Chapter 11

Even Lichang's son, Zhang Haoyuan, and others knelt on the ground, begging for mercy, while the other students were dumbfounded. How did Zhang Haoyuan, who was usually so arrogant, end up in this situation?

Lin Yanchao noticed that Hou Zhongshu was gloating on the side, looking very pleased.

"Teacher, please consider my father's position and forgive me this time. I will accept any number of strikes with the ruler," Zhang Haoyuan pleaded with Lin Chengyi.

Well, he brought up Lichang. Zhang Haoyuan isn't stupid.

Although Lin Chengyi was furious, his expression softened when he heard the name of Zhang Zongjia. As a teacher in this private school, whether he could continue to be hired depended on the decision of the village head, gentry, and elders. He had to consider the face of the village head.

After a moment of silence, Lin Chengyi said, "I will explain to your father, but if I don't punish you now, what will happen if you bully Yanchao and Zhongshu again in the future?"

Hearing this, Zhang Haoyuan turned to Lin Yanchao and begged, "Yanchao, Yanchao, you are a big person, please don't let the teacher punish me. I know I was wrong, and I won't do it again. I will apologize to you."

With so many people watching, Zhang Haoyuan's dignity was completely lost. Seeing his tearful and pitiful state, Lin Yanchao thought he had given him enough of a lesson. They were just children, after all, and there was no need to take it too seriously.

Lin Yanchao looked at Lin Chengyi and said, "Teacher, the discord among classmates is partly our responsibility. But please consider that they have already admitted their mistakes and be lenient with them. Give them a chance to reform."

Zhang Haoyuan's face turned red, and he burst into tears on the spot.

Lin Chengyi was silent for a moment and then said, "Without severe punishment, the school's atmosphere cannot be maintained."

Lin Yanchao replied, "Teacher, Confucius said, 'In hearing lawsuits, I am like other men. What is necessary is to bring the parties to a point where they do not litigate.' Punishment is just a means; the goal is to prevent people from making mistakes again."

Lin Chengyi's face lit up with approval. "Well said! Things have a root and a branch; events have an end and a beginning. Knowing what comes first and what comes after is close to the Way. At your age, to understand this is truly remarkable, remarkable, remarkable!"

Lin Yanchao could feel that Hou Zhongshu and the other students were looking at him with admiration. The reason was simple: in the two years Lin Chengyi had been teaching, he rarely praised a student like this. For Lin Yanchao to receive such treatment was enough to make the other students bow in reverence.

At this point, Lin Chengyi suddenly asked, "This, 'Confucius said, in hearing lawsuits, I am like other men. What is necessary is to bring the parties to a point where they do not litigate,' is from the 'Great Learning.' When did you learn this?"

Lin Yanchao did not know it was from the 'Great Learning,' but he had heard it somewhere in his previous life and forgotten the source. Currently, Lin Chengyi was only teaching the basic texts, and apart from a few students like Zhang Guihe, no one had started reading the Four Books yet.

So Lin Yanchao said, "Teacher, I just happened to hear it. I forgot whether it's from the 'Great Learning.'"

Lin Chengyi nodded in satisfaction and said to Zhang Haoyuan and the others, "It's rare for Yanchao to be so magnanimous. Do you dare to do it again?"

At this, Zhang Haoyuan and the other students immediately said, "Teacher, Yanchao, Zhongshu, today's incident was all my fault. I won't do it again."

Hou Zhongshu grunted but said nothing. Lin Yanchao clasped his hands and said, "I hope that after this incident, everyone can make peace and study together harmoniously."

Seeing Lin Chengyi's smile, Lin Yanchao knew that his magnanimous approach was highly appreciated.

Hearing Hou Zhongshu say this, Lin Chengyi said, "Yanchao and Zhongshu are not pursuing the matter, but your punishment cannot be avoided. Small punishments can prevent greater wrongs. Haoyuan, you and the others will compensate Yanchao for the books and stationery you destroyed, and you will clean the classroom for a month. Additionally, you will copy the 'Disciple's Rules' ten times after school!"

Zhang Haoyuan and the others looked as if they had been hit by frost.

Before the evening class, Zhang Haoyuan brought two new books, a stack of new paper, an ink stick, and an inkstone, and placed them on Lin Yanchao's desk, then left without a word.

The supplies arrived just in time. He was about to practice calligraphy. The small incident at noon had delayed his practice, and he had set a goal of ten sheets per day, which he needed to complete. He also needed to review the 'Yue Xue Qiong Lin' (A Treasury of Early Learning), so time was tight.

Now he could try out the new paper and ink that Zhang Haoyuan had brought. The thought of it made him quite happy.

The bottom of the new inkstone was coated with wax, giving it a glossy finish. It felt very comfortable to hold. He placed the ink stick on the inkstone and added a little water. The ink he ground was as black as oil, indicating that the ink stick was of good quality.

Thinking back to his elementary school calligraphy classes, where the school used pre-made ink, he realized that while it was convenient, it lacked the fun of grinding ink. As for the new brush, Lin Yanchao did not use it, as he had heard that beginners should not use good brushes, as it would prevent them from developing proper technique. Instead, he used an old, soft brush to strengthen his wrist and brush control.

Lin Yanchao began practicing calligraphy, using the new paper extravagantly. The paper was smooth and did not stick or blur, making the writing experience very pleasant. The more he wrote, the more comfortable he felt, and his handwriting improved. After finishing one side, he blew it dry and wrote on the other side to avoid waste.

