I was a conman in the Ming Dynasty.

Chapter 493: Correct Your Mistakes

Chapter 493 Admitting Mistakes and Correcting Them

The students looked at each other in bewilderment. Just moments ago they were pointing at Wang Wenzhou and cursing him, but now he had become the chief examiner for this imperial examination. What were they to do? Those who were quick-witted covered their faces and tried to slip away. After all, Wang Wenzhou didn't know their names. Apart from Song Yingzhou, whom Wang Wenzhou could recognize at a glance, the others were not at great risk if they ran away now.

Wang Wenzhou smiled slightly, thinking that escape wouldn't be so easy. He quickly ordered, "Men, surround these 40-odd students and register their real identities one by one."

Song Yingzhou knew that things had gotten out of hand today, and it wouldn't be easy to get away with it peacefully. Since he knew that Wang Wenzhou would recognize him if he tried to run away anyway, he decided to step forward and defend his classmates. He could simply skip the imperial examination this year and try again in three years.

Song Yingzhou cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Lord Wang, what crime have we committed? Why won't you allow us to leave?"

"That's right! We haven't committed any crime, Lord Wang, you can't abuse your power!" The students covered their faces and protested vehemently.

Wang Wenzhou pointed at the students and cursed them: "You shameless bastards, you keep calling yourselves scholars. Our bodies and hair are given to us by our parents, and we dare not damage them; this is the beginning of filial piety. You have all cut off your own fingers, is this acceptable? This is the greatest act of filial impiety! The imperial examination system selects people with both virtue and talent, and you unfilial people are utterly immoral!"

Wang Wenzhou smiled slightly and continued, "Therefore, I have decided that every single one of you is a shameless and immoral scoundrel. You are stripped of your official titles and will never be employed again!"

"Ah!" The students were stunned. Ten years of hard study went unnoticed, but one success made them famous throughout the land. Every scholar dreams of one day achieving academic success.

Studying, becoming an official, and making a fortune—this was the life's ideal for all scholars. Wang Wenzhou's single sentence not only stripped these people of their scholar titles but also cut off their bright futures, leaving the students feeling utterly devastated.

Song Xingzhou was on the verge of tears, filled with regret. He no longer spoke with the same confidence as before. He said respectfully, "Lord Wang, we are not unfilial. We cut off our fingers to show our determination to study hard."

"Lord Wang, we are cutting off our fingers to show our resolve!" The students bowed and scraped, showing great respect.

"Heh!" Wang Wenzhou sneered, laughing and cursing, "You bastards, you really are educated people, you come up with a very good excuse!"

"Come, come! I'll teach you a lesson and show you what it means to be learned and versatile!" Wang Wenzhou beckoned to Wang Ying and said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, bring some wine. I'm getting a little thirsty from talking."

Wang Ying quickly brought over the wine pot to feed Wang Wenzhou, as she still admired her nemesis's talent.

Wang Wenzhou took a sip of wine and said with a smile, "During the Spring and Autumn Period, there was a man in the State of Qi named Shu Diao. Knowing that Duke Huan of Qi was fond of women, Shu Diao castrated himself to become a eunuch so that he could be close to Duke Huan more often. Duke Huan sighed, 'Shu Diao castrated himself to serve me; he loves me more than himself.' Shu Diao thus gained favor. However, Duke Huan's prime minister, Guan Zhong, said on his deathbed, 'It is not that people do not love their own bodies, but if they do not love their own bodies, what will they have for the Duke?' Duke Huan did not heed Guan Zhong's advice. Later, Shu Diao indeed rebelled, and Duke Huan died of thirst."

Wang Wenzhou pointed at the students and cursed, "What right does a person have to love their country if they don't even cherish their own body? Health is the foundation of revolution. If you don't cherish your body, drink all day and damage your liver, sleep with girls and damage your kidneys, what right do you have to serve the people? You bastards, you still talk about cutting off your fingers to show your resolve! You are shameless!"

Wang Wenzhou quoted extensively from classical texts, leaving the students speechless with shame. What were they to do? Were their futures ruined like this?

"Sister-in-law, please plead for them, otherwise how can I show mercy?"

"Sigh..." Wang Ying sighed softly. You young students, who did you have to mess with? You messed with our nemesis, and he can make your lives miserable!

Wang Ying nodded and said softly, "Husband, the students are still young. Even if they made mistakes, you can't condemn them outright. You should give them a chance to correct their mistakes."

Among the students, an elderly scholar with graying temples, well past sixty, blushed with embarrassment. He could only console himself, "The accomplished are my teachers. Although I am old, I am still a primary school student in academia. It is fair to say that I am young."

Wang Wenzhou nodded and said in a serious tone, "Fellow students, I am the one who presided over this year's imperial examination, and I can be considered your mentor. I am also an educated man, having graduated from the highest institution of learning in the Ming Dynasty, the Nanjing Imperial Academy."

"We have long heard of Lord Wang's exceptional talent and literary genius, and seeing him today confirms it! We students are truly impressed!" The students quickly showered him with flattery.

Wang Wenzhou pleaded earnestly, "Although you are shameless, immoral, disloyal, and unfilial, I am a man who cherishes talent and am truly reluctant to strip you of your titles. How about this: as long as you immediately kowtow to me and call me 'Grandpa,' I will forgive you!"

Upon hearing this, the students looked at each other, unsure of what to do. As the saying goes, a man's knees are worth gold; just moments ago they had cursed the people who kowtowed to Wang Wenzhou as traitors, how could they now bear to follow in their footsteps?

"Ah..." The old man with graying temples sighed softly.

The old man's name is Jin Yongyuan, and he is 58 years old, nearing sixty.

Jin Yongyuan thought to himself, "I'm practically buried in the ground, and I'm still just a scholar. I'm truly ashamed before my ancestors. I can't lose my scholar's title. If I do, how can I face my ancestors after I die?"

Thinking of this, Jin Yongyuan was the first to kneel down and kowtow, saying, "Lord Wang... Grandfather, I know I was wrong! Please forgive me for my youth and ignorance!"

"Haha!" Wang Wenzhou laughed and said, "Good grandson, get up quickly. We elders all love the younger generation. We won't hold back from a younger generation's mistakes. But you must remember, it is never too late to correct one's mistakes!"

Jin Yongyuan quickly replied, "Grandson will remember his grandfather's teachings."

The other students stared coldly at Jin Yongyuan, cursing inwardly: You shameless old man, your grandson is older than Wang Wenzhou, and you call him grandpa? Don't you have any shame?

Jin Yongyuan blushed with embarrassment, lowered his head, and dared not meet the eyes of his classmates. After all, what had happened today was truly shameful.

Wang Wenzhou pointed at the students and asked coldly, "Do you know you're wrong or not? I don't have that much time to play with you. If you want to admit your mistakes, hurry up and do so. Once I'm gone, it will be too late for you to admit your mistakes!"

Song Yingzhou thought for a moment, realizing he had to admit his mistake! Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to face his parents when he got home! With that thought, Song Yingzhou knelt down and said sincerely, "Grandpa, I was wrong! Please don't blame me for being silly."

Song Yingzhou led the way, and the students all knelt down and kowtowed. Only one person stood there silently, his face filled with anger.