Chapter 96

"Jing Shi, your lecture is much more interesting than the lectures of the scholars. When I listen to the scholars, I always feel sleepy, but just now, listening to your lecture, I found it much more engaging, and I didn't feel sleepy at all." After sending off a group of students from the National University, everyone gathered around Xia Hongsheng. Fang Yiai, the big guy, said to Xia Hongsheng.

"Yes, I never thought a class could be taught like this. The scholars just nod and sway their heads all day, it's really too boring," Li Yexu added from the side.

"Uh, is it really good to talk about the scholars behind their backs like this?" Wei Shuyu, who had a more upright character, said to Li Yexu and Fang Yiai, then looked at Xia Hongsheng: "However, Jing Shi's lectures are indeed captivating. My mind has been following Jing Shi's words, and I feel quite engrossed."

As they were talking, Li Gang and Yan Shigu walked over, and everyone quickly stopped talking and greeted them together.

Li Gang stroked his beard and said, "Did you all remember Jing Shi's lecture on punctuation and sentence structure?"

"We will keep it in mind!" everyone replied.

"Good, you must not only remember it but also start using it in your writing. Don't forget to add punctuation and break sentences," Li Gang added. Everyone agreed again.

Yan Shigu also nodded and said, "You must master this method well. Although you are all descendants of nobles and don't need to take the imperial exams, you cannot ignore this method."

Hearing this, Xia Hongsheng's heart skipped a beat. He looked at the students and indeed saw a few of them looking surprised. Yan Shigu smiled and stroked his beard, then turned and left with Li Gang.

Thinking about Yan Shigu's meaningful smile, Xia Hongsheng quickly understood why he had revealed the news about adding punctuation and sentence structure to the imperial exams. This news wasn't for the students but was to be spread through their mouths to the aristocratic families. These noble descendants, their relatives, and even their mothers, might be from these aristocratic families, forming a vast network. Many noble families were intermarried with the aristocracy. The aristocratic families held high prestige and status in early Tang society, with the Five Surnames and Seven Clans being the most powerful. Many nobles, due to their status, were also married into these aristocratic families, such as Cheng Yaojin's wife, who belonged to the Qinghe Cui clan. These aristocratic families almost monopolized the cultural sphere, making it very difficult for common scholars to rise. The only way for them to succeed was to outperform the aristocratic descendants in the imperial exams. By revealing this news to the students, they would naturally inform their elders at home, and the news would quickly spread among the aristocratic families. Since the imperial exams would include this content, although the aristocrats could enter government through family connections without taking the exams, the countless scholars under their patronage would have to participate. Once the aristocrats learned this news, they would certainly pass it on to the scholars under their patronage, who would quickly learn this method to prepare for the exams. This would, in turn, help promote the use of punctuation and sentence structure.

The National University sending students to learn indicated that Li Gang and Yan Shigu had convinced Kong Yingda, the descendant of Confucius who managed the National University. This meant that the aristocrats would not oppose this method. When Kong Yingda promoted it, the reputation of Confucius' descendant would be the greatest driving force, and the aristocrats would be unable to stop it.

However, this method of punctuation and sentence structure would be beneficial to the aristocrats, as they could use it to reinterpret ancient texts, which would not be difficult for them, given their near-monopoly on the cultural sphere. This would be a good opportunity for them to enhance their prestige, so they would likely face little resistance.

Most of the nobles in the court had ties to the aristocracy, with many directly from these families. This led to the later arrogance and pride of the aristocracy and Li Shimin's suspicion and disdain, resulting in his suppression of the aristocracy.

Xia Hongsheng understood but did not say it outright. The aristocracy was a troublesome thing; once involved, there would be no good outcome. Especially now, with Li Shimin watching him closely, he must not let Li Shimin think he was out of control, or he would be in trouble. Xia Hongsheng had long known this.

"Jing Shi, my uncle asked me to remind you not to be late for the court assembly tomorrow," Xu Qixian said as he was about to leave.

Xia Hongsheng nodded and said, "Xu Brother, do you want to come to my place for dinner? My sister-in-law is making oil-splashed noodles today."

Xu Qixian's eyes lit up: "Yes! Definitely! Let me go tell them! Ha, I've been thinking about those oil-splashed noodles day and night!"

Soon, Xu Qixian returned with two more people, Xu Hui and Li Lizhi.

"Brother Xia, why didn't you call me when you were making something delicious?" Xu Hui said as soon as she arrived.

