At dawn, the doors of Sheng's Free School were all open. Neighbors were busy cleaning the streets, while the handymen of the Free School were carrying water to wipe the facade.
In the free school, not a single one of the fifty-six students was left behind. They were all sitting in the lecture hall. Even people like Sheng Changgui, who had a habit of playing truant, were as docile as little rabbits today, sitting obediently and waiting.
Two gentlemen, Sun Zhigao and Shi Kai, accompanied a wealthy middle-aged man and commanded the cleaning boys.
This middle-aged man is the financial backer behind the Sheng Family Yixue, and is now the head of the Youyang Sheng Family, Sheng Wei.
After a long wait, the perspiring director ran into the lecture hall and said to Sun Zhigao: "Quick, quick, Master Xuezheng is about to enter the city, you hurry up and prepare!"
Sun Zhigao, who has always been lazy by nature, did not dare to neglect at this time. He quickly adjusted the square scarf on his head and smoothed his scholar's shirt.
Shi Kai and Sheng Wei, one a stern teacher who was in awe of the students, and the other a wealthy businessman in Youyang, were both a little nervous at this time and kept looking down to see if there were any wrinkles on their clothes.
Everyone walked to the gate of the free school and greeted them according to the predetermined order. Sun Zhigao, who has the reputation of being a scholar, stood at the front. Shi Kai was a boy, and Sheng Wei was just a businessman. The two of them could only play behind Sun Zhigao.<
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Sun Zhigao turned around and caught a glimpse of his father-in-law's submissive look, and couldn't help but feel a little proud: You usually look down on me, but now you see the big scene where the academic administration is coming, you will immediately show your timidity!
Just then, bang! Bang! Bang!
Nine crisp gongs sounded in a row, and the crowd suddenly jumped up and down.
In feudal society, there were clear hierarchies, and gongs were sounded to clear the way, and there were also distinctions between high and low. The seventh-rank county official knocked seven times, the fifth-rank magistrate knocked nine times, and the provincial-level officials knocked eleven times.
The admiral's academic administration is at the same level as the prefect. When the gong is sounded to clear the way, there are nine gongs.
It was preceded by a title board that read "Admiral Jiangnan Academic Affairs", "Avoidance", and "Silence", followed by dozens of soap-clothed yamen servants with waist knives in their hands. In addition, there were senior masters, long-term attendants, and an unknown number of servants, accompanying them on both sides.
There are soft sedans with green hoods on the left and right.
Wei Chen knew in his heart that the people sitting in these two soft sedan chairs must be Jiangnan Academician Wang Wenqing and accompanying him Feng Jing, the magistrate of Youyang County.
The soft sedan stopped at the gate of the Yi Xue. Feng Jing, the magistrate of Youyang County, got off the sedan first, walked to another soft sedan, opened the sedan curtain, and said respectfully: "Master Xuezheng, the Sheng Family Yi Xue has arrived."
Everyone at the gate of the free school lowered their heads and kept silent, not daring to breathe.
Not long after, an official in his forties stepped out of the sedan chair.
Wei Chen lowered his head and took a sneak peek. When he saw the white pheasant patch embroidered on the chest of this man's official robe, he knew that this man must be Wang Wenqing, the political scholar from Jiangnan.
This academic official looks approachable and approachable, and his official authority is not as high as that of Feng Zhixian next to him. His temperament is more like that of a teacher in a school.
The Master of Academic Affairs and Magistrate Feng were walking and chatting while Sun Zhigao, Shi Kai, Sheng Wei, and the Jin gentry of the county cautiously followed the two imperial officials and joined the free school.
After a while of greetings, Wang Xuezheng and Feng Zhixian took their seats in the lecture hall. Sheng Wei on the side quickly arranged for someone to bring tea and water.
Wang Xuezheng had the demeanor of a kindly elder, twirling his beard and asked: "Which one is the teacher of the free school?"
Sun Zhigao stood up quickly and said: "Back to the academic master, it is Sun Zhigao who was born late."
Although Shi Kai also wanted to talk to Master Xuezheng, it was a pity that he was more of a teaching assistant in Sheng's free school, so he was not qualified to stand up and reply at this time.
When Wang Xuezheng heard the name Sun Zhigao, his expression became a little lighter: "Sun Zhigao..., I have heard of your name and heard that you have extraordinary talents. You passed the college examination at the age of twelve and became a scholar. You are known as You.
Yang Prodigy."
Wang Xuezheng's words sounded like compliments, but in fact they meant nothing at all.
To say that Sun Zhigao was selected as a scholar at the age of twelve is actually to ask him: Why are you, a child prodigy, still a scholar even after more than ten years have passed and the academic administration of this province has changed several times?
