Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life

Chapter 22: How can the affairs of scholars be called deception?

Zhou Yulin's voice carried a trace of deliberate maturity put on by a young man, but his trailing tone couldn't hide that condescending scrutiny.

The gray-clad old servant behind him stood like an emotionless stone statue, his gaze sweeping indifferently across this shabby room. His eyes lingered on Su Ming and Zhao Rui for less than a breath before lowering again, as if looking any longer would be a waste.

Zhao Rui was already too frightened to make a sound. He instinctively shrank back, not knowing where to put his hands and feet.

This was the Zhou family's prized son, the County School Director's only heir, someone all the scholars in Qingshi Town had to look up to.

Yet Su Ming merely gently closed the book in his hand, placed it by the table, then stood up and looked back at the other party without servility or arrogance.

"I am Su Ming."

His voice was very calm, as if stating the most ordinary fact.

This composed attitude instead made the barrage of questions Zhou Yulin had prepared get stuck in his throat. He had anticipated the other might panic and lose composure, might flatter and fawn—he just hadn't expected such straightforwardness.

"My father heard that you are here investigating the Way of Investigation of Things?" Zhou Yulin's gaze finally fell on the three plain-looking clay pots in the corner.

Dirt, beans, hemp rope.No matter how you looked at it, it reeked of country bumpkin poverty and nonsense.

If not for his father's solemn admonishment, he would never have set foot in such a filthy place.

Lin Yu's voice sounded leisurely in Su Ming's mind, "Disciple, steady. Right now he's here to verify, his heart is more uncertain than yours. Remember, you're not planting beans, you're expounding the ultimate principles of heaven and earth. Bring out the energy you used reciting your script yesterday, your eyes should be ethereal, your speech pace slowed, make him feel every word you say contains profound meaning he can't comprehend."

Su-Actor-Ming took a deep breath, silently recited his master's teachings in his heart, and a perfectly measured trace of indifference appeared on his face.

"I dare not claim such." He shook his head slightly, pointing to the three clay pots. "I'm merely emulating the ancient sages, conducting some shallow examinations."

"Examinations?" Zhou Yulin frowned. He'd heard this term from his father, but coming from a country youth's mouth, it felt somewhat strange.

"Exactly." Su Ming stepped forward, slowly walking to the clay pots. Seeing this, Zhao Rui hurriedly followed, like a nervous attendant.

"Young Master Zhou, please look." Su Ming pointed to the leftmost pot. "This pot, I call it the 'Natural Way Group.' Planted with beans, watered daily only according to the four seasons' rhythms, normal watering, left to grow without any human interference. This is following heaven's way, observing its natural state."

His voice was neither hurried nor slow, carrying a peculiar rhythmic quality.

Zhou Yulin's gaze slowly shifted from initial contempt to focused attention.

Su Ming then pointed to the middle pot using hemp rope to draw water: "This pot, I call it the 'External Intervention Group.' Using hemp rope to draw water, emulating the ancients' 'siphon method,' keeping the root soil constantly moist. This is human intervention, observing the variables."

the rightmost pot that looked dry and

Group.' After planting, no water is given for three days, observing

for a moment, only the rustle of wind through the old

thought Su Ming was crazy, but today hearing this "group by group" explanation, though he still didn't understand, for some reason

was completely

human effort,

Following heaven, variables, strategies.

all these terms—they were in the sage's books. But he'd never imagined these profound concepts could be so

this was what his father

he'd been struggling with always tried to start from grand themes like wind,

him had dug out a whole new world from

why are you doing this?" Zhou Yulin's voice

knowledge lies in the investigation of things. When things are investigated, knowledge is extended." Su Ming raised his head, looking at him with clear eyes. "I am dull-witted, unable to comprehend the great principles of heaven,

principle. How a root seeks water is also principle. The convergence of these myriad minute principles might help us...

thunder in Zhou

place, his face alternating between pale and flushed, his eyes full of

Yes!

within

for the distant, aiming

was right to scold him—all those books

master gives you full marks! Look at that kid, his soul is

expressionless on the surface, but thought inwardly: "Master, isn't this

matters of scholars be called deception? This is 'conceptual reshaping' and 'intellectual

took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart. He

Su, Yulin has

Su" made Zhao Rui's

bow, sidestepping half a step to avoid facing it directly, and returned the courtesy: "Young Master Zhou flatters me. I am merely picking up others' crumbs,

Yulin's eyes became fervent. "Brother Su's method strikes directly at the core! Yulin... Yulin wants to know, what

wanted to

seemed to see a shocking Investigation of Things essay slowly sprouting within

The opportunity had arrived.

but a trace of difficulty and regret appeared on his

temporarily, waiting for County School registration. Counting the days, we can linger

sighed, his gaze sweeping over

a single morning. To observe the entire process and see the final results, I'm afraid...

out, the fervor on Zhou Yulin's face instantly froze, turning

What?

of dawn, and the guide was about to