Chapter 141: Graduation from Zheng's Academy
Spring passed and autumn came. Two years later, when Sun Shan was eight years old, he officially graduated from Zheng's School.
Master Zheng approached Sun Bomin and said seriously, "Bomin, Shanzi no longer needs to take his introductory lessons from me. If he really wants to take the imperial examination, he must study with the county scholar. It's time to read the Four Books and Five Classics. I'm just a student, so I can't teach Shanzi how to take the imperial examination."
Sun Shan and Sun Bomin looked at Master Zheng. They were called over early in the morning and knew that the master had something important to say.
Sun Bomin asked timidly, "Master Zheng, which scholar in the county should I go to study? I am completely clueless and don't understand anything."
Sun Bomin was a little scared. He knew nothing about Shanzi's studies and had no idea what to do. But Master Zheng was knowledgeable, so he did what he said.
Sun Shan knew that this day would come sooner or later, and now that it had come, he was a little hesitant. He was very reluctant to leave Zheng's Academy, but he also knew that he had to leave.
Water flows to the lower places, and people go to the higher places. If you want to go further, you have to cut through the thorns and move forward to a farther road.
After two years of getting along, Master Zheng already knew Sun Bomin's personality. To sum it up: having no opinion of your own is better than listening to capable people.
Master Zheng continued, "There are two scholars in the county, both of whom are about the same age as me. They also passed the examination and became scholars shortly after the establishment of the new dynasty. Well, in fact, the teaching is the same.
Over the years, the county has never produced a scholar, and only occasionally a student is selected. Their two schools have also produced students, and I think their teaching methods are similar. "
Sun Shan understood what Master Zheng meant. The two scholars were both old, and their teaching quality was the same. It didn't matter where they went. Whether or not he could pass the examination to become a scholar in the future depended entirely on himself. The scholars could only guide him. After all, their teaching results were quite poor.
Although Sun Bomin didn't understand, he was not a fool. After hearing this, he asked in confusion: "Master Zheng, even the scholar can't teach a scholar, then can my son Shanzi pass the exam to become a scholar under his teaching?"
If you can't pass the exam, it's better not to take it, save some money to buy land, a house, and a shop, like Landlord Yang, so that Shanzi can collect rent to live in the future and use the money to buy labor.
Master Zheng said honestly: "I don't know either, but Shanzi is the most serious, hardworking, persistent and opinionated kid I have ever seen. He knows how to plan his studies at such a young age. Bomin, this kind of mind is rare in the world.
The key to studying is perseverance. Shanzi has perseverance that others don't have, which is the most rare quality in a person.
The path to the mountain of books is made through diligence, and the boat to the boundless sea of learning is made through hard work. Our Shanzi has both "diligence" and "hard work". It is very likely that he will pass the examination to become a scholar. "
When Sun Bomin heard Master Zheng praising Shanzi, he smiled naively.
Sun Shan looked at Master Zheng with admiration: Master, you have vision. I am such a person, and you are very accurate in your judgment.
Master Zheng added, "Your family still has some money, so you should be able to afford to send Shanzi to study in the county. If he fails the exam after several attempts, Shanzi has said that he will give up and not waste money anymore. Don't sell your land to take the exam, understand?"
Sun Shan is the only boy in Sun Bomin's family. If Sun Shan insists on taking the imperial examination, he may have to sell his land. But this is absolutely not allowed. In life, there are many other ways to go besides the imperial examination. Don't be too obsessed.
Sun Bomin nodded and said, "Thank you for your reminder, Master. I will. Shanzi also said that he would not sell his family's land for the imperial examination."
Master Zheng talked a lot to Sun Bomin, and finally reminded him: "You have a good relative. If you need help in your studies, don't be shameless and don't ask for help. It's one thing to help or not, but you must say it. A little reminder from the He family and some information provided by them will be very useful to Shanzi."
Sun Shan and Sun Bomin knew that Master Zheng was talking about Aunt Sun. He meant for Sun Shan to ask the He family for advice on the imperial examinations, and if he needed any study materials, he should be thick-skinned and ask for them.
It’s like studying and having a famous teacher to guide you will benefit a lot.
Master Zheng was very concerned about Sun Shan's studies, and Sun Shan was very touched.
Sun Bomin asked: "Master Zheng, among the scholars in the county, which one can you choose for Shanzi? I don't know anything, and I am afraid that if I take Shanzi to become a disciple, others will not want him."
Sun Bomin still thought it was better to listen to Master Zheng's advice. First, Master Zheng was a master, and he had been very good to Shanzi in the past two years, so he would definitely not harm Shanzi. Second, they were from the same village, so they were related and he would definitely trust acquaintances more.
Master Zheng thought for a moment and said, "There are two scholars in the county, one is Huang Xiucai and the other is Hong Xiucai. I am more familiar with Hong Xiucai. He is strict in teaching and has a rather old-fashioned personality. But he is absolutely responsible to his students. My son Hongwen also studied in Hong Xiucai's school.
As for Huang Xiucai, I haven’t had much contact with him, so I don’t know much about his personality.”
Mr. Zheng was speaking from the heart. There were only two scholars in the county, and their grades were similar. So there was no need to choose, just go to the one you liked.
As for the county schools, they also have scholars teaching, but the fees are expensive and common people can't afford it. Most importantly, the county schools have the same results as the scholars, and have never produced a scholar. Why spend more money to study in a school with similar results?
Sun Bomin said without thinking: "Then let's go to Mr. Hong. If the teacher says it's good, it must be good."
Master Zheng's grandson Hongwen chose to study at Hong's School, which must be better than Scholar Huang's school.
Then he asked, "Master, how is Mr. Hong's salary calculated?"
Master Zheng nodded and said, "Mr. Hong's tuition is 2 taels per year. You already have books, so you don't need to buy them. As for studying in the county, you can't practice calligraphy on stone slabs. You need paper, which may cost money."
Sun Bomin knew that the imperial examination would focus on handwriting, so Shanzi must practice his handwriting well, so he spent a lot of time practicing calligraphy.
The tuition fee is 2 taels. I already have the books, so apart from paying for the paper and ink, there is not much else to spend, which is not much.
Master Zheng asked with concern: "Shanzi is going to the county town to study, where do you plan to let him live?"
Sun Bomin was stunned and patted his head. Why couldn't he think of this question? His face turned pale. If Shanzi went to study in the county, he would definitely have to live away from home. But Shanzi was only 8 years old, and Sun Bomin was worried.
Sun Shan had thought about this problem a long time ago. He was not afraid at all about going out to study and living outside.
He asked, "Master, does Mr. Hong's school have dormitories?"
Master Zheng hummed and said, "Mr. Hong can provide accommodation for students. Four people in a room, the fee is 4 coins a year. Hong's school has a dining room, you only pay for what you eat. You can save money and eat for 500 coins a meal."
Sun Shan calculated that it would cost 6-7 taels a year. How expensive!
This also includes buying books, pens, ink, paper and inkstone.
If you calculate it, it would cost at least 10 taels a year. No wonder people in the countryside can't afford to go to school. An average family has 2-3 taels left over from their annual income. But going to school costs 10 taels a year.
Who can afford to read it!
Sun Shan thought that he was only 8 years old this year, and it would take at least 7-8 years before he could take the imperial examination. So he would have to pay over taels of silver to take the imperial examination.
This would wipe out all of Sun Boming's life savings.