Chapter 33: Which of His Students Possesses Such a Gift for Poetry?

"We've arrived. Thank you for your trouble," Li Su said to the young servant as they reached the entrance of the Li family home.

The servant hurriedly shook his head. "Young master, you're too kind. It's no trouble at all!" After all, these were tasks expected of servants like him, and he felt that Li Su was showing much too much courtesy.

A group of children were playing outside the Li family gate. When they saw the carriage, they gathered around, cheering, "Big horse! Giddy-up!"

Li Ziru’s eyes sparkled as she spotted Li Su peeking out from the carriage. "Little uncle! It’s my little uncle! My little uncle rode the big horse home!"

Tiny Li Ziru craned her neck to look at Li Su, almost tipping over from looking up so high. She wished dearly to ride the big horse herself.

Li Su noticed her longing and scooped her up, placing her on the horse's back and holding her steady with his hands. The little girl flushed with excitement.

After a moment, Li Su lifted her down again. "You should head back now," he said to the servant. "It’s getting dark, and the road isn’t easy to travel at night."

The servant saw nothing unusual in Li Su placing the girl on the horse; after all, Li Su was the young master, their employer. He was even surprised, thinking scholars rarely carried children.

The servant drove the carriage away, and the other children stared at Li Ziru with envy. Their leader had just ridden a big horse, and her little uncle was nothing like their own—making them even more jealous.

Li Su gently patted Li Ziru’s head. "Go play with your friends."

Surrounded by her companions, Li Ziru went off to play.

"Leader, what does it feel like to ride a big horse?"

"I wish I could ride one too, but my little uncle is useless. He can’t take me riding."

Li Ziru grinned broadly. "The big horse is so tall! When I was on it, you all looked just like little ants!" She exaggerated, of course.

But her playmates, none of whom had even the faintest schooling, believed her. They had never ridden a horse.

In the countryside, owning a cow was already impressive; only a handful of families could boast one, let alone a horse.

As the Li family walked home, they heard that their Su boy had arrived in a horse-drawn carriage, but thought nothing of it. After all, those three friends of his had carriages at home; perhaps one of them had sent someone to bring Su back.

How did the Li family hear about it? Naturally, it was Li Zhengqiang who said so. Li Zhengqiang and Dong Fangfang ran a business in town, and the families of Su’s three friends often came to buy skewers—always buying a large amount.

Now, the Li family stall prepared three thousand skewers daily, most of which sold out each day. When there were leftovers, they simply brought them home for the family to eat, so nothing was wasted.

The Li family had finished plowing and loosening their fields. Now, they were planting seedlings. Once this busy period ended, things wouldn’t be so tiring.

The Li family returned home, and Feng Cuicui curiously asked, "Su, was it your friend who brought you home today?"

Li Su nodded. "No, it was my master’s servant who brought me. I’ve taken a master."

The family was shocked. "A master?"

"Yes."

They looked at each other, unsure how to react. If Su’s master’s family owned a carriage, they surely weren’t short of money. But taking a master—shouldn’t they offer gifts?

Li Su saw their concern. "Don’t worry about the apprenticeship gift. I’ve already thought about it."

"If my studies become busier, I may not be able to come home every day." His master had warned him on the carriage that he should be prepared to stay there often.

"Not come home? Where will you live?" Feng Cuicui asked, worried.

"I’ll live at my master’s place."

"All right, your studies are important. If you need money, tell the family." Feng Cuicui’s only concerns were her youngest son’s studies and whether he lacked money. "You must behave well in your master’s home."

Studying was indeed expensive; pens, ink, paper, and brushes—all costly and consumable.

Li Su was eager to read the books given by his master, planning to visit him the next day. After dinner, he locked himself in his room to memorize his lessons.

The rest of the family prepared materials for the next day’s business outside. It had been about half a month since they started, and everyone had grown accustomed to this new life.

Tired as they were, the thought of earning money gave them endless energy.

...

"Su, what did the bookshop owner want with you?" Qin Ming couldn’t help but ask curiously when he saw Li Su. "What’s he like?"

Li Su yawned. "I’ve taken him as my master."

Ren Shuhua was shocked. "What?"

His grandfather had heard about the poem Su composed yesterday and wanted to take Su as his own apprentice, inviting him to stay after class and teach him alongside the others.

He thought he would surpass Ze and Ming and become Su’s closest brother.

Now, his hopes were dashed. That bookshop owner was indeed shrewd, taking Su as his apprentice so swiftly.

Ren Shuhua felt a pang of jealousy—the bookshop owner had beaten him to it.

The three—Lin Ze and his friends—thought, if Su was willing to take this man as his master, then the man must be truly learned, worthy of Su’s respect.

"Why hasn’t the teacher arrived?" Lin Ze wondered aloud. Normally, the teacher would have come by now.

At that moment, the teacher was surrounded by other private school teachers, baffled and bewildered.

Yesterday, his wife had fallen ill, so he spent the day at the clinic and missed the poetry gathering, only rushing home today.

Many of the teachers lived nearby, and when they saw him, they swarmed around like cats spotting a mouse—their enthusiasm startled him.

He, being short of money, accepted any student who could pay, regardless of aptitude, which made the other teachers look down on him, believing he had stained the reputation of scholars.

So today, they all came to talk to him, leaving him utterly bewildered.

"What are you all talking about?" he asked, confused.

"Don’t try to hide it! We all know now—you’ve been keeping such a talented student from us!"

"That poem was incredible!"

The teacher was baffled. "What?"

He asked anxiously, "What happened?"

"You really don’t know? One of your students made a splash at the poetry gathering yesterday!"

"Listen: 'Hoeing rice under midday sun, sweat drips onto the soil below. Who knows the meal in the bowl—each grain comes from hardship.' What a poem! But we don’t know its title. Ask your student what it’s called."

The teacher’s eyes widened in shock. Did his student compose this? Which of them had such talent for poetry?

"Who wrote this?" he hurriedly asked.

"You really don’t know? Your student Li Su. Isn’t he yours? Surely you know his poetic talent?"

The teacher was stunned—he truly had no idea Li Su possessed such skill.

"I must go teach my class," he said, pushing through the crowd and hurrying off to the school.