Chapter 19 Don't Mislead the Young

Su Ying picked up three branches as thick as her arms, cleaned them, and gave one each to Hu Zi and her elder brother.

"Don't be afraid, girl. There is a way out ahead and there will be no wild beasts." Hu Zi said enthusiastically, holding a wooden stick.

"I know. This stick is used to prevent snakes. There are a lot of weeds on the road. The stick will stir them up to scare away snakes, so as to avoid being bitten." Su Ying smiled.

Although it is autumn now, there are still insects and snakes in the grass. Su Ying has an innate fear of these things.

When Su Ying saw the snake with terrifying patterns, coiled in a circle with its head held high, hissing and emitting a cold breath, her scalp would go numb, and she would tremble all over, and she would be scared to death.

"Girls are really thoughtful! Haha!" Hu Zi scratched his head and laughed.

"What does Hu Zi usually do at home?" Su Ying asked casually.

"I don't do anything. When I'm free, I play in the village. When I'm busy, I go to the fields to work with my father and brothers." Hu Zi picked up a piece of straw and swung it in his hand.

"How old are you? What kind of work can you do?" Su Ying teased him.

"Girl, please don't underestimate Hu Zi. Although Hu Zi is not as strong as his father and brothers, he can still help out. In another three to five years, he can be a full-time worker." Hu Zi couldn't stand others looking down on him.

"You are still young, why don't you go to school? Is there a school in the village?"

The village chief's family was once prominent and attached great importance to the education of their descendants.

"Where is the school?" Hu Zi lowered his head.

"Why? Don't your grandfather and the others have any books?" Su Ying was very surprised.

These wealthy and powerful families have rich collections of books, and many of the classics are simply not available to ordinary people.

Even if you are exiled, you don't have to take anything with you, but you must take your treasured books with you.

"It's all gone!" Hu Zi said in a deep voice. "I heard from Grandpa that life was tough when we first arrived, and we had to sell our books for daily necessities."

"Then you don't want to study anymore?" Su Ying felt regretful.

"Grandpa will teach us to read when he has time." Hu Zi said this and puffed out his chest. He knew quite a few words.

"How many words do you know? What articles can you read?"

"Well, I didn't learn literature. Anyway, I can finish reading those official documents in the county." Hu Zi blinked his clear eyes and regained his confidence. "Amu, Asan and others are not as good as me."

Amu and Asang are Hu Zi's cousins. They are of similar age and are inevitably compared with each other.

"Wow, Hu Zi is so powerful!" Su Ying exclaimed exaggeratedly.

"Not bad!" Hu Zi was praised and felt a little embarrassed. "Have you ever been to school?"

"Just like you, I know a few words!" Su Ying didn't want to discourage the child.

Su Boyan, who was standing behind him, smiled and shook his head after hearing this. If his sister could only recognize a few words, then what about him?

"My dear, what about you? You have a unique temperament. I think you must be well-read and have great literary talent." Hu Zi turned around and asked Su Boyan.

This young man has bright eyes and eyebrows, a handsome figure, and humble manners, which makes people like him at first sight.

"I just read a few books." Su Boyan smiled gently.

"What books have you read, sir?" Hu Zi's eyes sparkled with admiration.

"Uh, The Analects of Confucius and The Book of Filial Piety." Su Boyan answered without hesitation. There was no need to show off in front of the children.

The Imperial College in the Tang Dynasty was a six-year system, and students had to complete the required and elective courses such as the Great Classics, the Middle Classics, and the Small Classics within six years.

The Great Classics and the Middle Classics are compulsory subjects, the Small Classics are elective subjects, and "The Analects of Confucius" and "The Book of Filial Piety" are compulsory public courses.

The third year of Dajing, "Book of Rites" and "Zuo Zhuan";

The middle period lasted two years, including the Book of Songs, Rites of Zhou, and Rites of Zhou.

One and a half years of minor classics: "Book of Changes", "Book of History", "Spring and Autumn Annals Gongyang Zhuan", "Spring and Autumn Annals Guliang Zhuan";

In daily life, you should also read dictionaries such as "Shuowen", "Zi Lin" and "Erya".

If this incident had not happened, Su Boyan would have been able to take the graduation examination of Taixue Academy two years later, and after passing it, he would have been able to take the Jinshi examination.

