Meng Xinghe opened the examination paper and took a look. There was only one sentence in the examination question. It came from "The Analects of Confucius. Zi Zhang"
"If you are worried about being an official, you will learn. If you are good at learning, you will be an official."
After reading this sentence, Meng Xinghe suddenly realized. No wonder old man Meng reminded himself yesterday to read more "The Analects of Confucius". Today's test questions are from the above.
He carefully sorted out his thoughts and translated the general meaning of the original text into modern language as follows: Once you have done the job of being an official, you can study more extensively to get better; if you have studied well, you can become an official so that you can be better. To better promote benevolence.
In the era when Confucianism was prevalent, the imperial court focused on talent and learning when selecting talents. Only those with both ability and political integrity could become officials. Although the question in this year's provincial examination is only a short sentence, it actually hides deeper knowledge. Just look. How candidates treat study and officialdom can also tell whether they will be good or bad as officials in the future.
Although Meng Xinghe was confused, he did not dare to be sloppy at all. The original translation of this sentence could not be understood literally. He focused on the word "learn", which was also used as a question for him to pass the provincial examination.
Here's how he writes the word "学".
The opening should neither be too gorgeous nor lose the artistic conception that one needs to create. Meng Xinghe thought hard for a long time with his pen in hand, and then wrote the opening on the manuscript beside him.
"A keen scholar and not ashamed to ask questions." He wrote this sentence first. Although it seemed ordinary, it invisibly expressed his thoughts on how to learn. Then Meng Xinghe began to embody the advantages of travelers and put the articles in his mind Take it out and plagiarize it: "Study is more valuable than erudition. Be pragmatic and don't be greedy for too much. Be broad-minded and take everything you want. Accumulate a lot but gain a little. Learning is useful. Learning is useful. The big ones are Chinese studies, the middle ones are social studies, and the small ones are people's studies." Study. Learn what you are good at. It will benefit the country and the people."
In view of the interests and hobbies of different people, Meng Xinghe explained how to study and solved the problem. The next step is to integrate the correlation between officialdom and study. Only when a person knows how to study can he talk about going to school and can he humbly ask for advice. Other unknown things. A huge copy of an ancient article. The writing changed sharply. Meng Xinghe continued to plagiarize: "Excellent. There is also room for effort. Officials and scholars have the same principles but different things. Therefore, those who want to cause trouble must first do their best. Then you can reach the rest. If you become an official and learn, you will benefit from your official position. If you learn to become an official, you will experience a wide range of scholars..."
After a few thousand words, he deeply analyzed the relationship between officialdom and learning. Meng Xinghe did not stop writing at this point. Instead, he continued to write: "As a person, you should contribute to the world, and seek peace of mind in everything." To be an official is to become an official. One should have no place to live and develop one's wisdom. When old, one will be strong. It is better to have a white-headed heart. If one is poor, one will become stronger. The ambition will not fall into the blue clouds..."
It is another nearly thousand words of writing. The whole article first discusses academics, then combines academics with official responses. In the end, it rises to an expression of character. Meng Xinghe tried his best. After carefully revising it several times, it has been spent. He spent the whole morning.
After taking a break at noon, he took out the pastry from the box. It was exactly what Lu Ning prepared for him last night. He couldn't let go of Lu Ning in his heart. He felt that the food was tasteless. Meng Xinghe took the examination paper and copied the article on the manuscript verbatim. After finally writing down his name, he immediately picked it up and handed it to the invigilator. Then he continued to return to his seat in a daze.
He was the last to finish the question, but was the first to hand in the paper. Even the invigilator, Dean Meng, was not very satisfied with his performance today. He saw Meng Xinghe sitting in a bad state. Due to the examination rules, Dean Meng did not Go up and talk to him. After sealing Meng Xinghe's test paper, he coughed twice and went to inspect elsewhere.
On the second day of the provincial examination, Meng Xinghe sat in his seat with dark circles under his eyes. His nerves were stretched to the limit. He lay on the table tossing and turning last night and couldn't sleep. Lu Ning's stone was always in his heart. He couldn't sleep all night and looked at it. The whole person looked quite thin when he got up.
Today's test was on agricultural and business policy theory. When the test questions were handed out, Meng Xinghe looked at them blankly.
The test questions this time are not like the provincial examination. They simply ask you to memorize and write articles. Instead, they give you problems that you encounter in reality for you to solve. "What are the ways to block the breach of the Yellow River? What are the twenty-four solar terms?" "Where are the largest commercial banks in the country located? Wait." What's even more surprising is that the finale is actually a few arithmetic questions. "Today, Pu is born and grows three feet on one day; Wan is born on one day and grows by one." Ruler. Pu's birthday is half, Wan's birthday is doubled. Ask how long a day is, etc."
Meng Xinghe could finish the short answer questions easily. Not to mention the arithmetic, which was simpler than primary school mathematics. If he couldn't do it, no one in this era could do it.
Although his head was dizzy, fortunately it did not affect his exam. Meng Xinghe took the exam questions and finished them all in half an hour. He checked them again. Just when he was about to hand in the papers, he saw Ma Shouchen, the school supervisor who was invigilating the exam today, accompanying Mr. Lu, the censor. Come and inspect the provincial examination situation this year.
The father-in-law came. He should know the news about Lu Ning. Meng Xinghe immediately picked up the test paper. When handing it in, he asked about Lu Ning's situation.
Ma Shouchen and Meng Xinghe were old enemies. His son and nephew were brought into his hands many times. Naturally, he took his test paper unceremoniously, ordered someone to seal it, and walked away with a straight face.
