bayedsolid Chapter 16 Master Zhou Takes Office (2)
Chapter 16 Master Zhou Takes Office (2)
Wenwen had just lain back down in her old position.
A small hand patted her arm.
"Sister, wouldn't it be better if you stayed in the small class with us all the time?"
"Oh no, my sister's time in the junior class is only temporary."
"How long is 'temporarily'?"
"Well, it's hard to say how long it will take; it depends on your understanding, sister. As for me, although I'm a bit slow now, hard work can make up for it."
The little guy can't stand it when people say his sister is stupid, even if she herself isn't. He gets all red in the face and shouts, "How is my sister stupid? My sister is the smartest!"
Wenwen was overjoyed to hear her younger brother's praise.
"Oh my, you've got a sweet tongue, you'll be something special when you grow up. Just because you're the smartest, I'll work even harder to catch up, soar to great heights, and make a name for myself...hehe."
The adorable little brother was very supportive, saying, "My sister is an eagle; she'll definitely fly very high."
"Brother, just you wait! I'm going to fly higher, fly higher~ Dancing like a whirlwind, breaking free from your embrace, I'm going to fly higher, fly higher... Ahh..."
"Sister, fly higher~~ higher~~"
Unable to contain herself, Wenwen danced and gesticulated wildly with her younger brother in her bunk, kicking her legs erratically, before finally bursting into song.
"Ouch, your eagle claw kicked me..."
Wenwen knew that she had considerable strength in her legs.
Hearing her older sister's exclamation, she jumped up, walked around her mother, sat down next to her older sister, and grabbed her older sister's trouser leg without saying a word.
"Sister, I'm so sorry. Let me see where you kicked. Does it hurt? Let me rub it for you."
"Ah, sister is fine. But you, are your claws hurt? Don't delay your takeoff." The eldest sister tried to suppress a laugh.
Wenwen: Uh, even the eldest sister can joke now.
Her second, third, and fourth sisters, along with her sister MaiMai, all winked at her and chuckled.
"Yeah, look at your paws, hehe..."
"Little Wen, stretch your legs and move them around, haha..."
The second sister was even more direct, immediately taking action, "Come here, Wen-mei, let me take a look at your bones. Taking off is the most important thing."
Hehe~~~
Wenwen: When did my sisters become like this? They're all usually so quiet and gentle, but now they've shown their true colors!
"Sisters, don't worry, when I can fly, I'll take you all with me."
"Okay, we'll wait."
Hearing Wenwen's boastful words, her eyelids twitched and she felt uneasy. "Wen'er, lie down next to your eldest sister and calm down for a while."
"Okay, Mother, don't worry, I'll lie down next to my eldest sister."
Grandmother also joined in the persuasion: "Wen'er, there's no rush for class, take your time."
"Grandmother, I understand, don't worry."
The women finally quieted down.
Wenwen closed her eyes to rest, listening to the conversation coming from her third uncle's side.
"Zhou Laosi, what do you think? Do you have confidence in these kids?"
"Brother-in-law, these children are in your hands now. Show them what you've got and broaden their horizons."
“These kids, each one of them has a bright future. I’m doing my best.”
"Just do your best. These are the conditions we have right now. Let's take it one step at a time."
"Third Brother, there's one thing I can't guarantee."
"Which point?"
"I can't guarantee they can fly."
"Hey, hehehe, this kid's just joking."
"Hehe, cough~ cough~ don't take it seriously, haha..."
Wenwen: ......I'm serious.
At this moment, she roared inwardly: "Hmph, Third Uncle, you wait and see. We'll see some more in the future. When I take to the skies, I'll definitely dazzle you!"
She listened, then became confused.
While I was still half asleep, my older sister gently woke me up, "Little sister, get up, it's time for class."
…………
The first lesson in the prison cell officially began.
The teacher and the five students in the class sat facing each other.
The railing in the middle is like a chasm between the elderly and the young children.
Given that the average age of students in the small class is only five years old.
Confucius started with the Three Character Classic.
"At the beginning of life..."
The teacher taught sentence by sentence, the students read along, and then the teacher explained. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, it was time to learn the characters.
Master Zhou wanted to use materials available locally.
He was looking down, preparing to find a stone to use as a pen.
Suddenly, a small, fair hand reached out in front of me, with a moderately sized stone in its palm.
Master Zhou was stunned for a moment, then looked up and saw a smiling face appear before him, a smile so wide that his teeth were almost invisible.
Wenwen said ingratiatingly, "Teacher, I've prepared teaching aids for you. Hehe."
"Pfft..." A suppressed laugh rang out, it was unclear who couldn't hold it in.
Anyway, everyone who wasn't in class was looking this way, tacitly assuming they were just auditing the class.
Confucius: This child is teachable.
Third Uncle: You came prepared.
Grandmother: This child has foresight.
Wenwen's mother: This child's smile is too obsequious.
Older brother and sister: We've learned something.
Younger siblings: Big sister is amazing.
Master Zhou silently accepted the stone. "Yes, thank you."
"Master, you're welcome."
"Alright, let's continue the lesson. Look carefully. I'll teach you these characters once. Practice them on your own afterward."
The Master's calligraphy was very neat, with strong strokes and appropriate pressure. Even when written on muddy ground, it exuded a sense of beauty and charm.
Wenwen was amazed and secretly delighted: Wow, her uncle's handwriting is so beautiful! Beautiful characters make the writing easier and easier to learn. Just for these beautiful characters, she can study diligently.
"Alright, write it three times following the strokes."
Wenwen carefully traced the characters, her serious attitude combined with her modern skills and neat handwriting, and she learned most of it after writing it only once.
"Wenwen, your teacher has given you a task. It's not enough for you to learn it yourself; you also need to help your companions and make sure they can do it too."
"Oh, help? Then I'm their class monitor?"
"Okay, you're the class monitor for the small group, so you'll be responsible for answering their questions."
"Yes, I will follow your teachings."
"Alright, the small group class is over. Take a short break, then the medium group class will begin."
......
A moment later, the middle-class students sat upright in front of the teacher.
The Master pondered for a few seconds, then began.
“Middle-sized classes and small-sized classes are naturally different.”
"In the middle class, we are taught to be courteous and modest, to be ashamed and shameful, and to listen to the teacher's explanations."
"Let's start with the first chapter of the Analects."
Confucius said...
The Master's low-key yet clear voice echoed in the prison cell.
As Wenwen listened to the Master's explanation, she gained a new understanding of the Analects.
Time passed quickly without me noticing.
"Alright, the middle class is over. Take a short break, then the senior class begins."
His words were a wake-up call for the students.
Wenwen felt she couldn't get enough of the story and was left wanting more.
In my past life, someone said that "listening to lectures by great Confucian scholars can transform you completely," but I never agreed with that.
Now she can firmly support this argument, and she is full of expectations for large classes.
In that brief moment of distraction...
"Master, have a mouthful of water!"
Upon hearing this, Wenwen immediately turned her head.
Yao Maimai respectfully handed a bowl of water to the teacher, displaying the standard etiquette of serving an elder.
Wenwen raised an eyebrow at MaiMai: Goodness, you've learned the essence of what I taught you, worthy of a thumbs up.
Confucius: Hmm, you have a very strong learning ability.
The master nodded and accepted it, saying, "Thank you for your trouble." He then drank it all in one gulp.
Seeing the opportunity, the uncle said, "Master Zhou is tired. Let me help you to rest over here."
"Master, this way please."
My third uncle and my eldest aunt's husband were joking around with the teacher.
Taking the opportunity, Mai Mai pulled Wen Wen back into the group of older sisters.
She couldn't wait any longer, "Wen-meimei, how's it going? Have you learned half of it yet?"
Wenwen gave her a thumbs up, "You've learned more than half of it. Keep it up."
"Okay, I will remain humble and work hard." After saying that, he put his left hand on his hip and raised his right hand with his five fingers together in a knife-like gesture.
Yao Maimai really learned something.
The women next to her started digging up dirt on her, one after another.
"You're quite capable now. There was a bowl of water, but after walking a few steps, there was only the bottom of the bowl left."
"Sixth Sister, let me tell you, shortly after the middle class started, she filled a bowl with water and held it there. We were wondering why she wasn't drinking it. She just kept holding it there, and the water was getting warm, but she still wouldn't drink it."
"Who knew she would come so quickly, just as get out of class was about to end, she rushed over to you."
"She walked so fast that by the time she reached the teacher, there was only the bottom of the bowl left."
"I wonder if the water at the bottom of the bowl is hot, hahaha..."
Wenwen said slyly, "Master drank it all in one gulp, it wasn't hot, and probably not even enough to soothe his throat, hahaha..."
"hey-hey......"
Ren took a picture of Wenwen as a warning, saying, "Slandering the teacher, you're asking for a beating."
Grandmother, hearing the sisters' conversation getting a bit out of hand, stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "You girls need to focus, class is about to start."
"Yes, Grandma, don't worry."
The sisters leaned against each other and lay down on the spot.