Volume 2 Chapter 61: The Exam of Ren Ping Sheng

  A new week, a new start, new progress, seeking all kinds of support!

  In three days, Wang Fu copied "The Dream of the Red Chamber" and returned the manuscript to Chen Jicheng.

  He took the manuscript, and to calm his mind, Chen Jianchen wrote ten "quiet" characters on a piece of white paper, one after another. With each stroke, he felt his emotions calming down by a fraction, until finally, he felt completely at peace. Then, he sat up straight and opened "The Dream of the Red Chamber".

  This time, he actually looked into it.

  It feels somewhat mysterious, as if I've become another self. When studying notes, the words and sentences on the page flow like clear water, passing through my mind, yet leaving behind a clear impression.

  Chen Jianchen's spirit was highly concentrated, his thinking was running at high speed, just like the year he fought hard for the college entrance examination. Even though he was extremely disgusted with those dry mathematical formulas and equations, he still managed to memorize all of them word by word without any mistakes.

  This should also be considered a skill.

  ……

  In the next nearly half month, Chen Jianchen has been studying "The Dream of the Red Chamber", whenever he encounters difficulties, he opens the Four Books to consult, and also moves in various annotations on the Four Books, piling them up like a small mountain in the room - since it is determined that it will be broken after being established, then one must first put on the shackles, familiarize oneself with its characteristics, weaknesses, loopholes, and then break through at once, never to be bound again, rather than just superficially rejecting it subconsciously, seeing but not seeing.

  This process may involve risks, who can guarantee that the shackles will be put on and worn until they are adapted to and cannot be taken off?

  This is not an impossible thing to happen.

  What is called a system, is an absurd process from disliking at the beginning, to gradually getting used to it, and finally being inseparable - fortunately, Chen Jianchen's outsider identity and possession of the "Three Standing True Chapters" can guarantee that this risk is suppressed to the greatest extent.

  Where there's effort, there's reward.

  A month later, Chen Jianchen was able to write a complete eight-legged essay in a very proper manner.

  Just like timely rain, on the eve of the imperial examination, he finally grasped the key to writing in the eight-part essay format.

  The years go by like a series of exams, one after another, and soon pass away quickly.

  In both exams, Chen Jianchen was ranked fourth class, with scores in the middle to lower range. Although there was no danger of demotion, he would still be subject to a reprimand from the education official according to regulations.

  Actually, Chen Jianchen is quite satisfied with this result, feeling relieved. He temporarily hugged Buddha's feet and was able to get a fourth-grade result based on his true abilities, which isn't bad at all.

  But the teachers in the college didn't think so, Chen Jianchen was a young talent who came first in the imperial examination for children three times, how could he get a fourth-class result in the first year under such a great reputation?

  It's really a bit of a mismatch between name and reality.

  So, the husbands immediately thought of Chen Jianchen's frequent requests for leave during his studies and must have been distracted and slackened off, leading to a decline in his academic performance.

  This wind cannot last long.

  So Master Chen was summoned again and reprimanded.

  However, their tone is relatively calm and soothing, mainly comforting.

  In the eyes of Husband, the county test is held once every three years. Chen Jianchen can't catch up with this session, but he can impact the next session four years later, which is the most stable and steady. By then, it's time to show off his skills.

  Chen Jianchen was just seventeen years old, still young.

  Youth is his greatest asset.

  Wang Fu also failed to qualify for the next year's imperial examination, and he was examined as a third-class candidate in the provincial examination and as a fourth-class candidate in the metropolitan examination. He was summoned by the education official to be "educated" with a few words of criticism.

  However, this is nothing, as long as it doesn't fall to the sixth rank, it's fine; if it reaches the sixth rank, it will be stripped of the title of Xiucai. But such things rarely happen, even if the article scores very poorly, as long as gifts are given to the education official, they basically won't go to the sixth rank.

  Etiquette is very important.

  Examinations must be held, but human feelings also need to be considered, which has always been a characteristic of our dynasty.

  It was Wu Wencai who "brilliantly" scored a second-class result in the double examination and could participate in next year's county examination; along with him, there were three other students.

  Wu Da Gongzi was over the moon and boasted that he would host a banquet on the night of August 15th, Mid-Autumn Festival. At that time, he would book the entire Shuangyuan Building and invite all his fellow students, including several masters, academic supervisors, and education officials to come and feast with him.

  On that day, the entire Minghua Academy, except for the gatekeeper and a few cleaning ladies, would basically be invited to the Champion Building.

  Who dares not give face to Master Wu?

  It is said that Nie Chongzheng and his daughter from Jiangzhou City were also invited, as well as a group of high-ranking officials.

  This wine is absolutely extraordinary, with great connotation. All the candidates are eager to make connections with those officials and open up their future prospects.

  A conversation with an official is better than reading ten years of books!

  This is consensus.

  For that day, Wang Fu specially went to the most famous Li's fabric store in Jiangzhou and had two brocade robes made, wanting to make a good impression at the banquet.

  If there's anyone else who can remain calm and unmoving, it would probably be Chen Jianchen.

  The semester's exams have come to an end, and the college has followed tradition in giving a ten-day holiday. During this time, all students can freely return home. Chen Jian didn't choose to go traveling like his fellow classmates, but instead quietly returned home.

  It has been nearly three months since Chen Jianchen last returned home for his mother's birthday, and he is feeling somewhat homesick.

  Mo Sanniang and Abao missed him even more, but they were afraid of disturbing his studies, so they didn't visit the college. When Chen Jianchen came back on vacation, they were all very happy.

  In Mo San Niang's eyes, her son must have lost weight...

  But in Ah Bao's eyes, Liu Xian Ge had become even more calm and composed, with a deeper air of dignity. His gaze seemed to be able to see through people's hearts, giving the feeling that once he looked at you, no secret could remain hidden.

  A Bao had heard people say that a bookworm who could truly become intelligent was like a god.

  About the specific meaning of this sentence, Abao never really understood it, but just thought it sounded very powerful. And Chen Jianchen has always been very powerful in her mind.

  The mouse demon followed Chen Jianchen back to the Chen family and did not dare to run around, but instead quietly found a cave to live in.

  Chen Jianchen stayed at home, reading books and practicing "Three Stances of True Energy", feeling very fulfilling.

  On the third day, Wang Fu came to his door and said that he had heard news that Jiangzhou would be holding a Dharma Assembly soon. Apparently, it was in response to a request from the capital, and every province and state would be holding a Dharma Assembly to pray for blessings on the 80th birthday of the Empress Dowager.

  In the past, Qingyun and Guanghan, two Taoist priests from Laoshan, rushed to the capital to attend a grand Buddhist ceremony. Due to unclear circumstances, Chen Jianchen did not know the details, but now he heard that it was actually for the empress dowager's birthday celebration.

  This reason sounds grand, but the fact may not be so simple.

  Moreover, from the tone of Qingyun Daochang, they seem to attach great importance to this Dharma Assembly. Thinking deeper, it's easy to think of that long-standing dispute between Buddhism and Taoism.

  Could it be that His Majesty wants to support the declining Buddhist family and use this to counterbalance the Taoist school?

  As an outsider, Chen Jianchen's mind suddenly thought deeply: Is this going to be a conspiracy?