Poor but talented scholar

Chapter 47 Gap

Among all the classmates, Zhao Ruo's reaction was the most intense.

Unlike Li Ji and Wang Lang, his family, though not extremely wealthy, was a well-known scholarly family in the county.

His grandfather, Zhao Laoxiu, was also a respectable man in the county. Zhao Ruo grew up surrounded by books and calligraphy from a young age and began his education very early.

Before Lu Chuan entered the academy, he was always the undisputed top student in Class C, a promising talent in the eyes of the teacher.

But Lu Chuan's appearance not only stole all the attention, but also took the lead at a speed that left Lu Chuan in despair.

Thus, Zhao Ruo began a near-self-torturing competition.

Lu Chuan practiced calligraphy for an hour, so he practiced for two hours by lamplight; when Lu Chuan's notes were posted on the "Ink Washing List," he revised his manuscript again and again, until the paper was worn smooth; when Lu Chuan memorized quickly, he would get up at dawn on the coldest and hottest days of winter and hide under the covers to recite the scriptures.

During that time, Zhao Ruo's complexion grew paler and paler, with dark circles under her eyes that wouldn't go away. She looked like a string stretched to its limit.

In class, his gaze was fixed on Lu Chuan's back, trying to find even the slightest bit of slackness.

However, reality is often crueler.

Lu Chuan possesses the wisdom of two lifetimes; he can understand some problems with just a gentle touch.

Zhao Ruo, on the other hand, was like climbing a mountain, falling down and getting up again and again. Although his handwriting became more and more upright and his articles more and more neat, Lu Chuan was still able to firmly overpower him.

When Zhao Ruo returned home on her day off, she seemed dazed at the dinner table, not touching the shredded meat in her bowl.

Grandpa Zhao, the old scholar, saw this and called him into the study after the meal.

"Ruo'er, did you suffer any injustice at the academy?" Old Scholar Zhou asked gently.

Zhao Ruo's pent-up emotions finally broke down. He lowered his head, his voice hoarse and resentful: "Grandpa, I don't understand... I've never dared to slack off for a single day. The books I've read are taller than a person, and the calligraphy I've practiced fills three baskets. But why... why can't I catch up with Lu Chuan? He's just a farmer's son from the village, he started later than me, and his family is poorer than mine. Why is it that he can just scribble something down and the teacher says it's good?"

Looking at his grandson's thin face, Old Scholar Zhao sighed deeply, reached out and stroked his head, saying kindly, "Child, do you know the saying 'diligence can make up for lack of talent'? Studying is hard work, and diligence is the foundation. If you can't catch up today, you may not be able to catch up forever. Persist, and one day the clouds will part and the moon will shine. Don't let temporary differences in performance cause jealousy and ruin your mood."

Seeing the lingering resentment in his grandson's eyes, Old Scholar Zhao patted Zhao Ruo's shoulder with his withered hand and softened his voice:

"You must understand, the path to the imperial examinations is like a mountain climb with no end. Some people climb fast because they take big strides; others climb steadily because they have a strong foundation. That child from the Lu family may be born with big strides, but this mountain is ten thousand feet high, and who can reach the summit depends on more than just temporary speed. Throughout history, how many young geniuses have stopped at the level of Xiucai (a lower-level scholar) or Juren (a higher-level scholar)? And how many 'late bloomers' have broken through the dragon gate through sheer diligence?"

He pointed to the old pine tree outside the window and continued his instruction: "In the pursuit of knowledge, the worst thing you can do is 'look outward.' If you stare at someone's back, your mind will be in turmoil, and your writing will become restless. You must 'seek inward.' If you are better today than you were yesterday, that is victory."

"Even if it's a slow and arduous process, as long as you keep going, you will eventually find your own path. Ruo'er, your grandfather doesn't ask you to become a high-ranking official or a nobleman; he only hopes that your scholarly spirit won't be crushed by empty fame."

Zhao Ruo listened to these grand principles and felt somewhat calmer. He nodded heavily, but his fighting spirit was more like that of a trapped beast.

After the grandson bowed and left, only a flickering oil lamp remained in the study.

The smile on Old Scholar Zhao's face gradually faded as he gazed out the window at the tranquil night scene.

"Diligence can make up for lack of talent... Ha, I've been saying that all my life." Old Scholar Zhao murmured self-deprecatingly, his voice barely audible. "But in this world, some things can be done well through diligence; while others, to reach the pinnacle, require a flash of inspiration."

He paused for a long time, his gaze seemingly piercing through decades of the rise and fall of the imperial examination system.

"If you're studying for the imperial examinations and just want to get the title of Xiucai (a lower-level scholar), you can always achieve it if you work hard. But if you want to jump over the dragon gate to become a Juren (a higher-level scholar) or Jinshi (a higher-level scholar)..." The old scholar Zhao recalled a person who had taken the imperial examinations with him.

That was thirty years ago, when he participated in the provincial examination in the provincial capital.

That was the last of the autumn imperial examinations, and also the most grueling hurdle on the road to success.

The examination booths inside the examination hall were lined up one after another.

Scholar Zhou clearly remembers that freezing rain fell from the sky at that time.

He huddled in his small cubicle, his hand trembling with tension and cold as he faced the tricky question on the classics.

But his classmate in the cell next to his was completely unperturbed in this awful weather.

When the man put pen to paper, Old Scholar Zhao could even hear the soft rustling sound of the pen tip slicing through the paper.

When the results were announced, Old Scholar Zhao failed, while that other man made great strides and is now a respected figure in the capital.

"That person back then was just like that." Old Scholar Zhou's withered fingers lightly traced the cold tabletop. "While we're still pondering whether this wording is in accordance with the sage's rules, he's already finished."

He opened his eyes, his cloudy pupils revealing helplessness.

"In my whole life, I have seen too many diligent children like Ruo'er. They treat books as their life, but in the end, they are just ordinary people in the world."

Old Scholar Zhao took a deep breath.

"You can never understand that feeling unless you experience it yourself." He seemed to be trapped in some kind of deep nightmare room. "In that dark and sunless cell, I almost lost the strength to grind ink. But the person next door, listening to the sound of wind and rain, ground ink smoothly."

His withered fingers trembled as he gestured, "On the day the results were released, I searched the end of the list three times but couldn't find my name. Meanwhile, that person was at the top of the list, famous throughout the province."

"Later I realized that what we see as the imperial examinations, which require gritting our teeth and climbing them, is nothing more than a piece of fine art that comes easily to others. Talent is like an invisible wall; you smash your head against it until you bleed, while those on the other side are enjoying the view."

After saying this, Old Scholar Zhao fell silent for a long time, then turned his gaze to the thick stack of paper that Zhao Ruo used for practicing calligraphy on the table.

"Ruo'er is a good child. He is hardworking and diligent. But I dare not tell him the truth. I see my younger self in him."

"Ruo'er, if you happen to live in a good year, it's still very possible for you to pass the imperial examination and become a scholar."

"But becoming a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations) is difficult!"

"That boy named Lu Chuan is different. I have read his articles. His short notes, with their mature language and expansive imagery, have surpassed many others."

"This kind of person is a true reincarnation of the God of Literature."