Chapter 25 Taoli Hall
Su Zhizhi studied in the mountains and had never taken any exams.
When she took the test paper, her expression was calm. She wrote what she knew how to write and ignored what she didn't know how to write.
When Xue Che was in Chang'an, he was often tested on his studies by his family teacher, but he rarely made mistakes.
He had learned all the scriptures on the test paper and answered them fluently.
The two children stopped writing almost at the same time and handed their answer sheets to the headmaster.
Liu Mingzhi, who was painting, glanced at the incense burner on the shore and found that less than an incense stick of time had passed.
Liu Mingzhi took the test paper and her first reaction was:
Good handwriting!
The handwriting of these two children has its own style, and their handwriting is actually better than that of many students of Wen Daotang.
When I looked at the content, I was even more surprised.
Although Su Zhizhi did not answer some questions, the key points and ideas of the questions she answered were very clear.
Xue Che answered all of them correctly. Not only did he explain the meanings correctly, but he also quoted allusions and poems without any mistakes.
When Liu Mingzhi looked up at the two children again, her eyes had changed.
No wonder Governor Gu wanted to send these two students to the academy. It would be a pity to keep such promising talents in the mountains.
Liu Mingzhi: "Su Zhi, you can go to Taoli Hall; Xue Che, you can go to Wendao Hall."
Su Zhizhi grabbed Xue Che's hand and said, "Headmaster, aren't A-Che and I studying together?"
Liu Mingzhi: "With Xue Che's level, he can go to Wendao Hall, where he will learn more complex scriptures."
When Su Zhizhi heard that it was more complicated, she immediately let go of Xue Che:
"Then I'm fine in Taoli Hall."
Xue Che: ...
"Let's go, I'll take you to school." Liu Mingzhi collected the answer sheets of the two children and prepared to go out.
Su Zhizhi asked: "Is the headmaster painting the lovebirds?"
Liu Mingzhi turned his head and saw Su Zhizhi staring intently at the flower and bird painting he had drawn on the desk.
"Do you know him?"
Su Zhizhi nodded and then shook her head: "I often see them in the mountains, but the lovebirds I see have very round and plump bellies, and their wings have red and yellow wing markings, not this skinny bird."
She held the bird in her hands and examined it carefully.
Liu Mingzhi's eyes suddenly lit up, and he walked back to the desk, picked up the pen, drew a few strokes, and then added cinnabar ink.
The two birds in the painting suddenly became much more vivid and full.
Liu Mingzhi narrowed his eyes with a hint of smile, and looked at Su Zhizhi: "You also know how to paint?"
"I learned from my father. I can draw mountains, clouds, birds, and fish."
Su Zhizhi gets familiar with people very quickly.
The headmaster, Liu Mingzhi, is old and usually has a stern face, so many students are afraid of him.
But Su Zhizhi felt that Principal Liu was very approachable. He didn't even have a scar on his face or hands, and he wouldn't hit or beat anyone.
She took the initiative to talk about the various animals she saw in the mountains, and even invited Shanzhang Liu to go to Black Bandit Mountain for a visit:
"When you are free, you can come back to the village with us. There is a big eagle in our village. It is very well-behaved and cute. You can draw it for the headmaster."
Xue Che walked beside him, with the image of Po's huge wings and bloody claws appearing in his mind.
It is really hard to associate Po with the word cute.
Liu Mingzhi first sent Xue Che to Wendao Hall.
Before Xue Che entered the classroom, he thought of reminding Su Zhizhi that if he didn't understand something during class, he could write it down and ask him later.
Unexpectedly, Su Zhizhi patted Xue Che's shoulder first, acting like a little adult:
"Ah Che, I can only take you here. If you encounter any problems in Wen Dao Hall, come to me."
Xue Che was puzzled: "What's the point of looking for you?"
Su Zhizhi looked serious and imitated the opera:
"I will make a name for myself here as soon as possible."
Xue Che: "No, don't go in."
…………
Late spring.
When the wind blows, a rain of flowers falls from the peach and plum trees outside the window.
The students in Taoli Hall were reciting poems with their heads shaking following Master Qiu.
"Throw me a papaya, and I'll give you a jade pendant in return. It's not a reward, but a token of our everlasting friendship."
"If you throw me a wooden peach, I will repay you with a jade. It is not a reward, but a token of our everlasting friendship."
“…”
The children sitting in the first two rows read very seriously.
Those in the last two rows were either drowsy or staring out the window in a daze.
Gu Qingning, who was sitting in the second to last row, lay on the table, looking at the petals blown by the wind on the windowsill.
The pale pink and pale white petals stacked together look like the layers of a woman's skirt.
Gu Qingning looked listless, having not slept well last night.
She was kidnapped by human traffickers last month and nearly sold away, but was fortunately rescued by villagers from Liangmin Village.
But since this incident, she often wakes up at night and has difficulty falling asleep.
It was fine at home, with the maids and nannies accompanying me. But when I was living in the academy, I could only be alone to give myself courage.
Last night, her classmate Li Shaoer brought a few people to her door to deliberately scare and tease her, so that she hardly slept last night.
Gu Qingning thought back to the recent days and found that the most peaceful night of sleep she had ever had was the night she spent at Black Bandit Mountain.
There's a brave and lively little girl named "Zhizhi" on the mountain. Sleeping next to her makes me feel extremely safe...
"Gu Qingning." Master Qiu came over and said, "Please explain this poem."
Gu Qingning had not been paying attention just now, but when the teacher called her out, she stood up with a flushed face, lowered her head and stammered:
"Master, I just..."
Li Shaoer, who was sitting in the front, turned around with a look of sarcasm in his eyes:
"Miss Gu, are you going to say that she's sick and didn't sleep well? She can't even attend the teacher's class during the day."
Gu Qingning felt like there was a piece of cotton stuck in her throat, and she couldn't utter a word of explanation.
She tugged at the corner of her clothes, and her eyes turned red.
Seeing Gu Qingning like this, Master Qiu didn't make things difficult for her and let her sit down and listen.
Then, Master Qiu asked:
"Who can explain those two lines of poetry?"
Li Shaoer straightened up and was about to say that he could do it when he suddenly saw Director Liu appear at the door.
Next to Mr. Liu Shanchang stood a delicate and pretty girl.
"Master Qiu, this is a new student. He will be in Taoli Hall from now on." Principal Liu introduced.
Principal Liu and Master Qiu gave a few instructions and asked Su Zhizhi to come in and attend the class together.
The students in Taoli Hall suddenly became energetic and looked at the new classmate with curiosity.
Most of them are seven or eight years old. They studied in the Qinxue Hall of the academy last year and entered the Taoli Hall after passing the examination.
Now suddenly a new student joins, a pretty and delicate female classmate, and everyone starts chattering:
"I heard before that our college will have two new students."
"It seems to be coming from the mountains."
"In the mountains? Mountain dwellers also come to study?"
Children speak without restraint, and they just say whatever they think.
After Principal Liu left, Mr. Qiu asked Su Zhizhi to introduce herself to her classmates.
Su Zhizhi stepped forward generously, her eyes shining like stars in the night:
"My name is Su Zhi, you can also call me Su Zhizhi. I am six years old, and my home is in the Liangmin Village of Heifei Mountain."
As soon as Su Zhizhi finished speaking, someone below immediately shouted:
“Zhizhi!”
Gu Qingning waved hard, and her eyes became even redder.
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