Chapter Seventy: Words of Gratitude Before Meng Qi Takes the Stage

  Guo Jia said, "Even if I gain weight, I won't be as fat as Meng Qi's brother. You're the one who's fat!" Ma Chao couldn't help but laugh when he heard this. He thought to himself that Guo Jia was indeed quite interesting. Whatever his shortcomings might be, at least in his youth, he was a fun person.

  However, I have to say that apart from Guo Jia's father, who else has kicked his butt. I reckon it's probably just me, and I'm the most deserving person for that title.

  Ma Chao is really perverted, using kicking Guo Jia's butt to satisfy his own abnormal psychology.

  "The Spring River Flower Moon Night" is not perfect, but there are still people who are not satisfied. Of course, no matter what Ma Chao is like, there will always be people who are not satisfied, it's just a matter of quantity.

  Now people are even more looking forward to what kind of extraordinary article Ma Chao and Ma Mengqi will write for their last question.

  Xun Shuang and the others naturally wouldn't keep everyone waiting for long. "Everyone has already heard 'Spring River Flower Moon Night', I believe you all have a number in mind. The last question was given by Mr. Kang Cheng, with the topic of writing an essay on learning, this question is still led by Ma Mengqi's article alone, and it will be read to everyone by me!"

  After finishing, Xun Shuang paused for a moment, looking at the people below, he held Ma Chao's test paper and read it aloud, "Ma Mengqi's article is called 'For Learning', are there difficulties and easiness in the world? If you do it, then the difficult ones will also be easy; if you don't do it, then the easy ones will also be difficult. Is there difficulty and easiness in people's learning? If you learn, then the difficult ones will also be easy; if you don't learn, then the easy ones will also be difficult. In the suburbs of Shu, there were two monks...

  The people below were all listening intently to Xun Shuang's recitation. Some were indeed admiring, while others just didn't believe it and wanted to see what was so extraordinary about Ma Chao's writing. After Xun Shuang finished reading the text, there was another brief silence below, followed by a thunderous applause again.

  No, it was still this kid Guo Jia who started it. After the applause, this kid also said to Ma Chao: "Are there difficulties and easiness in the world? If you do it, then the difficult ones will be easy... Brother Mengqi is a good talent, I am ashamed to be inferior!"

  The key is that Guo Jia was reciting the first few sentences of "For Learning" while shaking his head, and Ma Chao looked at him with a bit of awkwardness. So he quietly stretched out his legs again, but this time Guo Jia seemed to have noticed something, and said to Ma Chao, "Brother Mengqi, stop stretching your legs, I'm also unable to control myself, unable to control myself!"

  Ma Chao was really at a loss, so he had to withdraw his leg. He had a feeling that Guo Jia seemed to have become his apprentice, looking at the young man's appearance, and he indeed had the potential to be an apprentice, and in the future, he could let him develop in this field.

  Xun Shuang continued: "Ma Mengqi's essay may not have many elegant sentences, but the whole text is very reasonable. Although it's not long, it uses a small story to tell us that learning is not like the monk from Shu who was content with his own ignorance. To pursue knowledge, one must take action, learn, and strive for their goals - these are the most important things. Therefore, we five unanimously agreed that this essay is deservedly first!"

  After finishing speaking, he looked at the reaction of the people below. It can be said that now three questions have passed, almost everyone is convinced, but some people are still not convinced.

  These people can be roughly divided into three categories. The first type is the self-righteous and arrogant individuals who don't take Ma Chao seriously at all. At this point, they still think they are invincible, believing that Ma Chao's success is just a matter of luck. One stroke of good fortune doesn't represent anything, who cares about Fufeng Ma Chao or whatever, it's just a nameless wild chicken and an unnumbered grass shoe.

  The second is to acknowledge what Ma Chao wrote, but not him personally. Although this defeat was given to Ma Chao, it is believed that he himself is not inferior to him, and in the future, there will be opportunities to make a comeback and regain the scene.

  The last one is that I admit that I am not as good as Ma Chao, but I don't think he's better than me either. That's roughly the three types of people who don't think they're inferior.

