The imperial court had a ban on killing farm cattle. Tang Feng, without asking the reason, actually shackles his father, a Muslim teacher who was doing beef business, to death. The people were filled with indignation and went on strike to strike the market. After the incident. Not only did the Ancha Division not punish Tang Feng, but they accused the injured Hui people of "treacherous men holding the government hostage and punishing them according to the law." Such an "incorruptible" magistrate actually plundered eight thousand taels of silver in one year. Officials were corrupt and perverted the law, and under the Eight-Part Examination system, local tyrants and evil gentry also ran amok. Zhang Jingzhai, who was born in Juren, was a tyrant in the South China Sea. He colluded with the government and took advantage of others. In order to occupy the temple's property, he instigated seven or eight gangsters to falsely accuse the monk of adultery with a woman, so that the monk was in court without any explanation. Yan Zhihe, a prison student in Gaoyao County, is a rich man who regards money as everything and has a huge fortune. He was so sick that he couldn't eat enough, was bedridden, and was dying. He still kept thinking about harvesting early rice in the fields, and sent the servants in charge of the village to the countryside. He was worried and just impatient. He was stingy by nature, and his family's rice granary was rotten, and there were many cattle and horses. However, he was reluctant to buy a pound of pork in ordinary times. When he was dying, he still refused to die because there was an extra light bulb in the lamp. His elder brother Gongsheng Yan Zhizhong was even more of a villain running rampant in the countryside. He forced his neighbor Wang Xiaoer's pig into a pen, and when others came to take it away, he committed murder and broke Wang Xiaoer's brother's legs. He went around blackmailing people, not lending money to others, but forcing them to pay interest; he threatened the boatman by pretending that the cloud cake was a valuable medicine, and lost a few cents of the boat money. After Yan Jiansheng's death, as his elder brother, he forced his sister-in-law to adopt his second son as his son, and attempted to seize his brother's property. He also claimed that this was "a rightful title, but in our country gentry family, these great gifts are not allowed to go wrong." . The imperial examination system created a group of social worms and poisoned the entire society. In Yueqing County, Wenzhou Prefecture, there was a farmer named Kuang Chaoren. He was originally simple and honest. In order to support his parents, he went out to do small business and lived in Hangzhou. Later, I met Mr. Ma Er, who printed eight-part essays. Mr. Ma Er gave him ten taels of silver and encouraged him to study and make progress. After Kuang Chaoren returned home, he did small business while studying eight-part essay. Soon he was appreciated by Li Zhixian and was promoted to be a scholar. In order to pursue higher fame and wealth, he worked harder to learn and write eight-legged essays. Unexpectedly, something happened to the county magistrate. To avoid being implicated, he fled to Hangzhou. Here, he met Jing Lanjiang, the owner of a scarf shop who pretended to be a celebrity, and Pan Sanye, an official in the government office, and learned the "skill" of taking exams on behalf of others and handling lawsuits. And because of Mr. Ma Er's relationship, he became the "selector" of eight-part essays, and boasted that he had printed 95 anthologies of eight-part essays. Everyone was vying to buy them. People who studied in the five provinces had them on their desks. "The divine position of Kuangzi, the first Confucian scholar". Soon, the Li Zhixian who had promoted him was vindicated and promoted to a capital official. Kuang Chaoren also followed him to the capital. In order to curry favor with the powerful, he abandoned his wife and son to become his mentor's nephew and son-in-law. He died in poverty in his hometown. At this time, Master Pan, who had helped him, was imprisoned. Kuang Chaoren was afraid of affecting his reputation and future, so he cut off relations with Master Pan and refused to even take a look. Not only was he ungrateful to Mr. Ma Er who had helped him, he also slandered and ridiculed him, completely degenerating into a beast in disguise who sold his soul. The imperial examination system not only corrupted people, but was also an accomplice of feudal ethics. Wang Yuhui, a poor scholar in Huizhou Prefecture who was over sixty years old, failed in the imperial examinations every year, but he always abided by the etiquette and education. His third son-in-law died, and his daughter wanted to sacrifice her husband, but her parents-in-law refused. Instead, he persuaded his in-laws to let their daughter die. Then he said to his daughter: "My son, since you are like this, this is something that will leave your name in history. How can I stop you? Just do this." Eight days later, his daughter, wearing white clothes to observe filial piety, died on a hunger strike. He looked up to the sky and laughed and said: "Good death! Good death!" But after the incident, when his daughter's spiritual tablet was sent to the Martyrs' Shrine for public sacrifice, he suddenly felt sad. When he came home and saw his old wife grieving, he couldn't bear it and left home to relax. Along the way, he mourned for his daughter and was in a panic. When he arrived at Huqiu, Suzhou, he saw a young woman wearing white on the boat. He suddenly thought of his daughter who died wearing mourning clothes, and he choked up in his heart, and tears rolled down his face. All these trends that have been formed since the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty have intensified during the Wanli period.Those who succeed in the examination are considered to be outstanding; those who fail in the examination will be regarded as stupid and incompetent, regardless of their literary talents such as Li Bai or Du Fu or the conduct of Yan Yuan or Zeng Shen. Rich people talk about getting promoted and making a fortune, while poor and humble Confucian students talk about flattery and flattery. Scholars have fallen, and society has become more corrupt. It seems that if we want to find "wonderful people" who are not affected by the stereotypes of the imperial examination, we can only put aside the scholars and look at the common people. Unexpectedly, a few strange people really appeared in the middle of the market. One can write. This man's surname is Ji and his given name is Ya Nian. He has been homeless since he was a child and has always found a home in these temples. He has the best calligraphy, but he refuses to learn from the ancients' calligraphy. He just creates his own style and writes freely. He has a perverse personality, but if a mortal wants to ask him to write, he will fast for a day and grind for a day himself. He will not be happy until he is willing. If he doesn't want to, you can let him be a prince, general or prime minister and give him a lot of money, but he won't even look at it. He was unkempt, wearing a tattered straight jacket and a pair of shabby sandals. After writing every day, getting money from others, and eating at home, I didn't want the remaining money, and gave it to a poor person I didn't know. One day when it was snowing heavily, his rotten shoes stepped on the mud at his friend's house. His friend asked him to change his shoes, but he actually said that I can't sit in your house with these shoes? I'm sitting in your house, and I still think I'm flattering you. Once, he saw a box of fine fragrant ink placed in the monk's room. No matter whether the person wanted to write or not, he would just take it and write. When a powerful squire asked him to write, he actually yelled, "I don't know how to write." I'm greedy for your money, but I don't admire your power, and I don't want to borrow your light. How dare you ask me to write!" Another one is selling fire paper tubes. This man's surname is Wang and Tai. He has loved playing Go since he was a child. He had no way to make a living, so he went to Hujufu area every day to sell fire paper tubes. That day, there was a meeting at Miaoyi Temple. Wang Tai walked in and met three or four senior officials, surrounded by two people playing chess. Everyone looked down upon him at first, but as soon as they and Mrs. Wang played half a game, they had to admit defeat. Everyone was shocked and wanted to drag Mrs. Wang to drink. Mrs. Wang laughed and said: "Where in the world is there such a happy thing as killing Yaqi! I killed Yaqi, and I felt so happy. There was even food and wine!" After saying that, she burst out laughing without looking back. Just went. There are still many hermits like them in the market who are indifferent to fame and wealth, but in the eyes of those high-ranking officials, pursuing fame and wealth is the right way.
