Chapter Sixteen: So, it was because of this.
When the competition reached its final stage, the results confirmed everyone’s speculations.
Ultimately, Qingshan Academy and Tianqing Academy emerged victorious, advancing to the final showdown.
This outcome left everyone highly satisfied, as the presence of a genius student from each academy made the competition even more anticipated.
Whether the ten-year-old genius Gu Qingheng would claim the final victory, or the problem-prone student Tao Linleng would be crowned the winner, remained to be seen.
“The competition has now reached a very intense level, with only Qingshan Academy and Tianqing Academy left to compete in the final match. Without further ado, please stand in your respective positions and prepare for the contest.”
“The final match will proceed as before, with one party posing questions and the other answering. Each party will have three opportunities to ask questions… For each correct answer, one point will be awarded; for each incorrect answer, one point will be deducted. After six rounds of questions, the party with the highest score will be declared the winner!”
“Alright, the rules have been clearly explained. According to the draw, Tianqing Academy will be the first to ask.”
After the host finished speaking, the final competition officially began.
When Tianqing Academy started posing questions, Tao Linleng’s outstanding performance in previous rounds and his current spirited demeanor led his fellow students to relinquish their questioning rights entirely to him.
After all, their advancement to the finals was solely due to Tao Linleng’s efforts. Seeing Tao Linleng and Gu Qingheng facing off, they felt that interfering would be rather obnoxious.
Of course, the primary reason was… Tao Linleng’s personality was not as harmless as his appearance suggested. Instead, he was arrogant and had even played tricks on the dean multiple times, yet he faced no consequences due to his influential family background.
Such a person, if targeted, was undoubtedly doomed.
“The way of a gentleman is simple yet profound, gentle yet orderly. What is the second half of the quote?”
Tao Linleng stepped forward a few paces and looked directly at Gu Qingheng. As he spoke, a smile graced his face, causing the young women and little wives in the audience to blush and their hearts to race, thinking how wonderful such an outstanding young man was!
As for the competition with Gu Qingheng, Tao Linleng had been looking forward to it for a long time.
The first question was so simple that if Gu Qingheng couldn’t answer it, it would be a great disappointment.
“Knowing the distant from the near, knowing the origin of the wind, knowing the subtle manifestation. With this, one can enter virtue.”
Upon hearing Tao Linleng’s question, Gu Qingheng’s expression flickered in surprise. He then thought, is Tao Linleng serious with such an easy point-scoring question?
However, no matter what tricks Tao Linleng was playing, he wasn’t going to refuse an easy point.
Therefore, Gu Qingheng didn’t hesitate and directly provided the second half of the quote.
“Qingshan Academy answered correctly and earned one point. Now it is Qingshan Academy’s turn to ask questions. Tianqing Academy, please listen.”
The host was somewhat taken aback by Gu Qingheng’s swift response and quickly turned to the panel of advisors.
Upon inquiring if Gu Qingheng’s answer was correct, the advisors all nodded, confirming Gu Qingheng’s accuracy!
Subsequently, the host announced the result of the first question, and then Qingshan Academy began posing questions for Tianqing Academy to answer.
After the host finished speaking, the students of Qingshan Academy immediately turned their gazes to Gu Qingheng, their expressions conveying “You are the strongest in our academy, so you should ask the questions. We believe you can definitely win!” This caused Gu Qingheng to feel a sense of exasperation welling up from within.
Unlike Tao Linleng’s high spirits, Gu Qingheng appeared rather unenthusiastic. He already knew the final outcome of this competition without a doubt – it would be their Qingshan Academy winning, with no suspense whatsoever.
Although Tao Linleng from Tianqing Academy was somewhat troublesome, he was the only formidable opponent and posed no significant threat.
Their Qingshan Academy also had many capable individuals, so they were bound to win… As Gu Qingheng was thinking this, the students of Qingshan Academy collectively took a step back, indicating that this match should be handled by Gu Qingheng alone, a one-on-one against Tao Linleng from Tianqing Academy.
They believed in Gu Qingheng!
“Qingheng, you are the best.”
“Yes, we trust you.”
“If you win the final, senior brother will teach you a hundred ways to woo girls.”
“My family’s roast pork trotters, you can eat as much as you want.”
The students of Qingshan Academy not only showed their intentions clearly but also uttered words that made Gu Qingheng feel like crying and laughing at the same time, unsure of what to say in that moment.
What else could he say? He simply had to go for it!
“Ahem, please listen to the question… Today’s sunflowers have two varieties: purple stems and white stems, with differences in size. There is also the duck-footed sunflower. When planting, the sunflower seeds must be dried. Although sunflower seeds can remain viable for a year without becoming damp, if planted when wet, they will become scabby and not grow lushly. What is the next sentence?”
