Chapter 78

Chapter 78

Although Han Zhang was a top student and couldn't relate to Shen Huaizhi's academic struggles.

However, he was quite experienced when it came to teaching struggling students.

After all, back when he was studying, he had worked as a tutor to earn living expenses, and he had encountered quite a few struggling students who had caused him no shortage of headaches.

So when he saw his brother-in-law crying over a book.

Han Zhang still patiently comforted him, offering affirmation and encouragement.

"Second Brother, don't worry. Trust me, if you can't learn it, it's definitely not your fault. Second Brother is very smart—it's just that your method isn't right."

"These next few days, Second Brother should rest well. Once I tailor a suitable study plan for you, you'll get twice the results with half the effort, and you'll astonish everyone."

Han Zhang's expression was sincere, his tone earnest.

If he hadn't just tried to memorize the material again with the same poor results, Shen Huaizhi would have fallen for his smooth talk again and gotten all puffed up thinking he was a genius.

Madam Shen and Shen Qinglan, listening nearby, also felt a bit guilty—their son (and brother) really was hopeless when it came to studying...

But seeing how much faith Han Zhang had in him, Shen Huaizhi was still touched.

So.

So as not to let that trust down, he could only nod reluctantly again: "Alright, Brother Han, I'll listen to you!"

But if he gave it his all and still couldn't do it, that really wasn't on him.

He had truly given it his all.

Anyway, Shen Huaizhi still didn't have much confidence in himself.

After he slunk back to his own courtyard,

Madam Shen turned to Han Zhang, unable to keep herself from asking hopefully: "Little Zhang, do you really have a way to help Huaizhi pass the imperial examinations?"

Shen Qinglan was also watching eagerly from the side.

After all, in this era where only scholarship was held in high regard, the social hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants meant the difference between holding an official rank and not was like night and day.

Merchants were ultimately looked down upon as the lowest class. Madam Shen didn't say it aloud, but she secretly worried that if she died early and her second son was separated from the main household, what would happen if he ended up as a mere merchant?

Then her second son couldn't even support himself—who would her Lan Geer have to lean on from her own family?

So in the end, the second son had to get himself established.

How could Han Zhang not have guessed what was on Madam Shen's mind?

He poured Madam Shen another cup of tea and reassured her in the most steadfast tone:

"Mother, I know Second Brother's track record makes it hard for you to relax, but I'm absolutely not making empty promises. Second Brother is truly very smart and very outstanding—he just hasn't applied himself to his studies. Trust me."

No matter how much of it was exaggerated, for a parent, this was the best comfort medicine.

Madam Shen felt completely soothed, her eyes and brows brimming with joy as she covered her mouth and laughed:

"That boy Huaizhi does have a bit of cleverness, but how could he be called 'outstanding'? It's just that you're the only one willing to think so highly of him."

"Mother, I'm speaking from the heart. Second Brother is truly a genius—it's just that you and Father refuse to believe it."

A helpless smile once again crept onto Han Zhang's face.

His tone and expression made it seem as if Shen Huaizhi really was a genius the world had done wrong.

It made Madam Shen grin so wide her face lit up like a blooming flower, playfully chiding him: "Oh, you..."

Ah, no wonder her Lan Geer was so taken with Little Zhang.

Little Zhang wasn't just handsome and well-read—he was sincere, considerate, and had a silver tongue.

If she were twenty years younger, she'd be chasing after Little Zhang herself!

Shen Father, who had been eavesdropping from behind the wall, was lost in thought: "..."

Could it be that his second son really was a genius?

...

Since he'd already said it, Han Zhang wasn't about to ruin his own reputation.

He'd had a plan for Shen Huaizhi's education for a while—saying they'd wait a few days was just to make some final preparations.

Once everything was ready, Han Zhang would hurry over to the Shen residence every day after classes let out to give his brother-in-law private lessons.

And Shen Qinglan could use this excuse to openly visit his family home during the day, then head home hand in hand with his husband after the evening lessons wrapped up.

Madam Shen was absolutely overjoyed at this arrangement!

In private, she couldn't help happily telling her trusted old maid: "I originally thought Little Zhang was already more understanding than anyone could ask for, but I never expected him to go this far!"

"What married young man gets to run back to his own family's home every day? It's our Lan'er who's the blessed one—and his judgment is better than mine, his own mother. Think about the vows your master made when he married me—none of them were kept after the wedding! The master can't hold a candle to Little Zhang..."

As she spoke, Madam Shen grew indignant again and launched into her daily litany of complaints about Shen Father.

