Not long ago, the atmosphere around the library of the Su residence was serious, with a roaring hearth. Scholars gathered, the most distinguished among them being Song Yufan, the current governor of Shenzhou. A talented individual known for his scholarly achievements, he had been a top candidate in the imperial examinations. Knowing he would come every year, the Su family's students had prepared for this occasion under their teachers' guidance.
While money might not buy knowledge, it could certainly purchase books. Thus, the Su family's library was large and imposing. If the late Su patriarch had a wish, it would perhaps be for the Su family to become a true scholarly clan, with learned individuals emerging and future generations recognizing the efforts made by his generation, once mere merchants. Such a thought carried a weight of solemnity, particularly as one aged.
The first half of the library's mechanical examinations had already been completed, consisting of a policy essay for the older students and a few sayings from sages for the younger ones to interpret and explain. In those times, definitive answers were nonexistent; no one could definitively say what a certain line from the Analects meant. Each person had their interpretation, and judging was a subjective process. However, knowledgeable individuals could certainly discern a lot, whether through teachers' rote instruction or assessing students' creativity and independent thought.
This year's examination was different from previous ones.
Currently, after the preliminary testing, a child around nine or ten years old was called to the center of the library to answer questions from Song Mao. The child appeared quite nervous, stammering through his words and lacking confidence in his responses, but he managed to speak nonetheless.
"The Analects... in the chapter 'Yong,' it says... 'The wise enjoy water; the benevolent enjoy mountains. The wise are active; the benevolent are tranquil. The wise find joy; the benevolent find longevity...' This means... the wise seek the changes of all things, while the benevolent... but the reason the wise seek many changes is to find the ultimate principle that underlies all variations, while the benevolent, not seeking change, can respond to changes with steadfastness. The wise and the benevolent are fundamentally one... the teacher says... the teacher says that those who don't understand the wisdom of the benevolent are not true benevolent individuals; those who don't comprehend the benevolence of the wise only grasp superficial knowledge... um... they will suffer losses one day..."
The boy, appearing simple and honest, struggled to articulate his thoughts. After much effort, he still resorted to phrases like "the teacher says" and sprinkled in some colloquial language. While such responses might not impress in a formal examination, this setting was different. Song Mao, nearly forty, looked dignified yet somewhat amiable as he listened and nodded along.
"Xunzi once said, 'With countless changes, the principle remains the same'; Zhuangzi also said, 'Not departing from the fundamental is called the unity of heaven and man.' 'The many changes do not stray from the fundamental'... indeed, it is so. Little Heizi, this phrase must have been taught to you by your teacher, correct?"
Upon hearing this, the nervous Little Heizi perked up slightly, likely relieved by the simplicity of the answer, and nodded, "Yes, in response to Governor, the teacher once said, 'In the vastness of change, the fundamental remains unchanged.'"
"Even in boundless transformations, the essence remains unchanged… This phrase alone suffices," Song Mao nodded, then smiled and asked, "Was that interpretation of 'The wise delight in water' entirely from your teacher?"
Little Hei nodded, "Sir mentioned some of it in passing. I… I don't remember all of it very clearly…"
"Do you understand?"
The child thought for a moment, then shook his head, only to nod hesitantly. "I… I understand a little…"
"Heh, I thought as much." Song Mao chuckled. "Then, was this explanation from the exam also entirely from your teacher?"
The child nodded, then shook his head. "Sir… Sir mentioned it before, but… but didn't say it exactly like that. Some of it… some of it was my own thoughts…"
Watching him nod, then shake his head, then nod again, Song Mao laughed and exchanged looks with Su Chonghua and the others around him. Old Patriarch Su, observing from the side, also noticed something unusual. "Governor, is this…?"
"Congratulations, Uncle Su. This child and the one before him might achieve something remarkable in the future."
"Ah…"
Receiving such praise from Song Mao was no small feat. Old Patriarch Su felt joy but kept his expression neutral, watching the proceedings unfold. Song Mao glanced at the tutors and several scholars of the academy nearby, then clasped his hands in a respectful gesture toward Su Chonghua. "Brother Su, may I ask who is teaching this Little Hei?"
Song Mao was somewhat familiar with the tutors of Yushan Academy, and none had impressed him. Now, he cast a glance at a few unfamiliar faces. Su Chonghua hesitated but, after glancing at Old Patriarch Su, responded, "It seems he's not here. Both Little Hei and the child Chongming are disciples of Liheng."
