Two months later, Li Jie had already studied "Thousand-Character Classic", "Three Character Classic", "Hundred Family Surnames" and other elementary school books with Qian Xiucai. Qian Xiucai was no longer surprised by Li Jie's learning speed and was shocked during this period. Countless times, Qian Xiucai, a student of Li Jie, was overjoyed, but he knew that his talents were limited and he was not particularly good at craftsmanship. When he was admitted as a student member (commonly known as a scholar), he was already in his forties. Li Jie Jay will eventually go to a private school.
"Pingzhi, basically you have completely mastered the contents of the books at the elementary school level. I'm afraid I won't be able to teach you anymore." Qian Xiucai put down the book in his hand, shook his head and sighed.
"Sir, I have benefited a lot from you. Why do you say that?" Li Jie asked a little puzzled.
"I recently told your father that your elementary school studies have been basically completed. I am not particularly good at crafts. If I continue to teach you the Four Books and Five Classics, I will mislead my children. So I told your father that I can find a good home for you. I won’t teach you any more after I find an academy.”
After finishing speaking, Qian Xiucai was still trying to say something, but he held it in for a long time and finally let out a long sigh.
"I hope you will... Sigh! I hope you will still remember me as your master when you name your name on the gold list in the future. You may be the most promising student among the students I have taught in my life."
After saying that, he turned around and left without waiting for Li Jie's reply. He looked at Qian Xiucai walking away with a shabby figure. Although Qian Xiucai was not good enough at teaching and educating people, his character was definitely upright enough. Originally, Li Jie's appointment as a lecturer was for one year, and Lin Zhennan's monthly remuneration was 36 taels of silver. However, seeing that Li Jie learned so quickly, Lin Zhennan planned to pay 36 taels after the term ended, no matter how long it took, but Qian Xiucai But refused.
"If it's not my income, I won't take even a single cent of it."
After Li Jie learned about this incident, he changed his previous impression of Qian Xiucai. Little people also have the persistence of small people. Although Qian Xiucai's talents and learning may not be good enough, his quality is commendable. He always has a steelyard in his heart and has his own principles. People who disdain things that go beyond their own principles can be called a teacher.
If a scholar wants to take the scientific examination, the first step must be to familiarize himself with the classics and learn the art of craftsmanship. Then he can take the county school examination. After passing the county school examination, he can then take the prefecture school examination. After passing the prefectural school examination, Continue to take the college examination. After passing the college examination, you will have the status of a formal scholar-shengyuan, also commonly known as a scholar.
Scholars only have the qualifications to participate in the provincial examination. After passing the examination, they can participate in the triennial "Qiu Wei", which is also the provincial examination. Because it is held in August, it is called Qiu Wei. The provincial examination is equivalent to the province-wide examination. A large-scale examination, and those who passed the provincial examination were collectively called Juren. After becoming a juren, you initially entered the ruling class. Juren had many special rights, such as: a certain amount of tax exemption, no need to kneel when meeting officials, etc. Juren also have the right to be candidates for official positions, but these are basically low-level positions with little future.
If Li Jie wants to initially win Lin Zhennan's recognition, he must pass the county examination, government examination, and hospital examination within five years to obtain scholar status. The main content of the imperial examination in the Ming Dynasty was taken from the Four Books and the Five Classics. The four books are The Analects of Confucius, The Great Learning, The Doctrine of the Mean, and Mencius. The Five Classics are the Yi Jing, Shangshu, The Book of Songs, and the Spring and Autumn Annals. , "Book of Rites".
