White-robed Minister

Which scholar in the Song Dynasty didn't try the imperial examination?

The owner of this bookstore, who had also taken the exams in his youth, recalled his own days: "Back then, we took the exams every four years. The first exam was on poetry and prose. If you failed, you were immediately disqualified and couldn't participate in the second exam. It's much easier for students these days..."

Xu Lai listened silently without interrupting.

After much musing, the shopkeeper finally got to the point: "The imperial examinations usually test poetry in five-character, six-line regulated verse. It requires breaking down the topic, developing the theme, expanding on the theme, and concluding the topic… Do you even know what breaking down and developing the theme mean?"

"I know a little." Xu Lai nodded.

Isn't it just the same old Ming and Qing dynasty eight-legged essay style?

However, it was completely unexpected that the imperial examination poems in the Song Dynasty would also include this kind of thing.

No wonder Wang Anshi received unanimous support from both the old and new parties when he abolished the imperial examination for poetry; I guess everyone was fed up with this thing.

Only Su Shi did not support it.

It wasn't that Su Shi particularly liked the poetry and prose required for the imperial examinations; rather, he felt that all the content of the examinations was rubbish. Why pick out the smelliest piece of shit from a pile of excrement and throw it away?

After explaining the rules for the imperial examination poetry in detail, the shopkeeper then began to explain the requirements for the imperial examination prose:

"The same applies to fu (a type of classical Chinese prose-poem). The first four lines must address the topic... The word count is generally required to exceed 360 characters. The examiner will provide eight characters as rhymes. These eight characters are four level tones and four oblique tones, alternating between level and oblique tones, and must be used in sequence when composing the fu."

"Primarily in parallel prose (four-six lines), but alternating lengths are also acceptable... Two lines form a couplet, with every other line forming a parallel structure. The end of the first line must rhyme with the end of the second line... Official rhymes must have a source... Repeated allusions are not allowed..."

"The beginning of a poem should say 'In response,' and the end should say 'Respectfully replied'..."

Grass!

Xu Lai was utterly bewildered.

It's disgusting. Compared to this piece of crap, even the Ming and Qing dynasty's eight-legged essays seem free and progressive.

There were so many rules for writing essays that Xu Lai was afraid he would forget them, so he simply bought paper and pen to write them down.

His shopping list is as follows:

One calligraphy brush: 10 coins.

Half a jin of ink: 60 wen.

One bamboo paper tube: 5 coins.

Two sheets of Yuan paper: 20 coins.

A roll of writing paper: 50 coins.

A book titled "Libu Yunlue" contains 850 characters.

A total of 995 coins.

Xu Lai, shameless as ever, said, "I don't have enough money on me. Your shop is also short of a couplet for its entrance; how about I use the couplet to pay three hundred coins?"

Is this an attempt to freeload?

The shopkeeper couldn't help but smile, put all the items Xu Lai had selected back, and pointed to the paper with the family petition written on it, saying, "You must buy this paper; it's already written on. Please take care of the rest of the items."

Xu Lai turned his head and searched for a moment, then found a few scraps of paper in the corner: "How about I write a few couplets, and the shopkeeper can choose one?"

The shopkeeper remained silent, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Xu Lai picked up his brush and copied a couplet from Lu You's study: "Ten thousand volumes of ancient and modern texts while away the long days; a window at dawn and dusk marks the passing years."

Then he copied the couplet from Zuo Guangdou's study: "A three-foot sword amidst wind and clouds, a bed of books amidst flowers and birds."

Here's another quote, though I can't recall its source: "Seeking rare editions from afar, I hasten to read books unseen in the world."

Finally, he composed another couplet himself: 【The exquisite writing is not of my own; the shelves overflowing with treasures await only those who seek them.】

The shopkeeper watched him write the couplets, his expression shifting from initial disdain to slight surprise: "May I ask which renowned teacher Scholar Xu has studied under?"

"A disciple of the sage," Xu Lai replied.

This answer left the shop owner both amused and exasperated.

Xu Lai then said, "Please choose one."

