Professor Liu was so agitated he paced back and forth in his study, his graying beard trembling with each step.

He clutched Su Ming’s policy discussion essay as if holding some priceless treasure.

“Good! Excellent! In my lifetime of teaching, I’ve seen mountains of beautiful, ornate essays, but you are the first one who can take the principles down to the fields and villages, and make the calculations resonate in people’s hearts!”

He suddenly stopped, turned to look at Su Ming, his eyes gleaming with intensity.

“I will personally transcribe a copy of this essay of yours, attach my own commentary, and submit it to the Magistrate of Anyuan County! No, I’ll also send a copy to the Assistant Magistrate and the Chief Clerk! Money, grain, water conservancy—they are the true experts!”

Anyuan County was the direct superior authority over Qingshi Town.

Su Ming’s heart skipped a beat.

He had originally thought this essay would at most cause some ripples within the County School. He never expected Professor Liu planned to take it directly to the highest levels of the county government.

Professor Liu seemed to see through his thoughts, letting out a hearty laugh and patting his shoulder.

“Don’t be afraid, lad! If the sky falls, this old man will hold it up for you!”

He made a rare joke, winking. “If the Magistrate truly adopts this strategy and relieves Qingshi Town of its decades-long suffering, I will fight tooth and nail to get you the chief credit!”

A surge of warmth rose from the depths of Su Ming’s heart.

This wasn’t just the satisfaction of having his work appreciated; it was a solid, reassuring feeling of being valued and protected.

He bowed deeply. “This student is unworthy of such praise. It is all thanks to the professor’s guidance!”

“Disciple, steady, steady!” Lin Yu’s voice frantically warned in his mind. “Don’t get fooled into limping by a few sweet words from this old man! Greater credit means greater risk! You’re being roasted over the fire right now! This seriously violates our core principle of ‘surviving is victory’!”

Lin Yu inwardly wailed, “It’s over, it’s over, there’s no hiding now. Before, you were a firefly in the dark night; now you’re the noon sun, visible even to the blind. My retirement life, my low-key development, all ruined!”

Su Ming responded in his heart, “Master, given the circumstances…”

“Circumstances, my foot! Quickly think of a way to retract it! Say you were young and ignorant, talking nonsense, it shouldn’t be taken seriously! Or… or say you suddenly contracted a severe illness and were delirious!” Lin Yu started offering terrible ideas, then immediately refuted himself. “No, no, that would be even more suspicious… Forget it, forget it. Sometimes, the higher you stand, the stronger the wind, but you can also see farther and be safer!”

Although his verbal wailing continued, Lin Yu’s voice, besides worry, held a trace of barely detectable pride. After all, this essay also had a share of his “remote guidance” credit. But this emotion was immediately suppressed by his greater “survival” anxiety.

Leaving Professor Liu’s quiet courtyard, Su Ming walked on the County School’s bluestone path with mixed feelings. There was the exhilaration of recognition, hidden worries about the future, and his master’s ongoing “Way of Survival lectures” in his mind.

The afternoon sun filtered through layers of overlapping leaves, casting dappled light and shadow.

This feeling was novel and carried a hint of unreality.

Passing through the moon gate and skirting a bamboo grove, the small courtyard of the Room A dormitory came into view.

The courtyard gate was slightly ajar.

Su Ming pushed the door open and immediately saw the scene inside.

Zhao Rui was kicking the leg of a stone table with the tip of his foot, a look of disgust on his face, muttering curses.

“What a dump! My Room D is practically like our village’s woodshed! Smells moldy, and the window leaks wind! Why do you get a small courtyard with a well!”

Seeing Su Ming return, he immediately rushed over as if finding someone to vent to.

“Su Ming, this isn’t fair! My uncle is, after all, Director Zhou’s own brother. Is this how they treat me? Playing favorites isn’t supposed to be this blatant!”

The courtyard was small but very clean. A grapevine grew against the east wall, its vines already covering half the wall. To the west was an ancient bluestone well, its mouth covered in moss, emitting faint threads of cool air.

The main room was divided into inner and outer sections. The outer room was a study, fully equipped with the Four Treasures of the Study, a row of bookshelves against the wall. The inner room was the bedroom, with brand-new bedding.

A place where one could study and cultivate in peace.

“Hey! I’m talking to you!” Seeing Su Ming ignore him, Zhao Rui grew even more displeased.

“Then what do you think would be fair?” Su Ming set down his teacup, looking at him calmly.

“At the very least… at least give me a Room C!” Zhao Rui declared righteously.

“And then?” Su Ming asked.

“Then… then waive my monthly tuition gifts! I’m also a relative of the Zhou family!”

“Zhao Rui, what rank did you get in the exam?”

