Chapter 5: Teacher vs. Scholar, Who Wins Gets to Speak!

You can't bully me, I've just been bullied.

What kind of lame excuse is that?

The classroom fell silent for a moment, then the students became even more rowdy.

"Teacher, are you this cute because your mom knows?"

"Turns out you were just bullied. Who was it that was doing a public service?"

"Hahaha, he's definitely the monkey Guanyin sent to entertain us. Teacher Fang, can you do a somersault? Do one for us."

---

Fang Yan was neither angry nor upset. He stood on the podium, smiling as he watched the students below him mock and ridicule him.

Gradually, the students realized something was off.

Silence is the harbinger of a storm. This guy was smiling so lecherously, with a look of confidence, surely he had a big move up his sleeve. Some of the smarter ones wisely shut their mouths.

One by one, two by two, three by three---

More and more people fell silent, and the classroom grew quieter.

"Why should you be my teacher?" A voice suddenly rang out from the back row.

The students turned to look. They saw the tall guy with thick glasses who always held a copy of the "Twenty-Four Histories" stand up, and their eyes lit up with excitement.

There's going to be a show!

Huang Haoran was a smart guy, but he didn't remain silent like the other students.

Some things others wouldn't say, he would. Some things others wouldn't do, he would.

Huang Haoran's father was a journalist for the "Huaxia Daily," and his mother was a university professor. Strictly speaking, their family belonged to the scholarly class.

Huang Haoran's Chinese level was very good, and his writing skills were excellent. Because he had the highest Chinese score in the class during the high school entrance exam, he was appointed as the temporary Chinese class representative for Class 9 as soon as he entered Zhuque High School.

His dream was to become a journalist who exposes social ills, so he absorbed knowledge and nourishment like a sponge.

But, the school had assigned them such a Chinese teacher?

"Classmate, what did you say? I didn't hear clearly," Fang Yan looked at Huang Haoran and asked.

"I said, why should you be my teacher?" Huang Haoran stared directly at Fang Yan, not backing down.

Fang Yan squinted and smiled.

He only asked why Fang Yan should be 'my' teacher, not 'our' teacher, clearly showing he was a very proud person.

In his eyes, the other students were not worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as him.

Fang Yan became curious about him. He wanted to know what kind of oddballs were in this 'troublesome' Class 9.

"I'm curious, what standards do you have for a teacher?" Fang Yan asked.

Huang Haoran closed the "Twenty-Four Histories" in his hand and said loudly, "My teacher must be well-versed in both ancient and modern knowledge, have a good memory, be familiar with both official and unofficial histories. They must have rich social experience and open-minded thoughts. Only such a person is worthy of being my teacher."

Huang Haoran's eyes stared at Fang Yan with ill intent, and he said sarcastically, "What can you do?"

Challenge!

Barefaced challenge!

Many students had flames in their eyes, and more had their lips twitching.

This is fun, really fun.

They were very curious to see how this young teacher would handle Huang Haoran's challenge.

If he couldn't give a satisfactory answer today, if he couldn't suppress the arrogance of a super scholar like Huang Haoran, then he would find it hard to establish himself in this class.

A teacher who can't handle students, who would still respect him?

Fang Yan sighed softly, his eyes sweeping the room, and he said with deep emotion, "At this point, I can't hide it anymore---I've always been a very low-key person. There's a saying, right? The first to show off gets shot. I'm not someone who likes to show off."

"But since you insist on an answer, and there should be a harmonious environment of honest communication between teacher and students, I've decided to be honest with you---"

Everyone held their breath, waiting in anticipation.

Fang Yan straightened his spine, standing tall on the podium, his eyes deep, his eyebrows raised, and he said slowly, "Well-versed in both ancient and modern knowledge, with a good memory, familiar with both official and unofficial histories. Rich social experience, open-minded thoughts. I---am the kind of teacher you want."

"---"

Silence.

Dead silence.

What kind of answer is this?

Is this an answer?

Isn't this too shameless? How can he say such things with a straight face?

Pfft---

Someone couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." A chubby boy's face turned red as he waved his hands in apology.

This laughter seemed like a signal. After a few seconds of stunned silence, everyone else started laughing too.

"Teacher Fang, don't be like this, okay? I think I'm starting to like you."

"Teacher Fang, don't teach Chinese, come teach us jokes instead?"

"Really, too shameless---"

---

Huang Haoran's expression was extremely awkward. A teacher who is both incompetent and arrogant---he was thoroughly disappointed.

Clap, clap---

Fang Yan tapped the desk with the eraser and shouted loudly, "Quiet. Quiet. Everyone, be serious, we're in class---"

As a result, everyone laughed even harder.

This guy is too funny!

Fang Yan also grinned and said, "You don't believe me?"

"No," the students answered in unison.

"How can I make you believe me?"

"I'll ask you three questions. If you can answer them correctly, you pass," Huang Haoran said. "Don't worry, I won't deliberately make them difficult. If you think it's unfair, you can ask me three questions too."

"Is the test limited to high school Chinese knowledge?"

Huang Haoran sneered and said, "Do you only know high school Chinese knowledge?"

"I'm afraid I might go beyond high school Chinese knowledge when I ask questions, and you might say I'm cheating," Fang Yan said.

"Let's start then." Huang Haoran coldly snorted, "In ancient times, bells and drums were not only musical instruments but also time indicators. What time does the drum refer to?"

"Nighttime," Fang Yan answered without hesitation.

Fang Yan's correct answer didn't surprise Huang Haoran. This was a common knowledge question. If one had a broad range of knowledge, it wouldn't be difficult for many people.

"What historical story is the phrase 'Hóngyàn chuánshū' (wild geese delivering messages) derived from?"

Fang Yan looked at the students and asked, "Do you know the answer?"

"No. Even if we did, we wouldn't say---"

"Teacher, answers from others don't count, it means you lose---"

"Cheating, this is cheating---"

Fang Yan smiled and said, "I asked if you knew the answer---just to show that I can answer it when none of you can. This way, it shows I'm better than you and have the qualifications to be your teacher."

Fang Yan looked at Huang Haoran and said, "This phrase comes from the story of 'Sū Wǔ mù yáng' (Su Wu herding sheep). In Volume 54 of the 'Book of Han,' after a few months, Emperor Zhao ascended the throne. After a few years, the Xiongnu and Han made peace. The Han requested the return of Su Wu and others, but the Xiongnu falsely claimed Su Wu was dead. Later, when a Han envoy returned to the Xiongnu, Chang Hui asked his guard to go with him and met the Han envoy at night, explaining the situation. He instructed the envoy to tell the Chanyu that the Emperor was hunting in the Shanglin Park and found a goose with a message tied to its foot, stating that Su Wu and others were in a certain marsh. The Chanyu, upon hearing this, allowed Su Wu to return. Later, people used the phrase 'Hóngyàn chuánshū' to refer to letters and those who deliver them."

Huang Haoran's expression changed. Being able to cite the origin of the phrase 'Hóngyàn chuánshū' wasn't too difficult, but being able to recite the exact words from the 'Book of Han' without any errors was very impressive.

Huang Haoran admitted he had read many ancient books and could explain the background and general story of some phrases, but he couldn't recite the original text like Fang Yan.

"Is this answer correct? Who knows?"

"Really? That's amazing!"

"Who has the 'Book of Han'? Check it quickly---if you don't have it, use your phone. Haven't you heard the saying, 'For internal matters, ask Baidu; for external matters, ask Google; for personal matters, ask Tianya'?"

---

"The answer is correct," Huang Haoran said heavily. "There's one more question."

(PS: I'm so moved by you all!!)

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