Chapter 22: Rote Memorization

  The second day in Changji was a very rewarding day. Even without picking up any leftovers or making any money, Wang Ke still felt that today was well worth it. In his eyes, Zhao Menfeng absolutely belonged to the kind of person who was learned and talented, and the content he explained throughout the afternoon made him feel greatly benefited.

  At four o'clock in the afternoon, Zhao Menfeng felt that he had explained enough and saw Wang Ke concentrating on listening to him. He smiled and said: "Alright, as the saying goes: One mouthful can't make a big fat man. Let's stop here for today! However, I need to assign you a task."

  Wang Ke was originally enchanted by what he heard, but when Zhao Menfeng said that was all, although he felt somewhat reluctant in his heart, he could only agree.

  "Old Zhao, what's the mission?" Wang Ke asked curiously.

  Zhao Menfeng said: "This time you go back, on the one hand, you must carefully read the book I gave you. On the other hand, you also need to be familiar with the Twenty-Four Histories and the Draft History of Qing. Of course, if you want to identify artifacts, you must have a solid foundation in antiques, so you must also go and read books on various aspects of antique identification. Do you still remember my words? Identifying antiques is the first step; without this first step, everything else is nonsense."

  Wang Ke stood up from his chair, bowed his head and said: "Old Zhao, don't worry, I will definitely follow your advice, carefully read books on various aspects, and strive to learn more knowledge."

  Zhao Menfeng nodded and stood up from his chair, saying: "You wait here for a few minutes, I'll go upstairs to get something."

  Wang Ke looked at Zhao Mengfu's back, and his eyes slowly lit up.

  What good things does Zhao Lao have for himself? Is it a book about magical artifacts or treasures in other aspects?

  A few minutes later, Old Zhao returned from the second floor again. At this moment, he held a stack of printed paper in his hand and stood in front of Wang Ke, then smiled and said: "Wang Ke, I have ten more sheets of printed paper here with 10,000 words on it. If you can memorize them within three days, come back to learn from me again after three days. If you can't memorize them within three days, don't come to learn from me anymore and don't come back either. Got it?"

  Ten thousand words content?

  Wang Ke found it somewhat amusing, and as he took the ten sheets of printed paper, he also laughed and said: "Old Zhao, no problem, your words are imperial decrees. For 10,000 characters, don't say three days, I can do it in one day..."

  His words came to an abrupt halt, and the smile on his face also froze.

  His gaze had fallen on the content of the top printed paper at this moment, and that content made him jump in fright.

  Quickly flipping through the contents of the ten printed papers, Wang Ke looked at Zhao Menfeng with a puzzled expression. The 10,000 words on the ten printed papers did not have a single complete sentence, no punctuation, and no paragraphs. The ten drafts were completely incoherent, as if they had been randomly typed out on a computer keyboard.

  "Old Zhao, you...you didn't get it wrong, did you? What's this all about?" Wang Ke asked hesitantly.

  Zhao Men said calmly: "That's right, it is indeed it, three days' time."

  After saying this, he waved his hand and said: "Alright, I'm tired. If you don't have any other questions, then go back first!"

  Wang Ke could see Zhao Meng's resolute intention, but he had no choice but to agree.

  After leaving the antique market, Wang Ke found a bank and remitted 50,000 yuan to his landlord, which also settled one of his worries.

  In a secluded corner outside the bank entrance, Wang Ke took out his mobile phone and dialed the middle-aged landlord's phone number.

  "Hello, who is it?" came the middle-aged landlord's voice over the phone.

  "Landlord, I am Wang Ke." Wang Ke said with a smile.

  The middle-aged landlord's laughter came over: "Little Wang! How are you? Have you arrived in Changji? Take care of yourself when you're alone there, and if you have any difficulties, just give me a call."

  Wang Ke hadn't even said the purpose of his call when he was warmed up by a middle-aged landlord's words.

  "Landlord, I'm doing well here. I've found a job and I'm also learning from a senior colleague. By the way, I called you because there's something I need to tell you."

  "Ah, I knew you'd make something of yourself! I wasn't wrong, was I? You've only been out for two days and already found a job! What's the story?" The middle-aged landlord said with a hearty laugh.

  Wang Ke said: "Landlord, do you still remember the incense burner I bought from you a few days ago? That incense burner is actually a ritual vessel. At first, I didn't know either, but later I found an appraiser and had it identified. Landlord, I've already sold that incense burner for 100,000 yuan. Just now, I transferred 50,000 yuan to your account. Since the money can't all be given to you, let's just split it!"

  The middle-aged landlord on the other end of the phone was stunned, he never dreamed that the broken incense burner that had been placed on his family's eight immortals table for many years was actually a magical artifact.

  What a wonderful tool!

  That was a legendary item, he had heard of it before but never saw it.

