Longevity from Liao Zhai

Chapter 197: Establish a heart for heaven and earth

Everyone in the Zhaixing Tower saw these two questions.

One is why to study.

Second, why be a Confucian.

County Magistrate Zhao said, "This year's question is a bit simple."

Meng Jiusheng frowned and shook his head: "This question is indeed simple, but also difficult."

The governor of Zhao County asked curiously, "What do you mean?"

Fan Shiyi said: "The questions are simple, so everyone will write the same answers, which will be homogenized, so it's hard to tell who is better. If you want to write something outstanding, you have to put in a lot of effort."

Meng Jiusheng nodded: "That's what I mean."

County Magistrate Zhao also nodded. He looked at the tens of thousands of scholars under the Zhaixing Tower, who had already started solving the problems.

Some people have already written down their answers and received applause from other scholars.

The governor of Zhao County immediately stood up and said: "My dear friends, today we are meeting for a literary gathering. The topic is why we study. We will also select the first and second place winners. The first place winner will receive 1,000 taels, and the second place winner will receive 300 taels!"

After Zhao Junshou finished speaking, all the scholars were excited.

Some people are short of money, this is one thousand and two taels of silver!
Some people are not short of money, but they want fame.

Fan Shiyi sits firmly on the podium. Even though she is the first, everyone wants to compete for the second place!
It’s not shameful to lose to Fan Shiyi!
The scholars wrote furiously. For them, this question had been thought about for a long time.

It's just a matter of polishing the answer and writing it better.

Meng Hetang was also very eloquent. He immediately wrote down his answer: "The human heart is like a good seedling. It will grow if it is nurtured. The seedling is watered with spring water, and the heart is nurtured with reason and righteousness."

Chen Chao praised: "What a great poem! The human heart is like a small seedling, and only nutrients can make it grow. Watering the seedling is like nourishing the heart with the principles and principles in the book."

Some scholars around him also praised him.

"As expected of the best scholar in Qianzhou, this poem is concise and to the point, with double meanings, and is a rare good poem."

"After this poem came out, I didn't know what to write anymore."

"Yeah, even though I've written it, it's not embarrassing."

After seeing the poems written by Meng Jiusheng, the scholars at the tables next to him all expressed their defeat.

Meng Jiusheng clasped his fists and said modestly: "No, no."

However, the corners of Meng Jiusheng's mouth curled up slightly, and he could hardly suppress his smile!

At the same time, other scholars wrote various poems.

The Zhaixing Tower was extremely lively for a while!

In the examination room, the candidates were all frowning in deep thought.

These two questions look simple, but it is difficult to write well.

However, some people have already started writing furiously.

Some scholars are gifted and have the ability to write good poems.

There are also some people, such as a dozen scholars in Qinghe County, who are writing furiously because they have guessed the right topic.

"I will definitely be the winner of this exam, because I guessed the right question!"

"Thanks to Mr. Zhou Ping, without his poems, I might be able to write a poem, but I won't be able to write a good poem."

"I take his poems as my goal and study them day and night. Although I can't write as good as him, I still have 10% of his ability. With this 10% of ability alone, I should be able to become a scholar!"

A dozen scholars from Qinghe County wrote furiously. Not only did they hit the right topic, but because Zhou Ping's poem was so good, they discussed it many times and wrote their own poems.

The poems they wrote themselves were not as good as Zhou Ping's, but because these poems had been polished for a long time according to Zhou Ping's standards, the quality of the poems had also improved.

Qianzhou City, Zhaixing Tower.

Tens of thousands of scholars wrote their own poems and compared them with each other.

"Alas, I thought my poems were excellent, but they are nothing but shit compared to others."

"Yeah, I thought that even if I couldn't get 1,000 taels, I could still get 300 taels. I really thought too much!"

"Forget it, let's not compete anymore. Let's just see who wins in the end."

The scholars compared their poems with each other and finally selected three poems!
Meng Hetang's poems are also among them.

The three poems were soon presented to the prefect of Zhao County.

"Meng Daru, your son is quite good. This poem is very well written and should be the best among the three poems." said the Magistrate of Zhao County after reading the three poems.

Meng Jiusheng took a look at the three poems.

These three poems have different intentions and characteristics, and it is really hard to say which one is better or worse.

The governor of Zhao said this purely to save face for Meng Jiusheng.

"Hey, what a good-for-nothing guy. He's only at the fifth rank now. Nephew Fan is the same age as him and has already reached the fourth rank." Meng Jiusheng waved his hand and looked at Fan Shiyi.

The governor of Zhao also asked, "My dear nephew Fan, do you have any poems?"

Fan Shiyi didn't waste any words and directly took out the pen and ink from the storage jade. Xiaoqing turned into a human body, used magic to float the paper in the air, and began to grind it.

Xiaoqing's face was extremely beautiful, which caused the scholars in the audience to exclaim in amazement.

Meng Jiusheng and County Magistrate Zhao couldn't help but look at Xiaoqing again.

"Although the wise and virtuous are from different worlds, they have always been loyal to each other. Even a bookworm on the desk is better than an ordinary companion."

After Fan Shiyi finished writing the poem, Mayor Zhao and Meng Jiusheng both leaned forward to read it.

"What a good poem! This poem should be the best." County Magistrate Zhao said immediately after reading it.

Meng Jiusheng's mouth twitched slightly. You haven't even finished reading it yet, and this is already a good poem! ?
Meng Jiusheng knew that Governor Zhao was trying to curry favor with Fan Shiyi, but after reading Fan Shiyi's poems, he did admit that Fan Shiyi's poems were better than the three poems selected from ten thousand people.

Meng Jiusheng also nodded, this poem should be the first.

