Spoilers for The Red Mansion, Daiyu’s mentality is broken

Chapter 48 Quick Tips on Composition

After the New Year, the two houses began to be busy entertaining relatives and friends.

Mrs. Wang and Sister Feng were busy inviting people to have New Year's Eve dinner every day. The hall and courtyard were filled with opera and wine, and there was an endless stream of relatives and friends. It took them seven or eight days to finish.

Of course, as Jia Huan said, the excitement is theirs, and Jia Huan can only study hard.

These banquets are not related to him. There are male guests outside, and they are received by Jia Zheng and Jia Lian. Sometimes Jia Zheng will also ask Jia Baoyu to accompany the guests.

Although Jia Huan was well-known and wanted to show off to the Jia family, he still had no chance to receive guests.

In the morning, the Lantern Festival is approaching, and both Ningrong and Rongfu are decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations.On the [-]th day, Jia She invited Jia Mu, and the next day Jia Zhen invited Jia Mu again, and they all went to receive it casually for half a day.

Mrs. Wang and Sister Feng couldn't remember being invited to New Year's Eve dinners for several days.

On the eve of the [-]th, Jia's mother ordered several banquets of wine and a small play in the large flower hall, hung with all kinds of beautiful lanterns, and led the family banquets of the nephews, grandsons, grandsons, daughters-in-law, etc. of Rongning's second house.

Jia Jingsu didn't drink wine and didn't invite him.Jia Shelue accepted the gift from Jia Mu and left.Jia Mu knew that he was here, so she let him go if it was inconvenient for each other.

When Jia She arrived at home, he enjoyed the lanterns and drank wine with his guests. Naturally, the music and songs filled his ears and his eyes were filled with beauty. His convenience and happiness were different from those here.

On the fifteenth or sixteenth day, Jia Huan got up early, brought gifts, and went to Zhao Mansion.

As a result, it was not until noon that Master Zhao Heng and his wife returned.

Jia Huan quickly stepped forward to say hello to his master and his wife.

Zhao Heng asked: "Huan'er, when did you come?"

Jia Huan smiled and said, "Master, I've only just arrived."

Zhao Heng couldn't help but said: "I know you, you must have come here early in the morning. You kid, you are too honest, so you can send a servant to guard here, so as not to wait in vain. This half day.”

Jia Huan raised a contemporary anthology in his hand and said, "Master, the wait is not in vain. I have a book on my back here."

Jia Huan's words made Zhao Heng laugh.

Next, Jia Huan helped to pack Zhao Heng's luggage.

Zhao Heng washed and tidied up, then called Jia Huan to the study.

Zhao Heng said: "Huan'er, I told you a year ago that I will take the test for you when I come back. If you don't study hard during the Chinese New Year, you will definitely be punished."

Jia Huan smiled and said: "During the Chinese New Year, disciples dare not be lazy for a day, but ask the master to take the test. If the disciple cannot answer the question, he will be punished by the master."

Next, Zhao Heng tested Jia Huan carefully.

Jia Huan answered fluently without any dullness. It can be seen that he really worked hard during the New Year. Zhao Heng was very satisfied with this.

After the exam, Jia Huan took out the essays he had written and said, "Master, this is the question I asked Sister Lin to give me. I tried to write a few essays."

"Sister Lin said that my writing was not good, but she didn't know what was wrong and asked the master for advice."

Zhao Heng asked in surprise: "Oh? You have actually tried to write Shiwen?"

Jia Huan chuckled and said, "This disciple doesn't know how to write. I just tried to write a few articles and asked the master for advice."

Zhao Heng nodded and took several articles from Jia Huan. Then he glanced at the ten lines and in a short time, he read the five articles selected by Jia Huan.

After looking at it, Zhao Heng said speechlessly: "Oh, you are just copying!"

Sister Lin has never read the collection of contemporary essays, so she doesn’t know the truth about her plagiarism.But the master must have seen it, and he could see it at a glance.

Jia Huan couldn't help but blush. He couldn't help but explain: "Master, I have never written an article before, and I am not good at choosing words and sentences. Therefore, I have no choice but to learn from excellent contemporary articles."

Zhao Heng said patiently: "Huan'er, if you do this, you can certainly cope with the exam, but it will not benefit you in the end. It is just a way to cope with the exam. To learn, you need to be patient."

"My teacher's advice is that you should read two or three more years. The more books you have, the more ink you have in your belly, and you will naturally be able to choose words and form sentences."

Jia Huan actually disagreed with Zhao Heng's words.

After thinking about it, Jia Huan couldn't help but said: "Master, do you think that no matter how good the eight-part essay is, it will be of any use in handling government affairs and governing the country after becoming an official?"

"Master, after high school, did you write eight-part essays? My disciples thought that eight-part essays were just a stepping stone to the imperial examination. After passing the exam, this stepping stone would be useless."

After finishing speaking, Jia Huan couldn't help but look at Zhao Heng secretly.

If the master is a moral defender and criticizes him heavily, then Jia Huan will never dare to say that again next time.

However, his learning progress may also be hindered.

Fortunately, after listening to Jia Huan's words, Zhao Heng fell into deep thought.

After a long while, Zhao Heng laughed and scolded: "You kid, you are eager for quick success and quick gain, which is disgraceful to gentlemen. But if you think about it carefully, it is still a bit unreasonable."

"After becoming an official, not only the eight-legged essay became a stepping stone and was shelved on the shelf, but also the Four Books and Five Classics, not many of which can be really used."

"Being an official and being a scholar are two completely different things."

"However, even so, you are too anxious to learn composition now. I still feel that your end will be much safer in another year."

Jia Huan sighed: "Master, it's not that this disciple is really so eager for quick success, but at home... I still want to give it a try this year."

Jia Huan is the concubine of the Jia family. I heard that his treatment is not very good.

Of course, I am afraid that half of the bastards in this world will be treated like this.

Seriously speaking, the treatment of Jia Huan, a concubine, is not too bad.

But since Jia Huan said this, he must have some difficulties.

Thinking of this, Zhao Heng couldn't help but said: "Well, since you want to end, I will help you once as a teacher."

"The county exam in February is just the first step in the imperial examination, and there won't be too tricky questions. Although the time is tight, there are still some opportunities for quick completion of the article."

"But the premise is that you have to memorize enough articles. Only when you have a lot of article foundations in your stomach can you write beautiful articles."

Jia Huan said quickly: "Master, I have recited two to three hundred articles so far. Now I can recite about ten articles a day. Is that enough? If not, I can recite more."

After hearing Jia Huan's words, Zhao Heng glanced at Jia Huan strangely.

This disciple of mine is really knowledgeable and strong in memory!
If this is the case, then before the exam, he should be able to memorize five to six hundred articles, which is enough to cope with a county exam.

Zhao Heng said: "The quantity is enough, there is no need to memorize more. Then, next, the master will teach you how to write a good article."

Next, Zhao Heng taught Jia Huan his skills.

(End of this chapter)