Film and TV: Starting from the Night Watchman of Dafeng

Chapter 10 Xu Qian’an: Scholar?
Fuer Lane, Xu Mansion
This is a large courtyard with three entrances and three exits. In the capital city where every inch of land is valuable, if it is sold to a real estate agent, the price would be at least five thousand taels.

"Jiro is in a good mood."

When Xu Qian'an returned home from work, he saw his cousin looking very happy.

After spending a few days together, he felt that his cousin was not only a bit sharp-tongued, but also a bit arrogant.

In other words, under normal circumstances, the second brother will not express his emotions too much.

I guess it was because of my farewell poem that my cousin successfully pretended to be... a god in front of others.

I am still young, and this is just a farewell song for Dong Da.

But if my cousin does this, I will be able to show off in front of others in the future.

But given his reserve of poetry, well... he has to use it sparingly.

Xu Qian'an thought so.

Seeing the slightly raised corner of his mouth, Xu Xinnian could guess what his elder brother was thinking.

He bowed and saluted, "Thank you, big brother."

"Hey, heretic! Brothers shouldn't talk about this." Xu Qian'an waved his hand and raised an eyebrow at Xu Xinnian, "So what? Did that Ziyang layman take a liking to you and take you in as his disciple?"

“Zuo…” Xu Xinnian always felt that the word “big brother” was not right, especially when combined with his expression.

"Brother, I have long been a disciple of Master Zhang, a master of military strategy." Without giving it much thought, he picked up the purple jade on the scepter. "If we talk about the poems presented this time, the one you wrote is the best. This jade pendant was given to me by Master Ziyang."

"Okay." Xu Qian'an nodded with satisfaction. He quickly grasped a word in his cousin's words, and his joy gradually froze. He asked, "If?"

Xu Xinnian put down the purple jade, walked aside, and looked in the direction of Yunlu Academy. The sunset fell into his eyes, reflecting a brighter light.

Why so excited?
Xu Qian'an was even more confused.

I only heard my cousin say in a high-spirited voice, "My Yunlu Academy will soon shed its shackles and return to the imperial court. My Confucianism will soon produce a sub-sage and reach the pinnacle. Many years from now, my name may also be recorded in history books, forever indelible in the long river of time!"

Xu Qian'an's eyes gradually widened, then suddenly returned to normal, and he turned around and walked away, "This is such a big thing, an ordinary person like me is not worthy of knowing."

Xu Xinnian glanced at him sideways and snorted softly, with a sense of arrogance and pride, like "How can a sparrow understand the ambition of a swan?"

"Dalang, you're back."

"I've told you so many times, don't call me Dalang."

"Okay, Dalang."

"... "

The eldest brother and the maid walked away, but Xu Xinnian still stood with his hands behind his back.

A good while.

"Ji Lang, it's time to eat~"

"Oh, here we come."

……

The next day
Yunlu Academy
A group of students gathered in a circle in front of an old pine tree.

"Using Mr. Cheng's own words to criticize Mr. Cheng, hahaha, brilliant, brilliant!"

"Brother Wei is truly a rare talent!"

"Really, he doesn't show off his abilities on a daily basis."

"Brother Zhang, Brother Sun, you two will be sharing a dormitory with Brother Wei. Tell us how Brother Wei studies on a daily basis. He can also teach us."

"... "

Everyone's eyes fell on Zhang Xu and Sun Fu.

Zhang Xu slowly shook his head, "Wuyang is studious and determined, I can't compare to him."

Sun Fu nodded with a smile, "Indeed, we two have often seen Wuyang recite the sage's classics backwards."

"A sage's classic? Zhao Yuan and the others said the same thing yesterday. Isn't it Cheng Gong's commentary?"

someone asked.

Zhang Xu said nothing.

Sun Fu was puzzled. "I haven't seen him read Cheng Gong's annotations, but Wuyang often goes to the quiet room, so he must be studying Cheng Gong's annotations there."

Zhang Xu glanced at Sun Fu and frowned.

After spending some time together, he got to know this Beijing native student who shared the same dormitory with him a little.

"Is that so?"

"But Zhao Yuan said that Brother Wei was also reciting the sage scriptures backwards in the quiet room."

"How about we try it too?"

"What's so hard to memorize? After reaching the ninth rank, I already have a photographic memory."

"What's there to memorize?" A deep voice sounded from behind the crowd.

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and immediately bowed their heads, not daring to breathe.

"Ziyang Lay Buddhist often said, 'Review the old to learn the new, constant learning brings constant innovation.' Yet you haven't grasped even a shred of his understanding. What good is a photographic memory? Learning is like rowing against the current; how can you afford to be lazy?"

