Chapter 74

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A stern and angry voice woke Yue Heng. Tutor Du was frowning, pointing at Yue Heng's nose and scolding him. The voices of hundreds of students reading aloud gradually diminished, and many looked at him with schadenfreude.

Yue Heng glanced around, confirming that Tutor Du was targeting him. He knew it wasn't good; he must have been caught as an example. He would be made an example of by Tutor Du.

A hint of doubt flashed through his mind: Why did he fall asleep so easily?

However, this wasn't the time to investigate. He could only stand up awkwardly, smiling and saying, "Sir, the student has been too tired these past few days. The student knows he was wrong..."

Tutor Du looked disdainful, "To be so lazy on the first day of instruction, it's a waste of my well-intentioned efforts! Xun Sheng's 'Encouragement to Study' is a must-read for all scholars. Do you not even feel a bit of competitive spirit, or gain any insight? What is your name? Where are you from? What was your ranking in the Spring Examination?"

Yue Heng felt even more embarrassed, "The student is Yue Heng from Hong County, and I ranked first in the Spring Examination... The student feels ashamed..."

What?

The top-ranked student from Hong County? Tutor Du was somewhat surprised.

He is Yue Heng!

Some people who didn't know him suddenly understood. So he is the "fierce student" who fought with senior students on the first day of enrollment and fell asleep in class, showing no respect to the tutor or the seniors. Truly a presumptuous person!

Tutor Du had also heard about him. He learned from other tutors about this peculiar person living in the center of the magic array. Tutor Du was furious at Yue Heng's lack of respect. As a conservative scholar who valued ancient traditions, he absolutely could not allow such an anomaly to appear in his classroom!

"Does being the top-ranked student give you the right to be arrogant and ignore the ancient literary sages and their laws? Do you know what 'Encouragement to Study' teaches?" Tutor Du asked.

"'Encouragement to Study' means to encourage continuous learning. The student understands this and studies diligently every day, never slacking off. 'If you do not work hard when young, you will only regret it when old.' Time is precious, and the opportunity to study is invaluable. The student dares not forget this," Yue Heng answered respectfully.

"No matter how well you speak, it cannot hide the fact that you were lazy! If I do not punish you, others will surely follow your example, trying to get away with clever words!"

Tutor Du turned and walked to the podium, looking at the six hundred students and said loudly, "In the garden, the morning dew awaits the sun. In the spring, the sun spreads its grace, and all things shine. Always fearing the arrival of autumn, when the leaves turn yellow and wither. All rivers flow east to the sea, when will they return west? If you do not work hard when young, you will only regret it when old! Yue Heng from Hong County, the top-ranked student, has spoken well. If you do not study hard now, when you want to study in the future, you will be old, and it will be too late to regret it! Today, we will study Xun Sheng's 'Encouragement to Study' and the poem 'Long Song' from the Music Bureau. After class, each of you must write a poem or essay expressing your thoughts, and submit it to me tomorrow for evaluation! As for you..."

Tutor Du looked at Yue Heng and sneered, "Since you were pondering 'Encouragement to Study' in your sleep, you must have gained deep insights. Why don't you write three pieces?"

A chorus of groans rose from the students, and many protested in low voices, ignoring the rules of the hall.

"Are you kidding? This is our first day with 'Encouragement to Study.' How can we have deep insights? If we just cobble something together, it will be subpar. To write something that expresses 'heart and soul' or 'immersion' or even 'resonance,' it would take at least a year or two. How can we deeply understand the essence of 'Encouragement to Study'?"

"It's all Yue Heng's fault! He dared to fall asleep in class on the first day, and now we all have to suffer!"

"We're lucky; we only have to write one piece. He has to write three. Look at him, isn't he worried and at a loss?"

"Spit! What a troublemaker, he's truly a 'fierce student'!"

Yue Heng was inwardly distressed. This Tutor Du was too cruel, making him write poems and essays alone was one thing, but pulling six hundred students into it was clearly trying to make him a target.

On the first day of class, Yue Heng was already in a bind, looking helpless.

"I seem to remember smelling a strange fragrance before I fell asleep. Could someone have deliberately done this? Anyway, I won't let them get away with it!"

Yue Heng returned to his tent and thought about the homework Tutor Du had assigned. Composing poems was not difficult for him, and he quickly found several appropriate poems.

"Yue, are you asleep?"

Lei Fatso's voice came from outside. Yue Heng pulled back the tent flap and smiled, "Lei, why are you not in the lab? What brings you here? Come in quickly!"