After completing a sheet, Lin Yanchao felt a sense of satisfaction, like when he was a child and cherished his new school supplies, showing them off to his friends. The four treasures of the study—brush, ink, paper, and inkstone—were like a scholar's weapons. Seeing Zhang Haoyuan cause trouble was actually a good thing, as it gave him the chance to use such high-quality materials.

While he was practicing calligraphy, the other students were reciting the 'Thousand Character Classic.'

Lin Chengyi required the students to recite the entire 'Thousand Character Classic,' and those who had just started in the primary class had to recite at least 300 characters. After this assignment, the classroom was filled with groans, and even the most mischievous students became more serious, not daring to slack off.

Zhang Haoyuan, who had suffered a great deal, looked pale. He was now busy copying the 'Disciple's Rules' and reciting the entire 'Thousand Character Classic.' He probably wouldn't be able to finish even if he stayed up all night.

"This will teach them a lesson. In the future, no one will dare to bully us in the school. It feels great!" Hou Zhongshu whispered to Lin Yanchao with a smile.

"We came to the school to study, not to fight," Lin Yanchao continued writing.

"Yanchao, you can't really think that way, can you? Think about it, your studies have improved recently, and the inspector is coming to the school soon. Just then, Zhang Haoyuan tried to get you expelled."

Lin Yanchao stopped writing, surprised that Hou Zhongshu, who usually seemed dim-witted, could be quite clever at times.

Lin Yanchao said, "When you are a little better than others, they will envy you. When you are much better, they will admire you. So don't think too much, just focus on your studies and strive for improvement every day."

"Strive for improvement every day? Yanchao, this phrase sounds simple, but it has a lot of meaning! How did you become so eloquent? Big brother, please accept my bow," Hou Zhongshu pretended to bow.

"I won't accept your knees. The floor is cold. I just heard it somewhere, really," Lin Yanchao shook his head.

After the evening class, Lin Yanchao was called to the study by Lin Chengyi.

Lin Yanchao first performed the student's bow to Lin Chengyi and asked, "Teacher, what do you want to instruct me?"

"I said a few days ago that I would test you on the lessons you missed. How prepared are you?"

Lin Yanchao replied, "Teacher, I have only memorized two volumes of the 'Yue Xue Qiong Lin,' and I still have two volumes left." In fact, he had already memorized the entire book and reviewed it just now.

Lin Chengyi was surprised and said, "Memorizing two volumes is already quite an achievement. How many days did it take you?"

"Two days," Lin Yanchao answered honestly, having memorized the entire book in just two days.

Lin Chengyi's face darkened and said, "Learning should be practical. One volume is one volume, and two volumes are two volumes. It's wrong to be satisfied with small progress, and it's even worse to be greedy and unable to digest it."

"Teacher, I will take your advice to heart."

Seeing Lin Yanchao admit his mistake, Lin Chengyi's expression improved and he asked, "How many volumes have you memorized?"

"Two volumes!" Lin Yanchao answered honestly.

Lin Chengyi's face turned black, and he slammed the ruler down, picking up a book. "I hate people who are all show and no substance. Learning must be solid and not a bit exaggerated. Do you think you are a prodigy who can memorize half of the 'Yue Xue Qiong Lin' in two days?"

I have already been very modest, Lin Yanchao said, "Please test me, Teacher!"

"Of course, I will test you. Otherwise, how can I punish you?" Lin Chengyi grunted, "The first volume, 'Ministers'! One mistake, one strike with the ruler!"

Lin Yanchao stood with his hands behind his back and recited, "The emperor has the image of rising from the east and shining in the south, and the ministers have the power to mend the sky and bathe the sun... These are all virtuous deeds worth singing, and thus their names are well-known. I have finished, Teacher, what's wrong with your hand?"

Lin Chengyi, of course, would not tell Lin Yanchao that his hand was sore from holding the ruler and needed to rest.

Lin Chengyi cleared his throat and said, "Continue reciting, the second volume, 'Birthdays of the Young and Old,' and don't make a single mistake."

"Extraordinary children are born in extraordinary ways; virtuous people live long lives..."

...The young are to be feared, and the elderly are to be respected. Which volume should I recite next, Teacher?" Lin Yanchao felt more and more comfortable as he recited and asked.

"That's enough, no need to recite anymore." Lin Chengyi decisively closed the 'Yue Xue Qiong Lin' and stood up, pacing back and forth in front of Lin Yanchao with the ruler in hand.

Lin Chengyi stopped and looked at Lin Yanchao. "Yanchao, among the students in the school, your studies have always been poor, but your performance in the past few days has truly impressed me."

Lin Yanchao bowed his head and said, "Teacher, you flatter me."

Lin Chengyi raised his hand and said, "Let's not talk about your studies. Your words today, 'Confucius said, in hearing lawsuits, I am like other men. What is necessary is to bring the parties to a point where they do not litigate,' were very well said. In my view, the primary school curriculum is no longer challenging for you. It's time to study the classics."

The classics generally refer to the Thirteen Classics of Confucianism, including the Four Books and Five Classics. If the primary school curriculum is like entering the hall, then the Thirteen Classics are like entering the inner chamber, akin to the transition from elementary school to high school.

Lin Yanchao listened carefully and said, "Teacher, the classics are the words of the sages, and I dare not be presumptuous."

"It's not presumptuous," Lin Chengyi said with an appreciative look. "You understand the principle of gradual progress, which is very rare. However, without studying the classics, you cannot achieve success."

Lin Yanchao thought for a moment and said, "May I ask, Teacher, is your decision to have me study the classics related to the inspector's visit to the school?"

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