Chapter Eighteen: Astonishing

Mr. Wang cleared his throat a few times, his sullen expression revealing his displeasure, yet he too was troubled by how to handle the matter at hand.

If it had been an ordinary student, not to mention forgetting their homework—even if they were merely late—his ruler would have already come down hard. But Xu Ruojin was a young lady, and not just any young lady, but one soon to be betrothed to the Zhang family…

Such a thing should be punished, but the manner of punishment was a delicate matter. By rights, the tutelage of a girl should fall to a dedicated governess. He had only taken on the role out of necessity, steeling himself for the task. What’s more, early that morning, Madam Huang had obliquely conveyed Madam Xu’s wishes: that he should teach the girl only the precepts for women, the rules of propriety, and the virtues of obedience.

Seated at his desk, Mr. Wang frowned and pinched his nose in silence. Meanwhile, Spring Grass already had her forehead pressed to the ground, trembling, not daring to make a sound.

Xu Ruojin had recovered from her initial shock. Tardiness and missing homework—at her old school, such offenses would have seen her sent out to stand for two periods at least. Misfortunes never come singly, it seemed. She was well and truly mired in trouble now.

Summoning her courage, Xu Ruojin stepped forward and apologized. “Sir, the morning was hectic and I left in such a rush that I forgot my work. I accept my punishment—please do not be angry.”

Her sincere attitude softened Mr. Wang’s sternness somewhat, and he found a way to let the matter pass.

“You are a young lady, and to acknowledge your mistake so openly without resorting to excuses shows good character. Coming a little late is forgivable, but forgetting your work must still be punished. Yet before that, I will test your memory of the lesson, and the outcome will determine the rest.”

Xu Ruojin let out a long breath, calming herself, and replied earnestly, “Yesterday, you assigned us the first chapter of the Analects: ‘The Master said, To learn and to practice what is learned time and again, is that not a pleasure? To have friends come from afar, is that not a delight?’…”

She recited fluently, not missing a single word. Xu Zimo, who had been waiting to gloat over her misfortune, gaped in astonishment.

His second sister had only been studying for a few days, and yet she had already memorized the Three Character Classic, the Thousand Character Classic, and now the Analects with such ease. He himself had been at it for years and only just managed to reach the tenth chapter. How could this be? The comparison was maddening!

What kind of memory was this?

Mr. Wang watched her with newfound appreciation; her confidence and flawless recitation lightened his mood. Yet what use was intelligence and diligence for a girl? The Xu family could count themselves blessed to have raised such a daughter, but it was a pity that Master Xu had married poorly—whatever blessings they had were quickly squandered, and only two wastrel sons remained…

When Xu Ruojin finished, she bowed to him. Mr. Wang nodded after a moment, then asked, “Very good, but it’s not enough to recite. Can you write all the characters?”

“I can,” she replied.

Mr. Wang pondered how best to deal with the situation.

Xu Ruojin, seeing that he still wore a stern face, grew anxious. Was he still not appeased? She glanced at her hands—she really didn’t want to be struck. Remembering Xu Zimo’s pitiful cries that morning, she could almost feel the sting on her palms.

“Sir, actually, I can recite the second chapter as well.”

“Oh?” he said.

“Let me recite it for you.”

At his gesture, Xu Ruojin began to recite again. Though his expression was impassive, Mr. Wang was inwardly astonished, unsure how to judge the girl before him.

After only a few days, she had finished the introductory texts and memorized the first two chapters of the Analects—what kind of prodigious memory was this? The Analects were not like the Three Character Classic or the Thousand Character Classic; even rote memorization could not explain her fluency. The situation defied all his expectations.

“The second chapter, On Government: The Master said, He who governs by virtue is like the North Star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it…”

She recited it perfectly. Mr. Wang was still too stunned to speak.

Xu Ruojin, seeing no reaction, felt a pang of bitterness. Was this still not enough? Should she push herself further, just to show her diligence? Even if she was to be punished, perhaps she could reduce the severity.

“Sir, when my younger brother was learning the tenth chapter yesterday, I listened in as well. Would you like me to recite it for you?”

She beamed ingratiatingly. Mr. Wang’s lips twitched, but his long beard hid his surprise.

“Go ahead,” he said.

“Confucius, among his clansmen, was mild and reverent, seeming unable to speak. In the ancestral temple and at court, he was eloquent but cautious…”

By now, Mr. Wang’s mind was blank, listening to her clear, melodious voice. Xu Zimo forgot his own pain, opening his book to check her recitation word by word.

She finished without a single error. Xu Zimo’s book fell from his hands as he stared at Xu Ruojin in disbelief. He had labored over his lessons for so long and still stumbled, yet his sister had learned it in secret and now recited it smoothly!

Was she even human?

Mr. Wang rubbed his brow and pulled himself from his astonishment.

“That’s enough. Don’t be so eager for quick results. What’s the use in reciting by heart if you don’t understand the meaning?” he said.

Xu Ruojin could only acquiesce—after all, she had made a mistake.

“Your teaching is correct, sir. I was too eager for achievement.”

“It’s good to have such motivation, but lateness and forgotten work must still be punished. Since you admitted your mistake and study diligently, I’ll only give you three strokes on the palm.”

Mr. Wang forced his face to sternness, suppressing his inner amazement.

Xu Ruojin rubbed her hands together and stepped forward, extending her hand…

“Sir, my second sister is a girl, after all… I’ve already been punished today. Why don’t you let me take her place for these three strokes?” Xu Zimo suddenly stepped forward, shielding his sister.

A wave of surprised gratitude rose in Xu Ruojin’s heart—was someone in the Xu family actually standing up for her?

Mr. Wang snorted, glaring at Xu Zimo with his ruler. “No nonsense. If you take her place, it’ll be thirty strokes.”

“In that case, never mind,” Xu Zimo shrank back. Three strokes were nothing—he was already hurting anyway—but thirty? His hand would be ruined.

“There’s no need, Third Brother. I made the mistake, so I should be punished,” Xu Ruojin said, biting her lip and looking at Mr. Wang. “Please don’t blame him…”

Without a word, Mr. Wang picked up his ruler and tapped her palm three times, so lightly it was more like brushing away dust. Then he announced, “Let’s begin the lesson!”

Xu Ruojin stared, dumbfounded. Was that it?

Xu Zimo’s face twitched. He ran over to compare his own palm to his sister’s and said through gritted teeth, “Sir favors girls over boys!”

“If you could recite the first ten chapters of the Analects fluently, would I punish you? Say another word and you’ll get more!”

With a slap of his book on the desk, Mr. Wang silenced him at once.

The morning passed quickly. Xu Ruojin soon forgot all about the earlier incident. After gathering her things, she went outside, intending to thank her third brother, but as soon as she stepped out, she saw Madam Huang whispering to Xu Zimo.

Seeing Xu Ruojin, the confusion on Xu Zimo’s face and Madam Huang’s forced smile said everything.

Just when she’d found a brother willing to stand up for her, was she to lose him so soon?