At this moment, a childish voice said:
"The Great Learning teaches us to manifest our bright virtue, to love the people, and to abide in perfect goodness. Knowing where to rest, we can be resolute; being resolute, we can be calm; being calm, we can be at peace; being at peace, we can deliberate; deliberating, we can attain. Things have their roots and branches; affairs have their beginnings and ends. Knowing what comes first and what comes last, we are close to the Way."
Those in ancient times who wished to manifest their virtue to the world first governed their states. Those who wished to govern their states first regulated their families. Those who wished to regulate their families first cultivated their personal lives. Those who wished to cultivate their personal lives first rectified their hearts.
…
The Kang Gao says: "To be able to illuminate virtue." The Da Jia says: "To consider the clear mandate of Heaven." The Di Dian says: "To be able to illuminate lofty virtue." All these refer to self-illumination.
The inscription on Tang's bronze basin reads: "If you can improve yourself one day, improve yourself every day, and keep improving yourself." The Kang Gao says: "Make the people new." The Book of Poetry says: "Although Zhou is an old state, its mandate is ever new." Therefore, the superior man spares no effort in pursuing his goals.
The Book of Poetry says: "Solemn and dignified was King Wen, so reverent and respectful! As a ruler, he exemplified benevolence; as a minister, he exemplified respect; as a son, he exemplified filial piety; as a father, he exemplified kindness; and in his dealings with the people of his state, he exemplified trustworthiness."
It was Niu Baozhu who spoke.
Niu Daxiu glanced at Niu Baozhu, feeling a pang of regret. The child was clever and bright, but it was a pity she was a girl and couldn't take the imperial examinations. He tapped Niu Dashan on the head and said:
"Look at you, you're only ten years old, and you're not even as good as a little girl! Take your book out and stand there until you've memorized it before you come back in!"
Niu Dashan muttered under his breath, "What's the use of a girl being able to study? She can't take the imperial examinations, and she can't carry on the family line!" "I've been trying to pass the exams for years, and I still can't even become a Juren or Jinshi. What a worthless girl!"
"Halt! It seems you've learned nothing from what I've taught you over the past year. Haven't you had enough of the beating? Respect for teachers is important. You look down on us scholars today. I wonder if you can even manage to get a junior scholar position in the special imperial examination this May?"
After passing the imperial examination at the age of thirteen, Niu Daxiucai failed the exam four times in the following thirteen years. Even so, he was still a respected teacher in Niushan Village.
Of the 400 million people in the Great Zhou Dynasty, less than 400,000 had received any education, which is less than one percent. Only about 300,000 passed the preliminary examination, and only about 100,000 passed the county-level examination, accounting for one four-thousandth of the 400 million people. Many people were over fifty years old and still could not pass the county-level examination.
Of the more than 100,000 people who participated in the imperial examinations, fewer than 50,000 passed. Among them, two or three hundred of those who had already achieved the title of Xiucai (a lower-level scholar) passed the provincial examinations and were over sixty years old.
Fewer than 10,000 people passed the imperial examination and became Jinshi.
Therefore, it was not shameful for Niu Daxiucai to fail the imperial examinations four times in a row. He was still respected in Niushan Village and even Niushan Town.
Niu Da and Niu Cuihua had been studying for a year and a half. The provincial examination was held twice every three years, and they had already passed the provincial examination the year they entered school.
Niu Dashan, Niu Er, and Niu Cuihua were classmates and belonged to the same grade.
"Niu Er, you are fifteen years old this year, the age of dancing elephant. Among all the students, your teacher has the most hope for you. Since ancient times, no one who has entered officialdom has been named Da Er. Your teacher wants to change your name. I wonder if you would be willing?"
Niu Er bowed and said, "Master, please enlighten me. As your student and nephew, I dare not disobey!"
"I think the character 'Yong' is good. From now on, you will be called Niu Yong. Go back and tell your older brother to register your name with the clan head and village chief. Next year is the year of the great imperial examination. If you can secure your scholar's degree this year, you can go with your teacher next year."
Niu Daxiucai was always somewhat resentful about his repeated failures in the imperial examinations. Although he was proud and arrogant, he was a decent person.