Zhao Rui’s face instantly flushed red, his voice weakening. “La… last place, so what? I still passed!”

“Prestige is earned by oneself, not given by others.” Su Ming stood up and patted his shoulder. “If you’re not convinced, next time get the top scorer title. Then forget Room A, even if you wanted to tear the County School’s roof off, Supervisor Qian would just smile and hand you a ladder.”

Zhao Rui was choked into speechlessness for a long moment, his face turning purplish.

He looked at Su Ming’s calm profile, feeling both angry and annoyed, yet utterly unable to refute him.

Just then, a few light coughs sounded at the courtyard gate.

“Ahem, this must be the current top scorer, Su, I presume?”

A somewhat frivolous voice rang out.

Su Ming and Zhao Rui turned to look simultaneously.

Three students stood at the courtyard gate, all wearing more luxurious silk robes than ordinary students, jade pendants hanging from their waists, folding fans in hand, faces full of playful mockery.

The leader was a young man around twenty, with fair skin and slightly upturned eyes, exuding an air of arrogance.

His name was Li Wenbo, an old-timer at the County School. It was said his father was a classmate of the Chief Clerk of Anyuan County. He always looked down on others and had gathered a group of well-off students around him.

“That is correct.” Su Ming neither humbled nor arrogant, cupped his hands in greeting.

Li Wenbo’s gaze swept over Su Ming, a trace of disdain curling at the corner of his mouth.

“We’ve long heard of Top Scorer Su’s great talent. An essay titled ‘On Solving Summer Floods and Autumn Droughts in the Five Southern Townships of Qingzhou’ that shook heaven and earth, earning even Professor Liu’s unstinting praise. We, your fellow students, have come specifically to pay our respects.”

His words said “pay respects,” but his eyes were full of provocation.

A pointy-faced, monkey-like student beside him immediately chimed in. “Yes, we’re all very curious. What kind of essay could let a… genius from a mountain gully take first place in one fell swoop.”

He emphasized the words “mountain gully” heavily.

“Disciple, trouble’s here.” Lin Yu’s voice drawled lazily. “See? This is the downside of fame.”

Su Ming understood in his heart.

He pulled back Zhao Rui, who wanted to rush forward and argue, and revealed an apologetic smile.

“Please forgive my laughable state, senior brothers.”

His words made Zhao Rui freeze. Li Wenbo and his two companions were also stunned.

This kid, why doesn’t he follow the usual script? Not only is he not angry, but he’s also lowering his own status?

Li Wenbo felt like a punch he’d put all his strength into had landed on cotton, an indescribably uncomfortable feeling.

“My friend and I just came from the countryside, still carrying a whiff of earth.” Su Ming continued with a smile. “I’m afraid it might offend you senior brothers. This courtyard is also small, truly nothing good to offer as hospitality. How about another day, after I’ve cleaned up properly, I’ll come pay my respects to you senior brothers?”

His words were extremely humble, leaving no openings.

He acknowledged his “country bumpkin” identity, issued a dismissal, and gave the other party a way out.

Li Wenbo’s expression shifted. He had originally wanted to seize the opportunity to provoke Su Ming into a poetry contest to publicly shame him. Who knew the other party was as slippery as an eel, refusing to take the bait?

“Ahem, Top Scorer Su is indeed modest.” Li Wenbo forced a dry laugh, fanning himself. “We didn’t come for tea. We merely heard Top Scorer Su’s policy discussion was excellent, so surely your classics, poetry, and verse must also be extraordinary. The weather is nice today, why don’t we emulate the ancients, hold a poetry gathering, and befriend each other through literature?”

Here it comes.

This was their real purpose.

The policy discussion matter was settled; they couldn’t shake it. But if they could outdo Su Ming in poetry, they could still trample the “top scorer” halo underfoot, proving he was just a scheming “craftsman,” not a true “literary man.”

Zhao Rui grew anxious. He knew Su Ming’s limits. He’d read for a few days in the village, how could he compose poetry?

“Poetry contest? How vulgar!” Zhao Rui stiffened his neck and shouted.

“Oh?” Li Wenbo raised an eyebrow. “Then what, in this brother’s opinion, is not vulgar?”

Su Ming pressed down on Zhao Rui’s shoulder, looked at Li Wenbo, and smiled slightly.

“Senior Brother Li is right. However, this student’s learning is shallow, my mind empty. I truly cannot produce any good poetry or verse. I fear I would spoil the refined mood of you senior brothers.”

He openly admitted his incompetence.

“This…” Li Wenbo was stumped again. All the mocking words he had prepared were stuck in his throat.

If the other party directly admits defeat, how can you force him? Forcing further would make you look like a bully picking on the weak, lacking grace.

