Swords emerge from the human world

Chapter 75: Incoherent and Far Off-Topic
No one is born with knowledge, so we must continuously learn and accumulate knowledge.

Chen Jin was able to pass the imperial examination this year not only because he was quick-witted and had an exceptional memory after his enlightenment, but also because he borrowed many books from Wang Fu to study.

Now, traveling to the prefectural capital to take the provincial examination and become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination) is several times more difficult. The books I read before, in terms of both breadth and depth, are now insufficient.

Back in Maoxian, Instructor Zhang advised Chen Jin to travel and study, which was not without reason.

However, Chen Jin was unwilling to be suppressed and, not wanting to waste any more time, insisted on taking the exam.

He wasn't certain he would win.

No one dares to say they are guaranteed to win.

All we can do is try our best and prepare thoroughly.

Chen Jin's eyes had long been on the library in the Chen family's ancestral home, but unfortunately the requirements for entry were extremely strict, making it virtually impossible for him to enter before he passed the imperial examination and returned to his ancestral home.

Just as he was preparing to look for books elsewhere, Chen Shounian strongly recommended him, giving him an opportunity to gain access to the library through ancestral protection.

Although it's just an opportunity and the final outcome is uncertain, sometimes an opportunity can change your life.

Precious.

Including qualifying for the provincial examination, this is the second time he has offered assistance.

Chen Shounian said calmly, "Don't worry, I won't force you to be my granddaughter's husband. It's a lifelong matter. Even if I'm willing, my precious granddaughter has to be willing first."

Chen Jin muttered to himself, "It still depends on whether I'm willing."

Chen Shounian laughed heartily: "You really are a man of character. I admire you."

Chen Jin bowed deeply and said, "Sixth Uncle, I will never forget your kindness in helping me."

Chen Shounian patted him on the shoulder: "As we talked about last time, everyone has their own selfish motives. I'm giving you a chance. If you pass the imperial examination, you will naturally return to the Sixth Branch. This would be a great benefit to me and to the entire Sixth Branch. Why not do something that benefits both yourself and others?"

He spoke of it lightly, but Chen Jin knew deep down that helping others was never an easy thing.

If you're not related to them, why would you help them?
Either people's hearts are unpredictable, or there are countless people who repay kindness with enmity...

Often, not offering help in times of need, or even kicking someone when they're down, is considered being a good person.

Chen Shounian said solemnly, "Returning to this ancestral worship ceremony, it is of course not a real grand ancestral worship ceremony, but an additional practice, like a special examination for the imperial examinations. When the time comes, you will bathe and change your clothes, and go there devoutly. You don't need to enter the ancestral hall, but burn incense and worship under the old locust tree outside, praying and making wishes. Within the time limit of one incense stick, if a precious document or wish book falls on you, it means that you have received the protection of your ancestors and are qualified to enter the library to study."

"Oh, if it's windy that day, wouldn't that be an advantage?"

"It has nothing to do with the wind strength. There are gods watching over us. Our Chen Clan Ancestral Hall has enjoyed incense offerings for a thousand years. Our ancestors, if they have spirits, will naturally make their own selections. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Chen Jin nodded: "Understood."

Chen Shounian looked at him and said, "Your lineage has been gone for a hundred years. Time has passed, and the bloodline has thinned. It is not easy to gain the recognition and acceptance of the ancestral gods. So you should be prepared."

Just as people are divided into close and distant relatives, so too are ghosts and gods.

As the saying goes, "Those who are not family will not enter the same door." Outsiders who want to enter will be turned away and refused entry.

Chen Jin smiled and said, "I'm ready. Success or failure, it will all be valuable experience."

"Well said! I admire your composure in the face of both honor and disgrace; it's quite rare. That's settled then, I'll pick you up the day after tomorrow morning."

After saying this, Chen Shounian went out and left.

When he got home, he found his son, Chen Hesheng, had gone crazy for some reason, with ink and paper all over his face and scattered messy papers on the floor.

Granddaughter Guo Ai sat there, her hands supporting her chin, deep in thought.

She had changed into women's clothing, a light blue dress that accentuated her graceful figure, making her appear even more elegant and charming. Chen Shounian said irritably, "Aier, your uncle is a blockhead, how come you've started learning this too? What are you doing here?"

Guo Ai replied, "My second uncle asked me to help him think of a poem, but I can't figure out what it means either."

"It's a mess."

Chen Shounian reached out and picked up a piece of paper, on which were written two lines of poetry: "Two orioles sing in the green willows, a line of egrets flies up to the blue sky."

I was taken aback. Although it was only two lines, the parallelism was perfect, the movement and stillness were distinct, and the imagery was fresh and vibrant. Upon reading it, a lively and vivid picture would involuntarily emerge in my mind, with a fresh and unique artistic conception.

He wondered if his son had finally figured out how to write beautiful lines after decades of studying poetry.

Since I only have two lines, I'm racking my brains to complete them and write a full seven-character quatrain.

Thinking of this, her expression softened slightly, and she asked, "Hesheng, is this your new work?"

Chen Hesheng shook his head blankly.

Chen Shounian looked at his granddaughter.

Guo Ai explained, "My second uncle went to talk to Chen Jin about poetry and lyrics this morning. They talked for a long time, and when he asked Chen Jin if he had any insights, Chen Jin said yes, so he wrote down these two lines."

"Oh."

Chen Shounian suddenly realized: So it came from Chen Jin. I was thinking, if my son had been ready, he would have been ready long ago, instead of waiting until now.

Guo Ai added, "After returning, my second uncle wanted to figure out what Chen Jin's insights were. He pondered deeply but couldn't understand them, so he asked me for help, but I was also a bit confused."

Chen Shounian: "..."

Dumbfounding.

"I got it!"

Chen Hesheng suddenly slapped his thigh and said excitedly, "Two orioles singing in the green willows must mean that my theoretical views on poetry are exquisite, as melodious as birdsong; a line of egrets flying into the blue sky means that I have a high realm and lofty ambitions."

Guo Ai listened, nodded slightly, and said with a smile, "It seems that this Chen Jin is indeed worldly-wise and knows how to flatter people."

She knew her second uncle's level of sophistication; he appreciated romance, nature, and poetry, but he was merely a pretentious affectation, and his poems were mostly doggerel. Because of his privileged background, he was often surrounded by a group of so-called "literati" who flattered each other.

Subconsciously, I felt that Chen Jin meant the same thing. He had received kindness from his maternal grandfather and was now living under someone else's roof, so it was normal for him to say some flattering words to Chen Hesheng. It was just that his words and manner were much more elegant than the kind of blatant flattery.

But Chen Shounian knew that Chen Jin would never come to flatter him on purpose, so he snorted coldly: "Two orioles sing in the green willows, do you know what they are saying?"

Chen Hesheng was taken aback for a moment, then honestly replied, "I don't know."

Chen Shounian sighed: "That's just 'incomprehensible'."

Chen Hesheng blushed, still unwilling to give up: "But what about the next line?"

"A line of white egrets soars into the blue sky. Flying so high, it's obviously 'far off-topic'."

Hearing this, Guo Ai couldn't help but chuckle. She thought to herself that Chen Jin looked like a refined gentleman, but he could curse without using any vulgar language. He was quite interesting.

Chen Shounian shook his head, put his hands behind his back, and went into his study.

……

Time flies, and soon it was the first day of junior high school.

Chen Shounian took Chen Jin to the ancestral hall to prepare for the ancestral worship ceremony.

(End of this chapter)