Golden Branch

"Yu greets Mr. Shen!"

Lou Yu stopped Wang Heng from talking, gave her a "be good" look, and then came to Shen Du.

He bowed deeply, being humble but not servile.

Lou Yu didn't even take the initiative to get close to him and called him "Sir".

Shen Du looked Lou Yu up and down without any concealment, and the more he looked, the more satisfied he became.

I have to say, appearance is really important.

Especially in ancient times, being liked was not only about being liked by others, but also directly related to one's future.

So what if you are extremely talented?

If one is not good-looking, or even ugly, it is impossible for him to pass the selection and become an official.

If you don't want to be an official, but just want to be a celebrity, your appearance and manners are also important.

Only those who are good-looking can be called banished immortals.

Because of your low appearance, you don’t even have the chance to become famous, let alone become a “celebrity”?

Lou Yu's appearance is a huge plus, and Shen Du is already three or four points satisfied in his heart.

Because of his good looks, Shen Du was interested in paying further attention to his connotation, soul, character and so on.

"What book are you reading now?"

"Kaitaiyulu."

Kaitai is the current year name, and Kaitai Code refers to the laws promulgated this spring.

Because it was issued during the Kaitai period, it was named "Kaitai Code".

Although Shen Du was a famous scholar in the southern border, since he was known as a famous scholar in the country, he naturally knew what was happening in the world.

Even though Shen Du was thousands of miles away, he knew a lot about the newly established Dayu Dynasty in the north.

Shen Du naturally knew what the Kaitai Law was.

Shen Du raised his eyebrows slightly, somewhat surprised.

Originally, he thought that a teenager like Lou Yu, even if he had read the classics of sages such as "Book of Rites" and "Analects of Confucius", would say "reading XX chapter" when being tested by the elders.

Firstly, this is a Confucian classic, which can demonstrate one's serious attitude towards reading.

Secondly, the Book of Rites and other books are deeply rooted in people's minds, which makes it convenient for examiners to set test questions and also convenient for themselves to answer them.

Lou Yu’s answer was a bit “eccentric”.

Shen Du couldn't help but wonder, was he telling the truth or doing it on purpose?

"What does 'Heaven shows signs, and the sages follow them' mean?"

Shen Du began to ask questions.

A gleam flashed in Lou Yu's eyes.

How could Shen Du, a native of the Southern Territory, be so familiar with the laws that were only promulgated in the Northern Territory half a year ago?

Is this the all-knowing celebrity?

Lou Yu pondered secretly in his heart, and he began to have some respect for Shen Du, an old man who was as thin as a skeleton.

He barely hesitated and began to answer using the text from the Kaitai Code:

"Observe the thunder and lightning and exercise awe and punishment; see the autumn frost and feel the chill and killing..."

Wang Mianquanyan: ...I don't understand! I have no idea what this old man and this kid are talking about.

She leaned over to Wang Heng and whispered in her ear, "Jiu Niang, what are they talking about?"

Wang Heng also replied in a low voice: "Kaitai Lu!"

Wang Mian: ...Of course I know Kaitai Law, which is the current "royal law" of the Dayu Dynasty.

But, shouldn’t laws be just articles? Why are there so many different words?

"'Heaven shows signs, and the sages follow them' is from the Book of Changes, and is quoted in the Kaitai Code..."

Wang Heng was indeed Wang Mian’s friend. Sensing her speechlessness, she explained in a bit more detail.

Wang Mian still didn't quite understand.

However, she did not continue asking questions, ahem, it would easily expose her IQ.

The longer she lived in ancient times, the less superior Wang Mian felt as a time-traveling woman she had.

Who says that knowing some little-known facts about time travel can help you thrive in ancient times?

Even if Wang Mian could burn glass and make cement, they were just eccentric skills and were considered to be unorthodox ways.

The right way is still to study and learn.

Just like Shen Du and Lou Yu, Wang Mian understood and recognized every word they said, but when they put them together, he was left with a lot of questions.

The key point is that the questions and answers between the two are not limited to one field.

For example, at this moment, Shen Du asked again: "The ancients said: The sky can be ascended without steps, and the earth cannot be measured with a ruler. How can numbers be derived from this?"

Wang Mian continued to ask Wang Heng secretly, "Are you still discussing the Kaitai Law?"

"No! The teacher asked me questions about the Zhoubi."

"...What is 'Zhou Bi'?"

"Last year on New Year's Day, the Sage designated the Zhoubi as a required reading for the Imperial College's Ming Suan exam. This spring, the Sage issued another decree, making it a required exam subject for the Ming Jing exam. Hence, it is also known as the Zhoubi Suanjing."

Wang Heng explained in detail.

Wang Mian: ...I haven’t heard of it yet. However, since it’s called “Suanjing”, it should be mathematics.

