Chapter 923 – The Young Boy’s Advantage (1)
Changsheng, with her keen ears, let out a soft huff and pouted as she complained to Feng Yi.
“Hmph, Feng Dalao, they say we don’t understand.”
With that, Changsheng rolled up her oversized sleeves, successfully managing one, but the other slipped right down her arm again.
So, Changsheng pouted again, quietly squatting at her seat, struggling to pull up her sleeves.
Feng Yi glanced sideways, looking at the fuming Changsheng, feeling inexplicably tired.
Is this what she calls “one must not be outdone”?
“Come here, I’ll help you tuck that in.”
Feng Yi waved to Changsheng, and the little chubby girl eagerly waddled over.
The scholars saw the children being so friendly, and given their decent looks, they couldn’t help but like them a little more under this double filter.
The noisy little ones were like little demons, while the quiet ones were like little angels.
After watching for a while, the scholars returned to their own tasks, occasionally casting a glance at the little beans.
All the books in the Golden Scales Pavilion were printed on rice paper or bamboo paper, and even though they soaked in ink all day, they had developed a long-standing impression—paper books were precious. If a rowdy child tore a page, they would be heartbroken.
Feng Yi neatly tucked in Changsheng’s big sleeves, just as a maidservant from the Golden Scales Pavilion brought over the books they needed.
He curled his lips into a faint smile, “Thank you.”
Fifteen little beans surrounded a large table, each sitting upright with a book spread before them, looking serious as they read.
The scholars passing by found the scene amusing.
They were putting on quite the act; anyone unaware would think these kids genuinely knew how to read.
After a while, Changsheng could no longer sit still. She twisted her bottom, shifted her knees, and scooted from her seat to Feng Yi’s.
“Feng Dalao, I don’t know these characters.”
Feng Yi glanced over; it turned out to be a few rather obscure characters.
For Changsheng, who could only read half the characters at this point, it was indeed challenging.
“I’ll teach you.”
Feng Yi traced a few characters on the paper with his finger and repeated them twice to make it easier for Changsheng to see.
Changsheng mumbled, attempting to pronounce them several times but couldn’t quite manage it, her round little face scrunching up.
She had only been studying at the Golden Scales Academy for a little over three months. She was familiar with phonetics but hadn’t practiced enough.
Feng Yi wasn’t in a hurry, patiently waiting for her to figure it out herself.
A scholar who had been watching this situation stepped forward with a smile, “Little miss, what characters don’t you recognize? I can teach you!”
Feng Yi shot him a side glance, “Flippant.”
Changsheng tilted her head back, her bangs covering her forehead, making her round face appear even more chubby.
She frowned and said, “Feng Dalao will teach Changsheng.”
The scholar chuckled, “This Feng Dalao here is your little brother? He’s still young and doesn’t know as many characters as an older brother.”
Feng Yi tightened his lips, “Shameless.”
At his age, still trying to coax Changsheng into calling him older brother? What a lack of shame.
Changsheng earnestly replied, “That’s not true! The gentlemen all said that Feng Dalao is the student who knows the most characters at the Golden Scales Academy, and he always ranks first! Also, because Feng Dalao is so impressive, even father’s superiors asked him to come and kick the stage. Do you know what ‘kick the stage’ means? It means being really strong, one against ten! Feng Dalao’s father is impressive too! Feng Dalao will be like that in the future!”
The scholars couldn’t help but stifle a smile at Changsheng’s enthusiastic description.
Despite her earnest recounting, outsiders would find her words puzzling.
The only thing that seemed understandable was the term “kick the stage.”
“Your Feng Dalao is still too young. The older brothers here are all adults; they don’t fight with children.”
Changsheng tilted her head, glancing at the scholar and then back at Feng Yi.
Feng Dalao wasn’t taller or sturdier than the others.
So how could he possibly win?
Changsheng shot a pitiful glance at Feng Yi, as if he were really facing some threats of being beaten up.
Feng Yi performed a respectful bow to the scholar, saying politely, “This young one still has to study with a few classmates, so please feel free.”
The scholar refused to leave, “You’re still quite young, just finished reading the ‘Great Xia Rhyme Book,’ right?”
According to current educational progress, it was quite impressive for a seven or eight-year-old to finish the ‘Great Xia Rhyme Book.’
“This young one is unskilled; I have indeed finished the ‘Great Xia Rhyme Book.’ Now I’m studying ‘Three Hundred Poems’ with the teacher, and in spring, I’ll study ‘Book of Songs’ and ‘Analects.’”
The scholar asked, “What is ‘Three Hundred Poems’?”
“It’s the text taught to students at the academy.”
He then asked Feng Yi, “How old are you to understand the ‘Analects’? You’re also studying the ‘Book of Songs’?”
“Though I don’t grasp it fully, I’ve memorized it all.”
As a top student, how could he not prepare in advance?
The scholar: “……”
These little kids nowadays are something else, spouting off like that. Which family raised such a bold child?
Do they really think they’ve got a genius child?
“Since that’s the case, let me put you to the test.”
The scholar felt the boastful child needed a lesson; otherwise, he might become a habitual liar.
“Please enlighten me, dear brother.”
While Feng Yi raised his hand, signaling his classmates to continue reading, he calmly faced the upcoming challenge.
“There was a student of Confucius, surnamed Bu, named Shang, courtesy name Zixia. He once spoke about how to serve fathers, rulers, and friends; do you know what the phrase is?”
Without hesitating, Feng Yi replied, “To serve parents, one must exert their strength; to serve the ruler, one must dedicate oneself; in friendship, one must be trustworthy.”
The scholar didn’t expect Feng Yi to come up with an answer. He then pressed on, “What does ‘in friendship, one must be trustworthy’ mean?”
“Interacting with friends should be based on honesty and integrity, upholding trust,” Feng Yi answered.
The scholar: “……”
His original intention was to mock Feng Yi for boasting at such a young age, but now he felt a bit embarrassed.
Not willing to accept defeat, the scholar asked again, “Confucius had a most esteemed student, revered as Yan Zi, courtesy name Ziyuan. Confucius often praised him for his diligence and benevolence, even lauding him for his four virtues. Do you know what those four virtues are? What did Yan Hui seek in life?”
“The four virtues of a gentleman are: strong in righteousness, gentle in accepting advice, fearful in receiving office, and cautious in self-cultivation. The interpretation isn’t to be firm in implementing virtue and righteousness, gentle when receiving counsel, fearful when obtaining office, and prudent in self-cultivation.”
Feng Yi added, “As for what Yan Zi sought in life, I dare say it must have been a united ruler and subjects, harmony among the people, abundance in resources, health for the old and young, widespread respect, and a tranquil world.”
The scholar began to take him seriously, and those who had been watching couldn’t help but be drawn over by the commotion.
The scholar continued, “Why do you say so?”
Feng Yi explained, “Yan Zi, the sage, once said he aspired to be like Shun, traveling the same path, seeking the same goals. He also said, ‘I hope there will be no punishment for good deeds and no labor for effort.’”
