Chapter 65

Lin Yanzhao's words almost touched the core of Lin Shibì's weak spot, causing him to suddenly fly into a rage.

"You want to test the classics, then let's test the classics!" Lin the Young Master's eyes blazed with fury as he spat out these words.

Lin Yanzhao chuckled, thinking to himself, "You've fallen for my trap!"

Just as he was about to speak, Lin Yanzhao preempted him, saying, "To ensure fairness, let's have my teacher set the questions. Teacher, I haven't studied the Five Classics yet, so let's take a question from the Four Books. Whoever solves it first and best will win. Teacher, what do you think, Uncle Shi?"

Lin Yanzhao cleverly shifted the concept from the other party testing him to a fair competition, implying that he was on equal footing with the other.

Lin Shibì naturally knew Lin Yanzhao's intentions, but he was too proud to argue, as it would damage his dignity.

Lin the Young Master snapped open his folding fan and pointed at Lin Yanzhao, saying, "You haven't even mastered the Four Books and Five Classics, yet you dare to act so presumptuously in front of me. But you should be grateful that we're testing the current essays and not poetry, or you wouldn't even have the right to speak a word in front of me."

"Then let's see how it goes."

As Lin Yanzhao and Lin the Young Master were talking, a scholar entered the courtyard. This scholar bore a slight resemblance to Lin the Young Master, also holding a paper fan, looking like a noble young man.

The moment the scholar saw Lin Shibì, he frowned and said, "Brother, my second uncle has returned from the capital and has sent for you, but you won't go. Do I have to invite you three or five times?"

Lin the Young Master glanced at the newcomer and said, "Wait a moment. I don't have the time right now. I'll go after I've taught this presumptuous youth a lesson."

The scholar shook his head and said, "Brother, you still have that bad temper. Don't keep Father waiting."

A servant brought a chair, but the scholar waved it away, saying, "Just hurry up."

"Rest assured, it won't take long. I'll make him understand what it means to be utterly humbled," Lin Shibì said with a cold laugh.

Lin Yanzhao, showing no interest in arguing, said to Lin Chengyi, "Teacher, you can start the test now."

Lin Chengyi sighed, looking at them with a "Do you really have to do this?" expression. Both Lin Yanzhao and Lin Shibì nodded firmly.

Lin Chengyi then took a scroll of the Analects, opened it randomly, and read, "At fifteen, I set my heart upon learning. At thirty, I stood firm. At forty, I had no doubts. At fifty, I knew the mandate of heaven. At sixty, I heard with docility. At seventy, I could follow what my heart desired, without transgressing what was right. Let's start with this passage!"

Lin Shibì gently fanned himself and glanced at Lin Yanzhao, saying, "I could recite the Analects by heart at five and the chapters at seven. When did you start your studies, and when did you begin to study the classics?"

"I'll give you a hint. This passage is from the fourth chapter of the Analects, 'Government.' According to Zhu Xi's commentary, in ancient times, one entered the university at fifteen. The heart's direction is called 'will.' The learning referred to here is the way of the university. If you are smart, you should break the topic from this perspective..."

Without even looking at Lin Shibì, Lin Yanzhao blurted out, "The reason the sage reached the Way is also through gradual progress."

"Ha ha," the scholar laughed aloud, "Interesting, Brother, you really got caught off guard this time."

The scholar then found a chair and sat down.

The moment Lin Yanzhao finished speaking, Lin Shibì's face changed.

"The reason the sage reached the Way is also through gradual progress."

Lin Shibì thought to himself, "The sage is Confucius, and the Way is that Confucius became a sage through gradual accumulation. This perfectly breaks the meaning of this chapter. It's laughable that I still relied on the old methods, looking for answers in Zhu Xi's commentary."

As the judge, Lin Chengyi said, "This is a very skillful break of the topic."

He was also puzzled. Lin Yanzhao had only studied the eight-part essay for two months. How could he break the topic so well?

"May I ask, Teacher, have I won?" Lin Yanzhao asked.

Lin Chengyi nodded and said, "Yes, you have broken the topic, while Brother Shi has not. Moreover, your break is flawless. Brother Shi, you have lost."

However, Lin Chengyi knew very well that Lin Yanzhao couldn't have become so strong in just two months. So he thought of a possibility and said to Lin Shibì, "Brother Lin, perhaps my disciple just read this topic in the academy and got it right by chance."

This could happen, for example, if the teacher had just taught this passage in the morning, or if Lin Yanzhao had just written this essay and thought about breaking the topic. Otherwise, it would be impossible to think of it so quickly.

