"Mr. Liu, here is the tuition fee from my brother and ."
Zhong Lin respectfully greeted Mr. Liu while holding Little Stone's hand.
The purpose of earning money is to learn to read, and learning to read is for practicing martial arts. The order must not be changed. So, after having breakfast early this morning, the two went to Mr. Liu's place in the south of the city to learn to read.
Mr. Liu is a middle-aged man in his forties, with a thin figure, an angular face, and a ticulously grood beard on his chin. Dressed in a blue long robe, he exudes an air of scholarly elegance that commands respect.
Mr. Liu glanced at the silver and pork placed on the table and nodded, saying, "It's admirable for soone of your age to have such a passion for the way of the sages. Did you bring pen, ink, paper, and inkstone?"
"Yes, we did."
"Very well, take a seat!"
"Yes, sir."
Zhong Lin led Little Stone into the classroom and sat at the desk at the back of the room.
This classroom was converted from Mr. Liu's ho. The desks and chairs were arranged neatly, fitting only eighteen people at most when fully occupied.
As soon as Zhong Lin and his brother entered, they imdiately drew the attention of everyone in the room, accompanied by a series of giggles.
Most of those learning to read were young children, the oldest being no more than eight or nine years old. It was unusual for soone like Zhong Lin, already fifteen or sixteen, to join a basic literacy class for children.
"Ahem!"
A light cough sounded, causing the little kids in the classroom to sit up straight and focus their eyes forward.
"Now, let's start reciting. I'll read a sentence, and then you repeat it."
"Yes, sir."
"The celestial stars, sun, and moon traverse the heavens rapidly..."
"The celestial stars, sun, and moon..."
Mr. Liu's teaching thod was straightforward: first, morize, then teach how to write, and finally explain the aning of each character.
In simple terms, it was rote morization.
For the young children, it was extrely painful, but for Zhong Lin, it was a source of joy. What he lacked was systematic learning of the characters of this world.
In the morning, they learned ten characters and then began writing them stroke by stroke.
"System."
A flash of light, and a semitransparent system panel appeared before his eyes.
Host: Zhong Lin
Skills: Bow Technique (Full Level), Flying Locust Stone (Full Level), 3D Art (Full Level), Calligraphy (Beginner)
Skill Points: ∞
Seeing the word "Calligraphy" appear on the system panel, Zhong Lin did not know whether to laugh or cry.
"I haven't even learned all the characters yet, and I already have calligraphy. No, this won't do. I need to pay extra in the afternoon to see if Mr. Liu can give so special lessons."
In thought, he casually maxed out the calligraphy skill. As his consciousness trembled, countless mories surged in, and now when looking at the book in his hand, even though he still didn't recognize the characters, Zhong Lin knew how to write them elegantly and beautifully.
At midday, as Mr. Liu dismissed the class, all the students rushed out like unleashed wild dogs.
Zhong Lin also bowed and took Little Stone with him as they returned to Sweet Water Alley.
Passing by East Market, they bought an old goose, intending to make a stew at ho.
Recently, Zhong Lin and his brother have had a steady supply of rich food, and they finally started gaining weight, no longer as skinny as bamboo poles.
Just as they entered Sweet Water Alley, they encountered a neighbor fetching water. Thanks to Little Stone, everyone in the alley now knew the two brothers.
"Big Lin, what were you up to all morning? The governnt office people ca and left a ssage for you to go to the office in the afternoon."
Zhong Lin feigned confusion and asked, "Aunt Jiang, what happened? I went to Mr. Liu's house with Little Stone to pay the tuition this morning. Why would the governnt office be looking for ?"
"Oh, don't worry, it's just routine questioning. Soone died last night, reportedly three people at once. Not only did they rob, but they also assaulted soone. They even did it in front of the woman's husband, truly despicable."
Aunt Jiang, in her forties, lived next door to Zhong Lin. She spoke freely and even described to Zhong Lin how Qin Yong's wife was killed lying on the table, and her chest was bitten, with her lower body also violated...
The description was so vivid that Zhong Lin was stunned, even suspecting that after he left yesterday, another thief crept in.
Zhong Lin: "..."
"Aunt Jiang, have they found the murderer?"
"Not a trace. It rained so heavily last night. Who knows where that scoundrel ran off to? A rain like that washed away all the footprints. Otherwise, the governnt wouldn't be conducting routine inquiries here. You should find so ti to visit them this afternoon. I'll tell them you were out buying things." Aunt Jiang said.
"Thank you, Aunt Jiang."
"Big Lin, have you thought about the matter I asked you the day before? My sister-in-law's neighbor's daughter is really nice, well-endowed, and would surely be fertile. She doesn't mind that you two brothers don't have parents..."
"Uh, Aunt Jiang, I just rembered, I haven't collected my clothes from the line yet. Let's talk next ti, next ti."
With that, he dragged Little Stone to his ho in a hurry, peeking back like a thief to ensure Aunt Jiang wasn't following.
"Big brother, I think Aunt Jiang's suggestion isn't bad. Why not agree?"
Little Stone said with a cheeky smile.
Thud!
Zhong Lin lightly knocked Little Stone on the head: "Dare to laugh at your brother? Go write each character given by Mr. Liu ten tis."
"Okay!"
After lunch, Zhong Lin calmly walked towards the governnt office.
As Aunt Jiang ntioned, the heavy rain last night washed away all traces. With ancient forensic thods, identifying him among all the residents of Black Mountain County would be as hard as ascending to heaven. So what is there to fear?
"What business do you have?"
Zhong Lin stepped forward and saluted, saying, "Officer, I'm a resident of Sweet Water Alley nad Zhong Lin. I was coincidentally not ho when the officers ca to inquire earlier. I'm here to report now."
The young governnt official gave Zhong Lin a once-over and waved him inside. "Turn left inside, and don't wander about."
"Understood."
Zhong Lin saluted again, entered through a side door, and followed the path paved with blue bricks to the spot indicated by the governnt official. There, a few dozen people were already waiting.
Zhong Lin quietly joined the end of the line, listening to the questions coming from inside. They were simply inquiring whether anyone went out or saw strangers last night—just so routine questions. After answering, a checkmark was made on the record, and the person was waved out.
Zhong Lin breathed a sigh of relief, not speaking to anyone, staying at the back of the line quietly waiting.
After about an hour, it was finally Zhong Lin's turn, and he stepped inside.
Inside, there were three governnt officials. The one asking questions was a middle-aged man, with a bored-looking young man sitting beside him and an elderly person taking notes.
"Were you the one who committed last night's murders?"
As Zhong Lin stepped into the room, the middle-aged official, with unrelenting bluntness, posed the startling question.
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