"Didn't I let your brother call you?" Xia Hongsheng smiled and then looked at Li Lizhi.

"Hello, Master Xia," Li Lizhi said, looking quite embarrassed and flustered.

Look at the princess, how polite! Xia Hongsheng also bowed: "Greetings, Princess Chang乐."

"Chang Le sister was dragged here by me; she hasn't eaten at your place before!" Xu Hui held Li Lizhi's hand and said to her: "His food is really delicious!"

"I... I still..." Li Lizhi felt very embarrassed about coming to Xia Hongsheng's house for a free meal: "Mother is still..."

Xia Hongsheng saw that the little princess wanted to come but was hesitant. He stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, please don't be so formal, and don't worry about the Empress scolding you. I have a plan."

After saying that, Xia Hongsheng looked around and then went into the Hongwen Pavilion, coming out with Li Ke.

"I'm making something to eat at home. Xu Hui wants to bring your sister for a free meal. Are you coming?" Xia Hongsheng said to Li Ke as he pulled him out.

"Of course! Definitely!" Li Ke's eyes also lit up, having seen Xia Hongsheng's skills during hunting, he was very much looking forward to the food.

Thus, Xia Hongsheng took Xu Qixian and his sister, and Li Ke and his sister, back to his house.

When visiting someone's home, it was essential to greet the elders first. However, Xia Hongsheng's only elder was his sister-in-law, so the four of them went to greet her. The woman, who had never been greeted like this before, was a bit flustered but knew that Xia Hongsheng's classmates had come and welcomed them warmly.

"You all chat here; I'll go help my sister-in-law prepare the food," Xia Hongsheng said to Xu Qixian and Li Ke, then went to the kitchen.

Seeing Xia Hongsheng come in, the woman quickly tried to shoo him out: "Hongsheng, your classmates are here! How can you come in here? I'll do it!"

"Don't worry, they don't mind," Xia Hongsheng said, ignoring her, washed his hands, and picked up a knife. "There are quite a few people, so I'll make a few more dishes. My sister-in-law, make the oil-splashed noodles, but don't make too much noodles; leave some room for the dishes."

"How can that be? Guests are here, and we can't let them go hungry even if there's leftover!" The woman was very firm on this: "Now that you have a title, we can afford to be generous. If the guests go hungry, people will talk behind your back!"

Seeing the woman take out a large bowl from her street food days, Xia Hongsheng was startled. The street food business was left to his sister-in-law's brother, Lin Ergou, so why did she still have the bowl? He quickly replaced it with a smaller one and said, "Sister-in-law, listen to me, this size is fine. There are other dishes, and they'll be full by the time they get to the noodles."

"No! We can't be stingy!" The woman was firm: "Now that you're an official, you can't be stingy and risk people laughing at you!"

Xia Hongsheng gave up and let her do as she pleased. His sister-in-law was always generous, even when running the street food stall, often giving extra portions and free meals. Seeing her determination, Xia Hongsheng let her do as she wished.

He quickly prepared a few dishes, and the oil-splashed noodles were ready. Servants brought the food to the courtyard, and when Xia Hongsheng arrived, the four of them were already sniffing the air around the large folding table.

"Ha, Jing Shi, your skills are indeed excellent..." Li Ke said, praising Xia Hongsheng, but his eyes couldn't leave the dishes, and he kept swallowing, revealing his thoughts.

Xu Qixian also urged, "Hurry, hurry, we're waiting for you to start!"

"Who cares about so many rules, just eat. The main dish is last," Xia Hongsheng sat down, but his sister-in-law refused to join them, so he was alone.

These two still maintained their dignity, each first serving their sisters before starting to eat. The four of them at the table were like a whirlwind, eating as if they hadn't eaten in days, even starting to fight over the food. Even the usually polite Li Lizhi had a flushed face and was eating quickly.

Xia Hongsheng barely touched his chopsticks, waiting for the oil-splashed noodles.

Soon, the dishes were almost finished, and everyone wiped their mouths, looking regretfully at the empty plates. How could such delicious food be over so quickly?

Just then, a servant brought out a pot and placed bowls in front of them. The bowls contained thick, wide noodles with green onions, garlic, and dark red Sichuan pepper powder on top.

"Watch this," Xia Hongsheng smiled, took the iron spoon, and poured hot oil into the bowls.

"Sizzle..." The aroma filled the air, and everyone's eyes widened, their mouths watering.

As the servant brought out the pot, the aroma of the oil-splashed noodles filled the air, and everyone's eyes widened, their mouths watering.