Chapter 7, Yushan Academy

Since Ning Yi had already brought it up, he naturally would not be distracted by such trivial matters and continued to speak. It was only when they approached noon that he finished recounting the story of the burning of the chained ships. Su Chonghua had been standing outside, listening, and it was difficult to discern exactly what kind of expression he had. After finishing the story, Ning Yi wrote down a favorite poem by Du Mu, "Red Cliffs," on rice paper.

Uh ... ...

The matter is quite simple! Ning Yi does not intend to make too many changes. For the first hour, he had a group of students reciting the Analects with their heads shaking—actually, reading continuously for two hours made Ning Yi feel quite pained. However, these children are used to it. In the next two hours, Ning Yi began to explain the content of a passage, then he would draw on various references and speak casually, telling some stories and discussing real events, which also served to relax these children. Nevertheless, these children are accustomed to it. In the next two hours, Ning Yi began to explain the content of a passage, then he would draw on various references and speak casually, telling some stories and discussing real events, which also served to relax these children.

Due to the wind blowing for half the afternoon that day, when Ning Yi woke up the next morning, he felt a bit groggy and was unsure if he had caught a cold

These children are very easy to teach. Although it has only been a mere three days, Ning Yi has already distinctly sensed the atmosphere of reverence for the teacher in the classroom. The current group of children lacks individuality; children who do not seek to stand out are the most endearing. They cherish the opportunity to study, do not misbehave, and do not act overly dramatic. If a minor issue arises, they accept it as natural even if you discipline them. It is truly a paradise for teachers. Ning Yi finds teaching very comfortable. In just three days, by sharing some principles and stories, these children are immensely satisfied. Moreover, when telling these stories, Ning Yi does not even need to prepare lesson plans; he can simply go with the flow. They cherish the opportunity to study, do not misbehave, and do not act overly dramatic. If a minor issue arises, they accept it as natural even if you discipline them. It is truly a paradise for teachers. Ning Yi finds teaching very comfortable. In just three days, by sharing some principles and stories, these children are immensely satisfied. Moreover, when telling these stories, Ning Yi does not even need to prepare lesson plans; he can simply go with the flow.

The absence of a blackboard in the classroom makes it quite inconvenient to write. Ning Yi now harbors a certain affection for the teaching profession. While writing, he contemplates that he should "invent" a whiteboard or something similar, as using charcoal pencils would be more practical than a sand table. After he finishes writing, a group of students busily copies it onto their papers. Upon stepping outside, Su Chonghua approaches, and a smile appears on his otherwise expressionless face.

Old Kang's words carry a certain grandeur, resembling those of a prominent figure

He raised his hand to make a move, and Ning Yi lightly coughed. The old man's hand immediately halted, and he looked around suspiciously before retracting it. Ning Yi took another sip of tea: "This cup of tea is worth this much... Hmm, what kind of tea is this?"

"You have lost, old man."

In a better and more formal school, these matters would be more standardized and more detailed in relation to the library, but it is evident that Yushan Academy does not have such conditions. As for Ning Yi, teaching the Analects is actually quite simple. While he may not be able to recite the Analects or pinpoint where a particular phrase is located, if the requirement is merely to read and provide a simple explanation, it becomes an exceedingly easy task. Any modern individual who has received a high school education could, with a little time, offer a seemingly plausible interpretation of the Analects, of course, in vernacular Chinese. As for Ning Yi, teaching the Analects is actually quite simple. While he may not be able to recite the Analects or pinpoint where a particular phrase is located, if the requirement is merely to read and provide a simple explanation, it becomes an exceedingly easy task. Any modern individual who has received a high school education could, with a little time, offer a seemingly plausible interpretation of the Analects, of course, in vernacular Chinese.

Ning Yi had encountered many people here, including ordinary individuals, uneducated children, and those who had received some education but remained rigid in their thinking. Whether one describes them as pedantic or simple-minded, their perspectives and ways of thinking are indeed not as flexible as those of modern individuals. However, at higher levels, they are not inferior to modern people. For instance, Elder Qin may not express much verbally, but he naturally digests the novel ideas he encounters, contemplating their thoughts and principles. On the other hand, the old man surnamed Kang speaks extensively of propriety, righteousness, integrity, and moral values, yet when it comes to playing chess, he is ruthless and cunning, disregarding all rules. Of course, if it were not for people like Ning Yi and Elder Qin, one might not notice his ruthlessness; he is merely slightly more ruthless than Elder Qin. Compared to ordinary people, however, he is still significantly superior.

