Chapter 5: The Xu Family in Qingshui Town (Revised)

Chapter 5: The Xu Family in Qingshui Town (Revised)

The Xu family valued silence during meals and quietness while sleeping. Even five-year-old Xu Zerou sat quietly in her seat, sipping the chicken soup from her bowl without a word, making the dining table exceptionally silent.

Occasionally, the only sound heard was that of chopsticks and bowls clinking together.

After dinner, Xu Zerou tugged at Xu Zeli's sleeve and pleaded, "Big Brother, Xiao Rou wants some sugar-coated haws. Could you bring me a string of them when you return from school tomorrow?"

Xu Zeli looked at the little glutton's round almond eyes and shook his head helplessly, "You little glutton, you just finished your chicken soup and already want sugar-coated haws? Don't you worry about bursting your belly?"

Xu Zerou instinctively patted her round belly and pouted, "Big Brother is mean. I said for tomorrow, not now."

Xu Zeli was about to say something more when he heard his father's warning cough behind him. He had no choice but to agree, "Alright, alright, whatever you want."

Hearing the affirmative answer, Xu Zerou skipped off to the kitchen to find her grandmother, mumbling about wanting to soak her feet before bed.

Such a little piglet, always eating and sleeping.

Xu Zeli followed Xu Songshan, thinking about this, and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Hmm? Still laughing? Have you memorized the Three-Character Classic?" Xu Songshan's voice was deep, clearly adopting the stern father role.

Xu Zeli looked at his father's slender back and muttered inwardly, "He's so kind to Xiao Rou and the youngest, but with me, it's always a stern face or a frown... truly never letting up as a strict father!"

In his youth, he had indeed been secretly angry at his father's favoritism for quite some time.

But after passing the scholar examination, he finally understood his father's intentions.

As the eldest son, his father had high expectations for him, hoping he would inherit his will to pursue the imperial exams and become like his uncle, who passed the imperial exams and could shoulder the burden of the second branch of the Xu family, rather than relying on his uncle all the time.

"Yes, I managed to memorize it," Xu Zeli replied modestly, trying to maintain the humility expected in official circles.

Upon hearing his response, Xu Songshan paused, then turned around and looked at him sternly, "Really?"

"Father, you can test me," Xu Zeli responded calmly, his eyes clear.

A hint of a smile flashed across Xu Songshan's face, and his voice rose a few octaves, "Good, once we get to the study, I'll test you. We'll see if you're a horse or a donkey!"

His joyful tone was hard to conceal.

At the study door, Xu Songshan asked Xu Zeli to wait outside while he lit the oil lamp inside. Then he called Xu Zeli in.

Xu Zeli knew the layout of the study well and wanted to light the lamp himself, but his father refused.

Xu Songshan sat behind the desk, suppressing his joy, "Let's start simple. Begin by reciting the opening lines of the Three-Character Classic."

"Man's nature is good. Similar at birth, yet different through nurture..."

Since Xu Zeli dared to claim he had memorized it, he wasn't bluffing. In no time, he recited the entire text fluently.

"Good, now recite from 'In ancient times, Mencius' mother chose neighbors carefully' until 'The three elements are heaven, earth, and man.'"

Xu Zeli was prepared for this and began reciting after a moment's thought.

Father and son spent an hour in the study, going over the Three-Character Classic repeatedly, even explaining each word, without missing a single detail.

It wasn't until the beginning of the tenth hour that Xu Songshan reluctantly ended the session.

If only his eldest could be this diligent every day, he would smile even in his sleep.

"Father, I want to transfer to a private school!"

Sure enough, Xu Songshan's joy didn't last long as his eldest started causing trouble again.

His eldest was always jumping around and leading groups; he wasn't worried about him being bullied... this troublemaker was more likely to bully others.

"Did you cause trouble at school again? Did the teacher refuse to have you anymore?" It wasn't unreasonable for Xu Songshan to think this way. The first time they changed schools was because Xu Zeli wouldn't listen to the teacher, talking during class and folding paper cranes, getting hit with the ruler countless times without changing.

The teacher eventually gave up and asked him to withdraw.

At that time, he was barely six years old and had just started schooling.

Xu Songshan blamed it on his young age and inability to control himself. After half a month, he transferred him to the strict Wanlin Private School.

Xu Zeli behaved for a while there, but within half a year, he reverted to his old ways, climbing trees and catching birds, even teaching other children to do the same. One rainy day, a weak child fell from a tree and broke his arm.

They paid medical fees and were expelled again.

Three months later, Xu Songshan sought help from his uncle, who used his connections to get him into Changhai Private School.

If not for the fact that the teacher at Changhai Private School was his uncle's fellow scholar, they wouldn't have accepted him, given the reputation of the second branch's eldest son in Qingshui Town.

Xu Zeli stood respectfully before his father and stated, "No, it's not that. I admire Mr. Guangming from Qinghai Academy and hope to receive his guidance!"

Xu Songshan looked at his eldest son's hopeful face, almost losing his breath. It wasn't that Mr. Guangming was bad, but he was too good!

Mr. Guangming, Liu Huaizhi, was the first person in the Great Jing Dynasty to achieve a six-fold success in the imperial exams. He served as a scholar-official until he retired early due to the corruption in court.

Because Mr. Guangming never married and disliked trivial matters, he moved away from his hometown to the obscure Qingshui Town and opened a small private school.

If not for his uncle being well-informed, Xu Songshan wouldn't have known these secrets.

Xu Songshan took a deep breath and slowly sat down, "Let me think about this."

Xu Zeli blinked his eyes. "Father, do you think I am not worthy of Mr. Guangming's guidance?"

If only you had this kind of self-awareness.

Xu Songshan took a deep breath and spoke gently, "Zeli, Mr. Guangming's conditions for accepting disciples are strict. Father thinks that Mr. Ouyang at Changhai Private School is also very good. How about you continue studying with Mr. Ouyang for a while longer?"