  Xun Shuang took a short rest, then continued: "I know some of you still have objections in your hearts, but that's no longer important. Perhaps some of you thought you should be the first at the beginning of the conference, but the final result was unexpected. However, I want to say that all this is within my expectations. As for others, I don't understand them, but in recent years, in our academy, I know someone has become very self-righteous, no longer taking other people seriously, and only thinking that others are not as good as themselves.

  I am extremely disappointed, deeply grieved and ashamed, yet I have never said anything, it can also be said that there is no way to do anything. But today, I must say something, I can't just watch you go on like this! Today's meeting has ended, I hope everyone understands that the world is vast, with countless talented and knowledgeable people, and the world is not just our Xuchang Academy alone. We must know that 'there are people outside of people, and there is heaven beyond heaven', we absolutely cannot look down on others, nor can we be self-righteous and disdainful of others, or it will only lead to ruining one's own future!

  After listening to Xun Shuang's heartfelt and sincere words, some of the people below had already lowered their heads, showing that his words still had a certain effect. Xun Shuang looked at the people below who were lowering their heads, and he revealed a relieved smile, knowing it was impossible for everyone to listen, but even if only one person did, that would be good enough.

  "We must thank Ma Chao and Ma Mengqi the most today, not only for his unique insights, beautiful poems and essays that let us appreciate. More importantly, he made us see our own shortcomings, making us understand that the world is vast and we cannot underestimate others! Today's events remind us at all times that learning has no bounds, we must not be complacent, and we should look at ourselves objectively and strive to improve!"

  Xun Shuang's words had barely fallen when the whole room erupted into applause, which lasted for a long time. Sima Hui smiled and said, "Good, good! I don't know how long it has been since Ci Ming was so radiant!"

  Zheng Xuan, who was sitting next to him, also smiled and nodded in agreement. Indeed it was so. The other four people present were all acquainted with Old Xun, but they had not seen him get excited like this for a long time.

  On the other side, Pongde Gong also said to Cai Yong: "It's really worth thanking Ma Mengqi, Bohan you see, at this time Ci Ming is indeed the one we knew back then!"

  "Brother Zi Yu's words are not wrong, at this moment Ci Ming brother seems to have become several decades younger!" Cai Yong also discovered.

  The applause finally stopped, and Ma Chao took the opportunity to ask Guo Jia: "Is your principal always like this?"

  Guo Jia listened and hastily shook his head, "Brother Mengqi, I won't hide it from you, this is also the first time I've seen Mr. Ciming like this!"

  It seems that Xun Shuang is really kind and thoughtful for the students of the academy. At first, when Guo Jia mentioned him, it was just words, but what he saw with his own eyes was still incomparable to what others said. Ma Chao once again respectfully admired Xun Shuang.

  Just as Ma Chao was admiring Xun Shuang, he heard Xun Shuang speak again: "Since that's the case, let's invite our champion of this conference, Fufeng Ma Chao Ma Mengqi, to come out and say a few words to everyone. Let everyone get to know him well!" Upon hearing this, the audience erupted in another wave of applause.

  Ma Chao's thoughts were interrupted, and when he heard that he had to go back and say a few words, his heart was unwilling. If it were up to him, he would naturally be the one to go, but under these circumstances, he felt embarrassed.

  In the end, Ma Chao had no choice but to walk to the front row with a stiff upper lip. When Xun Shuang said he wanted to invite Ma Chao out, people below were still searching for him, wondering which one was Ma Chao Ma Mengqi after all. As a result, when Ma Chao stood up and walked forward, nearly half of the audience's attention was focused on him.

  One of them said to the person next to him, "No wonder Ma Chao is a man with unique insights and can write such poems and articles. Just by looking at his appearance, you can tell he's overflowing with talent!"

  The person next to him couldn't help but laugh, "I'm saying, brother Ren, is there a relationship between talent and looks? If there is, how did you manage to get into the conference?"

  The one who spoke before stuttered, "Y-you..."

  At this time, another person not far from the two said: "You two don't have to be like this. It's not good for one horse to startle and hurt the harmony of many people. Do you know what I'm thinking now?" The two looked at him and shook their heads.

