Instructor Wang (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

Instructor Wang (Asking for Follow-up Reading)

"What?"

"You didn't cheat? You had it all memorized?"

Instructor Wang stared at Xu Xing in astonishment.

Frowning, he carefully scrutinized Xu Xing's every movement.

That calm, unruffled manner did not look like that of someone who had cheated. Judging from Xu Xing's bearing and expression alone, he believed more than half of what Xu Xing had said.

Among examination candidates, there was no lack of scholars blessed with extraordinary memories.

Nor were people with exceptional memories rare in the records of ancient books.

For instance, Wang Can, one of the Seven Scholars of Jian'an.

The Records of the Three Kingdoms recorded: "Can once traveled with another man and read a roadside stele. After turning away, he recited it from memory, without missing a single word."

Or Liu Kezhuang of the Song dynasty, who "waited for the court summons at the third watch of the fifth night, reading ten lines at a glance."

Xiao Tong of the Southern Dynasties "read several lines at once, remembering everything he saw."

Examples like these were everywhere.

Not one official who donned the vermilion and purple robes lacked a good memory.

Even he himself was the same.

He too possessed an examination degree—a provincial graduate of the twenty-first year of Tongzhi.

If he had not been a provincial graduate, he would not have been qualified to teach the scholars in the academy.

At least one-third of the academy's scholars were registered students—xiucai.

"Mm..."

"So that's how it is."

Much of Instructor Wang's anger subsided. After pondering briefly, he said, "I shall write down two Four Books questions for you to answer. If you get them right, I will personally apologize to you. If you get them wrong, you will be expelled from the academy."

Though he believed Xu Xing had an excellent memory, he still had to verify it as a matter of procedure.

"Yes, sir."

Xu Xing nodded.

Before long, Instructor Wang opened Thirty Thousand Selected Essay Topics, found two questions within the first ten pages, wrote them on a sheet of paper, and handed it to Xu Xing for his answers.

The first Four Books question: "The Master said to Yan Yuan: 'When employed, take action; when set aside, remain hidden. Only you and I can do this, I suppose!'"

The second Four Books question: "When the common people have enough, how can their ruler lack?"

Both Four Books questions came from the Analects. Instructor Wang had gone easy on Xu Xing.

Xu Xing drew a deep breath, and his right hand, reaching toward the brush rack, paused.

The atmosphere congealed slightly.

Just as Instructor Wang was beginning to lose patience and was about to ask why Xu Xing had yet to answer, Xu Xing grasped a brush, dipped it in ink, and began to write with the flowing ease of drifting clouds and running water.

The two eight-legged essays were completed in a single unbroken burst.

Without waiting for Xu Xing to hand over his paper, Instructor Wang picked up the still-wet answer sheet himself and began to read it slowly. "For the first question, the opening reads: 'The sage's fitting course in acting and withdrawing is only faintly revealed when one capable of understanding it appears.'"

"This is Han Tan's top-ranked examination paper from the twelfth year of Kangxi. It is indeed not one word off."

"For the second question, the opening reads: 'Once the people below are wealthy, the ruler above will naturally be wealthy.' This is the eight-legged essay Wang Ao wrote for the metropolitan examination in the eleventh year of Chenghua..."

He nodded as he read.

First, he was satisfied with Xu Xing's answers.

Second, reading these fine compositions by two men of old felt like drinking from a sweet spring, leaving his whole body refreshed. Reading them closely was like hearing jade pendants chime together, broadening the heart and delighting the spirit.

After finishing, Instructor Wang set down the papers. He hesitated for a moment, told Xu Xing to rise, then lifted his robe and solemnly bowed to Xu Xing, saying in a deep voice, "Among those accomplished men who have taught before, there has never been a teacher as suspicious of his own student as I have been. Please... accept this apology from your teacher..."

When one had done wrong, one had to admit it.

He had wronged Xu Xing. An apology was unavoidable.

Xu Xing hurriedly stepped back and moved aside, unwilling to accept Instructor Wang's bow.

