Chapter 12

In the right study room, teacher and student stood facing each other.

Lin Chengyi, after hearing Lin Yanchao’s words, was slightly surprised but still nodded and said, "It seems you have guessed. I won’t hide it from you. The Grand Master will visit the school to examine your studies. Among the students, you are steady and reliable. I think you can handle the Grand Master’s questions."

Lin Yanchao also understood that this was a rare opportunity.

Lin Chengyi continued, "Though it’s hard to gain the Grand Master’s favor, it will still broaden your horizons. In the future, when dealing with other officials, you won’t be intimidated."

Lin Yanchao, feeling grateful, replied, "Thank you, sir, for your kindness. However, the classics are the key to the exams. Not only must they be memorized thoroughly, but their meanings must also be understood deeply. To grasp the essence, it takes years of hard work. If I suddenly start learning, my foundation will be weak. If the Grand Master examines me and I answer correctly, it won’t be surprising, but if I answer incorrectly, it will not only make the Grand Master look down on me but also tarnish your and the school’s reputation."

Lin Chengyi nodded and said, "You have a point."

"So, I want to take a different approach. If the Grand Master examines the basic courses, I can step forward, but if it’s the classics, please choose someone else."

Lin Chengyi, feeling pleased, said, "You have a good sense of self-awareness. If it were someone else, they might try despite their limitations. However, the Grand Master will likely only ask about the classics, not the basic courses."

Lin Yanchao smiled and said, "Then I can only hope that my classmates gain the Grand Master’s favor."

Lin Chengyi laughed and said, "Though I don’t agree with your view, since you are determined, I will let you decide. Your Thousand Character Classic book is damaged. I have a copy with my reading notes. I will explain it to you."

After saying this, Lin Chengyi carefully explained the entire Thousand Character Classic to Lin Yanchao.

Lin Yanchao left Lin Chengyi’s room, and the lecture hall was already lit with lamps. Lin Chengyi had spent a whole hour explaining the Thousand Character Classic. Though it was for the Grand Master’s visit, Lin Yanchao was very grateful for Lin Chengyi’s guidance.

Moreover, he still owed Lin Chengyi his tuition, which made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

When Lin Yanchao returned to the lecture hall, Zhang Guihe, Zhang Haoyuan, and a few other students were ostensibly engrossed in their studies, but their eyes were secretly observing the right study room.

"Brother Guihe, the teacher has been giving Yanchao private instructions for a long time."

"It seems he will also be answering the Grand Master."

"Indeed, we thought he was just a village boy, but now he’s stepping forward, which will reduce our chances."

"This person is cunning. Even Haoyuan was defeated by him. Now, it’s hard to suppress him."

"Enough," Zhang Guihe said with a look of hatred, glaring at Lin Yanchao outside, "Even if we don’t step forward, we can’t let him do so."

Lin Yanchao vaguely heard Zhang Guihe’s words but ignored them. He put down his book, fetched dinner from the kitchen, and brought it to the lecture hall.

Lin Yanchao placed his dinner on the desk, ready to eat and study at the same time, to digest what Lin Chengyi had taught him.

This was a habit he had developed in his previous life as a student, though then he would eat in the cafeteria while reading novels on his phone. It wasn’t for any other reason; it just made the meal more enjoyable, giving him a sense of relaxation and pleasure, which was more satisfying than a cigarette after a bowel movement.

After mixing the pickles into his rice, Lin Yanchao scooped the rice with a spoon, taking bites one by one, and reread the Thousand Character Classic, combining it with Lin Chengyi’s teachings. Memorizing the Thousand Character Classic was easy, but understanding its meaning was not. For example, Hu Shih once said that at the age of five, he read the lines “Heaven and Earth are dark and yellow, the universe vast and desolate,” but even after ten years as a university professor, he still didn’t understand them.

Therefore, to fully grasp the Thousand Character Classic, Lin Yanchao studied until the lamps were lit, and the other students had all gone home, where their meals were better than those at the school.

They wouldn’t have the habit of eating and studying at the same time, but even if Lin Chengyi saw Lin Yanchao doing this, he probably wouldn’t criticize him for being distracted but would praise him for his diligence. After all, Lin Yanchao was now a good student.

As the summer night slowly descended, the crickets chirped incessantly. To Lin Yanchao, who was focused on his studies, the chirping was not noisy but brought a sense of vitality and refreshed his mind. In the cricket sounds, the candle in the oil lamp flickered, and the short summer night quickly passed.

A few days later, the Minglun Hall was as hot as a steam room, and the students’ scholar robes were drenched in sweat.

Lin Chengyi waved away the mosquitoes buzzing around his ears and continued teaching, while the students in the hall were fully concentrated on their books, only moving their hands to wipe the sweat from their foreheads.

When the afternoon class ended, the students all breathed a sigh of relief.

Lin Yanchao and Hou Zhongshu, unable to bear the heat, went to a shady, well-ventilated tree outside to rest.

With no one around, Hou Zhongshu whispered to Lin Yanchao, "Yanchao, do you know? A few days ago, Zhang Haoyuan, Zhang Guihe, and Zhang Songming were called to the school by the teacher and stayed for a while. These past few days, they have been working hard, as if they were on a mission."

Zhang Haoyuan, Zhang Guihe, and Zhang Songming were all top students in the school.

