The next morning, as daylight first pierced through the dilapidated window lattice, casting mottled shadows on the ground.

Zhao Rui was holding a broken bowl, squatting in the corner, staring dazedly at the three clay pots while muttering under his breath.

“Natural Way Group… External Intervention Group… Adversity Survival Group…”

Each time he recited one, he scratched his head, feeling like all the books he’d read over the past decade had been fed to the yellow dog at the village entrance.

Meanwhile, Su Ming was under the old locust tree in the courtyard, slowly and steadily practicing a set of fist techniques. This routine was something Lin Yu had concocted based on ergonomics, blending the health exercises of elderly gentlemen from parks in his previous life with some basic combat stances, randomly naming it the “Body Refining Foundation Building Exercise.”

The movements weren’t fast, but every stretch, every exertion of force, engaged all the tendons, bones, and muscles throughout Su Ming’s body. Sweat trickled down his refined cheeks, dripping onto the yellow earth beneath his feet, creating small dark patches.

“Disciple, tighten your core, sink your energy to the dantian! You’re not practicing fist techniques, you’re kneading dough! So soft and floppy, what kind of appearance is that!” Lin Yu was conducting his routine supervision inside Su Ming’s mind, “Remember, what we’re pursuing isn’t lethal power, it’s endurance! If you can’t win a fight, you’ve got to be able to outrun them!”

Just then, light footsteps sounded at the courtyard gate.

Zhao Rui jolted, whipping his head around to see Zhou Yulin standing at the entrance with the gray-clothed elderly servant.

Unlike yesterday’s scrutinizing gaze, today Zhou Yulin’s expression carried clear respect mixed with a trace of barely noticeable nervousness. The elderly servant behind him held an exquisite rosewood box in his hands.

Zhao Rui was so startled he nearly dropped the bowl in his hand, quickly standing up and rubbing the corners of his clothes awkwardly.

Su Ming concluded his fist stance, regulated his breathing, wiped his sweat with the cloth towel hanging around his neck, and calmly looked at the visitors.

“Young Master Zhou, good morning.”

“Brother Su.” Zhou Yulin quickly stepped forward, cupping his hands respectfully toward Su Ming, “Hearing your words yesterday was more enlightening than reading for ten years. After returning, I couldn’t sleep all night, repeatedly pondering, and increasingly felt that Brother Su’s method of Investigation of Things is truly a golden key to unlocking the doors of wisdom.”

He spoke with utmost sincerity, his eyes sparkling with the light of inquiry.

“Today I’m presuming to disturb you again because I have a request to make.”

As he spoke, he turned sideways, and the gray-clothed elderly servant immediately stepped forward, presenting the rosewood box in his hands.

“My father heard of Brother Su’s profound insights and also praised them endlessly. This is a small token of my father’s esteem, and I must ask Brother Su to accept it. I boldly wish to seek instruction from Brother Su on the essence of this ‘verification method,’ would that be possible?”

When the wooden box opened, a serene fragrance of ink and wood instantly filled the air.

Inside the box lay bright yellow silk, upon which rested an inkstone with warm hues carved with layered mountain peaks, accompanied by two wolf hair brushes with smooth shafts and upright tips.

Zhao Rui’s eyes instantly bulged.

Though he couldn’t recognize quality, just looking at the stone quality of the inkstone and the carving craftsmanship of the wooden box, he knew this thing was so expensive that even selling himself wouldn’t cover the cost.

Su Ming’s heart also leaped violently, but his expression remained unchanged.

He glanced at the valuable Duan Inkstone, then shook his head and gently pushed the box back.

“Young Master Zhou, this is too valuable, this student absolutely cannot accept it.” His tone was very sincere, “Investigation of Things to extend knowledge is the common pursuit of all scholars. This student’s occasional insights are merely fortunate coincidences, how could I profit from them. If you’re interested, we can explore them together.”

These words made Zhou Yulin admire him even more.

Look at this! What breadth of mind! What moral character!

Treating gold and silver as dirt, valuing only knowledge. Father was right, this person is no ordinary talent!

“Brother Su, you’re mistaken!” Zhou Yulin firmly pushed the box back again, “Though knowledge is a public tool, Brother Su’s wisdom is unique. This gift isn’t a transaction, it’s my Zhou family’s respect for Brother Su’s scholarship! If Brother Su doesn’t accept it, you’re looking down on my Zhou family, looking down on my heart for seeking knowledge!”

With him putting it so strongly, any further refusal from Su Ming would seem hypocritical.

“Steady, disciple, he’s using rhetoric to pressure you into compliance.” Lin Yu calmed down and began tactical guidance, “Don’t panic, first show a troubled expression, then reluctantly accept. Remember, make him feel that you’re accepting not because of the item’s value, but because of his ‘sincerity.’ This is called control! Keep the initiative firmly in your hands!”

Following instructions, Su Ming showed a troubled expression on his face, pondered for a moment, then let out a long sigh.

“Since Young Master Zhou has put it this way, if this student continues to refuse, it would seem petty.” He extended both hands and solemnly accepted the wooden box.

He handed the box to the dumbstruck Zhao Rui beside him, instructing him to keep it safe.

Zhao Rui held the heavy wooden box, feeling like he wasn’t holding an inkstone but a mountain, so heavy his hands trembled slightly.

