Sword from the Immortal Mountain

Chapter 107: Book Gift

"Mr. Chen, is my father okay?"

Chen Jin asked worriedly.

Chen Jin said: "It's okay, it will just make you feel uncomfortable for a while. It can also help to expel the poison from your body, which is a good thing."

Hearing this, Chen Jin was immediately relieved and invited Chen Jin to dinner.

After waiting for a while, Chen Shizhen came back. He looked refreshed and had a better appetite, which was completely different from his previous sickly appearance.

After dinner, he immediately invited Chen Jin to his study and eagerly asked about the situation of Wuqi Jingyang Pills:
"Mr. Chen, after I took a pill, I felt so good, as if I was a few years younger. Could this be a magical medicine that can prolong my life?"

Chen Jin smiled and said, "I've said before, this medicine can really regulate your body, refresh your mind and replenish your energy. As for prolonging your life, that is a long-term therapeutic process, not something that can be achieved overnight. The reason why you feel so different is that you are weak and have hidden illnesses. When the symptoms are gone, you will naturally feel relaxed and energetic."

Chen Shizhen touched his chin: "Is that so?"

Chen Jin said: "I emphasize again that there is no so-called elixir of immortality in the world. When it comes to the art of external elixir, whether it is refining or taking it, you must be cautious. Ordinary people are especially prone to problems."

Chen Shizhen nodded slightly: "In fact, Song Xian... Taoist Song also reminded me at the beginning, but I was obsessed and didn't listen to his advice."

Chen Jin asked: "So even now, you still don't believe that the other party has the intention to harm you, and you think it's your own fault?"

Chen Shizhen was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "I know that people's hearts are unpredictable. In Boji Alley, the twelve branches of the Chen family were originally brothers and sisters. But over the years, due to various conflicts, there have been countless dirty things and fights between the branches. I have seen a lot of it, and I feel disgusted and don't want to get involved."

Chen Jin sneered and said, "It is a crime to possess a treasure, how can I stay out of it? But the matter between your relatives should be resolved by yourselves."

Chen Shizhen didn't say anything.

In fact, he already had suspicions in his heart that he was obsessed with refining the elixir of immortality and had lost everything. He was framed and slaughtered like a pig.

But what can be done?
Unfounded.

If I have to blame someone, I can only blame myself for being confused and falling into the well step by step.

Fortunately, he had not completely sunk and was rescued.

Looking at the person in front of him, Chen Shizhen wanted to ask "Who are you?", but he finally held back and talked about other topics: "Mr. Chen, the provincial examination will be held in ten days. As for this examination, I am not talented, but I have participated in it several times. Although I did not pass, I have written down a lot of notes and essays. If you don't mind, you can read it and review it, maybe it will inspire you."

Chen Jin smiled and said, "I couldn't ask for more."

When it comes to the imperial examination, the experience articles of predecessors cannot be ignored. Reading them thoroughly will be a great help.

Those scholars who came from poor backgrounds were limited by their conditions, read few books and had a narrow range of knowledge. If they wanted to break through the class, they had to travel abroad, communicate with others, find people to learn from, and keep writing and copying article after article.

However, poetry and books are passed down from generation to generation. For a family, they will not easily lend their own collection of books to others to read, let alone copy them.

This principle is similar to the teaching of craftsmanship by craftsmen.

Now Chen Shizhen is willing to provide all his collection of books and imperial examination notes to Chen Jin, which is both a way of repaying a favor and an expectation.

It’s a pity that there is not much time left before the exam, and I don’t know how much Chen Jin can read.

So he took action immediately, quickly packed up a heavy book box, and handed it to Chen Jin: "It's all here."

Chen Jin took it and said suddenly, "Master Chen San, at your age, you can still take the exam."

Chen Shizhen sighed and said, "I have failed the exams many times, and I have lost all my energy. I have no chance anymore."

Chen Jin said goodbye and left, returning to the villa.

Ye Yanke was practicing swordplay. Neither of them was keen on socializing, so they kept their relationship simple and tried not to disturb each other.

Chen Jin entered the room, lit the Kuixing Wenhuo lamp, then picked up the top volume of "Explanation of the Four Books" from the bookcase and began to read it.

The Four Books and Five Classics were not originally very long and did not contain many words.

There are many extended interpretations from generation to generation, various theoretical viewpoints, etc. There are more and more of them. First, they quote from classics, and then inevitably over-interpret or even misinterpret the meaning.

In this respect, the development of humanistic Confucianism is quite similar to that of Taoism and Buddhism.

In the past, it was said that people who followed Confucianism could also cultivate supernatural powers, but later on, this gradually became impossible.

The reasons are different.

One of the more convincing ones is that the essence of Confucianism lies in the great and upright spirit.

However, with the revival of humanity, the imperial examination was linked to fame and official rank, and scholars all over the world studied for fame, wealth and glory. How could they gather righteousness?

Without the righteous spirit, there will naturally be no magical powers, and one can only rely on the dynasty system and the power of soldiers to exercise the authority to govern.

This statement cannot be verified without verifying its authenticity.

Chen Jin is now reading the text.

It's really like turning pages.

He had a strong mind and spirit, and he could read ten lines at a glance and had a photographic memory, so he could read very quickly.

I finished reading a palm-thick book called "Explanation of the Four Books" in less than half an hour, and then moved on to the next one...

Working all night without getting tired.

The next day's breakfast was obviously much richer, with a pot full of chicken porridge, added with Chinese wolfberry, codonopsis and other medicinal herbs, stewed to a delicious taste;
In addition, there is a whole basket of large meat buns, cold dishes, etc.

After breakfast, Chen Jin suggested going out for a walk and strolling around Bojiji Lane.

In response to this, Chen Shizhen implicitly reminded that the provincial examination was imminent and that one should stay in the room and seize the time to study poetry and books.

It won’t be too late to travel around slowly after you pass the provincial examination.

However, Chen Jin said that precisely because he had to take the exam, he had to relax a little so that he could enter the examination hall with the best attitude.

Seeing that he insisted, Chen Shizhen stopped persuading him. He thought that Chen Zexiang, where Chen Jin came from, was probably a branch of the prefecture. If Chen Jin could pass the exam, he might be able to recognize his ancestry and include his family tree in Changle Hall.

Before this, Chen Jin couldn't hold back his emotions and wanted to have a good look at Bojiji Lane, which was understandable.

However, Bojiji Lane is the gathering place of the wealthy Chen family. Although Chen Jin also has the surname Chen, this Chen is not that Chen, and he is ultimately an outsider.

If he wants to move around and look around, he needs to wear a pass and be accompanied by someone.

Chen Jin immediately expressed his willingness to go along.

Chen Shizhen didn't want to compete with his daughter for the position, so he agreed. Before leaving, he repeatedly reminded her that Boji Lane was a large place with many scenic spots to visit, but there were some places that she was absolutely not allowed to visit.

For example, the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall located in the central area!
He didn't know that Chen Jin went there just to take a look at the condition of the ancestral hall.

(End of this chapter)