Lin Shibì pondered, "Whether or not the child got it right by chance, I have lost. Brother Shi, let's try another question. If I lose again, I will take your disciple as my teacher."

"Tianrui, this is going too far," Lin Chengyi quickly said.

Lin Yanzhao, however, said, "Uncle Shi, I cannot accept that. It would disrupt the hierarchy and place my teachers in an awkward position!"

To deal with a arrogant person, you must be even more arrogant.

"Brilliant, brilliant!" Lin Shibì was greatly angered this time and said through gritted teeth, "Brother Shi, quickly set the question!"

Lin Chengyi didn't want his disciple to overshadow Lin Shibì. He thought that a child winning once and becoming conceited would not be good. Since they had just discussed the Analects, and Lin Yanzhao had just gotten it right by chance, the Book of Mencius, with over 30,000 characters, should not be so coincidental.

So Lin Chengyi opened the Book of Mencius and read, "He who rises at cockcrow and works for the good is a follower of Shun. He who rises at cockcrow and works for profit is a follower of Zhi. To know the difference between Shun and Zhi, there is nothing else but the difference between profit and goodness."

Lin Shibì, no longer daring to underestimate Lin Yanzhao, immediately began to think, "This passage is from the 'Complete Heart' chapter of the Book of Mencius. The main idea is that he who rises at cockcrow to do good is like Shun, and he who rises at cockcrow to seek profit is like Zhi, a great thief. To know the difference between Shun and Zhi, there is nothing else but to see whether one seeks profit or goodness."

"If I were to break the topic, I would focus on the distinction between righteousness and profit. This is something I am very familiar with..."

"By distinguishing between goodness and profit, those who seek profit will likely stop," Lin Yanzhao said.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

Lin Shibì felt as if he had been slapped three times, his face turning red and ears burning as he stood there in shock.

"In ancient times, Cao Zijian could compose a poem in seven steps, and today, this young rascal can break a topic in seconds," the scholar stood up and said with a smile, "Chengyi, is this your disciple?"

Lin Chengyi nodded, his face beaming with pride, "Yes."

The scholar walked up to Lin Yanzhao and asked with a smile, "Young friend, how old are you this year?"

Lin Yanzhao replied, "To the gentleman, I am twelve years old this year."

"Twelve, Gao Luo could become a prime minister at twelve, and you're not far off..."

Lin Chengyi quickly said, "Sheng, don't overpraise my disciple. He is good at memorizing, and it might just be a coincidence. It's not good to praise a young person too much!"

Lin Yanzhao looked at Lin Chengyi with a bad temper, thinking that both Lin Chengyi and Lin Liao were worried he would become arrogant and complacent. Was he really that kind of person?

The scholar smiled and said, "Chengyi, don't worry, I know my limits. May I test your disciple with a question?"

What? Testing someone for fun? Didn't Fang Zhongyong become a prodigy and then was tested to death?

Lin Yanzhao said, "Thank you for the compliment, but I have to go. The teacher asked me to return to the academy before it closes. I can't be late."

Lin Shibì said, "Hold it. I know your background. I bet you've memorized all the model essays of the Four Books. Otherwise, you wouldn't break the topics so easily. How would you break the topic for 'The Master said'?"

Lin Yanzhao was taken aback. He thought, "The Analects are full of 'The Master said,' but in the model essays I've memorized, none of them explain how to break the topic for 'The Master said.' This person is indeed sharp, seeing through my abilities at a glance. I must leave quickly, or it will be too late."

Lin Yanzhao then said, "Uncle Shi, I ask you, how can a gentleman be trustworthy in his words?"

Lin Shibì's face turned black. This was Lin Yanzhao reminding him about the promise to take him as a teacher.

The scholar stepped forward and said with a smile, "Don't be so smug. How about this: I'll set a question. If you can answer it, I'll help you. If you can't, the previous bet between you two won't count. What do you say?"

Lin Yanzhao thought, "Sure enough, he's cunning. Lin Shibì, the former prodigy of the Lin family, taking a young boy as a teacher would be bad for the family's reputation."

This scholar was here to save face.

Lin Yanzhao looked at the other person and said in a young voice, "No, no, you Lin family people don't keep your word. How can I trust you?"

Ha ha, the scholar smiled.

Lin Chengyi, unable to deal with Lin Yanzhao's mischief, shook his head and said, "Yanzhao, don't be impolite. This is the son of the young secretary."

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