Chapter 52

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After reading until midnight, Chen Ge finally went back to his room to sleep. Seeing that Second Son had already returned and was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling with a grimace, he asked,

"Are you crying or laughing?"

"Both crying and laughing."

"How so?"

"Laughing because I finally went out with a young lady," Second Son said with an indescribable look on his face. "Crying because when we came back, she said she was already familiar with the way and wouldn't need my help anymore..."

"Ah, don't be disheartened. To insert yourself as a third party, you need a bit of perseverance and tenacity." Chen Ge blew out the lamp, gave him a few words of comfort, and then went to sleep, hugging his pillow. Only Second Son was left tossing and turning, thinking deeply...

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In no time, it was the day of registration. After a sleepless night, Chen Xiliang, with dark circles under his eyes, got up and first dragged Wulang out of bed, then went to Chen Ge's room to knock on the door: "Hurry up and get up, get dressed and eat, or you'll be late!"

After Sanlang finished dressing and washing, he sat down in the dining hall to eat breakfast. Chen Xiliang then noticed, "Why aren't you wearing the new robe?"

Sanlang looked at Erlang with a mix of sorrow and anger and said in a low voice, "Ask him."

Erlang lowered his head to drink his soup, pretending not to hear. He wouldn't tell his father that he had shamelessly taken the robe because he heard it was sewn by Eighth Sister.

After breakfast, Chen Xiliang sent his sons to the door, just as Su Xun was also sending Su Shi and Su Zhe.

"Are you going to personally see them off?" Su Xun saw Chen Xiliang holding an umbrella, as if he was about to go out, and asked knowingly, "Ah, being both a father and a mother, you can't help but be a bit fussy."

"Who said I'm going to see them off?" Chen Xiliang said with disdain. "My boys are very reliable."

"Hey..." Su Xun pursed his lips. "Are my boys not reliable?" He then put the bag of food around Su Shi's neck and said, "I'll see you off to here."

The two old men, who originally planned to see their sons off, didn't go. Sanlang, Wulang, Su Shi, and Su Zhe, led by Erlang, left the city, chatting and laughing.

The journey from the county town to Zhongyan Temple was about ten miles.

On the left was a mountain, and on the right was a river embankment. The mountain was covered with lush bamboo and trees, and the slopes were filled with wildflowers. On the embankment, rice fields rippled, and rapeseed flowers were yellow. Farmers and oxen could be seen working in the fields and on the mountain. This beautiful rural landscape deeply attracted the young men who had escaped the confines of the city. They pointed out the scenic spots, admired the picturesque spring scenery, and sang and responded to each other with poetry.

By "singing and responding," it means composing poems to respond to others. There are several ways to do this. The most relaxed is to just compose a poem in response without using the same rhyme as the original. The strictest is to use the same rhyme and the same characters, which is a good way to hone one's poetic skills.

In this era, the ability to compose poetry was a must for literati. The artificial constraints added to the fun of word choice and rhyme. Among this group, Su Dongpo's poetic talent was unparalleled. He used rhymes effortlessly and naturally, and his poems were aesthetically pleasing. Although he was far from reaching the pinnacle, his talent was already evident. Su Zhe and Chen Ge's poems were slightly inferior. Both could handle words and rhymes easily, and their poems were grand and impressive, but it was hard to create that indescribable beauty.

Chen Chen, though the oldest, had average poetic skills and could barely keep up with the other three. As for Wulang, after struggling to compose one poem, he remained silent and walked with a bitter expression.

As they were chatting and laughing, they suddenly heard the sound of galloping hooves behind them. The scholars on the road quickly moved to the side to make way. Several tall horses galloped past, splashing mud on many people's clothes... Wulang was one of them. He had been very careful with his new robe, avoiding muddy areas, but despite all his precautions, he still got splashed. This made him very angry, and he spat out two words: "Damn it!"

Su Shi and Su Zhe were a bit embarrassed because they clearly saw that the riders were the Cheng brothers.

"It's them..." Chen Ge also recognized the Cheng brothers. He had avoided them once in Meishan and again in Qingshen. He narrowed his eyes and stared at the figures on the horses, seemingly deep in thought.

"Let's get going, or we'll have to get up early and stay late." They had wasted too much time, and Chen Chen, looking at the rising sun, urged them on.

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People in Meizhou said that Zhongyan Temple came before Emei Mountain.

The temples of Zhongyan began in the mid-Tang Dynasty, established by a high monk from India. They were gradually expanded and eventually became the grand temple complex we see today.

The entire temple complex is divided into Lower Temple, Middle Temple, and Upper Temple. The Lower Temple is located by the Min River; the Middle Temple is hidden in the forest halfway up the mountain, five miles from the Lower Temple; the Upper Temple stands at the peak, also five miles from the Middle Temple. A stone staircase winds through the forest, connecting the three temples.

Zhongyan Academy is located within this temple complex, initially using the courtyard behind the Middle Temple as a lecture hall. Its founder, Wang Fang, an old scholar, built the academy in the temple for two reasons: one, the environment was quiet and elegant, far from the city, making it suitable for teaching and learning; and two, the temple abbot was his cousin, so it was easy to negotiate.

After the Xingxue Edict of the Qingli era, the number of students seeking education at the academy surged. With the help of the county government, Wang Fang leased the vacant Zen halls of the Upper and Lower Temples, renovated them, and used them as additional classrooms and dormitories... Although the Song people revered Buddhism, the number of monks was far less than in the Five Dynasties period, thanks to Emperor Zhou Shizong Chai Rong, who issued an edict for all monks and nuns to return to secular life. The Song Empire still benefited from this, as evidenced by the many abandoned Zen halls.

At this moment, Chen Ge and the other thousand students seeking admission were led to the lecture platform behind the temple, where the high monks of old used to preach. There was a large open space that could accommodate a thousand people.

A middle-aged man wearing a white silk robe and a black headwrap appeared on the lecture platform. After the students quieted down, he introduced himself as Yuan, the academy's administrator: "Since you are prepared, I won't elaborate on the benefits of our academy. I'll just explain the structure... Our Zhongyan Academy has three levels and six halls. The three lower halls are in the Lower Temple, the two middle halls are in the Middle Temple, and the one upper hall is in the Upper Temple."

"After the entrance exam, those who pass will enter the lower halls of 'Ren,' 'Yi,' and 'Li.' After one and a half years, those who excel in both literature and principles will move to the middle halls of 'Zhi' and 'Xin.' After another one and a half years, those who are proficient in both history and literature will move to the upper hall of 'Shu Xing Tang' to complete their studies and earn enough credits to graduate."

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step," Yuan concluded. "Next is the entrance exam. You must answer carefully, as it will determine whether you can enter the academy this year." He then struck a gong on the platform: "After receiving your number plates, find the corresponding examination room for the initial test."

Immediately, academy staff carried baskets to distribute number plates to the students. Chen Ge received a 'Ding' number, the same as Su Zhe. Su Shi and Wulang received 'Jia' and 'Wu' numbers, respectively. The four of them then went to find their respective classrooms.

Chen Ge and Su Zhe's examination room was a Zen hall on the east side of the lecture platform. When they arrived, there were already more than twenty people in line. Students went in one by one and came out after a short while, some in tears, some with serious expressions, none looking relaxed.

"Did none of them pass?" Su Zhe asked, a bit nervous.

"It's unlikely. They probably won't announce the results on the spot," Chen Ge reassured him. Seeing the person in front of him come out, he said, "It's my turn. Wait for good news."

"Okay!" Su Zhe nodded vigorously. "Third Brother will definitely be fine!"

"Um..." Chen Ge felt a bit nervous inside, took a deep breath, and stepped into the Zen hall.

Inside the Zen hall, there was a long table, behind which sat three middle-aged scholars. When Chen Ge entered, the one in the middle said, "Close the door."

Chen Ge did as instructed, stood in the center of the room, and heard the man ask, "Name, age, and place of origin."

"Chen Ge, fourteen years old, from Qingshen."

"Where did you study before?" Zhongyan Academy was a high school in this era, and scholars usually received a complete primary education in private schools or academies before coming here for further study.

"I have never attended school," Chen Ge answered honestly. "I studied at home."

"Studied at home," the three scholars smiled. "What did you study?"

"First, I studied the basics, then the Thirteen Classics."

"To what extent?"

"Partially."

"Hmm." After the routine questions, the man stopped talking, and the one on the left said, "I'll test you on some oral interpretations. First, recite the third chapter of the 'Xiao Jing' (Classic of Filial Piety)."

"Those in high positions should not be arrogant, so they remain safe; they should be frugal and cautious, so they remain full. Remaining safe, they can long preserve their nobility; remaining full, they can long preserve their wealth. If wealth and nobility do not leave them, they can then preserve their state and harmonize their people. This is the filial piety of feudal lords." Chen Ge answered without hesitation. "The 'Book of Songs' says: 'Trembling with fear, as if standing on the brink of a deep abyss, as if treading on thin ice.'"

"Recite the fourteenth chapter of the 'Analects of Confucius,' 'Xian Wen' (Asking about Shame)," the left examiner said.

"Xian asked about shame. Confucius said, 'In a well-governed state, to hold office and receive emolument is right; in a badly governed state, to hold office and receive emolument is shameful.'" This was no challenge for Chen Ge, and he recited it fluently: "... Confucius said, 'It is difficult to be poor without resentment, and easy to be rich without arrogance.'"

"That's enough," the left examiner said, stopping him.

"Explain a passage from the classics," the right examiner said. "Zengzi said, 'How great is filial piety!' Explain this sentence."

Although it was called an explanation, it was still a recitation. Each Confucian classic had annotations, and the annotations for the 'Xiao Jing' were called 'Xiao Jing Zheng Yi' (Justice of the Classic of Filial Piety). Each passage of the classic had a detailed explanation, and you had to answer word for word. If you changed anything, it would be considered wrong. Although rigid and inflexible, this was the foundation for writing well-reasoned articles in the future—where did the evidence come from? Only from the Thirteen Classics and their annotations. As a basic training, it was not wrong.

"Zengzi heard that practicing filial piety has no limit of high or low, and thus realized how great filial piety is. Confucius said, 'Filial piety is the constant way of heaven, the proper way of earth, and the conduct of the people.'..." Chen Ge, with his exceptional memory and the use of modern summarization techniques, answered without a single mistake: "... Following the clear laws of heaven, using the advantages of the earth to practice righteousness, and governing the people according to this, one can achieve good governance without severe measures."

The examiner asked him to explain another passage from the 'Analects,' and after hearing his flawless recitation, nodded and said, "Very solid."

"Um, you've studied very hard on your own," the examiners, who had been stern, now smiled. The one in the middle said directly, "Go out and rest, and wait for the results."

"Thank you, teachers." Chen Ge knew he had passed and bowed respectfully before leaving.

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