Chapter 93 - 20 Class C

Chapter 93: Chapter 20 Class C

Just bought the ox cart and still getting used to its speed. It seems I can get up a bit later tomorrow.

Turning my head towards the direction of Class C, I see a few students already entering, their ages similar to mine, the oldest being eight or nine. As I am not yet a student of Mr. Wen, I cannot stay in Class C, so Gu Chengyu decided it’s best not to wander around. The private school’s rooms are connected by a long corridor, and Gu Chengyu found a clean spot to sit.

Mr. Wen had already learned from Granny Zhang, who scouts for information, that Gu Chengyu had arrived early. He intentionally delayed his arrival to see if the little boy had patience, knowing well that studying can be extremely tedious. Without a calm demeanor, even a clever mind may lag behind others.

Turning the corner towards the study, he saw Gu Chengyu sitting across from the study, on the stone bench in the corridor, without any sign of impatience and not wandering around. Mr. Wen nodded, satisfied that he seemed capable of settling down.

Gu Chengyu heard heavy footsteps coming from the corner and knew for sure it was Mr. Wen coming. This area has only one study, and students rarely come to this place.

Gu Chengyu stood up, tidied the hem of his clothes, and respectfully greeted, "Gu Chengyu meets the teacher!"

"Mm! Since you’ve come, let’s begin by paying respects to the statue of Confucius!"

"Sir, this is the Six Rites my father asked me to present to you." Gu Chengyu took a cloth bag from the stone bench and handed it to Mr. Wen.

"You are thoughtful." The Gu Family, a farming household, knowing to prepare the Six Rites, shows they have placed importance on studying. He’d long changed the Six Rites into Silver; first, it’s difficult to gather the rites, and second, a meat strip certainly cannot serve as a year’s fee, as the teacher must manage daily life too, right? He opened the door and placed the Six Rites into the study.

The so-called Six Rites are essentially the teacher’s fee. Celery, lotus seeds, red beans, dates, dried longan, and lean meat strips are known as the Six Rites. Mr. Gu had someone buy a strip of meat in town the day before, then had Mrs. Lv marinate it. The other five items were also gathered with help.

Though Mr. Wen had accepted two taels as the fee, Mr. Gu and Mrs. Lv agreed the formalities should not be omitted.

"Come in, after paying respects to the Confucius statue, go to Class C. I’ve already assigned a seat. Follow me!" Mr. Wen stood facing the Confucius statue in the study, knelt, and made a bowing hand gesture, performing a simple ceremony.

"From now on, you must diligently study, don’t slack off. Studying requires a gradual approach, remember not to aim too high." After turning around, Mr. Wen said two sentences of encouragement about studying before letting Gu Chengyu rise.

"These three books are what you need to read now, take care of them. Only after mastering these can you read the Four Books and Five Classics. Alright! The hour is not early, go on! I’ll come to Class C at 7 AM daily to check on yesterday’s assignments and teach new content; you arrived late and certainly are behind. For the first few days, I’ll teach you separately; once you’ve studied for a period, we’ll adjust based on your progress. I’ll be teaching Class B at the Si hour. If there’s anything you don’t understand or cannot write, ask a senior brother from your class; you may also consult the Class B students. Avoid disturbing those in Class A. You may also come to ask me if I’m available! Also, this is the bamboo token for lunch. Just show it to the chef at lunchtime."

"Yes, teacher! I’ll head over now!" Gu Chengyu took the books, placed the bamboo token into his book bag, and then left the study.

Walking towards Class C, before reaching the room’s door, he already heard the chaotic noise from inside.

"Fatty Wang, did you do the homework assigned by the teacher yesterday? Or is it you didn’t do it again? What excuse did you use today? Perhaps your concubine is sick again?" Among the voices, one was especially loud.

After these words were spoken, the room fell silent, followed by roaring laughter, with some people thumping tables as they laughed.

"Fatty Wang, I reckon you’ll be stuck in Class C for a few more years! Ye Zhiqiu only studied for two years, now he’s promoted to Class B!"

"How much better are you all than me? If you have the ability, be promoted to Class B! Otherwise, you’re just as unaccomplished as me, huh!"

Gu Chengyu entered the room with his books, glanced around, and saw a little fatty sitting in the second row, truly fat, about twice his size, around seven to eight years old, with a round face, cheeks squeezing the eyes into slits. At this moment, he was arrogantly staring at a student across from him, similar in age.

The student across, similar in age to him, was staring at the fatty with a mocking expression. It seemed these two were among those involved in the earlier conversation. Around them were some hecklers, and some were indifferent. In short, out of a dozen students, there were various attitudes. Those heckling were dressed in satin or fine cotton, with the best attire belonging to the two quarreling earlier. It seems peaceful days aren’t likely ahead; this Class C is its own little world!

"Yesterday, the teacher praised my writing as greatly improved. I believe it won’t be long before I’m promoted to Class B, fearing you’ll still be in Class C by then!" You Siyuan sneered. Everyone knows the affairs of the Wang Family, except this dumb fatty still in the dark.

"Who are you? Are you the student who just arrived today?" One of the heckling students suddenly noticed a figure standing at the door, looked closely, it was a five or six-year-old little boy.

The people in the room were attracted by these words, looking towards the door, seeing a refined little boy in a sky-blue round-neck Daoist robe made of fine cotton. His hair was tied up, with a small red mole on his brow, fair skin, almond-shaped eyes resembling peach blossoms, with upturned corners—truly handsome.

Gu Chengyu walked into the room, all seats were filled, only the first row had an empty spot, which was right in front of Fatty Wang.

He strolled to the spot in front of Fatty Wang and placed the books and book bag on the desk.

"I’m the new student who just arrived today, named Gu Chengyu. I hope the senior brothers will guide me well." Gu Chengyu had roughly glanced around earlier; only two or three were similar in age to him, the rest were seven to eight-year-old children. Hence, calling them senior brothers was reasonable, more so since he joined later.

"Seems you’re the student the teacher mentioned yesterday, have you started learning at home?" Fatty Wang examined the newly arrived younger brother, doubting this person was the farming family child mentioned by the doorkeeper. His bearing didn’t reflect the timidity of farming family children, more like the offspring of major families.

"Haven’t started learning at home. May I ask the senior brothers’ names?" Gu Chengyu arranged the scholar’s tools from the book bag in order on the desk, then respectfully asked the students in the room.