Chapter 23 023 Recite by heart

"Where is Du Qingtang?"

Du Qingtang stood up and saluted: "In reply to the teacher, I am Du Qingtang."

Like Cao Xingcan, Teacher Sun never expected that the first place in this assessment would be so young.

No, not young.

It can be described as young.

Can such a young child really recite the Four Books and Five Classics by heart?

Thinking of Xie Guang's bad character, Teacher Sun felt that he was probably doing it on purpose: "I am willing to listen to you recite the Four Books and Five Classics backwards, but in class, the main thing should be the priority..."

Before he could finish his words, Cao Xingcan interrupted him: "Teacher, the real thing you are talking about is a test of recitation. Isn't reciting backwards also a form of recitation? Moreover, I also want to see with my own eyes the true ability of this classmate Du to see if she deserves the title of the top student."

Xie Guang echoed maliciously: "That's right! Classmate Du, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and memorize it!"

Du Qingtang felt the malicious gaze behind him, but ignored it and looked calmly at Teacher Sun.

The atmosphere in the classroom suddenly became tense, with students looking around and whispering to each other.

"What's going on?"

"I can understand Cao Xingcan targeting Du Qingtang. It's because of Du Qingtang that Cao Xingcan fell into second place. But what about Xie Guang?"

"There are so many people that Xie Guang doesn't like, and Du Qingtang is probably one of them."

"Tsk tsk, what an unexpected disaster."

Fu Wen gave Du Qingtang some advice: "Classmate Du, don't be so stubborn. As long as you pass the instructor's test, you don't have to worry about anyone else."

Classmate Du was also unlucky. Just because he had excellent grades and ranked first in the exam, he inexplicably became the target of public criticism.

I hope that Teacher Sun will not succumb to power and fulfill the evil intentions of those two people.

However, Du Qingtang disagreed with her words.

She knew Xie Guang.

In his first life, Yuan Sheng got to know the legitimate daughter of the Tongpan family through Xie Guang.

Xie Guang's words were very aggressive and he dug a big hole for her right from the start, which was definitely caused by the instigation of that bastard Yuan Sheng.

If she admitted defeat and gave in, Xie Guang would not give up. Instead, he would press her step by step and leave her no place in Qingyuan Academy.

Du Qingtang is definitely not someone who would accept things passively. After awakening her modern memory, she is no longer the peasant girl Du Qingtang who struggled to survive under feudal ethics. She is more accustomed to taking all the initiative into her own hands.

"Since fellow students Cao and Xie have kindly invited me, I will present my humble opinion."

Cao Xingcan narrowed his eyes, his expression unfathomable.

Xie Guangze's smile froze, replaced by frustration after his plan failed.

Du Qingtang was only twelve years old, how could he recite the Four Books and Five Classics backwards?

The reason why he said this in front of Teacher Sun and a group of classmates was just to put Du Qingtang on a pedestal, making it difficult for her to get off the tiger and eventually become a laughing stock.

Xie Guang never expected that Du Qingtang actually agreed!

Is she just trying to be brave, or...

Xie Guang shook his head, pushing the other possibility out of his mind.

Absolutely impossible, she doesn't have that ability.

Not only Xie Guang, other students also think so.

"After all, I'm still young and reckless. I might as well just admit that I can't recite it."

"Now we're in trouble. We can't please either side."

Teacher Sun asked in an ambiguous tone, "Are you sure?"

Du Qingtang smiled, with a look of uneasiness in his eyes, as well as a desire to show himself: "The student wants to give it a try."

Teacher Sun sighed helplessly: "Forget it, then you should start reciting from The Great Learning."

The content is relatively short and easier to memorize.

"yes."

Du Qingtang cleared his throat and recited aloud: "A man of joy is a man of honor, a country of glory..."

The "Great Learning" is divided into "The Book of Yu", "The Book of Xia", "The Book of Shang" and "The Book of Zhou", and Du Qingtang memorized the last one.

This is undoubtedly an auditory feast.

The clear and fluent voice collided with the slightly awkward words without any pause, and echoed in the ears of nearly a hundred students in Class D like flowing water.