The Four Books are based on the annotations of Zhu Xi's "Collected Commentary on Chapters and Sentences of the Four Books" as a reference, the "Book of Changes" is based on Cheng Yi's "Zhuan" and Zhu Xi's "Original Meaning", the "Shangshu" is based on Cai Chen's "Zhuan" and ancient annotations, and the "Book of Changes" is based on Cai Chen's "Zhuan" and ancient annotations. The Book of Songs takes Zhu Xi's "Ji Zhuan" as a reference, the "Spring and Autumn Annals" contains the annotations of Zuo's, Gongyang's and Guliang's three biographies and Huan Guo. The "Book of Rites" has no particularly authoritative writings, so it mainly relies on ancient annotations. . Although the Ming Dynasty's eight-part essay selection system has received mixed reviews in later generations, it is obviously more in line with the ruling needs of the current court.
The next day.
"Pingzhi, after doing a lot of research, I finally chose two academies. One of them is Li Xiucai, a well-known local student. This Li Xiucai is now 30 years old. It is said that he will definitely win the exam next autumn. He is very good at the imperial examination system." Lin Zhennan said slowly to Li Jie.
"Where's the other one?"
"The other one is Zhou Xiucai, who is fifty-two this year. The academy he runs has produced many scholars, and two have been elected to the imperial examination. He is very experienced in teaching, and many families send their children to him. Study in the academy.”
Li Jie finally chose Zhou Xiucai, because someone like Li Xiucai who still had ambitions for the imperial examination would definitely not have much time to devote to teaching when he planned to take the provincial examination. On the contrary, Zhou Xiucai had already given up on the imperial examination. People will definitely be more attentive in teaching students.
Zhou Xiucai's academy is located outside the city far away from the bustling city. After going around a hillside, we can see that the academy is located near a tributary of the Min River, surrounded by mountains and rivers. Willow trees are planted outside the courtyard walls, and students carrying book boxes are seen from time to time. Going to the academy together, most of them are between 8 and 10 years old. It is very rare to be as young as Li Jie.
"There are three entrances to this courtyard. The first two entrances are academies. The first entrance is where students who have just entered school are taught. The second entrance is where students who are preparing to take the scientific examination are taught. The third entrance is a dining hall and some other entrances. This is where the servants who accompany students stay." Lin Zhennan introduced Li Jie before entering.
After being informed, they soon saw their master.
Zhou Xiucai is in his early fifties, with a medium build and a thin face. Although there are many wrinkles on his face, his eyes are bright and clear. The beard on his chin is clearly carefully groomed. He is dressed in a blue robe and has an air of elegance lingering around him.
Zhou Xiucai nodded slightly and looked at Li Jie, then exchanged a few words with Lin Zhennan and led them to the side hall, which can be regarded as a small living room. Zhou Xiucai usually receives scholars who come to the academy to visit friends.
In the side hall, you can faintly hear the sound of reading coming from all around. At this time, Lin Zhennan and Zhou Xiucai were communicating quietly in the side hall. This kind of communication is a bit uncomfortable for Lin Zhennan. He usually speaks with a loud voice, and communicates with scholars. He deliberately lowered his voice when he got up but it was embarrassing for him. He could only endure it in order for his son to have a good teacher.
About a quarter of an hour later, the two of them finished communicating.
Zhou Xiucai conducted a preliminary assessment on Li Jie. The questions he asked included both elementary school content and ordinary practical matters. He saw that although Li Jie was young, he could answer the questions he asked fluently, and his words were clear and coherent. I was very satisfied with this, and my serious face had a smile after the assessment.
Then Li Jie first kowtowed to the throne of Confucius, knelt down and kowtowed nine times, and then kowtowed three times to Zhou Xiucai. After some etiquette, he presented the bundle to Xiu, and Zhou Xiucai officially accepted Li Jie.
The college stipulates that students must arrive at the college at 9 a.m. every day and return home from school at 3 p.m.
In the following period, I got up at dawn every morning and started practicing Zhuang Kung Fu. I practiced for about an hour, washed up, and finished my meal. Then I was accompanied by my servant to go out to school. I came back in the afternoon and practiced martial arts for an hour. After eating, After dinner, I started reading and practicing calligraphy. Good calligraphy was also indispensable in the imperial examination, just like the current test scores.
