Volume 3: Dragon and Snake Movement Chapter 439: Students are easy to coax, children are easy to understand
"If that's all you're here to say, then just say it. It's none of my business."
Ji Jiu was dumbfounded when he saw Zhang Shou yawning and looking like he was not interested. After thinking about it, he gritted his teeth and said, "The tiger has no intention of hurting people, but people have the intention of hurting the tiger. Teacher, you are a gentleman, so you don't know the activities of those folk academies. In order to compete for students and become famous, they intrigue and suppress each other, and do everything they can."
"The principals and teachers of those academies have been slandering each other for years, attacking each other's character just because of their different schools of thought, hoping to become an official school. Fortunately, starting from Emperor Taizu, they didn't buy into this. Moreover, if someone was proud of his knowledge and refused to be recruited, then according to Taizu's system, his students would never be allowed to enter the government. Therefore, there are no real hermits in this dynasty."
"So, those who opened private academies and gave lectures, even if they themselves were not successful in their official careers , all wanted their students to be successful. This has indeed been the case for many years. So don't look down on these four so-called great scholars who were recruited. There was only one Jinshi who served as a county magistrate for only one term and then stayed at home idle. The other three were all Juren. But their students..."
“That’s a lot of Jinshi!”
Ji Jiu raised his voice again to emphasize. Seeing that Zhang Shou only showed an interested expression, he didn't know whether he really took his words seriously. He could only say with an extremely sincere attitude: "Teacher, these people don't even buy into Master Ge's words, let alone you who are young but famous? Moreover, you have been the teacher of the third and fourth princes. I am afraid that they have bad intentions!"
Zhang Shou was just pretending to be ignorant. Academic disputes have been the same since ancient times, otherwise how could there be academic cliques? And sometimes, this thing really turns into a life-and-death struggle. Not to mention the debates among the various schools of thought, and the later Confucianism's suppression of Huang-Lao and other schools, wishing to trample on them a thousand times... Anyway, in short, academic disputes in every dynasty and generation will not end in bloodshed, right?
Of course, he could not and would not blame the emperor for thinking of recruiting four people from four academies to come to Beijing. If he were the emperor, he would not rely on him alone to develop various subjects. Not to mention him, even Ge Yong, the imperial teacher, was the same. If the academic cliques hoped to unify the academic world, then the higher-ups all hoped for a hundred flowers to bloom.
In this case, he should indeed be vigilant, because the phenomenon that the better the education, the worse the character is is really very common.
However, Ji Jiu only introduced three people just now, and one of them was even described as being proficient in several Western languages. Could he understand that he was a person who was proficient in multiple languages?
In this world, English is still a minority language, French is not even that popular, and Spanish... Because Spain is currently in the process of unification, but it is still a long way from achieving the achievement of the first empire on which the sun never sets, so the most popular language among the European upper class so far is probably still Latin. So the question is, what languages did that guy learn?
In the Haidong Continent, Chinese has been popularized by the descendants of Taizu's fleet who drifted overseas. How could there be great scholars who are proficient in classics and learn foreign languages? This is really progressive! Are you sure it's not worn by a language genius from the Foreign Languages College?
"Well, I know everything." Zhang Shou had a lot of messy thoughts in his mind, and finally nodded. After thinking for a while, he added, "You are thoughtful. I will not take this matter lightly."
Seeing Ji Jiu finally showing a happy expression, as if this compliment represented the highest affirmation, Zhang Shou couldn't help but slightly change his previous understanding of this little oily boy. Of course, he knew this boy's ambition - otherwise Ji Jiu would not have always been at the top of the class in Banshan Hall, and even accepted Chu Kuan's order to take class notes for the emperor to read.
Lu Sanlang's ambition is different, everything is based on personal talent and interest; Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu are satisfied as long as they can be independent from their original families, and marrying a princess and a county lady is a complete surprise; Zhang Chen hopes that his father can look at him straight in the eye, and of course it would be even better if he can surpass his father Zhang Chuan; Zhu Er hopes not to be so useless, always being beaten by his father, older brothers and sisters...
Ji Jiu, on the other hand, was a man who was always looking for opportunities and was ambitious. But ambition was the original motivation for advancement, and he actually needed such people.
Therefore, seeing Ji Jiu's joyful look, Zhang Shou nodded approvingly.
