The north wind is bitterly cold, and yellow leaves occasionally fall around your feet.
Zhu Pingan slung his school bag, from the Li family Shi Shi out of the door, but at this time the western sun is still hanging in the sky, there is still a period of time from sunset.
Zhu Pingan faintly recognised the direction and walked towards his teacher Sun Laozi’s house, which was as closed as usual. Zhu Pingan tidied up his clothes and entered the door of Old Master Sun’s house.
There was only the master’s mother at home, and she said that her mentor, Old Master Sun, was still teaching at the hillside academy, so Zhu Pingan greeted the master’s mother and said goodbye to her as he headed for the hillside.
Since Zhu Ping’an won the Lifa, the fame of Sun’s private school has been growing. There were some big families who paid a lot of money to hire Master Sun as their children’s tutor, but all of them were rejected by Master Sun with a smile; in addition, there were also a lot of people from other towns who came here and wanted to send their children to Master Sun to study, and Master Sun welcomed them, but they had to solve the problem of room and board by themselves, and a part of them gave it up because the distance was too far away, but there were still people who bought land and property nearby, just for the sake of their children. Some people gave up because the distance was too far, but there were still some people who bought land and property in the neighbourhood, just so that their children could study in the private school of Sun’s old master.
Zhu Pingan went up the hill, through the bamboo forest, the private school was close at hand.
After a period of time, the private school has expanded a lot and the conditions are much better than before. In the private school, the old master Sun is leading the children to read the Analects of Confucius, the children’s rhythmic reading sound loud into the ears, like a spring breeze: the gentleman is open and honest, the small man is always related.
In the classroom, the younger children in the front row, a little older such as Zhu Pingjun and others in the back row, Sun led the children read the Four Books and Five Classics, then to the back of Zhu Pingjun and others in front, for a few people to explain the essentials of the eight-legged essay.
“Eight-legged is the text of the time, the text for the time to make, to keep up with the times, do not stick to the old ways.”
Sun old master hair are white, but the spirit is very good, hands and feet are also robust, face are rosy, full of vitality.
Zhu Pingan quietly and respectfully stood in the doorway. Did not disturb the husband’s lesson.
Sitting in the front row of the children, there can not resist the loneliness to the outside of the empty eyes when they found the respectful standing in the doorway of Zhu Pingan, curious to look at Zhu Pingan, these children are outsiders. These children are all foreigners. They don’t know what this big brother standing at the door does, so they curiously look at Zhu Pingan with wide eyes.
After explaining the eight-legged essay to Zhu Pingjun and the others, Old Master Sun left an eight-legged topic for the several people to bring to class tomorrow.
Only when Old Master Sun turned around and was ready to check the children’s silent writing did he discover Zhu Pingan standing respectfully in the doorway.
“The student has met the benefactor.”
Zhu Pingan stretched his arms forward. With his right hand slightly curved and his left hand attached to it, both arms moved down from his forehead to his chest while his upper body bowed forty-five degrees to greet Old Master Sun.
“Well, good.” Old Master Sun stroked his whiskers and nodded, he could not be more satisfied with Zhu Pingan.
“I hope that you will forgive me for disturbing En-Sensei’s lesson.” Seeing that the students inside the academy were startled by the sound of him greeting the husband at the door, Zhu Pingan could not help but apologise to the husband.
“No harm done.” Old Master Sun shook his head with a slight smile before leading Zhu Pingan to the front to introduce him to the students within the private school, “This is the Zhu Zihou Zhu Senior Brother that you all often recite about.”
Most of the children in the private school then acted like modern day stargazers. Full of admiration, they asked about Zhu Pingan, and when he answered their questions, they were as excited as if they had drunk a couple of small wines, their little faces were flushed with excitement, and they flaunted with the children next to them.
It is estimated that next year, Sun’s private school students will increase, Zhu Pingan’s proposed school system will be implemented next year in the village of Xihe, listening to the village old man’s estimation, the number of children attending school will be several times more than in previous years.
“Zi Hou, this sentence will be explained by you to the senior students for a moment or two.” After Old Master Sun stabilised the order of the private school. He ceded the podium to Zhu Pingan, allowing him to explain this Analects to the curious students within the private school.
The Analects that Old Master Sun had just led the children to read: a gentleman is open and honest, and a villain is always in a state of solidarity. Old Master Sun had asked Zhu Pingan to explain the Analects to the students, on one hand, to satisfy the students’ curiosity. On the other hand, it was also to test Zhu Pingan’s recent homework.
“A gentleman is open and honest, while a villain is always chipper. The one who is frank and open is broad-minded; the one who is often chipper is often sad and troubled. This sentence means that a gentleman has a broad mind and is calm and peaceful. The small man is calculating. The small person is anxious and worried. So, from now on, we should all be a gentleman.”
Zhu Pingan stood in front, calm and collected, explaining this phrase in depth to the students within the private school.
“Senior Brother Zihou, what is a gentleman?” A child asked from below, holding his cheeks.
“A gentleman is one who has no worries or fears in his heart.” Zhu Pingan smiled faintly.
“So simple, huh?” The child was puzzled.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Pingan couldn’t help but smile, how much this was like a scene from the Analects, back then, there was also a student named Sima Niu who conversed with Confucius in this manner.
Then Zhu Pingan explained Yu Dan’s explanation about this part in the modern Hundred Schools Lecture Theatre, combined with the explanation of the former Fu Zi as well as his own understanding to the children in the private school in a simple and easy to understand language.
Due to the advantages of the Hundred Schools of Lecture Theatre, the children in the private school listened with great interest; Sun Laofu Zi sitting at the back also nodded uncontrollably, his eyes lit up, and he was very satisfied with Zhu Pingan’s disciple, who was only able to speak to this extent after integrating the entire Analects of Confucius.
“Zi Hou, you go to the capital this time, for the teacher has something to wait for.”
When Zhu Pingan finished speaking, Old Master Sun said to Zhu Pingan.
The meaning of this sentence was to say, “I have great expectations for you to go to the capital for the examination this time.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Pingan was somewhat flattered, knowing that in the past, when Zhu Pingan went to take the boy’s exam, Old Master Sun did not have much expectation for Zhu Pingan; when Zhu Pingan went to take the township exam, Old Master Sun did not say so, but only encouraged with his eyes; this time, he went to take the court exam, and was competing with the outstanding talents of the entire country, he did not think that Master Sun would have so much confidence in himself.
“The student will certainly endeavour to live up to the expectations of my benefactor.” Zhu Pingan gave a long bow, assuring Elder Doctor Sun that he would endeavour not to let him down.
Not long after, a touch of crimson red sunset shone through the window into the private school, and the large white clouds in the distant sky burned out half of the sky like flames under the afterglow of the setting sun.
After the private school was dismissed, Zhu Pingan bid farewell to Old Master Sun, and together with Zhu Pingjun, they crossed the wooden bridge as usual, heading towards the Lower River Village.
“Swine brother, after the New Year, I’m also going to go to the Child Scholar Examination.”
Walking on the road, Zhu Pingjun suddenly came with a serious face.
Then Zhu Pingan’s mind conjured up the scene of his eldest uncle Zhu Shouren and Zhu Pingjun going to the boyhood test
“I wish Brother Jun a prosperous victory.” Zhu Pingan looked at Zhu Pingjun and wished sincerely.
“Hehe, you feel the same way ah, I also feel that I will pass.” Zhu Pingjun grinned, then fretted a little, “You say if I pass, what should I do if my father hasn’t passed? Where should my father’s face go.”
Err.
You’re really thinking a lot.