The classroom was in complete silence. Everyone was dumbfounded, staring at Du Qingtang blankly, their eyes filled with shock and trance.

Did she really memorize it?

Am I dreaming?

"You pinched me—Ouch! It's true!"

“Are there any typos or omissions?”

"I compared it word for word with the book, and there is nothing."

Everyone gasped. There was actually someone who could recite the Four Books and Five Classics backwards?!

Cao Xingcan looked at Du Qingtang's serious profile with an expressionless face. Only he himself knew that his attitude towards Du Qingtang had changed from contempt at the beginning to caution.

It has to be admitted that even he, who started writing at the age of three and six, could not recite "The Great Learning" by heart.

I can really recite it by heart!

On the other side, Xie Guang's mouth was wide open enough to fit an egg, and his face turned pale and blue, as if he had run a dyeing factory.

How could Du Qingtang... How could she...

How could she, a girl from a poor peasant family, have such ability?

Could it be that she had already prepared for this, just to make a splash today?

Does that mean that Du Qingtang most likely only memorized "The Great Learning"?

That’s right!

It must be like this!

It happened that at this time, Du Qingtang had memorized the entire "Great Learning".

Xie Guang suppressed his inner twist, clapped his hands and smiled, "As expected, you got first place in the exam. Your reputation is well-deserved! But I prefer Mencius to The Great Learning. I wonder if classmate Du can recite Mencius backwards?"

Du Qingtang turned around, and their eyes met, sparks flying.

"Of course," she agreed readily.

The exclamation sounded again.

"The Great Learning has only a little over 3,000 words, while the Mencius has over 30,000. Xie Guang is asking too much!"

"Do you think Du Qingtang can recite it?"

“It’s a bit uncertain.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Du Qingtang began to recite: "Whether you have or not, it is also true. Whether you have or not, it is also true..."

"Mencius" has eleven chapters, and Du Qingtang began to recite from the 38th section under the chapter "Exerting One's Mind".

Thirty thousand words, without any pause, took a total of one hour.

During this time, the students listened and did their own things at the same time, and time passed quite quickly.

"...Wang Huiliang met Zimeng."

After the last syllable was uttered, the classroom fell into dead silence.

Except for Xie Guang with a gloomy face and Cao Xingcan who seemed to be lost in thought, everyone looked at Du Qingtang in amazement.

Teacher Sun's eyes were blazing, as if Du Qingtang was some kind of golden child: "Tell me quickly, how did you do it!"

Du Qingtang: "In fact, you only need to read it a few more times, and you will naturally be able to recite it by heart."

Teacher Sun: “???”

Students: “???”

Do you want to listen to what you are saying?

Is this human language you're talking about?

Can you recite it by heart by reading it a few more times?

Many of them stumbled when reciting it forward, let alone when reciting it backward!

Some people noticed Teacher Sun's eager look and suddenly felt a chill on their backs.

Wouldn’t the teacher ask them to recite the Four Books and Five Classics backwards?

As everyone was speechless, Du Qingtang turned around and said, "I heard that classmate Xie has been studying at Qingyuan Academy for five years. He must be well-read and knowledgeable. Why not give him a test as soon as possible?"

Xie Guang: “…”

At this point, if Instructor Sun still can't see that Xie Guang is deliberately targeting Du Qingtang, then all his years of teaching have been in vain.

Classmates should get along harmoniously. He wanted to teach Xie Guang a lesson, so he agreed: "Du Qingtang's performance just now was perfect. As a teacher, I can't be partial to one and not to the other. Xie Guang will be the next one."

Xie Guang was being stared at by hundreds of eyes, and he could not do the cowardly act of running away, so he could only bite the bullet and stand up.

Teacher Sun: "Start by reciting the Book of Rites."

Xie Guang was the king of repeating a grade for five years. He just lived a life of idleness and waiting for death. The professors and teachers had given up on him long ago and never asked him any questions or tested him. How could he even remember how to recite the "Book of Rites"?

His face flushed red, and after a long pause he managed to utter, "Please forgive me, Master, I don't remember."

Teacher Sun had anticipated this and said calmly, "Then copy all the Four Books and Five Classics five times. I will check your memorization again in ten days."

Xie Guang: "...Yes, Teacher."