Chapter 458 - 175: Prefectural School (6)
Chapter 458: Chapter 175: Prefectural School (6)
"Zhao Jing, Chen De’an, so this is where you are. I’ve practically searched the entire academy for you, and here you two are, hiding out and taking it easy. Ugh, hurry up and follow me to Minglun Hall."
De’an panicked when he saw it was Mr. Sun.
"What for, Mr. Sun? It’s time for the midday break. If you have something to say, can’t you just say it here? We’ve been taking exams all morning and we’re exhausted. We really don’t want to take another pointless step."
"You have to go. Everyone’s waiting for you."
"Who’s waiting for us?"
"No one else, just all the instructors and disciplinarians of the academy. Judging by the look of you, you’ve already eaten, haven’t you? Perfect. Let’s go, then. Saves me the trouble of getting you a meal."
Mr. Sun beckoned to them, but De’an didn’t show any sign of moving. "When is it ever good news when you instructors summon us? You’re not planning to discuss my expulsion from the academy, are you?"
Mr. Sun’s eyes widened. "Of course not. Then again, even if we were going to expel someone, it would only be you. It has nothing to do with Zhao Jing."
The boys glanced at each other. De’an grabbed Zhao Jing and started toward Minglun Hall. "Let’s go, let’s go! We have to see what’s going on."
Zhao Jing shook him off. "You’re pulling my robes off."
"If I pull them off, just pull them back up. It’s not a big deal. Come on, let’s go. We shouldn’t keep the instructors waiting."
Wang Jun followed along, carrying a food container. "I’ll come see what the commotion’s about."
Mr. Sun glanced at him. "Aren’t you going to take your midday break?"
"De’an’s the one who needs a break, not me. I’ve never been in the habit of napping. It would be boring to go back to my room anyway, so I might as well go with you all to Minglun Hall. I might even get some extra reading done."
"Heh..."
On the way, De’an carefully questioned him, asking if the exam papers had been graded and what his and Zhao Jing’s scores were.
As he spoke, he carefully watched Mr. Sun’s expression.
He was still worried that he had done poorly and embarrassed himself.
Though he was thick-skinned, he also carried a heavy burden in his heart. He was afraid of disappointing his parents, and even more afraid of disappointing his older sister.
Fortunately, the results seemed to be within a manageable range.
Mr. Sun said, "Overall, it’s mediocre, but it has its merits. A few of your arguments, in particular, were quite novel and original. The other instructors will definitely ask you about them, so you’d better think about how you’re going to answer."
De’an: "..."
’Answer what? I don’t even know what you’re going to ask me! You could at least give me a hint!’
De’an scrunched up his nose and glared, utterly vexed. Zhao Jing, in contrast, was like a deep, still pool. Even if a violent storm raged outside, raising thousand-foot waves, you would never see a single ripple of emotion on his face.
’I have no idea when he mastered the art of staying perfectly calm even if a mountain were to collapse on him.’
’When they first came to the Prefecture for the entrance exams, they were both just a couple of clueless rookies. But in a little over half a year, he was still stuck in the same place, while Zhao Jing had become someone he could no longer understand.’
’Seriously, how can some people evolve so fast? Could his ancestors have been gorillas instead of monkeys?’
As the group approached Minglun Hall, they could hear from a distance that the hall, which was usually filled with the clear sound of students reading aloud, was now in a complete uproar.
"The focus must be on technological innovation! Technological innovation! As long as we have powerful weaponry, we won’t have to worry about a lack of elite troops, instability on our borders, or the nation failing to prosper!"
"’Including basic military knowledge in the civil service examinations? That’s easier said than done! Scholars grow up reading the Four Books. Military treatises are what crude soldiers read!’"
"’Generals and commanders must read the classics and histories! It’s a good suggestion, but the chances of it being implemented are slim!’"
"’Though a state may be vast, those who love war will surely perish. Though the world may be at peace, those who forget war will surely find themselves in peril! A brilliant line, simply brilliant...’"
The room was as rowdy as a marketplace, and the words spilling from the instructors’ mouths made Wang Jun’s scalp tingle with shock.
"So this is what you two meant when you said the topic was too difficult and your essays were terrible? De’an, oh, De’an! You were playing dumb!"
De’an felt wronged. "What does this have to do with me? The essay they’re arguing about isn’t mine! Do I look like the kind of person who could write something like that? Jing wrote it! It was all him!"
Wang Jun’s expression was one of pure relief. "Oh, then I’m relieved... If you had been secretly improving behind my back and left me in the dust, I would have died of frustration. Now I can relax... AHH!"
De’an had stomped hard on Wang Jun’s foot, making him scream and hop to the side. But when he saw De’an’s face, puffed up with anger like a ruffled rooster, he couldn’t help but chuckle.
’Everyone is still on the same level. Only Jing is in a league of his own. Things are still under control. That’s good, that’s good...’