Chapter 48

Lin Yanzhao followed the other person into the room.

The furnishings inside the room were very simple, with only a portrait of Zhu Xi, a small desk, and two straw mats.

Lin Yanzhao first paid respects to the portrait of Zhu Xi. Jiao Lang Lin Liao was already seated on one of the straw mats in front of the desk, gesturing for Lin Yanzhao to sit down. Lin Yanzhao was taken aback when he saw that the other person was sitting formally, but fortunately, he remembered the etiquette Lin Chengyi had taught his students in the past.

Lin Yanzhao then approached the straw mat, slightly lifted his student's robe, and sat down on his legs.

Jiao Lang Lin Liao nodded and picked up the paper with Lin Yanzhao's information to read it.

"You started your education at Hongtang Community School, and you have read 'Three-Character Classic,' 'Thousand Character Text,' 'Encyclopedia of Early Learning,' 'Introduction to Rhyme and Rhythm,' 'Poems of a Thousand Families,' 'Analysis of Ancient Prose,' and 'Poems of Child Prodigies.' Hmm, your foundation is still acceptable. However, in your studies of Confucian classics, you have only read 'The Meaning of the Great Learning.' In our academy, students generally read the Four Books before advancing to deeper studies."

Hearing this, Lin Yanzhao's heart sank, thinking, "Not good."

Jiao Lang Lin Liao put down the paper and said, "This is your handwriting, right? You are imitating Yan-style calligraphy, specifically 'Yan Qinli Stele' and 'Duobao Pagoda Stele.' You haven't quite grasped the essence yet, but you are on the right path. You must practice calligraphy every day, and with time, you will surely achieve success."

"Thank you, Jiao Lang, for your guidance," Lin Yanzhao replied.

"Um, since you haven't mastered the Confucian classics, you can't discuss the art of writing yet. Do you have any of your own compositions with you?"

Lin Yanzhao immediately handed over the prepared scroll, which contained the poems and couplets he had submitted to Hu Tixue at the community school, along with an additional policy question.

After reading through Lin Yanzhao's scroll, Jiao Lang Lin Liao frowned slightly and said, "The couplets are not bad, but these poems, although logically coherent, are only average and not particularly outstanding."

Lin Yanzhao knew his level of poetry, even after being slightly polished by Hu Tixue, was still not up to par.

Jiao Lang Lin Liao put down the scroll and rubbed his temples, saying, "With these, the academy cannot admit you for now. However, since you were recommended by the old Secretary, you must have some exceptional qualities. I will test your foundation."

"Please test me, sir!"

"Um, don't worry, it won't be too difficult. Since you excel in poetry, let's start with that! Hmm, why do you look so nervous?"

Lin Yanzhao forced a smile and said, "Sir, I'm fine."

"Alright, let's start with the simplest word addition, 'tiger!'"

Lin Yanzhao replied without hesitation, "Dragon!"

"Brave tiger!"

"Divine dragon!"

"Subdue the brave tiger!"

"Nurture the divine dragon!"

"Subdue the brave tiger with might!"

Lin Yanzhao scratched his head for a moment and said, "Nurture the divine dragon with skill!"

"Subdue the brave tiger with extraordinary might!"

Lin Yanzhao thought for a while and honestly replied, "I don't know, sir."

"Nurture the divine dragon with unique skill!" Jiao Lang Lin Liao said calmly.

After a brief pause, Lin Liao said, "Compose a five-character, six-rhyme poem on the theme 'Green willow flowers cover the stream with mist,' using the official rhyme scheme."

Lin Yanzhao thought hard and composed a poem. Although the rhyme and format were correct, the quality was still average.

After Lin Yanzhao finished his poem, Lin Liao's expression worsened, and he hesitated to criticize directly.

Lin Liao finally held his temper and said coldly, "The last question, to test your ability to write official documents!"

"Official documents?"

Lin Liao, impatient, said, "Didn't you learn this in primary school? In previous county exams, we tested this twice, and once in the prefectural exam. It tests your ability to discern right from wrong and write official documents."

"Is it the 'judgment' in 'body, speech, writing, and judgment'?"

"Um, yes," Jiao Lang's expression improved slightly, "You're not too... cough, listen to the question. In the past, two farmers complained to the local magistrate. The cause was their oxen fighting, resulting in one dead and one injured. The farmer who lost his ox demanded compensation from the other farmer, while the other farmer accused the first farmer's ox of injuring his ox. Write a judgment for the magistrate, and you have the time of one incense stick."

