Chapter 29: The Little Private Academy, a Cross-Section of Humanity
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Early the next morning, Cheng Dashan loaded the prepared provisions onto the donkey cart and drove it out of the village.
Cheng An sat on the front board and said with a smile, “Father, once we’ve sold everything this time, remember to buy Mother something. She’ll surely be happy!”
“Of course!”
Cheng Dashan beamed with satisfaction. Then he glanced back at his son.
“My boy has truly grown up. Not only is he doing well in his studies, he even knows how to be filial to his parents. I’m a blessed man!”
When they reached the town, the father and son went straight to the Gu family restaurant.
The restaurant was called Fragrant Delicacies.
It was a very simple sign. After all, this was only a small town, with two restaurants in total. A shabby establishment was to be expected.
Shopkeeper Niu had already received word. The moment he saw the father and son, he hurried over with a welcoming smile.
“You must be Brother Cheng, right? The master of the house said that so long as your ingredients are good enough, we can work together for the long term.”
“Of course they’ll be good!”
“We’re not the sort to cheat people!”
Cheng Dashan smiled courteously.
The father and son sat in the restaurant while the shopkeeper counted and checked the goods.
When Cheng An saw the cooks preparing food in the back kitchen, another idea suddenly occurred to him.
“Uncle Niu,” he asked with a smile, “does the restaurant usually have many customers?”
Shopkeeper Niu continued with his work as he replied, “It’s all right. Aside from our regulars, we get traveling merchants who come to stay at the inn. Business is decent enough.”
“Since you don’t lack customers, shouldn’t you offer a greater variety of dishes?”
“Hm?”
Shopkeeper Niu stopped what he was doing.
Cheng An quickly waved his hands. “I don’t mean anything by it. I just think that if a restaurant wants to do good business, the dishes are by far the most important thing. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“That’s certainly true.”
Shopkeeper Niu knew that the father and son had ties to the Gu family, so he patiently explained, “But how difficult is it to come up with a new dish? This isn’t some grand restaurant in the county town. We don’t have the means.”
Cheng An said no more.
Before long, the two of them left the restaurant.
After deducting the miscellaneous expenses and minor losses from this delivery, they had earned a net profit of one hundred and twenty-seven copper coins.
It was only a small string of coins, yet it felt heavy in Cheng Dashan’s hand.
Unable to contain his joy, he grinned broadly. “If you want to make money, you really have to do business! If we can deliver goods once every half month, our family will be able to build a new house in two years!”
Outside the academy, he counted out twenty copper coins and stuffed them into his son’s hand.
“Spend them carefully, understand?”
“I understand, Father.”
Cheng An happily tucked the money away.
At last, he understood the joy he had seen on his classmates’ faces when they asked their parents for pocket money.
…
After returning to the academy, Cheng An had barely entered the dormitory when Dong Hui approached him.
“You did it, didn’t you?”
“What did I do?”
“Are you insane?”
Cheng An slipped past Dong Hui.
He had seen too many rich little brats who threw their weight around in his previous life. People like that were usually brainless—nothing more than arrogant bullies.
Dong Hui’s expression darkened. He grabbed Cheng An by the arm.
“Master Cheng Xiaoyuan was expelled by Teacher. Don’t tell me you had nothing to do with it!”
“Oh, that?” Cheng An smiled. “Fine, then. Let’s say I did it. Now that the academy is rid of that troublemaker, isn’t it quieter for everyone?”
“You admit it?”
Dong Hui was rendered speechless for a moment.
Looking at his stunned expression, Cheng An laughed. “What? You waited here to block my way because you wanted to hear me say exactly that, didn’t you?”
“You…”
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Dong Hui frowned slightly.
Whenever he encountered Cheng An, he always had the strange feeling that he was speaking with an elder from his own family. Every time Cheng An opened his mouth, it sounded as though he were mocking him.
“Then who’s next?”
He drew a deep breath and said viciously, “You drove Cheng Xiaoyuan away. Who will be next? Are you trying to become the leader of this academy?”
“The leader?”
Cheng An nearly burst out laughing.
He glanced at the pairs of young, innocent eyes inside the room. For an instant, it was as though he had returned to his own youth.
“I have no interest in becoming anyone’s ‘leader.’”
He pushed Dong Hui aside and walked in.
“Hmph. Who would believe you?”
A venomous glint flashed through Dong Hui’s eyes.
How should he describe this feeling?
He used to be the king of the academy’s children. Whether they were new arrivals or familiar faces, everyone had been afraid of him. Whenever anyone had something delicious or fun, they always made sure he got it first.
