Chapitre 67: A Good Teacher and a Good Student
"Eh? Is there really such a registration in the Daoist Association?" Hearing Master Sun's words, Fang Yi was momentarily taken aback. He had initially thought that the documents left to him by his master were merely fabricated by some local advertisements, yet it turned out to be genuine.
"Yes, I had someone check. It clearly states that you became the abbot of the Shangqing Palace on Fang Mountain three years ago. Not just anyone can hold such a position..."
Master Sun nodded, his curiosity still piqued. It is known that in both Buddhism and Daoism, the head of any temple or monastery should be a person of high moral standing. How could it possibly be Fang Yi?
"Master, there are only my master and me at the Shangqing Palace. After my master's passing, I was left alone..."
Fang Yi couldn't help but chuckle bitterly upon hearing Master Sun's words. Although the name "Shangqing Palace" sounded impressive, it was merely a dilapidated temple with a few drafty rooms, where only he and his master had resided for decades. With the old priest's death, it was only natural for Fang Yi to assume the role of abbot.
"There are only the two of you at the... Shangqing Palace?" Master Sun exclaimed, his mouth agape, then shook his head and chuckled incredulously.
Having refrained from probing into Fang Yi's past to avoid stirring painful memories, Sun Lianda was unaware that such a grandly named temple had fallen into such disrepair. It was no wonder he had found no information regarding the Shangqing Palace on Fang Mountain.
"Enough of this topic..."
Sun Lianda waved his hand with a smile and said, "The state is quite lenient regarding religious studies. I will find a way for you to register for the graduate entrance examination. Your primary task over the next six months is to thoroughly grasp the knowledge in these textbooks, especially English and advanced mathematics; you must master these subjects..."
Understanding Fang Yi's solid foundation in classical literature and history, Sun Lianda felt no concern regarding the specialized examinations. Politics was merely a matter of rote memorization, and given Fang Yi's intelligence, he would surely pass. However, the graduate entrance exam included not only specialized subjects and politics but also English and mathematics, both of which were of considerable importance.
In fact, many seasoned professors in the country, including Sun Lianda, held a strong aversion to these courses. While advanced mathematics might stimulate logical thinking and could be justified as necessary, the English examination was detested by many instructors.
Sun Lianda had an old friend, a renowned professor at the Beijing Academy of Fine Arts and an esteemed painter, who had long wished to mentor a few exceptional students. Unfortunately, every year, the promising candidates he identified failed to pass the English exam, ultimately disqualifying them from becoming his students.
In a fit of frustration, this professor wrote to the relevant education authorities, arguing that he taught traditional Chinese painting, which had no need for foreign communication. He hoped the authorities would relax the policies to allow truly talented individuals to acquire knowledge.
Of course, the professor's intentions were noble, albeit somewhat idealistic. His letter had been sent years ago, yet no one had addressed the issue. In exasperation, he decided not to accept any graduate students, thereby making a silent protest against the authorities.
"Teacher, I have no issues with English, but advanced mathematics is a bit perplexing for me..."
Gazing at the thick stack of books on the coffee table, Fang Yi scratched his head. Previously, his friend had sent him English learning tapes and textbooks, and with the radio he tinkered with, he could listen to some English teaching broadcasts. Although his spoken English was lacking, Fang Yi's vocabulary was fairly decent.
In contrast, Fang Yi struggled with advanced mathematics. Without a teacher's explanation, he found himself dizzy when confronted with formulas like trigonometric functions. If he were to take a mathematics exam, he estimated he would only guess a few answers correctly on the multiple-choice questions, while the rest would remain beyond his grasp.
"In our field, advanced mathematics is not necessarily a required subject; I merely suggested you review it..." Upon hearing that Fang Yi was proficient in English, Master Sun's face lit up with surprise. He had initially assumed that Fang Yi, having grown up in the mountains, would not even recognize the twenty-four letters of the English alphabet.
As for advanced mathematics, it had not been included in last year's exam, and Sun Lianda had only heard that it might be part of this year's assessment, which was why he had procured related books. In just a month, they would know the subjects that would definitely be tested this year.
"How about this..."
Sun Lianda, somewhat excited, stood up and paced around the living room a few times. "On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, you will study specialized knowledge with me; on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, you will learn English with a tutor. Additionally, set aside some time on Sundays to memorize political theory. We aim to take the exam early next year..."
Verifying Fang Yi's educational background was merely the first step, but whether he could pass the graduate entrance exam would depend on his own efforts. Initially, Sun Lianda held only a thirty to forty percent hope, but after their conversation today, that hope had surged to seventy or eighty percent.
"Alright, Teacher, I will strive to do my best..."
Fang Yi nodded earnestly. Although he had acquired many skills during his more than ten years in the mountains that most ordinary people could not access, his understanding of modern science was still inferior to that of many current middle school students. At this moment, Fang Yi resembled a parched sponge, eagerly yearning to absorb knowledge.
"Come, let us commence our first lesson today. I will discuss the origins and development of museology. Modern museology is generally paired with archaeology or history as its related fields..."
Although Sun Lianda intended to teach Fang Yi about antique appraisal, there was no specialized course in antique appraisal in the country; moreover, Sun Lianda was a professor in the museum studies department, meaning Fang Yi's graduate application would have to be for that department.
However, the museum studies, archaeology, and history departments were, to some extent, interrelated. As the saying goes, "one understanding leads to many understandings." Sun Lianda was the deputy director of the National Cultural Relics Appraisal Committee, a towering figure in the realm of cultural relics and antiques.
Thus, students graduating from the museum studies department who made a name for themselves in the cultural relics field could be considered professionally trained. Certainly, if someone who studied Arabic aspired to become an expert in antique appraisal, it would be not entirely impossible, but within the industry, no one would acknowledge them as having a professional background.
Every week, Sun Lianda taught an open course at Jinling University, where his knowledge was presented in an accessible manner. Given Fang Yi's historical foundation, he easily absorbed the information. After more than two hours of class, both Sun Lianda and Fang Yi felt a lingering thirst for more.
"Teacher, let's call it a day..."
Fang Yi glanced at the clock on the wall and then at the teacher's excited yet slightly fatigued face. He then spoke, "Please rest early, Teacher. Tomorrow, when I go out to sell, I will bring you some breakfast..."
"Alright, Fang Yi, there are two thousand yuan on the table; take it for your expenses..."
Before Fang Yi could decline, Sun Lianda continued, "In university, graduate students are expected to assist their professors with research projects, and the school allocates funding for this. So, take this money for now; I won't provide you with funds for your projects later..."
Sun Lianda's words were not merely to console Fang Yi, but rather a reflection of reality. As a well-known expert in archaeology and cultural relics in the country, whenever a significant burial site was excavated, relevant authorities would invite Sun Lianda to assemble a team for the appraisal of the unearthed artifacts. Thus, he was never short of funding.
"Alright, I will take it. Thank you, Teacher..."
Upon hearing Master Sun's words, Fang Yi accepted graciously, pocketing the two thousand yuan from the table. After washing the tea cups used by the teacher and wiping down the coffee table, Fang Yi took his leave.
"To have such a fine student is a blessing in this life..."
Watching Fang Yi's departing figure, Sun Lianda smiled with satisfaction. During the lecture, Fang Yi demonstrated an impressive understanding, articulating his viewpoints on various issues, which greatly pleased Sun Lianda.
What impressed him even more was Fang Yi's respect, which came from the heart. The act of cleaning up before leaving was done so naturally by Fang Yi that Sun Lianda could tell it was not a mere attempt to curry favor.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone