Afterwards, passers-by kept congratulating him, leaving Fang Yun helpless and he had to return the favor one by one.
When no one was congratulating him, several classmates asked Fang Yun about what happened at the Tongsheng Literary Gathering last night, and Fang Yun picked out some of the stories to talk about.
As they walked and talked, Fang Yun found an opportunity to pull Liang Yuan aside and said, "My uncle from Dayuan Prefecture funded me to open a bookstore. I just happened to be in need of a trustworthy manager, so I thought of you. You have experience in running a rice store. As long as you hire a few more old gentlemen, you can support the bookstore. The salary will be the same as that of a lecturer in the county academy of literature, and you can read in your spare time. How about it?"
"Bookstore?" Liang Yuan's breathing quickened. Although a bookstore was a business like a rice shop, working in a rice shop was very tiring. But it was different in a bookstore. As the shopkeeper, he had more time to read every day.
"Yes. I'll give you two days to consider it. If you don't agree, I will find someone else as soon as possible. Now I'll give you five taels of silver every month, and when you grow bigger in the future, you will also get dividends." Fang Yun said.
"Let me think about it and I'll give you an answer tomorrow."
"good."
Arriving at the gate of the Academy of Literature, Fang Yun and Lu Lin said goodbye to their classmates, entered the Academy together, and went to the side room under the guidance of the people inside.
There were already many students in the side room. As soon as Fang Yun entered, those who knew him immediately bowed to him.
Some called him the first in the plan, some called him Fang Shuangjia, and a student in his thirties was very enthusiastic. He highly praised the phrase "How many flowers have fallen
Fang Zhongyong was also among them, and he bowed to Fang Yun obediently.
Even if someone was dissatisfied or suspicious of Fang Yun, they would not dare to provoke him after seeing this scene. If County Magistrate Cai knew about it, being reprimanded would be a small matter, but being expelled from the Academy of Literature would be bad luck.
After saying hello, a yamen runner came over holding something and told Fang Yun and Lu Lin very respectfully that they should change into the student's robe and wear the student's sword.
Fang Yun and Lu Lin thanked the bailiff, changed into light blue robes for students, and looked at themselves in the mirror.
The style of a boy's robe is slightly different from that of an ordinary robe. There are willow leaf stripes on the collar and cuffs. Only boys can wear it. Those without a literary title are not allowed to wear it, otherwise they will be punished with eighty strokes of the cane.
There is a pendant on the waist of the boy's robe, on which the boy's sword can be hung.
After Fang Yun hung up the sword, he gently pulled it out. A cold light reflected in his eyes. The sword had been sharpened. Although it was not as good as a spear or a machete on the battlefield, it was enough for self-defense.
Next, the students tidied up each other's clothes to avoid being disrespectful to the saints.
When the auspicious time arrived, all the students walked out of the side room, and the local officials were already waiting outside.
Afterwards, Magistrate Cai and Wang Yuanjun led fifty new students into the holy temple where all the saints were enshrined, and each of them stood behind a cushion.
Magistrate Cai once again recited the "Sacrifice to All Saints" to express his gratitude to all the saints. Finally, he said: "Ji County Magistrate Cai He and fifty young students come to worship all the saints. We ask the saints to bestow their talents and strengthen our human race!" After saying that, he knelt down.
The others followed suit and knelt on the mats.
Fang Yun felt that the entire holy temple and even the space in which it was located suddenly shook violently, and then an invisible force descended. It was obviously untouchable, but it went straight to people's hearts. It was so magnificent that people could not help but worship it.
Strips of orange talent hung down and landed on the heads of every boy.
Others could not see it, but Fang Yun, as a former saintly student, saw every scene.
A man dressed in animal skins fought desperately with monsters and barbarians with the simplest stone spear, and eventually established a human kingdom, becoming the first ancestor of the human race.
There is a man who has tasted hundreds of herbs and sacrificed his life for the well-being of all people.