Lei Fatso came in and held up two fingers, "Two things. First, sleeping in a tent is not a long-term solution. The Craftsmanship Academy has recently modified a large troop and supply transport vehicle. It has a steel frame, luxurious interior, can sleep four people, and is equipped with a simple warning magic array. It has six wheels and four directions, with four sets of beast souls providing power. It can traverse mountains and rivers. Are you interested?"

Yue Heng almost laughed out loud. This was just a luxury off-road vehicle.

"Of course, I'm interested. Sleeping in a vehicle is much more comfortable than a tent. But it must be expensive. How can a new student like me afford it?"

Lei Fatso put his arm around Yue Heng's shoulder and said with a grin, "You can use your Bag of Holding as collateral, with a one-year term. You can pay it off gradually. Let me be frank, this vehicle was initially a test item for the senior students of the Craftsmanship Academy. A better supply vehicle is almost complete, so the contribution points required are not many, and it's definitely within your means. If you're not willing, then listen to the second thing. Did you offend the tutor today?"

It was better not to mention it. Just thinking about it gave Yue Heng a headache, "Not just the tutor, probably six hundred fellow students as well..."

Lei Fatso chuckled, "I know a benefactor who wants to buy a poem or essay on 'Encouragement to Study' and 'Diligence.' The price is clear, no cheating. A 'resonant' piece can exchange for the supply vehicle, a 'quality' piece can exchange for one hundred contribution points. If Tutor Du appreciates it tomorrow, he will add a 20% bonus."

Yue Heng was surprised, "You want me to sell my work? And you want a 'resonant' or 'quality' piece? Who is this benefactor? He really thinks highly of me!"

Lei Fatso was unconcerned and said casually, "I've heard about your reputation in Hong County. Composing poems is as easy as eating for you. Yue, a great talent, a poem or essay is nothing difficult for you, right?"

Yue Heng didn't answer immediately, thinking for a while before speaking, "The benefactor wants one piece, but I have to write three. Composing isn't as simple as eating. Selling one piece means I have one less, and the difficulty increases. Do you think writing is like a craftsman making ordinary items?"

"About that... I agree with your point, but don't think making items is easy. Many craftsmen can't make a few intricate small items in their entire lives."

Lei Fatso was a bit embarrassed, rubbing his big belly and smiling sheepishly, "I'm just asking for someone. A luxury troop and supply vehicle can sell for at least a thousand contribution points..."

Yue Heng said calmly, "If this person genuinely seeks my help due to his limited talent, I can forgive him. But if he is deliberately trying to use contribution points to tempt me and increase my difficulty, hmm!"

Lei Fatso understood Yue Heng's implication and quickly explained, "He is just a second-generation noble, and I can guarantee he has no intention of making things difficult for you!"

Yue Heng said seriously, "That's the best! And my poems are not for just anyone to read. Since you've heard about my reputation in Hong County, you should understand. I ask you, 'Are the nobles and generals born of a different kind?' Who dares to say this openly?"

"Are the nobles and generals born of a different kind..."

Lei Fatso repeated the phrase, his mouth bitter. Even though he wasn't a scholar, he was startled and his expression changed, "Yue, you... you dare to say this openly? Aren't you offending all the noble families and the royal relatives?"

Yue Heng said calmly, "I am a student from a humble background. This is my heart's path. Why should I be afraid? Should I just sing praises and say things that go against my heart? Even the ancient literary and martial sages were not chosen by heaven. Laozi taught Confucius, who was also from a humble background. Liu Bang, a farmer, also took the throne. Even the divine Fuxi..."

Lei Fatso was speechless, feeling a chill down his spine. Hearing the name of the divine Fuxi, he hurriedly stopped Yue Heng, "Yue, don't say it. I'm leaving! There are gods in heaven, and words can bring disaster. Goodbye, goodbye!"

Yue Heng watched Lei Fatso leave in a hurry, inwardly amused. He wouldn't comment on the divine Fuxi; he was just scaring Lei Fatso.

In fact, he didn't dislike the noble families in his heart. In the ancient pre-Qin era, with low material and spiritual living standards, only the children of nobles could afford to study.

Therefore, scholars like Confucius, Mencius, Duke of Zhou, Xunzi, Mozi, and Zhuge Liang were all from noble families. Scholars from humble backgrounds were very rare. After the Year of the Divine Punishment, scholars from humble backgrounds, represented by Ji, gradually rose and produced many famous people.

Interestingly, the first poem he thought of about 'Encouragement to Study' and 'Diligence' contained this idea. He had to think about whether to submit this poem to Tutor Du. He wondered if Tutor Du would dare to read such a controversial line in public!

That night, Yue Heng sifted through many poems and finally selected a few.

That night, many students in the Scholar Academy were frowning, carefully choosing words, and racking their brains over 'Encouragement to Study' and 'Diligence,' while also blaming Yue Heng.

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