201. I Have a Dream (Part 2) (Page 1/2)

Zhuangyuan Lane, Cui family.

In the courtyard on a summer night, the moon washes over the green bricks, and the sky is dotted with stars.

Insects chirp, a cool breeze blows, and the air is filled with the sweet scent of grass and trees.

The warm light and clear brightness of the lanterns cast a glow on the stone table, illuminating a large group of people sitting around, including Old Cui, Pei Jian, Yan Siyuan, Su Qi, etc., whose faces were slightly flushed.

Cui Xian looked around at everyone in front of him and said, "Everyone present here tonight is my closest person. So, I won't be pretentious or hide anything."

"I... just want to be honest and talk to you about my thoughts."

No one else reacted to his words.

However, the deliberately tense expressions of Yan Siyuan's three black fans suddenly relaxed a lot.

"Brother, Siyuan, Brother Su Qi, and everyone else. When you read the books of sages, don't you sometimes feel more and more frustrated the more you read?"

Cui Xian said seriously: "Look, the 'Graceful Lady' in 'Guanju' originally had such a pure mind!"

"When Ji Zha in Zuo Zhuan listened to this piece of music, he clearly praised it as 'joyful but not lewd' - but Mao Shi Xu twisted it into 'the virtue of the queen'. Isn't this just cutting off the roots of a lively mind?"

"When we read the Bible, we must let the words speak for themselves and let our hearts approach them and verify them, right?"

Is it right?

No one answered.

Even Pei Jian, who was always supportive, shuddered and looked at Cui Xian in silence.

The relatively relaxed atmosphere in the small courtyard suddenly became tense.

Although Cui Xian's words just now sounded relaxed and carefree, in essence - he was denying the authority of "Maoshixu" and questioning the Confucian classics of the Han Dynasty.

He was directly challenging the official interpretation of classics and shaking the monopoly of classical interpretation.

It would directly anger the ancient text school of classics and all scholars who respect the annotations of Han Confucian scholars as orthodoxy.

This is why the sour Confucian scholars, led by Chen Chong, were so angry under the stage of the broad daylight debate.

Seeing that Pei Jian did not show his support.

Gao Qi scratched his head and tried to persuade him: "Brother Xian, the scriptures have been like this since ancient times. We can just read them. Why do we have to argue about it?"

Zhuang Jin also agreed: "Yes, brother Xian. It's not that the big brothers don't support you. It's not that... they are afraid that you will be in danger in the future."

Their thoughts are actually very normal.

Not only Gao Qi and Zhuang Jin, I think thousands of scholars in the world think so.

But, just because it has been like this since ancient times, does that mean it must be reasonable?

Cui Xian knew that reform could not be rushed.

If it were him now, he wouldn't even be able to convince his family, brothers, and friends.

In the future, how can we change ideas, promote new learning, and even... carry out an unprecedented subversive innovation in academic, educational, recruitment, and social concepts?

therefore.

Cui Xian shook his head and looked at Gao Qi: "Speaking of the scriptures that have existed since ancient times, for example, the three chapters of "Shangshu Taishi", two of them were lost when our ancestors passed them down. The ones that were patched up by later generations have become the golden rules and are held higher than the sky!"

"It's like an old piece of clothing passed down in our family, with two pieces torn, and we patch it up with new cloth, but insist that it's exactly the same as the one our ancestors wore, with even the stitching being perfect - isn't that just fooling people?"

"What's even more frustrating is that I know that some parts of this 'clothes' are patched and don't fit. But the imperial examination is still about how to embroider these 'patches' to make them look beautiful!"

"If the riverbank collapses, the granaries are empty, and the people suffer, what use is this knowledge of embroidery?"

"Farmers and craftsmen work hard to feed the world, yet they are looked down upon. This is so unreasonable that it hurts my heart!"

Good job.

The more you talk, the more excited you become!

If it were just now, Cui Xian was just questioning the Confucian classics of the Han Dynasty.

Now, these words are questioning the sanctity of all classical texts and fiercely criticizing the existing imperial examination system!

This not only offends the school of thought that respects classics and ancient history.

This included the powerful people who controlled the questions and admissions for the imperial examinations, as well as the huge class of gentry who gained fame by studying empty literature; all of them were offended!

Gao Qi and Zhuang Jin, who had just answered the question, were stunned.

Even Su Qi, who always prided himself on being arrogant, stared at Cui Xian in a daze.

What’s the difference between this and risking your life?

Yan Siyuan frowned fiercely: "If your words are spread out, you will be accused of slandering the saints, defaming the government, and shaking the foundation of the country."

Cui Xian glanced at him and said with a smile: "Then spread it out. Anyway, everyone in the Anti-Xian Alliance is hoping that I will suffer."

“…”

That’s enough! I really don’t have time to play with you anymore!

Yan Siyuan said angrily, "If I wanted you to have a hard time, why would I come here? You're talking nonsense in front of so many people in broad daylight. Who can protect you in the future?"

Although the atmosphere is tense at the moment.

But Yan Siyuan's words still made everyone at the dinner table look strange.

Is this what the legend says, love is all there is in the darkness? !

Cui Xian smiled and said, "Aren't there you, my brothers, Brother Su Qi, Brother Meng Shen, and so many others here?"

Su Qi sighed: "Don't, if you say these words in public in the future, we alone won't be able to protect you."

At this time.

Pei Jian, who had been silent and did not show his support, suddenly said, "Brother Xian, you are always smart. When doing something dangerous like this, you should at least leave yourself a way out."

Coincidentally, Cui Yu, who had also not spoken just now, also said in a gentle voice: "Brother, don't keep me in suspense. Just continue talking."

They both spoke almost at the same time, looked at each other in surprise, and then laughed.

