Chapter 325 - The Redologists Strike Back? (1/2)

The students were all nicely seated.

A few students, who wanted to go use the bathroom, had rushed there and back.

Teacher Yang and the few Redologists also did not want Zhang Ye to end his cla.s.s so early. They still had many important things to say. Hence, they were very pleased that there was an extension. They came with the goal of debunking Zhang Ye. How could they leave just like that? Their goal had not yet been met. If they were to return with their faces ashen, where were they to put their faces when the video was posted and the public lecture was reported on? When that happened, the citizens would think that this bunch of Redologists, who had studied all these years, were inferior to a junior. This was an outcome Teacher Yang, Ma Hengyuan, and company could not accept. Hence, no matter what, they had to win this round!

How were they to win?

They just needed to come up with a question that Zhang Ye was unable to answer!

Teacher Yang already had an idea. He had an exchange with a few Redologists in whispers. A few of them smiled, but did not say a word. They were planning on using the killer move right at the end. They would throw it out at the end of the cla.s.s. If they asked it now, Zhang Ye definitely could not answer it, but he might be able to use his silver tongue to change the topic and begin a new round of a.n.a.lysis on another problem. With Zhang Ye’s eloquence as a professional host, he had such abilities. They had already had a taste of his eloquence prior. If that was the case, everyone’s attention would be diverted and affect the results. They wanted to deal Zhang Ye a sure-kill strike. They did not want to leave Zhang Ye a chance to fight back, or change topics. In their opinion, this was also the price Zhang Ye had to pay for deriding their literary world!

A storm was brewing!

The people from the literary world began to gather their strength for the final battle!

Zhang Ye had also noticed the first row of Redologists whispering abnormally. However, he did not mind it at all. From the beginning, Zhang Ye had looked down on this world’s Redologists. After drinking a mouthful of Pu’er tea, he smiled faintly. “Alright then. Shall we carry on?”

Silence resumed.

A few thousand people maintained their silence in the venue.

In the past, even if Peking University held a convocation ceremony or conference, it was impossible for there to be complete silence when President Wu went up to speak. They did not give her that much face, but when Zhang Ye, a new, ordinary teacher came to Peking University, he managed to do it. This showed that the students genuinely liked his cla.s.s.

“Just now, my student Little Song asked me to put forth a few examples as evidence. I believe a lot of people have similar thoughts. All of you want to hear it and that is naturally not a problem.” After an hour’s cla.s.s, a typical teacher would also begin to suffer from fatigue, and feel their energy decline, but Zhang Ye did not suffer from this. When he saw the yearning to learn att.i.tude from his students’ eyes, he became even more energized. “In yesterday’s cla.s.s, I used historical information and doc.u.ments to validate ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’. In today’s cla.s.s, I did it based on the content. I talked about the divisions and the novel’s structure. The novel’s characters and their personalities prove my point. Using them to dissect the 120 chapters of ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’ is problematic. Then up to here, a student may ask, today you a.n.a.lyzed the characters from the structure, and I can believe it for the time being, but other than that, can you tell us more from the plot? In the plot after the first eighty chapters on the whole, are there things that do not match the first eighty chapters on the whole?” With a pause, he said, “Of course. They exist!”

Senior Song had already taken out a notebook and pen. She looked unblinkingly at Zhang Ye. She was prepared to record it down. She no longer held a critical att.i.tude, but began to have a learning att.i.tude.

The other students were similar.

For example, Yao Mi, Li Li, and Li Ying were all taking notes.

After all, it was almost exam time. It might end up that the content Teacher Zhang Ye had mentioned were examinable. This credit could not be lost.

Zhang Ye showed the information. “There are many things to talk about regarding the plot. However, I do not want to talk about those logical problems that have been studied by Redologists. I do not want to repeat things that others have already talked about. I will talk about a major plot hole that no one has mentioned before.”

The people from the literary world rolled their eyes. Plot hole that no one mentioned before? How could it be possible? Do you think those of us in literature research are fools? We have been doing this for decades. How could it be that no one raised this problem or flaw before? Aren’t you being too bold?

Yan Yu was rendered speechless by Zhang Ye’s defiant att.i.tude. She could not help but ask, “What plot hole?”

Teacher Yang and Ma Hengyuan were also angered. From the beginning, this Zhang looked down on their literary research!

“Right, which paragraphs?”

“Say it, we are all ears!”

A woman and a youth spoke up. They were two of the few Redology researchers in the industry.

Zhang Ye said calmly. “The plot regarding the Jia family’s conviction. The continuer’s writing is comical and worthy of scorn!”

Yan Yu said, “Don’t keep talking about the continuation. What’s ridiculous about this plot?”

Teacher Yang also said, “Ignoring the problem of the characters’ personalities, what’s wrong with the plot?”

A problem with the Jia family being convicted was indeed something never mentioned before in this world’s Redology research. This was because they did not find any problems with it!

