Chapter 009: The Little Horse Crosses the River and the Silent Scholar

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Therefore, after catching the fish, the first thing was to return and prepare various flavored fried fish pieces. Even though it took a considerable amount of time, the fried fish pieces produced still fell short of his expectations in terms of taste

Li Jiayuan called down the teacher who was giving a lecture and replaced him with Su San. After secretly signaling a few students, he simply stood at the foot of the steps and watched.

Ignoring Li Jiayuan, who was watching the commotion, he focused on answering the students' questions

Similar to the cultural and moral education classes of later generations, in the academy, the morning classes are of utmost importance, while other classes are merely optional. When the teacher is in a good mood, he occasionally takes these children out for some activities

Between the strokes of the brush, the small regular script is executed with precision, surpassing the majority in quality of writing

Compared to the teachers of his previous life, he feels extremely satisfied with the group of students before him

Sir, you just mentioned that 'a gentleman does not promote a person based on words, nor does he dismiss words based on a person.' May I ask, what is the meaning of this sentence?

Teaching generally takes place in the morning, and in the afternoon, he still goes fishing. However, Yu'er finds herself bored and often attends classes in the morning. She is very attentive to the stories he tells, listening with even more interest than the group of students. Sometimes, when she feels unsatisfied with what she has heard, she insists on him telling a few more stories in the evening before she will relent

He observed all of this but smiled lightly without concern

A student excitedly said, "Indeed, the gentleman is not that kind of person, yet some people insist on saying that he is such a person. This shows that those words are not to be heeded. A true gentleman must rely on his own observations to make judgments and should not be swayed by the words of others"

If time permits, regarding the statement made by the student, he could speak for three days and three nights without a moment's pause, ensuring that by the end of it, all these students would only remember that one sentence.

If it were a very difficult matter, he would indeed have to think hard, but in the current situation, to think that merely a few interpretations of classical Chinese could stump him is a bit too optimistic for Li Jiayuan's dreams

The morning classes are generally arranged for introductory teaching and the explanation of the Analects, while the afternoon classes typically focus on etiquette, righteousness, calculation, horsemanship, and archery

It is stated that the water is not deep at all

Not!

It is said that the gentleman has a violent temper and enjoys hitting people

Sometimes he does not wish to draw on various sources, but in order for the students to remember those difficult classical Chinese texts, idiomatic stories, and fables, he speaks freely without any intention of showing off. In fact, this reflects a literary depth that is quite exceptional, which is also an unavoidable circumstance

He had actually noticed long ago the exchange of glances between Li Jiayuan and the two older students, and he was already aware that Li Jiayuan must have had prior arrangements. These matters did not require him to think deliberately; with just a shift in thought, he understood intuitively.

His smile captivated the students, who had never encountered such an amiable teacher, prompting several students to eagerly speak up

Pick up the brush on the table and write the sentence you just explained on a piece of paper hanging on the wall

... ...

The Li family at the foot of the stairs has already disappeared. As he left, his mind was filled with questions: Could it be that he truly has been rendered useless by his words...? Were the rumors about Su San merely hearsay?

Is that gentleman the one who often resorts to striking people's palms harshly?

From this point on, Su San settled into the Friendship Academy. The next day, Li Jiayuan indeed divided the students into three classes: a small class, a medium class, and a large class

Do you have any understanding or thoughts regarding the statement that the gentleman just explained?

Not!

Through this continuous experimentation, his recipe for fried fish pieces has gradually taken shape. Coupled with his specially crafted sauces of various flavors, the most crucial work in the early stages of the fried fish project can be considered largely complete

The students exchanged smiles and said in unison, "No."

With his undergraduate degree and some prior preparations, he is indeed capable of providing explanations for certain classical Chinese texts, and this does not pose a challenge for him

It is all correct; each person's understanding of matters varies, so what is expressed is, in fact, inaccurate. Relying on what others say often leads to mistakes. Let me provide another example: before the gentleman arrived, you must have heard some rumors about him, right? What were they saying? Can you share them with the gentleman?

