Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 6: Studying with all my heart

……

Since its founding, the Great Xia Dynasty has always valued culture over military affairs, and literary style is extremely prosperous. Various academies are spread across the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the country, among which the most are in Kyoto and Nanjing.

Not to mention Jinling for now, among the academies of all sizes in Kyoto, Xishan Academy is undoubtedly one of the most prestigious academies. The principal, Li Wenyuan, once served as the Minister of Rites and was highly respected.

"Brother Shunzhi, you are more charming than ever after half a month of absence. You should be able to pass the monthly exam this time!"

Shunzhi is Jia Rong's courtesy name, which was given to him by Jia Jing, hoping that Jia Rong could pass the imperial examination and bring honor to the family. At the same time, he also hoped that Jia Rong would be obedient and filial, and have both moral integrity and talent.

The speaker is Xie Qian, the son of Xie Qiuhe, a Bachelor of the Hanlin Academy. His courtesy name is Jiwen. He is a humble and humorous person, inheriting many of his grandfather's styles.

He has a very good personal relationship with Jia Rong.

"No, no." Jia Rong said modestly, "I was busy having fun during the New Year holidays, and I only managed to read a few pages of a book last night.

"Hey, me too." Xie Jiwen whispered, "I went to Mingyue Tower twice during the New Year, and I almost didn't want to leave."

"...Didn't your father notice?"

"I told him to go to your house to study, and he felt relieved."

Jia Rong's face suddenly looked unhappy.

"I must explain to my uncle next time I see him. My Ning Mansion is a family of scholars. Are you trying to discredit me like this?"

Xie Jiwen smiled and didn't care.

"Brother Shunzhi, don't blame me. Next time you go to a brothel, tell me you came to my house. I'll keep it a secret for you."

Although the Xie family is not as noble as the Ningguo Mansion in terms of family background, it is a true century-old scholarly family with more heritage. If Jia Jing had not passed the imperial examination and served as an official in the court, the Xie family might not have looked upon the Jia family in the eye.

"I keep myself clean and never go to places of entertainment." Jia Rong said seriously while sitting in his seat.

"Pedant." Xie Jiwen waved a fan in the cold weather and said with a self-righteous manner: "Isn't the purpose of studying to have fun and chat with beautiful women? If you only think about fame and fortune, you will lose your success. Confucius said: 'Three years of study, if you don't reach the level of a grain, it is not easy to get it.'"

Jia Rong laughed and said, "'Not as good as the valley', of course 'not easy to get', but you 'learned for three years' and then went to a brothel to show off with the girls, that's too much."

"What are you pretending to be?"

"Shut up, Instructor Su is here!"

The two of them quickly stopped whispering and sat up straight.

Teacher Su always had a blank expression on his face, and today was no exception. As soon as he entered the room, he put on a stern face and said in a serious tone: "My fellow students, there are less than four months left before the college entrance examination. You must not slack off at this time!"

……

There are roads and roads as paths in Shushan.
The sea of ​​study is boundless and hard work.

A day of boring study began. Jia Rong adapted to this learning rhythm very well, thanks to the nine years of compulsory education and three years of high school in his previous life.

After thousands of years, some things have changed, some things have not changed, some things have changed but are almost the same as not changing, and some things have really changed!
In the previous life, the top scorer in the college entrance examination may have become a corporate executive, but in this life, the top scorer in the imperial examination can at least start as a Beijing official and sit in the Hanlin Academy. Even if he is only a third-class Jinshi, he can start as a county magistrate!
Even if he only passed the exam and became a juren, he could still become a county magistrate. There was a reason why Fan Jin was so happy after passing the exam.

Who wouldn't risk their life to study for the imperial examination?
……

The pleasant reading time is always short. At the beginning of the You hour, the study in the academy ends, and the rest is self-study time.

Some started out studying very hard, hanging their heads on the beams and piercing their legs with awls, studying until late at night; others were a little more indulgent, going out of the academy to have a drink, listen to some music, or visit a brothel and not return home all night, then quietly crawling into the academy in the morning.

Jia Rong usually does not go back home, but studies hard in the academy. However, his father has been seriously ill in bed recently, so he has to go back to fulfill his filial duties.

"Brother Shunzhi, how about we study together tonight and discuss the classics and articles?" Several familiar classmates from the academy called Jia Rong to stop.

Although Jia Rong's family background was extraordinary, he was humble and polite, so he had many friends in the academy. "I'm really sorry, my father is ill in bed, and I have to go home to serve him medicine at night, so I don't have the heart to study at night for the time being." Jia Rong said seriously.

Everyone was impressed.

"Filial piety is the most important virtue. Please do as you wish, brother Shunzhi."

"Brother Shunzhi's filial piety is a role model for our generation."

"Classmates, I will go ahead."

"Brother Shunzhi, take care."

After bidding farewell to his classmates, Jia Rong came to the academy's office, Wu Jiancheng, and took out his badge of supervision.

Wu Jiancheng has great power, second only to the principal. He is in charge of academic performance appraisal, discipline and punishment, and rules and regulations. Naturally, asking for leave to go out requires Wu Jiancheng's consent.

"Shunzhi is here, what's the matter?"

Wu Jiancheng had a faint smile on his face.

There were more than a thousand students in the academy, and it was impossible for him to recognize every one of them, but he was very familiar with a few 'special ones'.

Jia Rong, courtesy name Shunzhi, was the eldest grandson of the Ningguo Mansion and the grandson of the Minister of War Jia Jing. He studied hard and wrote excellent articles, but his father seemed to be in poor health and was always bedridden for several months a year...

Jia Rong bowed and said, "I have something to do at home and I need to ask for leave. Bring me a sign to leave the academy."

"Yes." Wu Jiancheng nodded and said, "I heard by chance that your father was ill in bed a while ago. Is he feeling better now?"

"It's getting better."

Jia Rong didn't say much, and Wu Jian didn't ask any more questions. He just handed Jia Rong a red sign and said with a smile, "Since you have something to worry about at home, you can return it when you are better. You don't have to come and get it every day."

"Thank you, Lord Supervisor."

Jia Rong took the discharge card and put it into his sleeve.

With it, it will be much more convenient to go in and out of the academy in the future. After all, Jia Zhen's illness will not be cured in a short time, and he may even be bedridden for ten or eight years. He can't just come and ask for leave every day.

When they left the academy, Xiao Zhu had already been waiting outside the gate in his car. When he saw Jia Rong, he hurried over to him and asked, "Master, are you done with school?"

"Yes." Jia Rong nodded and said, "Let's pick up Sister Xiaoxiao first, and then go to the West Street Market to buy some things."

In addition to Peifeng's favorite candied haws, she also has to buy some elixirs for her father to nourish his body. It is not easy to be a filial son. He has to think about respecting his father all the time.

……

Yang Weiwu Hall!

He has become quite famous in Kyoto in recent years.

Although because the imperial court valued civil talents over military talents, most families with the means chose to send their children to school, but there is also a saying that not everyone is suitable for studying.

For some people who are just stupid and never think of anything, or who are idle all day and don't like to study, sending them to a martial arts school to learn some martial arts and then using their connections to work as constables in the government is a good way out.

Military officer Yang Wei has such conditions.

He was able to gain a foothold in the huge Kyoto, and even the government offices of all sizes in Kyoto and the Five Cities Military Department gave him some face. Needless to say, he had a strong backer.

Rumor has it that if one is valued by Master Jin, the owner of Yang Weiwu Hall, it would be easy for him to become a constable as long as he says a word to the government.

……

(End of this chapter)