Chapter 22: A Conscientious Suggestion

Li Yanqing and Wang Gui descended from the mountain and circled around to the main entrance of the schoolhouse. The area in front of the gate was bustling with activity. The narrow path was packed with vendors selling sugar figurines, clay sculptures, flatbreads, crickets, and various snacks. There were over a dozen stalls in total, each swarmed by children competing to press copper coins into the vendors' hands. The vendors wore beaming smiles; this was the most profitable time of their day.

As of today, Li Yanqing had a few coins of pocket money in his possession. Since he never felt full after lunch, he needed to buy a couple of flatbreads as a supplement. He purchased two sweet flatbreads, handed one to Wang Gui, and the two walked toward the schoolhouse while chewing on their food.

Just then, Li Er rushed over, looking nervous, and said to Li Yanqing, "I don't know why, but Brother Feng says he wants to teach you a lesson."

Brother Feng was Li Feng, the eldest grandson of Li Wengui. He was the leader of the Li clan members at the school. At twelve years old, he had already spent six years at the institution and was set to attend the county school next year. He studied in the advanced classroom with over twenty other students aged ten and older. Since he had no prior interaction with Li Yanqing and his peers, Li Yanqing had never actually met him during his few days at the school.

Li Yanqing had only just learned why Li Feng wanted to cause him trouble: he had taken Li Feng's spot for the Children’s Examination. However, Li Yanqing felt no remorse. Li Feng had participated for four consecutive years, causing the Lushan Town school to finish at the bottom every time; it was time to yield the opportunity to someone else.

"Look! He’s coming. That pockmarked one is him." Wang Gui blew on his fist and whispered to Li Yanqing, "Do you want us to take him down together?"

Li Yanqing had already spotted Li Feng. He was tall and thin with a face full of red acne, clearly a head taller than the other children. Following behind him was Zhang Daxiao, another student slated for the Children’s Examination, who was a short, sturdy fellow.

"Let me handle him. You just stand by and watch."

Wang Gui suddenly remembered Li Yanqing’s "Wind-Defying Blade," the name he had given to Li Yanqing’s signature strike. Excited, he quickly stepped aside.

Yao Ding was a strict disciplinarian who absolutely forbade senior students from bullying juniors, under penalty of severe punishment; three students had already been expelled for this reason. Therefore, the three classrooms generally kept to themselves, and Li Feng wouldn't usually bully a fellow clansman, choosing instead to simply ignore them.

But this time, losing his spot had truly enraged Li Feng. He knew that Li Yanqing was a newcomer, the son of a scholar who had been stripped of his title and a member of a minor branch of the Li family, and he believed Li Yanqing was only grabbing his opportunity because the clan head favored him.

Li Feng had wanted to teach Li Yanqing a lesson all morning, but he didn't dare to start a fight inside the schoolhouse. When he saw Li Yanqing outside, and with Master Yao in his habitual, deep afternoon slumber, he seized the chance.

Behind him, Zhang Daxiao whispered a plan: "Make it quick. Give him one heavy punch to knock him down and then run. He won't have any evidence."

Li Feng nodded slightly, his muscles tensed with force and his knuckles cracking. He strode up to Li Yanqing, glared at him fiercely, and threw a violent punch toward his face.

Unexpectedly, Li Yanqing was prepared. With a quick crouch and a dodge—his movements impossibly fast—he evaded the fierce blow.

Unable to pull back his fist and having used too much force, Li Feng lost his balance and stumbled forward, stepping right into the cricket vendor’s stall. *Crash!* Six or seven ceramic cricket pots shattered. Dozens of crickets hopped everywhere, and the young students scrambled to catch them, turning the path into a chaotic scene.

The burly vendor was furious. He grabbed Li Feng by the collar with his coarse, hairy arm and roared, "How are you going to compensate me!"

Li Feng turned pale with fear and stammered, "I'll pay... I'll pay!"

