For a moment, the scene was quiet. Only Zhao Youcai was extremely anxious. He looked at Liu Xiucai, then at Zhao Ce. After Zhao Ce finished answering, he asked lightly, "Teacher, did I answer correctly?"
Looking at the expression on the scholar's face in front of him, it seemed that he had guessed correctly last night. Zhao Ce couldn't help but think, could this be the legendary "golden finger" of a time traveler? His luck was really too good...
Last night, he only read the book once and basically memorized it. Could it be that he had the legendary ability of photographic memory? Zhao Ce felt a little pleased with himself. This time travel was definitely a cheat code for life!
Liu Xiucai's face changed for a moment. He hesitated and said, "Yes...you did answer correctly. You worked hard these past two days..."
Not only did he answer correctly, but he also answered fluently. In the past, whenever he took an exam, he stumbled over words and could only barely manage to answer, and even got many things wrong. Could it be that he was so stimulated last time that he had an epiphany and then worked hard to improve himself?
Liu Xiucai couldn't believe it and looked at Zhao Ce in front of him again. The person in front of him still looked the same, tall and skinny. But it seemed that he was different now. He stood straight and calm, completely different from before when he would start sweating at the mention of taking exams.
Liu Xiucai thought to himself, if only he had been like this earlier, there might still be hope. But now that he had already said what he did, it was difficult to retract his words.
After hearing Liu Xiucai's words, Zhao Ce nodded calmly and said, "I did work hard. After all, I'm not naturally talented, so I can only rely on diligence to make up for my inadequacies."
Answered correctly? Zhao Youcai's eyes lit up, and he immediately wanted to ask a few more questions. But Zhao Ce pulled him aside and took back his bag of white sugar and Zhao Youcai's red envelope.
Liu Xiucai glanced at them and didn't say anything. Zhao Ce said to Liu Xiucai calmly, "Since you say so, I don't want to trouble you anymore. Thank you for your years of education. We will take our leave now."
Zhao Ce had also figured it out. The teacher didn't have a good impression of him, and he had classmates who had conflicts with him. Zhao Ce didn't want to stay here anymore.
Zhao Youcai had been trying to please the teacher, but it wasn't necessary. Respecting teachers and valuing education is a virtue, but respect should be mutual. If he couldn't take the imperial examinations, he would find another way in the future. If all else failed, he could go home and study on his own. When he had more money, he could use it to get results. But no matter what, the scholar in front of him was a scholar, and he was just a farmer's son.
There's no need to get all worked up and let's just leave it at that... When Zhao Youcai heard Zhao Ce say he wanted to leave, he became a little anxious and wanted to pull Zhao Ce back.
But Zhao Ce smiled and said, "Uncle, the teacher has been teaching all morning and is tired. We shouldn't disturb him anymore. Let's go." After saying that, he took Zhao Youcai, bowed, and left.
Liu Xiucai was moved by Zhao Ce's words. "Teaching all morning and tired..." he murmured to himself. He couldn't even teach him properly, yet this student was still so concerned about him? Thinking about it carefully, if it weren't for this incident, Zhao Ce didn't have any major flaws apart from being dull-witted.
On the contrary, he also upheld the words of the saints, just like himself. However, it was a pity... Liu Xiucai shook his head. "His reputation has already been ruined. How could it be restored?" "Let's just let this matter go."
Thinking about the little cloth bag that Zhao Ce had just now, Liu Xiucai muttered to himself, "I wonder what's inside the small bag.
But as a farmer, he probably doesn't have anything good to offer, right? Could it be rice?"... Zhao Ce led Zhao Youcai out of the school gate. Zhao Youcai sighed and said, "What are we going to do now?" But thinking about what Liu Xiucai had said earlier, Zhao Youcai was filled with anger. Clearly, all of his nephew's answers were correct, but this scholar kept saying that his nephew was not good and even said that he lacked intelligence.
Thinking about it, Zhao Youcai suddenly felt sorry for Zhao Ce. He didn't know what kind of life Zhao Ce was leading in the school. Zhao Youcai said, "Let your cousin inquire if there are any other teachers willing to take you in." But it was very difficult for a student who had been expelled by a teacher to find another teacher.
However, Zhao Ce was not worried. He comforted Zhao Youcai, saying, "Uncle, there's no rush. If it really doesn't work out, I'll just skip the elementary scholar's examinations next year and wait until the year after." Zhao Youcai nodded helplessly and said, "We can only do that."
After thinking for a while, he hesitated and reminded Zhao Ce, "In the future, try not to go to the brothels. You're already married. Although your wife is a little thin and has some flaws in her appearance, she's not bad-looking. She's also hardworking and capable. Just live a good life with her." Zhao Ce's infatuation with brothel women was something he had heard rumors about.
Now, because of these things, he couldn't even study anymore.
Zhao Youcai felt very uncomfortable just thinking about it. But now that it had come to this, he didn't know what to say. He just hoped that his nephew could live a peaceful life in the future.
Zhao Ce readily agreed, taking the opportunity to increase his favorability in Zhao Youcai's eyes. "Uncle, I understand now. Before, I was wrong and always wanted to impress my classmates. So I did some things that I shouldn't have done. After this incident, I will definitely not do it again in the future or go to such places."
He said it firmly, which made Zhao Youcai feel relieved. However, despite coming out today, they ultimately failed to achieve their goal, which made Zhao Youcai feel even more depressed. "This matter has passed. Don't think too much about it. It's getting late, let's go back." Zhao Ce said, but he also wanted to stop by the cloth shop and buy some cloth on the way home.
Zhao Youcai nodded. They happened to pass by a cloth shop on the way, so they went in. Zhao Ce bought two pieces of coarse linen to make short jackets for himself.
The shopkeeper enthusiastically recommended some good cloth that could make close-fitting clothing. Zhao Ce remembered the shabby undershirt worn by the little girl and generously bought a lot of it. Zhao Youcai watched him spending money so recklessly, and even buying rough linen to make short jackets for himself, and couldn't help asking, "Why do you need to make short jackets?" Zhao Ce replied matter-of-factly, "Long robes are not suitable for working. I'll have my wife make me two short jackets. They're convenient for working in the fields." Zhao Youcai was puzzled.
It seemed like his nephew was not affected by his expulsion from school at all. He had just come out of the academy and was already thinking about working in the fields? But when he saw how happy Zhao Ce looked as he touched the good cloth, he kept his thoughts to himself.
Zhao Ce bought a lot of cloth, and the shopkeeper gave him many gifts. Zhao Ce couldn't help feeling good when he remembered how happy his little wife would be when she saw them. After finishing their shopping, they carried a large bundle of wrapped cloth and went home together, with Zhao Youcai still feeling depressed.