The only person who relies on power to be violent and lawless is Yan Gongsheng
Yan Gongsheng's "disregard of relatives" is vividly portrayed by the author. In the sixth chapter, Yan Gongsheng's younger brother Yan Jian died of illness, and Yan Gongsheng did not come to inquire or care about him before he died. It was not until "three or four days after Yan Jiansheng's death" that he saw "Old Officer Yan". He came back from the provincial civil service examination." This also shows that the feudal imperial examinations at that time were paralyzing. In the eyes of literati like Yan Gongsheng, "imperial examinations" were far more important than "family affection."
Next, Yan Gongsheng's hypocrisy and greed for money were further exposed: Yan Gongsheng did not immediately go to visit the deceased when he returned home, but leisurely "sat with his wife, getting some water to wash his face" until Opening Yan Jiansheng's belongings, he saw "two new sets of satin clothes and Qi Zhenzhen's two hundred taels of silver." When talking to the Wang brothers, he even defended himself brazenly, saying, "Our examination hall is a court ceremony," "That's it." Regardless of personal relatives, I still feel that I have a clear conscience. "Extended information
Creative background:
In terms of historical background, the three generations of Emperor Kangxi, Emperor Yongzheng, and Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty have emerged in China. The sprouting of capitalist relations of production and the superficial prosperity of society could not conceal the decay of feudal society. While suppressing armed uprisings, the rulers used methods such as the establishment of a literary inquisition, the examination of eight-part essays, the opening of imperial examinations, and the promotion of Neo-Confucianism to govern ideas to imprison scholars.
Wu Jingzi opposed the eight-part essay and the imperial examination system, and detested the custom of scholars who were obsessed with crafts and were eager for fame and wealth. He reflected these views in "The Scholars" and used satirical techniques to profoundly expose ugly things.