Chapter 9

In the classroom, the sound of pages being turned filled the air.

Outside the window, a large banyan tree slightly blocked the sun, finally making the sunlight less blinding.

Lin Yanchao spread out a bamboo paper, using a pebble to hold down one corner, and poured water into the inkstone. Many of his classmates frowned, extremely nervous, and frequently wiped their sweat.

After grinding the ink, Lin Yanchao picked up a sheep-hair brush for small regular script, dipped it in ink, and began to write. Although his calligraphy was still not good, it would take time to improve. However, dictation did not evaluate calligraphy. Lin Yanchao tried his best to write neatly.

Starting from "Heaven and Earth, the universe and the vast wilderness," Lin Yanchao wrote swiftly, pausing only when he encountered characters that had different simplified and traditional forms, comparing them in his memory before choosing the traditional form. Although he did not write in one continuous flow, he was not slow.

After putting the brush into the water container, Lin Yanchao looked around and found that his classmates were still struggling with their dictation, and he was the first to finish.

Without much thought, Lin Yanchao blew to dry the ink, rolled up the paper, and walked confidently towards Lin Chengyi. Even without looking, the rustling of pages and the surprised looks of his classmates were evident.

Lin Yanchao glanced sideways, thinking, "So what if I'm an outsider? I will surpass you all and stand at the top. The path to success is like a narrow bridge with thousands of people vying to cross. If you don't push others off, they will push you off. I will not only cross the bridge but be the first to do so. This is my path to success."

Thinking this, Lin Yanchao felt a clear and determined mindset.

"Finished dictation?" Lin Chengyi looked at Lin Yanchao with a puzzled expression.

"Yes, Master," Lin Yanchao replied with utmost respect, without a single flaw in his demeanor.

Lin Chengyi, with a stern face, spread out the paper on the lectern, holding a red pen over it.

After a moment, Lin Chengyi found no place to mark, moved his wrist, looked at Lin Yanchao, and then looked back at the paper.

Finally, Lin Chengyi put down the red pen and stared at Lin Yanchao, saying, "The writing is acceptable, but you need to practice your calligraphy more. Otherwise, during the county examination, the county magistrate will see your writing and, no matter how well you write the essay, he will not select you!"

"Yes, Master, I understand."

"What calligraphy model do you practice?"

"The Yan Qinli Stele."

"Hmm, the Yan Qinli Stele captures the essence of Yan Gong's regular script, but it is not easy for beginners. The Duobao Pagoda Stele is better, but it is not impossible. From today, practice hard. It is not too late. You must practice ten models every day and show them to me. Do not slack off for a single day."

"Yes, Master."

"Show me how you hold and use the brush."

"Yes."

Lin Yanchao took the brush from Lin Chengyi, who shook his head and said, "That's not right. Keep your wrist flat and the brush straight. Hold the brush a bit higher. Remember, learning calligraphy has a sequence, and you must first learn to hold the brush correctly."

Lin Chengyi then demonstrated the correct way to hold the brush, and Lin Yanchao followed his method.

"Why did Master show favor to Lin Yanchao, who hasn't even paid the tuition, and give him guidance?"

"When have you ever seen Master speak so kindly to a student?"

"This person has some luck, Guo Ge. It looks like your top position in the school is in jeopardy."

"Ridiculous. Can a country bumpkin play high-class music? We know how he usually performs. In a few days, Master will see his poor performance and kick him out of the school. Just wait and see."

Lin Yanchao heard these words and returned to his desk. He glanced sideways and saw that Zhang Guo was also staring at him. Lin Yanchao knew that Zhang Guo, who was the same age as him, had entered the school a year earlier and was one of the best students, considered the most likely to advance.

Lin Yanchao couldn't help but think back to his school days, where the top two students were always rivals, but the bottom two were friends.

As soon as he sat down, he saw Hou Zhongshu winking at him.

"Yanchao, what is the next line after 'love and nurture the people'?" Hou Zhongshu asked in a low voice, his face red.

Lin Yanchao turned his head away, pretending not to hear.

"You're really not helping. I'm in trouble," Hou Zhongshu lamented.

Due to poor dictation results, Lin Chengyi added a hundred more characters to the Thousand Character Classic. That day, after class, every student held their red, sore hands, except for Lin Yanchao.

The next day, Lin Chengyi tested the Thousand Character Classic again, and Lin Yanchao was the first to submit his paper. Surprisingly, Lin Chengyi praised him, saying his studies had improved significantly.

Lin Yanchao remained calm, but as he stepped down, he saw Zhang Guo and a few others looking at him with unfriendly expressions.

After the morning class, the students gathered in groups at the canteen.

Lin Yanchao and Hou Zhongshu took two large bowls of leftover rice from the pot and ate by the stove. Hou Zhongshu only made three mistakes in the Thousand Character Classic and was punished with ten strokes of the ruler, which was a significant improvement.

Hou Zhongshu was in a good mood and said to Lin Yanchao, "Try this good stuff."

Hou Zhongshu then took out a clay jar and said, "This is fresh crab sauce, made by my mother. Try it."

