Chapter 8

Lin Yanzhao, now reading the "Thousand Character Classic," found that the thousand characters in the text were all unique, with no repetition. It is said that the author, Zhou Xingsi, completed the "Thousand Character Classic" in one night, after which his hair turned white. The "Thousand Character Classic" was used for启蒙 (initiation) because once a child learned the entire text, they would have recognized a thousand characters.

The poem begins with the universe's vastness and the primordial chaos, with each line consisting of four characters and a change in rhyme every other line. When recited, it flows smoothly and is not at all difficult. Moreover, the text is coherent and logically sound, not a mere patchwork of words.

This is already impressive, but the entire "Thousand Character Classic" is also beautifully written, with elegant and ornate language, and each sentence is a reference to classics and each character is a citation.

The morning class passed quickly, and after reciting it three times, Lin Yanzhao had already memorized the "Thousand Character Classic" by heart.

At the end, Lin Chengyi cleared his throat and said, "Today's lesson on the 'Thousand Character Classic' covers from the beginning of the universe to the end of the text, which talks about the creation of heaven and earth and the affairs of the three dynasties. It also discusses self-reflection and self-improvement. Tomorrow, students who have been in school for less than a year must memorize up to 'Lai Ji Wan Fang,' while the rest must memorize up to 'Hao Jue Zi Mi.' I will conduct an assessment, and those who fail will receive twenty strokes of the ruler."

"Yes, Master," the students replied in unison, looking at the ruler in Lin Chengyi's hand.

"Dismissed!" After saying this, Lin Chengyi left, and the classroom was filled with groans.

One student said, "Oh no, oh no, memorizing up to 'Hao Jue Zi Mi' is 102 lines, how many characters is that!"

"I can't calculate it; I'm not good at mathematics."

"Probably around five or six hundred characters, this is terrible, terrible!"

Lin Yanzhao couldn't help but comment, "Can't they do simple math? 102 times four?"

"You guys are lucky, we have to memorize up to 'Lai Ji Wan Fang,' no sleep tonight."

"I'm giving up; my father doesn't expect much from me, just to recognize a few characters."

"But if you don't memorize it, the master will not only scold you but also use the ruler."

"I don't want to be beaten."

"Then just memorize as much as you can, and maybe you'll get fewer strokes."

Hou Zhongshu, looking at the "Thousand Character Classic," sighed deeply and said to Lin Yanzhao, "Yanzhao, can you memorize it? The master is setting a trap, making it so difficult that if others can't memorize it, they just get strokes, but if you can't, you'll be expelled."

"Can I say I memorized it after reading it three times?" Lin Yanzhao was afraid of sounding too shocking and doubted that Hou Zhongshu would believe him, so he replied, "It's okay."

"Be careful," Hou Zhongshu warned Lin Yanzhao earnestly.

The Hongtang Community School had a day off on the first and fifteenth of each month, and the other 28 days were for classes. Each day was divided into morning, afternoon, and evening classes. After the morning class, students would have a break for lunch, and then return to study. This intensity of study was almost as demanding as that of high school seniors.

Lin Yanzhao and Hou Zhongshu closed their books and walked to the kitchen, talking as they went.

Good community schools had dedicated dining halls for students and hired staff to serve as attendants. However, the Hongtang Community School was simple, with only one old attendant who cooked lunch for the students and then left.

Lin Yanzhao and Hou Zhongshu couldn't afford the meal fees, so they paid with firewood and cooked their own meals.

"This is really tough," Lin Yanzhao couldn't help but comment.

Lin Yanzhao and Hou Zhongshu went to the kitchen, took out their own food, and started cooking. They had experienced times when the food wasn't fully cooked due to lack of time.

In the dining hall next to the kitchen, other students were eating and chatting, and the smell of food wafted over. Lin Yanzhao and Hou Zhongshu's stomachs growled.

Finally, the food was cooked, and the local students were almost finished eating and started washing their bowls. They formed a small circle, and Lin Yanzhao and Hou Zhongshu, the only two non-Zhang students, were excluded from this circle.

"Lin Yanzhao, Hou Zhongshu, don't forget to sweep and water the floor later!" a student named Zhang Guihe said.

"Last time it was us, why us again today?"

"It's you, and if you don't want to, you'll see what happens." Zhang Guihe said this and went to talk with his classmates.

"Scoundrel!"

Lin Yanzhao knew that he and Hou Zhongshu were often bullied. Hou Zhongshu had even been humiliated a few times.

"Let it go, just for now," Lin Yanzhao comforted Hou Zhongshu.

"Wait until I gain the favor of the educational official and become successful, then they will treat me with respect." Hou Zhongshu boasted.

"First, memorize the 'Thousand Character Classic' clearly, and then sweep and water the floor." Lin Yanzhao kindly discouraged Hou Zhongshu.

"My dear mother, how can I manage it in time?"

"Let me sweep the floor first, and you go back and memorize the text. If you get hit by the master, it won't look good."

"How can I leave you alone? I'm a man of honor."

They both laughed, and Lin Yanzhao also started eating quickly.

