I'm in the Red Mansion

Chapter 8 Jia Dairu Announces the Good News

Originally, Jia Cong thought this was a very simple process.

After all, he has knowledge that is hundreds of years ahead of this era, and his ability to understand must be far beyond this era.

However, when he actually did it, Jia Cong suddenly discovered that it was completely different from what he had imagined.

My knowledge, which was hundreds of years ahead of others, was not a plus, but a minus.

Because the thoughts of later generations are too advanced.

Many later interpretations of the Four Books and Five Classics, when applied to this era, especially in the imperial examinations, are actually wrong.

The imperial examinations of the Great Xia Dynasty used Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism as teaching materials.

However, Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism was criticized in later generations!

Therefore, Jia Cong's speed of understanding slowed down suddenly.

In this case, the best way is to find a knowledgeable gentleman to answer his questions.

However, given Jia Cong's current embarrassing situation, he does not have the capital to look for a teacher.

Jia Cong could only slowly understand the contents of the book by himself.

On this day, Jia Cong went to school as usual.

However, because the progress in class was extremely slow, Jia Cong went to school just to be there for the fun and did not listen to the lectures, but only studied on his own.

The teacher Jia Dairu was old and his eyesight was poor, and he was not attentive in his teaching, so he had not noticed Jia Cong's little movements during these days.

Unexpectedly, it happened that day that Jia Dairu suddenly had an idea and decided to give some calligraphy lessons to the students.

This class was still about college. He asked each student to write a chapter about college that they had just learned, and he would give some comments.

The students below picked up their pens to write, but Jia Cong was the only one who was still immersed in his studies and was completely unaware.

Jia Huan, who was next to him, noticed this scene, but deliberately did not remind Jia Cong, as he really wanted to laugh at his joke.

Jia Huan was an ambitious man. He said that from now on he would never pay any attention to Jia Cong again.

Since that day, he never spoke to Jia Cong again, nor did he invite Jia Cong to eat.

Soon, Jia Dairu walked up to Jia Cong and saw that he was not writing, but reading the Doctrine of the Mean.

Jia Dairu flew into a rage, slammed the table and scolded: "Stand up right there! You are not paying attention in class. You are unteachable!"

"This class is clearly about university, who told you to watch the Golden Mean?"

Seeing Jia Cong being arrested and expected to be beaten with a stick soon, the other students were overjoyed and watched the fun with great interest.

Jia Cong had no choice but to say: "In reply to the teacher, I have memorized the entire Great Learning and am currently studying the Doctrine of the Mean on my own."

Hearing Jia Cong's words, Jia Dairu became even more angry and said, "Well, at such a young age, not only do you not know how to make progress, but you also tell lies all the time! What will happen to you in the future?"

"Since you said you have memorized the entire Great Learning, then recite it to me. If you can't, I will not only beat you with a stick, but also report it to your master in the mansion, who will punish you severely."

Hearing this, the other students became even more excited.

Jia Cong smiled faintly and began to recite: "The way of the university is to manifest the bright virtue, to be close to the people, and to stop at the highest good..."

He recited it from beginning to end without any stumbling, and recited it very calmly.

Next to him, the anger on Jia Dairu's face had long disappeared, replaced by surprise.

He couldn't help but say, "Good, good, it shows that you have worked hard every day. I wonder what you have learned from the Doctrine of the Mean?"

Jia Cong could not help but say, "Master, I have memorized all the Four Books and Five Classics. However, I do not understand the profound meanings in them, and it is quite difficult for me to comprehend them."

Hearing this, Jia Dairu's face was filled with even more surprise, and he still found it a little unbelievable.

He asked Jia Cong some more questions, and seeing that Jia Cong had indeed memorized the Four Books and Five Classics, he could no longer suppress his joy. He laughed and said, "Great, great! I never thought that after Zhu Ge'er, my Jia family would have another scholar! It shows that a family that accumulates good deeds will surely have good fortune!"

"From now on, I will teach you personally. In less than two years, you will be able to enter the school."

After that, Jia Dairu asked his grandson Jia Rui to teach in his place, but he took Jia Cong to the next room to teach him alone.

Soon, Jia Cong discovered that although this old scholar Jia Dairu was just an old scholar, he still had some real skills.

At the very least, his understanding of the Four Books and Five Classics is extremely profound and accurate. Although it is a bit rigid, he is an excellent teacher for him at the moment.

Next, Jia Cong immediately began to listen carefully.

And the experience of the Four Books and Five Classics also began to grow slowly.

After one day's class, Jia Cong opened the proficiency panel.

【Name: Jia Cong】

【Four Books and Five Classics (proficient): 23/200】

【Ba Duan Jin (minor success) 432/500】

【Calligraphy (Dacheng) 26/1000】

My calligraphy experience has already been great, which is sufficient for now, so I can take it slow for now.

The Eight-Section Brocade is only less than 100 experience points away from reaching the level of perfection.

However, Ba Duan Jin is ultimately just a means of exercising the body. It does not require excessive liver damage. You can just follow the routine every day.

The most important thing now is to have experience in the Four Books and Five Classics. Mere proficiency in them may not necessarily allow one to pass the examination for students and become a scholar.

At the very least, we should achieve some minor success before the exam next year.

……

After Jia Dairu returned home, the joy on his face was still beyond words.

Jia Dairu's wife, Jia Liushi, hadn't seen her husband so happy for a long time, and couldn't help asking curiously, "I wonder what good news has happened to the master that makes him so happy?"

Jia Dairu smiled and said, "I never thought that my Jia family would produce another talented scholar. He studies very hard and has memorized all the Four Books and Five Classics in private."

"What's even more rare is that he is extremely intelligent. When I explained the meaning of the sutra to him today, he understood it immediately and was able to draw inferences from what he had learned!"

"The one who made our Jia family prosperous must be this boy! Oh, I almost forgot something important. I won't have dinner at home. I have to go to Rongguo Mansion."

Jia Dairu was preparing to go to Rongguo Mansion to announce the good news. He believed that such good news would not only allow him to enjoy a sumptuous banquet, but also rewards.

Jia Dairu walked into the Rongguo Mansion with light steps and first visited Jia She.

After a cup of tea, Jia Dairu walked out with a confused look on his face.

Things were very different from what he had imagined.

At Jia She's place, not only did he not receive any reward, he wasn't even able to attend the banquet.

This master did not seem to believe in himself, or rather, he did not believe that Jia Cong would be able to pass the imperial examination in the future.

This made Jia Dairu very unwilling, and at the same time he was afraid that Jia She, the foolish master, would ruin Jia Cong's future.

Therefore, after leaving the main house, Jia Dairu decisively went to Rongqing Hall in front to find Lady Jia to report the good news.

This time, Jia Dairu got his wish and attended the banquet, and even received a reward of ten taels of silver.

But for some reason, Jia Dairu always felt that Grandmother Jia was not very happy about this news.

(End of this chapter)