After saying that, Zhao Shouyi waved his sleeves and left.

Among the students with panic-stricken faces, Sun Fu, who was bent over with his head down, had a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.

...This day
The dormitories in the academy are divided into different levels.

Students pay different room and tuition fees to be assigned to different levels of dormitories.

This is not because Yunlu Academy is tacky.

The Imperial College was funded by the imperial court, and students did not have to pay any miscellaneous fees, room fees, tuition fees, etc., and they were also subsidized with some writing materials and paper every month.

Yunlu Academy was once treated like this, but times have changed...

However, even though there is a tuition fee, students still compete to enter Yunlu Academy every year!

The autumn morning breeze is cool, and the light mist evaporates quickly in the sunlight.

Wei An followed Chen Tai one step behind, and the two of them walked along the winding cobblestone path.

"No problem, how long will this theory of yours take?"

After praising the students' performance at Sheep Pavilion yesterday, Chen Tai was silent for a while and then brought up the main topic.

"It's just one person's opinion, how can we call it a theory? It will take some time." Wei Ando said.

Chen Tai leaned slightly to the side, glanced at him, and nodded gently, "It's good to be humble. When facing some people, you still need to be as aggressive as you were yesterday."

"Students save it."

"I'm afraid your words at Mianyangting yesterday have spread throughout the Imperial College. No matter what happens, someone will come to visit within three days."

"Thank you for your advice, Teacher." Wei An smiled casually, but also said with a hint of pride, "The more we argue, the clearer the truth becomes."

There are only so many core viewpoints in the School of Mind. Even if some changes need to be made according to local conditions, he can complete them in one, two, three or four days. The reason why it takes some time is to prepare for the upcoming debate.

"Okay." Chen Tai looked satisfied.

Still worried, he hesitated for a moment, then stopped and solemnly reminded, "Academic disputes are like fierce battles, with corpses strewn across the ground. You... must be prepared."

Wei An solemnized his expression and bowed, saying, "Teacher's teachings, I will remember them in my heart."

"Yeah." Chen Tai patted his arm lightly and continued walking forward.

Wei An looked up and glanced.

Further ahead is a small courtyard. Those who live there are either wealthy and have paid enough money, or have some connections.

"The Dean and I will continue to explore your two statements for a while. If you have time, please confirm them with us."

"I dare not. Once I have perfected my skills, I will definitely ask the teacher, the dean, and the great scholars in the academy for corrections."

"Why not? The dean also said that you are going to create the world."

"Students are terrified."

"You're being too modest again."

"... "

The two stopped in front of a small courtyard, and Chen Tai pushed the door open and walked in.

Wei An suddenly had some guesses in his mind.

The teachers, including the great scholars and old gentlemen, have their own dormitories in Yunlu Academy, but not in this area.

"Come in." Chen Tai called out.

Wei An stepped in.

"Let's see, how about it?"

Chen Tai gestured with his hand and smiled.

Without waiting for Wei An to say anything, he continued, "There's only one small courtyard like this in the academy. It was originally occupied by a student with good comprehension. When his mother passed away, he returned home to observe mourning. The dean said that you should live here from now on, so you can be less disturbed and concentrate on perfecting your theories."

Wei An was silent for a moment.

"Thank you, Dean." He bowed deeply toward the back mountain, then bowed to Master Chen. "Thank you, Teacher."

...

This side, Changle County
After arriving at the yamen, Xu Qian'an and two quick-handed colleagues led a few unemployed servants to patrol the streets.

This was one of his daily tasks, and he could be a little careless about it on ordinary days, but now that the imperial inspection was approaching, the county magistrate was keeping a tight grip on the captain of the police, and the captain of the police would naturally be keeping a tight grip on his subordinates.

"Ning Yan, Boss Wang said we need to keep a closer watch these days."

"Still strict? Just work overtime."

"I know about the slow shift, the fast shift, and the strong shift. What is overtime?"

"Nothing. What's the matter? Did you get the letter? Is the street in turmoil? We're patrolling every day, and there are still some thieves who dare to act rashly?"

"He's not a thief, he's a scholar!"

Xu Qian'an almost thought he had misheard, "Scholar?"

Just as he was about to ask a few more questions, there was a sudden commotion ahead.

"Ouch, stop hitting me, stop hitting me!"

"How disgraceful, how disgraceful~"

"How shameless! A gentleman uses words, not fists. Why don't you two stop it right now!"

"... "

(End of this chapter)