The academy currently has a total of 49 students and 7 teachers, including the headmaster Su Chonghua. In terms of ratio, the faculty is quite strong. Su Chonghua is a member of the Su family and was a successful candidate in the imperial examination in his early years, having held an official position for several years. Unfortunately, he did not achieve much and there are even rumors that he has been involved in misconduct. Additionally, there are two elderly gentlemen who were hired at a high salary and have prior experience in official positions. Besides the teachers and students, there are also several lower-ranking staff members such as cooks and miscellaneous workers.

Ning Yi has been teaching here for three days. Su Chonghua treats him well and does not make things difficult for him because of his status as a son-in-law. Having worked hard in society for many years, he has become quite astute and sees no need to engage in such trivial matters. Considering that Ning Yi is not particularly learned—this is what everyone says—he is assigned to teach a group of more than a dozen children who have only recently begun their education. This group consists of a total of sixteen children, aged between six and twelve, including two little girls with braids, all of whom are relatives of the Su family, tasked with learning some characters. The previous teacher taught the Classic of Filial Piety and then began teaching the Analects. Ning Yi teaches them regularly every morning, while the afternoons are more relaxed, covering subjects such as rites, music, archery, charioteering, mathematics, and literature, with a primary focus on mathematics, while the rest depends on the teacher's mood and ability.

Old Qin was also there savoring tea, and at that moment he chuckled, saying: "Gu Zhu purple bamboo shoots, excellent tea, but it is somewhat regrettable to brew it on the street at this time. Had I known he would bring this tea today, I should have gone home to play this game of chess."

In this day and age, the stories related to the Three Kingdoms primarily revolve around Chen Shou's "Records of the Three Kingdoms." Ning Yi had not read it, but it narrates the tropes of the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," which has been further refined through various artistic works in modern times, making it both entertaining and highly imaginative. From Cao Cao's 800,000 troops marching south to Zhou Yu's strategy against Huang Gai, the linked ships, and the borrowing of arrows with straw boats, a group of children, who had not heard many stories before, were all flushed with excitement, frequently interjecting, "Sir, sir, what happens next..." It was only halfway through that this group of children quieted down, as the headmaster, Su Chonghua, was walking beside the classroom, standing there with his hands clasped behind his back and an expressionless face. Yet, even so, it could not change the excited expressions on the faces of the children.

The Yushan Academy is not located in a place called Yushan; it is a privately established school by the Su family. Naturally, it also accepts a few outsiders with some connections, but the school is not large, primarily because there are not many students attending. Yushan, on the other hand, is the name of a mountain in the Su family's ancestral home.

In ancient times, the true Confucian scholars who studied the Four Books and Five Classics did so with considerable depth; those who were profound were particularly profound, and perhaps even an ancient text written by a famous courtesan could make modern professors feel ashamed. However, most scholars did not have the opportunity to receive overly advanced education. They might finish reading the Analects and find it difficult to locate a copy of the Mencius. Yet, the minimum standard for teachers was quite simple: to put it plainly, they needed to be able to teach people to read. Ning Yi's predecessor was just such a teacher; he taught a group of children to read with their heads nodding, and when inspired, would provide the most basic explanations of the text's meaning. Periodically, he would require students to strictly memorize or write out a passage, and this constituted the examination. Those who could not pass would receive a slap on the hand.

By the afternoon, he went to the banks of the Qinhuai River to play chess again. In fact, Qin Lao is quite an eccentric person. Ning Yi had previously thought that he must have held an official position, and after visiting the other party's home this morning, he became even more convinced of this understanding. The many stylistic furnishings in the house could not possibly belong to an ordinary person. Coupled with his eloquence and perspective, it is indeed strange that such a person would come to the riverbank every day to set up a chess stall.