Some people jumped into the breached dam, using their flesh and blood to block the raging flood and ultimately control the flood.
Someone was reciting the Book of Changes outside the city of Chaoge and killing countless demons and barbarians.
Some people established academies, educated the people, fought against monsters and barbarians, and strived for a thousand years of peace for the human race.
Some people make laws and advocate reforms to make the human race more orderly.
Someone...
The images of the sages flashed through Fang Yun’s mind, sublimating the “Wen Palace” between Fang Yun’s eyebrows.
When Fang Yun had just become a virgin, the Wen Palace was originally just a void, perceptible but invisible.
Now, Fang Yun "saw" a hall built of rough square stones appearing deep in his eyebrows. The hall was desolate and simple, with murals inside, which were engraved with the contributions made by the ancestors to human race.
There is a statue of Fang Yun himself in the main hall, also wearing a boy's robe.
At first glance, this statue does not seem to be anything special, but upon closer inspection, one can see a very faint glow in its eyes, which is soft and warm, and has a power that brings peace and tranquility to people.
Fang Yun vaguely guessed something, but he couldn't be sure whether it was right.
"So-called worship of the saint means worshipping oneself? Then..."
Then, a wisp of orange mist appeared above the statue's head. It was currently three inches long and looked like silk spun by a spring silkworm, very fine.
"The talent of a boy is like a thread, while the talent of a scholar is like a needle. This refers to the talent in the palace of literature, and also the talent that one can mobilize."
Fang Yun "looked around" the walls of the Wen Palace. There were only murals and statues, but the roof of the Wen Palace was rather peculiar. It seemed like an endless void with only four stars of different sizes, one of which was pitifully small.
Four stars emit a faint light and shine on Fang Yun's statue, nourishing his silk-like talent and allowing it to continue to thrive.
"Those four stars represent the four poems including "Spring Dawn"? I wonder how long it will take to reach the realm of the saints, where the stars shake wherever they pass."
As Fang Yun was thinking, Wen Gong shook slightly, and then the statue's left hand changed, with a strange book in its hand.
Fang Yun could not describe the size, color, or thickness of the book. The book kept changing, and no words Fang Yun knew could describe it.
The only things that remain unchanged are the four words on the book.
A world of wonderful books.
The world was spinning, everything went dark before his eyes, and Fang Yun’s consciousness left the Wen Palace.
Fang Yun was surprised to find that everyone was looking at him with envy, even County Magistrate Cai.
Fang Yun then realized that he was different from others. The talent of others might have only opened up the literary palace but not taken shape, but he was one step ahead, step by step.
Fang Yun even suspected that even if the Wen Palace of other students was formed, it would probably not be as good as his, and it was even more impossible for it to have murals of sages and saints.
"The worship is over, let's leave." said Magistrate Cai.
After leaving the temple, Magistrate Cai called Fang Yun aside and asked, "What are your plans?"
"I would like to stay in Ji County to consolidate the Wen Palace first, and then set off for Dayuan Prefecture in ten days to study in the prefecture's literary academy." Fang Yun replied.
Magistrate Cai said, "It may not be appropriate to go to Dayuan Prefecture now."
"Thank you County Master for your concern. Uncle Fang from Dayuan Prefecture has just left. He will handle this matter." Fang Yun said.
Magistrate Cai thought for a moment and asked, "Master Fang Shouye?"
"Exactly."
Magistrate Cai looked in the direction of Dayuan Prefecture and said, "The Liu family is in trouble. I am relieved now."
Fang Yun said: "I have two requests."
Magistrate Cai smiled and said, "You are not shy. Go ahead and speak."
"I would like to take the examination for a scholar this year, but I have never taken the examination on classics, so I would like to ask for your advice before I go to Dayuan Prefecture." Fang Yun said respectfully.
Magistrate Cai did not immediately agree to Fang Yun's request. Instead, he looked at him carefully and found that Fang Yun was neither timid in front of his superiors nor arrogant as the top scorer in the double-class case or the general's nephew. Instead, he had the respect he required of his teacher. He could not help but secretly praise this young man for being neither humble nor arrogant.
