Chapter 59

The simplest truths often explain the most complex outcomes. Those who believed that Lin Yanchao had cheated reached a consensus.

"If he hadn't brought cheat sheets, he wouldn't have guessed three questions right."

"I see. He must have been preparing for half a month, with great effort."

"I will appeal to the headmaster and the lecturers." A hot-tempered young man stood up.

"Calm down." Chen Xinggui held back the man.

"Brother Chen, how can you tolerate this? If it weren't for this kid, you would have been the fourth in the outer dormitory this time." Yu Ziyu said unhappily, of course, he was the second.

Chen Xinggui smiled and said, "The exam is over. If we rashly report him, we won't have any evidence. To drive this kid out of the academy, we need to catch him red-handed."

Everyone was enlightened and said together, "Brother Chen, you are truly wise."

"Lin Yanchao, the teacher wants you to go to the study room!"

Upon hearing this, everyone turned around and saw Lin Yanchao walking out of the Second Plum Study Room.

Yu Ziyu sneered, "I doubt he can even pass the teacher's test. Brother Chen, you've arranged this in vain."

Inside the study room.

In front of the statue of Zhu Xi, Lin Liao walked back and forth with his hands behind his back. He looked at Lin Yanchao and asked, "Have you memorized it?"

"What have I memorized?"

"Don't pretend to be ignorant."

Lin Yanchao honestly said, "I have memorized some of it."

Lin Liao was the only person in the academy who knew Lin Yanchao's background. When Lin Yanchao said he had memorized the entire book of major and minor questions, Lin Liao found it hard to believe.

"How much have you memorized?"

"Half." Lin Yanchao decided to be modest.

"Half?" Lin Liao questioned.

Lin Yanchao nodded. Half was already over a million words and thousands of model essays. Even so, Lin Liao still didn't believe him.

Lin Liao pulled out the book of major and minor questions and randomly pointed to a chapter, asking Lin Yanchao to recite it. Lin Yanchao recited it honestly. Lin Liao then pulled out seven or eight more chapters. Lin Yanchao said he hadn't memorized three of them, but recited the others word for word. Lin Liao was speechless and dumbfounded.

"Teacher, do you want me to recite it backward this time?"

"No." Lin Liao wouldn't fall for it again, but he was both angry and amused. He thought this disciple was clever but shouldn't let his talent mislead him.

Lin Liao sternly said to Lin Yanchao, "Didn't I tell you not to memorize the 'Four Books Major and Minor Questions'? Why didn't you listen?"

Lin Yanchao said, "Teacher, I didn't deliberately memorize it. I just read a few model essays, pondered them in my heart, and then naturally remembered them when I saw the questions and wrote them down."

Lin Liao, somewhat frustrated, said, "I knew it. This is a small trick, not a big one, do you understand? Of course, if you write like this in the child examination, the examiner won't mark you wrong or invalidate your paper. But if they give you a biased or fragmented question not in this book, where will you answer from?"

"Even if you pass the child examination, in the future, during the provincial and metropolitan examinations, which examiner isn't from the Hanlin Academy, a learned scholar? They have seen all kinds of famous model essays. When they compare your paper with those of other candidates who write creatively and innovatively, how will they select you? Do you understand what I mean?"

Lin Yanchao nodded and said, "I understand. Teacher, you mean that in the child examination, one can still pass by memorizing questions, but in the provincial and metropolitan examinations, it won't work."

Lin Liao, hearing Lin Yanchao's words, thought they made sense, but they sounded strange.

Lin Liao said, "What do you mean by 'pass by memorizing questions'? Don't have a侥幸 heart. If you want to have a good ranking in the academy, you need to study hard."

"Can I still borrow the book of major and minor questions from you, teacher?"

Lin Liao was silent for a moment. Which teacher doesn't like students who memorize books? But he opposed memorizing questions, fearing they would take the wrong path, spending all their time guessing and memorizing questions for the child examination, neglecting their real studies.

But Lin Liao thought that Lin Yanchao had memorized half of the 26 volumes of the Mencius in just half a month, which didn't seem too difficult. No, this student has potential and shouldn't be led astray.

Lin Liao earnestly said, "Scholarship should not be hindered by effort, but by the loss of will. If you continue to borrow the book of major and minor questions, you will be on the wrong path. You cannot borrow this book from me again."

"I will remember that. I won't borrow this book from you again."

Lin Liao watched Lin Yanchao leave the study room, thinking of Fang Zhongyong and Yan Song, both child prodigies who were burdened by their fame. He didn't want Lin Yanchao to follow the same path. Studies must be done step by step, not rushed, or it will be counterproductive.

