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There were questions on water management and drought resistance, followed by border defense and maritime trade. However, the fifth question was…
After reading a lengthy passage, it essentially asked candidates to choose a dish, dessert, vegetable, or meat they enjoyed eating and explain why.
The first two questions were somewhat typical, but starting from the third question, things took a different turn.
Even though some questions were unconventional, they were still manageable.
But this fifth question…
It felt like navigating through a maze, encountering a mishap, and tumbling into a ditch.
It’s truly perplexing why this question was posed and what significance it holds.
Moreover, can candidates truly express their genuine thoughts in their response to this question?
Some were concerned about expressing their love for expensive dishes like Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, fearing it might be perceived as extravagant living, leading to suspicions of corruption in the future.
Others worried that writing about something simple like fried tofu meatballs might seem too ordinary and reveal their humble background as farmers, possibly implying a lack of sophistication.
There were even individuals scratching their heads, wishing they could scratch their scalps off, feeling anxious about their peculiar food preferences. One person confessed their love for fresh soil from beneath the wall, mixed with sesame oil, wondering if that would be deemed insane.
Song Jingyun was now also troubled by these thoughts.
Writing an article wasn’t a difficult task for Song Jingyun, but deciding on his favorite food proved to be a challenge due to his diverse tastes.
After much contemplation, Song Jingyun finally put pen to paper.
He chose to write about Bangzi noodles and wild vegetable pancakes.
These dishes were the first meals he had upon arriving and the first foods Jiang Mixia had taught him to eat.
While these dishes might now be considered coarse and unpalatable compared to his regular meals, they had opened up his taste buds and introduced him to a new culinary world.
These were Song Jingyun’s genuine feelings.
Naturally, his secret journey from the stars to this era was known only to his wife. To maintain secrecy, he mentioned that these dishes were the first he had after experiencing amnesia following a head injury upon marrying into the Jiang family.
His wife was wise and gentle, and his in-laws were loving, marking the beginning of his happy life with that meal.
As Song Jingyun wrote this article, a smile adorned his lips.
He filled several pages with his words, savoring the process before moving on to address border defense and maritime trade.
Since the founding of the dynasty, the border regions had been peaceful. Former soldiers had mostly returned to civilian life, with only routine patrols and checkpoint duties conducted by imperial soldiers at the borders to manage trade affairs.
In Song Jingyun’s view, the more peaceful things appeared, the more crucial border defense became.
Discussing border defense naturally involved military systems. The previous dynasty operated under a system where military households were enlisted for generations, making it challenging to discharge from service, leading to instability. In contrast, the current dynasty employed a recruitment system, occasionally drawing in troublemakers and individuals seeking only financial gain, causing corruption and compromising military management and combat effectiveness.
Song Jingyun’s approach involved leveraging strengths and addressing weaknesses, combining the two to achieve an optimal state.
Regarding maritime trade, most people lived far from the coast and only heard stories of ships sailing to distant lands and returning with exotic goods, without firsthand experience.
This question posed a challenge for many, but Song Jingyun was not unfamiliar with it.
Not due to extensive knowledge and experience, but because he had often heard stories from his wife, Jiang Mixia, about maritime trade and the sea.
According to his wife’s tales, even though the land beneath their feet appeared flat, the world was a vast sphere with the majority covered by oceans. Only a small fraction of habitable land existed. Despite this limited land, it was divided into various regions, and they resided in a tiny portion, hence their exposure and capabilities were also limited.