Chapter 455: Chapter 314 Unknown Examination, Guarding Vigilantly Chapter 455: Chapter 314 Unknown Examination, Guarding Vigilantly Zhao Rong actually disagreed with Gu Yiwu’s comnts about others’ teaching thods.
However, given that he now was on the sa front with Gu Yiwu, he couldn’t very well drag his feet.
So he got roped in again.
As a result…
Right now, in the pavilion above the waterside.
Montarily, there was so silence among the three n, an elderly and two youths.
Apart from the muffled sound of a distant bell.
The air inside the pavilion, like the surface of the water where ng, the Sacrificial Officer’s fishing hook lay, was still and undisturbed.
The elderly ng remained seated with composure, his fishing rod motionless in his hand.
Even after he had just freed one hand briefly to give a minor lesson to the two beside him, who had eagerly rushed over to report their daughter’s status and also to complain that he hadn’t taught his students properly.
The postures of Zhao Rong and Gu Yiwu were sowhat unique at the mont.
The two squatted to the left and right of the old Sacrificial Officer ng, leaning backward with their upper bodies, propping themselves up with both hands on the cold ground.
Completely devoid of dignity.
If ng Zhengjun saw them, he would surely chastise them for their improper behavior, lacking decorum.
This was the very sort of overly formalized minor courtesy that Zhao Rong had always subtly opposed.
At this mont, Gu Yiwu’s heart, just like the cold sensation from the ground through his hands, was chilled to the bone.
He stared at the fishing elder who had seed so easy to talk to and amiable just a mont ago.
Zhao Rong rubbed the back of his head.
He didn’t even see how the old man had made his move.
Definitely an expert, confird.
Zhao Rong nodded decisively.
But now was certainly not the ti for such reflections, as Gu Yiwu was making aningful eye contact with him.
The two exchanged a glance.
Conveying ssages with their eyes, no, more like communicating.
Zhao Rong frowned, “The Sacrificial Officer’s surna is ng too? Why didn’t you tell sooner.”
Gu Yiwu glared, “How the hell would I know that they father and daughter run this academy? Usually, no one dares to call out the nas of the elder generations in such institutes, so it’s normal not to know.”
Zhao Rong’s frown relaxed and then tightened again, “So what do we do now? I’m practically dying of awkwardness here.”
Gu Yiwu closed his eyes, “Alas, guess we just wait for death.”
Zhao Rong: “…”
However, before the two could decide whether to flee or surrender,
The elder ng, who was facing away from them, had already spoken softly.
“Stand up, both of you. The ground is cold.”
Zhao Rong coughed, forgoing any attention to the pretentious Gu Yiwu and squatting down again beside the old Sacrificial Officer ng.
The latter smiled and asked, “Did you guess it?”
Zhao Rong clapped his hands and looked down, speaking reservedly, “I had such a thought, it’s just… highly unlikely.”
The old Sacrificial Officer ng looked at the motionless bait with a serene expression, “Little ng and I indeed don’t resemble each other, but who says that a daughter must resemble her father?”
Zhao Rong nodded, “That makes sense.”
ng, the Sacrificial Officer, got sowhat philosophical, wrinkles knitting on his face as he said with a beaming smile:
“I think it’s good as it is now. The younger generations each have their destiny. Why should they have to follow in the footsteps of their elders, tread the sa path?”
The elder paused, then out of the blue added,
“Hmm, like Teacher Zhu in your academy. I do like the girl’s character, what she’s doing now with teaching, writing, and cultivating orchids is quite good. There’s just one old fellow…”
ng, the Sacrificial Officer, shook his head.
Zhao Rong did not inquire further.
He looked down at his hands and let out a light sigh, “Good? It’s just that the generations to follow will have it hard.” In the eyes of the elderly man before him, ng Zhengjun was a generation younger, and Zhao Rong was yet another generation further.
ng, the Sacrificial Officer, chided him with a chuckle, “You young fellow, can’t even handle this much; how could I ever think of you as a pillar of the academy? For young people, encountering different situations and having a match is quite interesting, isn’t it?”
Zhao Rong leaned back slightly, “A pillar of the academy? I’m about to be split in half and used as kindling.”
He shook his head, “Not interesting, not at all.”
ng, the Sacrificial Officer grew quiet.
Zhao Rong blinked.
ng, the Sacrificial Officer suddenly said:
“Although the academy rules state that anyone who commits an offense three tis shall be expelled, there’s also an additional rule that any expulsion of a Mochi Academy student must be approved by myself, the Sacrificial Officer.”
He reflected for a mont, “Co to think of it, I haven’t expelled a single Mochi Academy student during my tenure.”
Zhao Rong matched his expression and tone, and offered flattery, “The elderly Teacher is so noble and sympathetic toward the students…”
“Usually, it’s them who take the initiative to drop out,” said ng, the Sacrificial Officer, interrupting.
Zhao Rong took a breath, bowed, and sincerely admired, “Gracious.”
ng, the Sacrificial Officer stroked his beard and chuckled like a child.
He seed quite pleased with this track record.
Zhao Rong’s face twitched, and then he couldn’t help but chuckle.
Gu Yiwu, observing the interaction between the old and the young with a quiet yet keen interest, rubbed the back of his head and laughed along.
Then, ng, the Sacrificial Officer turned to the two with a rare seriousness in his voice.
“In our teachings, ‘education is without class distinction’ might be viewed as empty words by so. How other academies, other Confucian scholars behave, I do not know, nor do I care; that’s for the Confucian Temple to handle. But here, in this Mochi Academy, in this Linlu Academy, it is a principle as important as the teachings of the Supre Sage himself.”
This angler enunciated each word deliberately.
“How does it matter whether one is a poor son-in-law or a noble’s son? Once in Mochi Academy, all sit on the sa mat, at the sa table – whose higher or lower, that’s based on their own ability. And as a Teacher and a Sacrificial Officer, I treat my students the sa way.”
Zhao Rong and Gu Yiwu, hearing this, exchanged a smile and nodded in agreent, unfazed.
Yet the next second, the impassioned and lofty expression on the face of ng, the Sacrificial Officer, could not be maintained.
He coughed softly.
“Ziyu, um, although that’s the case, if you ever argue with her, unless it’s a critical mont, let’s not rush to bring into it, cough cough. You see, trump cards should generally be played at the very last mont; don’t always have it on your lips, alright?”
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