[Edit this paragraph] Chapter back to table of contents
The first chapter talks about Chen Dayi’s use of celebrities to hide the full text. The second chapter is about Zhou Meng, a fellow scholar from Wang Xiaolian Village, who ascended to No. 1 in his later years. The third chapter of the Zhouxue Taoist school reveals the real talent, and the butcher commits murder and makes a good report. The fourth chapter recommends the dead monk, the lawsuit, and the autumn wind. The squire suffers misfortune. The fifth chapter: Wang Xiucai proposes the establishment of a side house and strict supervision. He falls ill and dies. The sixth chapter: the squire becomes ill and makes trouble for the boatman's widow. Chapter 7: Accusing the uncle of injustice, Chapter 7: Fan Xuedao inspects the scholar's favor, Wang Yuanwai establishes friendship with Chao Dun, Chapter 8: Wang observes, good things happen in poor life, Mr. Lou encounters poor friends in his hometown, Chapter 9: Mr. Lou donates money to redeem his friend, Liu Shoubei pretends to be a boatman, Chapter 10 Lu Han, Lin Liancai, choosing a son-in-law, Peng Gongsun, and marrying a wealthy family, Chapter 11, Miss Lu made a benevolent groom, Yang Sixun, the prime minister's palace recommended talents, Chapter 12, a banquet of celebrities, Orioles' breasts, and knights' imaginary head meeting, Chapter 13, Chapter 14: Husband seeks virtuous people, inquires about his career, Ma Chun shows his loyalty, and spreads wealth. Chapter 14: Gongsun Bookstore sends off his good friend, Ma Xiucai, encounters gods in the cave. Chapter 15: Burying gods, Ma Xiucai sends mourning parents, Kuang Tongsheng pays filial piety Chapter 16: Daliuzhuang filial son marries, Yueqing County Xian Zai Aishi Chapter 17 Kuang Xiucai revisits his old place Dr. Zhao is at the top of the poetry circle Chapter 18 An appointment with a poetry club Celebrities bring Kuang to visit friends in bookstores Pan 3 Chapter 19 Kuang Superman is lucky to have a good friend Pan encounters misfortunes in his career Chapter 2 Chapter 10: Kuang Chaoman is happy, Niu Bu Yi travels to Wuhu Pass on Chang'an Road. Chapter 21: A boy pretends to be a surname and asks for his name, and the old man is sick. Chapter 22: Recognizes ancestors and grandsons, joins the clan in Yupu, makes love, travels to Xuezhai, and stays as a guest. Chapter 23: Feeling gloomy. The private poet was beaten and lamented about Lao Jing, the widow was looking for her husband. Chapter 24: Niu Pulang was implicated in many lawsuits. Bao Wenqing sorted out his old life. Chapter 25: Bao Wenqing met the old Ni Tingxi in Nanjing and asked for a bride in Anqing. Chapter 26: Investigate the promotion and mourn the death of his friend Bao Tingxi. Chapter 27: Father Marries a Wife, Mrs. Wang and Husband and wife turn against each other, brothers Ni Tingzhu meet, Chapter 28: Ji Wei, Xiao Yangzhou's marriage, Xiao Jinxuan chooses a book from Bai Xia, Chapter 29: Zhuge You meets his friend Du Shenqing in the monk's house, Chapter 30: Naji of Jiangjun Returning to Love Shaojun, Visiting Friends and Gods, Optimistic, Showing Off, and Meeting at Mochou Lake, Chapter 31, Tianchang County Visits to Heroes, Gifting Library, Drunken Guests, Chapter 32, Du Shaoqing’s Daily Life, Great Deeds, Lou Huanwen’s Last Words before Passing, Chapter 33, Du Shaoqing The couple traveled to the mountains and met friends at Hengshan. Chapter 34: Discussing rituals and music. Celebrities visited friends. Prepare bows and banners. The emperor recruited talents. Chapter 35: The emperor asked for talents. Zhuang Zhengjun resigned from his title and returned home. Chapter 36: The birth of a true Confucian in Changshu County. The thirty-seventh chapter of Taibo Temple's famous sage officiates to pay homage to the ancestors in Nanjing, repairs gifts, and sends the filial son to Xishu to seek his relatives. The thirty-eighth chapter of Guo's filial son encounters a tiger in the mountains, nectar, and a monk who encounters an enemy on a narrow road