Old Patriarch Su appeared momentarily surprised, followed by a look of delight. Song Mao's expression subtly shifted, and he flipped through some exam answer sheets, selecting five and reviewing them. He handed them to Old Patriarch Su and Su Chonghua.
"Brother Su, look at these responses. Were all these students taught by the same person?"
Su Chonghua checked the names and nodded. Only then did Song Mao explain, "The same question, taught by the same teacher, with the same course material at the academy—yet these five responses are distinct, each demonstrating their individual insights…"
There was no need to elaborate further. Though Old Patriarch Su lacked formal scholarly training, he grasped the significance of the statement. Then, glancing around at the onlookers, Song Mao turned to Su Chonghua again.
"The Liheng you mentioned, is he Ning Yi, the one who composed 'Shui Diao Ge Tou'?"
"…Indeed, he is."
"This man possesses rare talent. We should have invited him to join us on stage as an honored guest rather than letting him observe from below."
At this gathering, nearly all present on stage were middle-aged or elderly, so Ning Yi, if here, would likely be among the crowd of relatives and household members below. Old Patriarch Su scanned the crowd, his vision lacking clarity, and asked Su Boyong, "Where is Liheng?"
Su Boyong had already begun looking around, and shook his head. "It seems… he's not here."
In the past, these follow-up questions were typically directed at older students, but this time, the two young children called upon appeared nervous yet proud, as their presence was a symbol of scholarly achievement in the eyes of onlookers. As those on the platform murmured among themselves, the audience below was also chatting quietly. Juan'er, who had come to watch the excitement, was encouraging one of Ning Yi's disciples, saying, "Look at how capable Hei and Chongming are. If you're called up later, you'd better answer well so you don't embarrass your teacher."
The child, who was well-acquainted with Juan'er and Chan'er from often hearing Ning Yi's stories, looked worried. "But Sister Juan'er, I'm scared. The governor is up there!"
"The governor may be important, but he's not ours. He won't behead you! Look how friendly he is. Hei and the others were also scared… but if you embarrass yourself, I'll never let you live it down."
Before she could finish, Su Boyong noticed her and called her over. "Where is your young master?" he asked. She was sent to fetch Ning Yi, and while she was on her way, Song Mao, back in the hall, began inquiring about Ning Yi's storytelling, asking Hei to recount one of his stories.
After catching his breath, Hei told the story vividly in front of Su Tan'er and the others, who were surprised by it. Meanwhile, Juan'er turned to Chan'er and asked, "Where is the young master? The patriarch and the others are waiting. I already searched the courtyard, but he's nowhere to be found."
Chan'er looked troubled as well. "But… he left this morning… I'm not exactly sure where…"
Having taught at Yushan Academy for a few months, Ning Yi had heard from Xiao Chan about the annual examination at the end of the year. However, true to his nature, he didn't give it much thought. While telling stories to a group of children in class, he noticed the mixed reactions—curiosity, amusement, disapproval—from those around, including Su Tan'er's puzzlement and displeasure. Although he was aware of these sentiments, he found it unnecessary to defend himself. If Xiao Chan were to ask his opinion on the exams, he'd probably reply offhandedly, "If we can't handle something like this, we might as well give up."
The things he wanted to accomplish were few, but once he set his mind to something, he was willing to wait for the outcome. Vanity might still be there, but it no longer dictated his main actions. With those who could understand him or held compatible views—like Master Qin or Master Kang—he sometimes shared random thoughts, enjoying their reactions. But if someone didn't understand and accused him of straying from the righteous path, it seemed like an exercise in futility.
Today, even if Ning Yi had been home, it was uncertain whether he would attend the examination. Regardless, he had left early in the morning, unaware of the event's developments. The Su family had been busy lately, and Ning Yi had things he wanted to pursue, feeling it was time to entertain himself after a long period of idleness. The results were yet to be seen, but at the very least, it could prove that he, a modern businessman, had made some effort for a better life, even in this primitive era.
Thinking about it, it was a bit like a pig struggling pointlessly.
With snow falling all around, Ning Yi wandered idly through the snowy streets, his thoughts drifting as he moved towards a corner. Clad in a long blue robe and holding a paper umbrella, he exuded a scholarly, timeless charm, fittingly picturesque against the snow-covered street. On either side, shops bustled, with passersby hurrying along. A carriage passed by him, and near a street corner, a woman with a poorly wrapped headscarf behind a food cart glanced at him curiously. Ning Yi waved, and she responded with an embarrassed smile.
Nie Yunzhu's pancake stall was already open, its out-of-character presence well-known to Ning Yi, but this was the first time he happened to stroll by.