In the Tang Dynasty, students of official schools could directly take the imperial examinations after passing the graduation examinations.

However, those who studied in private schools or were self-taught had to pass the county and state-level examinations respectively, and obtain the examination qualification certificate certified by the local government before they were eligible to take the imperial examination in Chang'an.

"Which school do you go to, sir? You are from Chang'an, but you go to the Imperial College?" Hu Zi looked at Su Boyan with envy in his eyes.

"Hu Zi also knows these?" Su Boyan was a little surprised.

"Yes, my grandfather said that Chang'an City has the best university, and the students who come out of it will definitely be the pillars of the country..." Hu Zi's expression became a little gloomy when he said the latter part.

The official schools in Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty included the Imperial College, the Imperial University, the Four-Door Academy, the Law School, the Calligraphy School, and the Mathematical School.

Its Zhongzixue, Taixue and Simenxue were respectively for the children of officials of the third, fifth and seventh ranks and above.

Law, calligraphy, and mathematics are aimed at children of the eighth rank and below and common people.

All students must take an examination and pass it before they can be admitted.

There were many imperial examinations in the Tang Dynasty, the most important of which were six types: scholar, jinshi, mingjing, mingfa, mingzi, and mingsuan.

The Xiucai exam was the most difficult, requiring exceptional talent from the country. There were very few vacancies and the requirements were harsh, so it was abolished during the reign of Emperor Gaozong.

Being in Chang'an means winning at the starting line. It is not only a political center, but also a place where famous people gather and top educational resources are all here.

"Don't be sad, work hard and try harder. You are the third generation and should have the opportunity to return to Chang'an!" Su Ying encouraged.

"Really?" A glimmer of hope ignited in Hu Zi's eyes.

"Didn't your grandfather tell you this?" Su Ying asked back.

Despite the change of dynasties, without special opportunities, such as imperial examinations and military merits, the descendants of exiles had almost no chance to leave Lingnan.

"No! I'll ask when I get home tonight!" Hu Zi swept away his frustration and walked to Su Boyan, his eyes burning. "My dear, you must have brought some books, right?"

"Uh, there are a few." Su Boyan hesitated.

"Can you lend it to me to read?" Hu Zi looked at it eagerly.

"You are too young for this. Wait until you grow up a little, then..." Su Boyan didn't want to borrow it. He only had a few books left, and they were very precious.

"My dear, my good dear, please lend it to me for a few days! Okay?" Hu Zi begged.

I long to read, but from childhood to adulthood, I have never touched a book.

Su Boyan had a conflicted expression and refused to agree. People who love books cherish them, just like modern people love their cars. Neither his books (car) nor his wife would be lent out!

"Hu Zi, can't you read? Then come to my house to copy books!" Su Ying understood that her elder brother cherished books, and also appreciated Hu Zi's love of learning, so she thought of a compromise.

"Really? That's great, thank you, lady! Thank you, gentleman!" Hu Zi was smart and quickly thanked her, and her husband had to agree even if he didn't want to!

"Aying!" Su Boyan looked at his sister helplessly.

"Don't worry, big brother, I'll just copy the books in our yard. I won't damage them!" Su Ying pulled her brother and walked quickly. "When our family has money in the future, we'll buy some more books!"

After getting the promise to copy books at Su's house, Hu Zi became even more enthusiastic than before.

The way she addressed Su Boyan changed from "Langjun" to "Brother", and she was very sweet.

"Hu Zi, just call me your husband!" Su Boyan didn't want to get too close.

"Brother, do you think Hu Zi is stupid? Hu Zi will definitely work hard. After I finish copying the book, please teach me more! When I go back, I will ask my grandfather to prepare the tuition and take you as my teacher."

Hu Zi pestered Su Boyan.

"Hu Zi, don't act recklessly. How can I be your teacher?" How could Su Boyan dare to agree? He had only a little knowledge of his own, so he couldn't mislead his students.

"No matter what, brother, I will call you Mr. now?" Hu Zi said mischievously.

Su Ying was standing behind them, watching Hu Zi and his brother flirting with each other, and couldn't help but find it funny.

After walking for more than half an hour, they turned into an obscure path and entered a thicket of bushes and vines.