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TL: Proud Novelist

Chapter 78: The ‘Academic Discussion’ 

 In the dusk, the golden ray of light changes the mountain at the back of ‘Academy‘ into a high–grade divine place, on the stone plate even the crack between the bluestone reflect the warmth, people go home one by one with haste, only the students who can predict the result stay, surrounding the stone plate, they focus on that common looking young candidate, occasionally they take note the little maid next to him incidentally, from time to time they turn down and whisper for a few words. 

  Candidates’ eyes are very complicated, there are puzzled and unspeakable, there is a candidate who can get three straight first cla.s.s-upper in the examination, that overcome Nan Jin Xie, but no one heard the name of the candidate before, completely not famous. The riding and shooting skill are reasonable, as the candidate was recommended by the military department, or the skills were trained at the frontier fortress, however his mathematics also is an A+. Xie Chen Yun, Zhong Da Jun, w.a.n.g Ying these three candidates were the ultimate hopes, but they can only get first cla.s.s for the subject and not first cla.s.s upper. 

   There is a candidate that could not bear it and forward his doubts, suddenly someone response, Si Tu Yie Lan sort her wrinkled front robes, she frowned at Ning Que and asked, “How do you answer the mathematics test?” 

    This sentence reveals a question of doubt, the tone sounded high clearly shown her dissatisfication, Ning Que was not quite happy with her words. When he look at the girl’s pupil, he confirmed that she meant no harm toward him. She was just those typical impression which been shocked by the results until her mind is drowsy and confused.  He just spread out his hand and smile innocently, without answering.

     The military recommend seventy few candidates, which caused a lot of people in Chang An City to not feel very happy. Right now, Ning Que was the person that bath in the limelight and he didn’t intend to answer those question. This make those people in Chang An City to continue Si Tu Yie Lan‘s question and started the discussion. 

       As the military elected candidate actually robbed the three subjects first place, it was natural that the candidates form Da Tang empire border troops and the major camps feel the sense of glory, just that they are older than other candidates, so they only act steady, still they are on Ning Que’s side. At this moment they do not rush to give a few word. But there is a Chang An candidate could not stand it. 

      Chu You Xian shaking the fan and walk toward to Ning Que. He reached out on his shoulder while staring at the candidates present. He said, “Is there any problem? Ning Que is my friend. Do you know who is he? He is the one who went to Hong  Xiu  Zhao  drink wine and flirt with girls without pay any money! Is there anything he can’t do in this world?” 

      There was a saying that the youngster in the city of Chang An array for fame, the most effective way are none other than comparing their father official position or power, and also their family wealth. Da Tang empire was such an open and active society, social status and wealth acc.u.mulation at any time will make a dramatic changes, by  using status and wealth of their family will only make them look vulgar, the people value more on their personal strength, talent, and those who can adapt in Chang An the best. 

       Talk about adapting in Chang An, it does not completely ignore the relation of family background, but that are some places does not really effect by it, like Hong Xiu Zhao, or places like canteen, so who rule these places show that they are stronger. 

       Chu You Xian mentioned that Ning Que was drink wine and called girl at  Hong Xiu Zhao for free was not the sign of humiliation, instead he is helping him to rise his fame. As expected, the impression of those Chang An youngster changed after they heard that Ning Que rules Hong Xiu Zhao which is a place that no living being dare to disturb, they started to have awe feeling toward Ning Que. 

     But not all person was impressed by Chu You Xian‘s statement, like Sang Sang who upright her little dark face, frown her eyebrows, staring at Chu You Xian‘s s.h.i.+vering hand that place on Ning Que’s shoulder. She was not even excited listening to Chu You Xian talking about her master’s glory, while on the other hand Si Tu Yie Lan got weird feeling about Ning Que’s mind. 

      “I am still not satisfied, the mathematics test is only a question, if correct then correct, if wrong then wrong, how many wine drank and how many plum blossoms been cut by the master, is can’t have multiple answers, then why your result is first cla.s.s upper, yet Xie Chen Yun‘s result is just first cla.s.s?” 

      Si Tu Yie Lan holding Jing Wu Cai’s hand and shout, she feels very dissatisfied. 

      She usually was not this unruly, the reason was that her female companion Jing Wu Cai had been admiring  Xie Chen Yun. However, now Xie Chen Yun‘s glory was  overcome by Ning Que, Wu Cai’s expression looks dim. She couldn’t help but question him, apart from this, there is an important reason that she doesn’t seem to notice it herself. 

     At riding test, she was knocked off by the big black horse, and almost trampled, as a daughter of general Yun Hui, she can’t even tame a horse, it was extreme embarra.s.sed. To her surprise, Ning Que was able to tame the black horse easily, and he is the only one manage to get first cla.s.s upper at the riding test, this make her feel very puzzled. n addition, another first cla.s.s upper on mathematics  only makes  her feel even more incomprehensible, it is natural that she is unable to reconcile. 

     At this moment, in the crowd an old hoa.r.s.e voice sound suddenly. 

“Because he is the first to hand in the test paper, such idiocy and easy question, who can’t answer the question is more stupid than a moron, so we can only judge by speed, when I was reading the test question, he already has the answer, that's why his result is first cla.s.s upper……. This student please let me pa.s.s.” 

