Chapter 3: Does a humble room diminish the aspiration for books and swords (Part 1)

Fortunately, things have improved. Over the past six months, Han Caiyuan has exhausted all his family assets for the sake of his son. If things do not get better, he will have no money left to buy medicine

Wealth and nobility are what people desire; if they are not obtained through the proper means, they are not to be pursued. Poverty and lowliness are what people detest; if they are not avoided through the proper means, they are not to be discarded. How can a gentleman abandon benevolence and still seek fame? A gentleman does not deviate from benevolence even for the duration of a meal; whether in haste or in adversity, he must adhere to it.

The three scholars of the Han family have recovered from their illness

Not a single acre of land remains now, and even the two courtyards have been sold. The Han couple still has to toil day and night in the mountains to dig for wild vegetables, disregarding the large insects and flower bears. In these times, one truly cannot afford to fall ill

I am merely speaking casually

Reading, advancing in studies, participating in the imperial examination, and becoming a successful candidate were the only pursuits of the original owner of He Fang's body for the past ten years. However, the hope seemed so distant, and the returns were so minimal that He Fang had completely lost interest in the imperial examination. Now, his mind was occupied with thoughts on how to utilize the knowledge he possessed—such as in the production of strong liquor, soap, and glass—to seize status and wealth in this world

Han San, the scholar, fell ill due to exposure to cold winds while hurrying on his journey. What is the matter with General Li? If he can recover now, that would indeed be a blessing from General Li.

It should be much better! In the past few days, I have seen his nurse helping him to walk in the afternoons.

Indeed, it has become much more amiable

The faint orange glow of the rising sun streamed in through the gaps of the propped-up window frame, casting reflections on the earthen walls. Outside, the villagers' conversations also filtered in along with the sunlight. Those gathered at the village entrance discussing the Han family were mostly locals, who felt a sense of relief for the Han family. However, as their discussions reached his ears, He Fang's reading voice grew subdued, even tinged with a barely perceptible sob.

Note 2: The primary clients during the Song Dynasty differed from those in the Tang Dynasty. They were no longer distinguished based on local natives and foreign immigrants, but rather according to the possession of fixed assets, specifically land and housing. Those who owned land and houses were considered the main households, while those who did not were classified as clients

He has been ill for more than half a year, and now he must certainly want to catch up on his studies

I saw it yesterday as well; it can walk now, but it has lost a lot of weight and looks emaciated. Tsk, it used to be such a sturdy young man, just like his older brother and second brother, built like an ox... Now, a gust of wind could knock him over.

Note: During the Song Dynasty, it was very difficult to pass the imperial examination, especially in Shaanxi, where it was even more challenging. Choosing the easier path, such as making glass or distilling liquor, may seem much simpler, but is the reality truly so?

Even though Han Gang's soul had already scattered, he was still able to influence the body occupied by He Fang to oppose the sale of this piece of land. Unfortunately, he was ultimately a step too late; by the time he regained his awareness, the vegetable field had already been sold off with gritted teeth. Fortunately, it could still be redeemed; otherwise, the Han family would have truly become complete proletarians—what is referred to in contemporary terms as clients

He Fang did not doubt the origin of these manuscripts. A boy of sixteen or seventeen years old traveled far from home, residing in a dilapidated temple on the outskirts of the city. During the day, he entered the city to study, and at night, by the faint light of a candle and the moon, he diligently copied precious books borrowed from his classmates, regardless of the seasons or festivals. The memories of this arduous writing effort remain vivid in Han Gang's mind, and are inherited by He Fang

It turns out that Li Laizi has gained a great advantage; he has long desired the Han family's three acres of vegetable garden, and now he has finally fulfilled his wish

In Shaanxi Road, with a population of five to six million, the number of successful candidates in the imperial examination is in single digits for each subject. Averaged over the course of a year, this results in a ratio of less than one in a million, which is enough to evoke a sense of despair.