Shen Qinglan was also thrilled to return to his family home every day, equally proud of his judgment, and bragged to his four personal attendants in private, once again praising the fortune-teller who had read his fate back then.

"That master is truly a man of great foresight. They say the fortunate never end up in a family without fortune—a lucky young man like me can always turn bad luck around!"

"Everyone mocked me when I called off that engagement, and they laughed at me for picking my husband too. Now they can see who had the better eye, right? Which husband lets his wife live as freely as I do after marriage?"

"Not only can I go back to my family's home every day, I can even go out and have fun whenever I want. My husband said I'm a bird meant to soar the skies, not to be trapped in a four-walled courtyard—he loves seeing me wild and free."

With that, he looked expectantly at Qiao Dong and the other three, waiting for his little minions to shower him with praise.

The four: ...

What else could the four of them do? Naturally, they had to play along with their master.

"Young Master is absolutely right! There's no better man in this world than the young master's husband. But we think the reason the young master's husband is so considerate and lenient is ultimately because he adores you so much..."

That hit Shen Qinglan right where it counted.

Shen Qinglan loved splashing money around when he was happy, and immediately waved his hand with a grand flourish: "You've all been on your best behavior lately—everyone's wages double this month!"

The maids and servants cheered: "Thank you, Young Master! You're so kind and handsome—no wonder the young master's husband is so head over heels for you!"

Who was it who said their young master had a bad temper, was spoiled, and impossible to please?

Their young master is perfectly fine!

It's just that he likes hearing nice words, right? They can do that, no problem at all.

Madam Shen and her son Shen Qinglan were over the moon.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Shen Huaizhi, who was forced to study, was having a rough time.

Knowing his brother-in-law really had no talent for studying, Han Zhang didn't have any hopes of turning him into a scholar. Instead, he used a modern teaching method, focusing purely on test prep!

What's the secret to acing exams?

Just two words: do practice problems.

If you can survive it, keep doing them until you drop.

Han Zhang had Shen Fu go to the Imperial Academy to gather all the past exam papers, big and small, and put together a set of "Mock Exam Questions" as extra study material.

This was way easier than studying the Four Books and Five Classics in depth.

Shen Huaizhi found it pretty easy and listened carefully, but after two days of study—

Han Zhang was dumbfounded to find: "You can remember exactly how many things you have in your storeroom and where each one is, without a single mistake, but you can't remember two lines of a poem, a short essay, or even a few words?"

Was this guy doing this on purpose?

Shen Huaizhi whined: "...I don't know, I just can't remember."

Han Zhang didn't buy it and decided to test him.

And then...

Han Zhang realized this guy really wasn't doing it on purpose.

Maybe this was what they called the "bad student" trait: selective memory loss.

What was he supposed to do?

Han Zhang didn't want to ruin his reputation, so he had to figure out a way to fix this.

On one hand, he dug up memory tricks from his past life—memory palaces, chain memory, story memory—to help Shen Huaizhi improve his memory.

On the other hand, he secretly used his Power to check Shen Huaizhi's brain for any problems.

In the end, working on both fronts, he even gave up the time he used to take care of his own health, leaving his handsome face looking tired, until he finally managed to improve Shen Huaizhi's memory a bit.

Not knowing about Han Zhang's efforts behind the scenes, Shen Huaizhi later gloated with self-satisfaction:

"Ah, Brother Han, you were right! I really am cut out for this—I just wasn't trying before. Now that I'm working hard, those poems and essays just come to me on their own. I'm really something!"

Han Zhang, with dark circles under his eyes, gave a dry laugh: "...Then Second Brother, you'd better keep it up."

"Mm, Brother Han, rest assured, I'll work hard."

Shen Huaizhi said with great confidence.

And then, as it turned out, this guy also had ADHD!

He couldn't focus for three minutes before his mind started wandering.

One minute: "Brother Han, my stomach hurts, I need to go to the bathroom."

The next: "Brother Han, I'm hungry, let me have a snack first."

Then: "Brother Han, your flower shop's management should be changed to..."

"Brother Han, Brother Han..."

In short, he'd do anything except study.

Han Zhang: This brother-in-law was definitely the worst student he'd ever taught!

Having reached his limit, Han Zhang couldn't hold back any longer. In the dead of night, he snuck out, threw a sack over the guy, and gave him a beating.

Let this fool show off! Brag! Slack off! Waste all his hard work!

He decided that after teaching Shen Huaizhi, he was done.

If Han Zhang ever took on another disciple again, he'd be a pig!