Jing Xingzhi’s Daily Life in Ancient Times - Chapter 70
It was quite lively in front of Taibai Tower. Many people gathered in front of the building. In the middle was a large table where several people could splash ink and brush, and there was a waiter waiting with a table of pen and ink.
The eloquent waiter had a white scarf draped over his shoulders, and with a little pride on his face, he said to the guests: “Today, Taibai Tower will only entertain students from the provincial examination. Anyone who can write good poems, articles, and clever couplets can come in. And in the end, the top ten selected by the Li family will not be charged a penny at the restaurant today!”
Jing Xingzhi raised his eyes and realized that it was indeed a routine to entertain literati students.
Students aiming for the limelight would naturally come to Taibai Tower. If selected in the top ten, they could build a good reputation first, increasing the chance of impressing the examiner and avoiding unexpected failure.
Another perk was that winning a spot in the top ten meant free food and drinks. From a student’s perspective, it was a good deal, offering both prestige and sustenance.
From a business standpoint, future successful examinees with valuable calligraphy treasures would boost the establishment’s reputation. Three years later, their names would resonate even louder in the ears of other scholars.
Wu Mingrui turned his head to look at his friend and said warmly, “Okay, let’s go in.”
Both of them were top performers in the academy, and Wu Mingrui was highly likely to pass the provincial examination. Crafting poetry and couplets firsthand was not a challenge for them.
However, while Jing Xingzhi excelled at calligraphy, poetry, and couplets, he refrained from plagiarizing others’ works, resulting in creations that were merely average. Nonetheless, he was qualified to enter Taibai Tower, and Jing Xingzhi’s slender figure caught the attention of the elderly man reading poetry behind the prominent table.
Jing Xingzhi thought about the old man’s regretful expression and happily noted in his heart: It was not his fault that the poem wasn’t outstanding! People who had studied modern knowledge for more than ten years would struggle with eight-lines poetry!
In mathematics, he studied for eighteen years, all with perfect scores.
Upon entering Taibai Tower, Jing Xingzhi accompanied Wu Mingrui into the lobby on the first floor.
The room was filled with students in blue shirts and Confucian uniforms scattered about. As Jing Xingzhi listened, he found it peculiar that his own name seemed to be mentioned.
Wu Mingrui surveyed the room and located the students from Huanshui Academy, a few tables away, he pulled Jing Xingzhi’s sleeves and walked over.
Wu Mingrui, being gentle and generous, wanted to share his knowledge as many presents were his friends.
.
However, as they approached the middle, the atmosphere changed gradually. Even classmates who had once exchanged smiles wore altered expressions.
Feeling uneasy, Wu Mingrui stopped and looked back at Jing Xingzhi.
Jing Xingzhi’s keen ears caught the whispers clearly. He smiled at Wu Mingrui and said, “Go sit down first.”
After hearing this, the faces of those from Huanshui Academy grew even stranger.
Nevertheless, being the disciple of Chief Fang, no one dared to comment. Wu Mingrui and Jing Xingzhi sat down, but no one chose to sit beside Jing Xingzhi.
Wu Mingrui asked the person next to him, “Brother Zhou, what’s going on? It’s weird…”
A student named Zhou from Huanshui Academy looked at Jing Xingzhi and said truthfully, “These people were just talking about Jing Xingzhi.”
Wu Mingrui was stunned, frowned.
As if he were at home, Jing Xingzhi poured himself a cup of tea and asked, “What were you guys saying about me? I think it disturbs everyone’s interest.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a young man with an ordinary face stood up at the table next to him, saying angrily, “Do you dare to listen to those who say bad things about you?”
Jing Xingzhi: “…”
It was strange; how could those who say bad things be so upfront? This was very weird.
Jing Xingzhi also stood up and looked at the young man, saying, “Tell me.” He considered himself a virtuous young man who respected his teachers and brought the immortal statue with him to every city he visited.
Wu Mingrui didn’t know why, but it didn’t affect his indignation: “It makes no sense to talk about people behind their backs! Which academy are you from?”
The young man glanced at Wu Mingrui’s face and said softly, “We are all from the government school.”
He pointed to the left: “This table is for classmates from Henan Academy.”
He turned his hand and pointed to the right: “That table is for classmates from Huaibei Academy.”
“Qisi Academy…”
“Baicao Academy…”
After the young man introduced everyone, the people from Huanshui Academy were left alone, and then he said with a look of contempt, “everyone said something about you. What can you do to me?”
“That’s it. We are just talking about what have happened! So, what if you are the disciple of Chief Fang.”
“Their chief of academy select people?”
“Our academy don’t want people like this! It doesn’t matter if you do well in the exam, but if your character is not good, becoming an official in the future will only create a mess!”
The sarcastic voices continued, and Jing Xingzhi frowned. He didn’t know he made these people angry; he wondered why the people from Huanshui Academy seemed guilty, indicating they had done something not good. Otherwise, for the reputation of the academy, these people would not denounce their own people.
The strangers standing in front of them emitted malice, making endless mocking remarks. Jing Xingzhi murmured that he must have hindered someone’s interests, but this person was hidden, and he hadn’t discovered them.
At this time, the student surnamed Zhou pulled Wu Mingrui’s sleeve and advised, “Brother Wu, sit down! Leave him alone!”
Three people were standing now, Jing Xingzhi and Wu Mingrui also with the young man taunting them. Yet, almost all the seated people were on the side with that young man! If Wu Mingrui sat down, it meant he did not support Jing Xingzhi, and Jing Xingzhi stood alone.
Wu Mingrui, like Jing Xingzhi, did not know what was happening, but he trusted Jing Xingzhi!
Wu Mingrui looked at his friend Jing Xingzhi, who stood straight with a calm expression. The scene when his friend denounced Zhu Da and Zhang Kaiwei for the sake of the poor students in the academy flashed before his eyes.
“Thank you, Brother Zhou, for your kindness, but I don’t think he can do anything wrong.” Wu Mingrui brushed away the hands of his fellow academy classmates with anxious expressions and stood beside Jing Xingzhi, with his back straight.
Jing Xingzhi smiled at Wu Mingrui and thought to himself: If even a whole soldier were coming to stop him, how could they find faults if he made no mistakes?!
For Brother Mingrui’s trust, he couldn’t fall behind and made Brother Mingrui lose face here.
Jing Xingzhi’s eyes, with a touch of coldness, quickly swept around the hall, and then he said calmly, “If you’re going to accuse someone, you have to let them know if they’ve violated the law, right? You’re talking behind people’s backs, being so confident, you won’t let me, the person involved, know why. How ridiculous!”
The young man glared at Jing Xingzhi angrily: “What are you talking about? You want to know why everyone looks down on you, let me ask you! You went to Hannan Prefecture two months ago during the critical period of preparing for the exam! For what?”
When Wu Mingrui heard this, he explained to Jing Xingzhi: “Students from these two places have always been at odds with each other and hate each other. But within ten years, Hannan Prefecture students are not as good as Hanbei Prefecture in the examination!”
In other words, the students who went to Hannan Prefecture to study were considered evil in the eyes of these young students from Hanbei Prefecture! People could learn anywhere else, but they couldn’t go to the enemy’s side!