Traveling through time and space to become a child, supporting the family by catching fish and shrim

"Are you still angry? You're not someone who needs money. Why are you so angry for such a small thing?"

After reading a set of papers that Chen Lang had just completed, Sheng Chuliang found that he had played tricks on the emperor in the last policy essay question, and he felt a little amused.

Chen Lang said: "Teacher, you misunderstood. I'm not angry about money."

"I believe that farming is the foundation of the Great Yan. Anything that improves farming efficiency should be valued, and those who invent farming tools should be highly praised."

"Only in this way can we increase the enthusiasm of the people and make them willing to hand over some of the farming tools they invented to the court, benefiting the entire Dayan."

"Students believe in the saying that wisdom lies among the people. Farmers can't compare to scholars in reading and writing, but when it comes to farming and breeding, a hundred scholars put together can't compare to a single old farmer."

"These veteran farmers who have been cultivating for years have more or less some things that can improve planting efficiency. However, because the imperial court is very stingy in rewarding them in this regard, they are unwilling to share them with others."

"The ruler of a country cannot see the interests involved. Students may think that he has lived in the palace for a long time and does not understand the suffering of the people."

"But none of the civil and military officials in the court noticed that these officials were so focused on internal strife that even something as good as a curved plow wasn't even noticed. This is what makes me most angry."

After hearing what Chen Lang said, Sheng Chuliang was also deeply moved and said, "You are right. Throughout the dynasties, the importance of farming has always been emphasized verbally, but farmers have never been given enough attention."

"But if we want to change this situation, complaining alone is useless."

"You have to be an official, you have to be in power, so that you can realize your ambitions."

Chen Lang smiled awkwardly and said, "Teacher, I have never thought about becoming an official."

"Then what are you talking about here? If you don't become an official, how can you realize your ideals with just your mouth?" Sheng Chuliang said unhappily.

Chen Lang rubbed his toes against the floor: "The students are feeling depressed and want to complain a little."

"Feeling depressed?" Sheng Chuliang sneered, "It seems you haven't done enough papers."

After saying that, he took out a stack of papers from the bookcase and said, "Don't even think about eating if you don't finish them!"

Chen Lang looked at the one-foot-thick test paper on the table, his face more bitter than a bitter gourd.

At this time, the housekeeper came to the door and said, "Master, there is a letter."

Sheng Chuliang said: "Write quickly, I will check it later."

"Also, stop venting your useless complaints and focus on solving the problem. If I see you writing something irrelevant again, I'll give you a ruler!"

Chen Lang said "oh", sat down on the chair obediently, picked up his pen and started doing the test paper.

Sheng Chuliang took the letter from the butler and sat in the corner of the study to read it slowly.

The sun is gradually setting in the west.

Chen Lang wrote six papers in one breath, and his wrist was so sore that he could no longer lift the pen.

Just as he put down his pen and prepared to take a break, Sheng Chuliang's voice rang out: "Done?"

Chen Lang quickly picked up the pen: "Not yet."

Sheng Chuliang said, "Okay, stop pretending and take a break. I have something to tell you."

Chen Lang breathed a sigh of relief, rubbed his wrist and said, "Teacher, what's the matter?"

Sheng Chuliang said, "I asked someone to find out the preferences of the new superintendent of Qinzhou Prefecture."

"In the end, I didn't find out his preferences, but I did find out something else."

"This Supervisor of Education is called Chang Anmin. He doesn't have a long official career, but he has an older brother who is a Vice Minister in the Ministry of Revenue. So, the officialdom of Qinzhou Prefecture is saying that he relied on his brother to become the Supervisor of Education in Qinzhou Prefecture despite his shallow background."

Chen Lang said calmly, "We should promote talented people regardless of their relationship. As long as this Supervisor of Education has real abilities, there's nothing wrong with his brother promoting him. It's better than getting an unlearned person to take the position just to avoid suspicion."

Sheng Chuliang said, "That's true, but what this Supervisor has done since taking office is a little hard to understand. It even feels a little weird."

Chen Lang became interested: "Teacher, what did he do?"

Sheng Chuliang said: "The clerks in the Ministry of Education were punished and the academic titles of several scholars were revoked."

Chen Lang was stunned for a moment and blurted out: "Is he sick?"

Sheng Chuliang smiled and asked, "Why do you think he's sick? As the saying goes, a new official starts with three fires. There's nothing wrong with him doing this, right?"

Chen Lang knew that this was a test from the teacher, so he answered seriously: "Teacher, it is true that a new official should start with three fires, but these three fires have nothing to do with the students."

"Only the Chief Justice and the Provincial Governor need to establish their authority, because without it, many things can't be accomplished. But there's absolutely no need for academic officials to establish their authority."

"With the Shilin Party taking control of the cabinet, the status of scholars has returned to the level of more than a decade ago, or even higher. For a provincial education commissioner to go to the scholars to establish his authority, what else could that be but mental disorder?"

Sheng Chuliang nodded with satisfaction: "You said you didn't want to be an official, but I think your analysis of officialdom is so insightful that it would be a waste of your talent if you didn't become an official."

Chen Lang said: "Teacher, I'm just making it up."

Sheng Chuliang said: "You are not making up stories. Your words are well-reasoned and thought-provoking."

"This Supervisor of Education, besides using scholars to establish his authority, has also refused to accept visits from anyone. He has announced that the college entrance examination is imminent, and for the sake of fairness, he will not see anyone."

"Previous Superintendents of Qinzhou Road all integrated well with the literati after taking office, but this Superintendent has done everything completely contrary to the previous Superintendents."

"There's a lot of discussion about him in Qinzhou Prefecture right now, and the candidates are all trying to guess what tricks Master Ti Xue is up to."

"I can't find out the preferences of the governor for you, so you have to do this on your own."

"After arriving in Qinzhou Prefecture, try to find out as much as possible so that you can have a better idea when taking the exam."

Chen Lang said: "Student has taken note."

Sheng Chuliang said: "The last thing is a small request from the master."

Chen Lang said, "Teacher, just give me your instructions."

"I don't expect you to take first place in the provincial exam like you did. But I hope you can do better than Old Man Han's students."

Chen Lang subconsciously said: "Han Qi?"

Sheng Chuliang nodded.

Chen Lang immediately felt his teeth itching and said, "Teacher, don't worry. That old man ridiculed me in Guangling Mansion and also mocked you, Teacher."

"This time, the students will definitely severely dampen the spirits of their master and apprentice!"