However Zhang Ye knew. Not only was there a problem in it, it was a major problem. “Everyone thinks this plot adheres to logic? What about the students?”

The Peking University students also responded.

“Uh, it’s alright?”

“I don’t see any problems.”

“This is a major plot point. There’s nothing wrong with it?”

Senior Song stood up and said, “According to your argument and structural a.n.a.lysis, the first 80 chapters had hinted that the Jia family would decline. It was hinted that they would be raided. Isn’t this following a rational line of thought?”

Zhang Ye lowered his hand to indicate for her to sit. He smiled and said, “It looks like no one has noticed this. Actually, what everybody thinks is a rational line of thought is just rational on the surface. Yes, I also admitted that the Jia family would decline. Mr Cao Xueqin had already foreshadowed this in the first eighty chapters on the whole. Cao Xueqin wrote that the Jia family would be raided, but the reason for being raided is definitely not the reason given after the eightieth chapter. The way the continuer wrote it is unacceptable personally. It is ridiculous!” As he pointed to the screen, he said, “Take a look everyone. In the plot after chapter 80, it writes that Rong-guo mansion, as well as Ning-guo mansion, were raided. We can explore this and see if that was the case. Those who are familiar should have an impression. After chapter 80, when the Emperor ordered the raid, how many charges did Jia She receive? Two charges. One, he had entered into a conspiracy with provincial officials for nefarious purposes. About this, I have to say that the person who continued the story had quite the standard. He was able to carry on the foreshadowing written by Cao Xueqin in the first 80 chapters. Jia She’s second charge was abusing his own personal influence to bully a defenceless citizen. This was also written according to the foreshadowing in the first 80 chapters. Although I’m not sure how Cao Xueqin would have written it, it would not have been written in this way. However, the continuer’s writing is still acceptable to me.”

“If it’s acceptable, why is there a problem?”

“Can you stop saying continuer? It sounds so awkward!”

A few Redologists suggested.

Zhang Ye shrugged his shoulders. “Alright, I know many people still do not believe that the chapters after the eightieth are not the original work of Cao Xueqin. Then let’s not talk about the continuer. Let’s a.s.sume the 120 chapters of ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’ were written by Cao Xueqin, but there arises a problem. Later on, the reason why Ning-guo mansion and Jia Zheng were raided was only mentioned in pa.s.sing. It was roughly accounted for, so almost no one noticed it, nor has anyone researched it. This is because everyone’s focus was on more ‘important’ matters in this plot, but I want to tell everyone to not look elsewhere. Focus your attention on this. Here, I can prove that the plot was not written by Cao Xueqin!”

The students were all listening.

The people from the literary world all began to recall the content.

Zhang Ye ignored them and carried on speaking, “Cousin Zhen’s first crime: forcefully took to his bed the fiancée of an innocent person and drove her to her death when she would not gratify his desires. It sounds serious, and is actually referring to Second Sister You’s death. If you think right away, you might not find it problematic, but if you read it carefully again, who forcefully took Second Sister You? It was not Cousin Zhen, but Jia Lian. And was Second Sister You kept in Ning-guo mansion? No, it was a place called Little Flower Lane!”

Ma Hengyuan leered at him. “Don’t you know that Second Sister You was later duped into Rong-guo mansion by w.a.n.g Xifeng?”

Zhang Ye looked back at him. “You are right, but even if Cousin Zhen had some responsibility in this, he was at most regarded as an accomplice. The main perpetrator was Jia Lian. This thing was all Jia Lian’s problem, right? Later on, w.a.n.g Xifeng even directed a scheme to let Second Sister You’s former fiancé indict on this matter. It caused quite a stir, resulting in Second Sister You’s death. However, that is w.a.n.g Xifeng and Jia Lian’s crime. What has this got to do with Cousin Zhen? However, ‘Cao Xueqin’, for some unknown reason, wrote that the first crime of Cousin Zhen was Second Sister You’s death!”

Many people exclaimed.

Teacher Yang also loosened his eyebrows.

This problem had really not been mentioned in the Redology world. Zhang Ye was really the first!

Zhang Ye ignored their reactions and carried on speaking, “Then the second charge is even more ridiculous. What is it? Buried secretly and the facts of her death were concealed from the authorities. This is talking about Third Sister You’s death. Following her suicide meant she committed suicide and that was finally buried.” Zhang Ye could not help but laugh. “What sort of serious crime is this? Furthermore, Third Sister You committing suicide does not have much to do with Cousin Zhen. It was Jia Lian who paired Liu Xianglian and Third Sister You. The matching failed, causing Third Sister You to commit suicide. What did Cousin Zhen have to do with this?” Saying that, Zhang Ye pointed to the screen. “As for the third charge, it says for corrupting the sons of n.o.ble families, encouraging them to gamble. When I see this, I do not know what others may think, but I can’t bear reading it further.”

Meng Dongguo said coldly, “It was foreshadowed early on.”