Chapter 7

Chapter Seven: Teacher vs. Thug, Who Will Be the Strongest?

So cool!

Cool to the point of bubbling!

This was what all the students in Class Nine were thinking.

Before this, no one had ever imagined that the dry and boring ancient literature they once knew could be presented in such a graceful and magnificent way.

Is this the national studies they had discarded like dregs?

Is this the antique they were unwilling to mention or even look at?

"If I could do something like that, how many girls would I be able to charm?" Many boys thought secretly.

Thinking of a beautiful and lustful future, they looked at Fang Yan with deep affection.

"What a great teacher," they thought. "The school really takes good care of us."

Huang Haoran's eyes also turned red. He took off his glasses again, wiped the corners of his eyes with a handkerchief, put on his glasses, and walked to the middle of the aisle. He bowed deeply to Fang Yan and said, "Teacher Fang, I lost. I lost with no regrets."

Fang Yan looked at him with a smile and said, "Isn't it too early to admit defeat now?"

To be honest, if Huang Haoran had asked other questions or recited another ancient text, Fang Yan wasn't sure he could have recited it.

However, he asked for the "Tao Te Ching."

Fang Yan came from a family of Tai Chi masters. His scholarly father, who was not good at martial arts himself, placed the hope of reviving the family's martial arts on his precious son. Fang Yan worked extremely hard, but—encountered Ye Wenrou, a once-in-a-century prodigy of the Ye family.

Thus, he could only suffer defeat after defeat.

She knocked out his front teeth, pulled out his hair, and beat him to the ground, crying for his father and mother—Fang Yan couldn't imagine how she would torment him this year, so he left a note and ran away from home.

Not only did his father, Fang Yixing, force him to practice martial arts, but also to excel in both literature and martial arts. Under his father's guidance, Fang Yan read extensively from a young age, and the "Tao Te Ching," hailed as the highest classic of Daoism, was one of his five启蒙读物 (启蒙读物 can be translated as "enlightenment books" or "educational books").

To understand the essence of all things and enhance his Tai Chi realm, Fang Yan read and pondered day and night, dissecting it word by word.

Therefore, when he heard Huang Haoran's third question was to recite the "Tao Te Ching," he really felt like laughing out loud.

He did feel the urge, but instead of laughing, he boasted that he could recite it backward.

The performance was perfect, and the effect was astonishing. Seeing their enthusiastic gazes, Fang Yan secretly gave himself thirty-two thumbs up.

Huang Haoran looked at Fang Yan with confusion, not understanding what he meant.

"We agreed that you would test me with three questions, and I would test you with three questions," Fang Yan reminded him. "You haven't forgotten, have you?"

"Teacher, there's no need to test, Huang Haoran definitely can't match you," a lively girl shouted loudly.

"Exactly, I always thought Huang Haoran was a top student, but now I realize that Teacher Fang is the queen of top students," a mischievous boy said, indicating that Huang Haoran was no match for Fang Yan.

"Teacher Fang, do you have a girlfriend?" This was the rhythm of an attack?

---

Hearing Xu Ying ask if Fang Yan had a girlfriend, the whole class burst into laughter.

Xu Ying was a cute girl with an oval face. After asking the question, she blushed furiously. But seeing the whole class laughing at her, she rolled her eyes and said, "I like Teacher Fang, so what? If you don't like him, you're not allowed to compete with me."

"We won't compete, we don't like men," a boy teased.

Seeing their playful and noisy behavior, Fang Yan felt comfortable and content.

This was the taste of youth, the breath of freedom, and a carefree life.

Being a teacher was really great!

Not getting beaten, it was as good as it could be!

After they had played for a while, Fang Yan looked at Huang Haoran and said, "A person should start and finish things, don't you think? How do you know you will definitely lose until the last moment?"

Huang Haoran understood Fang Yan's meaning and said seriously, "I am willing to accept Teacher Fang's test."

Fang Yan nodded in satisfaction and said, "The first question is open to all students. For each correct answer, I will add one point to your exam score—'Before my bed, the moonlight shines bright,' what does 'bed' refer to in this line by Li Bai?"

"An enclosure around a well." Huang Haoran answered before the other students could think, showing his solid foundation as a top student.

"Among the thousand years of poetry, a thousand flowers bloom, and one daughter's flower stands out—this phrase refers to which talented woman in history?"

"Li Qingzhao," a chubby girl answered loudly. Her voice became somewhat shrill due to her eagerness. Her face flushed as she looked at Fang Yan and said, "I like Li Qingzhao the most."

"What's your name?" Fang Yan walked to the girl and asked.

"Wang Fang."

"Congratulations, Wang Fang, you answered correctly. I will add one point to your exam score next time."

"Thank you, Teacher Fang," Wang Fang said happily.

Seeing Wang Fang having such an intimate conversation with the new teacher, the other girls were envious. Each of them secretly resolved to answer the next question correctly.

Whether intentional or not, Fang Yan's move immediately boosted the students' enthusiasm for learning, making everyone follow his lead.

This was a necessary quality for an excellent teacher, or rather, the ability to control the classroom.

"The third and final question," Fang Yan scanned the room and said, "Who can recite the entire 'Disciple's Rules'?"

No one answered.

Fang Yan looked at Huang Haoran and asked, "Can you?"

"Yes."

"Why don't you recite it?"

"Because—" Huang Haoran hesitated for a moment and said, "I can only recite it forward."

"-----"

Fang Yan was both amused and exasperated. Because he recited the "Tao Te Ching" backward, you must recite the "Disciple's Rules" backward?

"Recite it," Fang Yan said in a commanding tone.

Huang Haoran nodded and recited, "Disciple's Rules, the teachings of the sages. First, be filial and respectful, then cautious and trustworthy------"

After Huang Haoran finished, Fang Yan clapped first and said, "Not bad, you recited it well. There were only a few words wrong, and two sentences were in the wrong order. Knowledge is not magic; it doesn't have to be played with in a fancy way. At your age and educational stage, being able to do this is something to be proud of."

"Thank you, teacher," Huang Haoran said happily.

"You've proven you can graduate from elementary school," Fang Yan said.

"-----"

Huang Haoran's face turned purple with embarrassment, feeling like dying.

The other students felt even worse. If Huang Haoran had only graduated from elementary school, what did that make them? Kindergarten?

"Are you不服气 (不服气 can be translated as 'unconvinced' or 'dissatisfied')?" Fang Yan saw their expressions and said with a smile, "Actually, the 'Disciple's Rules' was indeed a children's educational book in the past. No one denies this, right?"

"Teacher Fang, it's not our fault. The school makes us memorize all sorts of things, but never the 'Disciple's Rules.' Besides, it's not on the exam, so memorizing it is useless."

"Indeed, it's not your fault," Fang Yan agreed with the student. "Since it's not on the exam, you don't memorize it. However, this doesn't mean the 'Disciple's Rules' is useless. Our ancestors often said, 'Correct the mind, cultivate oneself, harmonize the family, govern the country, and bring peace to the world'—first, correct the mind and cultivate oneself, then you have the qualifications to bring peace to the world. Nowadays, people start by aiming to bring peace to the world, but neglect cultivating themselves. The 'Disciple's Rules' is for correcting the mind and cultivating oneself. Read it, think about it, and its benefits are endless."

"But don't worry, starting today, I will take you on a journey through the five thousand years of Chinese classics, familiarizing you with the legendary figures in history. Drinking fine wine, recognizing heroes, and admiring beauties, making friends with all those we admire. Whether it's Li Bai or Du Fu, whether it's Song Shishi or Liu Ruisi."

"Teacher, Song Shishi and Liu Ruisi were courtesans."

"Who said that?" Fang Yan turned angrily, staring at the boy with acne. "They were famous performers. Isn't that a more elegant way to express it?"

Fang Yan sat on a student's desk, speaking sincerely, "To be honest, I really envy your luck to have a man like me as your teacher—no laughing, we're in class."

"Ha ha ha-----"

Everyone laughed even harder.

This teacher is too funny!

Bang-----

The back door of the classroom was kicked open, and three students staggered in, leaning on each other.

"Stop," Fang Yan shouted.

Kong Guodong, with blurred eyes, looked at Fang Yan on the podium and asked, "Who can tell me who this guy is? He looks unfamiliar."

"Fang Yan. Fang as in 'square,' and Yan as in 'flame above and below,'" Fang Yan answered himself. "The Chinese teacher for this class."

"Oh, so you're Teacher Fang." Kong Guodong burped and waved at Fang Yan, saying, "Teacher Fang, I'll treat you to a drink another day."

Fang Yan, smelling the strong alcohol odor in the classroom, frowned and said, "You three, get out. Come back when you're sober."

Crack-----

Kong Guodong kicked the chair in front of him, pointing at Fang Yan and cursing, "Fang, don't be ungrateful. When I'm happy, you're Teacher Fang. When I'm unhappy, you're just a pile of shit-----"

"Ha ha ha, a pile of shit-----" Kong Guodong's two lackeys, Li Yang and Chen Tao, laughed and echoed.

Fang Yan's eyes turned cold, and his smile turned icy.

The troublemakers had arrived.

According to the rules of the underworld, both sides should send their best fighters, each using their skills, and the winner would be the king.

Fang Yan decided to send himself.

--- End of Chapter ---