Before this, Shen Cui didn’t know about the academy competition. After the task was announced, she asked Zheng about it.
Although it was Zheng who brought up this topic, she didn't know much, so she said, "I heard it from the old woman of the Chen family. Your sister-in-law wanted Shuanzi to study here. Then you showed off your skills, and now Shuanzi is still crying when he hears about it. I don't know what Chen said to her mother, but the old woman of the Chen family came to our house a few days ago and said that it was our turn to hold the academy competition this year, and all the serious academies would participate. It sounded as if we would lose face if we didn't participate, so I asked this question."
Mu Erpang was still in the academy. Although Zheng missed her eldest grandson very much, she did not disturb him. She went to the yard of the old house, stood for a while, looked at Mu Erpang through the window a few times, and then went back.
The weather was hot and things couldn't be kept well, so Chen Cui took most of the basket of eggs that Zheng had given her and asked Zhou to cook them all when she was cooking late.
Lao Buyu and the two children each got a bowl of egg custard, as well as scrambled eggs with chili peppers and egg soup.
There were delicious meals for two consecutive days and Mu Erpang ate with great joy.
After dinner, Shen Cui asked Lao Buyu about the academy competition.
Of course, he was the right person to ask, and Lao Buyu gave a detailed explanation.
This academy competition is jointly organized by various prestigious academies. It is said to be a place for communication and exchange, but in fact it is also an opportunity for the academies and students to become famous.
For example, the Qingzhu Academy run by Lao Buyu, his senior brother, has only been in operation for less than 20 years. When Mu Cheng sent Mu Yunchuan to study there, its scale was far smaller than it is now. It was about the same size as the small private school run by Huang Juren.
Compared with some old academies that have been passed down for decades, their foundation can only be considered shallow.
But a few years ago, Mu Yunchuan represented Qingzhu Academy in a big competition and amazed everyone.
Not only did he become famous among the scholars and students, but Qingzhu Academy also became well-known.
It was also after that time that Qingzhu Academy began to attract students from all over the world and gradually grew to its current size.
This competition is not always held in the same place, but is hosted in turns by several of the most prestigious academies.
This kind of literary gathering can attract a lot of people and boost the local economy, so local governments are happy to see it happen and will provide some help to a greater or lesser extent.
"You mentioned it and I just remembered that it seems to be held here this year, but I don't know which academy will host it. It will not be an exaggeration to say that all the scholars in the world will gather together, and it will definitely be very lively. It's a good opportunity to bring them there to broaden their horizons!"
Chen Cui understood what she heard. The competition in this academy competition was extremely fierce, similar to the competition among immortal sects in novels about cultivating immortals. She only had two children, not to mention her fat son, as he was not good enough to look at.
Even if the talented Wei Xi went there, he might not be able to achieve good results.
But the system has also made a note of it, so as long as you participate, it’s considered completed.
Shen Cui groaned, touched her nose, and then asked, "If I sign up to participate...what is the process? Are there any qualifications required?"
It had been a long time since Lao Buyu was shocked by Chen Cui's words. Although he thought he had trained his mental endurance, he was still stunned for a long time when he heard this.
"You want to participate in this competition?"
"What do you mean by you and me? Our academy is one, and we are the ones who want to participate."
Lao Buyu was shocked again, and Chen Cui continued, "The teacher also said that such a literary gathering is rare to be held here. Since the two children want to broaden their horizons, it is natural for them to participate in it themselves instead of watching. It will be more useful if they experience it, right?"
"That's the truth. It's not difficult to sign up. You can participate by paying some money. But aren't you afraid that the two children will be discouraged? Counting the days, after the college entrance examination and the Mid-Autumn Festival, Hanshan has studied for less than a year. I am not afraid of his loss. As you said, it's just a chance to gain knowledge and experience. Little Fatty has studied for many years and is no worse than others in all aspects, but his temperament..."
Although Wei Xi came later and Lao Buyu didn't have much time to educate him, he still loves him just the same as always after being with him until now.
He didn't want to say anything bad about Wei Xi, but Wei Xi's character was indeed sensitive and stubborn. This kind of large-scale competition is not held in private, and the results will definitely be known to the whole city.
Young people are in an unstable mood. If they are frustrated in the competition, it will affect their future imperial examinations and even their future interpersonal relationships.
What Lao Buyu thought of, Chen Cui certainly thought of as well.
This is indeed a bit difficult. She pondered for a while and asked, "After signing up, does everyone in the academy have to participate?"
"That's not the case," Lao Buyu said, "The topics of the competition are usually poetry and essays, and the six arts of a gentleman. The headmaster of each school decides who to send out. For example, Mu Yunchuan represented Qingzhu Academy at the time. My senior brother didn't have so many disciples, and he competed in several rounds in a row."
It was precisely because of one person's consecutive victories that everyone remembered him.
"Ah, that's all. Then let Xiao Xi only participate in one or two matches, and compete in the ones he is confident of. For the rest, we can just admit defeat."