"Isn’t it normal to study hard?"

Hou Zhongshu raised an eyebrow and asked, "But the teacher didn’t call you either. What was it about?"

Lin Yanchao said, "Since you weren’t called, I shouldn’t tell you."

Hou Zhongshu fell silent, but after a moment, he couldn’t help asking, "Yanchao, I consider you a brother, and you don’t tell me? Humph, I already expected it. It must be that the teacher wants you to answer the Grand Master. Despite my excellent grades, the teacher didn’t let me go. This is truly unreasonable! To let such talent be buried in the countryside is a loss to the country."

"That’s the one who got over twenty strokes of the ruler for the Thousand Character Classic dictation yesterday. Letting you answer the Grand Master would be a loss to our school," Lin Yanchao criticized bluntly.

Hou Zhongshu’s face turned red and said, "That was just a mistake. If I had studied seriously, it wouldn’t have happened. But to be honest, if you gain the Grand Master’s favor, isn’t it the same as me gaining it? This is a golden opportunity."

Lin Yanchao said, "What then? The Grand Master’s knowledge is as deep as the sea, and I am just a half-filled bucket. It’s hard to gain his favor."

Hou Zhongshu slapped his thigh and said, "Though it’s a long shot, it’s still a good opportunity. I’ve heard that the Grand Master likes to help the younger generation."

"Yanchao, the Grand Master rarely visits our village. This is a rare opportunity. I will try too. Don’t think I will give you an advantage out of brotherly affection," Hou Zhongshu said.

Lin Yanchao couldn’t help but say, "Zhongshu, do you know what I like most about you?"

"Is it your never-give-up spirit?"

"Or your boundless confidence."

Hou Zhongshu’s face stiffened and said, "We are brothers, and you say this to me."

"Mr. Lin is coming, let’s go back to the school," Lin Yanchao said, seeing Lin Chengyi approaching.

The two quickly returned to the lecture hall.

Lin Chengyi, dressed in a green robe, stood at the lectern and said, "We have received news from the county. The school inspector will arrive in three days to visit our village and pay respects to the late Minister Zhang, then inspect the school."

The late Minister Zhang was the posthumous title of the former Minister of War, Zhang Jing. This news made the students tense and excited.

Lin Chengyi scanned the room and said, "You should carry the books and essays you are most skilled at. Do you remember the etiquette I taught you?"

"We remember!"

Lin Chengyi nodded and said, "Your academic abilities vary, but the rules of etiquette must not be wrong. Remember this. Tomorrow, you must be at your best. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

Lin Chengyi sighed and smiled, "The Grand Master will visit three schools tomorrow. I’ve heard the other two schools are decorating and setting off fireworks. I disdain such practices, but if you can handle the Grand Master’s questions appropriately, it will not be in vain. Dismissed!"

Lin Chengyi left, and the students all stood up, bowed to him, and then began discussing the Grand Master’s visit.

Lin Yanchao noticed that Hou Zhongshu was nervously rubbing his hands.

Lin Yanchao asked, "What are you nervous about?"

"I’m thinking about what to say when I meet the school inspector."

Lin Yanchao couldn’t help but facepalm and said, "You’re really thinking ahead. Instead of worrying about that, why don’t you think about the exam papers the teacher asked you to prepare?"

Hou Zhongshu was surprised and said, "What exam papers?"

"Did you not listen to the teacher?"

"Isn’t there you?"

Lin Yanchao said, "Prepare the best exam paper you have. It will be used to answer the Grand Master’s questions tomorrow."

Hou Zhongshu realized and said, "I understand, but I can’t even break the topic. What kind of exam paper can I submit? I can’t just give the school inspector the Thousand Character Classic I just memorized."

"Neither can I break the topic. For the exam, we can write a few poems or couplets."

"That’s the same. The current emperor values essays. Why should we care about the Tang and Han dynasties? No one studies poetry and couplets seriously anymore."

"Wanting the Grand Master’s favor is just a daydream!"

Lin Yanchao and Hou Zhongshu turned around to see Zhang Guihe standing in front of them.

Zhang Guihe was tall and slender, though not very tall, but he held his chin high and looked at them with a condescending gaze.

Zhang Guihe was about to speak when Zhang Haoyuan pulled his sleeve and said, "Guihe, forget it."

Zhang Guihe shook his head and said, "It’s fine, Haoyuan. I just want to ask him a few questions." He then walked to Lin Yanchao and said, "Yanchao, what did the teacher say to you in the study a few days ago?"

Lin Yanchao smiled and said, "What does it have to do with you?"

Zhang Guihe said arrogantly, "This school is for the Zhang family. You should be grateful to study here. When the Grand Master arrives, know your place and don’t try to stand out. Do you understand?"

"Zhang Guihe, don’t push us too far."

Hou Zhongshu was furious.

Lin Yanchao held back Hou Zhongshu and said, "I understand, Brother Guihe. You want me to stay out of your way. But may I ask, with your talent, will the Grand Master definitely favor you even if I don’t stand out?"

Zhang Guihe said disdainfully, "Whether the Grand Master favors me or not is my business. Just don’t compete with me."

With that, Zhang Guihe turned and left, and Zhang Haoyuan glanced at Lin Yanchao and followed.

The Grand Master had not yet arrived, but the students were already competing openly and secretly.

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