Seeing Zhang San solve the puzzle within the time span of three counts, Pharaoh's eyes bulged, and then he couldn't help but think of something.
He reached out and patted Master Ma's shoulder.
"Ma, you're quite something! You've gotten sneaky, huh!"
Master Ma was taken aback, not understanding what Pharaoh meant.
"Did you take on an apprentice and then, knowing I was coming, deliberately show off in front of me?"
"Showing off right in front of me, indeed, you've shown me up!"
Pharaoh, annoyed, walked over to the table in the center of the courtyard, picked up a bowl of soup, and huffed as he began to drink.
Master Ma hurriedly explained, "He's not my apprentice. If I had such an apprentice, I would've been angry to death by now! And also... and also..."
Master Ma looked at the wooden sticks scattered all over the ground, unable to believe Zhang San could have solved the small wooden sphere so quickly.
"And how did you do it so fast?"