  After being stunned for a while, he finally came back to his senses and said resolutely: "Wang Ke, I've already sold that incense burner to you. Even if it's a magical artifact or a divine artifact, it's still your thing, and it has nothing to do with me anymore. So I won't take the money; give me your account number, and I must return the money to you."

  The landlord in his middle age had expected this, Wang Ke had already thought of a countermeasure, he smiled and said: "Landlord, what kind of person I am, you should be clear, if you let me take advantage of you like this, I will feel uneasy for the rest of my life. After all, that artifact incense burner is your family's, being able to earn 50,000 yuan from it, I am already satisfied, if you really don't want that 50,000 yuan, then you are intentionally making me bear a lifetime of moral condemnation! So, no matter what, you have to accept this money, for your understanding, I know you won't let me fall into the reputation of being unkind and unjust."

  The middle-aged landlord was stunned, he didn't expect Wang Ke to say such a thing.

  He knew more about Wang Ke and knew that he was a down-to-earth young man, but what he said was too serious, wasn't it?

  "This... I..."

  Wang Ke smiled and said, "Landlord, I've said all I wanted to say. If you really don't want that money, just throw it into the river. I'll transfer the money to you, and we'll consider it settled. What you do with the money has nothing to do with me. If there's nothing else, then I'll hang up first. There are still some things later."

  Without giving the middle-aged landlord a chance to speak, Wang Ke hung up the phone.

  Since arriving in Changji City, the original mobile phone number can no longer be used, otherwise long-distance calls will waste a lot of money. Found a place to buy a new mobile card, Wang Ke changed it and called his parents, telling them that he had arrived in Changji City, and also told them that he had found a job, so they don't have to worry.

  Of course, the 50,000 yuan that was returned a few days ago, Wang Ke also made up a story to gloss over it, in short, it can make his parents use the money with peace of mind.

  Filial piety is the most important of all virtues. It's not easy for parents to raise their children, now that they have grown up, it's time for them to show filial obedience to their parents.

  On his way back to Li Ruoxi's villa, Wang Ke stopped by a supermarket to buy some daily necessities and then rushed back.

  Back at the villa, Song Yi was cooking dinner. Wang Ke quickly greeted her and then rushed into his own room.

  He can't afford to waste a single minute, he must memorize the contents of the ten printed papers given by Zhao Menfeng and Zhao Lao as soon as possible. After finally finding a teacher with rich knowledge and great skills, he is not willing to be rejected due to his own uselessness.

  The loud recitation echoed in Wang Ke's room.

  With countless words that didn't make sense, the content was made up of phrases that couldn't be put together to form a sentence, giving Wang Ke an excruciating headache. However, there was no way around it - this was his task and also Zhao Men Feng's test for him. This wasn't like judging whether a wooden carving was genuine or not, where he could still rely on his special ability to cheat. Now, he had to go all out and memorize the entire content of 10,000 words by rote.

  At dinner time, Song Yi came to call Wang Que, but Wang Que, in order to seize the time to recite, directly told Song Yi that he was not hungry and would go out to get something to eat when he was hungry.

  At 10 o'clock in the evening, Li Ruoxi, dressed in casual clothes, stretched her waist and walked down from the second floor. She had already handled the company's affairs through online video conferencing, and even arranged the next few days' work properly. If there were no major events or sudden incidents, she didn't need to continue working at all.

  "It's strange, what's going on with him today? I heard from Song Auntie that he locked himself in his room to recite something after coming back. Is he learning English?" Li Ruoxi had a puzzled expression and quietly came to the closed door of Wang Ke's room, her ear lightly stuck to the door.

  Half a minute later, a strange expression appeared on her absolutely beautiful face.

  What is this nonsense? The words don't match, it's completely out of tune.

  "Has this guy gone crazy?"

  Li Ruoxi was stunned for a while before shaking her head and leaving with a bitter smile.

  She didn't disturb Wang Ke because she knew that as long as he was reciting something, as long as he wasn't stupid, it would be very useful to him.

  Time is like flowing water, fleeting away quickly.

  At midnight, Wang Ke was able to recite the content of the previous 2,000 words thanks to his strong memory.

  With a comfortable stretch, Wang Ke's face revealed a hint of confidence.

  Three days' time is enough to memorize 10,000 words.

  He didn't have dinner that night. He had exhausted his mind too much today, so after reciting the two thousand words in front of him, he washed up and went to bed.

  The next morning, when Wang Ke woke up from his dream, he felt that the events of last night had thrown his confidence to the ninth cloud.

  Last night I memorized the first 2000 words by rote, but after a good sleep, I forgot more than half of them.

  "What kind of ridiculous assessment is this? Forcing myself to memorize such unwholesome stuff, my brain hurts! " Wang Ke furrowed his brow and rubbed his temples in distress, then picked up the materials again, putting aside the true energy cultivation he had persisted with for many years, and continued to cram.