Soon after, more and more passersby congratulated him. Fang Yun had no choice but to return the greetings one by one.
When no one congratulated him, a few classmates asked Fang Yun about last night's Tong Sheng Assembly. Fang Yun told them some of the details.
Everyone chatted as they walked. Fang Yun found an opportunity to pull Liang Yuan to the side and said, "My uncle from the Dayuan Mansion sponsored me to open a bookstore. I happen to be lacking a trustworthy shopkeeper, so I thought of you. You have experience in the rice shop. As long as you hire a few old men, you will be able to support the bookstore. Your salary will be the same as a lecturer in the county's Institute of Literature. You can also study in your free time. What do you think? "
"Bookstore?" Liang Yuan's breathing quickened. Although a bookstore was a business like a rice shop, it was very tiring to work in a rice shop. However, a bookstore was different. Furthermore, a shopkeeper would have more time to study every day.
"Yes. I will give you two days to consider. If you don't agree, I will find someone else as soon as possible. For now, I will give you five taels of silver every month. When the bookstore grows bigger, you will also receive dividends. "Fang Yundao said.
"Let me think about it. I will give you an answer tomorrow."
"Okay."
At the entrance of the Institute of Literature, Fang Yun and Lu Lin bade farewell to their classmates and entered the Institute of Literature. They were led to a side room by the people inside.
There were already many students in the side room. When Fang Yun entered, those who knew Fang Yun immediately cupped their hands and bowed.
Some called him the best plan, while others called him Fang Shuangjia. A student in his thirties was very enthusiastic. He highly praised the phrase, "Know how many flowers fall."
Fang Zhongyong was also in the crowd. He obediently bowed to Fang Yun.
Even if there were people who were unconvinced or doubted Fang Yun, they did not dare to provoke him. If County Magistrate Cai found out, being reprimanded would be a small matter, but being expelled from the Institute of Literature would be bad luck.
After the greetings, a yamen runner came over with some things. He respectfully informed Fang Yun and Lu Lin that they had to change into the Tong Sheng robes and wear the Tong Sheng sword.
Fang Yun and Lu Lin thanked the bailiffs and changed into light blue robes. They looked at themselves in the mirror.
The style of the scholar's robe was slightly different from ordinary robes. There were willow leaf stripes on the collar and cuffs. Only scholars were allowed to wear it. Those without a scholarly position were not allowed to wear it. Otherwise, they would be flogged eighty times.
There was an accessory at the waist of the Tongsheng Robe that could be used to hang the Tongsheng Sword.
After Fang Yun hung up the sword, he gently pulled it out. A cold light reflected in his eyes. The sword had already been sharpened. Although it was not as good as a spear or broadsword on the battlefield, it was enough for self-defense.
Next, the students tidied each other's clothes to avoid being disrespectful to the saints.
When the auspicious hour arrived, all the students walked out of the side rooms. The local officials were already waiting outside.
Then, County Magistrate Cai and Wang Yuanjun led the fifty new students into the temple where the saints were worshipped. Everyone stood behind a futon.
County Magistrate Cai recited the 'Sacrificial Sacred Text' once again to express his gratitude to the saints. Finally, he said, "Ji County Magistrate Cai He has brought fifty children to offer sacrifices to the saints, asking for the saints' talents to strengthen our human race!" After saying that, he knelt down.
The others followed suit and knelt down on the futons.
Fang Yun felt that the whole temple and even the space it was in suddenly shook heavily. Then, an invisible force descended. Although it could not be touched, it went straight to one's soul. It was so majestic that one could not help but prostrate in worship.
Streaks of orange colored talents hung down and landed on the heads of every student.
Others could not see it, but Fang Yun, as a student before the saints, saw many scenes.
One person wore a beast robe and used the simplest stone spear to fight the demons and barbarians to the death. In the end, he established the human country and became the first ancestor of the human race.
Another person tasted all kinds of herbs and used his death to exchange for the people's lives.