The shopkeeper chuckled, "I've memorized all four couplets. You can take them without paying. Even if a fuss breaks out later, none of the scholars in the county will believe you wrote them."

Xu Lai put away the official guarantee document signed by the county magistrate and smiled in response: "Then I will remember it. This matter will surely be rewarded handsomely."

What is meant by "generous reward"?

It can be used to repay kindness or to settle scores.

"It was just a joke," the shopkeeper said, staring at Xu for a moment before suddenly laughing. "I want all four sets, three hundred coins in total. Consider it making friends today."

Three hundred coins is a lot of money for the mountain people.

But for this shop owner, it's really nothing.

Seeing that Xu Lai was quite talented in literature and favored by Magistrate Shen, he simply spent money to do him a favor.

Moreover, these four couplets are indeed quite remarkable.

Well, the main reason was that Magistrate Shen's official guarantee document was there... Xu Lai, by taking advantage of the situation, intimidated the shopkeeper.

"Thank you!" Xu Lai said, clasping his hands in thanks.

The 800 coins reward I just received have quickly dwindled to only 105 coins, which I exchanged for a pile of writing brushes, ink, and paper.

Oh, and I also learned a lot of information about the imperial examinations!

Xu borrowed a paper cutter from the shopkeeper and cut a roll of paper he had just bought into 100 sheets. He then took out one sheet and asked the shopkeeper to write down in detail the rules for writing poems for the imperial examinations.

The shopkeeper asked, "Scholar Xu, do you still have some money left? Why don't you buy an inkstone?"

Xu Lai smiled and said, "A bowl will do."

"I'll give you one." The shopkeeper brought out the inkstone.

The gift was a ceramic inkstone, which wasn't worth much; you could buy it for a few dozen coins.

Xu Lai declined, saying, "I appreciate your kindness, but I cannot accept such a reward without having done so. Farewell, see you another day!"

The shopkeeper brought over a cloth bag and gave it to Xu Lai to put his things in. He then smiled and saw him out the door, watching him disappear around the street corner.

The waiter, who had been silent until now, walked up to the shopkeeper and asked, "Isn't it unnecessary to befriend this kind of person? Judging from his clothes, he doesn't seem like a wealthy person."

"Better to let down an old man with white hair than to underestimate a poor young man."

The shopkeeper strolled back to the counter: "Magistrate Shen vouched for him, and his couplets are quite well-written. Do you know where he comes from? It's only three hundred coins; consider it a good deed."

The worker thought to himself: Why don't you try to build a good relationship with me? You're always so stingy with your monthly wages.

……

There's really not much to see in a small county like Qingyuan.

There are even thatched huts inside the city!

Xu Lai, carrying writing brushes, ink, paper, and books, went to the archers' shop next to the county government office and found his companions snoring loudly.

He was almost the same; he was so tired that he could barely walk.

The room was full of large communal beds. Xu Lai put his things away, lay down, and fell asleep almost immediately.

It wasn't until evening, when the archer on duty called them to dinner, that they groggily got up.

"What did you buy?" Li Tian asked, pointing to Xu Lai's cloth bag.

"Books and writing materials," Xu said.

Seeing that his pockets were empty, Bu Chao couldn't help but ask, "Sanlang, have you spent all your money?"

Xu Lai nodded: "There are a few coins left."

Uncle Zhang asked curiously, "You want to study?"

Xu Lai said, "I inquired with Yu Tiesi. There is a county examination at the end of each year. The top twenty people can go to Guangzhou after the Lantern Festival to participate in the entrance examination for the prefectural school. The prefectural school does not charge tuition fees, and accommodation is also free. They only need to pay three coins for food every day. If they are admitted to the inner dormitory of the prefectural school, the school will also give them money as a reward if they do well in the annual examination."

Liu Da asked, "I heard that those village schools outside the mountains require many years of study before you can take the exam. You've only overheard a few times; do you really think you can pass them?"

These companions all came from Qingxi Village and were very familiar with Xu Lai; it would be difficult to deceive them under normal circumstances.

