Chapter 7: Specially benefiting others while conveniently benefiting oneself
Uh, I... I really might not be able to do it..." Zhao Hao repeatedly waved his hand
Yet Zhao Shouzheng let out a bitter laugh and said softly, "Ah, my child, it is not that I boast of myself, but I have great confidence regarding the matter of failing the examination"
Because this was the most illustrious examination in the history of the imperial examination system during the Ming Dynasty, spanning over 200 years—this examination produced seven grand scholars, eighteen ministers, and fifty-two individuals who attained the third rank in officialdom. Not only in the Ming Dynasty, but in the entire history of the imperial examination system, this was an unprecedented spectacle
Zhao Shouye couldn't help but retch.
Is Qingliu very poor
Must one truly endure twenty years of hard study?
He suddenly changed his expression and said, "Father, you haven't washed your feet again?"
Zhao Shouzheng, feeling gratified, gently patted Zhao Hao's head and no longer declined.
"Did the old man not ask us to give a response?" Zhao Hao replied softly, "Whether to leave or stay"
Cough cough cough ... ... Zhao Hao's face turned red from the praise, and he coughed repeatedly
Hmm," Zhao Hao responded.
Next door, the uncle and his son also did not sleep soundly
The saying goes, "If a fellow Daoist dies, the poor Daoist should not die either," so it is better for Zhao Shouzheng to take the examination.
Could you explain what the regulations are?
Indeed, this year is a year of great examinations, with the autumn imperial examination.
Zhao Hao couldn't help but feel a bit moved, dividing the duck leg in half. After tasting a bite, he remarked that it was too salty, and then forcefully stuffed one half into Zhao Shouzheng's mouth.
My son is ten times more intelligent than I am, and now that he is sensible, as long as he is willing to work hard and study, advancing in his studies will surely be as easy as turning over one's hand. However, Zhao Shouzheng said with a serious expression: "The sage says, 'Teaching by words and teaching by example.' How can a father not set a good example for you?"
While eliminating the evidence, he casually replied: "Before that day, I had not heard a whisper. The day before, when I asked your uncle, he said that both parties were being very secretive about the matter, only telling me that Gao Gong had once said, 'With Gao, there is no Zhao; with Zhao, there is no Gao.' When I pressed further, your uncle merely said something like, 'The world is indifferent, human feelings are cruel; the rain sends the dusk, and flowers easily fall.' It left people perplexed."
How exactly did grandfather offend Gao Gong? This is something he cannot comprehend no matter how hard he thinks.
As for what the next subject will be, he has no idea at all
Well... Zhao Hao smiled wryly and nodded, having such a father, he did not know whether it was a blessing or a curse
Get lost! Zhao Shouye kicked Zhao Xian off the bed, but after saying that, he couldn't help but lift his foot and sniffed it
Before he could even say a word, Zhao Shouzheng nodded and readily agreed, saying: "Sigh... fine."
He has made up his mind to persuade Zhao Shouzheng to participate in this local examination at all costs
Moreover, Zhao Hao possesses a secret weapon—his research subject for his thesis in his previous life was the Jinshi of the Wuchen examination in the second year of the Longqing era
After a long silence between the two, just as Zhao Shouzheng thought his son had finally fallen asleep, he suddenly heard his son softly ask:
The original character, Zhao Hao, was utterly uneducated. Although Zhao Liben's claim that he could not recognize a few characters is somewhat exaggerated, it is true that after seven or eight years of schooling, he still could not memorize the Analects. What basis does he have to pursue academic success?
Ask grandpa tomorrow? Zhao Hao rested his arm on his pillow, considering the gravity of the matter; he must clarify it.
Sigh, well... Zhao Hao nodded as if resigned, thinking to himself that it seemed there was no turning back regarding the old man's affairs
"Why don't we stay and try our luck?" Zhao Hao spoke lightly, yet his tone was resolute.
Upon mentioning this, Zhao Shouzheng could no longer sleep. He sat cross-legged, his brows dancing with excitement as he said: "Moreover, if Old Taishan takes another step forward, he could be promoted to the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Rites, which would mean one foot already in the cabinet! As the saying goes, 'With the green mountains at your back, you have firewood to burn.' Who knows, perhaps our Zhao family could also rise up with him."
He spent more than a year writing that paper, and he has no idea how much information he has researched. To this day, he still remembers the examination questions from the provincial examination in that year.
Humility! At such a young age, being open-minded and modest, one is bound to achieve great success in the future... However, Zhao Shouzheng only became more and more boastful.
