Chapter 150: Reforms Progress Smoothly, Tradition Ultimately Bows Its Head

The morning sunlight still carried a hint of chill as it spilled across Lin Shiya's face through the lattice window.

She pushed open the warehouse door, and an acrid, burnt smell instantly rushed into her nasal cavity, causing her to frown slightly.

She had originally intended to demonstrate the new-style abacus to her students, but she never expected that what lay before her would be utter devastation.

The wooden shelves were scorched black and tilted crookedly onto the ground. The abacuses, globes, and books stacked upon them had all been reduced to wreckage, emitting a pungent, smoking haze.

Those teaching aids she had carefully selected were now nothing more than a pile of charcoal, a shocking and distressing sight.

Lin Shiya's expression sank instantly, and her once-calm eyes flared with anger.

She looked around, her gaze as sharp as a torch, as if trying to drag out the culprit hiding in the shadows.

The lingering warmth of the fire still hung in the air, and wherever her eyes fell, there was only the wretchedness of destruction.

Suddenly, her gaze landed on a scrap of fabric on the ground. The color of that scrap was identical to the garment Master Song had worn yesterday.

She bent down to pick up the piece of cloth, clutching it tightly in her hand, her fingertips turning slightly pale from the force.

"Master Song..." she murmured under her breath, her tone icy, carrying an unperceived trace of killing intent. "It seems you really won't shed a tear until you see your own coffin!"

Her anger did not cloud her judgment; instead, it made her even more composed.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the fury in her heart, and turned toward the front hall.

Before she even stepped through the threshold, she heard a commotion filled with accusations and complaints.

"Look, I said this new style of education wouldn't work! It's brought in some kind of ill omen!" Master Song stood in the center of the crowd, pointing at the devastation on the ground with a look of utter triumph. His cloudy eyes flashed with a sinister gleam, like a petty villain whose malicious plot had succeeded.

"Indeed, all these burnt items are newfangled things; the heavens themselves must despise these modern innovations!" The patriarch of the Qian family chimed in to fan the flames, his wrinkled face appearing even more aged and stubborn at that moment.

Some of the parents who had originally held high hopes for the new educational methods now began to waver, their whispered conversations buzzing like flies and driving people into a state of irritation.

Steward Sun shrank his neck, eyeing everyone cautiously for fear that the fire of conflict might spread to his own person.

School Inspector Li knitted his brows tightly, his gaze shifting back and forth between Lin Shiya and Master Song as if weighing something in his mind.

Scholar Zhou stood among the crowd as well, his face bearing a hint of worry and hesitation. He longed to learn new knowledge, yet he dared not go against the wishes of his master.

The maid Wu stood behind the crowd, gripping her fists tightly, wishing she could rush forward and refute those absurd words.

Lin Shiya stepped into the front hall, sweeping her gaze across everyone and taking in every expression on their faces.

She walked slowly toward them, and an invisible pressure instantly enveloped the entire front hall, causing the previously noisy chatter to gradually die down.

Her sharp gaze swept over the crowd, finally stopping on Master Song. Her tone was calm, yet it carried a bone-chilling implication.

"Master Song, you rushed to conclusions so quickly. Could it be that you know some inside information?"

Lin Shiya let out a cold laugh, pulled a piece of scorched fabric from her sleeve, and tossed it before Master Song.

"What is this? Master Song, your advanced years must be affecting your memory; let me help refresh it." The texture and color of the cloth matched Master Song's yesterday robes precisely, save for the part that had been burned away.

Master Song's expression altered drastically, his lips trembling, yet he could utter no words.

"This... this... this is slander! An accidental ember burned a hole in my robes yesterday, and this scrap of fabric was left behind then!" Master Song forced a look of composure, though his voice shook slightly.

Lin Shiya pressed on step by step, her gaze as sharp as a blade. "Is that so? Then why did this piece of cloth appear inside the warehouse? Did it grow legs and walk in by itself?" She glanced around, her voice icy. "Esteemed parents, the warehouse door was locked from the inside. Apart from Master Song, who else could have entered?"

An uproar rose among the crowd. The parents who had initially supported Master Song began to whisper among themselves, casting gazes filled with suspicion toward him.

The Qian family patriarch wore a dark, livid expression; he had not expected Master Song to be so utterly despicable.

Fine beads of sweat seeped onto Master Song's forehead. He looked toward the Qian patriarch in panic, but the latter turned his head away, unwilling to meet his eyes.

He knew that this time, Master Song was truly finished.

"I... I..." Master Song stammered, unable to find any further words of defense.

He slumped onto the floor in defeat, his expression as ashen as a frost-bitten eggplant.

"Master Song, do you have anything else to say?" Lin Shiya's tone was as frigid as the wind in the dead of winter.

Master Song raised his head.

Lin Shiya paid him no heed, turning instead to address the crowd. "Esteemed parents, I know you still harbor doubts regarding the new-style education, but please believe that everything I do is for the good of the children. I will not give up because of the obstruction of a few petty individuals, and I will carry the academy's reforms through to the very end!"

Her voice was firm and resonant, moving everyone present.

The Qian patriarch looked at Lin Shiya. He had originally held skeptical views toward the new education, but now, he began to waver.

"Lin... Top Scholar..." The Qian patriarch hesitated before finally speaking up.

Ignoring Master Song, who remained slumped on the floor, Lin Shiya spoke in a calm and resolute voice, "Today, I shall let all of you witness with your own eyes the true power of this new-style education."

She waved her hand, and the students, who had been waiting nearby, immediately sprang into action.

In the academy's courtyard, the previously empty space instantly grew lively.

The students divided into several groups, each demonstrating the results of their studies over the past period.

