"They all say that reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. It seems we have been confined to our own creations," Bai Zhaohui couldn't help but sigh, looking at Zhan Feiyu with admiration.
After more than half an hour of conversation, it wasn't just Bai Zhaohui, but even Ning Chen'an, who had a mediocre initial impression of Zhan Feiyu, was impressed by her talent. The group of scholars about to take the imperial examinations couldn't help but feel a competitive spirit, as if facing worthy opponents.
Zhan Feiyu also felt a sense of exhilaration and joy after competing with her peers. However, when she thought of her own writing, she immediately put on a distressed face, "Young Master Bai, you flatter me. Compared to your literary talents, I am truly ashamed and cannot catch up."
"Every talent has its strengths and weaknesses. Miss Zhan need not be confined to the minor art of literary talent," Fu Rulang couldn't help but laugh. When it came to poetry and songs, he also felt overwhelmed. Such things truly depended on talent.
Among the group of young talents, Ning Chen'an and Bai Zhaohui's literary skills were the most outstanding. They could compose verses and write poems and couplets with ease.
Thinking of Zhan Feiyu's ordinary poetic talent, everyone couldn't help but laugh. No matter how stunning Miss Zhan's essay openings were or how lofty her ideas, her poetry was truly not suitable for formal occasions.
"When it comes to people's livelihood, our writings can only be described as talking on paper," Ning Chen'an had previously thought he wasn't just a bookworm who only read dead books, and he was confident about the upcoming spring imperial examinations.
However, from Zhan Feiyu's travels, he saw his own shortcomings. Knowledge gained from books ultimately felt superficial.
"Water, fire, metal, wood, earth, and grains are cultivated. When this topic was given to us, we thought that conceiving of virtuous governance and governance that nurtures the people would be an excellent piece. Now, it seems we are scholars who cannot distinguish between the five grains," Bai Zhaohui, due to his relationship with the Prefect Bai, had also accompanied officials from the Shun天 Prefecture on outings and experienced the lives of ordinary people. He had once thought that when he became an official, he would definitely be a good and honest official who served the people.
But now, Bai Zhaohui understood that being an honest official was easy, but being a good official was difficult!
Beyond judging cases, the most important aspect of holding an office was the people's livelihood. Ensuring the prosperity of the populace was the primary duty of a local official. However, for the noble young masters of the capital like Bai Zhaohui, how to benefit the people was a complete mystery.
"Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants. Although merchants are of a low social status, what Miss Zhan said earlier is very true. Only with prosperous commerce can the common people have surplus money, and the national treasury can have taxes," Ning Chen'an came from a scholarly official family and had indeed looked down upon merchants before.
Although Zhan Feiyu had extorted ten thousand taels of silver from Wen Ruyi at Duobao Pavilion, and it was Zhe Jing who provoked the incident first, Wen Ruyi was merely trying to help her close friend Zhe Jing. Unfortunately, she lost the game and was outmaneuvered by Zhan Feiyu.
However, in Ning Chen'an's opinion, while Zhan Feiyu couldn't be called greedy, she had lost her "gentlemanly demeanor." But now, with his changed view on merchants, Ning Chen'an suddenly realized that although gold and silver were vulgar, when used wisely, they could achieve unexpected results.
Thinking of this, Ning Chen'an subconsciously glanced at the noble ladies sitting opposite him, including Wen Ruyi. Previously, she had favored Zhe Jing due to the Wen family's status. Zhan Feiyu extorting this ten thousand taels of silver was a successful revenge.
"Therefore, a gentleman loves wealth and acquires it through proper means," Zhan Feiyu smiled and raised her teacup towards Wen Ruyi, "I apologize for any offense before. Miss Wen, please forgive me. I truly liked the pearls and gems at Duobao Pavilion, so I sent the ten thousand taels of silver to the Ci You Yuan (Children's Welfare Home) in the capital."
"Hearing the徵 sound makes people happy to be charitable; hearing the羽 sound makes people orderly and polite. Today, after hearing your words, I must have another drink."
Fu Rulang stood up and bowed to Zhan Feiyu in a proper manner. Then, changing the subject, he teased with a smile, "It's a pity that Miss Zhan is young. Come, let us drink this cup with tea as a substitute for wine."
"Brother Fu is absolutely right. Miss Zhan, please." Congratulatory laughter arose, and everyone raised their teacups. Regardless of whether their families were friends or enemies, at this moment, they were all like-minded benevolent gentlemen, worthy of raising a cup to celebrate together.
Not to mention how angry Zhe Jing and Miss Li were, even the talented women of the capital like Wen Ruyi felt a sense of dissatisfaction. They considered themselves talented and proficient in poetry, songs, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but they were still no match for scholars with profound learning like Ning Chen'an.
After all, women resided in the inner chambers, their roles being to assist their husbands and educate their children, and manage the household. The Four Books and Five Classics were merely read through, with their meanings understood. It was impossible for them to converse fluently with Ning Chen'an and Bai Zhaohui.
However, Wen Ruyi and the others were surprised that Zhan Feiyu was so learned and talented. Not only did she have the Four Books and Five Classics memorized, but she was also proficient in dry and dull books like history and law.
Considering that Zhan Feiyu could not only write essays, but even when Bai Zhaohui and the others discussed the topics of the Imperial Academy's monthly examinations, Zhan Feiyu could break down and respond to them with just a little thought.
"Which young lady studies these things all day? Will she become a female tutor in the future?" Miss Chen's sweet and round face no longer held its previous smile. She clutched her handkerchief, her words laced with a strong hint of sourness. After the Chang family's birthday banquet today, the title of "talented woman of the capital" would likely change hands.
Wen Ruyi maintained her composure, but her expression was clearly stiff. "Poetry and songs are ultimately minor arts."
In terms of music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs, Wen Ruyi was indeed not afraid to compete with Zhan Feiyu. However, she knew in her heart that when it came to writing essays, her skill was far inferior not only to Zhan Feiyu but even to those scholars who had failed the examinations. After all, even though she studied over the years, she couldn't have learned to write essays for the imperial examinations, as she didn't need to participate in the examinations to gain official status.