Essays

The topic has been given, and everyone expressed their opinions as "Confucian scholars".

The topic quickly spread to everyone present, and it was a bit surprising when they first heard it.

This is a poetry meeting, and the topic is not to write poems, but to write essays, which is really unexpected.

Although there are doubts, the topic has been given, so there is no choice but to answer.

There are papers and pens in front of everyone. There is no requirement for everyone to answer, but no one sits still.

Everyone present knows that today's opportunity is rare, and the people sitting in the pavilion above are all great figures. If their arguments are appreciated by even one of them, it is possible to make themselves rise to prominence. It can even be said that today's opportunity is comparable to the imperial examination. Even if you can't be an official or a general, it is also a great opportunity for you to become famous.

Among the scholars in the world, there are some eccentric people who are unwilling to serve the court, like freedom, and don't want to take the imperial examination, but there are no real scholars who are indifferent to fame and fortune. Especially among today's young scholars, everyone thinks they are well-read. Who doesn't want to be admired and looked up to?

So, when the question came out, the room was silent instantly. Some scratched their heads, some wrote furiously, and everyone answered seriously. Their seriousness was probably more serious than taking the imperial examination.

The young men wrote furiously, and the young ladies were not idle either. This was also a rare opportunity for them to show themselves.

Everyone was thinking, except Xia Shang, who was yawning and doing nothing. He didn't write or say anything, but just looked at the white lotus in full bloom in the lake, where some dragonflies were entangled.

"Sir, why don't you write?" Jiangnan was anxious and asked repeatedly.

Xia Shang turned around and said with a smile: "Jiangnan, if this question is given to you, what would you say?"

Jiangnan was stunned, then smiled: "Isn't this simple? What is a Confucian scholar? Someone like my teacher is the best Confucian scholar in the world."

Xia Shang blushed when he heard this, even though his face was thicker than a city wall.

Jiangnan was not concerned about this. Since the teacher was asked to come here to make him famous, how could he do nothing?

"Sir, you should think about it quickly! Others will present long speeches later, but you will have nothing. This..."

"Okay! What are you anxious about? Look at your outfit today. Does it look like you are going to be unknown? Just this fan is a powerful weapon that I haven't used for many years. You should stay calm and watch your teacher pretend to be all powerful here."

What a bullshit...

It's so ugly!

Jiangnan blushed and quickly shut up.

Time passed by little by little, the sun was getting bigger and bigger, and everyone present was sweating profusely. Fortunately, the mountains and rivers here are beautiful, the sky is high and the land is vast, which makes the restless heart have a different feeling, but it is not so hot and unbearable. Look at the weeping willows like curtains, the lake is like a mirror, the lotus is like the sea, and the pink and white are held by the verdant green, blending into the world, it is really beautiful.

It's a pity that the beautiful scenery around lacks people's appreciation, leaving a lonely fragrance and less resonance.

Everyone is writing, some people have gathered the essence and only have a few strokes so far, and some people talk about their minds and write long essays.

The word "Confucianism" has existed since ancient times, and countless sages have talked about it endlessly, but it has not been concluded yet. Therefore, today's discussion will surely be a hundred flowers blooming, each with its own merits, and the adults in the pavilion on the mountainside are also looking forward to it.

After a cup of tea, someone presented a book by the lake at the foot of the mountain, and many people came one after another to stop writing and rejoice.

More and more people stopped discussing, and the tea-picking girls around had something to do.

Until now, Xia Shang still hadn't started writing, and Jiangnan was so anxious that he couldn't sit still. There was also a woman who had chatted happily with Xia Shang before and asked him what Xia Shang had written, but she saw that the paper in front of Xia Shang was empty, and she couldn't help but wonder.

"Mr. Xia? Why don't you answer?"

"Haha! I'm afraid you can't answer!" A man outside sneered through a layer of willow branches.

Although there was a barrier, it was possible for the outsiders to see the situation inside.

The young men outside had long been fed up with this man who was surrounded by women. How could they let go of the opportunity to laugh at him?

For a while, the men outside all started to make a fuss.

There were too many people talking and the voices were too mixed, so I didn't know what was said.

Xia Shang yawned again, looked around, and felt that it was about time, so he picked up the pen.

Finally picked up the pen!

Everyone looked at Xia Shang expectantly, thinking that he had spent so much time thinking about it, it must be a grand work, at least three to five thousand words.

Who knew that before everyone could look at Xia Shang's paper, Xia Shang had already put down his pen, folded the paper, and shouted to the tea girl not far away: "Girl, here, my discussion."

Everyone was stunned, and everyone was puzzled.

He finished it already?

Are you kidding?

It took at most ten seconds from picking up the pen to putting it down, and he couldn't even finish a long sentence!

Is it just a few words?

"Hahaha... Girls, I think you have met a guy who is just trying to attract attention?"

"That's right, it's a rare gathering of literati, everyone is doing their best to express their feelings. But this guy is so perfunctory, what can he do?"

"People like him are either unskilled or just filling in the gaps. They only have a good appearance to deceive girls. Ladies, please be careful."

The young masters of various families saw Xia Shang's actions through the gaps in the weeping willows, and they laughed at him continuously, which made the girls around them suspicious for a while.

Is this Mr. Xia really related to Mr. Cao, the author of "Dream of Red Mansions"?

Jiangnan couldn't understand, and couldn't help asking, "Sir, have you finished your answer?"

Xia Shang answered with a matter-of-fact expression, "Yes!"

"But... Sir, aren't you being too careless?"

"What do you mean by careless? Do you have to write thousands of words to be considered serious? Scholars, even if you ask thousands of questions, I will only answer with one word. Uneducated people, even if they have thousands of words, will not answer the questions. Those who don't know why, don't know the depth, and don't know how to ask and answer, want to empty their stomachs and write thousands of words to make a book. And you, a man with strategies and knowledge, only need a few words to benefit everyone present and use them for life."

Xia Shang's calm response was said to be for Jiangnan to hear, but in fact, it was heard clearly by the few people who were peeking through the weeping willows.

As soon as the voice fell, the young masters all blushed and beat their chests in anger.

I have seen arrogant people, but I have never seen such an arrogant person!

"You crazy guy, how can you be a scholar at all! Asking you to comment on scholars is the biggest insult to this topic!"

"This guy is so arrogant, it's nothing more than a good talker, let's see what the result is! It's not too late to laugh at him then, let's go!"

"Let's go!"

The young masters shook their sleeves and went to one side angrily.

Looking back at the women surrounding Xia Shang, there was no doubt at all at this moment, each of them had a peach blossom face, spring water eyes, and admiration overflowing from their words. The previous speech really made people feel happy. People who can have such insight are definitely not just good at talking.

"Mr. Xia, are you...are you married?"

"Mr. Xia, this handkerchief is always with me. I have shared it with you..."

"Hey, hey, hey...what are you doing? My husband has a family!"