Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life

Chapter 21: This is called differentiated competition

Zhao Rui looked at the bundle of coarse hemp rope and two ugly clay pots on the table, feeling like his brain couldn't process what he was seeing.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found he couldn't utter a single word.

He was certain Su Ming had gone completely mad.

Being robbed by mountain bandits, then humiliated by the Zhou family—this series of blows had finally driven the usually quiet youth over the edge.

"Su Ming, you..." Zhao Rui's voice came out dry and strained, "We... we're really going to use these?"

"Mhm." Su Ming responded briefly, already carrying the clay pots to the corner of the courtyard.

That corner was piled with old fallen leaves and mud. He brushed aside the surface layer of loose soil with his hands, revealing the relatively moist earth beneath.

"Disciple, pay attention to your technique, make it look professional." Lin Yu's voice echoed in Su Ming's mind, like a director coaching actors on set, "Don't dig like you're unearthing sweet potatoes—there should be a sense of ceremony. You're not playing with mud right now, you're constructing a 'micro-ecological circulation system'."

Su Ming's hands paused briefly, then he followed Lin Yu's guidance, making his movements slow and methodical.

He first laid a layer of small stones at the bottom of the clay pots, then carefully filled them with soil. When they were half-full, he gently compacted the earth with his fingers.Zhao Rui just stared blankly.

He watched as Su Ming carefully picked out three shriveled beans from that precious bundle he guarded so closely.

These were the last remaining provisions they had brought from the village.

Su Ming pressed the beans one by one into three different clay pots, then covered them with a thin layer of soil.

Throughout the entire process, his expression remained intensely focused, as if he were carving a priceless work of art.

"He's mad, completely mad." Zhao Rui slumped weakly onto the bed board, covering his face with his hands.

Lin Yu continued his on-site instruction, "Disciple, remember, from now on, this isn't called planting beans—this is called 'Investigating Things to Extend Knowledge: Comparative Examination of Plant Growth.' The pot on the left, watered daily, is called the 'Natural Way Group.' The middle pot, using the hemp rope you bought to draw water for continuous moisture, is the 'External Intervention Group.' The right pot, not watered initially, left to struggle on its own, is the 'Adversity Survival Group.'"

"Listen to those names, that commanding presence! Old scholars like Director Zhou eat this stuff up! What is this called? This is called professionalism!"

Hearing his master's twisted logic, the corner of Su Ming's mouth twitched involuntarily, but his hands never stopped moving.

After arranging everything properly, the three crude clay pots stood side by side in the corner, looking both pitifully shabby and strangely peculiar.

Just then, the courtyard gate creaked open a crack.

Zhao Chunlan poked her head in, and upon seeing the two youths in the courtyard, forced a strained smile onto her face.

She carried a small cloth bundle, quickly entered, and shoved it into Zhao Rui's hands.

"Rui'er, these are a few steamed buns to fill your stomachs for now." She lowered her voice, her eyes filled with worry and apology, "Your uncle... that's just how his temper is, please don't take it to heart."

Her gaze fell upon the three strange clay pots in the corner, and she froze for a moment.

"What... what is this?"

Zhao Rui's face instantly flushed bright red, wishing he could find a hole to crawl into.

calmly meeting Zhao Chunlan's gaze as

is merely

inquiry?" Zhao Chunlan looked even

"This student happened to read some miscellaneous texts and saw the saying: 'One leaf can reveal autumn's arrival, one tree can show the forest's nature.' All things that grow follow their own principles. Therefore,

speech was half-classical, half-vernacular, entirely composed of the explanations Lin Yu had

word of it, but she caught the

straight-backed, at those clear, bright eyes that

she

your studies." Zhao Chunlan stammered, offered a few

left, Zhao

to Aunt! What great way! What Investigating Things! It's

him, enunciating each word clearly, "how can they

was left speechless, completely

hall, the

sat at the main seat, his face dark as water. Nearly fifty years old with temples slightly graying, he wore a scholar's robe that was

beside him was his only son, Zhou Yulin, who currently kept his head bowed, not even

elder brother and nephew's expressions, his eyes shifted as he decided to lighten the mood with some

an 'Investigating Things' master appearing in our

his eyelids

That companion is called Su Ming, also recommended by Teacher Zhou. This kid, who knows what nonsense he read in some wild text, has started planting beans in broken clay pots in the

expected his elder brother to chuckle dismissively or scold it

Zhou Wenhai's reaction completely defied

gaze sharp as he stared at him, "The person who recommended him was Teacher Zhou from Su

Zhou Kang felt unnerved under his stare, "That old fellow who spent his whole

Zhou Wenhai's low roar, though not loud, made Zhou Kang tremble, "Teacher Zhou has been like half a mentor to me! He is upright in character and

paled. He never imagined his elder brother

ignored him, turning

me, what is

Yulin stood up and answered respectfully, "Replying to Father, Investigating Things to Extend Knowledge means exhaustively studying the principles of things to seek the acquisition of

Wenhai nodded, then asked, "Then do you

in the classics of the

profound discussions of wind, thunder, and stars, yet you can't explain why a blade

blush with shame, his head bowing

Wenhai took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart, and

Su Ming, what is

daring to show any further disrespect as he stammeringly repeated exactly what his wife had described—Su Ming's explanations about the "Natural Way

sentence he spoke, Zhou Wenhai's eyes

the time he finished, Zhou Wenhai's face was full of shock and... a

human effort, and adversity as guides to examine their principles...

stood up abruptly and began pacing back and forth in

didn't misjudge his person! This examination method, seemingly simple and unadorned, goes straight to the heart of Investigating Things! The great way is supremely simple! Why didn't I think of it!

Yulin were both utterly

their eyes, this absurd "bean planting" had become, in the family head's words, a "great way"

Wenhai stopped pacing, his burning

"Yulin!"

"Your son is here!"

Investigating Things essay? The opportunity has arrived!" Zhou Wenhai pointed toward the door, "Go! Go to the backyard! See for yourself! No, not just see—go