Mr. Lu, who was inspecting the exam next to him, was curious. His daughter went to the provincial school the day before yesterday and still hasn't come home. He always thought she was somewhere in Meng Xinghe. When he heard what he said today, his heart suddenly became anxious and reproachful. He said: "Isn't Ning'er with you? She hasn't been home for two days."
Mr. Lu's voice was aggressive. Meng Xinghe's heart was stabbed. A voice sounded in his head. Something happened to Lu Ning.
At this moment, Meng Xinghe's heart was on fire. He punched the wall hard. His bloodshot eyes were as wide as a bucket. It was extremely scary. Thinking of Lu Ning's angry actions when she left that night, Meng Xinghe finally regretted why he didn't Send her back in person.
I am a complete fucking bastard. A useless man. Meng Xinghe cursed and gritted his teeth and said: "Old man, I'm sorry. Something may have happened to Ning'er. I have to go out to find her. Please forgive me."
Just after Meng Xinghe finished speaking, a scene that no one expected happened. He was seen holding a bookcase, running rampant and kicking away two guards who came to stop him from leaving the provincial hospital. Under the watchful eyes of thousands of students and invigilators Next. I gave up my bright future. I chose to abandon the exam and run away.
This was the first time in history that the gate of Jiangdu Provincial Academy was opened the day after the provincial examination started. Moreover, it was kicked open. The examinee escorts waiting outside looked at the embarrassed scholar in green shirt with their mouths open. He rushed out as if he was possessed. The curiosity suddenly rose. In a short time, the news that a student had abandoned the provincial examination this year spread throughout Jiangdu City.
Meng Xinghe didn't care that there was still one exam tomorrow. The provincial exam didn't matter. If Lu Ning made a mistake, she might not be able to feel at ease for the rest of her life. After abandoning the exam from the provincial academy, he ran straight to the rouge shop.
When he appeared in embarrassment on the second floor of Rouge Shop, he frightened the people in the room who were discussing inside half to death. The tea cup that Mr. Chai was originally holding fell from his hand and smashed into pieces. His expression changed slightly and he said: " 3. Third brother, what are you doing back here? Aren’t you going to finish the exam tomorrow?”
Meng Xinghe didn't have time to talk to him about the exam. He just threw away the book box in his hand and said anxiously: "How are you doing to find out about Miss Lu? If you have anything to say, just tell me."
Meng Xinghe was able to calm down and speak. He had suppressed his anger to a minimum. Mr. Chai did not dare to hide it. Since the third brother was determined to give up the exam, he was more anxious about Miss Lu than anyone else. He hurriedly took out a letter from his arms. .It also comes with a golden phoenix hairpin, which is Lu Ning’s personal belongings.
"This is the letter someone sent to Rouge Shop this morning. Third brother, please read it yourself." Major General Chai handed the letter over.
Things turned out as he expected. Lu Ning seemed to have fallen into the hands of the thieves. He didn't know who dared to disturb him. Meng Xinghe's eyes flashed with a fierce light. He took the letter and looked at it carefully. He saw what was written on it. When he received the ransom of one hundred thousand taels of silver, his face turned livid and he asked angrily: "Where is Hanshan Temple?"
He said this and crumpled the blackmail letter filled with harsh conditions into a ball and held it tightly in his hands without getting angry.
Before Meng Xinghe came, Chai Shao had long been familiar with the location of Hanshan Temple. This matter was no joke. He immediately said seriously: "Hanshan Temple is an abandoned temple ten miles to the west outside Jiangdu City. Third brother only needs to give an order. The brothers of the Dragon Gang immediately razed the place to the ground and vowed to save Miss Lu."
Meng Xinghe was not encouraged by Master Chai and became hot-headed. He was asked to go to the appointment alone as the letter said. If he recklessly led the Dragon Gang people to fight up the mountain, Lu Ning's situation would be even more dangerous. He walked to the window After thinking quietly for a moment, he slowly said: "Second brother, if Ning'er and I haven't returned safely by this time tomorrow, please hand this blackmail letter to the Yushi Mansion. What should I do? The old man knows what to do."
Meng Xinghe said lightly. Meng Xinghe dragged his tired body and walked downstairs.
No one dared to stop what the third brother decided. Mr. Chai read the letter and knew that he wanted to go to Hanshan Temple alone. He silently remembered what he said in his heart. When he looked up, he could no longer see the figure of the third brother.
Meng Xinghe left Jiangdu and headed west. According to reliable information from Master Chai, Miss Lu might have been kidnapped by a group of thieves inside. This made Meng Xinghe even more worried about her situation. He also walked eagerly ahead while walking. .I can’t wait to fly to Hanshan Temple immediately.
Although he knew it was a trap, Meng Xinghe jumped in without hesitation and rushed to the foot of Hanshan Temple without stopping. The sky was getting dark. He jumped off the horse, found a quiet stone road, and immediately climbed to Hanshan Temple halfway up the mountain.
This Hanshan Temple has been abandoned for many years. The only passage is overgrown with weeds. Walking on it is like walking in the grass. Although Meng Xinghe does not know martial arts, he is very courageous. Thinking that Lu Ning is still suffering up there, he feels in his heart I was worried for a while and my walking pace became much faster.
After walking for a while, Meng Xinghe suddenly stopped. He gradually clenched his hands and shouted in a loud voice: "Get out..."
"Haha, why are you so fierce? Didn't someone come out?" A crisp laughter came from behind, causing goosebumps all over his body. Then he saw a white shadow descending next to Meng Xinghe. It moved like the wind and looked like a ghost.