After more than a hundred years of peace, with a population of over twenty million households, and an estimated total of nearly one hundred million subjects in this great nation, it now admits only over three hundred Jinshi every three years, averaging merely one hundred per year

The incessant noise in his ears and the agitation in his heart made He Fang lose the desire to continue reading. Gossiping about others, regardless of the time and place, is an inevitable occurrence. However, becoming the subject of others' discussions left He Fang feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

Note 4: In the early Northern Song Dynasty—specifically before the reforms of Emperor Shenzong during the Yuanfeng era—every prime minister would concurrently hold the position of Grand Scholar of the Three Academies. Generally speaking, the prime ministerial positions were filled by three individuals: the chief prime minister served as the Grand Scholar of the Zhaowen Academy, the second prime minister was in charge of the National History Compilation, and the junior prime minister held the title of Grand Scholar of the Jixian Academy. They were commonly referred to as the Zhaowen Prime Minister, the History Academy Prime Minister, and the Jixian Prime Minister.

Note 3: "Cuo Da" is a derogatory term used in ancient times to refer to scholars, and it is also referred to as "poor Cuo Da" or "village Cuo Da"

He Fang gently closed the copy of the "Analects" that he had been holding in his hands and placed it on the desk. The entire volume of the "Analects" was handwritten. The neat and polished small regular script on the paper was meticulous, resembling the style of Ouyang Xun, and was so well-ordered that it looked as if it had been printed with movable type. This was the official script derived from the Ouyang style. In his early years, He Fang had been compelled by his grandfather to practice calligraphy, learning from Ouyang Xun as well. As he looked at Han Gang painstakingly copying each character in the upright small regular script, he felt a deep sense of familiarity.

It seems that the three scholars have become more amiable than before; just yesterday, one of them greeted me with a smile.

However, the term "Guange Ti" refers to the style of writing from the Qing Dynasty. In the current era in which He Fang finds himself, it is referred to as "San Guan Kai Shu"—the so-called "Three Guans," which collectively refers to the Zhaowen Pavilion, the Historical Pavilion, and the Jixian Institute, also known as the Chongwen Institute. Its status is the most esteemed among the various pavilions in the court, and at this time, the prime ministers also hold the position of Grand Scholar of the Three Guans. Regardless of the title, if one wishes to enter the academic field and participate in the imperial examination, it is best to write in this particular style on the examination papers. Otherwise, if the clerks responsible for transcribing the papers—who are tasked with preventing collusion between candidates and examiners—mistakenly misread a few characters, it would indeed be a situation where one would be left with no tears to cry.

Ten years of hard study have passed, yet unfortunately, I was unable to wait for the moment of being named on the honor roll. ... ... However, even after ten years of diligent study, the chance of becoming a successful candidate is akin to a thousand troops and horses crossing a single-log bridge, which is a hundred times more difficult than the entrance exams of universities that have not yet expanded their enrollment. This investment truly does not seem worthwhile.

Note 5: During the Northern Song Dynasty, which lasted for over 160 years, the average number of successful candidates in the imperial examination each year was approximately less than 100, totaling around 15,000 to 16,000. Among these, the prefectures of Kaifeng, the two Zhejiang provinces, Fujian, and Jiangdong accounted for more than 80%, with over 800 from Jianzhou in Fujian, 505 from Fuzhou, and nearly 500 from Changzhou. In contrast, the northern regions had very few candidates, often in single digits. For instance, in the case of Qinzhou mentioned in the text, local records indicate that only two candidates were successful during the Northern Song period, while the Qin and Feng routes, which included nearly ten military prefectures, collectively had only eleven candidates. All the above data is sourced from Jia Zhiyang's "The Imperial Examination System in the Song Dynasty".

The text in the scrolls is neatly arranged, yet the paper used is quite rough, and the edges of the pages are unevenly cut. It is evident that Han Gang's bookmaking skills are lacking. Moreover, the stacks of scrolls piled on the desk and bookshelf are not solely the rough copy of "The Analects" that He Fangfang read; approximately half of them are neatly written yet poorly made products from Han's workshop.