       An old lady wearing a big blue coat and holding a bamboo broom, she appears at the stone plate suddenly, bend her body, and slowly sweep the dust on the ground, she slowly leaves the stone plate.

    Watching the old lady’s back vanis.h.i.+ng deep inside the Academy, the candidates are stunned and speechless, actually there are at least four out of five of the candidates that does not manage to answer the math question, but the old lady said that it was an idiocy easy question, a candidate couldn’t bear it and say angrily, ” who do she think she is?” 

      Outside the crowd, an examiner answer coldly, “She is the only female honored lecturer in the Academic, she will be your math lecturer for this few years if you enter the Academic.” 

        “Is she…… the lecturer?” Ning Que watching the rickets old lady at far away, endure the laughter in the heart. 

         Xie Chen Yun is now completely calm, even him have the hot blood side, after all he is still have the highest overall mark in the test, moreover his target was different from  others, his vision also was different from others. In his mind, entering the ‘Second Floor’ was more important than compete in the test result. The young candidate seem to be very common, arguing with him will be meaningless. 

        In contrast, after he heard the old lady’s statement, he knows that Ning Que only used a short time period of time to answer. It was inevitable for him to admire Ning Que in silent. He said seriously, ” that mathematics question, I first used method of exhaustion, then I get infinite number, finally I understand its meaning, sir……..” 

       Si Tu Yie Lan whisper him his name, Xie Chen Yun nod his head to show  appreciation, looking at Ning Que while continue to say, “How do you calculate it? Do you use other method, that's why you can answer it in such speed?”  

        “If at one glance you already know that it is infinite number, why do you need to use method of exhaustion? If you want to talk about the final answer, honestly, I am just lazy to continue the calculation, and write a just about right answer.” 

         Ning Que’s answer has a bit of master’s style, it shows irresponsibility, but in fact that it is not nonsense, so call the conversion between infinite concept and precise number, this is the irresponsible indistinction. 

     Not many people understand, some thinks Ning Que just lucky, some thinks Ning Que hide the truth, only Xie Chen Yun understand it, when he wanted to pursue deeper, at the further site sounded the voice of the lecturer take attendence. 

      “Xie Chen Yun, w.a.n.g Ying, Ning Que, Chen Si Miao, He Ying Qin……. proceed to technical room and report.” 

      Ning Que had been absent-minded for a second when he heard his name was mentioned. Go to the technical room…… What is that means?

He wonders why he always felt a cold between his legs everytime he needs to report himself. But it is not very comfortable to ask others, so he brief Sang Sang a few words. With Xie Chen Yun and others slowly disappears deep inside the Academy, he felt troubled. He noted that there is a female candidate, only then that he felt rea.s.sured a bit. 

      The candidates at the stone plate was not surprise at all, in fact they also wants to be the one called by the technical room. They watched  as few candidates walk toward the Academy, their faces show admiration. Si Tu Yie Lan kicking the crack of the bluestone disappointedly, watching Ning Que’s back and mumbled, “why did that guy the one that robbed everything?” 

       For a while, this seven to eight candidates came back from the Academy as they seems like strolling. Xie Chen Yun have a calm expression, while others seem to be happy yet Ning Que don’t even shows any expression. 

       Other than the 6 cla.s.ses, the academy had added a technical cla.s.s specially. This was to train the extraordinary students. These students will learn sword and charm skills, that's the reason it was named technical cla.s.s. The students summoned by lecturers are the potential students, they have accepted a spiritual inspection. 

      Ning Que is chosen, because his hairpin  xiao kai  during writing test and his extraordinal performance in mathematics test, the Academy think he has potential on the ‘practice’, sadly his sea of qi is still not awaken, and it is rare that a lecturer make mistake on the inspection. 

    Just experience once again the exchange of hope to despair, if there is no hope, then there is no despair, Ning Que already understand his condition perfectly, so he can face it calmly. 

     Xie Chen Yun already started his ‘practice’ when he was in Nan Jin City. It was  reasonable that he does not felt surprised, but the others know that they can enter the legendary and mysterious path, it is natural for them to be excited. 

     “I can’t.” Ning Que spread out his hands, explain to the ma.s.s, “Oh….couldn’t say can’t…… the lecturer say that I have no problem with the will power, just my Qi is bad, so my body can’t do the ‘practice’.” 

      The Academy summoned seven students, only him alone that couldn’t pa.s.s. The vision of the candidates seem complicate, some faintly change from  hostile to sympathy while there are also some that filled with ridicule. 

     People of Tang century respect the strong, but they don’t discriminate the weak. Thousand years of tradition had educated them to be tolerant. For example; moment ago,  Si Tu Yie Lan was not pleased wit Ning Que but now she can only look at him and sighed. she sympathizes and tries to comfort him, “Don’t be too upset, pract.i.tioner in minority, we are just the same as you are.” 

    “Your words are rational, can’t ‘practice’ doesn’t mean worthless.” Ning Que take a bottle from Sang Sang‘s hand and drink, he smiles at her and say: “I am a professional firewood cutter.” 

        After finish his sentence, the master and maid leave the Academy at twilight. 

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