The Story of Honest Yan Shu
 
Yan Shu, who lived in the Song Dynasty, was kind and honest from the time he was very young. He was also bright and eager to learn. When he was only seven years old, he was able to write excellent articles. By 15 years old, he was honored as a genius and recommended to the Emperor Song Zhengzong (968 – 1022 AD) by the county governor due to his extreme intelligence.
 
Yan Shu could have been interviewed or examined by the Emperor directly, but he insisted on attending the formal imperial examination for provincial governor's selection. He considered that the result obtained from the imperial examination would actually reflect his true knowledge and talents. The main examiner approved his request and let him participate in the exam together with over three thousand other examinees.
 
The exam began. When Yan Shu received the exam paper, he found that the question was the one he had just practiced. He picked up his writing brush and thought for a while. He then raised his hand and said to the main examiner: "Sir, I have practiced this question at home already. If I do it again, isn't that cheating? Would you please prepare another question for me?"
 
The examiner heard his words and agreed to give him a different question.
 
When Yan Shu got his new question, he read it several times and thought for a moment. Then he picked up his brush and wrote the essay without stopping. The examiner was shocked. He thought that this student was so quick and brilliant, a true genius.
 
Yan Shu's requests to participate in the formal exam and receive a new test question gained people's respect because he was so honest. The news spread among the students who attended the exam and even to the Emperor's ears. The Emperor immediately asked to see Yan Shu himself. He praised him: "You have solid knowledge and intelligence. But more importantly, you are an honest person and don't cheat. This high moral standard is more precious."
 
In ancient China, the number one criterion for assigning a person to a position was to gauge that person's moral quality. It did not matter if it was to the court, as a provincial governor, to a county office or to a store or business, if a person had great capability and intelligence but poor moral standards, no one wanted to offer that person a position. Because Yan Shu had a high moral quality of honesty, he later held important positions within the court.
 
晏殊诚实不欺
 
宋朝的晏殊，从小就诚实善良且聪明好学。七岁时，文章就写得很好了。十五岁那年，晏殊因聪明过人，被县令作为神童，推荐给真宗皇帝。
 
晏殊本可以直接由皇上面试，但他执意要参加科举会考。他认为只有会考所反映出的成绩，才算是自己的真实才学。主考官同意了晏殊的要求，决定让他同三千一百多名举人一起会考。
 
考试开始了，当考题发下来的时候，晏殊一看题目刚好是做过的。他拿起毛笔，想了一会儿，就举起手对主考官说：“大人，这个题目我在家已经做过了，如果再做一遍，这不就是弄虚作假了吗？请您另外给我再出个题目做，好不好？”
 
考官听了，同意给晏殊另外再出一个题目。
 
晏殊拿到新题目，反复看了看，思考了一会儿，就拿起笔来一气呵成。考官惊呆了，觉的此人文思敏捷，真乃奇才。
 
晏殊要求参加会考和重新出题的诚实行为，受到人们的敬重，不仅在考生中传开，也传到了宋真宗那里。宋真宗马上召见了晏殊，称赞说：“你不仅有真才实学，更重要的是，具有诚实不欺的好品质！”
 
在中国古代，无论是朝廷、府州县衙，或者是买卖作坊商铺，用人的第一标准是看其道德品质。如果一个人能耐再大，本事再多，道德品质不好，也没人任用。晏殊因为有诚实不欺的好品质，后来得到朝廷的重用。