Zhou Zhi has long known the difficulty of the imperial examination, but now he is still surprised to hear Wang Ding say it, he didn't expect it to be so difficult. There are so many things that need to be memorized.

In later generations, I always heard about what was a talent in ancient times, what was a lifter, and even a jinshi. It's an understatement, but I seldom think about how difficult it is for them to read, and how high their knowledge is. I don't know who can be admitted to the exam, which one is not a rich five-car student, full of economy?

It's no wonder that if it were really that easy to study for the imperial examination, there wouldn't be so many white-haired children, and the birthday star would be promoted.

Although the road to the imperial examination is really difficult, Zhou Zhi has already made up his mind to study the imperial examination, so he immediately nodded at Wang Ding and said very firmly, "Master, the boy has thought clearly." ”

Wang Ding's face was expressionless, and he said softly, "Okay, since you have made up your mind, it is inconvenient for the old man to say more, you can come with the old man." ”

Wang Ding said as he put his shoes off the kang, walked out of the bedroom, walked through the stove house, and walked towards the west house. Zhou Zhi did not dare to slack off and followed.

The old woman Zhang was busy washing vegetables in the stove house at this time, and a pair of old eyes were staring at Zhou Zhi. In her mind, it was unbelievable that such a poor boy as Zhou Zhi would borrow a book to read. may be even more surprising to her is how the husband, who has always loved her like her life, is so generous today, and actually borrows books and is thoughtful.

There is no earthen kang in the West House, it is a table of eight immortals, a Taishi chair, and it is antique. There are pens, ink, paper, inkstones and other things on the table, and several books are placed in an orderly manner, and this house is like Wang Ding's study. There was a red wooden box in the corner of the room, and Wang Ding stooped down and squatted beside the wooden box.

The wooden box was wiped clean, and the red paint on the outside was shiny. Wang Ding hesitated slightly, as if he had finally made up his mind, opened the lock above, and gently lifted the lid of the box.

As far as the eye can see, there are four stacks of books about two feet thick. The books are very well kept, free of wrinkles and defacements.

Wang Ding carefully touched these books, picked up a stack from inside, and then slowly placed them on the table of the Eight Immortals. Turning his head to Zhou Zhi and said, "Zhou family boy, here are the four books and five classics you want to borrow, I think this is the book that the old man used during the scientific expedition, although the old man has not read it again over the years, but he must sort it out and wipe it every few days."

The old man didn't plan to borrow these books, but to accompany the old man to the coffin. Why don't you come to borrow a book today, the old man feels that he is very close to you, so he might as well borrow a book from you. ”

He spoke in a slow voice with a lot of reluctance.

When Zhou Zhi heard this, he secretly smiled bitterly and said, another volume? This old master really loves books as much as his life, and he wants to bring books to the coffin, what is the use of bringing them to the coffin? Is it possible to read even if you die? I really can't figure it out.

Hehe! Of course, Zhou Zhi won't figure it out, what kind of effort did Wang Ding spend in the examination thirty years ago, and what kind of effort did he spend? Only Wang Ding can experience the taste. By this time, he had already regarded these books as a part of his life, and he was in harmony with his flesh and blood.

"Boy of the Zhou family, what are you still doing? Pick one of them. Wang Ding said softly.

Before Zhou Zhi approached, a smell of books immediately rushed into his nostrils, which was very good. As a graduate of a famous university in later generations, although he is not familiar with the Four Books and Five Classics, he does not know what the Four Books and Five Classics are, which is a joke.

Zhou Zhi looked at the books lightly, and really wanted to take each one home to study it well, but the old master Wang Ding's old eyes were staring at him tightly, as if he was worried that Zhou Zhi was going to take his life. Zhou Zhi secretly thought, no matter what, you can't eat a fat man in one bite when you read, and it's useless to read all the dates, everything must be done step by step. Studying for the imperial examination is a long road and needs to be taken slowly.

