Chapter 34: Have You Memorized It All?

At this moment, his heart was still beating wildly. Soon, he arrived at the academy. Taking a deep breath at the entrance, he finally stepped inside.

Though the teacher had not yet arrived, the students were diligently reading, occasionally darting glances at Li Su. Each time someone wished to speak, they hesitated and fell silent.

The teacher’s eyes were alight with excitement as he looked at Li Su—how proud he felt!

“Li Su, what was the title of the poem you composed yesterday?” the teacher asked eagerly.

“‘Sympathy for Farmers,’” Li Su replied, “the second of two poems under that name.”

The teacher’s initiative in bringing up the topic stirred the entire academy into lively discussion.

“That’s a splendid title! Brother Li, we actually went yesterday as well, but you were surrounded by people and we didn’t have a chance to speak with you.”

“Brother Li, you’re famous now! With just that poem at yesterday’s poetry gathering, everyone knows about you.”

“Even the scholars I know kept asking me about you—they’re all eager to make your acquaintance.”

Li Su’s intention had merely been to embarrass Lin Xi and perhaps attract a teacher, but fame had come knocking instead.

The teacher, throughout his lecture, kept glancing at Li Su, clearly seeing him in a new light.

His arithmetic was excellent, and now his poetry had improved so much! Clearly, he was dedicating himself to his studies with renewed passion.

Li Su had indeed spent the previous night memorizing the two books given to him by his master. Though he possessed an excellent memory, it still required time to carefully review each sentence. Reading two books in a single night left him exhausted—he never read novels with such intensity—so he was quite drained that morning.

He responded perfunctorily to his classmates’ praise.

Lin Ze noticed Li Su’s lackluster state and asked with concern, “Brother Su, are you alright? You seem a bit fatigued.”

Li Su closed his eyes briefly. “I studied late last night. It’ll pass.”

As Li Su said, once the teacher began the lesson, he focused with unwavering attention.

Lin Ze was awestruck—Brother Su was terrifyingly talented and so diligent! He had thought he’d been working hard lately, but seeing Brother Su, he realized it wasn’t enough.

After all, if someone as gifted as Brother Su was still so hardworking…

Lin Ze shook himself and resolved to pay full attention to the teacher as well.

After class, the teacher approached Li Su and asked, “Li Su, would you be willing to become my disciple?”

—

“I will impart to you all I know. You won’t need to return home daily; after class, you can stay at my residence and I’ll personally tutor you. Let’s aim for you to pass the imperial exam next year and earn the title of scholar!”

The teacher spoke passionately. A master and a teacher were not the same; if he became Li Su’s master, he could devote more time to teaching him, and if Li Su went on to become a provincial graduate, it would greatly enhance his own reputation.

Li Su had never considered apprenticing himself to the teacher—he could learn plenty in class, and besides, the teacher was surely aware of his previous level in essay writing. Excelling in arithmetic and poetry could be attributed to diligent study, but his essay writing had abruptly become that of a beginner. It was odd—improving was difficult, but regressing so much was just as hard.

“Teacher, I already have a master,” Li Su replied seriously, meeting his gaze.

The teacher was earnest and equitable; his scholarship was considerable. Had his family circumstances been better, perhaps he could have succeeded in the exams himself. But now, past fifty, he had given up, lacking the funds for further attempts.

His eyes dimmed with disappointment, then suddenly widened. “So your improvements in arithmetic and poetry are all thanks to your master?” What an extraordinary master Li Su must have!

At once, the teacher dismissed his intentions of taking Li Su as a disciple. With such a remarkable master, how could Li Su possibly accept him? He had been misguided.

Still, even if Li Su did not apprentice himself to him, he remained his teacher. When Li Su achieved success, he would still be counted among his students.

The teacher looked forward to the day when Li Su would travel far along this path—and if he could pass the provincial examination… The thought made the teacher’s heart surge with excitement.

Li Su was amused by the misunderstanding but did not correct it, letting the teacher believe what he wished.

The day’s lessons at the academy finished, and Li Su pulled out the two books his master had given him.

“Brother Su, shall we eat together today? We missed our chance yesterday, but today should be possible, right?” Lin Ze recalled the help Li Su had given him and felt obligated to treat him to a meal.

Li Su paused, books in hand. “Alright, let’s eat first, then I’ll go see my master.”

“Already starting lessons?” Qin Ming was astonished. Yesterday he’d just become a disciple, and today he was already to be tested?

“Brother Su, those books your master gave you—they don’t look like exam texts,” Ren Shuhua remarked, unfamiliar with their titles.

“Yes, I finished reading them yesterday. After lunch, I’ll go for my master’s assessment.”

The three were speechless—memorizing two books in one night?

They swallowed hard. Being friends with Brother Su was truly stressful.

“What’s with those expressions? Aren’t we going to eat? Let’s go,” Li Su urged.

—

“Let’s… go,” Lin Ze replied, with difficulty.

So it was because Brother Su spent the night memorizing two books that he was so weary this morning. If he tried to memorize two books in one night, he wouldn’t just be tired the next day—he’d be dead, and the books would remain unlearned.

Li Su was unaware of how much this shocked the three, but after eating, they returned to normal. They’d become used to it—impossible for others, but normal for Brother Su.

Walking with Brother Su raised both their resilience and their horizons.

Li Su arrived at Xi Sheng’s residence. Uncle Lin was surprised to see him. “Young master, what brings you here?”

“My master’s books—I’ve finished reading them,” Li Su replied solemnly.

Uncle Lin was baffled. “The master’s requirement is that you can recite them, not just read them.”

Li Su nodded. “Mm.”

Uncle Lin was silent, pitying the young master for a moment. Who knew how badly he’d be scolded, or how furious the master would be.

Uncle Lin led Li Su to Xi Sheng, who was alone in the courtyard, playing chess with a pot of tea at hand.

Li Su thought to himself how leisurely his master’s life seemed.

Uncle Lin addressed Xi Sheng respectfully. “Master, the young master is here.”

Xi Sheng placed a chess piece on the board, studying the game without looking up. “Didn’t I tell you to come see me only after you’d memorized those two books?”

“I’ve finished memorizing them,” Li Su replied.

The chess piece Xi Sheng was holding slipped from his hand, striking the board with a crisp sound. He looked up, staring at Li Su. “You’ve memorized them?”

Li Su nodded slightly. “Yes.”

Xi Sheng frowned. “Come with me.”

He led Li Su into the study. Uncle Lin shook his head, looking after Li Su with sympathy—soon, the young master would be utterly disheartened.