It is indeed necessary for my two sons to come and see this; this is the appearance of one who can achieve the degree of Jinshi. Han's third brother has been outside for two years, and it has not been in vain...

Where has it all ended? His crying is somewhat understandable. That three-acre vegetable garden is mortgaged, not sold off completely, and can be redeemed. The vegetable garden was just mortgaged, and San Xiucai's illness has improved. Now, Li Laizi must be worried all day long that Han Caiyuan will redeem the land back.

The Han family has suffered some unknown calamity in the past two years, angering some deity. This time, due to the military disaster, they suddenly lost the eldest and the second son. Out of the three sons they painstakingly raised, two have met with untimely deaths, leaving only the youngest, who is still quite young.

Go, be careful at night, General Li's eldest son might shoot you through with an arrow! General Li is indeed a vengeful spirit

Note 1: The sale of land and property during the Song Dynasty was divided into two forms. One is called "dianmai," which means that after the property is sold, the seller has the right to redeem it, and the buyer cannot refuse, akin to a mortgage where the usage rights are simultaneously transferred. The other is "duanmai," also known as "jue mai," where the seller has no right of redemption. Naturally, there is a significant price difference between the two forms of sale.

Why are the three scholars working even harder than before? Is it because they have just recovered from their illness

The Qinling Mountains of this era are far more desolate than in later times, with tigers roaming the mountains. In the memories left by Han Gang, there are instances of tigers charging into the village at night and carrying off sheep. He Fang did not expect that his parents would risk their lives to raise money for his medical expenses. There are also three acres of vegetable fields by the river bend, which have been passed down from his grandfather's generation. Just by the fact that Han Gang's father is known as Han Vegetable Garden, one can understand that this piece of vegetable land is indeed the lifeblood of the Han family

In Shaanxi, among the more than twenty military prefectures, if any single examination yields more than five successful candidates, it is considered a great harvest. It is quite common in the northwestern military prefectures for there to be no successful candidates for over a dozen consecutive examinations. At least in Han Gang's memory left to He Fang, it seems that he has never heard of any scholar from Qin Prefecture achieving the status of a successful candidate in the past two to three decades

Moreover, the number of successful candidates in the imperial examination has traditionally been greater in the southeastern regions than in the northwestern areas. In the military prefectures of Fujian and the two Zhejiang provinces, it is not uncommon for a single examination to yield over ten successful candidates, and there have indeed been instances where a prominent family produced five or six successful candidates in one examination.

The sun gradually rose, dispelling the chill of the autumn morning. It was already the season for plowing the wheat fields after autumn, and the villagers of Xianglong Bay, having rested since the wheat harvest, took up their hoes once more and headed out to the fields. On the dirt road at the village entrance, villagers came and went in a steady stream, while the sound of reading echoed from a dilapidated thatched cottage not far from the entrance. Passersby stopped in surprise, looking towards the source of the sound. Although the houses had changed, the familiar sound of reading made them feel as if they had returned to a few years ago, when the three sons of the Han family studied diligently day and night.

Han Gang's perseverance and patience surprised He Fang somewhat, but it was not enough to earn his admiration. It was probably similar to the level of effort he put in during high school. Both practiced diligently in the sweltering heat of summer and the biting cold of winter, without a single day of putting down their pens

Han Jia's third son held a respectable position in the small village, as scholars were highly esteemed at that time. In my memory, Han Gang was always immersed in poetry and literature, possessing a rather indifferent temperament. He was courteous to the villagers, yet his smile was notably absent. However, in the past two days, He Fang, with the intention of fostering good neighborly relations, sought to change the negative impression left by his previous self in the minds of the villagers, unexpectedly leaving them both surprised and flattered.

Was it the case that two years ago, during the memorial for General Li, Han Caiyuan accidentally knocked over the incense burner and incurred a curse? Otherwise, how could he have lost two sons in a row, and Han Sanxiu also fell ill for nearly half a year, almost losing his life? Han Caiyuan and Sister Li went to the temple the other day to make a wish, and suddenly everything got better