Volume One: From Farmer to Gentleman Chapter Six: Master, My Son Wishes to Study

“Sir, my son wants to study…”
Though Big Tooth wasn’t dressed in a scholar’s robe, holding two books set him apart from the common farmer.
The Great Yan Dynasty revered scholars, and Doumiao felt a nervousness without reason.
He licked his dry lips, rubbing his hands together, unsure how to explain.
His words faltered, his face turning red before he could make himself clear.
“Study? Who wants to study?”
Big Tooth sized up Chuliu, scrutinizing him with confusion. “Is it this child?”
Doumiao nodded with a forced smile.
Seeing Doumiao and his son dressed in shabby clothes, Big Tooth’s patience had already worn thin, and he thought to drive them away.
But then, considering the possibility they might be distant relatives of a clan elder, he hesitated, not wanting to risk losing face.
So he held back and asked, “Do you have any acquaintances in the Su family?”
“Acquaintances?”
Doumiao thought for a moment, then shook his head, “We don’t know anyone in the Su family.”
Su Laibao had been to his house, but Doumiao hadn’t even seen his face.
Claiming to have acquaintances felt as dishonest as lying, which made him blush.
“Then what are you meddling for? Leave now, or I’ll chase you out with a stick!”
Big Tooth waved his hand, picking a fight out of nowhere, “Look closely—this is the Su family’s private school, not a community school. Not just anyone can study here… I’m not trying to look down on you, but with your lives in this state, what’s the point of studying? Besides, can you afford the tuition?”
“What? There’s a tuition? I thought they said there wouldn’t be any fees?”
Doumiao’s eyes flashed with bewilderment; he couldn’t help but mutter quietly.
“Ha, you’re dreaming, aren’t you?”
Big Tooth laughed scornfully, “You expect them to waive the tuition just because you’re poor? The teacher’s not your father—why should he let you study for free? Run along, or I’ll beat you with a stick.”
“What’s so impressive about you? You’ve only read a few books—not as if you’ve earned any honors… Chuliu, come on, we won’t study here.”
The Su family had promised no tuition, yet now they contradicted themselves.
Doumiao felt as if he’d been tricked into a marriage and immediately shot back, dragging Chuliu to leave.
He wasn’t much of a talker, but if his wife had come to bring Chuliu, she’d have scolded Big Tooth so fiercely those two teeth would have been swallowed whole.
“Sir, we know Young Master Su Biao. Uncle Su asked us to accompany him in his studies. You can’t drive us away.”

Chuliu did not want to leave.
Such a rare opportunity to study—he didn’t want to give it up so quickly.
Though Big Tooth didn’t look much like a teacher, Chuliu spoke politely.
“Nonsense!”
Big Tooth sneered, “Young Master Su is not someone who would know a family as impoverished as yours. Get out!”
He glanced toward the stick propped at the front of the classroom.
“Su Biao, Su Biao, come out—someone is trying to drive me away!”
Big Tooth hadn’t expected Chuliu to shout so suddenly and wondered if they truly knew Young Master Su, his confidence faltering.
He was about to question them further when Su Biao ran out of the private school, face alight with joy.
“Chuliu, why are you only just here?”
Su Biao hurried over, and seeing Big Tooth with Chuliu and his father, he guessed the cause. He immediately scowled and shouted, “Su Daya, Sir asked you to fetch books, but you were gone for ages. Now I find you here, trying to drive away my honored guests. You needn’t come back to the school—I’ll ask my father to find someone else to sweep…”
“Young Master, I was blind and ignorant. I didn’t realize they were your honored guests. I didn’t chase them away, just asked a few questions…”
Su Daya’s face changed dramatically; he knelt and pleaded, “Young Master, please be merciful. My mother is ill, and I rely on this job to buy her medicine…”
Better to resolve a grievance than deepen it.
Chuliu, knowing he would be studying here, saw no reason to press his advantage, so he spoke kindly for Su Daya.
Su Biao’s expression softened at his words.
“Remember to treat Chuliu well in the future, or I won’t forgive you! Now get back to work!”
“Thank you, Young Master Su. Thank you, Chuliu.”
Seeing Su Biao forgive him, Su Daya quickly rose, bowed, and hurried away.
At that moment, the teacher emerged from the doorway.
Several children peered from behind the door; Chuliu recognized a few as those who’d gone bathing with Su Biao, including Su Wei.
The teacher wore a scholar’s robe, exuding a scholarly air, though his untidy beard detracted from it.
“So you’re the child who’s come to accompany Su Biao in his studies?”
The teacher did not look down on Chuliu, but regarded him with warmth and curiosity.
Chuliu nodded, bowing, “Student Xie Chuliu greets the teacher, hoping to receive your instruction.”
The teacher, seeing Chuliu’s proper manners, felt a trace of surprise and appreciation, and asked again, “How old are you? Have you begun your studies yet?”
Xie Doumiao, worried his son might answer incorrectly, interjected, “Sir, my Chuliu is six this year. He’s a clever boy, learns anything quickly… Sir, what does ‘beginning studies’ mean?”

The teacher, a bit exasperated, explained, “Simply put, ‘beginning studies’ means teaching him to read and write…”
“Sir, sending him to the school is precisely for him to learn to read and write!”
Doumiao was bewildered.
He couldn’t understand why the teacher would say such a thing.
Wasn’t this like searching for a donkey while riding one?
The teacher’s patience was wearing thin; he glared at Doumiao but had to explain further.
“Ordinary families start by teaching the child at home. Once he’s old enough to sit quietly and listen, then he’s sent to the private school.
Besides, the other children here have studied for a year. Your child knows nothing—if he studies with them, what will he do besides cause trouble?”
Doumiao hadn’t grasped the teacher’s meaning, but sensed he was unwilling to let Chuliu study, and protested, “Sir, my son is truly clever—he learns everything quickly. When I taught him to swim, after just a few afternoons, he could move through water like a fish…”
Doumiao repeated the same phrases over and over; the teacher grew impatient and waved him silent.
“Sir, my father agreed to let Chuliu accompany me. You can’t drive him away.”
Su Biao was unhappy, declaring firmly, “Don’t worry; whatever lessons he misses, I’ll help him catch up.”
Enough already!
You’ll tutor him? Be grateful if you can manage your own studies.
“All right, let him into the classroom—as long as he doesn’t cause trouble, it’ll be fine.”
The teacher was resigned.
He was paid by the Su family, so he had to compromise.
But he truly disliked children who hadn’t begun their studies.
During class, one would raise his hand to ask to use the latrine, another would gaze about, twisting on the bench, unable to sit still.
He’d have to spend extra energy reining them in, and when students did poorly, he’d be blamed for inadequate instruction.
Class began, and after a session, the teacher noticed that although Chuliu was the youngest, he listened most attentively, sat upright, and never caused a disturbance.
This child was truly rare.
After class, the teacher left, and the children found their friends to play.
Su Biao and Chuliu were chatting happily when suddenly a child shouted, “Help! Su Wei is dying…”