Words Strategize for the World

The teacher left excitedly, without giving any instructions.

The school was abuzz with discussion, as if a pot had been boiled over.

Upon closer listening, it was all about why the teacher took away Fang Wei's writing.

Fang Wei himself couldn't figure this out, so he simply stopped thinking about it and continued writing.

Just as Fang Wei began to write, the late girl sitting behind him walked up to Fang Wei and stared at his hand.

Fang Wei saw the girl standing beside him staring at him, and he didn't know whether to write or not.

The girl watched as Fang Wei picked up a pen, ready to write, but then hesitated for a long time after lifting it. So she said, "Write! Why aren't you writing?"

Hearing the girl say that, Fang Wei put down his pen, turned to look at her, and gave an awkward smile, saying, "How am I supposed to write with you staring at me like that?"

The girl seemed to sense something and chuckled.

Seeing the girl chuckle, Fang Wei found her smile to be very beautiful.

The girl said, "I am Zhang Nianwei, from Zhongyuan Prefecture. I saw how excited the teacher was about your handwriting, so I wanted to see how beautiful it is."

Hearing Zhang Nianwei say this, Fang Wei felt relieved, but he himself didn't understand the answer to this question.

"My handwriting is very ordinary, I don't know why the teacher was so excited when she saw it?"

"Oh, you don't know either. Why don't you write a few words for me to see?"

Fang Wei thought for a moment and said, "Alright then." After saying that, Fang Wei began to write.

On the other side, Zhou Yi carried Fang Wei's calligraphy and walked towards the study.

He was seen by several teachers as he passed by the classroom.

"Hey, look what Zhou Yi is holding in his hand and why he's in such a hurry."

"It looks like a calligraphy or painting."

"How could a single painting or calligraphy have such a profound impact on the I Ching? Let's go take a look."

"Okay, let's go together."

Before Zhou Yi could examine the calligraphy closely in his study, a voice rang out from outside: "Zhou Yi, what good thing have you acquired? Why won't you let us see it?"

Upon hearing the voices of several friends, Zhou Yi immediately went to greet them, saying, "I just saw some calligraphy written by a student, and I was about to take it back to examine it more closely when I arrived."

"The student's handwriting? I think your judgment is getting worse and worse, Zhou Yi."

"No, no, come on, let's take a look together first."

Zhou Yi quickly spread the calligraphy written by Fang Wei on the table and showed it to his friends.

As soon as the words were laid out, everyone present was immediately astonished.

"This was written by a student? Why does it possess such a masterful style?"

"Yes, this font is both elegant and lively, yet rigorous and solid; it's truly beautiful calligraphy."

"Hmm, if this was really written by a student, then we have truly lived in vain."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yi also began to speak.

"I discovered this by chance after giving a lecture to the new scholars this year. The student who wrote this character is named Fang Wei, and I saw him write it with my own eyes."

"Fang Wei? Why does that name sound familiar?"

"Hmm, that does sound familiar. Oh... I remember now. When Ningping County was selecting scholars, a student once said: 'Even a poor family can produce a noble son.' The student who said this was named Fang Wei, and it caused quite a stir in Ningping County."

"I remember now, could they be the same person?"

Zhou Yi, puzzled, quickly asked, "Can a poor family produce a noble son? When did this happen?"

Since everyone didn't understand the Book of Changes, I explained the whole story.

"Zhou Yi, if this Fang Wei is indeed Fang Wei from Ningping County, then you have taught an extraordinary student."

……

Fang Wei was unaware of everything that was happening in the Zhouyi Study. When Fang Wei wrote several characters under Zhang Nianwei's gaze, Zhang Nianwei suddenly exclaimed, "Good writing!"

This shout triggered a chain reaction throughout the school. Everyone was already wondering why the teacher only picked Fang Wei's calligraphy, but Zhang Nianwei's exclamation of "Good calligraphy!" immediately drew the attention of the other students.

After all the students had come and looked around, various sounds arose.

"It is indeed beautiful calligraphy; I am no match for it."

"Beautiful characters, beautiful characters."

……

"Hmph, what's the use of writing well? Whoever feels the rhythm first is the real deal."

"Exactly, good handwriting is useless; only feeling the rhythm is real."

……

Despite the various discussions, Fang Wei remained unconcerned and continued writing his characters.

The day passed quickly; all the students in the school spent the entire day writing.

After returning to the school dormitory that evening, Fang Wei rubbed his slightly sore arms and prepared to take a shower and rest. Just then, Fang Yue returned.

After Fang Yue sat down, Fang Wei asked her where she had been.

Fang Yue thought for a while before saying, "I went to listen to a class outside the classroom today."

"Oh, the prefectural school also has a literary hall?"

"Well, besides the Hall of Elegant Scholars, the academy also has the Hall of Literature and the Hall of Martial Arts. The Hall of Literature mainly accepts non-elegant scholars, while the Hall of Martial Arts mainly accepts students who study martial arts. Fang Wei, I..." Fang Yue paused here, looking at Fang Wei.

"Just say what you want to say. We're as close as brothers, why should we hide anything from each other?"

"...I want to study at Wentang," Fang Yue said after a moment's hesitation.

"Great! I didn't even know there was a Wentang. Let's go register at Wentang tomorrow."

At this moment, Fang Yue hesitated again: "But the money..."

"So that's what you're worried about. I have some more here. We'll go to Baowentang tomorrow."

"So, from now on..."

Fang Wei knew what Fang Yue was worried about, so he interrupted her and said, "Money is just an external thing; it will come back naturally once it's spent."

Fang Yue finally relaxed and happily said, "Okay."

Fang Yue then told Fang Wei that in addition to being divided into the Hall of Elegant Scholars, the Hall of Literary Arts, and the Hall of Martial Arts, each hall was further divided into three classes: junior, intermediate, and senior. Students would advance one grade per year until they completed the three-year program.

The two talked for a long time. When Fang Wei saw Fang Yue's worry turn into happiness, he thought of Zhao Tong. If Zhao Tong were here, he could also enroll in the martial arts academy.

The next morning, Fang Wei and Fang Yue went to the Wentang registration office, only to be turned away. The people at the registration office said that Fang Yue was not from Zhongyuan Prefecture and did not have a household registration, so she could not register for Wentang.

The two tried everything to reason with each other, but to no avail, and finally had to leave.

As soon as they stepped outside, the words inside reached Fang Wei's ears: "Hmph, two country bumpkins, daring to think they can get into the city's literary hall, how ignorant. Even among scholars, there are different ranks."

Fang Yue turned around to argue with someone, but Fang Wei stopped her in time, otherwise she would have been ridiculed again after going inside.

"Fang Yue, don't worry, I have a way to get you into the Wentang Academy. It may take a day or two, so you can stay in the school building for the next two days."

Fang Yue was unwilling, but Fang Wei had already said that he had a way to get into the Literary Hall, so Fang Yue decided to let it go for now.

After parting ways with Fang Yue, Fang Wei returned to the school to continue his lessons for the new day.