Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life

Chapter 15: The Old Fox

When Teacher Zhou finished speaking, his words landed like a stone thrown into a calm pond, sending out a thousand ripples.

Inside the schoolhouse, the children's expressions were a spectacle. Some were shocked, some puzzled, some jealous, but most were simply bewildered.

They couldn't understand how Su Ming's few blunt, homespun sentences could be put on the same level as Zhao Rui's grand-sounding words, and even seemed to have the upper hand.

Zhao Rui's face shifted from the color of pig liver to deathly pale, then swelled into a bluish-purple. He felt Teacher Zhou's phrase "I'll award it to Su Ming and Zhao Rui" was not an announcement but a verdict.

A verdict of his failure.

The literary talent he prided himself on looked so pale and powerless compared to Su Ming's words, which smelled of blood and soil—a joke.

"Class dismissed." Teacher Zhou tapped the ruler, and did not add another word.

The students left one after another. As they passed Su Ming, their gazes grew complicated.

Zhao Rui let out a haughty snort through his teeth, shoved Su Ming hard in the shoulder, and strode off.

"Alright, alright, don't stare, they'll be gone soon." Lin Yu yawned in Su Ming's head."Su Ming, stay behind." Teacher Zhou's voice came again.

Su Ming stepped to the desk, bowed respectfully and saluted, "Teacher."

Teacher Zhou looked at him with approval, with sentiment, and with a faint, hard-to-notice worry. He took a booklet from his book chest.

The booklet wasn't thick. Its cover was yellowed coarse hemp paper, stitched with thin hemp thread, the corners worn—clearly handled countless times by its owner.

"This is the Thousand Character Classic." Teacher Zhou handed the booklet to Su Ming, "I copied it by hand when I was young, and I added some of my annotations."

Su Ming received it with both hands. The booklet felt warm, carrying a faint scent of ink and the weight of years.

"Teacher, this is too precious…"

"Take it." Teacher Zhou waved a hand, "Your literacy is shallow, your foundation unstable. In town, even in the county, there will be plenty of people smarter and better-off than you. What you said was very good—its merit is in being 'true', in being 'real'. But remember, there are many people who prefer pretty words. Your path is going to be much harder than Zhao Rui's."

"Student remembers."

"Go, study well these few days. Do not disappoint your brothers' hard efforts, and do not… disappoint the heart within you."

Su Ming cradled the Thousand Character Classic, bowed deeply, and left the schoolhouse.

Lin Yu's voice thrilled, "This old teacher truly favors you! This hand-copied volume is worth more than ten taels of silver!"

By the time Su Ming returned home, the news had flown through the whole village like it had grown wings.

a group of women, led by

you, your Xiaoming is the Literary

becomes an official,

said, "Oh, nonsense, it's not even started

Shan squatted on the threshold, the pipe smoke from his tobacco blinking in little bursts. The faint smile at the corner of his mouth

Su Feng grinned widely, stupidly

return, the courtyard's mood

"Xiao Ming is back!"

awkward. He hugged

moment, a strong, full-voiced

"Brother Su, at home?"

turned and froze. The visitor wore a silk shirt, his belly neither large nor small, his face

trailed a sulking Zhao

silent. The villagers politely said hello and

and rushed to greet them, "Village Chief, what

Dequan waved, his gaze landing directly on Su Ming, as if appraising

heard my son tell me about what he said at the schoolhouse—well said! It touched the hearts of us farmers! Filial, steady!

praise left the entire Su household

and Mrs. Chen didn't know what to do with their hands, only managing to keep

and doesn't know his place. The road to town is long and as his father I'm really uneasy. You're steadier and more sensible than

these words even Su Yang's eyes

Zhao Rui? The sun

ready to retort, but his father shot him a glare

and thrust it into Su Ming's hand, "One hundred wen here. Not much—consider it this elder's gift to

held the pouch and it felt

slap in

is too much, Village

Zhao Dequan didn't wait for objections; he pushed the pouch into Su Ming's bosom and patted his shoulder, "It's settled! On the journey, you two must be like brothers and support each

and left, briskly, not

the

couldn't help

after a long time, exhaled, "He's buying

Ming's head, "That old fox is a hundred times smarter than his son. He knows you've

out today's good deed as leverage. If something happens on the road,

one hundred wen is not for tea. It's

Ming lowered his head and looked at the little pouch. For the first time he felt how many curved paths and hidden meanings there could be in human

household

it in the

food is expensive." She fussed as she packed, her

Su Ming a cloth bag containing a bit of silver and said only