I'm coming clean: I'm the reincarnation of the God of Literature.

Everyone turned around.

Gu Ci stood at the door, holding the books he had borrowed from the county school.

Zhang Wenbin paused for a moment, then sneered, "Oh, so this is the legendary child prodigy?"

He looked Gu Ci up and down, then curled his lip in disapproval.

"An eight-year-old child dares to try and handle this?"

Gu Ci ignored him, walked to Gu Ang's side, and put the book on the table.

"Brother, step back."

Gu Ang gritted his teeth: "Ci'er, this person—"

"It's alright."

Gu Ci patted his hand and turned around.

"I've already accepted the previous couplet. Do you have any other suggestions?"

Zhang Wenbin's face darkened.

He hadn't expected that an eight-year-old child could answer so quickly.

"Hmph, just luck," he said, forcing a smile. "I'll give you another couplet!"

He paused for a moment: "In the painting, the dragon neither roars nor the tiger howls, and the little page is laughable."

Upon seeing this couplet, the onlookers all frowned.

This is an insult to Gu Ci, calling him a book boy and implying he has no ability.

Gu Ang was so angry that he was about to rush forward, but Gu Mingzhe stopped him.

Gu Ci smiled.

"On the chessboard, the chariot has no wheels and the horse has no reins; when the checkmate is called, be careful."

Zhang Wenbin's expression changed.

This second line is not only perfectly matched, but it also compares him to a pawn stuck in place on a chessboard.

The onlookers all laughed.

"This young gentleman is truly talented!"

"To have such spirit at eight years old is remarkable!"

Zhang Wenbin gritted his teeth and managed to squeeze out another couplet.

"The birds are singing and the flowers are blooming, everywhere is harmonious and peaceful."

This is a couplet with repeated characters, extremely difficult to match.

Gu Ci didn't even think about it: "Rain and wind, flowers and leaves, year after year, dusk and dawn."

Zhang Wenbin panicked completely.

He never expected that his proudly crafted couplet with repeated characters would be so easily cracked by an eight-year-old child.

Zhang Wenbin took a deep breath and decided to go all out.

"My superior majesty displays the courage of a tiger!"

This is him praising himself.

Gu Ci looked at him and slowly said, "You're vulgar and despicable, showing half your true colors."

The people in the courtyard were taken aback at first.

Immediately, everyone burst into laughter.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"Get out of here! That young man's insults are truly brilliant!"

"This scholar was called a turtle!"

"So much for your prestige! I think you're just a coward!"

Zhang Wenbin's face turned bright red.

He pointed at Gu Ci, his hand trembling, "You...you..."

"What's wrong with me?"

Gu Ci tilted his head. "You provide the first line, and I'll provide the second. What's wrong with that?"

Zhang Wenbin opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

He turned and walked away, staggering and almost falling.

The onlookers laughed even harder.

"Farewell, sir!"

"Let's spar again next time!"

"Remember to bring your brain!"

Zhang Wenbin ran away without looking back.

The atmosphere in the courtyard relaxed.

Manager Li walked up to Gu Ci and bowed respectfully.

"Young sir, I have truly broadened my horizons today."

He took a purse out of his pocket and stuffed it into Gu Ci's hand.

"It's just a small token of my appreciation."

Gu Ci couldn't refuse, so he had no choice but to accept it.

Manager Li then looked at Gu Ang.

"Young Master Gu, although you are not as gifted as your younger brother, diligence can make up for your shortcomings. Given time, you will surely achieve great things."

Gu Ang blushed and waved his hands repeatedly, "Manager Li, you flatter me."

Manager Li smiled and shook his head before leaving with his men.

The people in the courtyard gradually dispersed, still discussing what had just happened.

"Those two Gu brothers are both excellent!"

"One is a prodigy, the other is a diligent student; both will have bright futures!"

"A great person is about to emerge from our Qingshan Village!"

Gu Ang stood there, looking at his younger brother.

After hesitating for a long time, he finally managed to say, "Ci'er, thank you."

Gu Ci turned his head: "Brother, you don't need to thank me."

"But I..." Gu Ang lowered his head, "I can't answer it, I've embarrassed you."

"Brother," Gu Ci grabbed his hand, "you've already tried your best."

He paused for a moment: "Zhang Wenbin came here on purpose to cause trouble. His couplets are meant to be difficult. It's not your fault that you can't match them."

Gu Ang raised his head.