  "I had intended to marry off my younger sister to Ma Mengqi. This person's appearance and talent are indeed a match for my younger sister!" he said.

  The two men asked him together: "I don't know how old your younger sister is?"

  "He just turned one month old yesterday."

  Those two really wanted to beat him up after hearing that, but it was just a small episode. It's unknown which three students from the academy brought these three people, this conference is indeed full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.

  Ma Chao walked up to the five men and made a deep bow, "Fufeng Ma Chao Ma Mengqi has seen the five gentlemen!"

  Among the five, except for Xun Shuang, the other four nodded to Ma Chao. Xun Shuang directly said: "Meng Qi doesn't need to be polite, I'm sure Jia Xiaoren has already told you, so we'll have to rely on your help from now on!"

  "Sir, please be at ease, I will definitely do my best!"

  "Alright, I'm counting on you!"

  Xun Shuang felt that his previous words were already sufficient. If Ma Chao came up with a few more sentences, the effect would likely be even better.

  Ma Chao took a look and since Xun Shuang insisted on making his award-winning speech himself, he certainly couldn't refuse, but instead had to reassure him that he would do his best.

  He turned around, took a few steps forward, and faced the nearly hundred people below. At this time, all eyes were focused on him, but the meaning contained in these gazes was not the same, and there were only a few kinds. Ma Chao naturally had no fear of them, he just didn't like to speak in front of many people. However, now that Xun Shuang had asked him to say a few words, and he also admired him for agreeing to help, it was natural that he would say a few words.

  He first bowed to the people below, "I am Ma Chao, Ma Mengqi, twelve years old this year!"

  The people below heard that he was twelve years old and did not expect Ma Chao to be so young.

  "I was brought here by Guo Jia of the Imperial Academy. When I first heard that he wanted me to attend this conference, my initial reaction was that I couldn't go. I knew that the Imperial Academy had many hidden dragons and crouching tigers, not to mention the many talented scholars from various provinces who would be attending. At the time, I really didn't have much confidence in standing out."

  The people below followed Ma Chao's train of thought, as if they were Ma Chao himself back then.

  "But then I thought again, such a grand event that happens once every four years, if I don't participate, I might regret it later, what a pity. So in the end, I still agreed to Guo's suggestion, because I wanted to meet all of you, and see how I stack up. As for the final result, it's no longer on my mind, because no matter what, I can proudly say, I've been here! That's why I'm standing here today, young, and undefeated!"

  Ma Chao finished speaking, and the audience erupted into a warm applause. Some people felt that they were far inferior to Ma Chao, who was so talented yet humble, making them think about the talents of the world. In fact, Ma Chao himself had no confidence, but he was still moving forward for his own goals, which made him much stronger than those who thought they were superior.

  The applause subsided, and Ma Chao continued: "When I saw the first question, at first I didn't know how to answer it either. Fortunately, I remembered a hermit's unique insights on Zhuangzi. This hermit is unknown to everyone, and I don't know him either. I just happened to meet him once and heard his lectures on Zhuangzi. So what I wrote wasn't my own insight, but rather I was simply making public the hermit's insights through my hands."

  Ma Chao's words were met with half of the people believing and half not believing, but regardless of whether they believed or not, everyone gave a warm round of applause.

  "As for poetry and rhapsody, everyone understands that they are just minor paths. The direction we should strive for is to become a truly knowledgeable person like the five gentlemen! In my opinion, the last article "On Learning" was favored by the five gentlemen, and I still need to ask for your advice on writing articles. Gold has no adequate value, people have no perfection, we should learn from each other and make progress together!"

  As soon as the words were spoken, everyone below stood up and applauded for Ma Chao. The vast majority of them were sincere, applauding for Ma Chao's humility, for Ma Chao's talent, and even more so for Ma Chao's phrase "Young, no failure".

  On the other hand, Xun Shuang and his four companions were also very satisfied with Ma Chao because of his humility without being hypocritical. The five men's ages added up to about three hundred years, so they could naturally tell that Ma Chao was speaking from the heart, and they thought that Yan Zhong had indeed taught a good disciple.