Top Scholar

Chapter 77 Big Brother, I Was Wrong

"Huh?" Su Lu thought to himself, what is this? Who would like mugwort? He was dumbfounded and asked, "Are you serious, sir?"

"Of course. You know, life doesn't have rehearsals, and you'll encounter unexpected questions in exams. Would you just give up then?" Headmaster Zhu said seriously.

“If we don’t do it, the students won’t be able to get into the academy…” Su Lu couldn’t help but make a sarcastic remark.

"Ahem, it's not that I'm deliberately trying to make things difficult for you," the elder said without blushing. "It's just that the world is like this, and the imperial examinations are treacherous. Haven't you heard that the questions set by the examiners these days are getting more and more difficult and bizarre? You have to get used to it from a young age."

"Yes, student will keep the headmaster's teachings in mind." What else could Su Lu say? He could only agree to whatever Su Lu said.

"Besides, it's not like you're writing an essay on the spot. Just hand it in three days later. Okay, get out of class dismissed." After saying that, Zhu Liu waved his hand to indicate that he could leave.

The class went by quickly, thankfully there was no extra tuition fee...

"Yes, thank you, Headmaster. This disciple will take his leave." Su Lu bowed again and rose to take his leave.

~~
When Su Lu came out, he saw Zhu Zihe, the "First in the Lower Abode," waiting expressionlessly outside the door.

"Student Zhu," Su Lu said with a smile and a cupped-hand salute.

"Student Su." Zhu Zihe nodded and walked straight past him into the study.

"It's been so long, I've been waiting for ages," Zhu Zihe complained to his uncle as soon as he entered.

"I chatted with the students for a while longer." Zhu Liu sat back down at his desk and took Zhu Zihe's homework for the day.

“What’s the point of talking to him?” Zhu Zihe muttered.

“Not only do we have interesting conversations, but we also have very good conversations,” Zhu Liu said with a smile. “He is the only person in the entire academy with whom I can have deep and thorough conversations.”

He glanced at Zhu Zihe and said, "You should also get closer to this classmate Su; it will be beneficial to you."

"Oh," Zhu Zihe responded, clearly unconvinced. What good could it do for a top student from a big city to associate with a country bumpkin?
"Do you know why I brought you along, but not Zigong?" Zhu Liu asked softly.

“Because my brother is physically weak and his studies are not as good as mine,” Zhu Zihe said matter-of-factly. “Bringing him here will only harm him.”

"Is that what you think?" Zhu Liu asked in surprise.

"Isn't that right?" Zhu Zihe asked, puzzled.

Zhu Liu sighed helplessly. This nephew was the most talented in the family. Ever since he was old enough to understand, the family's life had become better. He had never suffered a day of hardship or pain. Naturally, he had developed a bad habit of being self-important and looking down on everyone.

But his talent wasn't enough to make the world revolve around him...

In fact, Zhu Liu himself was just that kind of person, so of course he didn't want his nephew to go through the same hardships he had endured.

That's why I brought him to the countryside, hoping he would experience some hardship and suffering, so that when he stumbles in the future, he'll be more resilient and won't fall apart so easily...

"Alright, just as you think." Zhu Liu decided to teach him a lesson about the 'country bumpkin'. He then gave the order:
"Today's task includes an additional exercise: writing a copy of 'On the Love of Lotus'."

“Uncle, I’ve already copied it,” Zhu Zihe hurriedly reminded him.

"Did you eat yesterday?" Zhu Liu asked with a smile.

"You ate it?" Zhu Zihe didn't react for a moment.

"Then why are we eating today?" Zhu Liu rolled his eyes at him.

"Sigh...yes." Zhu Zihe had no choice but to agree.

~~
Su Lu hadn't expected the headmaster to be so talkative once he started. If the days weren't getting longer, the sun would have already set.

He came out of Daonan Hall, called Su Dan who was doing her homework in the lecture hall and waiting for him, and the two of them tidied up and hurried home.

On the way, the two recited the essay they had memorized the day before—"A gentleman who is not serious will not command respect" by Fei Hong, another young top scholar.

Su Dan recited the following lines:
"Although it is said that learning is for understanding goodness, I know that it is like a dream, and I may not necessarily accept it wholeheartedly and never lose it."

Su Lu then recited the next line:

"Although it is said that learning is to restore one's original state, I know that it is something that is gained and lost at the same time, and it is not necessarily possible to strive to achieve it."

Su Dan recited again: "...Sincerity is the foundation of goodness. Those who hold it in their hearts must be loyal and trustworthy, without pretense or falsehood;"

Su Lu recited again: "Only falsehood is the gateway to evil. Those who act must be loyal and trustworthy, and must not deceive or fabricate anything."

The two of them took turns reciting a brilliant essay written by a top scholar.

Just as I was about to recite the next passage, I suddenly saw three dark figures emerge from the grove of trees by the roadside.

The two brothers fell silent instantly, as if someone had grabbed them by the throat. They watched the three figures warily while simultaneously reaching for the object stuck behind the book box.

“It looks like Cheng Sanwan…” Su Dan, with her sharp eyes, recognized the three people first.

Su Lu noticed that all three were carrying book chests and breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought it was either the Chief Barbarian or the Luo Luo people coming to find him…

Despite being outnumbered, the three Cheng brothers were no match for the two Su brothers.

Running away from the Cheng family is impossible; even if they escaped back, they'd be beaten half to death. So, it all comes down to those six words—

Don't be a coward, don't lose face!
Just then, the other side approached, and sure enough, it was Cheng Wantang with his pockmarked face, Cheng Wanfan with his buck teeth, and Cheng Wanzhou with his effeminate manner. Su Dan gripped the whistle stick behind his back and asked with a smile, "What's up? Finally couldn't hold back and wanted to fight?"