"Oh! Mr. Shen is testing the young master's skills?"

Wang Mian suddenly understood.

I was complaining in my heart, "Tsk, I thought Mr. Shen would bring out the most classic pheasant and rabbit cage scene."

If she could do such a question, she would be very good at it.

Not to mention the compulsory education I received, just online, there are bloggers who have created dozens of variations of pheasants and rabbits in the same cage.

The titles of the poems all imitate the original text of "Pheasants and Rabbits in the Same Cage".

Some netizens even joked: If you really traveled through time, just take out one at random, which is enough to show off in front of the ancients!

As a result, Mr. Shen did not follow the time traveler's script at all, but took out the Zhoubi Suanjing, which Wang Mian was not familiar with.

Even if it was the "Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Classic", at least she had heard of it.

Alas, the result is that I have never even heard of the title of the book, let alone the issues recorded in it.

Wang Mian felt a little lost, and even more helpless and frustrated because he was illiterate.

"...After all, I've been studying for over a decade. How come after traveling through time, I didn't become a stunningly talented woman, but instead became an 'illiterate'?"

"I'm not that bad, am I? I'm probably just limited by the 'language'! Right! If it wasn't obscure, concise classical Chinese, but was written in vernacular, I would be able to understand the question and answer it!"

Wang Mian comforted himself secretly.

Maybe God had mercy on her, and she really heard the familiar "keyword" -

Lou Yu replied, "... so I folded the square so that the hypotenuse is three times the width, the leg is four times the length, and the diameter is five times the width..."

Wang Mian still didn't understand the other words.

But the "Hypotenuse" and "Meanwhile" were so iconic that Wang Mian immediately recalled the common sense she learned in elementary school: Hypotenuse is three, the mean is four, and the triangle is five! Ahhh, it's the Pythagorean theorem!

I can do this too!

Wang Mian finally stopped feeling "inferior", and her bright almond eyes sparkled with brilliant light.

Wang Mian is twelve years old this year and is about to enter her prime.

The little girl has fair skin and pretty face, and looks like a beautiful girl who is suitable for home and family.

It is not the ultimate beauty, but it has its own unique charm.

After following Wang Heng for nearly three years, he not only inherited the noble air of the aristocratic family, but also acquired a scholarly air.

Her inherent confidence and brightness made her distinctly different from other ladies of the era.

Just now, Wang Mian tried his best to reduce his presence and just followed behind Wang Heng as a shadow.

At this moment, she and Wang Heng sat side by side, whispering to each other. She was not outshined by Wang Heng's wealth and sweetness, but instead exuded a different kind of beauty.

Among the three young boys present, Lou Yu was concentrating on accepting Shen Du's test, Wang Yan occasionally glanced at Wang Heng, and the remaining Gu Zhe was attracted by the unique Wang Mian.

Wang Mian didn't notice it, but continued to be excited: Hey, I am not illiterate after all, it's just the information gap caused by "lack of language skills".

When Shen Du tested Lou Yu, he didn't just ask him to recite the original text.

He took the paper and pen that Wang Heng had just used, drew a picture on the spot, and asked Lou Yu to answer.

Wang Mian: ...Ah, I know how to do that! It's just about finding the area!

Wang Mian didn't ask any questions, but Wang Heng, worried that her friend wouldn't understand, took the initiative to explain: "This is the 'Zhao Shuangxian Diagram'..."

Wang Mian suddenly realized something. She slowly turned her head and her burning gaze fell on Wang Heng's round and fair face.

Jiu Niang, you know everything?

She always said that she was not smart enough and hardly performed well in class, so Wang Mian really regarded Wang Heng as a poor student!

The fact is, no matter what Shen Du and Lou Yu were discussing, Wang Heng knew the source.

Maybe I'm not proficient in them, but I definitely have some knowledge of them.

In later generations, this would be a true academic master who is well-versed in both Eastern and Western learning, and proficient in both arts and sciences!

"Amian, what's wrong? What are you looking at? Is there something on my face?"

Wang Heng felt a little scared when Wang Mian looked at her, and couldn't help but reach out to wipe her face.

"Looking at the academic master!" This is a low-key real boss.

Wang Mian no longer believed Jiu Niang's "self-deprecation".

"..."

Wang Heng looked at Wang Mian intently, and when she realized she wasn't joking, she said with a faint smile, "What kind of academic master am I?"

I'm not smart at all!

Not diligent enough!

The real academic masters, or the "big guys" as Wang Mian calls them, are at least young geniuses like Lou Yu, Wang Yan, and Gu Zhe.

Wang Heng didn't dare to use Shen Du as an example, because this person had surpassed the realm of mortals and was an omniscient old immortal.

Wang Mian did not continue to discuss with Wang Heng the question of "whether she is a top student" because the answer was already obvious.