"If you feel that your studies are easy and you have too much free time, but you are not sure which direction you want to develop in the future, you might as well try various aspects to find a direction. The first and second volumes of my elementary physics have just been printed. You can take a look. At the translation department of the Four Barbarians Hall, you might as well learn overseas languages to see if you have talent. You can also learn about water control and construction..."
Before Zhang Shou could finish, Ji Jiu suddenly asked, "Teacher, this year the Jiuzhang Hall is recruiting students for the second term. Can I try?"
Zhang Shou didn't expect Ji Jiu to ask such a question. He looked at him with interest , then smiled and asked, "Why not?"
Before Ji Jiu, who was showing his joy, could speak, he said slowly, "Although the Third and Fourth Princes are young, they also said they want to take the entrance exam to Jiuzhang Hall. But I think they probably have no chance of getting in this year. Of course, you can't say for sure. Although they are young, they have good aptitude. In addition, the latest volume of Ge's Mathematics is available in the palace, and the emperor is reading and teaching them personally."
If Ji Jiu was just testing, then he was completely determined after getting Zhang Shou's answer. The Third and Fourth Princes were planning to take the Jiuzhang Hall exam. What else could he say? After the eldest prince was imprisoned, the second prince was under criminal detention, and the queen was deposed, the two little princes who had been ignored by countless people became very popular!
Thinking of this, Ji Jiu immediately bowed and said, "Thank you for your reminder, teacher. I will definitely do my best!"
He has just seen a question. Although Zhang Shou may revise it later, he can at least take a good look at the similar chapters on these in "New Edition of Ge's Mathematics". If he misses this year, there is still next year or even the year after. The third and fourth princes may not be able to pass the exam this year, but he must try!
"Well, then you should work hard. My teacher and Mr. Qi and Mr. Chu will probably compile a few books on auditing and accounting. Sample books may be printed in the next few days. If you are interested, you can go to Lu Sanlang's bookstore to buy a copy after it is printed. Although it may not be able to catch up with the Guanglu Temple's audit, it may be useful to your family's account office."
Seeing Ji Jiu's eyes light up and thank him again and again before taking his leave, Zhang Shou stretched his body and then returned to Jiuzhang Hall. Seeing that several students were still in the same posture as before, he knew that probably no one noticed what he had just said to Ji Jiu.
For these students, most of whom come from poor backgrounds, it is better to focus on what is in front of them than to worry about things that are too far away.
So Zhang Shou clapped his hands gently, and when everyone looked up, he smiled and said, "Okay, you should all pay attention to combining work and rest. Ji Jiu just came over, which shows that other classes are on break now. These days, there are only a few of you left, and the lectures have been stopped. I am a bit too harsh as a teacher, always asking you to study on your own or do exercises."
He smiled and said word by word, "Before, I asked you to come up with questions to test each other. Now, are you interested in using your brains to test your future juniors, that is, the junior brothers of the second term?"
"Of course, you can't take the exam with your current courses. The overall difficulty can be maintained at a level slightly higher than the two exams you took when you first came in. How about it, do you have the confidence to demonstrate your abilities as senior brothers?"
Naturally, his obvious question was met with unanimous responses from the students below, who were eager to try and were overjoyed.
Originally, out of dozens of people, only a few of them were left. Even if they were not rotated from the Governor of Xuanda, Wang Datou, or had internships at Daming Public School, they could not be considered nerds who had never experienced practice. But when others were busy, they could only stay here to study, so of course they could not help but feel a little insecure.
But now, Zhang Shou's words helped them find the focus of their work for the next few days. Especially when Zhang Shou added with a smile that they could think carefully about all the questions in the written test and interview, and that the questions in the future interview might be drawn from the questions set by their senior brothers, they became more motivated.
Finally, when Zhang Shou walked out of Jiuzhang Hall at noon, he felt relaxed. He used to despise some later mentors who treated their students as long-term workers, but now he was exploiting his students... Well, it felt good to send students around whenever he had something to do.
Since neither he nor Lu Sanlang had any rooms in the Imperial College, he met up with Ah Liu, who had come to pick him up on time, under the university archway of the Imperial College. In fact, he never knew when Ah Liu arrived, how long he had been waiting, or where he had been the entire morning. Then the master and servant went to the Xiao family, which was not far away.
