Chapter 143: Second Round
After the first round of trials, only twenty-eight people remained, and everyone eagerly anticipated the second round.
Mister Hua Ying slowly said, “For the second round, everyone please write down your birth dates and times.”
Upon hearing this, everyone erupted in a clamor, saying, “How strange! There has never been such a consideration before. What are they testing?”
“Casting horoscopes, are they trying to arrange marriages? Oh my goodness, this is truly a peculiar matter.”
Someone feigned deep thought and said, “Perhaps one of the tutors at the academy has a daughter who has come of age and wishes to select a good match, hence they need these birth dates and times to harmonize destinies.”
Immediately, someone retorted, “That’s utter nonsense. Some of these people are already married, some are engaged, and some are just children. What kind of match are they trying to make?”
That person then said, “Could it be they are looking to adopt sons? Otherwise, what need is there for birth dates? To ask for birth dates must be to see if they are compatible.”
The crowd said, “This is getting more and more absurd! Who would adopt sons for no reason?”
Amidst the crowd’s gossip, Gong Changan and the others had already written down their birth dates and times and submitted them, quietly awaiting the results.
Unexpectedly, the wait this time was much longer than before, and the crowd couldn’t help but feel uncertain and anxious as time dragged on.
Finally, Mister Hua Ying emerged, and everyone couldn’t help but crane their necks and listen attentively.
Mister Hua Ying announced, “Those who have advanced to the third round are Lu Hong, Xiao Manlang, Cui Zheng… Gong Changan, a total of sixteen people.”
The twelve who were eliminated were naturally displeased. Among them, Yu Hanying loudly questioned, “San Jing Academy has always been renowned for its sages. How can it use such illusory arts to determine selection? Isn’t that laughable?”
Immediately, someone else shouted in agreement, “Exactly! While heaven produces both wise and foolish people, how can one’s birth date determine their status?”
The remaining people joined in the uproar, shouting, “We object! We object!”
Mister Hua Ying was not angered. After the crowd’s voices subsided, he said, “Have none of you studied the Book of Changes?”
The crowd was rendered speechless. After all, the Book of Changes was one of the Four Books and Five Classics, though it was simply difficult for ordinary people to master.
These twelve people retreated dejectedly. Only then did Mister Hua Ying speak again, “The remaining sixteen, please follow me inside.”
The crowd felt a sense of regret, unable to witness the proceedings firsthand and would have to inquire later. Even so, they all waited there, determined to hear the outcome.
Gong Changan was the youngest, trailing at the end of the line.
He didn’t know what this house had been used for before, only that the room felt very spacious.
There were a few disciples in white robes inside, but not a single tutor could be seen.
Mister Hua Ying held a large bamboo tube containing sixteen lots: “Everyone, please draw a lot first, and then proceed to the back in order.”
The crowd then reached out to draw lots.
Gong Changan also drew one and held it in his hand. Upon closer inspection, it surprisingly bore the number one.
“Oh my, little brother, you have such good luck, drawing the first lot!” someone joked with him.
In reality, drawing the first lot was often not a good thing. It lacked preparation time and offered no previous examples to reference. When they drew lots earlier, they were all silently praying not to draw the first one.
Gong Changan didn’t mind and smiled, “It suits me perfectly. If I’m not chosen, I can go home early for dinner.”
“Yes, yes, you are still young, and there will be plenty of opportunities in the future,” everyone agreed. “Besides, you’ve already passed two rounds, which is quite remarkable.”
At Gong Changan’s age, passing two rounds of San Jing Academy’s selection was enough for him to brag about for a lifetime.
“You, come with me,” Mister Hua Ying took Gong Changan’s hand and walked towards the back.
They passed through a hallway, leading to three main rooms.
Gong Changan entered the room and saw a large screen depicting green mountains and flowing water standing in the center. Turning past the screen, he saw five elders seated in the room, of varying heights, builds, and appearances, all wearing black robes and tall hats.
He only recognized one of them, Tutor Kang, who was seated on the west side.
After escorting him, Mister Hua Ying turned and left without lingering.
“Disciple Gong Changan pays his respects to all the tutors,” Gong Changan respectfully bowed to the five tutors.
“There’s no need to be nervous,” said a tutor with white hair and beard seated at the head. “You may draw your lot first!”
“Drawing lots again,” Gong Changan muttered to himself.
This time, the lot tube was made of jade and was much smaller than the previous one.
He reached out and drew one, which was marked with the number thirty-three.
“It’s question number thirty-three,” the same tutor said.
Gong Changan thought to himself, this question is quite challenging. Although he didn’t know the specific content yet, looking at the lot tube, there were at least forty lots, and eighteen people had been selected.
It was impossible to draw the same question, and with so many questions remaining, it would be difficult to get a preview.
Then, he saw the five tutors each take out their keys and unlock the five locks on a large wooden chest one by one.
They then took out an envelope numbered thirty-three. The envelope was sealed very securely; to open it, one would have to damage the outer layer.
In short, if anyone tried to open it in advance, there would definitely be traces left behind.
The tutors inspected the envelope, confirmed it was intact, and carefully opened it with a paper cutter, taking out the letter inside.
Gong Changan saw that it was filled with writing but didn’t know its content.
“Gong Changan, listen carefully,” a tutor with a long beard under his chin took the letter and read, “Suppose you are passing through a place where there is an unsolved cold case.
A farmer’s daughter has been missing for several years, with no trace and her fate unknown.
By chance, a beggar tells you that he personally witnessed a group of villains kill this young lady that year. To destroy the evidence, they buried her body in a grave that was interred that very day.
However, the owner of this grave was of noble status, none other than the local prefect’s mother. Now, how do you intend to resolve this matter?”
In a few words, it was indeed a difficult problem.
This poor girl died unjustly, while the villains went unpunished.
If she had been buried elsewhere, one would only need to exhume her remains. By presenting the body to the authorities, the government would surely conduct a thorough investigation.
But that group of villains had buried her in the prefect’s mother’s coffin.
In other words, to bring the young lady’s remains to light, one would have to desecrate the prefect’s ancestral grave.
How could this be easily accomplished?
Moreover, there was no evidence other than the beggar’s word. It could not be trusted, nor could it be ruled out that the beggar was lying.
Such a difficult problem, let alone for a child like Gong Changan who was only seven or eight years old, even for officials who had handled many cases, it would be difficult to come up with a solution immediately.
However, since the question had been posed, a solution had to be presented.
“Child, we will give you fifteen minutes to think,” Tutor Kang said. “If you truly cannot answer, it’s alright.”
The questions at San Jing Academy were not posed by ordinary people, nor were they for ordinary people.
It was perfectly normal not to be able to answer.
