Happy occasion? Am I going to have a sister? Fang Zhengzhi leaned his little head against the muddy window, and pricked up his ears to listen.
Then, he understood. So the so-called joyous event had something to do with the Hall of Dao. It seemed like the Divine Constabulary had bestowed an extra slot to the Southern Mountain Village, in addition to the original eight slots. However, there was a condition, they had to be between six to eight years old.
Six to eight years old? Why would there be such a strange condition …
Fang Zhengzhi couldn't understand.
But, Qin Xuelian didn't seem to care about this. She was excitedly discussing with her dad whether they should give some money to the village chief.
"During the previous selection, Mrs Li must have given money to the village chief!"
"How can that be, the village chief is still quite fair." Dad tried to persuade her.
"I don't care, this time it is my son's turn. Tonight, you will go with me to the village chief's house. We will talk about your arm, do you hear?"
"This, alright …"
Without any surprises, when night fell, Fang Zhengzhi was left alone at home. Gazing at the bright moonlight, he counted the twinkling stars in the sky …
...
Just as he was in a daze, Fang Zhengzhi was woken up by a wave of soft sobbing.
He carefully opened the door and saw his mother, Qin Xuelian, sitting in the inner room with tears streaming down her face. His father was carefully standing by her side, comforting her.
"Why? Why did he give it to the Li family! "
"The village chief definitely has his reasons for doing this …" Dad Fang Houde tried to persuade her softly.
"Reasons? Isn't it just because Li Zhuangshi passed the selection, and lifted the five hundred pound black cauldron? He thinks that if Li Zhuangshi gets into the first-class roll in the capital Law of Dao examinations, he will be groomed by the Divine Constabulary! He is obviously trying to curry favor with the Li family! "
"But, Li Zhuangshi is indeed the village's biggest hope …"
"I don't care! Li Zhuangshi is Li Zhuangshi, Li Huer is Li Huer. My son is not any weaker than Li Huer. Li Huer didn't make the selection last time! "
"Sigh …"
Fang Houde's sigh was filled with a sense of desolation. It also expressed Fang Houde's helplessness. The more Qin Xuelian thought about it, the sadder she became, and the louder her sobs became …
Thinking about Qin Xuelian's joyful expression, and listening to their conversation, Fang Zhengzhi had a rough idea of what had happened.
It seemed that the village chief had given the extra quota to Li Huer.
Alright …
Looks like I can't enter this Hall of Dao again. Fang Zhengzhi gazed at the sky, deep in thought. If I can't enter the Hall of Dao, then I'll have to think of some other way.
In reality, Fang Zhengzhi did not really care if he could enter the Hall of Dao.
What he needed was a deceptive method. He needed to let everyone in the village know that he had begun to learn and read. That way, even if it was a little surprising that he could read in the future, it wouldn't be too unacceptable.
Let the whole village know that I am literate? At this point, a thought flashed across Fang Zhengzhi's mind.
"Mother, actually, even if I don't enter the Hall of Dao, I can still study by myself..."
"Not entering the Hall of Dao? Study by myself?! " Qin Xuelian, who was sobbing in the house, instantly shuddered when she heard Fang Zhengzhi's words. She quickly used her sleeves to wipe away the tears on her face.
"Why is Zhengzhi awake …" Fang Houde looked at Fang Zhengzhi, his expression somewhat awkward.
"Haha, Zhengzhi, are you a little hungry? Mother will make something for you to eat! " Qin Xuelian quickly smiled and walked in front of Fang Zhengzhi. She squatted down and hugged Fang Zhengzhi.
A wave of warmth flowed into Fang Zhengzhi's heart. His mother and father didn't seem to want him to see her weak side?
"Zhengzhi is such a good boy …" Qin Xuelian murmured softly, her body trembling uncontrollably.
...
The following days returned to normal. However, what made Fang Zhengzhi curious was that his father had suddenly disappeared. Using his mother's words, he had gone on a long journey.
At the same time, in a huge house in one of the cities in the Northern Lands.
Dressed in a pink robe, Lolita Chi Guyan, her eyes as bright as the stars, sat in front of a desk, her head lowered as she read a piece of paper in her hands.