As for the Liu family next door, which finally had a master again, Mr. Liu was picked up by Lu Sanlang early in the morning, and the two went to work together. As a former assistant minister of the Ministry of War, even if Liu Zhiyuan was just an advisor to Lu Sanlang, the fat boy was lucky enough.
As soon as Zhang Shou entered the Xiao family's gate, he heard Xiao Huasheng's extremely painful wail: "Why are there so many endless questions? Didn't the master tell me to work as a handyman in Jiuzhang Hall? Why lock me up here to do questions? I would rather go out to work... Ouch, Xiaozi, why are you hitting me!"
"Sixth brother said that if you slack off, he will spank you with a ruler! It's useless. I'm much younger than you and I also do a lot of homework every day! Don't forget, when your uncle came over this morning, he scolded you for not appreciating your blessings."
"You are you, and I am me! I have never been good at studying since I was a child... I would rather work in the fields, fetch water, herd cattle, watch the door, and sing opera than do these questions that make me dizzy at the first sight!"
Listening to the low-level quarrel between these two minors, Zhang Shou couldn't help but smile at first, but when he heard Xiao Huasheng's crazy complaints, he couldn't help but feel moved.
Because of Lao Xianyu, and the fact that Xiao Huasheng was indeed a well-behaved boy, he intended to train this boy, but he didn't expect that he was a learning difficulty, and was far less self-aware than Xiao Cheng. Although the latter was young, he would be full of fighting spirit as long as he was motivated and inspired by Zhu Tingfang.
Otherwise, how could Xiao Cheng study while doing odd jobs, master Tang poetry and four arithmetic operations, and now be able to do math problems that have exceeded four-digit addition and subtraction, and three-digit multiplication and division? You know, talent is so tiny!
Therefore, he stopped at the door and listened. He found that Peanut was being beaten with a ruler and was howling. However, he only dared to complain and curse, and did not dare to resist the discipline. He suddenly coughed. With a burst of hurried footsteps, Xiao Cheng ran out, followed by Peanut, who was sweating profusely and even limping a little. It was obvious that he had just been beaten hard by Xiao Cheng.
By the way, the little kid pretending to be a ghost who was at least a head shorter than Xiao Huasheng actually dared to hit him!
Compared to Xiao Cheng, who rushed up to him and called him "Brother Zhang", then began to proudly show off how much homework he had finished today, and then began to ask when he would go to Jiuzhang Hall to clean up in the afternoon, Xiao Huasheng felt that he was completely useless. He was already sweating profusely due to the frustration caused by those arithmetic problems, and now even his back was covered in cold sweats from fear.
Zhang Shou's next words successfully reduced the sweat on his body by a small amount.
"There are only a few people left in Jiuzhang Hall recently, and there is not much to do. Cleaning only once in the morning is enough. Jiuzhang Hall will have self-study in the afternoon, so you don't have to go there. Lu Sanlang and Mr. Liu are warming up for the Imperial Chef Selection Competition in the outer city. I heard that they will invite a troupe to perform to support the event. It should be very lively. Do you want to go?"
"I want to!" This overjoyed and unhesitating voice naturally belonged to Peanut.
"I don't want to!" This decisive and calm voice undoubtedly belonged to Xiao Cheng.
So, the two boys who had only been together for a few days looked at each other. Peanut was puzzled that Xiao Cheng didn't like to join in the fun at such a young age, while Xiao Cheng was puzzled Peanut's laziness in not liking to study.
However, the former was unwilling to give up this rare opportunity to meet a famous actor from the capital, while the latter was unwilling to waste precious time. In an instant, the two repeated their previous answers again, and then began to glare at each other again.
"Okay, since one of us wants to go and the other doesn't, then Xiao Cheng, you should accompany us out of town to take a look. When we come back, I'll take Xiao Huasheng with me to study and do homework with you."
Seeing Xiao Cheng opening his mouth to protest, he didn't even look at the delighted Peanut, and said with a smile: "We are not just going to watch the fun, but also to see if Mr. Liu is still as skilled as ever after returning to Beijing."
Although he said this, Zhang Shou was thinking in his heart, since Xiao Huasheng was able to dress up as a woman and charm the eldest prince, could she be a natural female role?