Seeing Su Ming accept the gift, Zhou Yulin was overjoyed, his smile becoming much more genuine.

“Thank you, Brother Su, for obliging me!”

“No need for formal instruction.” Su Ming waved his hand, leading him to the three clay pots, “This method actually doesn’t have much mystery, its value lies in persistence and recording.”

Pointing at the clay pots, he elaborated some more detailed thoughts.

“For example, this ‘Natural Way Group,’ we shouldn’t just observe when it sprouts and when it grows leaves, but also record daily sunlight duration, whether the weather is cloudy or clear. These are all part of the ‘Natural Way.'”

“And this ‘External Intervention Group,’ we used the siphon method, but regarding the amount of water, is one drop more causing waterlogging, or one drop less causing drought? The ‘measure’ within this is the ‘principle’ that ‘human effort’ needs to explore.”

“As for this ‘Adversity Survival Group,’ it still hasn’t sprouted today, but has its seed already died? Or is it gathering strength, waiting for an opportunity? This is the mystery of ‘adaptation.'”

Su Ming didn’t speak quickly, but each sentence seemed to open a new window for Zhou Yulin, allowing him to see an unprecedented microcosm composed of countless details.

Zhao Yulin listened as if intoxicated, nodding frequently, extraordinary light shining in his eyes.

Their discussion lasted for half an hour.

It wasn’t until the sun was high in the sky that Zhou Yulin reluctantly took his leave. Before departing, he repeatedly requested to visit often for guidance in the future.

After seeing off Zhou Yulin, Zhao Rui finally let out a long breath. He looked at Su Ming, his expression extremely complex.

“Su Ming… I used to think studying was just memorizing books, but today I learned that studying… can be done like this.” He shook the heavy wooden box in his hand, “This… what do we do with this thing?”

“Keep it safe.” Su Ming’s expression returned to calm, as if the person who had been authoritatively directing the world wasn’t him, “This is our ‘travel funds.'”

He turned to look in the direction of the town, his gaze profound.

“Let’s go, to register at the County School. After handling official business, we can focus on ‘Investigation of Things’ with peace of mind.”

…

At the Qingshi Town County School office, the minor official responsible for student record registration was surnamed Qian, with a pointed mouth and monkey cheeks, his eyes constantly darting around in their sockets, exuding an air of shrewdness.

Zhou Kang had come specifically to find him.

He didn’t use the main entrance but entered through the backyard, meeting Clerk Qian in a secluded tearoom.

When Clerk Qian saw it was the Second Master of the Zhou family, he immediately bowed and scraped as he welcomed him, personally brewing premium tea.

“Second Master, what brings you here today? If there’s anything, you could have just sent someone with instructions.”

Zhou Kang picked up the teacup, leisurely skimmed off the foam, didn’t drink it, but placed the cup on the table with a light click.

“Old Qian, you’ve been working at the County School for over ten years now, right?”

“Thanks to your blessings, Second Master, just scraping by.” Clerk Qian smiled until the wrinkles on his face piled up.

“Hmm.” Zhou Kang nodded, asking as if casually, “I heard Teacher Zhou recommended two country children this year to register for the Child Scholar examination?”

Clerk Qian’s heart skipped a beat, knowing the main topic had arrived.

“That’s correct. The documents just arrived yesterday, one named Su Ming, the other Zhao Rui.”

“Su Ming…” Zhou Kang repeated the name, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth, “I’ve heard about this child. Quite clever, but… his family background isn’t very clean.”

He lowered his voice, speaking mysteriously, “I heard that his family, in earlier years, had sticky fingers, stole things in the village. Though it didn’t blow up, everyone in the village knows about it. Tell me, what kind of place is our County School? It’s a sacred ground for selecting pillars for the court! Moral character is the foremost requirement.”

Cold sweat instantly broke out on Clerk Qian’s back.

How could he not understand the implication in Zhou Kang’s words.

“This… what should be done?” He pretended to be troubled, “What about Teacher Zhou…”

“The old teacher is kind-hearted and easily deceived by superficial appearances.” Zhou Kang sighed, putting on a pained expression, “We juniors need to screen properly for him, can’t let his lifelong reputation be tarnished by a boy with moral flaws.”

He patted Clerk Qian’s shoulder, “You’re a smart person, you know what to do. The matter doesn’t need to be handled too harshly, and don’t offend the teacher. Just say… their documents are incomplete, or their guarantor’s qualifications are questionable, make them go back to rectify it. After going back and forth like this a few times, when their travel funds run out, they’ll naturally retreat from difficulty. This way, we preserve the teacher’s dignity and protect our County School’s reputation, don’t you think that makes sense?”

Clerk Qian immediately understood perfectly, nodding repeatedly like pounding garlic.

“Second Master is absolutely right! Second Master’s insight is brilliant! Rest assured, this matter is in my hands, I’ll handle it perfectly, definitely won’t cause any trouble for you or the teacher!”

Zhou Kang smiled with satisfaction.

He stood up, straightened his robes, as if he had just come for tea and nothing had happened.

This was exactly the outcome he wanted.

He wanted to make sure that boy named Su Ming couldn’t even touch the County School’s front gate!

Thinking he could climb up by stepping on Zhou Kang’s face?

Dream on!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep