Chapter Two, Thousand Character Classic

"Get out of the way, get out of the way!" These strong men, upon seeing someone ahead, would simply push with their hands or shoulder their way through. The pedestrians on the street, seeing their brutish faces, would fearfully step aside.

Well answered! Suddenly, the voice of praise from the teacher echoed in his ears. Lin Junxuan was startled and opened his eyes abruptly, only to see a middle-aged man in a blue long gown and a horse coat, with a kind expression, gazing down at him. It was indeed the teacher from the academy. Looking around the academy, the students were all silent, peering through the windows at him.

Looking at the child before him, who was merely four or five years old, the teacher felt quite pleased, while also being filled with curiosity. Typically, when children from ordinary families are caught eavesdropping, they either run away or are so frightened that they cannot speak. Rarely does one encounter a child like this, who shows no signs of disturbance and speaks with considerable composure, completely unlike a typical four or five-year-old.

Filled with confusion, Lin Junxuan leaned against the window of the academy, peering inside. About thirty young children sat upright at their desks, reading aloud in unison. At the front of the academy stood a lectern, where a learned gentleman, with his eyelids slightly lowered and a book in hand, listened to the children's reading. It was late autumn, and the outside was cold, yet the academy was filled with warmth. Lin Junxuan looked around and quickly noticed a brazier under the gentleman's lectern, where the charcoal burned bright red in the iron basin, emitting heat that filled the academy with a cozy warmth. It was late autumn, and the outside was cold, yet the academy was filled with warmth. Lin Junxuan looked around and quickly noticed a brazier under the gentleman's lectern, where the charcoal burned bright red in the iron basin, emitting heat that filled the academy with a cozy warmth

This child is exceptionally intelligent and possesses a great understanding of the situation, and he is only four years old! If he is carefully guided, he will surely become a distinguished figure in the future and serve the country!

Crossing the bridge and smoothly entering the city of Lin'an, Lin Junxuan immediately and discreetly moved away from the porters and the books, choosing another path. Within the city of Lin'an, shops were numerous, with tea houses, restaurants, butcher shops, and various other establishments all in a jumble.

The students listened to the teacher's instruction outside the window, receiving the teachings of the sages, and only hoped to know the name of the esteemed sage who authored the "Thousand Character Classic" in order to show their respect. Lin Junxuan said respectfully

"Steamed buns, large and fragrant meat buns!" On Lin'an Street, a rich aroma wafts through the air, as the shopkeepers stand behind the bun stalls, watching the passersby with beaming smiles, calling out loudly.

"Thank you, sir," Lin Junxuan said respectfully as he bowed. "The teacher still has lessons to teach, and the student does not dare to disturb. I will take my leave now." After saying this, Lin Junxuan bent his body and stepped back a few paces, then turned and left, not giving the gentleman a chance to retain him.

"Disasters arise from accumulated evil, while blessings come from accumulated good. Child, I hope you can remember this phrase. You have been eavesdropping outside for over ten days; although you have not formally apprenticed, you can be considered my disciple. It is cold outside, come in, child," said the kind teacher.

Hearing the sound of reading, Lin Junxuan quickened his pace. This reading voice, he recognized, was from the "Thousand Character Classic," which spoke of the importance of cherishing one's own body, honoring one's parents, women maintaining their chastity, men possessing both virtue and talent, knowing one's faults and correcting them, and persevering in what one is capable of doing. These simple phrases completely encompass the integrity and moral principles of the ancients, encapsulating the Three Cardinal Guides and the Five Constant Virtues.

"Spices, exquisite spices, come and buy!" Some merchants called out loudly ahead, trying to attract the attention of the ladies in Lin'an City. With winter approaching, all households had to sell their goods and secure a good price before the heavy snow arrived, in order to gather enough money for the New Year.

"We are rich, we are rich!" the beggars cheered, "Let's buy steamed buns!" The lady of the Purple Robe Marquis's residence rewarded them with several hundred copper coins, and each of these beggars received about three or four coins.

Hearing the cheers of the beggars, Lin Junxuan awoke and looked around. In the crowd on the other side of the bridge, Lin Junxuan saw several burly men with faces full of flesh pushing their way through the crowd, slowly making their way toward the bridgehead

"The student does not dare." Upon hearing the teacher refer to himself as his student, Lin Junxuan did not refute this. He gracefully performed a bow in accordance with ancient customs and said, "To be able to listen to the teacher's teachings from the window is already a luxury; how could I dare to enter the hall? The student has listened from outside the window for over ten days and has a slight doubt in his heart, hoping the teacher can provide an explanation."

At the bridgehead, at the moment of brushing past the porter, several local ruffians glanced at the strong porter and then at the child beside him, who was holding his head high, and frowned.

Covering this body and hair, the Four Virtues and Five Constants, respectfully nurturing and caring, how could one dare to harm or injure? Women aspire to chastity, men emulate talent and virtue, knowing their faults must be corrected, and those who are capable must not forget...

It seems that this is indeed the case, Lin Junxuan thought to himself. He did not come here primarily to study. His earlier question was merely to confirm what he had in mind.

He is the child of a porter, yet he dresses like a beggar. A few burly men with broad faces waved their hands, allowing Lin Junxuan to follow behind the porter.

Looking at the bewildered children in the teaching hall behind him, with their innocent expressions, and recalling the composed demeanor of the child just now, Gan Ruyue suddenly made a decision: if that child were to come to the teaching hall again, he would certainly take him as a disciple and nurture him with care. Even if he could not become a pillar of the nation, he would at least be a distinguished figure in his own right

Lin Junxuan walked along the sides, observing the unfamiliar city of Lin'an as he went. "Although this world is different from the original one, it is precisely the world I like. At least in such a world, people pay more attention to their inner selves"

He just extracted a passage from the "Thousand Character Classic" and unexpectedly asked a question. It was originally meant to test him, but the child almost immediately answered, clearly well-versed in it. After more than ten days of eavesdropping, he could recite the "Thousand Character Classic"—Guan Ruyue has been teaching here for over half a year, yet not a single student in this academy has been able to recite it.

Like any other city, Lin'an also has its share of ruffians and rogues, who are scattered throughout the various corners of the city. Lin Junxuan refrained from fighting over the copper coins, partly because he knew that even if the coins ended up in his hands, they would likely be snatched away by these ruffians. Given Lin Junxuan's current physical condition, he could easily deal with these few rogues with just a couple of punches, but that is not possible now, as he is merely a four-year-old child. It is not particularly concerning to be robbed of money by these strong men; what Lin Junxuan worries about is that when they search him, they might take away the pendant chain and the book he carries. The pendant chain is extremely important to him at this moment, and it is certainly not something he can afford to lose. Besides uncovering the secrets he seeks, it also serves an even more crucial function.

Outside the academy, Gan Ruye watched as the young child in the distance walked further away on Lin'an Street, a thick fog of confusion enveloping her heart. The boy was dressed in tattered clothes, and when Gan Ruye had just exited the academy, she initially thought he was a beggar eavesdropping. However, upon closer inspection, although the child's clothing was ragged and overly large, it was quite clean, lacking the dirt typically found on beggars and devoid of any unpleasant odor.

The "Thousand Character Classic" was composed by Zhou Xingsi of the Liang Dynasty. How did it come to exist in this world? Lin Junxuan pondered, could it be that he has traversed time and returned to a certain era in the past?

"The foundation lies in agriculture, focusing on the cultivation of crops, nurturing the southern fields, where we grow millet and sorghum, taxing the ripe harvests and offering new tributes, encouraging rewards and penalties..." The sound of children reading echoed far and wide. Lin Junxuan leaned quietly at the window, listening intently. Ever since he discovered this school, he came every day to listen, not to steal knowledge, but to understand the world. Each time he visited, Lin Junxuan felt a sense of wonder; some of the teachings in this small primary school were unfamiliar to him, while others were clearly familiar, such as the "Thousand Character Classic" and the "Hundred Family Surnames." Each visit filled him with amazement, as the small school taught things both unknown and well-known to him.

"Charcoal seller, come here!" A distant shout echoed. In front of a grand mansion, a servant from a wealthy family, dressed in thick cotton clothing, waved from afar. The charcoal seller felt a surge of joy in his heart and quickly led his donkey towards the imposing mansion. Before long, he emerged with two empty bags.

"Doll, you may ask," Gan Ruyue said, holding a ruler in her hand, resting it behind her back, and slightly nodding her head.

In the empty valley, a voice echoes; what is the next line after "the empty hall listens in silence"? Lin Junxuan was closing his eyes, listening to the reading voices within the academy, when suddenly he heard the teacher of the academy ask. The previously clear reading voices abruptly ceased. The academy fell into silence, and Lin Junxuan shook his head, swaying it gently, murmuring softly: "Disasters arise from accumulated evils, blessings come from cultivated virtues; a foot of wall is not a treasure, a moment of time is worth competing for"

"It is not Zhou Xingzi! Cangye, I have never heard of this name in history, it seems that I have not traveled back to any ancient dynasty, but rather to a parallel world." With this thought, Lin Junxuan had made a preliminary judgment about the world he was in: "However, since it is not a journey to any past dynasty, how can there be the 'Thousand Character Classic' in this world? Moreover, it seems to have been created by someone else." Shaking his head, Lin Junxuan could not grasp the essence of the matter and decided to stop thinking about it.

The teacher, surnamed Gan and styled Ruye, is one of the several esteemed educators invited by the prominent families of Lin'an City. More than ten days ago, he noticed a young boy eavesdropping outside the window. Today, he decided to investigate, both to gauge the boy's persistence and to assess his aptitude for learning

Following the street inward, there stands an academy, from which the clear sound of reading can be heard from afar

Doll, remember, the sage who wrote the "Thousand Character Classic" is Cang Ye" Gan Ru Ye said with a smile

"Charcoal for sale, high-quality charcoal!" On Lin'an Street, vendors are slowly calling out as they lead their donkeys along the street, each donkey carrying two bags filled to the brim with charcoal. After late autumn comes the cold winter, and the weather will become increasingly frigid. Currently, the best-selling item on Lin'an Street is indeed this charcoal.

The child unexpectedly asked this question, which greatly surprised Gan Ruye, who was also moved by the child's reverence for the sages.

These ruffians and scoundrels have arrived; they must have set their sights on the coins in the hands of those beggars. Lin Junxuan stood up from the group of beggars and discreetly followed a porter who was walking in from outside the city, making his way into Lin'an City. He walked neither too close nor too far, at a distance just enough for others to think he was the son of this porter, accompanying his father into the city