The group led by Scholar Zhou operated their abacuses with lightning speed, the crisp clicking of the beads rising one after another like a joyful melody.

Not only could they quickly solve complex arithmetic problems, but they could also explain the mathematical principles while calculating, showing remarkable clarity of thought that left onlookers in awe.

Another group used the globe to vividly explain geographical knowledge, rattling off the customs, traditions, mountains, and rivers of various parts of the world with absolute familiarity. They accompanied their explanations with expressive gestures and facial expressions, eliciting wave after wave of amazed gasps from the watching parents.

Yet another group of students wrote graceful poetry with fluid brushstrokes; their works possessed not only profound artistic conception but also exquisite brushwork, making many of the parents feel deeply inferior by comparison.

The parents were stunned by everything before them, their initial doubts and worries gradually replaced by astonishment and admiration.

The Qian patriarch was struck dumb with amazement; he had never imagined that these children, who in his eyes usually knew only how to read books, could display such exceptional performance.

The hard stone in his heart began to slowly loosen.

"Is... is this really my child?" the Qian patriarch muttered to himself. Watching his child display talent with such confidence on stage, his heart swelled with pride and gratification. The furrowed brow between his eyes relaxed, replaced by a rare smile. He finally conceded that the new-style education might indeed be more suitable for children than the old ways.

"It seems that Top Scholar Lin's reforms are indeed justified," the Qian patriarch finally voiced his approval.

However, not everyone held a completely favorable view of the new-style education.

School Inspector Li and Steward Sun still harbored objections regarding certain administrative structural reforms.

"Top Scholar Lin, shouldn't the academy's financial management also be standardized? Some of these new systems are beyond this old man's understanding," Steward Sun said cautiously, fearing that the reforms might bring unnecessary risks to the academy.

"Furthermore, wouldn't this method of student-led open discussion become far too undisciplined?" School Inspector Li frowned as well, worried that the students might lose their sense of decorum.

Faced with their doubts, Lin Shiya showed not a shred of impatience. Instead, she patiently explained the necessity and benefits of the new systems.

She spoke with data and facts, proving that the new systems could not only improve efficiency but also better stimulate students' interest in learning.

Her patience and sincerity gradually dissolved their worries, allowing those who had previously harbored reservations to slowly embrace the new managerial methods.

The sun gradually tilted westward, its evening glow casting a golden radiance over the academy's courtyard and bathing everything in a warm sheen.

Looking at all before her, Lin Shiya felt a deep sense of accomplishment.

"Everyone, today's demonstration concludes here. Please return home and ponder upon it carefully." She swept her gaze over the crowd, her tone gentle yet firm. "I believe that before long, you will witness even greater changes within the academy."

Just as the crowd prepared to disperse, Lin Shiya suddenly felt a cold breeze brush against her back, causing her to shiver involuntarily.

She turned around and spotted Murong Fu standing beneath an ancient tree. A faint, imperceptible smile played on his lips, and his gaze was as deep as the night.

"Lady Lin," he spoke, his voice low and magnetic. "It seems your academy is truly a bustling place."

The sunset's glow dyed the academy's gray bricks and tiles into a warm orange hue, and a gentle breeze carried the earthy fragrance of soil and grass.

The students packed away their abacuses and globes with lingering reluctance, their faces beaming with proud smiles, while the parents gathered in small groups to discuss the day's sights in hushed tones filled with admiration.

"Top Scholar Lin, this old man previously held misunderstandings regarding the new education. Seeing it today has truly opened my eyes!" An elderly master who had previously adopted a wait-and-see attitude walked up to Lin Shiya, cupping his hands in a respectful bow.

His white beard trembled slightly, and his cloudy...

"Indeed, indeed, we are ashamed by comparison," other masters chimed in successively. Struck with awe by the talent displayed by the students today, a deep sense of admiration for Lin Shiya welled up in their hearts.

They carefully perused the students' notes, touched the exquisitely crafted teaching aids, and felt the fresh vitality permeating the academy, causing the thick ice deep within their hearts to gradually melt away.

Meanwhile, Master Song sat slumped on the ground like a man whose spine had been removed, his wrinkled face appearing even more aged and desolate.

He watched those masters who had once bowed and scraped before him now gathered around Lin Shiya, and his heart filled with bitterness and resentment.

He wanted to stand up and argue, but his throat felt as though it were blocked by something, unable to emit any sound.

Lin Shiya surveyed the crowd present, her bright eyes filled with steadfastness and confidence, shining like the brightest stars in the night sky.

She knew that the path of reform would not be smooth sailing, and many more challenges lay ahead.

With a slight smile, her gaze finally locked onto Master Song, her voice clear, cold, and calm: "Master Song, it seems reform has become the irresistible trend of the times. It is time for you to yield to the current."

Hearing Lin Shiya's words, Master Song's body gave a violent jolt. He slowly raised his head, then finally lowered it, letting out a helpless sigh. His voice was low and hoarse: "This old man... this old man understands..." His words were steeped in helplessness and desolation, resembling a forlorn elder cast aside by the era.

The evening glow gradually faded, the sky tinted with a profound blue as a few stars began to twinkle in the night sky.

Lin Shiya stood at the academy entrance, feeling the cool evening breeze. Yet, deep within her heart, a faint unease lingered.

Suddenly, she sensed a trace of cool air. Turning her head, she saw Murong Fu standing beneath a tall parasol tree, his figure shrouded in the gathering dusk, appearing exceptionally mysterious.

The corners of his mouth curved upward into an unfathomable smile.

He walked slowly toward Lin Shiya, his gaze deep and sharp like two unsheathed swords: "Lady Lin, when do you plan to set off?"