The man blinked, looked down at the shattered jars, and began to wail, "Oh, my mother! My most precious 'Iron-Headed General' is gone! That was worth fifty strings of cash!"

Seeing the disaster, Zhang Daxiao ran away in a flash. Li Yanqing acted as if nothing had happened; he simply continued eating his flatbread and strolled leisurely into the schoolhouse. Wang Gui was completely awestruck. He ran up, gave a thumbs-up, and praised, "So composed, striking without a trace—truly brilliant!"

Li Yanqing tilted his head and looked at him. "What are you talking about? I don't understand!"

"Haha! I don't even know what I'm saying either!" Wang Gui couldn't help but burst into hearty laughter.

***

After school that afternoon, Master Yao Ding called Li Yanqing, Yue Fei, Tang Huai, and Zhang Daxiao into his study. Yao Ding spoke gently at first: "It has been decided. The four of you will represent Lushan School at the county's Children’s Examination this year. This is your honor, but also your responsibility."

As he spoke, the warmth on Yao Ding’s face faded, his gaze turning stern as he looked at them. "For the past four years, we have finished last. People don't say you lack academic skill; they say I am an incompetent teacher. I had no choice but to let them talk, but this year is different. This year, I want you to break into the top three."

Li Yanqing and Yue Fei remained calm, but Tang Huai and Zhang Daxiao’s expressions turned unnatural. Yao Ding glared at the two of them and continued, "I know moving from last to the top three isn't easy, but nothing is impossible if one is willing to work hard. There are only nineteen days left, which is extremely tight. From today on, you four will not attend classes with the others; I will teach you separately. You must arrive at the school by five in the morning. If you cannot guarantee that, you will stay at the school."

There was a saying in Tangyin County: "Do not fear the wrath of the Heavens, but fear the ruthlessness of Yao 'The Ox'."

The four boys finally understood the profound meaning of that saying. The Master they had always respected had turned into a horned devil, and his rigorous teaching methods made them feel as if they were in hell.

Master Yao’s bamboo cane had been replaced by a foot-wide ironwood ruler. He punished any dissatisfaction with severe strikes. Even when their palms were swollen, they had to wrap them in cloth and keep practicing their calligraphy. They were required to write ten thousand characters daily, memorize poems, read texts, write essays, compose lyrics, and craft couplets. They started studying before dawn and didn't sleep until midnight, getting only three hours of rest a day. Even the resilient Yue Fei once couldn't help but complain a little.

After only five days of this life, Zhang Daxiao was the first to collapse.

Zhang Daxiao was the oldest of the four, but his academic foundation was the weakest. He couldn't keep up with the pace and suffered the most punishment; his palms were nearly shredded.

The four were currently staying at an inn in town. Tang Huai and Yue Fei shared a room, while Li Yanqing and Zhang Daxiao shared another. Before dawn, the innkeeper was already knocking on their door.

"Get up quickly! If you slack off, you’ll get a beating!"

Zhang Daxiao’s palms were red, swollen, and festering. Having groaned in agony all night, he looked at Li Yanqing with bloodshot eyes and said, "Brother Qing, I’m dying. I really don't want to participate anymore. Can you think of a way for me?"

Li Yanqing, too sleepy to open his eyes, started getting dressed while dozing off. "If you really don't want to go, just tell the clan head and let him talk to Master Yao."

"My grandfather cares most about his reputation. Unless I’m deathly ill, he won't let me quit. I’ve thought about it all night and couldn't find a way. You’re the smartest; help me think of something!"

"If you can't think of anything, what makes you think I can? However, if I were you, I’d go find the shop assistant at the pharmacy and give them a few coins. They could surely help you come up with a way that is effective, harmless to your body, and allows you to sleep comfortably under your blankets for a month. Think about it! A whole month without reading or writing, and having a little maid to wait on you—what a wonderful life that would be! I’m just joking, get up quickly, or we’ll be late."

Zhang Daxiao’s eyes lit up. He climbed out of bed, lost in thought, and went to wash up with Li Yanqing.