Upgrading

Looking at the dozen or so thin booklets, each barely a thousand characters long, Fang Wenshao wore a look of nostalgia as he gently stroked them.

Ordinary literary collections were one thing, but experiential notes were extremely troublesome for a Provincial Graduate to write.

Thinking of how he had spent these past few years single-mindedly trying to pass the Presented Scholar examinations while neglecting his son's education, Fang Wenshao felt that while his desire to test higher did not need to be abandoned, at his age, nurturing his son was also of paramount importance.

Su Ziji needed only a glance to know these scrolls were indeed useful, feeling immensely envious. To be honest, the skill level of a Presented Scholar and Hanlin Academy member was certainly above these, but printed editions and the rosewood pendant did not recognize them at all—it only recognized these handwritten volumes, which was truly helpless.

Moreover, these handwritten volumes had to be read aloud by a member of the Fang Family for him to gain the benefits, otherwise why bother with the trouble?

Even as he thought this, Fang Xi had already opened a volume and began to read aloud.

As Fang Wenshao's son, Fang Xi naturally had the right of inheritance; this right of inheritance included not only inheriting the family property, but also inheriting the manuscripts, and reading them aloud had received Fang Wenshao's approval.

"The country has just been pacified, and outlaws still remain. Xiangyang in Hubei is especially so, with many bandit remnants entrenched in the valleys, emerging from time to time to pillage, causing six or seven alarms day and night. The people suffer bitterly."

Sure enough, the moment Fang Xi finished reading a single sentence, Su Ziji received the familiar prompt: "Fang Xi is imparting [Fang Family Policy Essay Insights] to you. Will you learn?"

Su Ziji felt a surge of joy in his heart, responding: "Yes!"

His vision darkened for a fraction of a second, a flood of information poured in, and a pale cyan prompt popped up in his field of view: "Fang Family Policy Essay Insights acquired, merged into Four Books and Five Classics."

"Experience +7, +5, +6..."

With every sentence read aloud, prompts constantly floated past his eyes. Following the prompts, knowledge poured in, engraving itself in Su Ziji's heart and reorganizing in a new way.

Su Ziji had naturally studied policy essays long ago and had even researched them earnestly. Through this restructuring, his mind instantly cleared up a bit, giving him a distinct feeling of the legendary "mind being enlightened," prompting him to silently think: The imperial examination experience of a Provincial Graduate truly shows results quickly; one can immediately feel the change.

Originally, I still needed to concentrate and ponder deeply before I could produce an essay, but now there is a feeling of being able to wield the brush without a second thought. The stiff and awkward parts have also smoothed out. If I read all of these booklets, I imagine the chances of passing the Prefectural Examination will greatly increase.

When one book was finished, Su Ziji took a look and found it was "[Four Books and Five Classics] Level 5 (837/5000)". It boosted his experience by 800 points in one breath, which was simply fantastic. Su Ziji respectfully stood up, making a deep bow toward Fang Wenshao and Fang Xi: "Thank you, Uncle; thank you, Brother Fang. I ask that Brother Fang continue reading aloud."

Fang Xi picked up another volume with a take-it-or-leave-it attitude: "Legend has it that where Zhuang and Hui flowed by, the lonely Mo River crossed the post-rain; the dream long ago forgot the body is a butterfly, and the clear water how can it know I am not a fish?"

"Fang Xi is imparting [Fang Family Poetry Insights] to you. Will you learn?"

"Yes!"

The poetry collection was even thinner, with only twenty-odd pieces, but after finishing it, Su Ziji nodded repeatedly. Taking a look and seeing it was "[Classical Poetry] Level 3 (251/3000)", he immediately said: "I have gained immensely, I have gained immensely."

Classical poetry placed great emphasis on level and oblique tones matching—a level tone matching an oblique tone, or an oblique tone matching a level tone—with strict rhyme schemes. Moreover, within these strict constraints, a mere handful of characters exerted a disproportionate force, every single word hammered and refined a thousand times to sketch out a magnificent or elegant scroll, and emit music that was either stirring or plaintive. The beauty of its inner meaning could not be described with language, involving three layers: conception, realm creation, and structural layout.

These twenty-odd poems alone were enough to instantly elevate Su Ziji to the level of basic proficiency in poetry. This place was truly an experience warehouse! Just like a mouse entering a granary, Su Ziji was overjoyed beyond measure, and immediately stood up to make another deep bow: "I ask Brother Fang to read again."

Although spring had turned, the weather was still a bit cold, the spring wind wrapped in a fine drizzle and sleet resembling smog and mist. Fang Zhengshi had bustled about for a while, seeing that the dishes were all prepared—though not extravagant, they exuded an appetizing aroma—and noticing the time was getting late, she arrived at the hall. She could still hear the sound of reading aloud, only it had grown a bit hoarse.

Drawing closer to look, she found Zhang Sheng half-asleep and yawning, while Yu Lü listened intently. Her own son Fang Xi was still reading, his voice somewhat rasped, and she could not help feeling a pang of heartache. She was about to speak when she noticed Fang Wenshao's expression was somewhat solemn; he waved a hand and said: "Speak softly."

Fang Zhengshi smoothed down her temples and said: "The spring cold is heavy and it's getting late, let's have dinner. There's no need to rush studying for a single moment."

"Wait a bit longer, this volume will be finished soon." Fang Wenshao was lost in thought. Just then the reading concluded, and he promptly told Fang Xi to drink some tea. Stroking his beard himself, he said: "Since we've read insights into the classical meanings, why don't all of you take the very last sentence we just read as a prompt and write a classical commentary?"

This remark truly made Su Ziji's heart flutter. He took a deep breath, organized his thoughts, and glanced at the rosewood pendant, seeing "[Four Books and Five Classics] Level 6 (5137/6000)" with a pleasant surprise in his heart.

After reading a dozen or so essays, even though some parts overlapped, he had charged straight to level 6 in one breath, and was just a few hundred points away from reaching level seven.

As for the standard of level seven, he wondered if it would suffice for taking the Prefectural Examination.

Now being able to get one-on-one guidance from a Provincial Graduate with rich imperial examination experience, this was truly a rare opportunity.

One had to know that at the County Academy, although the instructors also included Provincial Graduates, most were old ones who had obtained their degree over a decade ago and had long since given up on trying to test higher. When it came to scholarship, while solid, they might not be as seasoned as Fang Wenshao.

Fang Wenshao had constantly kept up his studies, attempting to pass the Presented Scholar examinations. Although he had failed several times, he was younger and more experienced—this was a treasure trove of experience. Su Ziji immediately said: "Then I shall make a fool of myself, and ask you, Uncle, to give me some pointers."

"You have ambition." Such an attitude made Fang Wenshao nod, while Yu Lü smiled and shook his head, pulling Zhang Sheng along to grab paper and brushes to write their essays.

Fang Xi also felt his hands itching to write and joined in as well.

These classical commentaries relied heavily on the accumulation of knowledge and worldly experience. Even a student with family scholarly accumulation like Fang Xi, if his worldly experience fell short, would write commentaries that often turned out merely mediocre, lacking any brilliance.

One had to realize that vision and worldly experience could not simply be imagined out of thin air; they were incomparable to someone who had traveled ten thousand li and witnessed grand spectacles.

Because of this, innate talent was extremely important.

Having just made rapid progress thanks to obtaining Fang Wenshao's knowledge and experience, Su Ziji now needed to write a commentary and did so without the slightest hesitation, lifting his brush to write immediately.

Taking almost less than half an hour, a classical commentary was written on the spot.

Fang Wenshao had been keeping his eye on these juniors. Seeing Su Ziji put down his brush, he immediately walked over and lowered his head to read.

"Uncle Fang, please offer your guidance." Since this was not an examination hall, there was no need to sweat the details. As soon as he finished writing, Su Ziji handed the essay to Fang Wenshao with both hands.

Fang Wenshao took it, first scanning a paragraph ten lines at a time. But before reading many lines, he raised his eyes to glance at Su Ziji, then shifted his gaze back to the opening statement, reading it word for word and even reciting it in a low voice.

"It has been long since the Dao was unclear; for scholars who wish to speak of the Doctrine of the Mean, are their words and deeds also difficult to achieve? What the ancients called the middle path of the Tang, was to fully observe the principles of all things without excess, following step by step to act as an ordinary person—this is acceptable."