Lin Liao thought Lin Yanchao was smart enough to take his words to heart.

At that moment, Lin Yanchao was in front of the academy's library, holding his student card and saying to the librarian, "Excuse me, I would like to borrow the 'Four Books Major and Minor Questions' set!"

The librarian looked up and said, "The academy's rule is that you can borrow a maximum of three volumes at a time. You can't borrow the whole set. Which three volumes do you want?"

Lin Yanchao thought for a moment and said, "Let's go with the Analects, the 'Learning and Progress' chapter, the 'Government' chapter, and the 'Eight Rows' chapter."

"Really troublesome." The librarian complained, went up to the library, and soon brought Lin Yanchao three volumes.

Lin Yanchao smiled and said, "Thank you. If possible, please keep the other volumes of the Analects for me. I will come back to get them. Here is some money for the lamp oil, a small token of my appreciation."

The librarian, seeing no one around, took the money and said with a gentle face, "I haven't seen such a diligent student in a long time. Alright, I will keep them for you."

"Thank you." Lin Yanchao borrowed the books and thought, Lin Liao said he couldn't borrow the book from him, but didn't say he couldn't borrow it from the library. How could he not notice such an obvious loophole?

Whether Lin Liao said it intentionally or not, Lin Yanchao still planned to continue memorizing the question bank, as it wasn't difficult for him. But Lin Liao was right,

Talent is given by heaven, and it's a waste not to use it!

Lin Yanchao returned to the Second Plum Study Room, read one volume of the Analects he borrowed, and then packed his bag and returned to the dormitory.

Outside the dormitory, he saw a figure blocking his way.

"Isn't this Brother Huang?" Lin Yanchao asked.

Huang Biyou blushed, took a deep breath, and pulled out a sheet of paper, saying, "Yanchao, this is a thousand characters of '服'. A man of honor keeps his word. Take it!"

Lin Yanchao took the paper and smiled, "Oh, I had forgotten about that!"

"You." Huang Biyou, seeing that Lin Yanchao didn't take the bet seriously, felt a surge of anger at being disrespected.

Seeing Huang Biyou's face turn red and white, Lin Yanchao smiled and said, "Brother Huang, I was just joking. Don't be angry. You kept your word, and I will keep mine. We are classmates, and occasional disagreements are normal. I also have my faults, so please bear with me."

Saying this, Lin Yanchao bowed to Huang Biyou.

Huang Biyou's anger subsided, and he returned the bow, stammering, "Brother Yanchao, you are too kind."

The other dorm mates saw this and said, "Lin Yanchao is magnanimous, a true gentleman."

Yu Ziyu's lips moved, but he didn't say anything.

Lin Yanchao went to wash his face and returned to the dormitory. Under the central oil lamp, the seven people in the dormitory were all reading books.

Usually, after an exam, everyone would relax, but this time,

Lin Yanchao lay on the bed, and Yu Qingzhou leaned over and said, "Yanchao, do you know that because you ranked second in the outer dormitory, everyone has been motivated and is studying hard."

"I, really? I just got lucky." Lin Yanchao smiled.

Yu Qingzhou shook his head and said, "You went from being the worst in the class to the second best. That means, except for Ye Xianggao, everyone else's average ranking has dropped by one position."

"All the students in our academy put all their effort into studying, but got this result. How can they feel balanced?"

Lin Yanchao nodded and said, "That's true. I can't always be the last to make everyone happy, or I won't be happy."

Yu Qingzhou laughed softly and said, "Yes, everyone is studying hard, and no one is slacking off. Everyone is making progress, but if your ranking drops, it means you are not progressing as fast as others. You've only been here for a month, but if you stay longer, you will understand everyone's feelings."

"I am relaxed enough to talk to you about this because, first, I admire your character, and second, I won't be studying in the academy next year."

"Why?"

Yu Qingzhou smiled and said, "I can't bear the pressure. I told my family that the academy is full of talents like Ye Xianggao and Brother Yanchao. Studying here only makes me more hopeless. It might be better to go to a more relaxed place, where I might make some progress in my studies."

Lin Yanchao was taken aback.

"Turn off the lights, turn off the lights." At this moment, Yu Ziyu said.

"Wait, let me read a bit more!" Jia Dun's Zhu Xiangwen said.

Everyone in the dormitory teased, "It's not that long!"

"Ah, you don't know. If I don't finish three volumes tonight, I won't be able to sleep for several days. Please forgive me." Zhu Xiangwen pleaded with everyone.

Everyone laughed and scolded, but Lin Yanchao, in the laughter, felt a bit bitter.