Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 96 - 21: Slap on the Wrist

Most of the students were fairly friendly to the new junior student, only You Siyuan, who often made snide remarks at Fatty Wang, seemed a bit cold. A few students, noticing You Siyuan’s apparent dislike, became indifferent as well. It seemed to be a small clique led by You Siyuan.

Gu Chengyu entered the private school with the intent to study diligently, ignoring these cliques for now. Though they were just a bunch of kids, they shouldn’t be underestimated, given the family backing they had. He wanted to avoid offending anyone unnecessarily and causing trouble for himself. Of course, he wasn’t one to provoke others without reason. As the saying goes, "If no one offends me, I won’t offend them." However, he wouldn’t be in Class C for long.

He smiled at everyone, took his seat, and waited for the teacher to arrive. Since he was still unfamiliar with the characters, he could not read books yet.

As the bell outside rang three times, all the students in Class C took their seats, signaling the start of class.

Sure enough, after a while, Mr. Wen entered with books in hand and brought along a ruler.

"Today we have a new student, named Gu Chengyu, who is now considered your junior. You should mutually respect and love each other, and explore knowledge together. Alright! Bring out yesterday’s assignments; I want to check them first." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Mr. Wen followed the daily routine of first checking the previous day’s lessons. Gu Chengyu watched as Mr. Wen started checking with the first student from the right, who had two sheets filled with large characters. Mr. Wen circled several areas with a red brush, nodding occasionally, indicating the writing was quite good.

"Hmm! Your writing has consistently improved; continue to strive persistently without slackening!" Mr. Wen spoke gently to the student, clearly satisfied.

Gu Chengyu observed this student, who wore a blue straight robe of fine fabric, slightly washed out. He seemed about two years older and had introduced himself as Ma Junhui earlier. From the beginning, he was one of the quiet ones deeply engrossed in his books, later only mentioning his name and settling down to read.

Mr. Wen’s checking order was starting from the first on the right, vertically downward, then continuing from the last to the second row’s last onward. Including Mr. Wen, there were eighteen students in the room.

Some received praise from Mr. Wen, others criticism, and soon it was Fatty Wang’s turn behind him.

"Where’s your assignment? How did you complete it? Why haven’t you brought it out?" Gu Chengyu heard Mr. Wen’s voice clearly grow stern.

"I... I left my assignment at home," Fatty Wang hesitated, his voice carrying a shaky undertone of guilt.

Gu Chengyu rolled his eyes internally, thinking this excuse might fool someone, yet it was an obvious lie anyone could detect as false, even a newcomer like him could sense Wang’s guilt in his words.

"Hmph! A few days ago, you were out with your father to visit your uncle, yesterday your concubine was ill, and today you forgot it at home. Truly, a rotten wood can never be carved! Utterly useless, slacking off on assignments given by your teacher and even lying about it? Do you still wish to study? Must I personally visit your father to have him discipline you properly? So young, and already full of lies, is this the conduct of a scholar?" Mr. Wen finished speaking, and the room buzzed with whispers intermingled with laughter. You Siyuan snorted coldly, his expression somewhat smug. Hmph! He had already been praised by Mr. Wen earlier!

Mr. Wen was also filled with exasperation; initially, he didn’t want to accept this student. Regardless of potential, the family situation was exceedingly complicated, certainly unable to settle down to study seriously, and he wanted no involvement in the affairs of wealthy families.

Yet Mr. Wang earnestly pleaded for a long time, offering lavish gifts. Admittedly, in those days, Mr. Wen was financially strapped and urgently needed money, so he reluctantly agreed. Now, even if he regretted it, there was no use; having accepted him as a student, he must try his best to educate him.

"Teacher, please don’t involve my father! I will study well, and I won’t dare anymore! Really! You can see my assignments are well done tomorrow, and I will also make up for yesterday’s in the private school before heading home," Fatty Wang softened immediately upon mention of his father, pleading him.

"Initially, I hadn’t planned to let you off easily. Seeing your attitude of admitting mistakes sincerely, I will only give you a light punishment this time, just a few strikes on your hand. Let’s see your performance tomorrow; if this continues, you may as well go home! I cannot teach a student like you!" Mr. Wen sighed, perceiving Wang Qikai’s penitence, choosing to grant him another chance.

Gu Chengyu glanced back at Fatty Wang’s round face, now wrinkled like a bitter melon, then watched him place his left palm upward on the desk, enduring ten solid strikes from Mr. Wen’s wooden ruler. Despite showing his teeth in pain, he did not utter a cry of agony. After the punishment, his hand swelled up significantly.

Mr. Wen then proceeded to finish checking the remaining students, taking less than a quarter of an hour.

Gu Chengyu observed that three students in Class C had slightly outstanding grades: one was Ma Junhui, another was You Siyuan, and the last had remained silent since Gu Chengyu entered and hadn’t introduced himself, so his name was unknown, while the rest were fairly average. In any group, not everyone progresses equally; some had reached the ’Three Character Classic’, others the ’Hundred Family Names’, likely owing to differences in the timing of starting education, talent, and diligence.

Mr. Wen approached Gu Chengyu, "Can you grind ink? Handle the brush?"

"Respectfully, sir, I haven’t learned," Gu Chengyu stood and replied politely.

"Alright! Then I’ll write two characters, and you’ll observe carefully." Mr. Wen instructed Gu Chengyu to stand to the side, while he seated himself and explained in detail how to hold the brush and grind ink, writing two large characters on the paper laid out by Gu Chengyu.

"You are still in the initial learning phase, focus on writing the characters neatly and accurately first. Later, I’ll teach you to read the ’Thousand Character Classic’. Your assignment for today is to write a comparison from the ’Thousand Character Classic’ in the book. Did you observe my actions attentively?"

"I did!" For him, it was a familiar task; Gu Chengyu studied Mr. Wen’s characters, pondering, "Is there still the Palace-style Script in the Dayan Dynasty?" The Palace-style Script was elegant, refined, rounded, and harmonious; Mr. Wen’s writing retained a graceful beauty within its neatness.

In former lives, the Palace-style Script became mandatory for later imperial examinations, though neat, it tended towards uniformity in the mundane. Mr. Wen could impart his style into the script, indicating a high level of achievement in calligraphy.