Another person jumped into the breach of the dam and used his flesh and blood to stop the flood. In the end, the flood was controlled.
Another person recited the 'Book of Changes' outside Zhaoge City and killed countless demons and barbarians.
Another person established an academy to educate the people and fought the demons and barbarians, fighting for a thousand years of peace for the human race.
Another person set the law and advocated reform to make the human race more orderly.
Another person …
The scenes of the previous sages flashed through Fang Yun's mind, causing the "Literature Palace" between Fang Yun's eyebrows to sublimate.
Fang Yun had just become a student. The "Literature Palace" was originally a void that could be sensed but was formless.
Now, Fang Yun "saw" a large hall made of rough square stones appear in the depths of his eyebrows. The hall was desolate and ancient. Inside, there were many murals that depicted the contributions of the previous sages to the human race.
In the hall, there was a statue of Fang Yun himself. It was also wearing a student's robe.
At first glance, there was nothing special about the statue. However, upon closer inspection, the eyes of the statue had an extremely faint glow. It was gentle and warm, and had a power that made people feel peaceful and indifferent.
Fang Yun vaguely guessed something, but he was not sure if it was right.
"The so-called Saint worship is to worship oneself? Then … "
Following that, a wisp of orange mist-like talent Qi appeared above the head of the statue. It was currently three inches long. This talent Qi was like the silk of a spring silkworm, extremely thin.
"A student's talent Qi is like silk, while a scholar's talent Qi is like a needle. This refers to the talent Qi in the" Literature Palace ". It is also the talent Qi that one can use."
Fang Yun "looked around" the four walls of the "Literature Palace". There were only murals and statues. However, the roof of the "Literature Palace" was rather strange. It seemed to be an endless void. There were only four stars of different sizes, and one of them was pitifully small.
The four stars emitted a faint glow that shone on Fang Yun's statue, nourishing the silk-like talent Qi and making it grow stronger.
"The four stars represent the four poems, 'Spring Dawn' and the other three poems? I wonder how long it will take for me to reach the level of a Saint. Wherever I go, the stars shake. "
As Fang Yun was thinking, the "Literature Palace" trembled slightly. Following that, the statue's left hand changed. A strange book appeared in its hand.
Fang Yun could not describe the book's size, color, or thickness. The book was constantly changing. Fang Yun could not use any words to describe it.
The only thing that did not change was the four words on the book.
World of Wondrous Books.
The world spun and his vision darkened. Fang Yun's consciousness left the "Literature Palace".
Fang Yun was surprised to find that everyone was looking at him enviously. Even County Magistrate Cai was the same.
Fang Yun realized that he was different from the others. The other people's talent Qi Empowerment had probably only opened up the "Literature Palace". However, he was one step ahead of the others.
Fang Yun even suspected that even if the "Literature Palace" of the other students was formed, it would not be as good as his, let alone have murals of the Saints.
"The worship is over. Let's leave," County Magistrate Cai said.
After walking out of the Holy Temple, County Magistrate Cai called Fang Yun to the side and asked, "What are your plans?"
"I want to stay in Ji County to consolidate the" Literature Palace ". After ten days, I will leave for the Great Source House to study in the Institute of Literature," Fang Yun replied.
County Magistrate Cai said, "I'm afraid it's not a good idea to go to the Great Source House now."
"Thank you for your concern. Uncle Fang of the Great Source House has just left. He will settle this matter," Fang Yundao said.
County Magistrate Cai thought for a moment and asked, "Fang Shouye, Lord Fang?"
"Yes."
County Magistrate Cai looked in the direction of the Great Source House and said, "Then the Liu family is going to be in trouble. I'm relieved."
Fang Yundao said, "I have two requests."
County Magistrate Cai smiled and said, "You don't regard me as an outsider. Speak."
"I want to take the county-level examination this year, but I have never taken the Confucian classics examination before. Therefore, I would like to ask for your guidance before I go to the Great Source House," Fang Yun said respectfully.
