Chapter 26: You Think This Exam Is About Knowledge? It Is About Worldly Wisdom

Inside the hall, red candles burned in silence, casting flickering shadows that danced across the room.

Several local gentry stroked their beards and chuckled. Yan Gongsheng continued his vivid narrative, "My friend, thinking Magistrate Tang was looking at him and had gained the official’s favor, rushed forward eagerly to ask what the Magistrate wanted."

"Little did he expect, the Magistrate stepped out of his sedan chair, bowed to the crowd, and completely ignored him, his gaze drifting elsewhere. It was only then that my friend realized what had happened; he was so mortified that he could have died of shame..."

Fan Jin and the others burst into laughter, leaning back and forth. It was a classic case of social suicide; surely, it would become an indelible psychological shadow for Yan’s friend. Yet, Fan Jin couldn't help but think that this Yan Gongsheng possessed a certain flair reminiscent of Lady Feng from the Rongguo Mansion in *Dream of the Red Chamber*—with just a few words, he made his guests feel right at home.

"The next day, I went to the yamen to pay my respects to Magistrate Tang," Yan continued. "It happened to be just after the Magistrate had returned from the Confucian temple, having finished lecturing the scholars. I assumed the Magistrate was busy and wouldn't have the time. I expected him to find some excuse to turn me away, but to my surprise, as soon as the clerk announced me, the Magistrate immediately set aside his urgent duties and invited me in. We chatted for the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, and it felt as if we were old friends who had known each other for decades."

Fan Jin raised an eyebrow. "In that case, Magistrate Tang must be a kind and benevolent man." To show such courtesy to a mere scholar—especially before he had attained the status of a Gongsheng—was, by any measure, a sign of a high-minded official who respected talent.

Gentryman Zhang nodded in agreement. "It must be because your teacher is a man of integrity and high reputation that Uncle Tang holds you in such high regard. I imagine you have often sought his counsel on scholarly matters since then?" Zhang was probing the nature of their relationship. He found it hard to believe the Magistrate’s favor was based on mere chemistry; he suspected Yan Gongsheng had some hidden family background.

Yan Gongsheng modestly replied, "I haven't visited as often lately." He adjusted his robes and added with a sincere gesture, "To tell you the truth, I lay no claim to great talent. I have only a heart filled with passion and loyalty. It is simply because I have never taken a single thread or a morsel of food from the local people that the Magistrate holds me in such high esteem."

Fan Jin and the others exchanged glances. In a daze, they felt as if Yan Gongsheng were mocking them. This was especially true for Fan Jin; since passing the imperial examinations, he had received wagonloads of lavish gifts, all of which he had accepted without batting an eye. He hadn't expected Yan Gongsheng to be such an outlier.

Fan Jin pondered this privately. People often said that "the most righteous are found among dog-butchers, while the most faithless are scholars," or "better to be a centurion than a mere bookworm." Little did they know, even these cynical remarks were coined by scholars themselves. Consequently, even the dynasties of the past suffered from poor reputations in later ages; Emperor Taizu of Song was even branded as one who bullied orphans and widows because he chose to rule alongside the scholar-official class.

In Fan Jin’s view, this was biased. The problem with the Song Dynasty was not rule by scholars, but the over-emphasis on civil over military affairs. Moreover, the Song scholars had achieved remarkable governance; from the founding of the dynasty to the late Northern Song, the nation’s cultivated land increased from 290 million to 720 million mu—a staggering feat rarely seen in history. Furthermore, the Ming and Qing dynasties that followed were also ruled by scholars, with the great benefit of avoiding the chaos seen in the Tang Dynasty. Even looking at the modern world, every nation is governed by intellectuals, with social elites leading the way toward progress. Among all social strata, it is always the scholars who possess the greatest ideals, the most romantic spirit, and the sense of duty to cultivate themselves, regulate their families, govern the state, and bring peace to the world.

Gentryman Zhang coughed twice, pretending to look down at his tea to change the subject. "As far as I know, while the Magistrate does not often entertain guests, he is a man of transparent character who delights in promoting the next generation."

Yan Gongsheng agreed, "Master Zhang is absolutely right! A benefactor as kind as Magistrate Tang is truly rare. For instance, during last month’s county exam, he placed my second son tenth and summoned him to the inner chambers of the yamen to ask which teacher he studied under and whether he was betrothed. His concern was truly heartfelt!"

The others caught the subtext: the Magistrate was interested in a marriage alliance with the Yan family. No wonder Yan Gongsheng was hosting them with such fervor; he was practically an in-law-to-be.

Remembering that Magistrate Tang was his own examiner, Fan Jin felt he couldn't remain too distant. He recalled his own impressions of the Magistrate and joined in with some flattery. "My teacher has eyes like torches when it comes to reading essays. If he appreciates your son, he must undoubtedly be a talent. This is truly a cause for celebration!"

Yan Gongsheng replied, "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."

How does a scholar’s reputation come about? Through mutual flattery, of course. As George Bernard Shaw said: "If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples, then you and I will each still have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea