Chapter 3: The Way Out

  New book debut rush list, every click, every recommendation is precious, after 12 o'clock, Nan Chao respectfully awaits your help, thank you!

  In the late afternoon, Zhang Lao San returned from hunting in the mountains, but there was no large black wolf among his spoils. When asked, it turned out that he had lost track of it. The terrain behind Fengshan Mountain is continuous and complex, with high mountains and dense forests, making it a place where people rarely set foot, and it's difficult to traverse. With the sky already darkening, the old hunter tracked for a while but didn't dare continue deeper when he couldn't find any signs, so he had no choice but to give up reluctantly.

  ……

  Days have feet, seem weightless, quietly and soundlessly slipping away from everyone's side, and will not change because of the addition of a traveler in this world.

  Before you know it, autumn has gone and winter has arrived, with each passing day getting colder than the last.

  Compared with this unbearable coldness, what gave Chen Jianchen a more severe headache was that he found himself completely unable to read those "zhī hū zhě yě" (a literary term referring to the four-character idioms).

  The political system of this world, as well as the mainstream cultural ideology, is extremely similar to that of the Ming Dynasty on Earth. The content of the imperial examination is also very similar, with a "Confucian" presence and the testing of eight-legged essays.

  What a strange thing!

  This made Chen Jianchen feel dizzy and confused, as if in a dream, thinking that he had entered not a different time and space, but the ancient history of the earth's surface.

  The Tianyun dynasty has been established for nearly a thousand years, unifying the world, and can be said to have deep roots and be unshakeable. At the beginning of its founding, Emperor Wu ascended to the throne and immediately adopted the suggestion of Dong Zhongxu, a scholar in the Imperial Academy, to implement the political program of "abolishing the hundred schools of thought and honoring only Confucianism", with the core of "benevolent and righteous thinking and monarch-subject ethics" to maintain the order of rule and deify imperial power.

  It can be said that this set is very useful.

  As each generation of monarchs carried out this idea firmly, it has taken root in the hearts of the people, penetrating into every individual's bones and marrow, achieving "great unity" in thought, and thus managing the entire Tianyun Dynasty like an iron barrel.

  In the iron barrel, tens of thousands of people live in peace and contentment, just like numb ants.

  Unfortunately, Chen Jianchen was not a man who could be easily satisfied - his extraordinary background had destined him to be dissatisfied with the status quo. From his experience, he could see through many deep things that were not easy to deceive. He also found that the Confucian system of the Tian Tong Dynasty and the Confucian system he was familiar with had some differences.

  For example, the Confucian ancestor of the Tianyun Dynasty was Dong Zhongxu, a founding meritorious official who lived to be 138 years old and was revered as "Dong Shengren" by later generations. The content of the examination questions for the "Eight-legged Essay", which is a must-pass for entering officialdom, mostly comes from Dong Shengren's life writings "De Shu", "Li Shu", "Zhong Shu" and "Fa Shu".

  "The De Book", "The Li Book", "The Zhong Book" and "The Fa Book" are collectively known as the "Four Books". They are written in classical Chinese, with a plethora of phrases such as "zhī hū zhě yě". Moreover, these "zhī hū zhě yě" are even more dull than the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, belonging to a rigid and dogmatic form of existence that is dry and uninteresting.

  So, Chen Jianchen felt disgusted and hateful from the bottom of his heart. Every time he picked up a thick Buddhist scripture, he had an urge to tear it open and use its pages to wipe his buttocks.

  "The Four Books", each book has three volumes, thirty-six volumes in total, enough for him to wipe his butt for a long time.

  Unfortunately, this idea can only revolve in the mind and cannot be implemented - disrespecting the "Four Books" is disrespecting Dong Shengren, which is a capital offense punishable by beheading according to the imperial law.

  Chen Jianchen did not want to die.

  Not only don't want to die, but also want to live a good life, live a fulfilling life.

  However, in order to achieve an ideal standard of living, he had to participate in the imperial examination, write eight-part essays, and hope to pass the exam, become a scholar, and enter officialdom.

  Besides this, there is no other way.

  It's all because of his situation, and he can't do anything else anyway.

  Engage in commerce? Farming? Learn a trade?

  Don't be kidding.

  How can you start a business without capital, resources or experience? Moreover, farmers, workers and artisans all belong to the "lower class" identity, which is not allowed to flow. Below the lower class, there is another "mean people", those who have committed crimes, as well as the slave class.

  "All things are of little worth, except for reading books."

  A strict hierarchy of ranks clearly expresses the full meaning of this sentence.

  The imperial examination was actually divided into two categories: civil and martial arts, and those who excelled in martial arts could also enter the court as officials.

  The question is, if Chen Jianchen's body goes to participate in Wu Jue, wouldn't that be even more ridiculous?

  So, there is only one way for him to go: Wen Ju.

  The imperial examination had no age limit, as long as one obtained the status of a scholar and was not deprived of it, they could continue to take the exam until death - in the examination hall, old scholars who were getting on in years were not uncommon. And in this long "struggle" process of life, the main means of survival for scholars from poor families were to teach in private schools or sell calligraphy and paintings, barely able to make a living and solve the problem of food and clothing.

  But Chen Jianchen was reborn through time and space, but it wasn't just for a living.

  What can be done about it?

  The road ahead is not liked and may not be able to continue smoothly; there is a saying "when impoverished, think of change", but where is the way out that represents change?

  Chen Jianchen was unaware, at least he currently felt very confused and disoriented.

  Alas...

  He let out a long sigh, and once again forced himself to open the "De Book" in front of him. He had intended to review the old and gain new insights, but after flipping through a few pages with his mind elsewhere, he couldn't grasp anything new, and even what he already knew gradually faded away.

  It's really killing me.

  To know that the most basic thing to participate in the imperial examination is memory, it's a feat of memorization, you have to recite the Four Books and Twelve Classics from start to finish, over 100,000 words, without missing a single word, only then can you be considered proficient.

  Chen Jianchen was undoubtedly able to do this in the past.

  But it's all in the past now.

  Modern university students who have traveled through time, of course, inherited the memories of bookworms, but these memories are not foolproof. Especially in terms of reciting books, if you don't review them frequently, they will easily be forgotten over time.

  It's been almost three months since Chen Jianchen crossed over and hasn't warmed up his books...

  “FUCK！”

  He slammed shut that "Deutsche Buch" with a bang and threw it into the corner of the room, then walked out of the narrow study.

  This book is really unbearable to read, when the cart reaches the mountain, there will be a way. Let's talk about it after the spring break and the new semester start; take advantage of the remaining preparation time to think carefully.

  Mo San Niang was weaving, an ancient loom with a fragrance was humming softly.

  She has a pair of deft hands, the fabric she weaves is of high quality and sells well. This family relies on her weaving day and night to barely make ends meet.

  This matter Chen Jianchen can't help with much.

  "Liuxian, are you going out?"

  "Chen Jianchen said: 'Mm, I've been feeling quite annoyed lately, so I thought I'd go out for a walk.'"

  "Then go ahead, remember to wear more clothes."

  Chen Jianchen's clothes were all handmade by Mo Sanniang, with a rustic style and the main feature being thick and durable.

  "A traveler's clothes are stitched with a loving mother's thread."

  It's probably like this.

  The weather was cold and Chen Jianchen did not go far away but came to a secluded small forest several hundred meters south of Jingyang Village.

  In the quiet forest, he walked in, stood still, and began to practice boxing, practicing Jeet Kune Do.