Anyway, as long as you participate, you have completed the task!
Lao Buyu stared in surprise, and only then did he believe her words that she wanted to broaden the children's horizons. "The minimum registration fee is ten taels of silver, and it is usually hosted by the academy in the city, so we have to go to the city... Madam Mu, are you investing so much money just to let the children practice?"
As for money and material possessions, Chen Cui was tired of talking about them, but her heart was still bleeding.
Later, Shen Cui talked about this matter with the two children and gave the same advice, asking them to participate and have fun, and not to worry about gains or losses.
Mu Erpang didn't know what the competition was, he just heard that there would be such a grand event and he was looking forward to it.
Wei Xi knew this. Wei Shu had participated in it before and won a small archery competition on behalf of Qingzhu Academy.
He was weak and had never learned riding and shooting at home, but he had his own strengths. He was good at playing the guqin, and his attainments were not at the pinnacle, but he was outstanding among his peers.
There was not a single teacher that the Wei family had hired who failed to praise his talent in this area.
When he wanted to become Lao Buyu's disciple, he played "High Mountains and Flowing Water" for Lao Buyu for a long time.
Unfortunately, Lao Buyu at that time didn't regard him as a soulmate regardless of age difference, and it was just like playing the lute to a cow.
She didn't expect that he had such a special skill. Shen Cui felt more at ease and went to inquire about the registration matters with money the next day.
As Lao Buyu said, you don't need any qualifications to register for the competition. As long as you pay the registration fee, you can participate.
Moreover, this year, because Mu Yunchuan won the first place in both small and medium schools, he surpassed many students of the same period. Qingzhu Academy defeated other academies in the city and became the organizer. There is no need to travel to other places to participate in the college competition.
She explained her purpose to the people at Qingzhu Academy. The middle-aged scholar in charge of relevant matters looked her up and down and said, "Madam, don't joke. Only the headmaster is eligible to sign up for this academy competition. If you have children who want to participate, they need to register with the academy."
Chen Cui felt a little embarrassed in front of Lao Buyu, but she couldn't show her shyness in front of outsiders, so she said, "I'm here either on behalf of my children or the academy. Since any academy can sign up, and I've brought enough money, please help me register. Our Cuiwei Academy is going to participate in the competition."
In this era, it is unheard of and unseen for a woman to be a principal, not to mention Cuiwei Academy, which no one has ever heard of.
Although it is said that any academy can participate, this is a literary gathering in which all academies represent the level of literati from all over the place, and naturally no one can arbitrarily lower the overall quality.
Especially since this year is the first time that their Qingzhu Academy has hosted the competition, they are naturally more cautious.
"The Cuiwei Academy that Madam mentioned, besides you as the dean, how many teachers are there? How many students are there? How many of them have achieved academic success?"
The other party questioned her like checking her household registration, and Shen Cui did not lie and told them everything.
"Madam, please don't blame me for speaking harshly. The overall qualifications of your academy...even if you join, it will only be a waste of money."
"Our academy is not large, but I heard that in the early days your academy was not as full of talents as it is now, and I haven't heard that other organizers blocked you from participating."
One was thinking of how to decline politely, while the other was stubborn and insisted on participating. As they were arguing, the headmaster came over.
The middle-aged scholar stood up to greet him and told him about his difficulties.
After hearing this, the headmaster asked him to go and take care of other things first and he would come to handle this matter.
Chen Cui and the headmaster were acquainted with each other. In the headmaster's view, the fact that she was able to subdue Lao Buyu and make him come to his house to teach was the most incredible thing in life.
So when Shen Cui created Cuiwei Academy to participate in the Academy Competition, he was not particularly surprised. He just asked, "Did Lao Buyu ask Madam Mu to come here?"
Obviously, he felt that this weird and extraordinary behavior was started by Lao Buyu.
Chen Cui was just about to help Lao Buyu explain a few words when she saw the dean had already stamped the seal of Qingzhu Academy on the qualification certificate and quickly registered the name of Cuiwei Academy.
It was agreed very smoothly!
"Madam, please tell Lao Buyu that if anyone dares to discredit the local scholars during this competition... the cane passed down by our master is still in my room!"
After returning from registration, Chen Cui talked to Lao Buyu again after dinner and told him what she didn't understand: "This year the organizer is not in the prefecture, but in our county. I met the headmaster at Qingzhu Academy, and he asked me to tell you to not forget the rattan stick passed down by your master..."
Lao Buyu waved his hand indifferently, "No matter what he says, I'm not afraid of him. We have a rule in our sect that only a junior brother can punish a junior brother with a cane after he has done three absurd things. I wrote a bad poem in my early years, which brought bad reviews to the sect. Later, I organized a competition in the county and made a fortune. That was the second time. So I was thinking about moving to another place before, because I was afraid that I would do something out of line again and fall into his hands."
As he spoke, Lao Buyu smiled proudly, "Although I didn't leave now, I tried my best to teach the two children. Who can find fault with me?"
Shen Cui: Uh...
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