Chapter 139 Talking with Tsinghua and Peking University

Chapter 139 Talking with Tsinghua and Peking University

There was still calligraphy practice in the afternoon. Sun Shan and Yang Qingbei practiced calligraphy by the small pond, while De Ge'er was taken to the study by Master Zheng for tutoring.

Because Sun Shan's course was different from the "reading" class, he didn't need to take Gende'er's class together, and Master Zheng gave him a brand new class alone.

Yang Qingbei whispered, "Shanzi, I also want to take the imperial examination."

Sun Shan, who was practicing calligraphy with his head down, suddenly raised his head and said seriously, "Qingbei, have you told your family?"

Yang Qingbei shook his head and said, "Not yet. I wonder if my father and mother will approve it."

He then asked Sun Shan, "Does it cost a lot of money to take the imperial examination? Shanzi, how much did your cousin spend?"

For a farmer to take the imperial examination, besides hard work, more importantly, money is needed. Although Yang Qingbei's family is a landlord, they are "small" landlords, and their ability to resist risks is only slightly stronger than that of self-cultivating farmers. At the slightest sign of trouble, they will become poor farmers.

Sun Shan thought for a moment and said, "I don't know how much my cousin spent, but I heard it was a lot. As for books, the Four Books and Five Classics are essential, which cost several dozen taels. Not to mention the writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones used along the way. On the contrary, the master's salary only accounts for a small part of it."

When Yang Qingbei heard that it would cost dozens of taels to buy books, his face turned pale and he asked in surprise, "It's so expensive. Although my family can afford it, it's too expensive. I wonder if my father is willing to do so."

Sun Shan didn't know what to say. He did have books that he could lend to Tsinghua and Peking University to copy. But studying like this really requires extraordinary perseverance, and it's clear that Tsinghua and Peking University don't have such people, at least not yet.

Ask seriously: "Qingbei, do you like reading? Do you feel bored every time you read?"

Yang Qingbei hurriedly shook his head: "Not boring, I like reading. If I'm lazy and don't read for a day, I will feel guilty. I was lazy and didn't read during the last holiday, and I felt so guilty."

Sun Shan continued to ask: "Qingbei, why do you also want to take the imperial examination? Is it because I took this path?"

Yang Qingbei said honestly: "Well, I saw that you wanted to take the exam, so I wanted to take it too. I think if you can take the exam, I can definitely take the exam too. If I pass the exam, my family can be exempted from paying rent for the land, and we don't have to pay for military service every year. And I think if I pass the exam, it will be very prestigious, and Yangjia Village will also have reputation."

What Yang Qingbei said is human nature. There are many benefits to passing the exam. It's just that the process of taking the exam is very painful.

Sun Shan sincerely suggested: "Tsinghua University and Peking University, if you want to pursue the path of imperial examinations, tell your parents. Tell them your plan clearly so that they can see that you are determined and it is not just a spur-of-the-moment decision."

Yang Qingbei asked doubtfully: "Shanzi, what plan? Is it the plan for the imperial examination?"

Sun Shan hummed, nodded and said, "You have to plan your entire study life. For example, which books should you read this month, this year, and next year? How many years of study will it take before you can take the exam? What if you fail the exam? All these must be planned out. Let your family see that you have a plan for success, let them know that you are serious and not wasting your hard-earned money."

Sun Shan also told the story of how he failed the imperial examination at the age of 23 and went out to work.

He said seriously: "We people from poor areas can't stand the tossing and turning. If we make a mistake, we will make mistakes at every step. We have to be cautious in every step we do."

Yang Qingbei looked at Sun Shan with admiration and praised him sincerely: "Shanzi, you are very successful. You are the smartest person I have ever met. Shanzi, it's great to meet you. I want to learn from you."

Sun Shan smiled and said, "If you really want to take this path, go and tell your father. Whether they agree or not, don't blame them. They also have their own plans, and we can't force them."