After understanding the unfinished meaning of Wang Xuezheng's words, even though Sun Zhigao was as thick-skinned as a city wall, he couldn't help but look embarrassed at this time.
He was angry at the other party for exposing his own shortcomings, but he did not dare to refute it. The other party was a scholar of politics in Jiangnan, and he could easily take away his most proud scholar title.
Seeing Sun Zhigao's face turning blue and purple, it was so exciting. Wei Chen in the audience couldn't help but laugh secretly, thinking that someone could finally cure this ignorant Sun Xiucai.
Just when Sun Zhigao was so embarrassed that he just wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl in, Feng Zhixian smiled and smoothed things over and said: "I heard that Sun Maocai teaches students very strictly, and there are many outstanding students in this free school."
After saying that, Feng Zhixian glanced at Sun Zhigao lightly. Although he was very disdainful of this person, at this time, Shengshi Yixue represented the face of Youyang County. As the magistrate of Youyang County, he could not let the face of this county
Dropped to the ground.
"Oh?" Wang Xuezheng chuckled upon hearing this, and did not bother with the question of why Sun Zhigao did not enter school. Instead, he asked about the students' studies: "Which one of you has read the Four Books?"
Hearing Wang Xuezheng's words, Sun Zhigao felt relieved and breathed a sigh of relief. Wei Chen, who was waiting in the hall, immediately perked up and stepped forward with another nominal student representative and replied: "Return to Xuezheng Sir.
If so, I’ll read some later.”
"Read some?" Wang Xuezheng smiled when he heard this: "Before I became a Jinshi, I only read some Four Books."
Then he pointed at the student next to Wei Chen and asked, "Where did you read the Four Books?"
The student who was called on was named Chen Jun. He was one of the best in the Sheng Family Free School in his daily studies. However, when he heard Wang Xuezheng’s question, he felt a little frightened for some reason. He mumbled and replied: "Wan Sheng..." Wan Sheng finished reading "The Analects of Confucius".
", Zhengqin attacks "Mencius" and "The Great Learning"."
Seeing Chen Jun's shrinking look, Wang Xuezheng could not help but frown slightly and asked: "Since you have read the Analects, let me ask you, if a gentleman is not serious, he will not be powerful, and if he is not learned, he will not be solid. How do you explain it?"
"Late birth..., late birth..."
Chen Jun's clenched palms were full of sweat, and he stammered and still couldn't come up with an answer. Wei Chen, who was standing next to him, was secretly worried about him.
Wei Chen has been in the voluntary school for half a month and has gained some understanding of his classmates. He knows that Chen Jun is a rare scholar in the voluntary school, and the question asked by Wang Xuezheng cannot be difficult for him at all.
But Chen Jun may have never seen such a big shot as Wang Xuezheng. At this moment, he was so nervous that he couldn't use even 10% of his normal power.
Wang Xuezheng waited for a long time, but lost his patience. Seeing that Chen Jun still couldn't give an answer, he turned to ask Feng Zhixian: "Is this the outstanding talent you said?"
Feng Zhixian felt shameless, laughed awkwardly, and turned around to glare at Chen Jun.
Chen Jun was already extremely nervous, but when Feng Zhixian glared at him, his legs became weak, his face turned pale, and he looked like he was fainting.
Wei Chen secretly thought that something was wrong. If Chen Jun really fainted in front of Master Xuezheng, then the Sheng Family Yixue would be in great disgrace!
When Feng Zhixian saw Chen Jun's shaky appearance, he secretly regretted it and quickly winked at Sun Zhigao who was standing aside.
Before Sun Zhigao understood the situation, he stared at Feng Zhixian for a while, which made Feng Zhixian so angry that he almost cursed her on the spot.
It was Shi Kai and Sheng Wei who were standing next to him who understood what Feng Zhixian meant and called on a few students to help Chen Jun down to rest. Feng Zhixian breathed a sigh of relief.
After this unpleasant episode, Wang Xuezheng, who was originally enthusiastic about taking the exam, was in a bad mood. When he looked at the remaining Wei Chen, his eyes became cold.
Feng Zhixian himself also lost confidence in Sheng's Yixue. In order to avoid further embarrassment, he suggested to Wang Xuezheng: "Master Xuezheng, it's getting late. Why don't we have tea and rice first?"
Wang Xuezheng said with a smile: "I have heard that Youyang is a land of fish and rice, and the rivers are good for people, so I would like to have a taste."
The two hit it off immediately, and both stood up and left the table. The subordinates beside them also moved to clear the way for Shangguan and lift the curtain.
When Wei Chen saw this, he was secretly worried. He had worked hard to prepare for this academic visit for half a month, and was it just like this?