Age of Legends

Chapter 348 He became famous!

Perfect scores are extremely rare. Throughout the entire college entrance examination grading process, there are many high-scoring essays, but very few perfect scores. The grading team is extremely cautious about awarding "perfect scores," and in the tense pace of rapid grading, essays that are unanimously recognized as perfect scores are few and far between.

If any teacher in the marking group gives a perfect score, the entire marking group will review it, and the group leader will ultimately decide whether to give a perfect score based on the opinions of all parties.

Therefore, in reality, a province may only produce a few perfect-score essays.

Even so, the total number of perfect-score essays across all provinces in the country is actually quite considerable, at least several dozen, if not a hundred.

However, very few of them actually appear in the public eye and are published in newspapers each year.

After the college entrance examination scores are released, the provincial education examination authorities will compile a list of perfect-score essays and submit it for publication. Mainstream media outlets or education departments within the province will then review and select the best essays for publication—not every essay will be published.

The resources of a province that promotes its strength, the media coordination capabilities of the education sector, and even the subject matter and writing style of the essay itself all influence whether an essay can "go viral."

For example, the article "The Death of Red Hare" that caused a national sensation this year relied on its creativity and theme in classical Chinese, and it ignited a nationwide sensation as soon as it was published.

As for the other perfect-score essays published at the same time, most of them could only become "partners-up." Some remained silent, while others were lucky enough to rise to prominence and become topics of discussion "below the champion."

Therefore, the reason why Zhang Chen's articles were able to appear in the full-mark essay selection sections of newspapers across the country was not only because the articles themselves were indeed excellent, but also because of luck. Being awarded full marks and having the collective review and approval of the grading team was a matter of luck.

Secondly, there is the influence of the provincial media. The West China City Daily is a "star media" among metropolitan newspapers in China. During the golden age of print media, its reach was enormous. Its front-page reports were often cited by the Southern Metropolis Daily and China Youth Daily, and then reprinted by Guangming Daily and China Education Daily, generating nationwide buzz.

In an era before social media platforms like Weibo, being reprinted by local evening newspapers meant going viral.

However, this only ranks first or second on the college entrance examination hot search list.

However, when these two essays are put together, the media offers a different perspective: "These two perfect essays respectively depict the interplay between youthful idealism and ironic realism."

At this point, everything must be compared. Experts from the Capital Language and Literature Group commented on "The Death of Red Hare": "The shock of 'The Death of Red Hare' lies not in the words, but in the chilling thought. It brings the issue of integrity down to the level of human nature."

Chen Yongmei, a teacher at the Sichuan Provincial Grading Center, said: "The Empty Space in the Backpack is more in line with the spirit of young people. It is more valuable than any criticism for a seventeen-year-old to write such a clear belief."

In other words, if a work only exists in classical Chinese style, it would set a bad precedent for future college entrance examination essay writing education, suggesting that as long as it is unconventional and novel, it might stand out. It is precisely to suppress this trend that Zhang Chen's essay can become a respectable representative.

It played a role in "the interplay of orthodox and unorthodox tactics" on the page. This is not because the media understands military strategy, but because it is the official guidance.

After the college entrance examination results were released, Zhang Chen received calls from the media. The first to call, sensing the news, was the West China City Daily: "Are you Zhang Chen? Hello, we are editors from the West China City Daily. Your college entrance examination essay, 'The Void in My Backpack,' received a perfect score. We would like to publish this article in the newspaper, is that alright?"

"Do you have my original text?"

The editor on the other end of the phone laughed, "We can get a copy of your exam paper. In fact, your perfect score essay was also given to us by the Examination Authority. We have a cooperation with the Examination Authority, and we follow up and report on perfect score essays and top scorers in the college entrance examination every year."

"It's no problem."

"That's great. We might have an interview with you later. Which location would be more suitable for you, either at home or at school? Your principal would prefer it to be done at the school. What do you think?"

After thinking about it, Zhang Chen decided that Principal Chen Qiushi of Yude School was a decent person and agreed: "Then let's do it at the school."

Actually, no sooner had that phone call ended than another rang: "We're from Southern Daily. You're Zhang Chen, the writer of 'The Void in the Backpack,' right? Congratulations! We hope to publish your work in the newspaper..."

These phone calls had been bothering him for quite some time, so Zhang Chen could still predict the outcome after the newspaper published the story.