He does not wish to change the current teaching model, nor does he want to appear as particularly unconventional; he simply needs to get by adequately, and that is enough.

Alright, let us continue from where the gentleman just left off

The little horse is taller than the little rabbit

It is said that the gentleman cannot recognize a single character.

It is with great pleasure that I observe this group of students before me, whose innocent charm is evident. Regarding their new teacher, they exhibit curiosity without any feelings of resistance. They are entirely unlike the children of later generations, who are so individualistic and independent.

It is said that Mr. is a person lacking in knowledge and skills

Li Jiayuan does not waste time. Based on his understanding of Su San, he cannot possibly believe that Su San has the ability to teach the Analects. In his view, even writing the two characters for "Analects" would be a challenge for Su San. Urgently asking Su San to give it a try is also meant to put Su San in a difficult position, prompting him to recognize the challenge and withdraw.

From the perspective of a past life, the group of children before me possesses a remarkable degree of plasticity. The teacher can mold these children in any way they see fit, without any concern for the objections the children might raise.

These must have been said by Li Jiayuan, or perhaps by a few other gentlemen who intended to frighten the students; otherwise, the expression on Li Jiayuan's face outside would not be so grim

Oh, this sentence teaches us that as a gentleman, one should not make recommendations about a person based solely on a few words from others, especially without actual contact and proper evaluation; of course, one should also not disregard someone's words simply because someone else has spoken ill of them. Hearing is often deceptive, while seeing is believing. Listening to others cannot be taken at face value; it is essential to practice and understand for oneself. Have you ever heard the story of the little horse crossing the river? The teacher will tell you: once upon a time, there was a little horse that wanted to cross a river. In the end, the little horse walked across, and the water only reached its little legs. What does this story illustrate?

The students in the senior class, whom he is responsible for, are entrusted to him to teach the students from the middle class, all of whom are children aged between 9 and 11 years, numbering nearly 20. Although this is the largest group, teaching them is actually quite easy.

Li Jiayuan stood at the bottom of the steps, gently stroking his beard, with an expression that suggested he was eager to watch the excitement surrounding Su San

In order to obtain a piece of fried fish made by Mr. Su, these students exerted themselves diligently in their studies, hoping to earn a smile from Mr. Su and subsequently be rewarded with a few pieces of fried fish.

However, unexpectedly, Su San smiled calmly and said, "That is fine!"

However, there is no need for this at the moment. In simpler terms, as long as one can get by, that is sufficient

The taste and the *illustrated* book did not meet his standards, yet they attracted the appetites of the students at the academy. The fried fish pieces produced from the experiment became beloved treasures for the students in the academy.

Putting down his pen, he pointed at the characters and said to the students with a smile, "Sir, do you not recognize a single character?"

In a previous life, the child, a little fellow around seven or eight years old, often spoke of terms like boyfriend and girlfriend. During class, he was even more willful, doing whatever he pleased and saying whatever came to mind without restraint

He then gave a thumbs up. "Yes, very well said. This sentence is meant to convey such a principle. Come, let us read this sentence together, come, follow the teacher and read..."

Old Zhou noticed that he still came to fish every afternoon, and no longer mentioned the new dish. Instead, he began to tease him about how he taught his students. He only responded with a few remarks, but in his heart, he was determined to carry on with his fish frying business.

Is that gentleman uneducated and incompetent

He was also indifferent, with his hands behind his back, walking to the front of this group of students. The feeling of being a teacher surged within him, making him feel somewhat excited for the first time.

Since the head of the family has invited you to be the teacher, the class schedule must also be arranged properly. In the next few days, the academy will separate students of different academic levels for instruction, and you will be the one to take on a significant role. Today, I will arrange for you to have a trial session so that I can see which level of students would be best for you to teach.