Fan Jin went crazy, clumsily falling into the “mud pit” pre-set on the stage. After getting up, he still mumbled to himself about how he had passed the imperial exam.

The commoners couldn’t help bursting into laughter seeing this ridiculous scene. Many scholars in the audience had rather unsightly expressions.

This portrayal of Fan Jin was a bit too insulting to scholars.

He had absolutely no bearing or manners, a foolish blockhead, poor and ignorant, submissive and resentful… the list of his unflattering states went on and on.

But quite a few scholars also thought of their own repeated exam failures and held back tears with their sleeves.

Wasn’t the mentality of the person on stage a true reflection of themselves?

If they passed the imperial exam one day, they probably wouldn’t be much better than Fan Jin.

They just never imagined that from an observer’s perspective, it would seem so ugly… truly shameful.

Of course, the commoners were also deep in thought. The sycophantic behavior of Butcher Hu and the other supporting characters made some people feel a bit uncomfortable.

If even provincial examination graduates are like this, wouldn’t licking their boots be even more demeaning?

When it got to the part where Butcher Hu slapped Fan Jin awake, the commoners’ emotions reached a climax.

They looked at the nearby scholars in their Confucian robes with meaningful gazes…

So-called masters who passed the provincial exam are just like that… nothing special!

Fang Zheng and Li Yuanzhao moved through the crowd, observing everyone’s reactions, and couldn’t help feeling very satisfied.

As expected of a classic text sifted out by the waves of history.

Even in another world, its brilliance could never be concealed!

At the end, Fan Jin still reached the peak of life, surrounded by pretty wives and concubines, not to mention money and food… living oh so merrily.

Amidst the joy, the actors slowly exited the stage.

Things became a bit quiet below the stage as many people were still savoring the aftertaste.

This play… although it didn’t have intense action or dramatic ups and downs, it somehow felt a bit unpleasant to watch.

Some scholars who couldn’t stand it had already covered their faces and left.

After a while, the commoners finally registered the taste… wait, didn’t we come to watch an exciting play today?

Where’s the scandalous content? Where’s the wastrel son-in-law? This play had immersion, but it’s not exciting enough! We want excitement!

Some people felt cheated and couldn’t help shouting, “Dammit, refund!”

“Stop howling! It’s free, what refund? Encore! We want an encore!”

The host saw things were about to get out of control again and hurriedly jumped on stage.

He loudly proclaimed, “Don’t be impatient, everyone! Don’t be impatient! The best is yet to come! Next, please welcome Taoyuan County’s newly adapted science play, The Trial of Galileo!”

Stomp stomp stomp, a new batch of actors began taking the stage.

The narrator began, “The debauched Galileo, believing not in God but in science, twenty-eight-year-old Maria, tossing her embroidered ball from the Leaning Tower of Pisa…”

The commoners quickly became immersed in a new round of the play…

In the following days, Fang Zheng wrote two more scripts, Du Shiniang Sinks Her Jewel Box in Anger and Kong Yiji.

Du Shiniang was still the most popular, after all, the actors all had high face scores. For the other two plays, to maximize the satirical effect, Fang Zheng chose lead actors with crooked and warped looks.

The three plays began rotating performances in Banshan Square. Commoners coming from other places to watch also increased, and public opinion imperceptibly spread.

…

In Dengjin District, inside Xuanming Pavilion.

Scholars in groups of three or two were drinking tea in the pavilion, composing poems and prose, an atmosphere of complete peace and harmony.

A few commoners passing by scattered around peeked and craned their necks to look inside the pavilion.

A young master dressed in brocade looked at the passing commoners and said to another scholar beside him, “Brother Shen, have you noticed the commoners seem to have changed recently?”

“Originally they would all take detours and stay far away from us. Now there are often people looking towards us, and there are even people who dare to look directly at us! Look, there’s someone looking right now!”

Shen Yi didn’t even raise his head as he flipped through the book in his hands. “Brother Su, you don’t know this, but there’s been a new play in the city recently, mocking scholars.”

“Many commoners have gone to see it. I suppose in the past few days, many commoners in Dengjin District have seen it, so they’re not as afraid when looking at us anymore.”

Su Rongxuan frowned. “There’s actually such a thing? I haven’t heard of it. But these commoners are being far too presumptuous… They actually dare to look directly at us. What in the world was performed in that play?”

“It’s nothing much, just talking about a scholar passing the imperial exam, going from destitute to pursued by the masses.” Shen Yi closed his book and sighed. “The satire cuts to the bone with great force! I watched it and had many reflections as well. Many scholars in our district went to Banshan District out of curiosity to see this play. I heard they even set up a reading corner and play review corner there…”

“I’m not afraid of Brother Su laughing at me. I also come from a poor family and took the exam twice before passing. If I had repeatedly failed like the person in the play, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be much better than him.”

Su Rongxuan snapped open his fan with a pa and fanned himself while laughing. “Brother Shen, why belittle yourself? How can you take what’s in a play seriously? Besides, didn’t you pass the exam now?”

Shen Yi sighed again. “I did pass, but after watching the play I started thinking, why did I study in the first place? Now we compose poems and prose during the day, and toast and drink with Lord Yan in the evenings. We seem to accomplish nothing… No different from the person in the play.”

“We scholars should speak up for the people and take practical actions. Talking empty words every day is really…”

Su Rongxuan scoffed. “Enough, why think so much? If you don’t drink and make merry with Lord Yan, are you going to mingle with those muddy-legged fellows down there?”

“Brother Shen, this is officialdom. These are the connections for entering court in the future! Such a precious opportunity, and you’re not cherishing it!”

“In the future, borrowing Lord Yan’s influence, with power in hand and beauties in your arms, wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

“Who hasn’t had grand ideals when young? Who hasn’t said those bold words before? They’re all just dramatic lines. If you still take those words seriously now, that’s too naive. You’ve matured now!”

“This is called maturity? Then what’s called being slick?”

“You…” Su Rongxuan was momentarily at a loss for words and pointed his fan at Shen Yi, glaring at him.

This kid was fine a few days ago. How did he turn into a contrarian after watching a play?

“Forget it! Brother Su, you all chat first. I’m going to Banshan District. I heard they’ll perform it again tonight. I’ll go take a look. There are some questions I haven’t figured out.”

With that, Shen Yi rolled up his book and directly left the pavilion.

The others saw him leave and gathered beside Su Rongxuan, laughing. “Those with irreconcilable ways shouldn’t plan together. What are you telling him for? Someone with a muddy-legged background is just like that. A crow that flies onto a branch still can’t change into a phoenix.”

Su Rongxuan laughed in spite of himself. “Well said! A dog really can’t change its habit of eating shit. We don’t need to bother with him. What prospects could such a person have? Come, come, come, Brother Zhang, let me see your new work…”