'The Way of Great Learning' didn't spread like a pop culture craze the moment it was published. For the average person, the article 'The Way of Great Learning', even many students and their parents, was hard to understand. And even those who could grasp the literal meaning couldn't fully appreciate the literary value it carried.
However, for education experts, for well-known scholars, and for some academic elites who took notice of the piece, the emergence of 'The Way of Great Learning' was nothing short of a literary earthquake.
The fastest to respond was 'Youth Literature', the parent magazine of 'Youth Daily'. As a prestigious publication under the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, 'Youth Literature' held a significant position in the world of Chinese periodicals. As soon as 'The Way of Great Learning' appeared in 'Youth Daily', 'Youth Literature' immediately reprinted it in their latest "Words of the Masters" column.
Similarly, 'Xinmin Evening News', 'China Education Daily', and the 'China Education Network' all quickly followed suit and reprinted the article.
Across the sea in Xiangjiang, 'Huiwen News', 'Ta Kung Pao', and 'Ming Pao' also published the piece, each adding their own commentary.
As a result, the pen name "Qiushui" was thrust into the national spotlight for the first time.
...
"Chief Editor Sun, this Mister Qiushui is absolutely brilliant. I'm not even in the same league. When you get the chance, would you mind taking me along to visit him?"
The moment 'The Way of Great Learning' was published, Qiu Enze, a top lecturer at Huangshi High School, read it over a hundred times that night.
Each reading brought a new feeling.
Each reading sparked a fresh insight.
He was filled with admiration for Qiushui, utterly awestruck.
The next day, Qiu Enze called Sun Zaian directly, hoping for the chance to visit this literary master.
"Old master? Uh, Xiao Qiu, that Qiushui guy isn't some elderly scholar. I think he's still in secondary school."
"Secondary school? Chief Editor Sun, you must be joking."
"I'm not joking. Really."
"I don't buy it. Chief Editor Sun, come on, I just want to pay a respectful visit. Nothing more."
"I'm serious, he's a secondary school student."
"Chief Editor Sun, if you keep talking like this, we're going to fall out."
"Uh… alright, alright, I'll go ask the old gentleman."
'Click', the phone hung up, only for it to ring again shortly after.
"Xiao Sun?"
"Why, Professor Shen, what brings you to call me today?"
"Professor? Please, I'm not worthy of the title. I just wanted to ask you something. You know that Qiushui fellow who wrote 'The Way of Great Learning', right?"
"I do! Why?"
"Good. Then Xiao Sun, when you've got time, let's go pay a visit to Mister Qiushui together."
"Uh… well…"
"Come on, don't 'uh' me. It's my own fault that I hadn't heard of such a great scholar before. I'm going to propose to the Ministry tomorrow that we formally recommend Mister Qiushui to the organization. I want 'The Way of Great Learning' to become the foundation of a nationwide campaign on governing with virtue. I must visit this old gentleman first."
"Professor Shen, that might be a bit difficult."
"Of course it's difficult. A scholar like that surely doesn't care for fame or fortune. But for the sake of education in Huaguo, no matter how hard it is, I'll bring him out of seclusion."
"Well… Professor Shen, I'll be honest with you. The writer named Qiushui is actually a middle school student. I think he just graduated junior high, hasn't even started high school yet."
"Hasn't started high school? Xiao Sun, you, you, if you're going to lie, at least come up with something believable! Stop fooling around!"
"Professor Shen, it's true."
Sun Zaian was close to tears.
"True, my foot! I'm heading straight to your editorial office. Let's see how you explain this to my face."
'Click', another call hung up. Then the phone rang yet again.
This time it was Ji Ziping, editor-in-chief of 'Youth Literature', the parent publication of 'Youth Daily'.
"Chief Editor Sun, hello, hello!"
"Editor Ji, what brings you here again?"