……

The day after the results were released, Zheng Xue and Shen Nuoyi were shopping. Shen Nuoyi's score was 671, while Tsinghua University's admission cutoff score was 655 and Peking University's was 649. Therefore, Shen Nuoyi should be able to get into Tsinghua University and choose a good major.

Zheng Xue scored 576, which is enough for her to study at Nanjing University of Science and Technology. She was in high spirits and after sharing the good news with Shen Nuoyi on the phone, the two made plans to go shopping together today.

Shen Nuoyi's estimated score was 660, which was rather conservative. The actual score of 671 was an exceptional performance. As soon as the result came out, the family was overjoyed. Shen Mingbo was especially proud, as the gloom caused by the family's previous misfortunes was finally swept away at this moment.

Zheng Xue witnessed the whole process. Rumors were circulating outside that something had happened to Shen Nuo's family, but she was not affected at all. Instead, she calmed herself down and performed exceptionally well in the end, making her admission to Tsinghua University a sure thing.

Zheng Xue said, "Nuoyi, I really admire you. You're the pillar of our class. Li Runjia did well on the exam and got into Peking University without any problems, and you got into Tsinghua University. Now our class can all be proud of you!"

These days, Tsinghua and Peking University aren't like they are in later years, where they're given out in bulk. There are only a few dozen spots per province, which are divided up by top schools. In some cities, having just one student from Tsinghua or Peking University is enough to cause a sensation, with banners hanging everywhere.

Even in a school like Yude High School, the fact that a single class can produce students admitted to Tsinghua and Peking Universities is enough to make the entire class proud and unconsciously enhance their sense of class honor. This is something that everyone can remember and talk about with pride years later when they look back on their high school years.

Zheng Xue's thoughts wandered as she looked at Shen Nuoyi beside her. As a girl who had been influenced by youth literature, Zheng Xue began to daydream again. In fact, the school beauty of Yude School was stunningly beautiful and had long been a dazzling color in the memories of many people's youth.

She is almost a tacit consensus among everyone—the figure that makes the light and shadow gentle when walking under the sycamore trees, the profile that is a beautiful sight even when quietly doing problems in the evening self-study classroom, the existence that will cause a subtle flutter once her name is mentioned.

Once upon a time, everyone regarded her and Pei Yan, the famous middle school student representative in the city, as a perfect couple, and they would both stand at the peak and be admired by others.

Therefore, without the glorious final chapter of "passing the imperial examinations and gaining admission to Tsinghua and Peking Universities," the memory of Shen Nuoyi, so vividly etched in the annals of time, would likely carry a sense of melancholy after the fading of her former glory. Like a masterpiece landscape painting missing its crucial seal, or a breathtaking poem lacking its final, poignant touch, her beauty and excellence would seem to float in mid-air, lacking the solid and brilliant foundation upon which all legends take root and where all who admire her are truly convinced.

Although it might be a bit unfair to her friend to say this, Zheng Xue still believes that since Shen Nuoyi didn't choose Pei Yan, she was lucky to have been admitted to Tsinghua University; otherwise, her legendary stories would have been much less impressive.

Normally, if Shen Nuo failed to get into Tsinghua University and then was rumored to be dating Zhang Chen, this would be seen by many as a sign of moral decay.

Thinking of Zhang Chen again, and then looking at the girl in front of her with her masculine features, her delicate eyebrows slanting upwards, and her beauty so striking that she could easily win over Zheng Xue with her looks if she dressed as a boy, Zheng Xue sighed to herself. She thought that a beautiful flower shouldn't be stuck in cow dung, it wasn't that bad. Although Zheng Xue had watched him grow up, she didn't think that Zhang Chen's family's rise from poverty was anything special. At least in Zheng Xue's eyes, Zhang Chen was just an ordinary clay pot, and he was still a bit lacking in compatibility with Shen Nuoyi, this peony.

But so what if he's almost there? It's better to keep the good stuff in the family. The real worry is that once Shen Nuoyi gets into Tsinghua University, he'll be surrounded by outstanding people, while Zhang Chen will seem ordinary and mediocre.

Hey, thinking about this, she actually started to worry about Zhang Chen.

But why should I worry about it?

Zheng Xue said, "After that, what about you and Zhang Chen? Zhang Chen went to Sichuan University and stayed in Fuzhou, while you went to the capital. Wouldn't that mean you'd be in a long-distance relationship..."

Shen Nuo nodded slightly: "Mmm!" To Zheng Xue, this actually made her seem rather well-behaved.

She added, "I will come back to him."

Fine.

Looking at her sudden expression, Zheng Xue seemed to realize that she was no longer so worried about Zhang Chen.