Setting aside Instructor Wang's kindness toward him, from the examination until now, every step of his scheme had been driven by less than honorable intentions. Besides, he truly had cheated.

It was merely that neither Instructor Wang nor anyone else in the world could uncover his method.

He would feel unworthy accepting this bow.

"Thus, he may settle into his studies and draw close to his teacher, delight in his companions and trust in the Way. Therefore, even when separated from the guidance of teachers, he will not turn back..."

"Xu Xing, this is the principle the academy puts into practice. You need not decline."

Seeing that Xu Xing refused to accept the bow, Instructor Wang spoke these words with utmost sincerity.

These words came from the Book of Rites. Their meaning was: only when a student draws close to his teachers will he trust the knowledge and principles they impart, gladly befriend them, and honor the Way they honor. Even after leaving his teachers' guidance, he will not abandon their former teachings...

"Yes, sir."

Hearing this, Xu Xing accepted Instructor Wang's bow, then bowed to him in return.

By returning the bow, he meant that he had accepted Instructor Wang's instruction today.

"You may go. It is getting late as well."

"As for your ranking... relying on civil service examination model essays may help you for a time, but not for a lifetime. Model essays can get you through the county and prefectural examinations, but once you reach the provincial examination..."

"I have placed you in the middle ranks. I hope you will study diligently from now on and not bury your own talent."

After returning to his seat, Instructor Wang shook his head as he spoke.

Xu Xing saluted and left the lecturer's residence.

As he stepped out, he closed the door behind him.

"What happened?"

"Why did Instructor Wang suddenly call you in?"

When Zheng Zhaifu and Chen Jian'an saw Xu Xing emerge from the residence, they hurriedly asked.

Both wore concerned expressions.

"It was about cheating."

"I am not well versed in the Confucian classics. What I wrote... were model essays from Thirty Thousand Selected Essay Topics."

Seeing this, Xu Xing weighed his words before replying.

After the examination ended, Taste Classics Academy would post the rankings, known as the "red list." Beside it, the candidates' examination papers would be displayed in order according to their places on the list.

In a few days, his answer sheet would be made public, so there was no need... to conceal it.

Besides, the reason he had chosen to write civil service examination model essays on his paper was to let everyone in the academy know that he was a genius with an exceptionally good memory. That way, when he later passed the civil service examinations, it would not cause too much of a stir.

"Silent until it cries, then astonishing the world with one cry"—such a thing was not suited to the civil service examinations.

If an unknown person suddenly passed the provincial examination, anyone would grow suspicious.

As for why he had only filled in two model essays during the examination instead of three—

That was because... excess was as bad as deficiency!

"What?"

"So it was that?"

"No wonder... Instructor Wang summoned you. Cheating is no small matter."

After hearing this, Chen Jian'an felt relieved.

But he quickly shot Xu Xing a suspicious glance. "Instructor Wang let you out, and you look so relaxed... Don't tell me you have memorized all of Thirty Thousand Selected Essay Topics?"

If it had truly been cheating, Instructor Wang could not possibly have let Xu Xing go so quietly.

Then there was only one explanation.

Xu Xing had answered the examination paper through his own genuine ability.

"Not all of it."

"I have only memorized essays such as the Upper Analects, Lower Analects, Mencius, and Doctrine of the Mean. For some, I only memorized the opening interpretation and not the model essay itself. That is why I only filled in two essays this time and did not put brush to paper for the third..."

"I was lucky enough to run into the exact examination questions."

Xu Xing answered "truthfully."

He had not copied out all those examination books either, only selecting and copying some key passages.

Like a blind cat stumbling upon dead mice, he had happened to hit all three.

"So that's how it was..."

Chen Jian'an let out a breath of relief.

If Xu Xing had truly memorized so many civil service examination model essays in just a few days... then how monstrous would he have been?

Though he still felt a little jealous that Xu Xing had completed two out of three, it was at least easier to accept.

PS: The questions for the two Four Books topics and the meaning of the opening interpretations are in the chapter comments.