“Su Ming, you!” Zhao Rui was so angry he saw stars.

“Disciple, well done!” Lin Yu cheered loudly in Su Ming’s mind. “This is called ‘strategic surrender’! What’s face worth? Can you eat it? Protecting your life and developing steadily is the true path! Arguing with these little brats wastes time, wastes energy, and risks exposing your strength. All harm, no benefit!”

Li Wenbo’s face turned pale then flushed. He felt like a clown.

One of the students behind him couldn’t hold back, sneering, “I thought the top scorer had some real skill. Turns out it’s just a silver spear tip—good-looking but useless!”

“Silence!”

A clear, sharp shout came from outside the courtyard gate.

Everyone turned to see Zhou Yulin, dressed in white, walking in with a stern face.

His icy gaze swept over Li Wenbo and his two companions.

“Li Wenbo, what are you doing here?”

Seeing Zhou Yulin, Li Wenbo’s expression instantly changed, his arrogance shrinking by half.

Zhou Yulin was Director Zhou’s eldest son, holding an exceptional status within the County School, far beyond what someone like him, relying on convoluted connections, could compare to.

“Zhou… Senior Brother Zhou.” Li Wenbo hurriedly cupped his hands, forcing a smile. “We… we came to pay our respects to Top Scorer Su, hoping to exchange some scholarly views with him.”

“Exchange?” Zhou Yulin gave a cold laugh. “From what I saw, it looked more like bullying the weak with your numbers.”

His gaze fell on Su Ming, carrying a hint of inquiry.

Su Ming nodded to him, indicating he was fine.

Understanding, Zhou Yulin turned back to Li Wenbo. “Junior Brother Su is a student personally accepted by my father, and also my junior brother. He just entered the County School, weary from travel, and needs quiet rest. If you truly wish to exchange views, I’ll keep you company another day.”

The weight of these words was significant.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Li Wenbo’s forehead.

Exchange views with Zhou Yulin? He didn’t have the guts for that.

“N… no, we wouldn’t dare. Senior Brother Zhou misunderstands. We’ll leave right now, right now.”

Li Wenbo led his men away in disgrace, not even daring to utter a parting remark.

Quiet returned to the courtyard.

Zhou Yulin walked straight up to Su Ming, apologetically saying, “Junior Brother Su, you were wronged. In this County School, there are always some self-important fellows.”

“You overstate it, senior brother.” Su Ming shook his head. “It was merely a war of words, nothing significant.”

“Your temperament is good.” Zhou Yulin nodded. “Not fighting over momentary gains. However, you must also remember, you are Father’s student. Sometimes, yielding doesn’t bring peace, it only makes the other party push further.”

“Thank you, senior brother.”

“No need for formalities between fellow disciples.” Zhou Yulin glanced around the courtyard. “If you lack anything here, make a list, and I’ll have someone bring it.”

“No need, this place is very good.”

Seeing his insistence, Zhou Yulin said no more. After explaining a few more school rules, he took his leave.

As soon as he was gone, Zhao Rui immediately crowded up, his face full of confusion and indignation.

“Su Ming! Why did you surrender just now? If Senior Brother Zhou hadn’t come, wouldn’t you have been laughed to death?”

Su Ming looked at him and said calmly, “A war of words, what does winning achieve? Will it make them lose flesh, or make me gain flesh?”

“Then… then you still can’t let them bully you like that!”

“What they wanted to see was me getting angry and humiliated, arguing with them. I just didn’t let them have their way.” Su Ming walked to the well, drew up a bucket of water. Water splashed, icy cold.

“They are flies, buzzing around you. If you swat at them, you only dirty your own hand. The best method is to close the window and let them buzz outside.”

Zhao Rui nodded, somewhat comprehending.

“Disciple, not bad, not bad, very teachable!” Lin Yu said approvingly. “You’ve already grasped the essence of my ‘Way of Survival’! However, that Zhou kid’s reminder also makes sense. Constantly yielding won’t do. We must learn to show a little tooth when necessary, let them know this cotton ball of ours has iron inside!”

Su Ming poured the water into a wooden basin and began wiping the study’s desk and chairs.

Zhao Rui watched for a while, found it boring, complained a few more times about his own shabby Room D, then left dejectedly.

Finally, only Su Ming remained in the courtyard.

He let out a long sigh of relief, feeling the whole world had quieted down.

He cleaned the entire courtyard inside and out, familiarizing himself with every corner.

When he wiped the rim of the ancient well, he suddenly stopped.

His palm could clearly feel, from the well mouth, threads of cool air far more concentrated than elsewhere were seeping out.

This coolness carried a peculiar… vitality.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep