Chapter 65

(Recommendation ranking dropped to fifth, wailing... kneeling for recommendation votes...)

After dinner, laughter echoed in Chen Ke's room.

Second Brother was preparing to take the next imperial examination. At this time, he was traveling with Eldest Brother and others, making literary friends and broadening his horizons, so he was the only one living in this room.

However, he could hardly enjoy peace and quiet. Every evening, Su Shi and Song Duanping would come to chatter for a while before returning to their rooms to study.

At this moment, Su Shi was sitting in the specially made reclining chair, swaying comfortably back and forth, while Song Duanping had taken over his seat, forcing him to sit in Second Brother's chair.

Su Zhe and Fourth Brother were also there, but they were much more reserved, sitting on the stools by the table, sipping tea in small sips, listening to the big talkers discuss.

Su Shi, like Chen Ke, did not like overly sweet tea. The three of them, including Song Duanping, were drinking homemade orange wine... it had a stronger alcohol flavor and was less sweet than Huang Jiao.

Today, they were discussing the lessons they had been studying recently... After four years of study at the academy, they had moved beyond the stage of merely imitating and were beginning to define their own literary styles.

Although their teacher, Wang Fang, strongly advocated for ancient prose and opposed contemporary prose, they were no longer children who simply parroted others' opinions. They had their own thoughts and judgments.

"Headmaster opposes contemporary prose and emphasizes ancient prose," Song Duanping said. "But contemporary prose still dominates. Without learning the Western Kun and Imperial Academy styles, how can one succeed in the world?"

"Just say, how can one succeed in the imperial examinations," Su Shi rolled his eyes and laughed. "I am firmly against learning those four-six parallel prose. Writing is the way of the gentleman. For a man to write parallel prose is like putting makeup on his face, wearing a head full of hairpins, and holding up his fingers in a delicate manner..."

"Ha ha ha..." His witty metaphor caused everyone to burst into laughter. After a while, Song Duanping said, "You oppose parallel prose so much, it seems you're going to learn the 'Imperial Academy style.'"

"The 'Imperial Academy style' is a load of nonsense. It goes too far in opposing parallel prose and ends up being completely deranged," Su Shi shook his head vigorously. "Its style is bizarre and satirical, vulgar and indecent. It takes fragmentation and clumsiness as high art, while the Western Kun style, though not perfect, is at least pleasing to the eye. This 'Imperial Academy style' is repulsive and maddening. I would rather cut off my hands than write such inhumane stuff!"

"Is ancient prose really that good?" Song Duanping deliberately argued. "I think the works of Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan also strive for the refinement and grandeur of their words, and some of their works are as obscure as the 'Imperial Academy style.'"

"That's just nitpicking," Chen Ke said fairly. "The ancient prose movement opposed the corrupt literary style of the Five Dynasties and advocated the strengths of Mr. Changli, not that Changli was perfect. Confucius said, 'Choose the good and follow it, and change the bad.' What we need to learn is the idea that 'writing should convey the Way,' the advantage of using plain and smooth language that is clear and easy to understand. His tendency to seek the unusual and the strange, and his overly rugged and obscure style, are what we need to overcome."

"Then, should we not strive for beautiful writing?" Song Duanping asked.

"High-minded and heroic, the writing will naturally have a resounding sound!" Su Shi said firmly.

"What do you think?" Song Duanping asked Chen Ke.

"Zong's words are a bit absolute," Chen Ke shook his head. "He is naturally talented, and for him, writing beautiful words is as easy as eating a meal. We, who lack his brilliance, still need to work hard to refine our writing, trying to make it both clear and smooth and elegant and varied."

"That's the right approach," Su Zhe and Fourth Brother nodded in agreement. "We must not overcorrect."

"Alright, since we all plan to study ancient prose," Song Duanping said, "which ancient prose should we follow?"

"The 'Strategies of the Warring States' and 'Nanhua' for their agility; Kuang Heng and Liu Xiang for their elegance; Sima Qian and Ban Gu for their breadth; Changli for his depth; Liu Zongyuan for his sharpness; and Ouyang Xiu for his grace..." Before anyone in the room could answer, a clear voice rang out. Su Xiaomei, dressed in a green robe with her black hair loosely tied, holding a book as thick as half a foot, stood at the door and said, "One cannot list all the sources, it depends on the reader's wisdom and insight."

"Ha ha, the little sister who is even better than Big Su is here," Song Duanping laughed and stood up. "Are you here to see your Third Brother? It's a noble act to help others, let's all leave quickly."

"Nonsense!" Su Shi unwillingly got up from the reclining chair. "Don't damage my sister's reputation." When he walked to his sister's side with a serious face, he suddenly made a funny face. "You still have to go home to sleep at night..."

"Brother, you are the most improper..." Xiaomei's cheeks turned red, and she raised the thick book as if to hit him. "I came with Mother's permission!"