After saying this, Lin Liao stood up, thinking that Lin Yanzhao had taken so long to compose a poem, and the difficulty of writing a judgment was even higher. Moreover, such cases were often discussed in the homes of officials, so their children would be more experienced. Lin Yanzhao, from a poor family, would find it much harder.

Lin Liao thought Lin Yanzhao would give up, but as soon as he stood up, Lin Yanzhao picked up the inkstone, added water, and started writing swiftly.

"This is too hasty. Even I would find it difficult to judge such a case, let alone him. Writing so quickly without citing the law?" Lin Liao was angry and stood behind Lin Yanzhao to see how he wrote.

Lin Yanzhao wrote swiftly, and the paper had only sixteen characters.

"Two oxen fought, one died, one survived. The dead ox is shared, the living ox is shared."

Lin Liao almost applauded, but he thought it would be inappropriate.

"Sir, how is it?" Lin Yanzhao asked.

Without showing any emotion, Lin Liao took the paper from Lin Yanzhao's desk and read it repeatedly. He thought, "Quick-witted, this person is either a genius or at least a talented individual, but he is definitely not ordinary."

However, he kept these thoughts to himself and said, "In the imperial exams, the Four Books and Five Classics are the most important. No matter how well you write a judgment, without passing the exams, you can only be a legal advisor."

Well, the ancients were right; I do have a talent for being a legal advisor. Lin Yanzhao didn't know whether to be happy or not.

Lin Yanzhao humbly said, "Thank you, sir, for your guidance."

Seeing Lin Yanzhao's humble attitude, Lin Liao suddenly found himself appreciating this student.

He had intended to dismiss Lin Yanzhao, but he changed his mind and tested his understanding of 'The Great Learning.' The oral test involved verbally explaining the classics, while the written test involved writing answers.

After the test, he alternated between reading Lin Yanzhao's academic records and the scroll, thinking, "His foundation in 'The Great Learning' is very solid, impeccable, but that's not enough. He has only studied one of the Four Books."

However, he had only studied 'The Great Learning' for a month and could understand it so thoroughly, which was truly remarkable. Probably only the best students in the academy could do this. Moreover, he came from Hongtang Community School, a rural school without a master teacher, while the best students in the academy were personally guided by the headmaster.

Unfortunately, his poetry and prose are too poor, barely passable. But this can be improved, and it's not the era of the Tang and Song dynasties where poetry and prose were the main criteria for selection. The eight-part essay is the key.

Lin Liao had already made up his mind but still wanted to criticize a bit. He picked up the scroll Lin Yanzhao had submitted and said, "These couplets and poems you consider your best work are really not impressive. If I'm not mistaken, you probably had someone else polish them, and the original poems were even worse!"

Lin Yanzhao honestly replied, "Sir, your insight is sharp, you have seen through it."

Lin Liao couldn't help but smile smugly and said, "Your little tricks can't fool me. The students who came for interviews before you also had their essays written by others. Did you think I wouldn't notice? Who helped you write this? The writing could have been better, indicating a lack of effort. Was it your primary school teacher?"

Lin Yanzhao replied, "Sir, I dare not say."

"What do you mean by 'dare not say'? Just speak directly."

Lin Yanzhao frankly said, "It was the Fujian Inspector of Education who revised it."

"What?" Lin Liao almost dropped the paper, "How could the Grand Master revise your scroll? Are you his student?"

Lin Liao thought about how he had just criticized the work of a provincial inspector, feeling like crying. If his students or the scholars from the prefectural or county schools heard this, they would surely curse him to death.

"Yes, by chance, when he came to inspect the community school..."

Hearing Lin Yanzhao's explanation, Lin Liao said irritably, "Really, you are the Grand Master's student. Why didn't you tell me earlier? What was the point of this interview? You made me waste so much time!"

You didn't ask me beforehand. Lin Yanzhao thought to himself.

"Can I be admitted, sir?"

"Cough, cough," Lin Liao cleared his throat and said solemnly, "Of course, you are now a student of this academy."

"Great, thank you, sir." Lin Yanzhao bowed.

Seeing Lin Yanzhao's happy expression, Lin Liao felt pleased but still advised, "Don't be too happy yet. Our academy has many rules, eight of which you must remember: correct your thoughts, check your studies, choose the right classics, strictly follow the course rules, understand the Confucian classics, study the basics, broaden your knowledge of history, and enrich your literary skills."

"If you behave improperly or neglect your studies, you will be expelled without mercy."

Lin Yanzhao replied, "Yes, sir."

"Alright, the details will be explained to you later. Come back tomorrow for the teacher-student ceremony. For now, go to the steward to get your student's robe and books."