Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Well-versed in Both Literary and Martial Arts

“Spring rain awakens, spring equinox, clear and bright… Summer’s fullness, grain in ear, summer solstice, heat connected…”

He stumbled through the first few lines, but then his recitation became smooth, and he didn’t miss a single word. Goldie Thorne looked bewildered. He had memorized the Song of Solar Terms in school, but he’d long since forgotten it all. He had no idea if his nephew was reciting it correctly, but it sounded quite impressive.

Raina understood even less. She could barely recognize a few characters, but hearing her grandson recite such a long poem, she was incredibly impressed. Beaming, she placed a slice of meat in Jim Thorne’s bowl.

’If anyone ever says my Jim is bad at his studies again, I’ll curse their ancestors for eighteen generations!’

“I can recite it too.”

Feeling she wouldn’t have enough presence sitting down, Tang Xiaonan stood up and began to recite loudly. In truth, she could have recited it fluently, but to make Jim Thorne look better, she recited it slowly and even made a few mistakes. Even so, Byron Thorne was astonished.

“Excellent, truly excellent. Both Xiaonan and Jim are doing so well.”

Byron Thorne was in high spirits. He suddenly began to doubt Shane Thorne. Maybe what his sixth son had said wasn’t right. He was starting to think his grandson might just have a promising future after all!

Jim Thorne was only eleven now. If he studied hard, going to college wasn’t out of the question.

If the Thorne family could produce a college student, he would definitely throw a grand banquet and burn mountains of gold and silver for their ancestors.

“My third brother is so capable! Mr. Hawthorne didn’t know how to farm, so Third Brother taught him. Grandpa Tate even praised him, saying he’s well-rounded and will have a great future.”

Jim Thorne blinked. ’Did Old Master Tate really say that?’

’How come I didn’t hear it?’

’He probably said it and I just missed it. Otherwise, how would Xiaonan know a fancy idiom like ’well-rounded’? I don’t even know that one.’

Byron Thorne and Raina were grinning from ear to ear, not doubting for a second what Tang Xiaonan said. Such a cultured phrase clearly came from a cultured person. That fellow Tate, a “capitalist roader,” seemed to have pretty good judgment.

Jim Thorne held his head high, prouder than a rooster with eighteen concubines. He was grinning widely, but then thought it wasn’t dignified enough. He quickly snapped his mouth shut and put on a serious expression, trying his best to maintain the air of a ’well-rounded’ master.

“Did Mr. Tate teach you all this?” Byron Thorne asked.

Jim Thorne nodded. “That old man’s classes are more interesting than my teacher’s. It’s easier to remember. I forget what my teacher says almost immediately.”

Tang Xiaonan scoffed inwardly. ’He’s an international master. How could a teacher from a small village possibly compare?’

Byron Thorne grew pensive. An idea was forming in his mind, but he hadn’t settled on it yet. After all, Old Master Tate’s status was too sensitive. Even though things had relaxed a bit recently, the timid and cautious Byron Thorne still didn’t dare to do anything too unorthodox.

Tang Xiaonan declared loudly, “Third Brother is so smart, he’ll definitely be the top scholar! Right, Grandma?”

“Yes! If he becomes the top scholar, Grandma will slaughter a pig and host a banquet,” Raina declared magnanimously, a far cry from her usual thriftiness.

This made Byron Thorne’s mind even more active. He decided to go discuss it with Shane Thorne. If his sixth son thought it was feasible, then he would commit to it. For his grandson’s future, he would stick his neck out just this once!

Besides, he had accepted five hundred yuan from Ethan Hawthorne, Adrian Hawthorne’s father, back in the day. He hadn’t really looked after the mother and son over the years and felt rather guilty. If he settled this matter, he could also properly look after the Hawthorne family.

Tang Xiaonan, carefully observing his expression, knew that Byron Thorne was wavering. She was overjoyed. As long as Byron Thorne spoke up, Felix Thorne certainly wouldn’t object. That way, she could help Adrian Hawthorne and Old Master Tate openly and honorably.

Goldie Thorne wasn’t interested in any of this. He kept his head down, lost in thought. After dinner, he said to Byron Thorne, “Dad, I want to make a trip to the city.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep