Cheng Qianqian was confused. She turned to look at her deskmate. Yu Xuan used a book as a cover as he mouthed to her, "Shu Li… Shu Li!"
Cheng Qianqian frowned. "M, mouse?" [1. Shu sounds like mouse or rat in Chinese.]
"What mouse! How about a rat!" Teacher Xue was so angry that she threw a piece of chalk at her.
Cheng Qianqian dodged quickly and the chalk hit Cheng Jinzhi, who was sitting behind her.
"Ah!" Cheng Jinzhi held her throbbing forehead and pouted. "Cheng Qianqian, you did it on purpose!"
"Oh, no I didn't." This time, Cheng Qianqian really didn't mean it. It was just a reflex.
"Teacher Xue, look at Cheng Qianqian! She wasn't paying attention in class and even disrupted the class!" Cheng Jinzhi took the opportunity to complain!
Teacher Xue was seeing red and she pointed at the door and said, "Cheng Qianqian, get out and stand there!"
"Teacher Xue, it was a reflex. I didn't do it on purpose. Isn't it inappropriate for you to punish a student like that?"
"You were not listening attentively in class. Shouldn't I punish you for that?"
"I heard wrongly. Actually, I was listening," Cheng Qianqian said matter-of-factly, "You were talking about the poem, Shu Li."
"It is from the book 'Classic of Poetry, Wang Feng' and was gathered from among the common people, a Han folk song from the Zhou Dynasty. It basically originated about three thousand years ago during the period between early Western Zhou Dynasty to the middle of the Spring and Autumn Period. In the prologue to the poem, it says, "Shu Li, in remembrance of Zong Zhou. A state official of the Zhou dynasty traveled to the Zong Zhou area and passed by the place where the ancient ancestral temple and palace used to be, but in its place were now fields of grain. He mourned the downfall of the Zhou Dynasty and couldn't bear to leave, thus composing this poem."
"This kind of commentary is generally accepted by later generations. The sorrow of Shu Li became an important story that is often used as a metaphor for the pain of losing one's country."
Teacher Xue narrowed her eyes. Cheng Qianqian had said much more than she did just now.
"Can you recite the entire text?"
Cheng Qianqian nodded and started reciting.
Millet here with grain droops low;
Sorghum there attends the blade.
With a slow pace I go through;
My heart is so dismayed.
He who knows me says I'm distraught.
He who doesn't asks if I'm seeking aught.
O vast, almighty blue sky,
Who on earth caused this and why?
Millet here with grain droops low;
Sorghum there is in the ear.
With a slow pace I go through;
My heart feels drunk and drear.
He who knows me says I'm distraught.
He who doesn't asks if I'm seeking aught.
O vast, almighty blue sky,
Who on earth caused this and why?
Millet here with grain droops low;
Sorghum there is in the grain.
With a slow pace I go through;
My heart is choked with pain.
He who knows me says I'm distraught.
He who doesn't asks if I'm seeking aught.
O vast, almighty blue sky,
Who on earth caused this and why?
Teacher Xue was so shocked that her jaw dropped. During a war more than a hundred years ago, the empire was invaded by foreign enemies and many precious ancient books were destroyed. This "Shu Li" was one of them. Many scholars had worked hard over the last hundred years to recover some fragments and could only piece together half of it. She didn't expect Cheng Qianqian to be able to recite the whole poem!
Could this Cheng Qianqian be the legendary Ziwei Star descending on Earth?!
When Teacher Xue looked at Cheng Qianqian again, her gaze had become kind and amiable, as if she was looking at some rare treasure.
"Teacher, do I still have to stand outside as punishment?"
"No, no. Student Cheng, please sit down!" Teacher Xue's expression was as gentle as could be.
"In the future, you have to take note of your balance between work and rest. Don't tire yourself out."
"Got it. Thank you, Teacher Xue." Cheng Qianqian sat down obediently.
Yu Xuan secretly passed her a note and on it was written 'awesome'. He even drew a picture of him cupping his fists in salute.
One has to know that Teacher Xue, who taught classical literature, was notorious in the Royal College for her strange temper. She wouldn't even subordinate to the dean. Now, she was being so gentle to Cheng Qianqian, and this was really rare!