Your uncle repeatedly advised me not to ask about your grandfather, saying that it is a wound that cannot be touched, as it would provoke him to rage. Zhao Shouzheng sighed and said: "It is useless to speak of these matters now. The so-called 'timing and fortune are against us'; currently, the Gao family is in power, and our Zhao family cannot turn the tide in the short term.
Child, what scent do you smell
Regardless of whether to stay or leave, one must have a clear plan in mind; if the rules are disrupted, it will be difficult to recover. Zhao Hao said this as he sat up and fixed his gaze steadily on Zhao Shouzheng
Zhao Hao insisted, "The wheel of fortune turns, you never know, this time it might just hit the jackpot."
"Indeed, it makes perfect sense!" Zhao Shouzheng said, his eyes slightly red with emotion as he patted his son's shoulder. "No wonder the ancients said, 'A strong wind reveals the true strength of the grass.' It is only through adversity that I can see my son has grown up." As he spoke, he wiped the corner of his eye with his sleeve and asked Zhao Hao.
"What do you think? In any case, it doesn't matter to me as a father. If you want to stay, then stay; if you want to leave, then leave." Zhao Shouzheng, in a carefree or perhaps irresponsible manner, handed the decision-making power over to his son
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that must not be missed, as it will not come again. For the livelihood of both individuals in the latter half of their lives, it is essential to help Zhao Shouzheng pass this examination!
He originally wanted to say, 'There will be no chance of turning things around again,' but not wanting to make his son too despondent, he changed his words.
... ...
Unfortunately, Xiao Zhaohao himself is uneducated and has not even reached the level of a child scholar at www.hetushucom.com, which has already eliminated any possibility of him participating in this year's provincial examination
After speaking, he finally came to his senses and looked at his son with a strange expression, asking, "What are you asking this for?"
Zhao Xian also sniffed vigorously and nodded, saying: "It has a salty and fragrant aroma..."
Zhao Shouzheng hurriedly patted him on the back. "It seems that the duck leg is really salty"
Indeed, what do you mean? Zhao Shouzheng began to understand.
Ah, is this really the case? Zhao Hao was dumbfounded, once again experiencing the frustration of a punch that missed its target
... ...
Zhao Hao and his son's room
If Zhao Shouzheng were to pass the imperial examination and become a juren, would he not then be able to enjoy wealth and nobility?
The story of Fan Jin's successful examination is well-known to all; as long as one can pass the imperial examination and become a jinshi, both personal and familial fortunes will undergo a dramatic transformation, turning the tide in an instant
In fact, according to his thoughts, he intended to stay in Nanjing like his uncle's family and not return to his hometown of Xiuning. However, after spending these days together, he deeply felt that he and his uncle could not coexist harmoniously and that they must live separately to ensure mutual peace. This is why he began to seriously consider his father's previous proposal of living off both sides.
As the two faced each other enjoying their meal, Zhao Shouzheng could not help but utter a few lines of sour verses such as 'In the chilly spring, the heavy door is closed, the fragrance of the golden duck lingers, and the fire still feels warm'
Zhao Shouye suddenly sniffed and poked Zhao Xian beside him with his hand
This is his greatest support for being able to remain calm and confident since he arrived here
Oh dear... I came here to enjoy life, alright?
If others are poor, he cannot be poor. The position of the head of the Nanjing Guozijian is quite lucrative! Every year, there are hundreds or even thousands who wish to donate to the academy. Moreover, those old students who have been waiting for over a decade for selection also have to beg him for a favorable recommendation. Can you say he doesn't have his share of benefits?
Uh... Zhao Shouzheng was stunned for quite a while before suddenly realizing: "Oh, you mean my future father-in-law?"
Zhao Shouzheng also ate the duck leg clean, then picked up the bones discarded by Zhao Hao, carefully wrapped them in oil paper, and stuffed them into his boot, preparing to take them out and dispose of them the next day
Zhao Hao felt that it was quite appropriate, so he refrained from any complaints. He quickly finished off the half duck leg in his hand, sucking the bones clean until they were glistening white with not a trace of meat left, and then he tossed it onto the ground, lying back on the bed with a sense of satisfaction.
Isn't your father a student at the Nanjing Imperial Academy? Zhao Hao asked again
Zhao Hao was at a loss whether to laugh or cry
After a pause, he said with a lack of enthusiasm: "Since the thirty-first year of the Jiajing era, my father has failed the imperial examination five times... I think we should seek another way out."
He is actually someone who knows his own family matters. There is no need for him to mention it himself; for a modern person with no foundation, is it not a dream to think of taking the imperial examination
Is this year the year of the provincial examination? After some contemplation over the past few days, Zhao Hao has already formulated a plan in his mind