Then Xu Lai said mysteriously, "To tell you the truth, I can read, not because I learned to eavesdrop in a village outside the mountains. It was Su Gong who taught me in a dream!"

"Su Gong appeared in a dream?!?!"

Everyone was immediately taken aback.

Su Gong is the mountain god worshipped by generations of Qingxi Village.

His real name is unknown, but it is known that he was the first magistrate of Qingyuan County in the Song Dynasty.

Magistrate Su was ordered to release the serfs, provide them with grain, seeds, and farm tools, and exempt them from taxes and corvée labor. It was because of these policies that the first generation of mountain dwellers in Qingxi Village were able to survive the most difficult days.

The mountain people sculpted a clay statue of the deity and enshrined Su Gong in a cave. Later, they changed the clay statue to a stone one and built a thatched hut to formally establish a temple.

Passed down through generations, Su Gong has become a mountain god, holding various divine positions.

Seeking a child? Seek a blessing? Seek a good fortune? Seek a cure for evil? Seek a good fortune ...

Some people may be dead, but they live on forever!

Faced with Xu Lai's outrageous claims, his friends actually believed them without a doubt, thinking they were more reliable than eavesdropping on lectures.

Li Tian laughed and said, "That explains it. I was wondering how you suddenly became literate; it turns out it was Master Su who taught you in a dream. With Master Su as your teacher, you're sure to pass the imperial examination!"

Xu Lai said, "This matter should not be spread outside; do not tell anyone."

"We definitely can't talk nonsense," Liu Da said, looking at the problem from a very practical perspective. "Master Su has always been very effective. If people outside the mountains find out, they'll all come to worship and ask Master Su for blessings. How could Master Su possibly keep up? He might not even have time to bless our Qingxi Village."

The archer on duty urged them to eat, and everyone quickly agreed and went out.

Uncle Zhang and Bu Chao were about to take up their posts at the county command, and they took the opportunity to get to know the archers on duty.

The two sides had a rather pleasant conversation.

Although the ordinary archers were all from respectable families of the lower classes who came to serve in the military, and they usually looked down on the mountain people, times had changed. They would soon be colleagues, and Uncle Zhang and Bu Chao would be their superiors.

Since his transmigration, Xu Zi had developed a habit of asking questions. He asked the archers, "How many years have you served?"

An archer replied, "Seven years."

"Seven years?"

Xu Lai was extremely surprised and asked again, "How much is your monthly salary?"

The archers laughed: "What a joke! The government doesn't give us a single penny. They only provide meals when we're on night duty; otherwise, we have to pay for our own meals."

Not only was Xu Lai incredulous, but the villagers from Qingxi Village were equally dumbfounded.

He served the government for seven whole years without receiving any salary!

These archers did not come from wealthy families; they were only from third-class households. Seven years of unpaid labor was extremely difficult for them. Not only did they not receive wages, but their families also had to subsidize their expenses in the county town.

Xu Lai then asked, "Aren't there any other preferential treatments?"

One archer said, "During my time as an archer, I will no longer have to perform corvée labor."

"Is it the individual exempt from military service, or the entire family?"

"Myself."

Xu Lai was increasingly speechless; this preferential treatment was practically nonexistent.

Bu Chao sighed, "I always thought that the upper-middle-class families outside the mountains were doing better than us mountain people, and they always shifted the burden of corvée labor onto us. I used to wish you were dead, but I never imagined that you were also suffering so much."

"In this world, who isn't suffering?"

"You archers must be able to make a living off yourselves, right?"

"You can make money, but not much; it's hard enough to support yourself. The closer you get to the neighbors, the less comfortable it is to take advantage of them. You can only bully people from the countryside who have come to the city."

"I know. I was bullied by you when I went to town to sell firewood before."

"Hehe, sorry for the offense, let's have a drink together another day."

"..."

The conversation deepened as they talked, and they quickly became acquainted.

The mountain people used to hate archers because they were often harassed by them when they went to town.

Now I feel relieved. It turns out we're all just unfortunate people who've been bullied.

-

(I recommend "Literary Master 1913: Walking in the Republic of China Era." By the way, can one write about the Republic of China era now?)