Professor Zeng nodded upon hearing this.
The other Peking University teachers and students similar agreed with Senior Song’s points.
Zhang Ye smiled. “I believe I’m not the first person to see this poem. I also believe that in ancient and modern times, there have been an extremely small number of people who have discovered this. However, everyone without exception would have the same views as Miss Song. They would conclude that Gao E had arranged and conserved ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’, but have you thought of something? The word ‘supplement’ has another meaning. That is to add to something in order to complete it!”
Everyone, “…”
Senior Song was also speechless, “About that…”
Teacher Zhang was f**king bent on going down such a treacherous path. If he insisted on explaining the word ‘supplement’ that way, it was of course alright, but…
Zhang Ye carried on, “And according to my analysis, and according to relevant information and records, if it was as everyone else said, Gao E was only doing a ‘patching’ job. He is not the only one arranging ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’, right? Then why would there be a note given to Gao E that attributes the role of all the supplementing to him? Why would the word ‘all’ be used? Was everything arranged by him? No one else was involved? Let’s not talk about anyone else. I would like to ask what happened to Cheng Weiyuan? What happened to Cheng Weiyuan, who was with Gao E? Hur Hur, clearly this is illogical and does not match what we know. Hence, the meaning of ‘supplement’ really means adding to something in order to complete it. It also means continuing the writing, and he alone wrote the rest!”
This view and analysis method was groundbreaking!
Professor Zeng took a deep breath!
Yao Mi was shocked from hearing this!
Senior Zhou disagreed and immediately put forward his doubts, “Teacher Zhang, even if your analysis is correct, who can prove that the Qing dynasty poet knows the truth? Even if we take ten thousand steps back, who knows if Zhang Wentao learned it from hearsay and thought that was how it was. Hence, without any validation, he added this note. That is all possible.”
“Right!”
“He’s after all not some particularly important poet.”
“Right. I’ve never heard of Zhang Wentao. Is what he said reliable?”
A few students argued.
Zhang Ye smiled. “So you think Zhang Wentao was engaging in hearsay? Alright, then let me show you the next set of information.” Saying that, he switched to another piece of A4 paper. “Everyone, take a look. This is a poem Zhang Wentao wrote as a eulogical tribute to his younger sister. There is a small note here: ‘My sister married a Han military officer of Gao descent’. It means that his sister was married to a ‘Han military officer’, whose surname was Gao when she was alive. Hence, if I boldly infer from this, Gao E is very likely to be Zhang Wentao’s brother-in-law!”
“Ah?”
“Holy sh*t!”
“It can’t be?”
Everyone was amazed!
Brother-in-law? Your sister, that can even work?