Fang Er was stunned. This was a business he could do; wasn't it just a matter of copying someone else's work again?
If that's the case, my request for Scholar Yu remains unchanged. If Scholar Yu is satisfied with my essay later, would you trouble him to record it for me personally?
Ouyang Xun cast an appreciative glance at Fang Er, thinking, this lad knows when to advance and when to retreat!
Yu Shinan nodded, "A promise made is harder to retract than a chariot with four horses!"
Fang Er cleared his throat and began to select an essay from his mind.
After a moment of thought, his eyes lit up.
This essay is to be displayed in the academy. The title is, "A Discourse on the Youthful Great Tang!"
Ouyang Xun and Yu Shinan's spirits perked up. What a grand title!
The officials working nearby also stopped their tasks and turned their heads to look.
Fang Er, with his hands behind his back, walked a few paces in the room with his head held high and chest puffed out.
When the youth is intelligent, the nation is intelligent; when the youth is rich, the nation is rich; when the youth is strong, the nation is strong; when the youth is independent, the nation is independent;
When the youth is free, the nation is free; when the youth progresses, the nation progresses;
As the red sun rises, its radiance spreads. The river flows from its hidden source, cascading into the vast ocean.
...
Beautiful is my youthful Great Tang, forever with heaven! Mighty are the youths of my Great Tang, boundless with the nation!
Fang Er fluently recited the climax of the essay, omitting two lines that contained European and Earth-related terms, and replacing "China" with "Great Tang."
Yu Shinan was dumbfounded.
He was a straightforward person, speaking his mind, which was why he had tested Fang Er's writing skills upon their first meeting.
Because he couldn't believe that a teenager could write poetry like "Fine wine from grapes, cups of glazed glass."
But now, he believed it, and his spirit was deeply captivated by this essay of no more than a hundred characters.
Youthful Great Tang, youths of Great Tang, sharing joy and sorrow, intimately connected!
Beautifully said!
Ouyang Xun also showed a look of surprise.
This essay was more than enough to serve as an enlightenment textbook!
The others around were also deeply moved, muttering the last two lines repeatedly.
Beautiful is my youthful Great Tang, forever with heaven! Mighty are the youths of my Great Tang, boundless with the nation!
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap
Everyone spontaneously clapped their hands in approval.
Ouyang Xun looked at the stunned Yu Shinan and said, "Brother Yu, wake up! Are you satisfied with Young Friend Fang's essay?"
Yu Shinan, nudged twice by him, finally came to his senses.
"Someone! Bring me brush, ink, paper, and inkstone!"
As he spoke, someone immediately brought the Four Treasures of the Study.
"Please recite it again, young man, so that I may record it for you."
His address to Fang Er had changed from "Marquis of Liaodong" to "young man," which showed his high regard for Fang Er.
Fang Er recited it again, and Yu Shinan, holding his brush, wrote with practiced ease. Then, looking at the essay on the paper, he excitedly took his seal from his pocket.
Dipping it in red cinnabar, he stamped it down forcefully.
"Young man, I am truly impressed. With your literary talent, you are absolutely qualified to teach the Crown Prince!"
After speaking, he gave Fang Er a thumbs-up.
This gesture, which Fang Er had taught Cheng Yaojin, had somehow spread.
Ouyang Xun turned to Fang Er and asked, "Brother Yu's matter is concluded. May I know what brings you to me, young man?"
Fang Er then stated his purpose.
Upon hearing that it was for epitaphs for fallen soldiers, Ouyang Xun immediately became serious.
"This is my honor!"
After speaking, he took the paper and brush that Yu Shinan had just used and, following Fang Er's instructions, quickly wrote the seven characters: "Monument to the Heroes of Skyfire."
Yu Shinan and Ouyang Xun walked on entirely different paths.
Ouyang Xun's calligraphy was lean and vigorous, revealing its bones, while Yu Shinan's calligraphy was elegant and poised, containing both softness and strength.
Ouyang's calligraphy, with its sharp edges, was more suitable for epitaphs, exuding heroism.
While the elegant Yu script was more appropriate for display in the academy.
Fang Er bowed deeply to them, "On behalf of the fallen brothers, I thank Scholar Ouyang. And on behalf of the children in the academy, I thank Scholar Yu!"
"Hahaha, young man, you are too kind. I am very interested in your academy. Would you welcome me to visit during my leisure time?"
Yu Shinan helped Fang Er up and said with a smile.
Ouyang Xun echoed, "If there is an opportunity, I would also like to visit the academy to hear Marquis of Liaodong's lectures."
Fang Er was overjoyed. "You are most welcome, most welcome, a warm welcome! If both scholars were to visit, I will surely have the estate prepare yellow earth to pave the road and clean water to sprinkle the streets."
Of course, this was not literally scattering yellow earth, but a polite expression of his utmost regard.
Ouyang Xun patted Fang Er on the shoulder, "Very well, it's a deal."
Fang Er cupped his hands, "It's a deal!"
In just this short while, quick-witted subordinates had already helped dry the ink and rolled up the papers, placing them before Fang Er.
After bidding them farewell, Fang Er took them and returned to Fang Family Village.