Perhaps, this is the tacit understanding between the 'two big brothers'?

Cui Xian just felt warm in his heart.

He then smiled and said, "Of course I have to arrange a retreat. I plan to open a small academy in Kaifeng."

(This chapter is not yet finished, please click on the next page to continue reading) 201. I Have a Dream (Part 2) (Page 2/2)

This was said casually, as if saying 'I plan to build a small pergola at home'.

But the question is, how to run a college? ! !

Are you serious?

Except for the Cui family, Pei Jian and others all widened their eyes in surprise.

Because before, when Cui Xian encouraged the Cui family and said he planned to establish the Cui family in Henan, he had mentioned that he wanted to open a college.

So Old Cui and others were not surprised.

Pei Jian raised his voice and said, "What kind of retreat is it to open an academy? Moreover, how can we teach after opening an academy? Are you going to tell them that the scriptures have loopholes and the imperial examinations have been patched up?"

Facing everyone's nervous gaze.

Cui Xian said seriously: "Of course not."

Before Pei Jian could breathe a sigh of relief.

Cui Xian then said, "We should read the scriptures and write the eight-part essays - this is the stepping stone."

"But in this small academy, we have to do some down-to-earth work!"

"Please ask the old master to tell us about weather and insect pests. The experience in the ridges of the fields contains the 'natural law' that feeds the people."

"Invite a skilled craftsman to work on a new loom. Confucius said, 'If you want to do your work well, you must first sharpen your tools.' If the tools are used well, the weavers can stay up a few nights less and weave more fine cloth. Isn't that the 'Way of Benevolence'?"

"Let's take students to touch the soil and see the workshops. Learning is like a tree. Its roots must be buried in the soil and soaked with dew. Only then can it grow strong and its heart be right!"

If it were just now, everyone would think that what Cui Xian said was unorthodox.

But when they got here, the group of people were obviously stunned.

So...the academy can teach like this?

Cui Xian continued, "Grandma, parents, and brothers, do you remember when we were in Nanyang and we drafted the first five-year plan? Each of you talked about your dreams."

"I'm the only one who doesn't have one."

"Over the years, I first lived in poverty in Hexi Village, then read books of sages, and later left Nanyang. I went to Mengjin and saw the helpless and desperate refugees. I went to Luoyang and saw the grievances of the anti-Japanese soldiers."

"Later, I went to Kaifeng and followed my teacher. In a primary school, I heard a group of children calling me... Master Cui."

"Then I kept thinking, what is my dream?"

"These days, I have an idea, so I want to tell you about it."

Under the bright moonlight.

Cui Xian, who was speaking, was shrouded in a layer of moonlight.

When talking about his "dream", he was not as unbridled as he was on the debate stage.

But at this moment, he is vivid, real, and humane.

His eyes were so bright, so bright, and there was a smile in the corners of his eyes and eyebrows: "Think about it, after this small academy is opened, it will be a few years, or even decades later."

"The young people who leave our small academy have the benevolence of saints in their heads, the dirt and ink on their hands, and the warmth and coldness of the market in their hearts."

"They stood on the river bank and, without any empty talk, they were able to build a canal so that the water flowed into the cracked ridges of the fields."

"They went into the workshops and worked with the craftsmen, making the looms spin faster and the cloth warmed more suffering people."

"They stood at the gate of the government office, counting the beads on the abacus clearly, filling the granaries, and making clear judgments, turning the tears of injustice into smiles of gratitude."

"And this is my way out. Because they can protect thousands of people, they can naturally protect Cui Xian, right?"

Right now, at this moment.

The Cui family's yard fell into complete silence.

Pei Jian, Cui Yu, Yan Siyuan, Su Qi and others, as well as old Cui, Cui Zhongyuan, Cui Boshan and other family members, all stared at Cui Xian in a daze, speechless.

In fact, they all understand that Cui Xian has always had a unique, almost shining personal charm.

It is this charm that has surrounded Choi Hyun with family, brothers, friends, and even various "fans" who are impressed by his personal charm.

but!

It must be emphasized that Cui Xian’s personal charm tonight is simply overflowing!

He did not quote from classics or use fancy words.

Just like chatting about daily life, he said something calm and warm, yet enough to shock everyone.

Su Qi, who had just wanted to take Qiao's hand, had long forgotten to put on airs and murmured, "Can you really do it?"

“It’s difficult, that’s why it’s a dream.”

Cui Xian leaned back in his chair, his young and handsome face full of yearning: "I dream that one day, an old farmer resting on the ridge of a field can straighten his back and chat with a scholar about the solar terms and harvest, and no one will think he is vulgar."

"I dream that one day, the master craftsman in the workshop will be able to walk into the school openly and talk about his ingenuity and skill, and everyone will respect him as 'Master'."

"I dream that one day, people in the streets, teahouses and taverns will be able to talk about the truths of sages."

"Because the truth no longer floats in the sky, it falls into the hot bowl of rice, the warm clothes, and the clear canal water!"

"Isn't this exactly the good situation described in the Book of Rites - 'The old have a place to live, the strong have a place to work, and the young have a place to grow'?"

"The day I dreamed of is no longer just a word in a book, but a real day before the eyes of millions of people!"

Next to the stone table.

Mrs. Cui's eyes turned red after hearing this, and she and her two daughters-in-law, Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Lin, kept rubbing their eyes.

The brothers Cui Boshan and Cui Zhongyuan were stunned and speechless.

Pei Jian, Zhuang Jin, Li Heyu and Gao Qi were moved.

Su Qi, He Xu and others were so shocked that they lost their voices.

The three black fans of Yan Siyuan were roaring excitedly in their hearts -

From haters to fans, you must turn haters into fans!