Fan Shiyi's poems were not only recognized by Meng Jiusheng and Zhao Junshou, but also by tens of thousands of scholars in the audience.

The strength is there! "I think Mr. Fan Shiyi's poetry is indeed the best."

"This poem has a very good idea and its writing style is sophisticated, which is beyond the reach of my generation."

"He is the best young Confucianist of the time, as expected."

"I'm convinced!"

"I've already been convinced! He's a fourth-rank scholar, almost a third-rank scholar. Among the younger generation, who can cultivate faster than him?"

Meng Hetang looked at Fan Shiyi's poem and snorted coldly: "It's indeed better than mine! But it's only a little better, I'm still second!"

The scholars discussed it a lot, and finally reached a consensus: Fan Shiyi was first!

As for the other three poems, they can be ranked second!
Meng Hetang was unhappy, he didn't want to be second to others.

On and off the Star-Picking Stage, the guests were having a great time and began to toast each other.

"There is no limit on the amount of alcohol tonight! All of you future great scholars can drink as much as you want." County Magistrate Zhao was quite happy.

As Magistrate Zhao finished his words, groups of dancers floated in the air, preparing to perform.

In the stands, Fan Shiyi looked a little disappointed. There was no one who could fight.

At this time, Fan Shiyi thought of Zhou Ping again. If Zhou Ping were still alive, perhaps he would have written some amazing and brilliant poems.

Under the Star-Picking Terrace, three scholars from Qinghe County were whispering.

"Brother Chen, do you want to take out Zhou Ping's poems?"

"Yes, if Zhou Ping's poem is brought out, it will easily outshine the others. Even Master Fan Shiyi may not be as good as him."

"That's not good. Brother Zhou did give us a good poem, and it's exactly the same as the title, but he's not here. If the three of us ask him to take out the poem, he might be unhappy."

The other two scholars in Qinghe County hoped that Chen Chao could reveal Zhou Ping's poems.

However, Chen Chao had many concerns. The author of the poem was not here, but they were using the poem to show off. This was not a good idea.

"Yeah, that's not much to pay back, so forget it."

After the three of them discussed for a while, they finally decided not to take out Zhou Ping's poem.

After all, Fan Shiyi has already won first place, and bringing up Zhou Ping's poem at this time would seem like a slap in the face.

"County Magistrate, wait a minute, don't start the performance, there are more good poems here." Meng Hetang shouted.

The dancers who were about to start their performance also stopped.

County Magistrate Zhao was not angry. He smiled and said to Meng Jiusheng, "It seems that you, the young man of the clan, are not convinced and want to compete with nephew Fan."

Meng Jiusheng frowned. He didn't know what Meng Hetang was going to do. Could it be that he really had a good poem that could surpass Fan Shiyi's?

Fan Shiyi had no expression at all, just drinking.

"Nephew Meng, please bring up any good poems you have," said the governor of Zhao.

Meng Hetang shook his head: "I don't have any better poems, but I just heard these three scholars from Qinghe County say that they have better poems that can outshine others!"

Fan Shiyi, Magistrate Zhao and Meng Jiusheng all looked cold for a moment.

Fan Shiyi was stunned because Meng Hetang said that there were better poems in Qinghe County.

Fan Shiyi was quite familiar with Qinghe County and knew that the level of scholars in Qinghe County was lower-middle level. What good poems could they have?
Meng Jiusheng didn't expect that Meng Hetang would say that others had better poems.

Chen Chao and the other two were stunned, especially Chen Chao, who had a little anger on his face. They had just agreed not to bring out Zhou Ping's poems, but Meng Hetang had stabbed them.

"Excuse me, you three. You just said you had good poems, but you didn't want to show them to me." Meng Hetang said apologetically, "I don't respect anyone except Fan Shiyi, but you said your poems are better than his. This makes me feel very uncomfortable."

Chen Chao's face was dark, but the governor of Zhao had already spoken: "Qinghe County? What good poems can this small county produce?"

Meng Jiusheng said, "Since you have the poem, then take it out."

Fan Shiyi didn't say anything. In her opinion, unless Zhou Ping was present, Chen Chao and the other two would definitely make a fool of themselves with their level.

At this time, the scholars present also began to discuss.

"The small Qinghe County actually claims to be better than Master Fan's poems."

"Yes, the key is that they are still hiding it. The first place has already been selected, so they say such things."

"I think they were drunk and unconvinced, so they said those drunken words."

"This is going to be a huge loss of face for them, including Qinghe County."

"Yes, Qinghe County will probably become famous all of a sudden! A few scholars were not convinced by Fan Shiyi's good poems and boasted while drunk. Hahahaha."

The scholars present all thought that Chen Chao and his companions were drunk and talking big.

At this time, Chen Chao's face was uncertain, and he finally sighed. The current situation has forced him into a desperate situation, and he must take out Zhou Ping's poem.

"Brother Zhou, I'm sorry! For the sake of Qinghe County, I have no choice but to take out this poem. I will apologize to you when I return!" After Chen Chao figured it out, he stood up and recited it loudly.

"I have a poem here! Listen carefully! I think this poem is better than any other poem here, including Master Fan."

"More than that, I feel this poem has never been written before and will never be repeated."

Chen Chao picked up the wine jug and drank it in one gulp.

"Hey, this scholar from Qinghe County is drunk and ready to go all out."

"That's right, I want to see how he ends up!"

"Hehehe, how will it end? It will definitely end up as a stray dog ​​and leave."

The scholars said one after another.

Fan Shiyi frowned slightly. She knew Chen Chao a little bit. Although he was a talented man, he was not so arrogant and didn't know his own worth.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Fan Shiyi's mind. Could it be him?
And Chen Chao had already started reciting poetry.

"Establish a heart for heaven and earth!"

(End of this chapter)