Manbao and Bai Shanbao sat in the study, each taking up a small desk, glanced out the window at Bai Erlang who was speaking with the teacher, and sighed in unison.
Then, resigned to their fate, they lowered their heads and started writing characters.
They had been punished. In addition to their usual homework, they had to write three pages of characters in "medium" size. As Mr. Zhuang put it, "A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor can you two pieces of jade without some cutting."
Once the three pages of characters were completed, the two submitted them honestly to the teacher for review.
Mr. Zhuang took the papers, looked at them for a while, then shook his head, "Still lacking in skill. From now on, you will write two pages of medium characters every day. There's no need to practice large characters anymore."
The two respectfully acknowledged the instruction.
Mr. Zhuang then waved them off, "Go play."