"Some of you are new here and don't know the characters yet, so I'll briefly go over the Three Character Classic we taught last fall. After class, you can humbly ask the students who are doing well for help."
Although Xiao Heng was about the same age as Niu Cuihua, he still had to start learning from the Three Character Classic because he entered school later.
When Niu Er returned home, he told Niu Da and Shen Yu about the name change and the provincial examination. Shen Shi happily said:
"This is great news! Our family has been farmers for generations, and now we're going to have a scholar! If you need travel expenses, just tell me, sister-in-law!"
Niu Yong was extremely grateful.
Niu Dadao: "I'll go to the county tomorrow to change your name. Your sister-in-law and I are going to the shop too! Don't do any housework for now. Focus on preparing for the provincial examination with Mr. Niu. This is the most important thing in a person's life. Don't let these housework delay you!"
Niu Cuihua said:
"Leave the housework to me and Meihua, and Second Uncle and Heng'er can focus on their exams!"
Little Fu Bao said in her childish voice, "Second Uncle will definitely pass!"
Niu Yong smiled and picked up Xiao Fubao, saying, "Second Uncle will definitely get through this! Once it's over, Second Uncle will use Second Uncle's monthly allowance to buy chestnut cake and osmanthus cake for Xiao Fubao, okay?"
Little Fu Bao's eyes gradually curved into smiles, and he clapped his hands, saying, "Okay! Time to eat chestnut cake! Time to eat osmanthus cake! Chestnut cake! Osmanthus cake!"
Niu Baolan, Niu Baozhu, Niu Ke'er, and Niu Qiao'er shouted, "Second Uncle (Second Maternal Uncle), we want to eat too! We want to eat too!"
Children love to imitate other children's greetings.
Niu Yong laughed and said, "Okay, eat it all! Eat it all!"
After the start of spring, Niu Da and Shen Yu went to the county town for three reasons: first, to register Niu Xiaomei's dowry; second, to change Niu Yong's name; and third, to reopen their shop for the New Year.
The farm work at home was then handed over to the older children.
Xiao Heng was a diligent person. When he saw someone being kind to him, he would be eager to give them his whole heart. So he followed Niu Cuihua to work in the fields.
Niu Da and Niu Er stayed in the county for a few days before returning to prepare for Niu Xiaomei's wedding. While drying some vegetables, Chen Yu said sadly:
"My little sister is getting married in two months! I'm really going to miss her!"
“When a girl grows up, she will eventually get married!” Xiang Jinlan said.
Niu Xiaomei was helping several little girls comb their hair and wash their faces when she heard Chen Yu and Xiang Jinlan say this, and then she said:
"Sister-in-law, the town isn't far. Even after I get married, I'll still come every day to make pickled vegetables with you!"
Chen Yu smiled:
“You child, you always talk like a child. Doctor Xue is a doctor, and you will inevitably have to learn from him how to dispense and prepare medicine. In the future, husband and wife will always be together, that’s what’s good! How can you come every day?”
After drying the vegetables, Chen Yu cooked several large pots of pig feed to prepare for feeding the pigs in the yard and the hundreds of chickens, ducks and geese in the backyard that evening.
Niu Meihua was tidying up the fallen leaves and branches in the backyard.
Niu Da was also a restless person. The first year his family bought the land, he planted some soybeans and vegetables, which were looked after by Niu Yaba and the two local dogs his family bought.
Right now, he has planted a whole field of watermelons. Last year, the row of watermelons he planted in his backyard sold quite well, so he decided to plant another variety this year.
Chen Yu is very good at cultivating seeds. She cultivated a lot of seeds from last year's watermelons to plant next year.
Niu Er didn't just study all the time. After reading every day, he would also set aside an hour to help Niu Da hoe the fields.
Xiao Fubao, Baozhu, Niu Ke'er, and Niu Qiao'er played by Niu Da's vegetable garden. Niu Baolan, the little foodie, followed Chen Yu and Xiang Jinlan to learn all kinds of delicious food, but she was too young and could only watch from the sidelines, while also getting some free food and drinks.
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