Chapter 33

Fang Yun had all the students stand up to introduce themselves and remember each child's name and appearance.

Afterward, Fang Yun began testing their literacy, selecting fifty characters from the "Thousand Character Classic." He would read one character, and the students would write it down, then he would collect the papers to check them.

Fang Yun quickly finished reviewing them. As expected, this was Class A of the primary school; all twenty students answered correctly.

"Good, it seems your fundamentals are solid. If I were to teach you the 'Hundred Family Surnames' or the 'Thousand Character Classic,' I would feel like I was insulting you."

Many students smiled, proud to be in Class A.

"What do you want to learn? Speak up."

A bold child said, "Sir, your holy words are impressive. Can you teach us how to compose holy words?"

"I want to learn poetry. My sister said she would only marry a talented scholar like you, and I want to be a talented scholar too!"

The students spoke up enthusiastically, making the classroom lively.

Outside the classroom, Lu Yingnian frowned and said, "Such noise, how can this be proper!"

"I think it's fine. This is a primary school, not a place for immediate exams. It's better for the children to learn happily," a teacher said.

"Although it's different from what we're used to, it's not a big problem."

Lu Yingnian was speechless, thinking that literary fame was truly important. Even those who were familiar with him were unconsciously influenced by Fang Yun's literary fame, believing that whatever Fang Yun did was good.

After a while, Fang Yun signaled for the students to quiet down and said, "I can teach you how to compose holy words or write poetry, but before that, you need to learn something else. I have compiled a 'Three-Character Classic,' and in the coming days, I will teach it to you. Now, take out your paper and pens. I will dictate, and you will write. Those who write everything correctly will get a treat from me during lunch break."

The sound of rustling paper filled the room as the students prepared their papers, dipped their brushes in ink, and looked at Fang Yun with bright, focused eyes.

Fang Yun nodded in satisfaction. These children might not be smarter than those in other classes, but their initiative and self-discipline far exceeded those of ordinary children.

"Man at birth, nature is good. Nature is similar, habits differ. If not taught, nature changes. Teaching's way, value in focus."

Fang Yun recited the first four lines of the 'Three-Character Classic' slowly.

After he finished, he walked around the classroom and found that five out of the twenty students had written all the characters correctly.

Fang Yun passed the five students' work to the others, who copied it, and then he began explaining.

"Man at birth, nature is good. Nature is similar, habits differ. The first six characters can be understood literally: when people are born, they are all good. The next six characters mean that due to different growth processes and learning environments, their natures develop differently."

"Teaching's way, value in focus." Fang Yun continued to explain the 'Three-Character Classic' in detail.

The teachers outside, who had been teaching for many years, were all surprised. They didn't expect that not only could Fang Yun compose poetry and holy words, but his understanding of life and education also far exceeded everyone else's.

"These words are concise and rhythmic, and can be understood after one explanation. They are indeed suitable for primary education. Why haven't I heard of them before?"

"Didn't he just say he compiled it himself?"

"How could someone his age write something so profound? I couldn't do it even if I lived ten more years."

"That's why he is the top student in the ten provinces, and you are not."

Lu Yingnian felt very uncomfortable. As a scholar, he knew that the 'Three-Character Classic' was excellent, even if it wasn't at the level of Mingzhou, it was at least at the level of Dafu. After thinking for a while, he quietly left.

Soon, Lu Yingnian arrived at the Fang family's mansion and met the second lady.

"Aunt, I have an important message about Fang Yun."

"What message?"

"He has compiled a 'Three-Character Classic' for the children's primary education. Based on my years of experience, this 'Three-Character Classic' is very good. I suspect that in a few days, the clan school will include it in the primary curriculum and have every teacher teach it."

"Really? This Fang Yun is really causing trouble."

"Aunt, I think we should give up. Fang Yun is very smart and has a great literary reputation. Offending him would be counterproductive. We should find other ways to compete with the main branch."

"Do you think I'm doing this for myself? As long as the old man is alive, he supports your uncle, and I can still compete with the main branch. Once the old man dies, the main branch will kick us out immediately. If I don't fight now, I won't have a chance later. Fang Jingtang is getting old and will soon leave the clan school. You must become the headmaster and firmly control the clan school."

"But, I don't have the experience of those who came before me, and my talent is not as good as Fang Yun's. How can I compete?"

"Stupid child, how can you not compete with Fang Yun? Just because he says he compiled it, it's his? The court only recognizes the first person to register the work at the Literary Academy. You don't know what goes on in the noble families. Many people from prestigious families have taken others' poems and registered them first, and then paid some money to settle the matter."

"Ah? Doesn't the Literary Academy strictly investigate such forgeries? They say that if caught, one's literary rank will be revoked, and they will never be allowed to take the imperial exams again."

"Who in the noble families doesn't have connections at the Literary Academy? Your uncle has a very good relationship with the head of the Literary Academy, Qiu Xuezheng. I will take you to him, and he will help you register the work. Once the 'Three-Character Classic' is registered, it will be yours. With its literary reputation, I will strongly support you to become the headmaster."

"But, Fang Yun is a double-methode scholar, and Qiu Xuezheng wouldn't be so foolish as to do this. If Fang Yun appeals to the Holy Academy, I'll be finished."

"Of course, we can't tell Qiu Xuezheng that it's Fang Yun's work. Once the registration is complete, you can tell him the truth. Then, you can give him some money, and he will have to help us. Even if Fang Yun causes a fuss at the Literary Academy, Qiu Xuezheng has ways to suppress such minor issues and won't give him the chance to appeal to the Holy Academy. Fang Yun is just a poor scholar. If not for the Fang family's support, he would have been thrown into the Yangtze River by Liu Zicheng long ago. Even if he has a literary reputation, who would risk offending a seventh-rank official for him? How many officials does he know in the capital?"

"But, the teachers and some students in the clan school know that it's Fang Yun's work."

"I will speak up for you. I don't believe they will dare to cause trouble!"

"But, what if Fang Yun becomes a high official in the future?"

"I heard a few days ago that the Liu family is preparing to take action against Fang Yun. Even the Liu family in the capital knows about it. Liu Zizhi has a close relationship with the Left Chancellor, who is grooming Liu Zizhi as the successor to the 'Liu Party.'"

Lu Yingnian was delighted and said, "So that's it. Fang Yun is doomed. I thought you were confused."

"People from noble families are never confused. Even if Fang Yun eventually recovers the 'Three-Character Classic,' so what? He is a Fang. If his elder brother personally goes to him and treats him like a son, would he expose the Fang family's dirty secrets? If he insists on retaliating against me, I can kneel before his elder brother and sister-in-law. They are kind-hearted and won't make things difficult for me. With me taking the blame, you won't be hurt at all."

"No wonder. You've already considered that even if things go wrong, it won't be a big deal. Aunt, you are truly a heroine among women. If you were a man, you would definitely be the Left Chancellor."

Lu Yingnian flattered her.

"Brat!"

The bell for the end of class rang, and Fang Yun concluded the lesson. "Those who wrote the 'Three-Character Classic' correctly, tell me what you want to eat, and I'll buy it for you during lunch break."

A student who wrote it correctly stood up and said, "Sir, can you change the treat to a copy of your 'Spring Dawn'? My father loves this poem so much that I've heard it so many times, my ears are tired."

"Sure, that's fine," Fang Yun nodded in agreement.

"Me too, I want a poem!"

"Me too!"

All five students who wrote it correctly chose to have Fang Yun's poem.

Fang Yun smiled and said, "Don't regret it. If Song Qiming had written it correctly, he would have chosen the treat."

Song Qiming protested, "Am I that foolish? If I had written it correctly, I would definitely choose your poem!"

The students laughed.

Two chose "Spring Dawn," two chose "End of the Year," and one chose "The rise and fall of the world, every man has a responsibility."

Fang Yun wrote them carefully in Liu style.

A student whispered, "Who says Sir's calligraphy is ugly? It's not worse than other teachers."

"Maybe someone is making it difficult for Sir."

"Right, that's possible."

"Isn't the examiner County Magistrate Cai He?"

"He doesn't sound like a good person."

"Right!"

The students nodded, and Fang Yun smiled inwardly but didn't defend Cai He.

After the class, Fang Yun returned to the teaching room. Several teachers came over, wanting to copy the full text of the 'Three-Character Classic' to teach to other classes.

Fang Yun let them copy it and took out a copy of the "Book of Documents" to read silently. Since it was his first day at the clan school, he didn't want to leave immediately after class. He would at least wait until noon.

At lunchtime, Fang Yun bid farewell to all the teachers and drove his carriage home, buying three sets of the complete works of the sages on the way, which he stored in the Strange Book World.

Fang Yun got off the carriage, pushed open the door, and saw a white light quickly rush over. The little fox Nunu jumped into his arms.

"Yingying..." Nunu called happily, like a playful puppy.

Fang Yun stroked Nunu's head, said a few words with a smile, and carried her inside to eat.

The students and teachers had good reactions to the 'Three-Character Classic.' After lunch, Fang Yun took the 'Three-Character Classic' to find Zhou Zhubu to register it for publication. More importantly, he wanted to ask a person of high status to annotate the 'Three-Character Classic.'

Just as he was about to leave, Fang Yun returned with Fang Daniu, placed his handwritten 'Three-Character Classic' on the table, and said, "Daniu, copy this 'Three-Character Classic.'"

"You know my handwriting is ugly," Fang Daniu asked in surprise.

"I don't need it to be beautiful, just write it clearly," Fang Yun said.

Fang Daniu looked at Fang Yun's original and suddenly understood, smiling. "Right! Your manuscript is now being sought after by officials, and it will be even more valuable in the future. We can't let others benefit from it! I'll copy it!"

Fang Daniu sat down and began to copy the 'Three-Character Classic' carefully.

After Fang Daniu finished, Fang Yun said, "Without my manuscript, Zhou Zhubu will be unhappy. I won't go, so you take it for me. I'll write a short letter, and you deliver it."

"Okay."

Fang Yun slowly said, "To Zhou Zhubu, Sir. I have been teaching at the Fang clan school recently and found a lack of primary education materials. Therefore, I compiled a 'Three-Character Classic' that is rhythmic and easy to understand, to teach students about benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and history. The original text has been entrusted to my elder brother. I hope you can find a person of high moral standing to annotate it, so that students can be immersed in the holy path."