On this day, Shen You came to Yang Chengye's small courtyard and said: "Second brother, hurry up, big brother has found a teacher for you."

  Yang Chengye was momentarily bewildered: "Mister? What mister?"

  Shen You smiled and said: "Second brother, have you forgotten? Mother said that you are going to take the imperial examination, and I will find a teacher to guide your studies."

  "This gentleman was a top scholar in his youth, with great talent and learning. He has recently retired to his hometown; let's go see him soon."

  It wasn't until then that Yang Chengye remembered what Wu Ruolan had said to him a few days ago, and he didn't expect Shen You to find it for him so quickly.

  Shen You prepared gifts and rode horses with Yang Chengye to Tianjia Bang.

  In this era, scholars hold power and warriors are inferior. Having a scholar's skin makes it much easier to get things done, which is what many people think.

  Nowadays, sometimes I think that scholars behave in such a way because they are timid and afraid of warriors.

  Before the Song Dynasty, going out as a general and coming in as an official was the pursuit of literary people. People like Li Jing and Li Ji of the pre-Tang period were such individuals. Even officials who had never led troops before, such as Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, also had remarkable understanding of military affairs.

  Nowadays, the literati, whose backbone was broken by the turmoil before the Song Dynasty, the more they show contempt for military generals, the more they are timid and short of breath. Their outwardly superior appearance is just to cover up their own weakness.

  The Jin dynasty was also incompetent, and in its heyday, it only managed to capture Bianjing, but failed to destroy the Song dynasty, and was even counterattacked by people like Yue Fei, almost leading to its own downfall. It's simply a matter of who is more rotten.

  Yang Chengye realized this and had no intention of being an official, it's better to roam the world freely, when the Southern Song Dynasty perishes, he can just go overseas.

  At the same time, Yang Chengye secretly practiced his light skill, focusing on speed, like wind and lightning.

  The wind is generally not fast, but gentle. Lightning speed is the fastest, but if used in light work, it gives people a feeling of using all their strength to burst out. It's not sustainable, and light work shouldn't just be about bursting out, but should be like high-speed rail, which runs at a uniform speed.

  Yang Chengye thought as he practiced, "I've also studied enough now, spending more effort won't have any effect, it's better to find a lightness skill manual instead."

  Yang Chengye thought he had arrived at his destination, Tianjia Bang.

  Tianjia Bay is a small village, and on the edge of the village there is a lake with clear water, where fish swim back and forth like arrows.

  And they were going to a rather stylish mansion by the lake - Shi Fu.

  Shen You knocked on the door, and after a moment, the large gate opened. A servant came out to look at Shen You, Yang Chengye, and the horse carriage behind them, asking: "Who are you looking for?"

  Shen You smiled and said: "I am Shen You and my brother Yang Chengye have come to pay our respects to Master Lao."

  The servant said: "Our master is taking a nap, if you want to see him, just wait."

  The servant finished speaking and slammed the big door shut with a "bang".

  Shen You sighed and smiled: "The literary man's temperament is indeed a sight to behold."

  "What literary elegance? They're just a bunch of people who know some literature, but apart from shaking their heads and waving their arms, they can't even protect their families or defend their country. It's better for them to stay at home and study instead."

  Upon hearing this, Shen You hastily said: "Second brother, do not speak rashly. In our dynasty, it is the realm of scholars and they view themselves as being quite high up. Offending them would be most unwise."

  "Especially since Master Lao has been an official in the imperial court for dozens of years, and has countless disciples and former subordinates, we should maintain a good relationship with him."

  Yang Chengye and Shen You waited outside the door for a whole hour before it opened again.

  "Our master invites you in!"

  The same servant came out and said.

  Shen You nodded and carried the gift with Yang Chengye following the servant into the gate.

  Upon entering the gate, what comes into view is a vast sea of flowers, with various types of flowers competing to bloom, and hundreds of flowers blooming together, breathtakingly beautiful.

  Behind the sea of flowers is a small bridge with flowing water, pavilions and buildings, forming a beautiful picture.

  Looking at such a beautiful view, Yang Chengye is really good at enjoying himself!

  At this time, the servant pointed to a two-story wooden building and said: "The master is waiting for you upstairs, go up by yourself."

  The servant finished speaking and left directly, Yang Chengye and Shen You exchanged a glance and walked into the building.

  In the hall, a silver-haired, white-bearded, ruddy-faced septuagenarian sat in a taishi chair savoring fragrant tea.

  "Shen You accompanied his second brother Yang Chengye to pay respects to their teacher."

  As soon as Shen You entered the hall, he paid his respects to the elderly man with a bow.

  The old man slowly put down his tea cup, stroked his beard and said: "You are the benevolent and righteous official, aren't you?"

  Shen You replied: "It's really me, I didn't expect Master Lao to know me too, it's truly a blessing of three lifetimes!"

  The old man praised: "Your reputation has spread for thousands of miles, I think it's hard not to hear about it."

  "What brings you here, sir?"

  Shen You replied: "I have long heard that Master Lao's learning is profound and his talent is exceptional, having spent his life teaching and educating people, with disciples and former officials all over the world."

  "Now returned home in glory, I want to take on a disciple to seal off my door. My second brother is not talented and has come to pay respects as a master."

  Shen You said, presenting the gift box, and continued: "I heard that Master Lao is also a connoisseur of good wine, having tasted all the fine wines in the world. There are several types of wine outside that were personally brewed by my second brother, please don't disdain them, Master Lao."

  Upon hearing this, the old man narrowed his eyes and carefully sized up Yang Chengye. After a long while, he said: "You look decent enough, but you're wasting your energy on winemaking; it's unlikely you'll amount to much in the future."

  "We have enough fine wine here, you can go back!"

  Upon hearing this, Shen You's expression turned stern, and he really wanted to slap himself in the face - why did he say it was his second brother's wine?

  "Master, you've misunderstood!"

  "Second Brother is not only good at brewing fine wine, but also has keen ears and eyes, with exceptional literary talent. He just lacks experience in taking imperial examinations."

  "Oh?"

  The old man looked at Yang Chengye again and said: "What literary talent can a fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy have? Don't exaggerate, sir!"

  At this time, Yang Chengye also had some anger and said: "Master, your words are wrong. Haven't you heard that Gan Luo became a prime minister at the age of 12? Don't underestimate young people who are in a difficult situation, they will rise to great heights one day!"

  "Hmm!"

  The old man snorted coldly and said with an unpleasant expression: "You have a big mouth, I'll teach you a lesson today."

  "Let's take a look at your calligraphy skills first."

  The old man walked up to a desk, on which was spread out rice paper, with the Four Treasures of the Study beside it.

  "Young man, if you can write out 'The Analects of Confucius' within half an hour, I will admire you."

  Upon hearing this, Yang Chengye secretly smiled in his heart. This old fellow is also cunning, not only wanting to test his own calligraphy, but also the literary foundation of his teacher.

  "Yang Chengye was proficient in Analects of Confucius since childhood and preferred Song typeface in calligraphy."

  In the Song Dynasty, the most popular font was Songti, which scholars and literary men liked for its neatness.

  Yang Chengye didn't say a word, picked up his brush and dipped it in ink, and began writing "The Analects" on the rice paper.

  In just a moment, Yang Chengye filled up a whole page with neat and smooth handwriting.

  "Alright, stop it!"

  Upon seeing Yang Chengye's "Analects of Confucius", the old man suddenly shouted for a halt.

  Shen You looked at the words written by Yang Chengye and asked the old man with a smile: "Master, can the second brother's writing meet your requirements?"