Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life

Chapter 5: Master Zhou

The night was as thick as ink that couldn't be diluted.

Su Ming lay prone on the hard earthen bed, the wounds on his back stinging with a piercing pain as the ointment took effect. He gritted his teeth, burying his face in the musty-smelling pillow without making a sound.

"Does it hurt?" Lin Yu's voice sounded lazily in his mind.

"Mhm." Su Ming responded gloomily.

"Hurting means it's working." Lin Yu's tone gave no indication of emotion. "Remember this feeling. Your body is like a broken boat trying to cross a sea of suffering. Today's beating was just waves slapping against the deck. If the boat isn't sturdy, when storms come, it will be destroyed instantly with everyone aboard."

What he actually thought was: "I need to improve this kid's physical condition. My retirement plan can't collapse right after I started paying into it."

Listening to his master's words, the pain in Su Ming's back seemed to take on special meaning.

"Master, I understand."

"Understanding alone isn't enough." Lin Yu shifted topics. "Starting tomorrow, you must memorize every single character Teacher Zhou teaches, without missing a single one. For a boat to be sturdy, it needs blueprints first. These characters are your blueprints."

Su Ming hesitated slightly. "But... my memory isn't good.""The slow bird must start flying early, and diligence can compensate for clumsiness." Lin Yu's voice carried undeniable authority. "This old master has ways to help you. Now, do something else."

"What is it?"

"Take off the ring."

Su Ming was startled but complied, pulling the cold ring from his chest.

"Your household has many eyes, and your second brother is particularly observant. If you keep wearing it while sleeping, you'll eventually be discovered." Lin Yu instructed. "See that crack in the roof beam? Hang it on that protruding wooden splinter inside the crack."

Su Ming looked up and, by the faint moonlight streaming through the window, indeed spotted an inconspicuous crack in the overhead beam. Stepping on the bed frame and standing on tiptoe, he carefully hung the ring there.

The ring disappeared into the darkness as if it had never existed.

"Alright, go to sleep." Lin Yu's voice carried a hint of satisfaction. "Rest well. Tomorrow is your second lesson after joining."

The next day, as dawn was just breaking.

Su Ming climbed out of bed. The wounds on his back still hurt, but when he thought of his master's words, he felt filled with motivation.

At the breakfast table, the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

head in his porridge, while Wang

remained silent as usual, but placed an

your back still hurt? Maybe don't go to school today,

finished the porridge in his bowl. "I'm full, going

bag hanging on the wall and rushed

Yang watched his retreating back, his brow

stepped out of the courtyard gate, he bumped into neighbor Widow Li carrying a basin of water. Her voice was loud and clear. "Why are

array?" Lin Yu's voice sounded in Su Ming's

his mind: "That's Auntie Li,

intelligence distribution center, high-risk interpersonal unit.

"mhm" and kept walking, almost jogging as he disappeared

of firewood, sweat droplets sliding down his sturdy arms. Watching

filled with

at birth

Zhou was stroking his goatee, swaying his head as he led seven or eight children in reading. Lifting his eyelids, he spotted Su Ming

voices abruptly

Ming." Teacher Zhou's voice wasn't loud, but it made the entire schoolhouse so quiet you could hear

the hall with

sound of the ruler cutting through the air was short

"Smack!"

marks quickly swelled on his palm, burning with pain.

a more comfortable "position" inside the ring. But "this is also

regret at Su Ming's failure to meet expectations,

natures are similar, but their habits make

to his seat, his left palm feeling like it was

open the book, its

it feel?" Lin Yu's lazy voice emerged. "This is called tactile memory method. Simple and brutal, but highly effective for a

his mind. He stared at the unfamiliar character "beginning" in the book as if trying to

similar, but their habits make them

deep

sound echoed through the small schoolhouse, making the

the stinging in

character rolling out of his throat feeling like he

who knows how long, Teacher Zhou's ruler lightly

"Tap."

buzzing in the

his slightly clouded eyes sweeping over each young

your books. Grind ink, prepare to