SWDnovel Chapter 88 The Top Scholar Trains the Youngsters
Chapter 88 The Top Scholar Trains the Youngsters
Chapter 88 The Top Scholar Trains the Youngsters
Songguo Village.
Qi Ermao lingered at the entrance of Chu Xun's courtyard for quite a while.
It's been many days, and Dege'er still hasn't returned.
He went to the Bai family's old shop in town to ask, but Master Chu had never bought any wine there.
The doors to the Zhang family's courtyard were tightly shut, and no one was there anymore.
Qi Ermao returned nervously, and many people in the village were asking him questions, leaving him unsure how to answer.
Without Chu Xun, Songguo Village is like a village without its backbone.
When the old village chief Li Shoutian passed away, the grief was greater than anything else.
After muttering to himself for a while, Qi Ermao couldn't resist and went around to the side to climb up the wall.
What if—what if Xun-ge'er has already returned?
After climbing over the wall, all he saw were weasels, field mice, and rabbits in the yard, squatting by the door basking in the sun.
Hearing the noise, the birds and livestock all turned their heads to look.
Qi Ermao looked towards the doors and windows, but didn't see what he wanted to see.
My gaze then shifted to the doorway, sweeping across it in a fleeting glance.
But something just feels off.
He turned back and looked at it carefully, then suddenly his face turned pale and his whole body stiffened.
"Damn it! Who the hell pulled up the weeds that Xun-ge'er was growing?!"
Chu Xun had nurtured that plant for most of his life.
I knew from Qi Ermao's childhood that Dege'er valued it very much.
Where's the grass?
Where's the grass?!
Grass! ! !
The journey from Kyoto to Toyotani Castle is naturally farther than the journey from Pine Cone Village to Kyoto.
Chu Xun was not in a hurry to go back. He had come in a rush, only concerned with getting there and rescuing people.
Now, as we turn back, we need to carefully examine where we are.
The rice stalks in the field grew strong and swayed in the wind.
"In a few more days, it will be time to harvest. The village should have a good harvest this year," Chu Xun thought.
The harvest was good, and the villagers were all happy.
Beyond the fields lie mountains and forests.
Chu Xun had never properly climbed a mountain in this world before, and then he remembered the forest the old crows had visited.
Before returning to the village, we always have to go there to see what the so-called ferocious beast is really like.
If possible, help the crow get revenge while you're at it.
After traveling at a leisurely pace for hundreds of miles, Fenggu City was now within reach.
Looking at the city walls, which were almost identical to his memories, only a bit older, Chu Xun suddenly recalled a poem.
"Since our parting, ten years have passed like flowing water."
He put his hands behind his back and sighed.
Laughter came from the side. Chu Xun turned his head and saw a young man carrying a book box on his back.
He looked to be around twenty years old, fresh out of the city, with a face full of high spirits.
Chu Xun asked, "Why are you laughing, brother?"
The young man chuckled and said, "You're so young, yet you're reciting such decadent poetry with your head swaying. It's quite amusing."
Perhaps feeling that laughing at someone like that was truly rude, the young man added, "Judging from your attire, you don't seem to come from any wealthy or powerful family. Don't try to imitate them by seeking fame and fortune and making a fuss over nothing."
"Youth should be full of vigor, like the grass and trees in early spring, flourishing and thriving."
"If everyone your age started lamenting life, wouldn't it be desolate everywhere and every day like a sunset?"
Chu Xun looked at the young man; it had been many years since anyone had dared to educate him like this.
Glancing at the other man's satchel, Chu Xun asked, "Brother, are you here to take the imperial examinations?"
The young man raised his head slightly, with a hint of joy and a touch of arrogance: "I am Song Qizheng, the top scholar in last year's autumn imperial examination."
Chu Xun was speechless. No wonder he liked educating people; he was the top scholar in the autumn imperial examination.
"So it's Song Jieyuan, my apologies for not recognizing you sooner."