Thinking like this, Zhou Zhi gently pulled out the "Analects", smiled at Wang Ding and said, "Master, the boy will borrow this volume." ”

As we all know, the Analects is a book that records the words and deeds of Confucius, and the full text is less than 20,000 words. In Zhou Zhi's mind, the Analects should be very simple to read. After all, I have been exposed to more in later generations, and some of them have been covered in junior high school and high school Chinese textbooks, so it should be good to start reading it.

Wang Ding saw that Zhou Zhi had selected the Analects, frowned slightly, shook his head and said, "Zhou family boy, since you have decided to go all the way to the imperial examination, you should study gradually. Zhu Shengren thought that he should first read the "University" to establish a scale. Read the Analects for the second time to establish the foundation. Read "Mencius" for the second time to stimulate his development. Finally, read "The Mean" to make the most of its subtlety.

Zhou family boy, you read "The Analects" first, it seems to be in reverse order, no, no! ”

Zhou Zhi was stunned for a moment, I have to talk about the order of reading a book, could it be that I, a college graduate from a later generation, read the "Analects" first and couldn't understand it? What a joke. Alas! There were too many rules of the ancients. That Zhu Zi is also a scourge.

But since Wang Ding said so, Zhou Zhi had to smile awkwardly, but did not put the volume of "Analects" back. At this time, Wang Ding had already taken out the thin volume of "University" from the stack of books on the table.

Zhou Zhi stretched out his hand to pick up the "University" in Wang Ding's hand, and said hee-hee, "Thank you, Master, for borrowing the boy's book." ”

Wang Ding saw that Zhou Zhi had two books in his hand, and couldn't help but look cold, but then he smiled and said, "Hehe, you kid!" Alas! Anyway, the old man will simply lend you two books today. ”

He shook his head and chattered a few words, and then stopped.

Zhou Zhi looked happy and said, "Thank you, Master, the boy will finally have a book to read in the future." ”

"Humph! Don't be too happy, you kid, do you think you can get a name for yourself after reading a book? Reading the imperial examination, difficult, too difficult! Wang Ding seemed to be talking to Zhou Zhi, and it seemed to be talking to himself, understanding the hardships of his study for the imperial examination.

Wang Ding carefully put the stack of books on the table back into the wooden box, and said, "Speaking of which, Fan Jin and the old man in the town were children in the same year, and the old man was admitted to Xiucai in the second year, but Fan Jin was admitted to Xiucai until his hair turned gray, and he was admitted to Xiucai last year."

That Fan Jin's family is surrounded by four walls, with nothing, and the life is so difficult, alas!

Speaking of which, he was already a handful of years old after he passed the exam, so what's the use? But that old boy is undiminished, and he is more than fifty years old, hehe! It's also whimsical, I want to take the test and eat a swan fart!

Boy of the Zhou family, the road of the imperial examination is really difficult. You don't have to learn that Fan Jin! ”

Fan Jin? Shouldn't it be Fan Jin in Wu Jingzi's "The History of Confucianism"? That Fan Jin is Wu Jingzi's fictional character, could it be that there is really a person in history? Besides, Fan Jin in "The History of Confucianism" is a native of Guangdong, why did he go to Qingdu County in the north?

It is not uncommon for people who make up stories and write books to change the names of characters in different places. Hehe! If the Fan Jin in the mouth of Old Master Wang is really the Fan Jin in "The Outer History of Confucianism", I will have a chance to see him in the future, and I will pay a visit.

When Zhou Zhi was thinking wildly, Wang Ding had already put the book away and locked the wooden box.

Wang Ding glanced at Zhou Zhi, and finally his eyes fell on the two books in Zhou Zhi's hand, and said in a deep voice, "Old man, you have to keep these two books well, and you must not get dirty or wrinkled." ”

"The kid made a note of it!" Zhou Zhi hurriedly said respectfully.

"Hmmm! Speaking of which, the old man and you are still fated, the old man is really in a good mood today, alas! I'll just fulfill you and give you one more thing! Wang Ding said with a slight smile.