I am collecting entries in reincarnation

Chapter 599 Meeting the County Master

At noon, the scorching sun was overhead, there were not many pedestrians on the streets, and even the street vendors' cries were weak.

“Stinky tofu, stinky tofu, delicious stinky tofu, it smells stinky but tastes delicious.”

"I sell medicinal candies, yam bean curd, tangerine peel and mint, specially for treating hiccups and acid reflux."

At this time, a carriage rushed past on the street. In the carriage were naturally Li Ming and Fang Yun. They came here specifically to visit County Magistrate Du. They had just entered the county town and arrived at the yamen in just a moment. They got off the carriage, went up the steps, and were stopped by someone.

However, there were also some sharp-eyed people who saw that the two men were dressed in clothes that indicated they had achievements and honors, so they spoke very politely: "Excuse me, sirs, where are you from, and what do you want?"

A yamen runner beside him shouted quickly, "How come you don't even recognize Fang Maocai and Young Master Dong?"

The man rubbed his eyes quickly, cried out "ouch", and slapped his thigh.

"It's really Fang Maocai, it's really Mr. Dong. I haven't seen you two for a few months. You have become more elegant and refined. I didn't even recognize you. The county magistrate was still talking about you a few days ago, and now you are here!"

The yamen runner beside him also said, "Since you two gentlemen have come, we will go and pass on the message. Please wait a moment."

Li Ming and Fang Yun had no objection and nodded.

After a moment, the man came out and said, "The County Master has some government affairs to attend to now. Please go to the backyard and sit for a while. The County Master will be here later."

After saying that, he took the two of them in. Although they were familiar with the place, they still followed him obediently.

County Magistrate Du selected the two of them to be listed as students. If it were in the ancient times of Blue Star, this would be considered as a master, but there is no such rule in this world.

Because the test results are checked by saints, no one can manipulate them behind the scenes. The examiners do not have that much power and cannot demote or promote students on a whim, so there is no such thing as gratitude to the teacher.

Of course, County Magistrate Du was different. He did teach the two of them, so they also called him Master Du.

So this time when they visited, both of them prepared some gifts. Now their status was different, both were scholars, and they had more money, so they no longer needed the previous gifts of fruits and vegetables.

Another half hour passed, and it was already lunchtime when County Magistrate Du finally arrived. The two men each bowed, and County Magistrate Du accepted the gifts calmly. However, when he saw the gifts they had prepared, he shook his head and said, "How vulgar, how vulgar!"

Li Ming, relying on his youthful appearance, said with a smile, "Who seeking official positions is not ordinary? Who serving the people can escape from the mundane world?"

Upon hearing this, County Magistrate Du accepted it with a smile, without putting on airs, and asked his servants to prepare the banquet.

It was said that the two of them had eaten a few meals in the backyard of County Magistrate Du's government office, but none of them had specially arranged a banquet like this time.

Although they had not seen each other for three months, there was no sign of estrangement. County Magistrate Du still cared about their studies and even gave them questions on the spot. Seeing that they answered fluently, he called them to dinner.

Just then, Fang Yun handed over two articles and said, "Master Du, these are what I wrote after returning home. Please take a look."

County Magistrate Du smiled slightly, took Fang Yun's article, and took a glance at it. Seeing the elegant and beautiful words, round and restrained, his expression turned into a serious one, and he sighed, "Your calligraphy has improved again."

As he spoke, he read through them carefully. He saw two articles, each word a gem, the writing so refined that it seemed impossible to add or delete anything. The content was pure and dense, the language harmonious, and there was a real feeling of refined mastery.

County Magistrate Du was a man who loved literature. When he read such a text, he didn't even glance at the food, but just ate the article with his meal.

When I read something delightful, I clapped my thighs and cheered, drank three cups in a row, and shouted that it was so exciting!

The so-called classics are all written by saints and wise men. The ideological realm contained therein is naturally profound and unfathomable. Often just a few words can inspire deep thought. They contain not only the principles of being a human being, but also the methods of governing a country and the world. Although they are widely circulated in the world and the price is low, how many people can read them thoroughly?

If one could pass the imperial examination just by reading the classics, those annotated articles would not be regarded as treasures by the aristocratic families.

The scholar turns a deaf ear to the world outside and concentrates on reading the books of sages. But if he does not practice them himself, how can he understand the true meaning of the books?
County Magistrate Du was born into a family of scholars. He passed the imperial examinations and became a Jinshi. He was then sent to serve as an official in a remote area. He wrote good articles, but what was even more rare was that he had experience in governing a county. Now let's look at these articles again.

For the boy's test, it is enough to be able to memorize and have a basic idea, but for the scholar, it is necessary to read the classics thoroughly and have some understanding of his own, and the juren must justify his own arguments, and when it comes to the jinshi, he must create something of his own from the classics.

Fang Yun's two articles have both reached the level of being derived from classics while expressing his own thoughts. He sighed at the moment.

"You are truly a Jinshi scholar. A mere provincial examination won't faze you!"

He settled down in Jiyuan County, but he was also concerned about Fang Yun, and often arranged for people to inquire about Fang Yun's news. He knew that Fang Yun was very outstanding in Guangyuan Academy, but he was also worried that he would go astray and go astray. Although he later learned that Fang Yun had won the title of Maocai, it was not until he actually read Fang Yun's two articles that he realized that he had not relaxed at all in his study of the classics, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

I thought to myself.

"He has extraordinary literary talent. I have reported this to Prime Minister Zhou and have sent someone to Guangyuan Academy to secretly look after him. His talent is now beyond ordinary people. He is only seventeen years old but has such talent. I am afraid he can become a juren in the same year, which means he can catch up with the Book Mountain Secret Realm this year. As the saying goes, if you take one step faster, all steps will be faster. I don't care if it is suspected of forcing things. I have to write another letter to Master Zhou and ask him to pay attention!"

Thinking of this, County Magistrate Du's smile grew even wider. He grabbed the two articles in his hands and said, "These two articles are very well written. I'm waiting for you to sign them. I'll keep them for you to appreciate."

Fang Yun didn't take it seriously. He just smiled and nodded, saying, "If Master Du likes it, you can stay."

Magistrate Du then asked Li Ming about this. Li Ming sighed and said, "I can try for the provincial examination, but I'm not sure if I can pass."

Magistrate Du consoled him, saying, "You are still young. This time you will take a look at the questions. If you take the exam again next year, I think you will pass."

They feasted and enjoyed themselves, and after an hour the two began to talk about exchanging the documents.

County Magistrate Du waved his hand and said with a smile, "It's not difficult at all. I promise you the best farmland, Master Song!"

"Here!" A man with a goatee walked out from behind the scenes.

Magistrate Du then ordered, "Take their documents and exchange the land deeds for them. I have always trusted you to do this."

The man responded, then walked up to Li Ming and Fang Yun and took the document away. The three of them then chatted for a while. Then, Master Song brought the land deed and filled in the names of the two people. At this point, the matter was considered over.

(End of this chapter)