After sweeping and watering the floor, they had to do it again before the morning class the next day. Back in the Minglun Hall, Hou Zhongshu immediately picked up the book and started reciting the "Thousand Character Classic" loudly, trying to make the most of every minute.

Not only Hou Zhongshu, but other students were also reciting, and the classroom was filled with the sound of recitation.

In the morning class, Lin Chengyi set the task of memorization, and in the afternoon class, he would not teach but have the students memorize. In the past, during the afternoon class, when the workload was light, Lin Chengyi would teach the students to recite the "Book of Songs," practice etiquette, and explain the basics of the six scripts and nine numbers. Sometimes he would take the students to the archery range to practice archery.

Lin Yanzhao sat at his desk, opened the "Thousand Character Classic," and silently recited it, then compared it with the text, finding no errors. He thought that even if Lin Chengyi tested him on the entire text the next day, he wouldn't be afraid.

Lin Yanzhao thought about his poor handwriting and borrowed a copy of the Yan Qinli stele from Hou Zhongshu, then went to the left hall to get a stack of straw paper.

This straw paper was rough and not even suitable for printing the cheapest books. Common people often used it as menstrual paper or toilet paper. Poor scholars couldn't afford good paper. Even the cheapest bamboo paper, which cost 20 coins per bundle, was not used lightly by Lin Yanzhao.

Straw paper was only勉强 (barely) suitable for practicing writing, but it was prone to ink bleeding. However, it was cheap and easy to produce, and the villagers could make it themselves, which was the most important factor.

Lin Yanzhao picked up a half-used ink stick, added a little water to the old inkstone, and started grinding. He ground the ink lightly and dipped the brush heavily, ensuring the ink was fine. After the ink was ready, he picked up the brush, removed two broken hairs from the brush, and dipped it in the ink to practice calligraphy.

According to "Teaching Children's Good Rules," a straight heart leads to a straight brush, and a crooked brush indicates a crooked heart. Lin Yanzhao deeply understood this; if his mind was calm and composed, the characters he wrote would have a sense of righteousness, and he would be more satisfied with his writing.

Therefore, calligraphers often emphasize the importance of a calm mind, as practicing calligraphy can calm the mind and nourish the body. Of course, to write well, one must put in hard work, and Zhao Mengfu, one of the four great calligraphers, was known for writing ten thousand characters a day.

Lin Yanzhao practiced calligraphy stroke by stroke for over an hour, and when he felt some improvement, he nodded in satisfaction.

He put the brush in the water container, looked up, and saw his classmates still frowning and reciting the "Thousand Character Classic."

Hou Zhongshu was already holding the book and sleeping with his face on the desk, which was only slightly better than giving up.

Lin Yanzhao shook his head and kicked Hou Zhongshu's desk. Hou Zhongshu woke up, wiped the saliva from his face, and asked in panic, "Is the master here? Is the master here?"

Lin Yanzhao said, "You can nap, but don't get saliva on the book."

Hou Zhongshu woke up, laughed, went to get water to wash his face, and came back to study.

Lin Yanzhao started to catch up on the lessons he had missed. Hou Zhongshu said that during the days he was sick, Lin Chengyi had taught "Yue Xue Qiong Lin." As the saying goes, reading "Zeng Guang" improves one's speech, and reading "Yue Xue" improves one's reading. After reading "Yue Xue Qiong Lin," reading other books becomes easier as many allusions become clear.

These are the foundational texts for children, essential for ancient students. Lin Yanzhao picked up the book and started reading it aloud.

The next morning, many students were still scratching their heads and reciting the "Thousand Character Classic." Some had already memorized it and looked confident.

While the students were reading, Lin Yanzhao finished sweeping and watering the courtyard, put away the broom and basket, and returned to his seat.

He yawned, rubbed his temples, and closed "Yue Xue Qiong Lin." With his astonishing memory and late-night studying, he had memorized two of the four volumes and could finish the rest in one more night. "Yue Xue Qiong Lin" was even thicker than the "Analects of Confucius."

Soon, Lin Chengyi entered the classroom and said, "In half a month, the educational inspector will visit the school to inspect the students' progress. From today, you must not be lazy and must study harder."

When Lin Chengyi said this, the students were in an uproar. The inspector's duties included inspecting the local educational atmosphere, visiting temples, accepting complaints, and conducting annual and imperial examinations. Inspecting the community schools was part of the inspection.

Lin Yanzhao didn't expect that a small school like the Hongtang Community School would be visited by the inspector. Based on his past experience, he knew that when leaders visited, some people were nervous, while others saw it as an opportunity for advancement.

Lin Yanzhao noticed that several students were now looking excited and nervous.

Bang! Lin Chengyi hit the ruler on the desk and said, "From today, I will be stricter. Now, hand in your books and write the 'Thousand Character Classic' from memory!"

The students were in an uproar. Lin Chengyi was not following the usual routine. Yesterday, he only said to memorize the text, but writing it from memory was much more difficult.

The students, with grim faces, handed in their books and returned to their desks.