Su Lu also secretly replaced the iron rod with a wooden one. While it's true that a gentleman needs weight to be authoritative, being too heavy wouldn't be appropriate after all they were classmates; breaking an arm would be more than enough…

The three Cheng brothers looked at each other. Cheng Wantang's face turned red, and the veins on his forehead throbbed, clearly on the verge of exploding!

To everyone's surprise, the next moment, he bowed deeply at a right angle to Su Lu and said, "We were young and ignorant, and were misled by anger. We have repeatedly spoken rudely and insulted your dignity. This is extremely impolite and we are unworthy of being called children!"

Cheng Wanfan, with his buck teeth, also bowed deeply and continued, "Today, I reflect on myself and feel ashamed beyond measure—I have read the books of sages and forgotten their teachings, which not only disgraces my dignity but also dishonors our culture!"

The effeminate Cheng Wanzhou bowed awkwardly, and finally said in a shrill voice, "I have come here today to plead guilty and accept your punishment. From now on, I will be careful in my words and deeds, and treat you with respect. I hope you will forgive me."

The Su brothers could understand what they were saying, but they deliberately spoke in a gruff voice: "Speak human language, we can't understand you!"

"Brother, I was wrong!" Cheng Wantang could only say in shame.

"I'll never dare to do it again!" Cheng Wanfan said in a muffled voice, his face flushed.

"Forgive us!" Cheng Wanzhou said with his eyes tightly closed.

"You don't know you're wrong, you just want to learn how to write essays from my brother, right?" Su Dan bluntly exposed them.

"That is indeed one reason," Cheng Wanfan said, blushing, "but it's not the main reason."

"The main reason is that Su's performance over the past three months has won us over," Cheng Wanzhou said hesitantly.

"You are of good character, quick-witted and eager to learn, helpful and polite!" Cheng Wantang's pimples were flushed red, whether from excitement or embarrassment, it was hard to tell.

"Haha, don't flatter me!" Su Lu laughed loudly as he walked home.

"I have never provoked you. You are always the ones who provoke me. If you just behave yourselves from now on, we will naturally keep to ourselves."

In fact, Cheng Sanwan has become quite well-behaved lately. He went from openly mocking and ridiculing her to speaking ill of her behind her back, and recently, he only dares to express his dissatisfaction in secret. This perfectly illustrates Su Lu's steady rise in status at Sheng Shen Zhai.

There's no other way; being able to help a classmate improve their grades is already a great achievement.

Now, even the other members of the "Seven Sons of Renshe" have distanced themselves from Sanwan and turned around to ease tensions with Su Lu.

If the three of them don't make changes, they will be completely isolated.

That's why I had no choice but to apologize, and I even chose a place that was in the middle of nowhere...

"So you forgive us?" the three asked nervously, following behind Su Lu.

"Let's see how you perform," Su Lu said calmly.

"Yes, big brother! We'll definitely do our best!" The three were overjoyed to hear this. They knew this phrase all too well... Their parents would say it every time they finished beating them and were about to move on.

In fact, Su Lu had no interest in this kind of childish fighting.

We all come from Erlangtan, yet we spend all day pecking at each other like fighting cocks. How can we not be laughed at?
Of course, he wouldn't give these three kids a friendly look right away; he'd have to teach them a lesson first.

But Sanwan couldn't wait any longer. She pleaded and apologized profusely the whole way, just hoping he would calm down quickly...

Su Dan was right. If they simply didn't want to cause trouble with Su Lu anymore, they could have gone their separate ways without having to be so humble. It was only because they still needed Su Lu's help.

In fact, the three of them had already put in their utmost effort to study, and their workload was no less than Su Lu's. But Su Lu not only taught his classmates methods, but also helped them correct the structural flaws and logical errors in their writing.

So this month's lessons, the classmates all made progress to varying degrees, while they were still stuck in the same place.

Like rowing against the current, if you don't move forward, you'll fall behind. How can you not feel a sense of crisis when you see others surpassing you?
They were young and ambitious, and also members of the Cheng family, but first and foremost, they were students of the academy. Nothing was more important than their studies!

Now, they'd be willing to do anything as long as Su Lu can teach them and make them call him 'godfather'...

As they approached Erlangtan, Su Lu finally sighed and said to Cheng Wantang, who had just lost two eggs:

"Although it might seem like the pot calling the kettle black, I still have to tell you that it probably won't be of much use to you even if you learn it. My method isn't that miraculous, otherwise I wouldn't have only gotten half a point."

"I know." Cheng Wantang nodded. The night obscured his face, making it impossible to discern his expression; only his unusually calm voice could be heard.

"I am already very clear that I am not cut out to pass the imperial examination. Just like the headmaster said, it won't hurt to drop out of school early."

"Then why are you even learning anything?" Su Dan couldn't help but ask.

"I can't go out with three eggs hanging on my head!" Cheng Wantang suddenly raised his voice and shouted, "I started my studies at the age of seven and have been studying hard for seven years! Through the cold winter and hot summer, I haven't stopped for a single day! I finally got into my dream school, Taiping Academy. I have to leave something behind to put a period to my years of hard study!"

"I understand." Su Lu nodded and said softly, "I'll explain it to you tomorrow."

"Thank you, brother." Cheng Wantang bowed deeply.

Su Lu gently patted his slightly trembling shoulder and whispered to comfort him, "Actually, I'm in a dangerous situation too. Let's do our best together and hope for a miracle."

“Okay!” Cheng Wantang nodded emphatically.

Cheng Wanfan and Cheng Wanzhou also put their hands on Cheng Wantang's shoulders, hoping to give their cousin some support.

(End of this chapter)