“…”
However, when Gu Qingheng finished posing his question, Tao Linleng was stunned on the spot.
Gu Qingheng completely deviated from the norm, posing a question directly from an agricultural book. If one didn’t have extensive knowledge, they wouldn’t know what he was talking about!
How could they possibly play this game now???
Not only Tao Linleng and his side were stunned, but even the surrounding academies and civilians wore exceptionally expressive faces upon hearing Gu Qingheng’s question. They had never expected Gu Qingheng to pose such a tricky question, directly asking a scholar how to farm.
Let alone Tao Linleng, even the invited advisors on the panel looked as if they were constipated upon hearing this question, racking their brains to come up with the next sentence.
However, to their great regret.
They had never even seen this agricultural book, let alone been able to answer it.
“Dean Qingshan has indeed taught a good disciple. Not only is he well-read at such a young age, but he also has knowledge of agricultural books. Truly broad interests! However, the imperial examinations do not include agricultural texts. Would it be a waste of talent to educate students in this manner?”
“Yes, it’s such a pity not to cultivate such a smart child properly.”
“While agricultural books are not entirely useless, and there are related official positions, the students here will not be pursuing that path in their future government careers… Could it be that this little genius will work in the Ministry of Agriculture in the future?”
“How is that possible? For someone so capable, it would be too absurd to actually go and farm.”
…”
Dean Qingshan, sitting on the judging panel, was also taken aback by Gu Qingheng’s question!
After a moment, someone next to him started making sarcastic remarks, suggesting that although Gu Qingheng was smart, such a lack of focus on proper studies would ultimately lead to no great achievements.
Although the words carried a hint of sourness, many who overheard them nodded subconsciously and began to agree in unison.
It was truly a waste for such a genius prodigy like Gu Qingheng to be reading agricultural books.
If their academy had a genius like Gu Qingheng, they would undoubtedly treat him like a god of wealth, not letting him casually touch random books.
Although Linfeng Kingdom valued agriculture over commerce, it was still relative. When comparing a well-read scholar to a farmer, the scholar’s status was naturally higher.
This was also why many scholars aspired to study and become officials, while no one was willing to become a farmer.
Of course, from an external perspective, agriculture was indeed important… This was also why the Emperor allocated funds to the Ministry of Agriculture every year, which could be considered indirect compensation.
In summary, the matter of Gu Qingheng reading agricultural books was largely due to Dean Qingshan being too careless and not paying enough attention to his students.
“Alas, Qingheng is still young and likes to delve into peculiar things. I usually advise him to study diligently, but he completes all his assigned coursework, and even does so more outstandingly than other students. Since then, I haven’t said anything more to him. At most, I consider it a form of relaxation after studying.”
“…”
Upon hearing the words of those around him, Dean Qingshan suppressed his surprise and resumed his usual calm demeanor. Then, when speaking to others, although his tone was very ordinary and even carried a hint of helplessness, it infuriated everyone present.
According to Dean Qingshan, Gu Qingheng faced no pressure whatsoever regarding the imperial examinations. He even had the leisure to read other books as a form of extracurricular relaxation.
In other words… Gu Qingheng was a genius, so how could he be compared to ordinary people?
Geniuses were different individuals.
These people had never seen a true genius, so they shouldn’t worry unnecessarily.
Seeing Dean Qingshan showing off to others, Gu Yu couldn’t help but chuckle and shake his head, thinking about how his previous insistence on Gu Qingheng studying agricultural books had now paid off.
You see, the question he posed at this moment had stumped the opposing Tao Linleng.
After all, apart from Gu Qingheng, there wasn’t a single scholar who was bored enough to read agricultural books.
Gu Yu’s reason for making Gu Qingheng read agricultural books was very simple: convenience…
Since his brother-in-law had an eidetic memory, he could read agricultural books and become a living encyclopedia. When Gu Yu was unsure if Linfeng Kingdom had certain crops, he could directly ask Gu Qingheng.
Moreover, Gu Yu had also made Gu Qingheng read other types of books, not just agricultural ones.
As for Gu Qingheng’s reluctance to read, Gu Yu only needed to bring up Xia Tian, stating that girls liked boys who read extensively and knew everything, as this greatly enhanced a man’s charm.
When Gu Qingheng looked at him with doubt, Gu Yu shamelessly used himself as an example, making Gu Qingheng think that his brother-in-law indeed knew everything and was very impressive, which was why his sister was so devoted to him.
Now, her heart was entirely with her brother-in-law, even sidelining her own brother.
So, it was because of this…