Hou Zhongshu opened the jar, and inside were small live crabs marinated in red rice wine. Lin Yanchao felt a bit nauseous but knew this was a delicacy in coastal areas. The crab sauce was made by catching small crabs from the riverbank, adding rice wine, red rice wine, salt, and other ingredients, and grinding them into a sauce.

Hou Zhongshu directly used the crab sauce to flavor the rice, spreading a layer of red wine on the rice and then picking up a live marinated crab with his chopsticks, biting into it, which made a crisp sound.

"Come on, don't be shy."

"I'm not being shy."

Out of politeness, Lin Yanchao picked up a chopstickful and put it in his mouth. At first, the crab's fishy smell hit him, but it was quickly balanced by the red wine, sugar, and alcohol, turning into a fresh and delicious taste. Lin Yanchao quickly ate a mouthful of rice and then they both continued eating with the crab sauce.

A few students at a nearby table watched this scene coldly.

Zhang Guo, the top student at Hongtang School, snorted. In the morning's dictation of the Thousand Character Classic, no one in the school answered correctly except Lin Yanchao. Even Zhang Guo, the best student, made one mistake and was hit with the ruler by Lin Chengyi.

A student named Zhang Haoyuan said, "Brother Guo, can you tolerate these outsiders who look down on everyone?"

"They come from a poor area and naturally lack manners. We shouldn't stoop to their level."

At this moment, another student said, "But Brother Guo, if he takes your top position in the school and the grandmaster comes and favors him, he will turn from a crow into a phoenix."

"Does he deserve it?" Zhang Guo laughed lightly.

"Regardless, those who lack manners must be taught. Otherwise, they will think this school belongs to them. I'll handle this for you."

Zhang Haoyuan stood up and said to the other students, "Fellow students, my family has sent some cured meat today. Let's all try it!"

Lin Yanchao knew this student was Zhang Haoyuan, who had always been hostile towards him and Hou Zhongshu. However, Zhang Haoyuan was the son of the village head and was always generous, with many supporters. Lin Yanchao and Hou Zhongshu had often been at a disadvantage, and their grudge had been long-standing.

In Fujian, the coastal area with limited plains, raising livestock was difficult, so most of the food was seafood and river fish, with very little meat. Ordinary families could only eat meat during festivals. When the students heard about the cured meat, they all picked up their bowls and brought them to Zhang Haoyuan, saying, "Brother Haoyuan, give me more."

Zhang Haoyuan gave each of them a piece and then said, "Fellow students, do you know what 'tuixiu' means? Master said it means ten pieces of cured meat. Even the sage taught his disciples for 'tuixiu.' However, in our school, there is someone who doesn't pay 'tuixiu' and still has the nerve to listen to the lessons. Master is kind and doesn't say anything, but as students, we cannot ignore this. So everyone can have the cured meat except him, because he doesn't deserve it."

Everyone got meat except for Lin Yanchao, who glanced at Zhang Haoyuan, who was provocatively looking at him.

Hearing Zhang Haoyuan, everyone looked at Lin Yanchao, and those who had benefited from him said, "Brother Haoyuan is right."

"Such a person shouldn't be in the school. He should be sent home."

Hou Zhongshu defended Lin Yanchao, "Zhang Haoyuan, Yanchao isn't refusing to pay 'tuixiu.' Master said he can pay after the Mid-Autumn Festival."

Zhang Haoyuan snorted, "Hou Zhongshu, don't stick your neck out for others. This piece of cured meat is yours. Take it and don't speak."

Hou Zhongshu struggled between the cured meat and his friendship with Lin Yanchao, then looked at the half crab in his bowl and said, "Who wants your cured meat? I eat fish and meat every day at home."

"Ha, Hou Zhongshu, don't talk nonsense. Do you think we don't know your family's situation? In this village, only three households can eat meat every day, and my family is one of them." Zhang Haoyuan held his head high, looking down on everyone.

"Zhongshu, forget it. There's no point in arguing with such people," Lin Yanchao advised. The situation was against them, and Zhang Haoyuan was the son of the village head, so it was better not to cause trouble, especially with a child.

Hou Zhongshu, however, was not convinced, "Ridiculous. A few days ago, I fed the leftover cured meat to the dog at the village entrance. Maybe it's the one in his mouth."

Several Zhang family students were furious and rolled up their sleeves.

Zhang Haoyuan stopped them, "If we fight here, it won't look good in front of Master. These two guys are tough, we'll see what happens. You'll regret it later."

Zhang Haoyuan walked away, with several students following him.

"Damn, if you want to fight, let's fight. I'm not afraid. Wait for me, and we'll go together, even to the bathroom. We're invincible together," Hou Zhongshu boasted.

"They are many. Should we find some weapons?" Lin Yanchao suggested seriously.

"No need. If Master sees, it won't be good. Don't worry, our Hongtang Double Dragons' skills are unmatched."

Hongtang Double Dragons, Kou Zhong? Xu Ziling? Lin Yanchao found it amusing, as if reliving the moment when he was cornered by bullies after school. At that time, he was nervous, but now he found it amusing.

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