In Wang Mian's view, Wang Heng's denial was tantamount to Versailles.

However, Wang Mian soon realized the value of Shen Du, a famous scholar.

Oh my god!

Is this still a mortal?

There is nothing this old gentleman doesn't know about, including music, chess, calligraphy, painting, classics, history, riding, archery, rituals, music, medicine, divination, astrology, geography, military strategy, etc.

How much did he read? What subjects did he study?

Doesn't he have any shortcomings?

Wang Mian wailed in his heart for the umpteenth time:

Ahhh, time-travel novels are all lies!

Who says that just by memorizing a few Tang poems, one can become a talented scholar, a literary giant, and a great figure in ancient times?

To put it bluntly, even the top scholar in liberal arts in later generations might not be able to pass the most basic imperial examination in ancient times!

The so-called poetry and songs are just minor arts. Being proficient in this category is just the threshold to meeting the real big guys.

Not to mention compared with Shen Du, the famous scholar Shen, even in front of those three teenagers, Wang Mian was an "illiterate".

Wang Mian: ...I'm already obedient! Please let me go!!

The sunflowers that had just been blooming brilliantly in the sun suddenly wilted.

Wang Heng didn't understand, but that didn't stop her from comforting her friend: "Amian, there's no need to belittle yourself."

"Brother and his friends are indeed one in a million geniuses, but mediocre people like us are also unique."

When Wang Heng said this, she glanced at Lou Yu who was still answering.

The all-knowing Shen Du is indeed amazing, and Lou Yu, who can answer various questions raised by Shen Du, is also a genius.

Regardless of whether his answer was correct or not, it was actually very difficult for him to understand the gentleman's question.

After all, he is of age.

He is eleven years old and a half-grown boy.

Before the age of seven or eight, he was a naughty and ignorant child.

He has only studied seriously for no more than three or four years, but he has achieved such results. Isn't this enough to prove his talent?

Wang Heng had long known that although Lou Yu was a bear, he was actually very smart.

Based on his talent and his current performance, he will definitely satisfy Mr. Shen.

That's why Wang Heng said that Lou Yu didn't need her to "give way to him" and he could pass the test on his own.

She had just "recommended" Lou Yu as a double insurance just in case, and to "by the way" cover up her lack of ambition.

She really didn't want to be a student of a famous scholar.

This title is both an honor and a burden.

With a student like Shen Du, if Wang Heng performs too mediocrely, not only will she be scolded, but she will also implicate Shen Du, making people think that he has "stumbled" and "mistaken the eyes of a dead fish for pearls"!

To maintain her husband's reputation, she must study hard and become a talented woman...but she doesn't want to!

It’s so nice to be fat and stupid!

She doesn't want to be in the spotlight.

She is inconspicuous now, and even if someone dislikes her, they will not deliberately target her.

But if she became Shen Du's student——

Wang Heng dared to bet that her stable and comfortable life would be gone forever.

Not to mention others, even Wang Lin and other members of the Wang family would have ideas and then make calculations.

Wang Heng has been disappointed with these so-called relatives, but she doesn't want to be stabbed and hurt again and again!

Her heart also hurts!

Suppressing her chaotic thoughts, Wang Heng continued to persuade Amian: "Besides, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Everyone has their own areas of expertise!"

"Even a famous scholar like Mr. Shen would be impressed by your cooking skills, Amian."

Wang Heng's words were not really meant to flatter her friend.

After this short time together, Wang Heng had already vaguely noticed something was wrong with Shen Du.

This old man seems to be suffering from a serious illness.

It may be the sequelae of a serious illness, or it may be a "heart disease".

A Mian once said that there is a strange disease in the world called "anorexia".

People who suffer from this strange disease will not have the slightest desire for food even if it is placed in front of them.

If you insist on eating it, you will feel nauseous and vomit.

Over time, people will become extremely thin and their spirits will be depressed.

oh! right!

In Amian's words, it's called "depression."

Depression and anorexia are both mental illnesses.

Shen Du's extremely thin appearance and the "silent sigh" before meals indicated that he might be suffering from this strange disease.

Amian’s cooking skills were so good that Shen Du actually ate it without any abnormal reaction.

It was after they finished eating the vegetable dumplings that Shen Du proposed to take Wang Heng as his disciple.

Wang Heng couldn't help but think that this was probably the reason - Amian's delicious food conquered Mr. Shen.

If Mr. Shen wants to continue "treating the disease", he has to find an excuse to stay with Amian for a long time.

Amian is Wang Jiuniang's partner and respects her in everything. Mr. Shen also wants to use her to enjoy Amian's food legitimately and continuously!

PS: The test part is all nonsense + Baidu by the stupid author. Just watch it for fun and don’t worry about it. (*^▽^*)