Her gaze wandered, inadvertently sweeping over a newsstand painted green by the post office. The glass windows were densely covered with various magazines and newspapers, a characteristic of this era. These newsstands were usually located at intersections, places where people gathered; some even had public telephones. Various print media, popular at the time, were displayed outside, with the best-selling and newest titles typically placed there, such as *Science Fiction World*, *Southern Wind*, *Entertainment Weekly*, and various newspapers like the *West China City Daily*. One *West China City Daily*, unfolded, particularly eye-catching.

The front page features "Commentary on Top-Scoring College Entrance Examination Essays!"

Zheng Xue's eyes were immediately drawn to the headline she wanted to see, ignoring the subtitle: "The perfect essay is out! Let's buy a copy and take a look!"

Shen Nuoyi nodded in agreement. Every year, the perfect score essays are a focus of national attention, and as a test taker who had just gone through the process, she could relate to it.

Zheng Xue spent two yuan to buy a copy of the West China City Daily and handed it to Shen Nuoyi to open.

The newspaper is very large; if you hold both sides with your hands, no one can read the entire page at a glance, so you can only read the top half.

"The Death of Red Hare" is the first piece in the upper half because its unique style attracts attention and has the greatest impact. The title is in bold black: "Commentary on a Masterpiece (I) 'The Death of Red Hare'".

Below the main text is a commentary: "...The article concludes skillfully, enhancing the drama and elevating the theme through the reactions of Bo Xi and Sun Quan. This method of ending not only conforms to the aesthetic characteristics of classical Chinese but also makes the article more persuasive."

The article, told from the perspective of Red Hare, showcases its loyal and tragic life, while also reflecting Guan Yu's own spirit of loyalty and righteousness. This novel angle not only attracts the reader's attention but also makes the article's theme more vivid and profound.

In conclusion, through the depiction of the Red Hare horse, the author of "The Death of Red Hare" successfully conveys a profound praise for loyalty and integrity, while also prompting readers to reflect deeply on history and life. With its novel story, lofty theme, exquisite language, and tight structure, "The Death of Red Hare" successfully conveys the theme of integrity and is a masterpiece worthy of careful appreciation.

After reading it, the two felt it was indeed well-written, just as the experts had commented—undeniably good. It possessed both elegant writing style and a compelling theme; truly deserving of a perfect score.

Shen Nuoyi nodded to himself.

Then she gripped the bottom sides of the newspaper and folded it down to look at the bottom half.

Both of them were stunned.

"Commentary on Excellent Works (Part Two): 'The Void in My Backpack' by Zhang Chen"

After reading the main text in one go, they didn't miss the expert's comments at the end: "The author of this essay is Zhang Chen, a senior high school student from Yude Middle School in Sichuan Province."

Zhang Chen's "The Empty Backpack" excels in its novelty and ingenuity. Unlike "The Death of Red Hare," which relies on historical allusions, he focuses on the fable of "Honesty" itself, boldly employing cinematic montage to highlight the moment when a young man, having discarded his "honesty" backpack, finds his seemingly lighter boat unbalanced in the storm. Through vivid, detailed descriptions and the art of using negative space, the text guides the reader to contemplate the "empty" itself, and the shadows and ripples it casts in the young man's eyes, creating a profound and thought-provoking atmosphere.

"Both essays also reflect the pursuit of 'writing for the times'."

"The Death of Red Hare is like a meticulously crafted historical figure painting, rich in color and full of spirit; while 'The Empty Backpack' is more like a simple yet profound landscape painting, revealing the true essence in the blank spaces and inspiring contemplation. They prove with different aesthetic languages ​​that on the special stage of the college entrance examination essay, profound accumulation, unique perspective and bold innovation can always collide to create brilliant sparks and produce masterpieces that are widely circulated."

Zheng Xue exclaimed "Ah!" which drew surprised and puzzled looks from those around her.

Zheng Xue quickly composed herself, but her face was now flushed with a little excitement.

She stared at Shen Nuoyi in astonishment: "It says here, it really is Zhang Chen!? I knew he was good at writing, but I didn't expect that he got a perfect score in Yude High School, and he also got a perfect score on his essay in the college entrance exam!? He really is keeping his bet with Peng Xin..."

"Now he's really famous!"

Shen Nuo ignored her startled reaction, simply stepped forward, bought another copy of the current issue of the West China City Daily, gently unfolded the cover, carefully folded it into a long strip, and put it into her small bag.

(End of this chapter)