"I know, to help with the dictionary..." The group of unscrupulous brothers laughed and scattered.

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In a moment, only Chen Ke and Xiaomei were left in the room. Xiaomei pouted and said, "Why do they always tease us this year?"

"Pay them no mind," Chen Ke laughed. "They are just teenage boys with dirty minds."

"Third Brother is also seventeen or eighteen..."

"Heh..." Chen Ke was surprised. "Little girl, who has upset you so much that you are speaking so sharply?"

"No one has upset me," Xiaomei said indifferently, but her eyes were slightly red. "I just came to tell you that your dictionary is finished. You don't have to worry about offending me anymore and can join them in teasing me."

"Oh, it's finished..." Chen Ke was shocked. "So fast?"

Seeing that he was only concerned about the dictionary and ignored her other words, Xiaomei felt deeply wronged. She finally couldn't hold back her tears and turned to leave...

Chen Ke quickly blocked her path at the door. "Heh, little girl, if you run back crying, I won't be able to explain."

Xiaomei, caught off guard, bumped into his chest. Her eyes sparkled with stars, and she hugged her head and cried, "Annoying, so hard!"

"Let me see where you hit," Chen Ke closed the door and examined Xiaomei's forehead. "I don't see any bruises..."

"This..." Xiaomei, though angry, still gently lifted her bangs. Her snow-white forehead was indeed red. She said in a tearful voice, "See, it's even redder now!"

"Heh..." Chen Ke couldn't help but laugh. "It's not that bad..."

Su Xiaomei, with her arched eyebrows and bright eyes, her skin as white as snow and her waist as slender as a willow, was wise and beautiful, loved by all. But she had one concern: her slightly high forehead, which made her eyes seem deeper. In truth, it was only slightly high, not even a minor flaw, and even added a unique charm to her.

Unfortunately, she had an unscrupulous brother. One day, Su Shi saw her cut her bangs and noticed this feature, immediately teasing her: "Before taking three or five steps out of the hall, your forehead reaches the front of the hall; several times I tried to wipe your tears, but they were too deep, leaving two streams of water."

Girls are most afraid of others pointing out their physical flaws. Xiaomei immediately mustered all her strength to retaliate. She noticed that her brother, though handsome, had a longer face and wider eyebrows. She happily countered, "The sky is vast and the earth is wide, three thousand miles apart; looking up, your eyebrows are in the clouds; last year, a drop of longing tears, has yet to reach your cheeks."

At the time, the siblings laughed it off, and Xiaomei didn't hold a grudge. But from then on, she kept her bangs, regardless of the season... Surprisingly, after changing her hairstyle, no one knew about her hidden pain.

Over time, Xiaomei treated her bangs as her secret, only revealing them to those closest to her.

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"Really, it's all red," Chen Ke bent down, his mouth facing Xiaomei's forehead, and blew. "Blow, blow, it won't hurt anymore..."

"Ouch..." Xiaomei rubbed her forehead, dodging and begging for mercy. "Stop blowing, it's ticklish." But she stopped crying.

Chen Ke pulled her slender arm, making her sit in the chair, and sat on a round stool himself, bowing formally. "Whatever I did to offend you today, I was wrong. I apologize to you, Miss."

"Ha ha..." Seeing his comical appearance, Xiaomei couldn't help but laugh, then quickly put on a serious face. "You don't even know what I'm upset about, showing that you only talk about this sister but never think of her."

"How can I not think of you? If you want, find a knife, and I'll cut out my heart to show you. I promise there's a little person in it called Su Xiaomei," Chen Ke said, patting his chest.

"Who is in your heart..." Hearing his nonsense, Xiaomei's cheeks turned red, and she covered her face. "You're embarrassing me."

"You little girl, you're so difficult," Chen Ke was exasperated. "Not thinking of you is wrong, thinking of you is also wrong. What do you want me to do?"

"Look at you, what a temper!" Xiaomei was frustrated. "You get impatient after just a few words of comfort. If I say one more, I'll show you."

"Heh, you..." Chen Sanlang's temper was indeed unsuitable for comforting girls. He wanted to pinch her cheeks into two flowers. But he still said seriously, "Xiaomei, I know you're upset that I linked you with the dictionary, but I want to explain two things to you."

"What are they?"

"First, without the dictionary, I wouldn't dare to upset you," Chen Ke said, bowing. "Second, I am ashamed, guilty, and heartbroken that you helped me compile the 'dictionary.' I won't say more about my gratitude, but from now on, you are my dear sister..."

"Ha ha..." Xiaomei was speechless. What kind of person is this!

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The ranking is too sad. During the strong recommendation week, why is it so cold and quiet? The monk is sobbing, crying like a teary mess, rolling on the ground for recommendation votes...

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