"Li Huer? Six years old? This little thief's name is really a country bumpkin! "
Lolita Chi Guyan waved her hand and the piece of paper flew into the stove not too far away. Then, after thinking for a moment, she picked up the pen on the desk and began to write on the piece of paper in front of her.
"Guards!" After writing, Lolita Chi Guyan lightly called out.
"Missus, please give your orders!" A guard at the door immediately walked in and knelt down on one knee.
"Bring this question to the Southern Mountain Village and personally test a six year old child named Li Huer in the Hall of Dao!" Lolita Chi Guyan pointed at the piece of paper in front of her.
The guard instantly stood up and took the piece of paper from the desk into his hands.
Then, lowering his head to take a look, the guard's expression became somewhat strange …
"Six year old child?" The guard didn't dare to ask further, but couldn't help but confirm that he didn't hear wrongly.
"Mm, if this Li Huer can answer, throw him into the small river at the entrance of the village. Remember to kick him down. Of course, don't kill him, but if he can't answer … then give him ten strokes of the stick!"
"Yes sir!" The guard instantly retreated.
After walking out of the door, the guard once again picked up the question on the piece of paper and looked at it. He suddenly felt some sympathy for the child named Li Huer. Because, even he felt that this question was somewhat difficult, let alone a six year old child in the Southern Mountain Village.
Most importantly, regardless of whether this Li Huer could answer or not, he would still be in a miserable state.
After the guard left, Lolita once again took out a book that recorded the art of war. Casually flipping through it, she stood up and walked out of the door.
"If the Illustration of All Creation was really solved by this little thief, then this question isn't difficult at all! But … what if this little thief really answers it? Don't tell me I have to recruit him into the Divine Constabulary? Watch him every day? Mm … it should be called torturing him every day, ha ha … "
…
Today, the Southern Mountain Village was extremely lively. Because, the Hall of Dao was finally completed under the combined efforts of the villagers. It was situated in the north, facing south. It was spacious and bright, built entirely out of high quality bluestone.
At the entrance, there was a red wooden plaque. On it were two bold and forceful words "Hall of Dao". This was bestowed by the Divine Constabulary. It was transported here by horse carriages, and even had the Divine Constabulary's bright red square seal.
Within the Hall of Dao, there were four small courtyards. Two lecture halls, one martial arts arena and one resting room.
Fang Zhengzhi didn't have the right to enter. He only took a few glances at the Hall of Dao when it was first built. Then, he overheard two teachers wearing long robes writing with small black rods.
Other than that, there were a few large words written on a piece of paper outside the Hall of Dao.
Today's Lecture: "Law of Dao Beginner's Three Character Classic"
Slightly taken aback, a scene suddenly appeared in Fang Zhengzhi's mind. Everyone was shaking their heads and reciting "At birth, humans are naturally kind. Their natures are similar, but their habits are different …"
Alright …
Fang Zhengzhi felt that not entering the Hall of Dao was not necessarily a mistake. If he really had to follow these people and recite "Three Character Classic", it would really be somewhat "too tiring".
The first batch of people to enter the Hall of Dao naturally attracted a lot of attention.
The entire village surrounded the entrance of the Hall of Dao, loudly congratulating the people who entered the Hall of Dao.
Village Chief Meng Bai personally sent his grandson, Meng Jiangshan, over the doorstep of the Hall of Dao with a smile. Li Zhuangshi, holding Li Huer's hand, returned the greetings amidst the congratulations of the villagers.
When Fang Zhengzhi noticed Li Huer at the entrance of the Hall of Dao, Li Huer also noticed him.
But, the expressions on their faces were not quite the same.
Fang Zhengzhi's gaze was calm, no emotions could be seen on his face.
On the other hand, Li Huer was different. A bright and proud smile hung on his lips, and he raised his thick and muscular arms towards Fang Zhengzhi, his little head raised even higher.
As if saying: See, I am the one who entered the Hall of Dao to learn!
As the two of them stared at each other, Fang Zhengzhi felt his shoulder being patted by someone.
Turning his head, a familiar figure appeared in his line of sight. It was his father, Fang Houde, who had disappeared for a few days. Dressed in tattered animal skin, Fang Houde seemed a little travel-worn. His eyes were bloodshot, his face pale, and he seemed somewhat tired. But, he couldn't hide the smile on his face.
"Zhengzhi, what do you think this is?"
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