"What do you mean again? Chief Editor Sun, don't tell me someone else called you already. Damn, I'm too late. Still, let me be clear. Someone like Qiushui, you absolutely cannot let him go anywhere else. We've already received word from higher-ups. We want Mister Qiushui to join 'Youth Literature'."
"Editor Ji, well, that… that might not be appropriate."
"What's inappropriate? Chief Editor Sun, I know you're attached, but you've got to consider Qiushui's talent. 'The Way of Great Learning', that's the work of a rare genius, a once-in-a-generation scholar. While 'Youth Daily' is doing a good job, its audience is limited to youth. Its scope is a bit narrow. He'd be better off with us at 'Youth Literature'."
"That still won't work."
"Chief Editor Sun, now you're just being petty. I know 'Youth Daily' has always had tight funding. Here's what, I'll talk to our superiors and have the next funding project allocated to 'Youth Daily' instead. Satisfied?"
"But…"
"But what? You still won't agree?"
"Editor Ji, it's not that I won't agree…"
Sun Zaian still wanted to explain, but thinking of the two previous calls, he quickly shut his mouth.
Even he was beginning to wonder: was Qiushui really just a middle school student?
Could that little girl have been lying to him?
A middle schooler writing 'The Way of Great Learning'? It sounded impossible.
No, he needed to go ask that girl again.
"Editor Ji, I'll have to ask Mister Qiushui himself."
"Fair enough. But if he declines, we'll visit him in person."
...
'The Way of Great Learning lies in the illumination of virtue.'
In a quiet little study with the faint scent of a teenage girl, a young girl's voice rang out.
She was reading aloud, reading an essay titled 'The Way of Great Learning'.
No one knew who wrote this piece. But if anyone overheard her, they would realize it definitely wasn't written by any ancient sage. And yet, despite that, the writing seemed to rival, if not surpass, the classics of old in both meaning and charm.
Her voice wasn't loud, but it flowed smoothly and clearly. The words and voice seemed to carry a magical power, spreading through the window like ripples, drifting onto the street outside. Passersby would occasionally pause and listen for a moment, then move on. To them, it must have sounded like a young girl reading a classical masterpiece.
"Huang Yifan, I used to think you were a genius. But now I realize, even a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand geniuses can't compare to a single line from your 'The Way of Great Learning'."
With a soft sigh, the girl finished reading. Just then, her phone rang in the room.
"Luo Zi, it's Uncle Sun."
"Uncle Sun? Why are you calling?"
"Hehe, just wanted to ask you something again. That classmate of yours, the one who goes by Qiushui, is it true?"
"What's up?"
"I just want to confirm, don't lie to Uncle now. Is that Qiushui really your classmate?"
"Well…"
Li Luozi had been about to nod. But when she remembered the overwhelming flood of praise 'The Way of Great Learning' had received the night before, she suddenly shook her head and said, "Sorry, Uncle Sun. Qiushui isn't my classmate. He's a retired university professor."
"A retired professor?"
"Scared me to death, Luo Zi! Don't joke like that again. Uncle has a heart condition, you'll kill me."
"Sorry, Uncle Sun. I didn't mean to fool you."
"Alright, alright. Then, do you know where this Mister Qiushui lives?"
"Sorry, Uncle Sun, I can't tell you. The old gentleman is retired and doesn't want to be disturbed. He only agreed to write a few memoirs because I pestered him about it."
"Luo Zi, we're not trying to disturb him. We just want to pay our respects. You must've seen the response to 'The Way of Great Learning', we truly want to learn from him."
"Uncle Sun, please don't make it hard for me. I really can't say."
"Sigh, you little rascal, you really…"
The call ended there.
Li Luozi patted her chest and let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Thank goodness she was smart. Otherwise, with Huang Yifan's 'The Way of Great Learning', he would've been hounded to death by admirers.
Still, Li Luozi was a little conflicted. She wasn't sure whether hiding Huang Yifan's identity was the right thing to do or not.
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