Chapter 70

Riverside Academy.

The school was bright and clean, and its conditions were no less than those of private schools in the city.

Thirteen boys and girls from Xiahe Village sat upright at their desks, their little faces tense.

Without him.

Today, it is Mr. Zhong from the academy who is personally giving the lesson.

"My father said that Mr. Zhong is an extremely important person, and we absolutely must not offend him."

A boy with pigtails was particularly focused.

He was the youngest son of the village chief, Xu Mao.

Unlike other students, he was influenced by Xu Mao from a young age and became more precocious than his peers. In addition, as the son of the village chief, he eventually became the de facto "class monitor" of the academy.

He understood a principle even more clearly.

The teachers in the academy might be the most influential people I'll ever meet in my life.

In particular, Mr. Zhong, whom even the village chief's father respected greatly.

"The imperial examinations were divided into county examinations, prefectural examinations, and provincial examinations. If one could achieve good results in the provincial examination, one would become a student. Above the provincial examination was the provincial examination, and those who passed the provincial examination became successful candidates... If one could enter the palace examination, it was like going from a peasant in the morning to a high-ranking official in the evening..."

Listening to Zhong Xuan recount matters concerning the imperial examinations.

All the children in the schoolroom looked on with delight.

Who wouldn't want to be a high-ranking official in the capital, revered by thousands?

The time the registrar came.

The pomp and circumstance were quite impressive, and the children were filled with envy. Only a high-ranking official like a county magistrate could meet the emperor.

For these farm boys, the only way to become an official was through the imperial examination.

Next.

Zhong Xuan then recounted many details about the imperial examinations.

Not only the students, but even some of the teachers listened with great interest.

Useful information!

Absolutely valuable information!

Chen He squatted in the corner, listening with great interest. Back when he was at the Flying Eagle Martial Arts School, he felt that Instructor Zhong's lectures were unusual. He never talked about grand theories, but rather about extremely detailed and highly practical things.

For these tutors who intended to participate in the imperial examinations, Zhong Xuan's lessons were well worth listening to.

"In Mr. Zhong's words, it's exactly right, exactly right, that's it—applying what you've learned!"

After arriving in Xiahe Village to establish a school.

Zhong Xuan took this principle to the extreme.

The curriculum included copying books and writing letters, and hunting techniques were taught during martial arts training.

A novel approach.

If this were placed in a strictly regulated academy, one would probably be told, "What kind of behavior is this?"

In this regard.

None of the four instructors had any objections, since Mr. Zhong was of noble status and naturally had his own reasons for acting.

Zhong Xuan then personally demonstrated the stance training that is most effective in increasing strength.

get out of class just ended.

People are more valuable in having self-knowledge.

Zhong Xuan knew very well that he had no talent in literature. He was only good at writing, so he was only good at a few subjects such as Mingjing and Shiwuce. He was definitely not a master, and he was not even a famous teacher.

In Xiahe Village, it might take ten years to produce even one scholar.

We can't let all the kids be ruined for the sake of some vague and unattainable title.

Therefore, Zhong Xuan directly discarded too many useless theories and provided the most direct and effective improvement.

In addition to practical skills for the imperial examinations, there were various other skills as well.

If a carp truly leaps over the Dragon Gate, it won't be too late to replenish it then.

The older you get, the more you realize that taking the path in front of you well is the most important thing.

Not every scholar can become a saint.

Zhong Xuan finished his lesson.

He walked straight toward the library at the back of the academy.

His riverside academy naturally couldn't have the financial resources of the Zhang family, but as a transmigrator, Zhong Xuan felt that an academy should at least have a library.

So a small one-story building was built behind the academy's dormitories to serve as a library.

Perhaps because of his previous experience copying books, Zhong Xuan particularly enjoyed practicing breathing exercises here after the library was built.

At this time, there were other instructors teaching classes, so Zhong Xuan was the only one in the library.

With a creak.

The wooden door to the library was pushed open, and sunlight streamed through the paper windows onto the rows of bookshelves.

Zhong Xuan was taken aback.

Because at this moment, besides himself, there was an elderly man with white hair standing with his back to him in the small library.

A book thief?

Almost at the same time that Zhong Xuan pushed open the door and walked in, the old man also turned around.

But when Zhong Xuan saw the old man's face clearly, his pupils contracted slightly.

"Cui Bai?!"

Not bad.

The old man who suddenly appeared in the academy's library was none other than the Cui family scholar who had used his inner strength to burst the evil ghost Hu Tu Yan of the Black Witch Cult in the mountains that day.

"Do true masters never use the main entrance?"

Zhong Xuan had this strange thought, and at the same time, he respectfully performed a disciple's salute.

"This junior greets Mr. Cui."

He was quite old, nearing sixty, but the old man in front of him was of an even more exaggerated generation.

According to Zheng Yue.

Grand Secretary Cui spent sixty years in the Wenyuan Pavilion.

Compared to the old man before him, he was still a greenhorn, and as a junior, he had to be mindful of proper etiquette.

Grand Secretary Cui Bai was somewhat surprised:

Do you know me?

"The prepared explanation is now useless."

Zhong Xuan blinked, then tactfully played the straight man, saying, "Senior, just pretend I don't know. Saying it again won't hurt."

Upon hearing Zhong Xuan's words, Cui Bai laughed heartily and waved the scroll in his hand at Zhong Xuan:

"It's not considered stealing for a scholar to read a book."

Zhong Xuan deeply agreed, nodding and saying, "That's exactly right."

He seems to be an interesting person.

Cui Bai's interest was piqued even more, and he picked up the scroll that Zhong Xuan had copied earlier, saying, "Did you write the four characters 'May you live a long and healthy life' for the Zhang family?"

"Exactly."

Zhong Xuan didn't hesitate and readily agreed.

On that day, when I inscribed the words for the library, besides being paid to do the job, I also harbored a sliver of hope that I would gain the favor of Grand Scholar Cui.

To his surprise, the seemingly illusory attack he had made back then actually came true.

Cui Bai narrowed his eyes and suddenly spoke:

"The Crane and the Dragon in Twin Forms—I was truly mistaken about it back then."

Zhong Xuan was startled and felt a chill run down his spine.

Although I had heard of powerful individuals who could understand others' character with just a glance, I never imagined that I would actually encounter one in person.

That's quite an achievement!

He forced himself to remain calm.

"You have a really good eye for people."

Cui Bai put the scroll back on the bookshelf: "By the way, actually that sentence was said by that old fellow Xu Dongshan. I am an honest and upright scholar, and I would never do such a shameless thing."

Zhong Xuan kept his eyes down, seemingly lost in thought, and had no intention of responding.

Because Xu Dongshan, whom Cui Bai mentioned, was the headmaster of the Yongning Prefecture School, a fifth-rank official!

There are some things Cui Bai can say, but he absolutely cannot.

Therefore, being cautious in speech and action is what we should be doing now.

Cui Bai turned around again and took out a small booklet from his pocket:

"I'll return one of my books to you after reading one."

"I have never owed anyone anything in my life."