Chapter 3, Scholar Xu

Do you understand the principles of this field?

By the way, Zhao Guo also invented the seed drill, which is the device commonly seen in the countryside for sowing seeds. It holds the seeds in a hollow seed box, and as it moves and shakes, the seeds are released from the bottom. It can simultaneously complete the three processes of plowing, sowing, and covering the soil

It is about Han, yes, during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, there was a person named ... ... Zhao ... ... who served as a school lieutenant and created the Daitian system, but I do not remember the rest.

Having not yet entered, one does not overstep the bounds

Understanding reason is the essence of studying

The architecture is very characteristic of Shaanxi Province, with houses built partially covered.

The ancestral hall was shrouded in darkness, with only a dim yellow light reflecting from a corner of the eastern wing.

He also needs to prepare the expenses for entering the city to take the exam, every cent is tight

One dou of rice weighs 12.5 kilograms

As dusk was just settling in, Bai Gui arrived at the western end of Bai Lu Village

Scholar Xu's expression softened considerably, and his gaze towards Bai Gui was somewhat gentler. Normally, he would have accepted the monetary gift as per custom and proceeded with the transaction, but today, for some unknown reason, he suddenly felt a spark of interest.

Isn't it said that those who study the eight-legged essay are all bookworms

Scholar Xu teaches during the day and likely reads by candlelight at night, making it improbable for him to retire to bed so early. Bai Gui paused in his steps as he was heading home and turned towards the ancestral hall in the village

Bai Gui quickly responded respectfully

At the beginning, there is not much weight to carry, but after walking a few miles, the burden on the shoulders becomes increasingly heavy, as if dozens of pounds have suddenly been added out of thin air

Scholar Xu expressed his satisfaction

Looking out over the village, only a few scattered households had lit candles, and the area outside the window was also shrouded in a dim yellow hue

Scholar Xu took the fine rice that Bai Gui handed to him, poured it into the rice jar, and then returned the grain bag to Bai Gui

Nonsense, he is entirely seeking to secure a position for himself. With the guise of a disciple of a sage, everything becomes much more convenient for him. Throughout history, scholars have always been a group that holds the power of discourse.

After the sound of footsteps echoed, the reading ceased, followed immediately by the creaking of the wooden door.

Only half of the house is covered, and the rainwater only flows into one's own yard

Yes, in order to understand the reasoning, when I was in the field, I saw my father digging. Some were digging holes, and some were piling up ridges. I asked my father why, and he said that our ancestors did it this way, so we do it this way. However, I wanted to know why!

Answer truthfully

Zhao seemed to have seen it in a popular science article in his previous life, but his memory was not very clear. Even if his memory were clear, he was still somewhat confused about the terms "zhen" and "long" mentioned by Scholar Xu, not understanding what they referred to. (Zhen, pronounced as zhen.)

At the age of thirteen or fourteen, one has already missed the best years for studying, as the optimal period for foundational learning begins at the age of five or six

"You should come to enroll tomorrow. Remember to prepare paper, ink, brush, and inkstone..." Xu Xiucai furrowed his brows tightly, glanced at the decorations on Bai Gui's body, and let out a slight sigh, "I have an old brush and an old inkstone here that you can use for the time being. As for the ink and paper..."

It seems to know something

Do you understand the reasoning

I am Bai Gui, and I wish to enter the school in our village to study. Here is the tuition fee...

When the teacher sees this expression, they often reveal a look of approval

Before he moved into the Bai Lu Village ancestral hall, there was already a school in Shen He Village, which is seven to eight li away.

He was afraid that Bai Gui did not quite understand, so he gestured briefly to illustrate the appearance of the cart.

The ancestral hall was newly built four years ago, consisting entirely of brand new tiled houses. In front of it, there are two archways. One is a chastity archway, the year of which is indeterminate, with moss growing on the stone pillars, and the couplets on both sides are also unclear. The other is a semi-new scholar archway, which roughly states that Lu Taihe obtained the title of scholar in the twelfth year of the Tongzhi era.

Regardless of the circumstances, it is always a good thing; asking questions signifies that one has developed an impression of oneself

Bailu Village is large, with over one hundred households

Faint sounds of reading can be heard

He opened two grain bags and, holding the bag filled with fine rice with both hands, slightly bent forward and handed it to Xu Xiucai, who looked taken aback.