Sun Shan was afraid that Peking University and Tsinghua University would make mistakes, so he insisted on taking the imperial examination regardless of the consequences.

Yang Qingbei said seriously: "Shanzi, I understand, thank you."

The summer breeze blew across the small pond, creating ripples. No matter how many years had passed, this afternoon was deeply engraved in Yang Qingbei's heart.

By the time class was over, Sun Shan had practiced countless characters, drying and practicing again, practicing and washing again, over and over again, endlessly.

When I walked out of the school, I saw Sun Boming from afar.

After saying goodbye to Zheng Bo, Sun Boming led Sun Shan and De Ge'er walking along the country road as usual.

After Sun Shan returned home, he first finished the homework assigned for today. The homework assigned by Master Zheng was more than usual. It required more patience to complete.

After finishing my homework, I practiced calligraphy for half an hour. It was not yet dark and my family was not home yet.

Sun Shan picked up the "Daqian Laws and Regulations" and began to read. Although he did not understand some of the characters, he could look them up in the dictionary, and slowly he could recognize more and more characters. As for other books and the Four Books and Five Classics, he did not need to study them ahead of time.

After Master Zheng made sure that Sun Shan had collected all the books for the imperial examination, he made a plan for him.

There is no need to study ahead of time. First, lay a solid foundation and take it step by step. If you have spare time, it is recommended to read other books to expand your knowledge. For example, books on law, history, poetry, etc. The more you know about these, the better. They will appear in the exam, but the proportion is small.

After reading for a while, Sun Boming and others came back.

Sun Shan ran out with a smile on his face: "Dad, you're back?"

It's not the autumn harvest yet, but there's still a lot of work to do in the fields, especially weeding. I hate it the most. I pull it out today, and it grows back tomorrow. It's an endless cycle.

Sun Shan's family also had an orchard to manage, which was an important source of income. The family took good care of it.

Sun Shan would sometimes run to the orchard, but he would be told to go back before he got close. It was not Sun Shan's turn to give advice on the family's fields and orchard.

When Sun Bomin saw the little man Sun Shan carrying a basin of water, he immediately walked over and took it, feeling warm in his heart.

He smiled and said, “Have you finished your homework?”

Sun Shan replied that he had finished. He then ran to Huang and Su to fetch water for them. However, the two of them thought he was in the way and told him to stay aside.

After dinner, Sun Boming and Su went to the back of the yard and were wielding hoes to tidy up the soil.

They have to be sorted out one cage at a time.

After finishing two ridges, Sun Bomin asked, "Shanzi, is that enough?"

Sun Shan carefully looked at the two neatly trimmed ridges of land and said with satisfaction, "Dad, Mom, it's done."

Su said unhappily, "Shanzi, do you really know how to grow hydrangeas?"

Shanzi said seriously: "Mother, I know how to grow seeds. I asked the store owner clearly when I bought the seeds. If you don't believe me, ask Father."

Su looked at Sun Bomin, who nodded and said, "The shopkeeper who sells seeds did say that, but he was just talking. Shanzi, you have never planted them before, do you really know how to plant them? And what are you planting these flowers for?"

Sun Bomin didn't understand why he had to plant flowers for no reason and couldn't eat them. The Sun family didn't understand either, but Guyu and the others indulged Sun Shan.

Sun Shan lied as easily as eating lettuce, his face did not blush, his heart did not beat as he said: "Father, I will grow some flowers for my eldest cousin. You know, my eldest cousin likes flowers very much. If I grow some and give them to my eldest cousin, he will definitely be happy. Father, our family depends on my eldest aunt, and sooner or later we will also depend on my eldest cousin. We must do something to please my eldest cousin."

Sun Bomin and Su had nothing to say.

Xiaoman was tidying up the soil. When she heard what Sun Shan said, she agreed and said, "Father, mother, Shanzi is right. We have nothing. We must give something that our cousin likes. Otherwise, he will definitely forget about our Sun family in the future."