"But I still feel... I'm so useless."

Gu Ci's voice was very soft.

"Brother, do you know how much progress you've made these past few days? I've seen it all."

He pointed to the calligraphy copybook on the table.

"Your calligraphy is much better than it was half a month ago. Your couplets also have a better structure now."

Gu Ang was stunned.

"Studying can't be rushed," Gu Ci smiled. "Just keep moving forward, and leave the rest to time."

Gu Ang's nose tingled, and he nodded vigorously.

"I see."

He clenched his fists.

"Ci'er, I won't let you bear this alone anymore."

Gu Ci didn't say anything, but just patted him on the shoulder.

The two brothers stood in the yard, their shadows stretched long by the setting sun.

Lin came out of the kitchen, wiped her hands, and walked over.

"Ci'er, Ang'er, Mother has made chicken soup for you. Come inside and drink it."

Her voice was choked with emotion.

"My greatest blessing in this life is having you two good sons and Qingqing."

Gu Ang turned around and hugged his mother.

"Mother, we will study hard."

Lin patted his back, tears streaming down her face.

"Okay, okay, Mother understands."

Inside the room, Gu Mingzhe sat at his desk, holding Gu Ci's article in his hands.

He read it over and over again.

In the past few days, he has taken out every article his son wrote and studied it word by word.

The more he looked, the more uncomfortable he felt.

He studied his whole life and took exams his whole life, but in the end, he didn't even pass the lowest level of the imperial examinations.

But what about the son?

At eight years old, she could write such an article.

He put down the article and closed his eyes.

Where exactly did I go wrong?

He recalled his youth, when he was full of enthusiasm and dreamed of passing the imperial examinations and bringing glory to his ancestors.

But repeated failures and setbacks wore away his spirit.

Later on, he studied simply for the sake of studying.

Rote memorization and mechanical application.

I've read the books, but what about my heart?

My heart has long been numb.

Gu Mingzhe opened his eyes and looked at the article on the table.

My son's writing is alive.

Every word has a spirit.

And his own writings were dead.

A stagnant pool, devoid of any life.

He suddenly understood.

My biggest mistake in life was that I only knew how to study.

Studying is not for the purpose of passing the imperial examinations.

Reading is for understanding principles and for achieving knowledge.

He stood up and walked to the window.

In the courtyard, Gu Ci was talking to Gu Ang.

Two children, one eight years old and the other sixteen.

But the youthful energy they possessed was something he had never had in his entire life.

Gu Mingzhe took a deep breath.

This can't go on any longer.

He needs to change too.

A few days later, one afternoon.

The village chief hurriedly knocked on the Gu family's door.

"Old Gu! Is Old Gu home?"

Gu Mingzhe was reading a book when he heard the shout and quickly came out.

"Village chief, what's the matter that's so urgent?"

The village chief wiped the sweat from his brow: "Mr. Li has fallen ill, so there's no one to teach at the private school, and the children are all running around outside."

He looked at Gu Mingzhe.

"Old Gu, you're a scholar too, could you do me a favor and teach at the private school for a few days?"

Gu Mingzhe was stunned.

Let him teach?

He instinctively wanted to refuse.

If you've failed the exam your whole life, what right do you have to teach others?

"Village chief, I..."

"Father." Gu Ci walked over at some point.

He looked at his father and said, "You have read far more books than I have."

Gu Mingzhe looked at his son.

"It's just that they haven't found the right method yet," Gu Ci continued. "Teaching and nurturing students is also a way to review the old and learn the new."

"The Analects says, 'Reviewing what you have learned and gaining new insights from it, you are fit to be a teacher.' Father, what you taught was not the imperial examination, but enlightenment."

Gu Mingzhe stared blankly at his son.

Reviewing the old helps us learn the new...

He suddenly remembered that when he was young, he had also thought about becoming a teacher.

But later, for the sake of the imperial examinations, he suppressed this idea.

just now……

He looked at the village chief's expectant expression, then at his son.

"Okay." He took a deep breath. "I'll go."

The village chief was overjoyed: "That's wonderful! Old Gu, you've been a great help!"

Gu Mingzhe changed into a clean long robe and followed the village chief toward the private school.

Gu Ci stood at the door, watching his father's back.

He turned and went inside, picked up his pen, and continued writing.

Outside the courtyard, the laughter of the village children could be heard.

On this day, a new teacher arrived at the private school in Qingshan Village.