Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 8 Iron Palm Suppresses Qiantang

The inscriptions on the mountain gate and stone tablet are very simple and unadorned, each character vigorous and powerful, like bamboo and rocks in the mountains, full of tenacious and unyielding strength.

This is Chongqi Academy.

Xu Xuan was observing the academy, and the people in the academy were also observing Xu Xuan.

Today is the day the academy is recruiting teachers, so it's not unusual for people to come.

What was strange was that the person who came did not arrive by horse-drawn carriage or oxcart; he walked up.

A guard from the academy took the letter of recommendation and led Xu Xuan into a tea room to wait.

An elderly instructor was waiting at the entrance of the teahouse to verify information.

"Xu Hanwen, I ask you, a gentleman thinks of the way he acts and the source of his drink, how did you come to Chongqi Academy?"

"I came on foot."

"My friend, a wise person gives appropriately and uses the right tools. Are you riding in an oxcart or a horse? Let's go, walk!!!"

The old instructor was shocked. His decades-long skill in judging people had failed him with this kid. Who would come to Chongqi Academy on foot? You could even say you flew here.

Xu Xuan was stared at for a long time by the old instructor with the eyes of someone looking at an alien object, as if he were some kind of monster.

In the end, I just waved goodbye.

"You go in."

After waiting for the time it takes to drink a few cups of tea, the scholars who were riding in the carriages behind them finally arrived.

There were four people in total. Except for Xu Xuan, everyone else was dressed in fine silk and satin, and adorned with jewelry and jade.

So the other three naturally sat together, and the dividing line between the aristocratic families and ordinary people was very clear.

Xu Xuan didn't seem offended at all; he even greeted a familiar-looking guy with the middle finger.

The person in the car who had been given the middle finger a second time was dumbfounded to see Xu Xuan waiting there in advance, and felt uneasy after sitting down.

So he decided to use his social status to teach the inferior person who had offended him a lesson.

He stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and spoke with the air of a scion of a prominent family.

"My two brothers, I am Jiang Ziwei of the Jiang family of Yixing. Since we have the opportunity to meet today, how about we have a chat?"

So the other two came under the guise of exchanging knowledge, but instead used this as a pretext to isolate the other two.

Xu Xuan smiled on the surface, but in his heart he was cursing.

The workplace competition after my rebirth is just as fierce. Very well, you have inspired my fighting spirit.

Anyway, this job isn't something you necessarily have to do, so let me give you a little workplace shock.

Just as things were getting along well on the other side, one of the men spoke up.

"Ahem, I heard from Master Li of Jintian Academy that they are only recruiting one instructor this time. I wonder if it's true or not."

Without Xu Xuan noticing, a subtle fluctuation emanated from his soul.

His words were filled with a believable sincerity.

The other two had slightly shifty eyes.

That academy, a laughingstock, was nothing compared to Master Li, who was quite famous in literary circles for his social skills and ability to cultivate relationships with literary elites from all walks of life.
"No matter how many people we recruit, we scholars still need the time and energy to calm our minds."

"Indeed, it's an instant connection, isn't it?"

The three of them were talking somewhat awkwardly, and it seemed a little insincere.

One of the men continued speaking.

"It's a pity that I, a poor scholar, have no prestige, otherwise I could organize an exchange to highlight myself, and then..."

A sudden realization flashed in the eyes of the two men opposite, followed by shame and anger.

Well done, Jiang Ziwei! Your preemptive strike was truly vicious.

"Don't waste your efforts; a gentleman shows sincerity."

“Brother Jiang isn’t that kind of person.” The three then exchanged words intermittently, each trying to dominate the topics that Brother Jiang brought up.

"Brother Jiang, you are mistaken. I believe the correct statement is..."

"Brother Jiang, you're thinking too superficially. Actually..."

The exchange turned into a debate, and the intensity of the verbal sparring escalated.

Brother Jiang fought two against one, and then suffered repeated defeats.

After a short while, the tea room returned to calm.

The two gentlemen had ruddy complexions, while the Jiang family members from Yixing had ashen faces.

The academy professors who had been observing from the shadows also came out.

"Ahem, I am Gu Wei. I was a Jinshi in the thirty-ninth year of Emperor Wen of the Great Jin Dynasty. I once served as a Hanlin Academician and am currently a professor of the Mingjing Department at Chongqi Academy. I am in charge of this teaching and assessment."

As he spoke, he glanced at Xu Xuan, who looked relaxed.

"This recruitment of instructors is open to one person or four people, and those with excellent character and conduct will be given priority."

The other three glared at Xu Xuan, but the Yin-Yang master looked at the teacup in his hand as if he had seen some rare and precious object, though the smile on his lips was truly despicable.

“In the past, the instructors of Chongqi Academy were all scholars who had retired from the Hanlin Academy. This time, we are recruiting acting instructors because the academicians want to make some changes to the students.”

"I hope you can show your full potential."

After saying that, he put down the exam paper and started taking the exam immediately. His actions were so swift and efficient that it was frightening.

Xu Xuan answered quickly, relying on the memories left in his mind. He had no problem with the simple content of the Mingjing examination. By the time he reached the Xiucai level, he could basically recite the Confucian classics fluently. As for understanding the meaning of the works, that depended on the strength of the academy or family school.

The real knowledge is mostly found in the annotations and the teacher's teachings, as well as, most importantly, the scholarly school of thought of the examiner.

Xu Xuan struggled with interpreting the connotations, which was due to a knowledge barrier.

However, the situation is quite different when it comes to policy essays.

The boundless imagination and breadth of knowledge that modern people possess are unparalleled by people of our time.

If you apply the writing style of the ancients, it will definitely be a masterpiece with substance.

After handing in their papers, the group waited anxiously, and even Xu Xuan was a little nervous.

Regardless of past or present lives, waiting for results is always agonizing.

Instead, it was in another room.

"This one is no good, it has ink spots, reject it."

"This one won't do either. The characters are slightly crooked. The writing is crooked, and the person isn't upright either."

“Jiang Ziwei’s knowledge of the classics is mediocre, and his policy essays are somewhat empty. If he had studied diligently at the academy for twenty years, he would have had a chance to pass the imperial examination. No wonder he came here to be a teacher; he’s trying to take a shortcut.”

"Xu Xuan. I'm not sure. He comes from a poor family and his foundation is average, but he occasionally has amazing moments that make people applaud. He is no ordinary person."

Professor Gu pondered for a long time. He didn't want to see mediocre people, and the reform of the academy also required extraordinary people.
open the door.

"Xu Xuan, come with me. The rest of you can go back."

Jiang Ziwei, a villainous bystander, couldn't sit still any longer and tried to say something to salvage the situation.

Unfortunately, Chongqi Academy was no small place, and Professor Gu's status prevented him from putting on airs of a noble family.

They could only turn their anger towards Xu Xuan, the commoner scholar who had been making things difficult for him.

I had just raised my finger when I saw a pair of indifferent eyes.

"Your guards aren't here, and I have a nickname: Iron Palm of Qiantang, so think carefully before you speak."

Professor Gu, standing to the side, had a question mark on his face.

Scholars usually have elegant nicknames, not pet names.
I wonder if I was too hasty.

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(End of this chapter)