RPAGF Chapter 453 The Essence of Reading
Chapter 453 The Essence of Reading
Chapter 453 The Essence of Reading
"There are still ten days until the literary gathering of scholars. How about this, I will host a banquet at the Qian residence today, and we can leave tomorrow, right?"
Seemingly seeing that Ye Ru had decided to leave, Qian Wensong pondered for a moment, patted Ye Ru on the shoulder, and said.
"That's fine then, thank you for your trouble, Brother Qian."
Ye Ru nodded, bowed to Qian Wensong, and said.
"In that case, I'll go make the preparations. You can rest for a while and come to the banquet in the evening."
After saying that, Qian Wensong left.
"I'm finally done with everything. There shouldn't be any problems now. I'll get some rest."
Watching Qian Wensong leave, Zhang Dong stretched and then opened his door and returned to his room, with Zhang Zhi and Xingyuanwang following closely behind.
Watching the three figures depart, Ye Ru returned to his bed and lay down to relax. After so many busy days, he could finally get some rest.
Realizing he hadn't properly explored the Qian family mansion yet, Ye Ru stood up and walked towards the Qian family's courtyard.
The entire Qian residence was extremely large, with lush trees and vibrant life. As Ye Ru walked through the garden, he felt much more relaxed, both physically and mentally.
Confucius said, "To learn and at due times to practice what one has learned, is that not pleasant? To have friends coming from afar, is that not delightful? To remain unperturbed when others do not recognize one's merits, is that not the mark of a gentleman?"
As Ye Ru turned a corner, a clear reading voice rang out, causing him to stop and look in the direction of the sound.
In a tree-lined pavilion, a boy of about fourteen or fifteen years old was reading aloud from a copy of the Analects of Confucius.
The young man was so focused that he did not notice Ye Ru's arrival.
This scene piqued Ye Ru's curiosity, and he quietly stepped inside.
However, as Ye Ru drew closer, the boy still did not look up at Ye Ru, but continued reading by himself.
Are you from the Qian family?
Ye Ru raised his head, took three steps forward, and said softly.
The other party still did not answer, which piqued Ye Ru's interest. There were probably not many people who could concentrate on their studies so intently.
After the young man finished reading the entire Analects, he slowly put down the book, stood up, and bowed to Ye Ru.
"Hello."
"Hello."
Ye Ru returned the greeting in kind.
"Is studying like this even useful?"
Seemingly disapproving of the boy's reading method, Ye Ru frowned and asked.
"Isn't it useful?"
Strangely, the boy did not display the immaturity expected of a fourteen or fifteen-year-old; instead, he spoke with remarkable maturity.
“How come you see?”
The boy's serious expression surprised Ye Ru. He straightened up for a moment, then smiled and said:
"If you read blindly without understanding, you won't be able to grasp the meaning. On the contrary, only by understanding the meaning can you remember it. This is the proper way to read."
In his past life, he could remember a single fragment of a story once he understood it.
"Are you saying I can't remember? Don't compare me to those mediocre people. The purpose of studying is to see things clearly, understand right and wrong, and distinguish between good and evil, not to pass the imperial examinations and enter officialdom. My purpose in studying is simply to make myself more polite."
The boy's words startled Ye Ru, and a question that had been lingering in his mind seemed to be answered here.
What is the essence of reading?
Ye Ru used to think the same way, but as he grew in experience, his purpose for reading gradually shifted. He no longer read for himself, but more for the entire Yanhuang Kingdom.
But now, it's simply impossible for him to make the entire Yanhuang Kingdom strong on his own.
After being reminded by the boy, he gradually understood the true meaning of reading.
Nowadays, most people read books that emphasize "excelling in studies leads to officialdom." Whether they are poor students or from wealthy families, they all want to gain some status or fame in this Confucian and Taoist world, but they ignore the original meaning of reading.
"It seems that my path to sainthood is gradually deviating. Of the four, self-cultivation, family management, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world, self-cultivation is the most important. Self-cultivation is the foundation, and only then can one manage the family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world. If a scholar cannot even control himself, how can he proceed with the other four?"
A clear mirror seemed to appear in my mind, and my thoughts seemed to be slowly growing.
Sensing this change, Ye Ru looked up, only to be surprised that the boy had vanished without a trace.
Who is it that can disappear right under your nose?
"Thank you for your guidance, I am very grateful."
Ye Ru bowed towards a certain direction, a look of gratitude on his face. This person was so strange; he was definitely not an ordinary person.
After bowing, Ye Ru continued to wander around before returning to his room to contemplate his path to sainthood. Several hours passed in this way until a maid came to call him, which startled Ye Ru awake. He then followed the maid to the back garden.
On the rooftop, a young boy stood with his hands behind his back, showing no signs of immaturity. His dark eyes revealed a sense of world-weariness and wisdom.
Beside him stood a middle-aged man. They seemed to possess no talent whatsoever, appearing as ordinary people. However, their actions and identities indicated that they were not simply ordinary people.
"Interesting lad, so clever, able to apply what you've learned to other situations. I just wonder how far you can go on this sacred path; it won't be easy."
"Your thinking is quite mature, but are you sure you haven't misjudged him?"
The middle-aged man next to him pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke.
"Don't worry, you can't be wrong. This young man is Ye Ru, the one who's been all over the news in Yanhuang Kingdom. Our Confucian Continent hasn't seen such a genius for many years. I really don't know what he'll be like when he grows up."
"Should we report this to the Hall of Scholars?"
The middle-aged man frowned. To his surprise, the other party thought highly of this young man.
"Okay, report it. Our mission is just to select talents in this Confucian and Taoist continent. As for the assessment and such, we'll have to wait for their notification."
"I hope he won't let me down."
The boy shrugged, seemingly indifferent, then tapped his foot, his body rising into the air before gradually disappearing from the scene.
"Let's hope this is our only chance."
The middle-aged man also sighed and disappeared from the spot...