The Su family has invested considerable effort into this academy; however, it is unfortunate that either the teachers are not very reliable, or the students happen to be rather dull-witted. As a result, the academy has not produced any notable achievements. Many of the students previously trained here, upon realizing the bleak prospects of the imperial examination, have mostly taken up positions in the Su family's shops. Consequently, the nature of this academy appears more akin to a vocational school. If a family truly intends for their child to pursue a career through the imperial examination, they are likely to transfer their child to a better academy before the age of twelve. Many of the students previously trained here, upon realizing the bleak prospects of the imperial examination, have mostly taken up positions in the Su family's shops. Consequently, the nature of this academy appears more akin to a vocational school. If a family truly intends for their child to pursue a career through the imperial examination, they are likely to transfer their child to a better academy before the age of twelve.

However, even when they argued, there was no real malice between them. Initially, Old Master Kang indeed regarded Ning Yi as an ignorant junior to be lectured, but soon he realized that this fellow was truly someone who could be considered a rival. The other party also naturally did not place himself in the position of a junior. In any case, whenever Old Master Kang came over, he always brought a pot of good tea. He instructed his servants to bring the tea set, tea leaves, and water, and the maid prepared the tea on the table beside the tea stand. Ning Yi was not polite; he took a cup for himself, moved a stool to sit by the chessboard, and after a moment, took a sip of tea: "Oh, Old Master Kang is going to lose."

Just as Old Qin believed that he had some talent and felt regret for the short-sighted behavior of someone like him, who had married into a merchant family, Ning Yi had already entered Yushan Academy in the morning sunlight, preparing to spend the entire morning accompanying a group of children in studying the "Analects".

Your esteemed nephew possesses remarkable talent and has conducted in-depth research on the history of the Three Kingdoms and the Wei and Jin dynasties. The story just mentioned seems to be derived from Chen Shou's "Records of the Three Kingdoms"

The ignorant young man, truly a waste of resources, have you ever heard of purple bamboo shoots

Ning Yi patted his shoulder, stood up with a smile. At this moment, the scenery by the Qinhuai River was pleasant. He walked away holding a teacup, while behind him, Old Qin had already placed his piece with a smile. Old Kang remarked, "How can this be..."

The autumn sun is still quite bright, but in the afternoon, the wind rises over the Qinhuai River. After finishing this game of chess, it is already late, and everyone returns home.

If Old Qin were here, he would undoubtedly scold Ning Yi a few times, accusing him of fabricating nonsense and misleading the youth. In reality, the true "Records of the Three Kingdoms" is not nearly as thrilling. For instance, in the episode of borrowing arrows with straw boats, it was actually Sun Quan who set out on a boat and was shot at, with one side of the boat being hit by so many arrows that it nearly capsized. Consequently, Sun Quan ordered the boat to turn around, using the other side to withstand the arrows, which allowed the boat to regain balance and sail away. Ning Yi has only watched the television adaptation of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," and Su Chonghua has not read the "Records of the Three Kingdoms" either. They were just listening to Ning Yi recounting stories and illustrations, thoroughly enjoying it. At this moment, they came over to praise him for his extensive knowledge and captivating storytelling.

However, Mr. Kang was unconcerned. At this moment, he finally devised a strategy and placed his piece on the board: "Tea is meant to be consumed. Everyone is deeply engaged in the game, and we share the same aspirations, so we should drink this tea together; that is what truly matters. Tea is merely an inanimate object, created to please you and me. It only holds value if we find it palatable; why should we be reluctant to enjoy it?"

If the east wind does not favor Zhou Lang, the bronze sparrows will lock away the two Qiaos in the depths of spring

Old Kang was clearly dissatisfied with the fact that he was both served tea and lost the game. However, having lost, he accepted it. He called Ning Yi over, and they reviewed the game together. After that, it was still Old Kang and Old Qin who played. During the game, Old Qin mentioned the amusing incident in which Ning Yi fell into the river while trying to save someone and ended up getting slapped in the face. Ning Yi could not escape being mocked by Old Kang, who took pleasure in his misfortune. Afterwards, the two elderly gentlemen discussed the recent incursions by the Liao people in the north.

