He obtained the God of All Laws from human skin.

Chapter 54 Children's Examination

At this moment, Liu Rushi was leaning against the window, holding a scroll in her hand.

Seeing the maid return, she put down her book and spoke up.

"Let me see it."

The maid handed over the scroll and muttered under her breath, "Miss, there are quite a lot of people fighting over this outside. I spent five taels of silver to buy it."

Liu Rushi ignored her complaints, took the scroll, placed it on the table, and slowly untied the rope and unfurled it.

It was a propaganda painting drawn by Qin Chuan. The little peach blossom in the painting stood sideways, wearing a novel pomegranate red narrow-sleeved shirt with a very low neckline and a tight waist, showing off her exquisite curves.

The curves of her chest are depicted with particular boldness, with deep concave areas and rounded convex areas. You can feel the fullness and roundness even through the paper, as if you could reach out and touch the warm breath beneath her clothes.

What's most captivating are her eyes, with slightly upturned corners and a half-smile that seems to be looking at you, yet also not looking at you, carrying an indescribable allure.

The little maid covered her eyes in embarrassment, but her fingers were wide open as she peeked through them. Each peek made her face turn redder, but she just couldn't bear to close her fingers.

A faint blush rose on Liu Rushi's face, but she neither covered her eyes nor looked away. Instead, she frowned slightly and carefully examined the painting.

"How is it? How is it?" The maid, seeing that her mistress hadn't thrown the painting away, grew bolder and came closer to ask.

Liu Rushi was silent for a moment before slowly speaking: "It's too craftsman-like. The brushstrokes are all just piled up, without any spirit or charm. The painter only knows how to paint things, but doesn't know what to keep and what to omit. This painting skill can at most be considered exquisite, but it's still a long way from being a 'master'."

At the end, she added, "And it's also very tacky."

"Oh, then we overpaid," the maid said dejectedly. "Those scholars were saying how good the painting was, but it turns out they were just making things up."

"However," Liu Rushi suddenly changed the subject, her gaze falling on those eyes. She paused for a while, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, "this painting naturally has its merits. These eyes are quite interesting."

The maid leaned over the table, tilted her head to look, and suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, Miss, these eyes look just like yours!"

Liu Rushi ignored the maid's words, shifting her gaze from her eyes and eyebrows to the inscription beside the painting.

Heaven and Earth, gambling dens, Xiaoxiaosheng...

This painting must have been done by "Xiaoxiaosheng".

Liu Rushi rolled up the painting, handed it to the maid, and said calmly, "Keep it safe."

"Miss isn't going to throw it away?" The maid was somewhat surprised.

"Why throw it away?" Liu Rushi picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and looked out the window. "Go and find out who this Xiaoxiaosheng is."

......

The next day,

Qin Chuan also came to the school.

He had asked the old master for a few days off because he was busy with the affairs of Heaven and Earth.

When I stepped into the school, the old teacher was sitting at his desk grading homework.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up, saw it was Qin Chuan, put down his brush, smiled, and asked, "Is everything settled?"

"It's done." Qin Chuan nodded and bowed to the teacher.

The old scholar stroked his beard, his gaze gentle yet scrutinizing: "Have you neglected your studies?"

"I have never slacked off," Qin Chuan replied crisply, his gaze frank.

"Alright." The old scholar picked up the scroll. "Then I will test you."

Qin Chuan stood with his hands at his sides, his expression respectful.

The old master asked four or five questions in a row, ranging from literal interpretations to explanations of principles.

Qin Chuan answered each question one by one, occasionally offering a few of his own insights.

After listening, the old master nodded in satisfaction: "You haven't regressed in just a few days; on the contrary, you've made some progress."

Qin Chuan cupped his hands and said, "It's all thanks to your excellent teaching, sir."

"Stop flattering me." The old master chuckled and scolded, then turned and walked back to his desk, sat down again, opened his book, and said, "Sit down. Today I will lecture on 'Wu Yi' (无逸)."

When it's time to rest,

The old scholar emerged from behind his desk, walked over to Qin Chuan with his hands behind his back, and asked gently, "Are there any points you didn't understand in today's discussion?"

Qin Chuan truthfully pointed out a few points he didn't understand, and the old master explained them to him. Then, he took out his book and began to recount the content of the previous lessons.

Upon hearing this, Qin Chuan was somewhat puzzled and asked, "Master, why does it feel like the teaching these past few days has been a bit disorganized?"

Upon hearing this, the old master chuckled twice and replied, "It's not that my teaching is chaotic, it's that the children's exam is too varied."

"Children's examination?" Qin Chuan asked, somewhat puzzled.

"That's right, the county's preliminary examination for children is about to begin in two months," the old scholar explained. "The preliminary examination for children is not like the usual small tests. It covers everything from the Four Books and Five Classics to classical texts, essays, poetry, and prose. You don't know which area it will focus on this year, and neither do I. So we can only cast a wide net, teaching as much as we can and cram as much as we can. Even last-minute cramming can be effective."

Hearing this, Qin Chuan seemed to be deep in thought, and then asked, "Master, what do I need to participate in the preliminary examination?"

"You want to participate in the preliminary examination?" The old teacher seemed somewhat surprised upon hearing this. "Do you know that although this is the county-level examination, the questions are extremely difficult. Hundreds of people apply, but only two or three out of ten can pass..."

As he was speaking, the old master suddenly stopped, realizing that he might have said something too harsh.

It's a good thing for young people to be ambitious, but his dampening of enthusiasm shouldn't extinguish it.

Thinking of this, the old master cleared his throat and changed the subject.

"However, anything is possible if you put your mind to it. If you're truly willing, I'm not incapable of helping you."

Qin Chuan looked up, indicating that he was listening.

The old master stroked his beard and said earnestly, "I'll make a deal with you. If you can thoroughly study the Four Books and Five Classics before the children's examination begins, I'll vouch for you and let you take the exam."

Qin Chuan cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, sir."

The old scholar waved his hand, turned around, and pretended to tidy up his books, but actually he didn't want Qin Chuan to see the unnatural expression on his face.

He said that it would be easy for him to memorize the Four Books and Five Classics in two months, but he knew in his heart that it was almost an impossible task.

Although the child is intelligent, the time available for studying is limited.

You should know that even a scholar who has studied for three to five years wouldn't dare say that he can read all the Four Books and Five Classics thoroughly.

He never expected Qin Chuan to fulfill this condition.

I just wanted to give this child a goal, to give him something to strive for and motivation.

He didn't actually think Qin Chuan could pass the preliminary examination, or even meet the conditions he had set for him.

However, what I've studied diligently for the past two months is real, and I'll be able to use it in next year's county exam.

More importantly, even if I fail the exam this year, I can still get a feel for it, understand what the preliminary examination is like, and what the rules are in the examination hall...

It's a way to gain experience so that I won't be clueless when I go in.

Looking at the old scholar's expression, Qin Chuan could naturally tell what he was thinking.

Clearly, he lacks confidence in himself.

However...

He opened the panel and glanced at it.

Occupation: Scholar

[Level: lv2 (176/200)]

[Professional Skill: Literacy]