But ever since Cheng An arrived…
Everything had changed!
First him, then Cheng Xiaoyuan.
In barely half a month, Cheng An had become the academy’s most popular student. The teacher treated him like a nephew, while the teacher’s wife and eldest disciple also took exceptional care of him.
As a result, the other students had begun comparing them in secret…
Who was more impressive, Cheng An or Dong Hui?
“Believe it or not, that’s up to you.”
“Move aside. Eldest Sister is looking for me.”
Cheng An did not even spare him a glance.
After putting away his luggage, he headed toward the rear courtyard to find Du Qingqing.
They had been apart for two days.
The person he had missed most was his eldest sister.
“Don’t get too pleased with yourself!” Dong Hui shouted angrily from behind him, grinding his teeth. “I’m not made of dough. If you dare act so arrogant again, I have plenty of ways to deal with you!”
“All right, I understand.”
Cheng An waved without looking back.
…
The following day, in the classroom, the students were still excited after their two-day break.
But the moment Du Xiu took out his textbook, waves of sighs rose around the room.
“I have taught the Thousand Character Classic many times already,” Du Xiu said. “Who can recite it?”
The classroom fell utterly silent.
Seeing Du Xiu’s expression gradually turn stern, Cheng An smiled inwardly.
Forget it.
They were all classmates. He might as well save them this once. It would also spare everyone from saying that he was antisocial.
But just as he was about to stand, someone behind him called out,
“I can!”
A boy sitting beside Dong Hui rose to his feet.
Cheng An turned around and met Dong Hui’s mocking gaze.
It was as if he were saying, “Don’t think you’re the only clever one here!”
The academy was no different from the imperial court.
To be praised by the teacher was a mark of favor.
After Cheng An had made them feel that neither teacher nor senior sister cared for them, the students had begun to resent him, even if they had no real grudge against him.
Competing for favor.
That was probably Dong Hui’s way of dealing with him.
Cheng An smiled indifferently.
“Very well.”
“Gao Sheng, come and recite it.”
Seeing someone volunteer, Du Xiu finally nodded in satisfaction.
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“Heaven and earth are dark and yellow; the universe is vast and primeval!”
“The sun wanes and waxes; the constellations are arrayed…”
Gao Sheng shook his head and recited the passage from beginning to end.
Then he looked eagerly toward Du Xiu, waiting for praise.
“Not bad…”
Du Xiu had barely offered the compliment when Gao Sheng immediately glanced toward Cheng An, his eyes brimming with smugness.
“Now explain its meaning.”
“What?”
Gao Sheng froze.
Du Xiu frowned slightly. “What use is there in merely memorizing the words? The important thing is understanding their meaning. Only then can you say you have truly learned it.”
“I…”
“I’m sorry, Teacher. I don’t understand.”
Gao Sheng lowered his head, his face flushed red.
“Who can explain it?”
Du Xiu looked over the students.
The spacious classroom was silent as the grave.
“Cheng An.”
“Here.”
Cheng An came back to himself and rose, looking helplessly at Du Xiu.
Teacher, really! Are you trying to turn me into an isolated loyalist?
This was only a small private academy. Why make such a fuss?
“You can’t explain it either?”
Seeing the disappointment clouding Du Xiu’s face, Cheng An knew that his teacher was extremely proud and ambitious. He had also taken Cheng An as his final disciple and intended to cultivate him with all his strength.
If Cheng An answered that he did not know, his former favor would probably vanish at once.
“I can!”
Let the other fellow perish while I survive. Why should I worry about anyone else?
“The passage means that the heavens are blue-black and the earth is yellow-brown, corresponding to the colors at the beginning of the universe, when everything was still in chaos…”
Cheng An had never studied the Thousand Character Classic in his previous life.
But these were only a few simple explanations. For a seasoned scholar with a graduate degree, they were hardly difficult.
“Excellent!”
“What is even more remarkable is that you have offered several original insights. Clearly, you have put real effort into your studies. After class, wait for me in the rear courtyard. I will explain a few more passages to you.”
Du Xiu revealed a satisfied smile.
“Yes!”
“Thank you, Teacher…”
Cheng An bowed with a bitter smile.
When class ended, Du Xiu had barely stepped out of the classroom before countless eyes turned toward Cheng An.
Anger, disdain, astonishment…
Within that small classroom, every expression of humanity was on display.
Cheng An was stunned for a moment.
Then he suddenly understood and smiled.
Who among us is without fault?
As long as you are human, you cannot expect everyone to like you.
Even Confucius had a few haters.
And what about me?
If jealousy made him afraid to speak, then what meaning was there in living a second life?