Magistrate Cai nodded and said, "Okay, the path to the holy way is to cut through thorns and brambles. It is not about competing with others, but competing with time and yourself! Since you have the heart to fight, then I will send you a journey of east wind. It's a pity that those people don't understand this truth."
Magistrate Cai looked at the students who were leaving with regret. He would not take the initiative to teach the students, but if a student came to ask for advice, he would help them no matter if he was trying to curry favor with them or asking for help frankly like Fang Yun.
Fang Yun looked strangely at those students who came back empty-handed after entering a treasure mountain. He didn't understand why they ignored the "imperial examination treasure" of County Magistrate Cai. The examination experience of a Jinshi was extremely valuable. Not many people in Jiyuan County, let alone in the entire Dayuan Prefecture, could get the guidance of a Jinshi.
However, Fang Yun soon realized that he was not a native here after all, and did not have such a strong concept of hierarchy. Deep down, he was still influenced by the belief that everyone is equal, and did not regard the Jinshi degree as out of reach. Secondly, he was the top scorer in the case and was praised by the county magistrate, so he dared to directly find a Jinshi county magistrate as his teacher.
"Let's talk about the second thing." County Magistrate Cai's attitude was much more friendly than before.
"I want to study more at the Academy of Literature before going to Dayuan Prefecture." Fang Yun said.
"Of course."
The two agreed that starting from today, County Magistrate Cai would give a one-hour lecture every day after dinner.
After leaving the Academy, Fang Yun and Lu Lin bought some fruits and two chickens and went to Mr. Sun's house to thank him for his teaching.
Afterwards, Fang Yun and Lu Lin separated and returned home, where they saw Shopkeeper Zhen standing in the yard with a cloth bag in his hand, and Yang Yuhuan sitting on a stool doing needlework.
As soon as Fang Yun came in, Shopkeeper Zhen hurriedly forced out an ugly smile and trotted over, saying carefully: "Boss, I'm here to compensate you. I just weighed it. It's a full 100 taels of silver, 200 times the compensation. If you keep your word, I'm willing to do it."
Fang Yun took the silver and walked in without saying a word.
Yang Yuhuan stood up and looked carefully at the student's uniform on Fang Yun. Her eyes were full of joy and a hint of admiration.
Shopkeeper Zhen was anxious, and hurried to catch up, hunched over and said pitifully, "Boss, I have admitted my fault and accepted the punishment. Please give me a straight answer. I have been worried all day."
Fang Yun nodded and smiled, "I understand. You were relieved after you knew that I had completed the worship of the saint and was officially granted the title of Tongsheng. I came here with the silver. Thank you for caring about me so much."
Shopkeeper Zhen's face turned pale. He didn't expect that Fang Yun had seen through him. He had wanted to come and apologize to Fang Yun yesterday, but he was reluctant to give him one hundred taels of silver. So he had been waiting, hoping that Fang Yun would have an accident in the end. But if Fang Yun was lucky, he could only come to give him the silver.
After hearing this, Yang Yuhuan said angrily: "No wonder Shopkeeper Zhen was pretending to be pitiful just now, it turns out he was plotting against me!"
Fang Yun said coldly: "Manager Zhen, we are even now, you can leave now."
"I… "
"I had something I wanted to say to you yesterday, but I forgot it today." Fang Yun turned around and looked at Shopkeeper Zhen with cold eyes.
“I…” Shopkeeper Zhen wanted to say something, but was frightened by Fang Yun’s eyes and walked out involuntarily.
After leaving the Fang family, Shopkeeper Zhen was filled with grief and cursed himself in a low voice: "Why am I so stupid! Why did I become obsessed with money? Jixiang Restaurant can make at least 500 taels of silver a year, but I lost 100 taels of silver because of a few hundred wen of wages, and I also offended the plan leader. Why am I so stupid! Why am I so stupid..."