Chang Ji looked at Xu Xing in surprise. In his life, he had basically no hope of being re-appointed as an official. Even the prison guards looked down on him. The gruel he was given every day was mostly water, with the least amount of rice—hardly better than clear soup; indeed, the standard of congee provided to famine victims outside was better than what he ate daily. Xu Xing sharing his meal with him was beyond his expectation.
"I will remember this." Chang Ji looked deeply at Xu Xing and took the steamed buns and meat Xu Xing handed him.
It had been almost three years since he last tasted meat.
For Scholar Su, Xu Xing's Braised Pork was the icing on the cake; for Chang Ji, it was akin to receiving charcoal in snowy weather.
Just a bowl of Braised Pork and two steamed buns had earned him the goodwill of two imprisoned officials. Xu Xing felt he had profited greatly.
After eating the meat and drinking the gruel, he lay on the Wheat Straw and continued to sleep, conserving his energy.
The daily life of Sky Prison inmates was like this: eating and sleeping. Perhaps some who had just entered Sky Prison still practiced martial arts and studied, feigning unwillingness to succumb. But as days turned into weeks, they slowly went with the flow. Not to mention Xu Xing had been sentenced to death. Therefore, his appearance of degeneration would not arouse anyone's suspicion.
However, the moment he lay on the Wheat Straw, Xu Xing had, in fact, already re-entered the Mirror World.
Although "he" would replace him in practicing martial arts, Xu Xing carefully considered and gave up this shortcut, choosing to endure the hardships of martial arts training. Practicing horse step and pile skill not only laid a solid foundation for basic skills but also cultivated a warrior's perseverance—the so-called ability to withstand blows. Otherwise, if someone punched you or slashed you with a knife, and you couldn't bear the pain, losing focus—on a battlefield of swords and gunfire, that momentary distraction could cost you your life. In addition, each martial arts practice session yielded subtle gains. These gains might not seem significant now, but they could prove invaluable in the future. As the ancients said: 'A miss is as good as a mile!'
After that, Xu Xing's daily life became extremely regular. He would return to Sky Prison just in time to share meals with his prison friends, then go back to the Instance World to practice basic pile skill. However, he didn't forget to seek opportunities to evade his death sentence. Finally, his hard work paid off.
On a trip to Jingyang County Town to purchase supplies, he saw a building with stone-paved grounds, white walls, and black roof tiles, distinctly different from its surroundings. Approaching the main entrance, he looked up at a plaque on the gatehouse. It bore four large characters: 'Weijing Academy.'
Numerous stone steles stood near the gatehouse. The inscription on one caught Xu Xing's eye: "Do not take empty talk as learning, nor empty talk as teaching." Another stele read: "Do not prioritize current compositions; focus on practical knowledge."
Practical knowledge? Weijing Academy? Xu Xing fell into deep thought.
Perhaps few people had heard of Weijing Academy; in the field of practical knowledge education, it wasn't as renowned as Youzhu Society, Learning Sea Room, or other late-Qing academies. However, most people would recognize the name Liu Guyu. He was one of the leaders of the Reform school, known alongside Kang Mingyi as 'South Kang, North Liu.' Weijing Academy would later become Liu Guyu's memorial hall. Liu Guyu was also the master of Yu Youren, the master calligrapher. Yu Youren later changed his name to 'Liu Xueyu.' This name change was a play on words. The 'Yu' in Liu Guyu's given name, meaning 'foolish,' shared its sound with another 'Yu' meaning 'abundant.' Thus, 'Xueyu,' meaning 'to learn foolishness' or 'to learn from Guyu,' also implied 'to learn abundance' or 'to become abundant.'
It was now the 23rd Year of Guangxu (1897). The Qing court had not yet fled west, nor had Liu Xueyu yet petitioned the Governor of Qin Province to execute Empress Dowager Cixi. At this time, the principal of Weijing Academy was the internationally renowned Liu Guyu.
Xu Xing hadn't expected this. He had thought his history major would be useless after arriving in Fengxi Country, but then he had stumbled into the Mirror World. It seemed his knowledge might have some use after all.
'First, life; second, destiny; third, feng shui; fourth, accumulating hidden merits; fifth, studying...' he mused. 'Sixth, name; seventh, appearance; eighth, respecting deities; ninth, befriending influential people; tenth, self-cultivation...'
It seems that if I want to change my destiny, Weijing Academy is my opportunity.
Xu Xing watched the scholars in long gowns coming and going outside the academy and made up his mind. Studying is undoubtedly the best way to change one's destiny.
As for the Elder Brother Association... would it prevent him from studying at Weijing Academy? No, there was no need to worry about that. Once one joined the Elder Brother Association, they essentially became a sworn enemy of the Qing Empire. Many officers in the Qin Province New Army were deeply hidden members of the Elder Brother Association; Xu Xing had encountered several in recent days. If Xu Xing truly had the ability to excel in his studies, the Elder Brother Association wouldn't obstruct him. On the contrary, they would likely elevate his status, raise his precedence, and perhaps, if he proved capable enough, even make him an incense master.
「Three days later.」
Xu Xing took out his personal savings, rented a long gown, and stepped into Weijing Academy. He had learned in the preceding days that Weijing Academy recruited aspiring scholars year-round, welcoming all applicants. Of course, Weijing Academy didn't accept just anyone. They accepted scholars. And what was a scholar? Only someone with official rank or scholarly achievement could be called such. However, there were exceptions. If one possessed solid practical knowledge and passed the academy's assessment, they too would be admitted. After all, scholars specializing in practical knowledge often didn't fare well in the Imperial Examinations.
Wearing a long gown, Xu Xing—despite his slightly dark complexion and the appearance of someone from a poor family in this life—was not stopped by any passing scholars, instructors, or attendants, and was allowed to enter the academy. He crossed the tung oil-painted threshold and walked down a corridor, bypassing a screen wall. Beyond the screen wall, two gateways stood before him. A plaque on the left one read 'Day New,' and one on the right read 'Shimin.'
Xu Xing, who had learned about Weijing Academy, knew that these names referred to its two main divisions: the Day New Studio and Shimin Zhai. This system of organizing into 'Zhai' (studies) originated from Hu Yuan's (Anding) teaching method of separate studies during the Song Dynasty. Both the Day New Studio and Shimin Zhai taught practical knowledge. However, there was a difference between the two: the Day New Studio, in addition to practical knowledge, also taught skills related to the eight-legged essay. Yu Youren's success in ranking first in the provincial examination at Qin Province's Provincial Examination Hall in the 24th year of Guangxu was inseparable from Weijing Academy's instruction in the eight-legged essay.
Should I join the Day New Studio or Shimin Zhai...? Xu Xing hesitated. Entering Shimin Zhai to focus solely on practical knowledge would be easy for him. Joining the Day New Studio, however, would mean dividing his attention to learn the eight-legged essay as well.
Join the Day New Studio! He quickly made his decision and stepped into the Day New Studio.
The Qing Dynasty still had over a decade left; reforms to the Imperial Examination system and practical knowledge wouldn't happen overnight. If he wanted to change his destiny, he had to seize a high position. The eight-legged essay and the Imperial Examinations were, without a doubt, a shortcut in life—not to be taken lightly.
"Who are you?" Teacher Wang frowned upon seeing an unfamiliar scholar enter the side room. He was seated behind a desk on a straight-backed chair. He was familiar with the faces of all two hundred-odd scholars at Weijing Academy, but Xu Xing was a stranger. Xu Xing, however, spoke politely, so Teacher Wang didn't feel any immediate aversion.