County Magistrate Cai did not immediately agree to Fang Yun's request. Instead, he looked at him carefully and found that Fang Yun did not have the cowardice of a superior officer, nor the arrogance of a general's nephew. He only had the respect of a teacher. County Magistrate Cai could not help but secretly praise Fang Yun for being neither servile nor overbearing.
County Magistrate Cai nodded and said, "Good. The path of the Divine Path is to cut through all obstacles. It is not to compete with others, but with time and with yourself! Since you have the heart to strive, I will send you on your way. Unfortunately, those people do not understand this principle. "
County Magistrate Cai looked regretfully at the students who were walking out. He would not take the initiative to teach students, but if a student came to ask for guidance, he would help regardless of whether it was to flatter him or to ask for help frankly like Fang Yun.
Fang Yun looked strangely at the students who were leaving empty-handed. He did not understand why they did not care about County Magistrate Cai, who was a "treasure trove of the imperial examinations". The experience of a Grand Scholar was extremely valuable. Not to mention Jiyuan County, even in the entire Great Source House, there were not many people who could receive guidance from a Grand Scholar.
However, Fang Yun soon realized that he was not born and raised here. He did not have such a strong sense of hierarchy. Deep down, he was still influenced by the idea that everyone was equal. He did not see the Grand Scholar as unreachable. Moreover, he was the Head of the Imperial Examinations and had been praised by the county magistrate. Therefore, he dared to find a Grand Scholar county magistrate to be his teacher.
"Let's talk about the second matter." County Magistrate Cai's attitude was much friendlier than before.
"I want to come to the Institute of Literature to study more before I go to the Great Source House," Fang Yundao said.
"Of course."
The two of them agreed that from today onwards, County Magistrate Cai would teach for an hour after dinner every day.
After leaving the Institute of Literature, Fang Yun and Lu Lin bought some fruits and two chickens before heading to Teacher Sun's house to thank him for his guidance.
After that, Fang Yun and Lu Lin parted ways. When he returned home, he saw Shopkeeper Zhen standing in the courtyard with a cloth bag in his hand. Yang Yuhuan was sitting on a stool doing needlework.
As soon as Fang Yun entered, Shopkeeper Zhen hurriedly squeezed out an ugly smile and jogged over. He cautiously said, "Proposal Chief, I'm here to compensate you. I just weighed it. It's a total of one hundred taels of silver. I'm willing to pay you two hundred times the compensation."
Fang Yun took the silver and walked inside without saying a word.
Yang Yuhuan stood up and carefully looked at Fang Yun's student uniform. Her eyes were filled with joy and a faint trace of admiration.
Shopkeeper Zhen was anxious and hurriedly followed him. He bowed his back and said pitifully, "Proposal Chief, I've already admitted my mistake and accepted my punishment. Please give me a quick answer. I've been on tenterhooks all day."
Fang Yun nodded and smiled. "I understand. You knew that I completed the pilgrimage and was officially awarded the title of Scholar. You were relieved and came with the silver. Thank you for caring about me."
Shopkeeper Zhen's face was pale. He didn't expect that Fang Yun would see through him. He originally wanted to compensate and apologize to Fang Yun yesterday, but he couldn't bear to part with the one hundred taels of silver. Therefore, he had been waiting, hoping that something would happen to Fang Yun. However, everything went smoothly for Fang Yun. He could only come to give the silver.
Yang Yuhuan angrily said, "No wonder Shopkeeper Zhen was pretending to be pitiful. It turns out that you were scheming against me!"
Fang Yun coldly said, "Shopkeeper Zhen, you and I are even. You can leave now."
"I …"
"I had something to say to you yesterday, but I forgot to say it today." Fang Yun turned around and looked at Shopkeeper Zhen. His eyes were cold.
"I …" Shopkeeper Zhen still wanted to say something, but he was frightened by Fang Yun's eyes. He couldn't help but walk out.
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