Haha, I originally thought that you, Sir Ming, would bring some good tea today. I intended to play a few tricks and sneak in a game, but your words are so imposing and dignified. A gentleman should interact in this manner, and I, being an old man, do not wish to be pretentious. Hahahaha...

The old man was calculating in his mind, raising an eyebrow: "You, a young lad without a beard, know nothing of winning or losing. How dare you speak such words after drinking my tea... Hmph, I already have a brilliant strategy..."

The broken spear lies buried in the sand, the iron has not yet rusted; I will polish and recognize the past dynasty.

Yushan Academy is located on a street not far from the Su family mansion. It is not a street densely populated with shops, thus the environment is relatively tranquil. Surrounded by gray tiles and white walls, there is a small patch of bamboo forest. A plaque inscribed with "Yushan Academy" by a renowned scholar hangs there, adding a touch of scholarly ambiance.

Old Qin and several chess friends have recently been studying Ning Yi's chess strategies, as these novel moves are indeed worth examining. Ning Yi does not hold back in his interactions with the elder; sometimes he ignores Old Kang's bluster and glaring, while at other times he engages him with a few remarks: "You old man, you say one thing and do another; you are not a good person." "If you dare to make this move, go ahead! Try it out!" Generally, few juniors would dare to retort against Old Kang, yet the two would have a small quarrel by the chess stand, with Old Qin laughing nearby. If Old Kang were to play against him, he would say, "Li Heng has a point," but if the opponent were Ning Yi, he would join in condemning Ning Yi for his underhanded move.

When I arrived today, there was already another elderly man here playing chess with Old Qin. The old man, surnamed Kang, was of similar age to Old Qin, came from a wealthy family, and had an imposing demeanor. He dressed in resplendent attire when going out, accompanied by two young servants and two maidservants. This fellow had a stern appearance and a rather sharp tongue, but his chess skills were exceptional. Every time he encountered Ning Yi's criticisms of his chess moves, calling them "utterly disgraceful," "lacking gentlemanly spirit," "how can one be so stubborn and relentless," and "the younger generation is detestable," he would immediately absorb those critiques, make slight modifications, and then engage in fierce battles with Old Qin. In fact, Old Qin's skill level was higher than his, and after assimilating a new strategy, he would refine it to the point of being devoid of any mundane essence.

Subsequently, Su Chonghua invited him to lunch at the academy. Generally speaking, ordinary households typically have two meals a day, and some cannot even afford both. However, the Su family is well-off, so they added an extra lunch, albeit informally, sometimes substituting it with pastries. Ning Yi politely declined the invitation, returned home to change clothes, and then handed them to Xiao Chan, preparing to wash them before returning them to Old Qin. He did not mention the incident of falling into the river to her, to avoid causing her unnecessary alarm and prompting her to find a bunch of medicine for him. During these days of attending classes at the academy, Xiao Chan was no longer with him at all times, as she had freed up her mornings to handle other matters.

What a great person, I...

However, after a few compliments, there was also a subtle reminder not to be too lenient with these students. If Ning Yi were already a scholarly elder in his fifties or sixties, the other party likely would not have said such things. It is merely because he appears to be just in his early twenties, with barely any facial hair, that he needs to be a bit stricter with these children to demonstrate the authority of the teacher. Clearly, there was dissatisfaction with Ning Yi teaching the Analects while discussing the Three Kingdoms, especially since he did so in such a lively manner, akin to storytelling in a teahouse. Ning Yi nodded in acknowledgment, humble and respectful, turning his head as if he had not heard.

On this day, the discussion began with a passage from the Analects regarding "Wealth and nobility are what people desire..." It transitioned from the methods of acquiring wealth to the principles of commerce, interspersed with sayings and explanations such as "A gentleman loves wealth and acquires it through the right means." Ning Yi had done this in his previous life; regardless of classical literature, if he merely wished to express a sentiment, he could easily lecture doctoral students at a modern university. However, before him were a group of children under the age of twelve. He casually mentioned a few points and did not elaborate further, instead providing a few light-hearted examples. He then spoke about the six connected boats at the Poyuan Poetry Conference, and subsequently recounted the story of the Battle of Chibi to the group of children.