Song Qizheng, his chin still raised, said, "This is nothing, just a mere top scholar. When I go to the capital to participate in the imperial examinations, I will definitely be the second-highest scorer!"
Chu Xun was puzzled. It was understandable that scholars would take the imperial examinations, whether they wanted to become a Jinshi or a Zhuangyuan.
This is the first time I've heard of someone wanting to be the second-highest scorer in the college entrance exam.
"Why is he the runner-up instead of the champion?" Chu Xun asked.
"For many years, the top scholars (Zhuangyan) have been mediocre and unknown. Only the two runners-up (Bangyan) were both of great talent, virtue, and ability!"
A hint of reverence appeared in Song Qizheng's eyes as he cupped his hands in the direction of the capital and said, "Tang Shijun, the second-place scholar in the imperial examination during the twenty-first year of the founding of the dynasty by Emperor Taizu, was responsible for measuring land, cleaning up household registers, and purifying officialdom for the people of the land."
"Zhang Jingheng, the second-highest scorer in the imperial examination during the 41st year of the founding of the dynasty by Emperor Taizu, and now the Minister of Revenue, has offered a strategy to save the country."
"Return taxes to the fields, enlighten the people, and continue the good governance of the Ming Dynasty."
"This is the model for all scholars!"
"Therefore, I also want to be the second-place scholar, and on the day the results are announced, I will seek to become Lord Zhang's student!"
Seeing Chu Xun's astonished expression, Song Qizheng paused, then suddenly waved his hand and said, "Never mind, never mind. Judging from your appearance, you probably haven't passed the imperial examinations. You wouldn't understand even if I told you."
"In short, young people should stand tall and not be too lethargic. I'm telling you this so that you will be proud of it in the future."
After saying this, Song Qizheng strode off toward the capital city.
He was a top scholar in the provincial examination, yet he traveled to the capital alone to take the imperial examination.
It is easy to imagine that he must have come from a poor family.
Although arrogant, it seems more like something learned than something innate.
To imitate someone poorly, or to copy a cat and draw a tiger?
Chu Xun shook his head. Whether he learns well or not is one thing, whether he is willing to learn is another.
This Song Qizheng is quite interesting.
Thinking about Song Qizheng's evaluation of him just now, Chu Xun couldn't help but chuckle.
Is it very dull and lifeless?
But he's an old man, what's so strange about that?
"Who says life cannot be young again? The stream in front of my door still flows westward!"
"Life between heaven and earth is like a journey."
Youth never returns, and a day never dawns twice.
"No, it should be 'every day has a morning'."
Passersby watched the simply dressed boy reciting poems they had never heard before.
He's so young, yet he looks like he's in his seventies or eighties, which is quite amusing.
Some laughed, some talked about it, and some ignored it.
Occasionally, someone would ponder that the poem had some merit and couldn't help but recite it a few times.
And so, amidst the bustling crowd, we stepped into the city.
The last time I came here, I was taking the prefectural examination with Huan'er.
More than 20 years have passed, and Fenggu City has changed a lot.
Many of the familiar vendors are gone, and the once low-rise shops have been upgraded with an additional floor.
Various kinds of facades sway in the wind.
The sounds of vendors hawking their wares, haggling over prices, and even arguing filled the streets.
Chu Xun walked forward with the crowd, just like an ordinary person.
Before long, they saw a teahouse in front of them, which was crowded with people both inside and outside.
A passionate voice rang out from inside: "Amidst the flashing blades, Lord Tang, wielding the Tang family's sword technique, slashed upwards and downwards, covering both front and back, and felled several first-rank martial artists to his blade."
"An arrow is coming from the shadows!" Lord Tang roared, "How dare you!"
"Guess what?"
The teahouse fell silent. Then someone asked urgently, "What happened? Stop keeping me in suspense!"
Chu Xun peeked inside and saw a storyteller holding a paper fan standing on the table.
"With a shout, the hidden arrow was shattered into pieces, flying back and killing dozens of bandits!"