It cannot be overstated

Reading is for the purpose of understanding principles

The process took only a few moments of effort

Bai Gui was astonished; he had secretly inquired about the students in the academy who paid the tuition fees, and they all simply completed the payment without any further questions

Perhaps it is because of his advanced age and greater experience in matters compared to the younger generation that he poses such questions

Teaching without fatigue is the greatest joy

The braids resting on her back are not greasy and tangled like those of the villagers, but rather are neatly arranged with great order.

His family is not well-off, and how many children can afford to enroll in school

Crossing over two archways and a screen wall, one arrives at the ancestral hall, which consists of a total of five main halls, with three side rooms on each side.

Xu Xiucai is a scholar in his forties, dressed in a faded scholar's robe. His complexion is yellowish, with sunken cheeks and a goatee. He has a thin frame, yet his eyes shine brightly like two eternal lamps lit in a ancestral hall, full of spirit. His wide robe seems to flow gracefully around him, giving him a somewhat elegant appearance reminiscent of the Wei and Jin dynasties.

Bai Gui prepared to enter when Xu Xiucai opened the door, seemingly reminded of something related to the *illustration* book. He paused his steps at the entrance, gave an awkward smile, and set down two bags of grain from his shoulder.

What is needed is this kind of understanding, yet there are still aspects that have not been fully comprehended

There are also rumors that benefits should not be shared with outsiders

Perhaps it is also due to his pleasant attitude

As for the reasons for studying ... If one speaks too highly, it is perceived as impractical; if one speaks too lowly, it is seen as lacking prospects

He stroked his beard and asked: "Why study?"

First, you must stand firm on your feet

Moreover, paper and ink are consumables; providing them once is acceptable, but what about later? Whether to provide them again becomes a difficult issue

How does Xu Xiucai possess such abilities

However, in order to understand the reasoning, it was still the first time he had heard of it

One can use a wooden board dipped in water to write

Traditional ancient buildings are typically constructed in a "human" character structure. However, in the Guanzhong region, due to the arid and low rainfall conditions, as well as the need to save materials and costs, it is common to only build half of the house.

The couplet on the scholar's archway reads: "Inheriting the ancestral teachings, the iron spear's martial vigor has a long lineage; Shining upon the family name, the poetry and propriety of farming and reading have a lasting legacy"

Please tell me more

Sensing the gaze of Scholar Xu probing towards him, he quickly adopted an expression that suggested he had gained some insight, yet was also somewhat perplexed

At the entrance, there is a bag of brown rice on the ground, while a boy of about thirteen or fourteen years old, dressed in tattered clothes, holds a bag of white rice with a respectful expression

Scholar Xu smiled slightly and replied: "During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, there was a grain inspector named Zhao Guo, who implemented the method of alternating fields. This method involves dividing one mu of land into three ditches and three ridges, with each ditch being one foot wide and deep, and each ridge being one foot wide and high. The positions are exchanged every year to maintain the fertility of the soil. When sowing, seeds are planted in the ditches, and after the seedlings emerge, the soil from the ridges is pushed into the ditches. This way, the crops are planted deeply in the soil, making them resistant to wind and drought..."

On a snowy day, the road is slippery and the ground is somewhat wet. For safety, he deliberately walks a bit slower

Scholar Xu was somewhat surprised. He had heard many people discuss the purpose of studying. Some said it was to pass the imperial examination and become a high official, thus attaining wealth and honor. Others claimed it was to reform the current issues of the time, while some aspired to leave their names in the annals of history

In this parallel world, the Hundred Days' Reform did not abolish the imperial examination system, nor did it eliminate the local examinations, and it advocated for practical learning; that is his opportunity

The five main halls are arranged with the ancestral tablets of the ancestors of Bailu Village, while the three western rooms serve as the village's ancestral hall. The three eastern rooms are separated by earth; on one side is Scholar Xu's bedroom, and on the other side is the official residence where the village officials hold discussions.

Bai Gui: "... ..."

One dou is equivalent to ten sheng, and one sheng weighs approximately 1.25 kilograms

In the past, when I was slacking off at school, I was extremely skilled at practicing this expression

Mr. Xu

Too capable, the teacher feels a sense of failure, completely clueless, sorry, the teacher does not know you, only in the middle, does the teacher have the joy of being a teacher

Beige unevenness