Chapter 110 Zhao Yunjing? I'll remember you!
Zhao Yunjing bowed again and said loudly, "Lord Fang, the headmaster said that I have the appearance of a top scholar. This is not a joke, but a unique way to motivate students that came up with on a whim."
This may sound absurd at first glance, and others may think it's too arrogant, but for me, such encouragement is necessary and positive.
My mentor believes I can become the top scorer, and I will naturally do my best to live up to his expectations and blessings. As for whether I can become the top scorer in the future, neither my mentor nor I can control that. All we can do is study hard and make the most of every moment.
A soldier who doesn't want to be a general isn't a good soldier; a student who doesn't want to pass the imperial examinations and serve the court isn't a qualified scholar. What do you think, Lord Fang?
Lord Fang stared at Zhao Yunjing for a while, then suddenly clapped his hands and laughed: "A soldier who doesn't want to be a general is not a good soldier, and a student who doesn't want to pass the imperial examinations to serve the court is not a qualified scholar. Well said!"
Liang Shanzhang's method of encouragement was a bit arrogant, but it was also very honest. That's right, scholars study with the aim of becoming the top scholar, it's just that some people say it out loud while others keep it to themselves!
Headmaster Wang, last year Shanglin Academy only produced two scholars who passed the imperial examinations, which fell short of the provincial government's requirements for education and administration. You could try using this same incentive method. The two academies are so close, they must learn from each other and progress together!
Liang Shanhai breathed a sigh of relief, his legs feeling a little weak.
Headmaster Wang's face stiffened. What did Lord Fang just say? He told him to learn from that Liang fellow? Was he joking? That Liang fellow was ignorant and incompetent, just drifting through life. Was he supposed to learn how to lie down and be a lazy bum?
"You just said your name is Zhao Yunjing?"
"yes."
"I will remember you."
Liang Shanhai quickly led Zhao Yunjing and the others downstairs. Once they reached a secluded spot, Liang Shanhai slapped Zhao Yunjing on the shoulder and began to curse:
"Zhao Yunjing, do you think you're so great just because you've been the boss in the academy? You always have to stick your neck out wherever you are? Was that the kind of situation you were in to stick your neck out? If it weren't for the easy-going Lord Fang instead of Lord Lu, your future would have been ruined just now!"
Hu Peiran, who ranked tenth in the annual examination, looked terrified and said, "Brother Zhao, that was really dangerous. I was afraid you would be scolded. Brother Zhao, please don't be so impulsive in the future."
"That's right, Zhao Yunjing. At most, Headmaster Liang will get a few scoldings, and our academy won't get any funding. But if you get resentful from Lord Fang, your life is over!"
Zhao Yunjing smiled faintly: "I apologize for causing you all concern. However, I believe that even if I am not destined for fame and fortune, I will certainly have other prospects."
"But as the sage said, all other pursuits are inferior, only studying is superior—"
“And as the sage said, there are 360 professions, and every profession can produce an expert.” Zhao Yunjing replied, “But the headmaster is my teacher, and I cannot sit idly by and watch my teacher be humiliated in front of me without doing anything.”
The students fell silent. Liang Shanhai slapped one of them: "Nonsense! Compared to your future, what is my dignity? Being humiliated a few times won't cost you a piece of flesh! I'm warning you, if there's a next time, I'll kick you out of the academy!"
"He was clearly moved to tears, but he's still pretending. Headmaster, your acting is terrible!" Young Master Chen walked out from the side path. "Zhao Yunjing was a bit impulsive, but if I had been there, Headmaster Wang's face would have been swollen from being beaten up."
Feng Wei: "I've already arranged for someone to wait for that bastard on his way home. We'll put a sack over his head and beat him up later!"
"That bastard is most concerned about his hair, we'll pluck it all out later!" Young Master Chen said sinisterly. "Also, don't hit him in the face, you can hit anywhere else!"
A group of students ranked in the top ten of the entire academy were squatting by the path discussing how to beat someone up in the most satisfying way, while the other party dared not make a sound. The scene was hilarious no matter how you looked at it.
Liang Shanzhang slapped each of them once, then wiped his eyes and left.
The students are defending me so much, I can't lose either. I have to pick up the pieces myself after I messed things up. If that doesn't work, so be it. That old bastard will get a beating when he gets back, and that will be a way for me to vent my anger!
The banquet began.
The Chen family mansion was spacious, with a dozen long tables set up in the garden, filled with fine wine and ingredients. There were also small stoves with a small pot on top, bubbling and steaming, with smoke and aroma leaking out from the pots that were never fully closed, making everyone swallow hard.
A few days ago, Taohua County experienced heavy snow. Today, the sun came out after noon, and there were stars and a moon tonight. Lord Fang, Lord Chen, the two headmasters, and the teachers exchanged pleasantries and soon started drinking. The young people were a little reserved at first because of the presence of the adults, but after Young Master Chen walked around with his wine cup, the atmosphere instantly became lively.
Some played the "Flying Flowers" game, others the "Horse Riding" game, and some, caught up in the moment, sang while tapping their bowls to the beautiful maids who came to pour wine and change dishes: "Wild grasses grow, covered with dew. A beautiful woman appears, graceful and charming. We meet by chance, fulfilling my wish. Wild grasses grow, heavy with dew. A beautiful woman appears, graceful and charming. We meet by chance, and will be together forever..."
The maid couldn't understand, but the person singing was staring intently with fiery passion, and she immediately blushed and fled in panic.
The students nearby burst into laughter: "Brother Tang, you should be singing 'A fair maiden is sought after by a gentleman'!"
Amidst the laughter, someone banged on a bowl: "Reeds fill the riverbank, cold sand carries a shallow stream... I wanted to buy osmanthus blossoms and share wine, but it's nothing like the carefree days of my youth..."
Zhao Yunjing, seated at the table, was caught up in the atmosphere. Taking advantage of the man's rhythm, he recited loudly: "In the Northern Ocean there is a fish, its name is Kun. Kun is so large that no one knows how many thousands of miles it is... Those who travel to the wilderness return after three meals, their bellies full of fruit; those who travel a hundred miles prepare provisions for the night; those who travel a thousand miles gather provisions for three months. What do these two creatures know!"
"good!"
Lord Fang clapped his hands: "What a fine poem, 'A Free and Easy Wandering'! Young people should have great ambitions and a magnanimous spirit, like Zhao Yun Jing, very good! Very good!"
Lord Fang and Liang Shanhai and others continued reading the second half of "Free and Easy Wandering". For some reason, they started reading and their eyes reddened.
Zhao Yunjing didn't drink alcohol, but he drank quite a bit of tea. Before long, he felt the urge to urinate. He asked the servant next to him for directions to the latrine and then quietly left his seat.
The Chen family estate was very large, and it was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations everywhere. It looked pretty much the same everywhere, and Zhao Yunjing, standing at the crossroads, was momentarily disoriented.
Two students dressed in Huilan Academy attire emerged from the path beside him: "Brother Zhao, are you looking for a place to relieve yourself?"
"Indeed, please show us the way."
"Walk straight along this path for about twenty or thirty paces, and you'll find a small pavilion. The small room behind the pavilion is the washroom. Brother Zhao, go and come back soon, we're all waiting to learn from you!"
Zhao Yunjing soon arrived at the pavilion the two men had mentioned. Behind the pavilion, a small house was lit with a dim yellow light, and combined with the surrounding landscaping, the clean room was rather elegant.
Zhao Yunjing shook his head and stepped into the small house.
The door to the cabin suddenly closed after he went inside, and a figure rushed out from behind the door, heading straight for him.
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