moment with Yuan Hui.

...

Yang Qionghua was stunned, and even said: "You are so powerful, why didn't you say it earlier? First Zhou Qingyun, then you, who will experience my pressure?"

Zhen Tingyun also felt that his hand felt surprisingly good today, so after thinking about it, he had to say, "I thought this was a B at most.

Yang Qionghua, hehe, she can see through this kind of bragging - something like "I didn't read a few pages of the book, I didn't expect to be the first in the test" "I just read the score casually, and who knows it will pop up"... Said Such words are all show-off ghosts!

However, Yang Qionghua said it cowardly, Zhen Tingyunyuan thought that she was afraid that her archery would be inferior to the royal horse.

As a result, Yang Qionghua said that the pressure was high, and the bow and arrow in his hand were ten arrows.

All ten arrows hit the bullseye.

Yang Qionghua just blinked: "I seem to feel pretty good today."

Zhen Tingyun really wanted to go up and pinch her round face.

However, considering that Yang Qionghua came from a family of military commanders, although he is not very good at horseback riding, he should be able to make do with archery.

In the end, Yang Qionghua also got a first-class.

So, this afternoon's exam is over.

Zhen Tingyun couldn't help but sigh: Originally, among the four disciplines of ritual, music and imperial shooting, she was most sure of the music one, but she didn't know whether it was A or B; Not quite sure, but now they are all lucky enough to get the A, almost half a foot into the threshold of women's school, and the rest depends on the paper in the morning.

Of course, such achievements depend more on luck, although it is fortunate, but one cannot always rely on luck in this life.

Therefore, Zhen Tingyun was happy for a while, but soon woke up again, and told himself in his heart: The first-class obtained by fluke is definitely not as good as the first-class obtained by strength like Zhou Qingyun. Even if she enters a women's school in the future, she may not be able to meet the achievements of most people in terms of foundation. Although she is worthy of joy, she can't really lose her head. It takes more effort.

Just thinking about whether there are some or not, saw Mrs. Chu's plain shirt and skirt, walking towards her.

Seeing Zhen Tingyun's serious appearance, Mrs. Chu couldn't help teasing her: "I heard that you did well in the exam this afternoon. If it wasn't for Zhou Qingyun, who was ranked fourth in a row, you'd be amazing."

Zhen Tingyun was curious and couldn't help asking: "Madam, do you know whether I am happy with A or B?"

Mrs. Chu just smiled: "After changing the papers today, tomorrow evening will be able to publish the results, you will always know, why are you in such a hurry? Surprise, the longer it is brewed, the sweeter it is."

Zhen Tingyun didn't ask any more.

Madam Chu then continued: "As I said just now, your grades are not bad, why do you look so serious and anxious?"

Zhen Tingyun thought for a while, but said honestly: "I can get this grade this time, thanks to luck, not to mention Miss Zhou Qingyun, even Miss Yang Qionghua can't compare. Now that I think about it, even if it's the test If you enter a women's school, you will definitely not be able to keep up with most people."

Mrs. Chu smiled when she heard the words: "You can feel this emotion because you are in the same examination room with Zhou Qingyun and Yang Qionghua today, and the three of you are taking the test together. In contrast, it is inevitable to give birth to the feeling of pearl and jade on the side. However, it is like Zhou Qingyun and Yang Qionghua. It's a minority..."

"Of course," Mrs. Chu looked at her with a little tenderness in her eyes, and said softly, "It's a good thing that you can't be fooled by the flamboyance. Only by knowing your shame and being brave will you be able to make progress and catch up with them."

"I would like to be taught by Mr. Zhen." Zhen Tingyun stood up straight and gave a serious salute to Madam Chu.

Madam Chu smiled and waved her hand: "Okay, it's getting late, I'll take you back."

So, Zhen Tingyun reported his address to Madam Chu, and then went back in the carriage.

Ma Lantou just ran past, and was jubilant at the moment, so he followed outside.

On the carriage, Mrs. Chu said something to Zhen Tingyun: "Although I still don't know how you did in the morning calligraphy and arithmetic tests, but with your current grades, you can also consider the arrangements after the entrance examination for women's school. ."

"Arrangement?" Zhen Tingyun was a little confused.

Mrs. Chu said calmly: "Whether it is the Kyoto Women's School or the Yuhua Women's School, dormitories are prepared for the students - of course, most of these are prepared for the female students from poor families or from other places. I feel bad for you. Consider one or two."

What kind of eyesight is Mrs. Chu, she can naturally see that Zhen Tingyun is alone today leading a horse to find her, there must be something at home, and there is Zhen Tingyun crying in the car in the early morning, she can guess it by herself. It must be a housework that is not easy to talk about with people.

That being the case, her husband, of course, had to show the students a clear path: if someone stepped into a mud pit, the top priority was not screaming or arguing, which would only splash mud all over the body. The top priority is to jump out of the mud pit.

The world is so big, why paint the ground as a prison?

Zhen Tingyun never thought of this. Hearing this, he turned to look at Madam Chu, pursed his lips, and was silent for a while.

Just then, the carriage stopped.

Mrs. Chu said: "Okay, I said this is for you to go back and think about it, don't rush to make a decision."

Then, Madam Chu drove Zhen Tingyun out of the carriage.

Zhen Tingyun held Ma Lan's head and returned to Zhen's house one by one.