Once the Deity spoke, Madam Bai naturally set aside her intention to lecture her son, and withheld the hard pinch she had prepared.
Unable to help herself, she stepped away from her position as an elder and beca a naive knowledge-seeker instead. “Son,” she said, “you spoke of water turning into clouds. As your mother, I pondered it carefully and found it makes sense. When we boil water, doesn’t it turn into that white vapor? That vapor rises and becos clouds, right? But… how do we explain the Deity’s clouds?”
Young Master Bai proudly replied. “No explanation needed. The Deity’s clouds are clouds manifested by gods and immortals. They cannot be explained by Physics. Whereas ordinary clouds are ford from evaporated water vapor and can be explained by Physics. It’s that simple.”
Madam Bai finally understood. “Ah, so that’s how it is! My son truly is clever! Ah, my son has grown up! As your mother, I cannot match you anymore.”
As she spoke, Madam Bai bead with joy. Unlike Bai Yuan, she wasn’t worried about being surpassed by her son; in fact, she yearned for it to happen sooner. After all, as a woman from the old society burdened by the strong limitations of her era, she believed in the adage that “a woman’s virtue lies in lacking talent,” but felt a son must possess talent to inherit the Bai family legacy. Therefore, her son should, or rather must, surpass her.
And the sooner that day ca, the better.
Li Daoxuan too felt highly satisfied with Young Master Bai’s growth.
The new generation of Gaojia Village was thriving robustly. By the ti Young Master Bai and his peers ca of age, significant changes would surely erge.
By then, everyone would understand the causes of various natural phenona; they’d grasp light refraction, the action of forces, weight, mass, and a whole bunch of other concepts—seemingly miraculous to ancient people, yet re common knowledge to modern folk.
He hoped that day wouldn’t be too distant.
At this mont, Gao Yiye returned from the bookstore and thump-thump-thumped her way towards the watchtower, eager to urgently sketch the third installnt of Dao Xuan Deity’s Demon Elimination Tale.
Li Daoxuan called out to her. “Yiye, go to Young Master Bai. I have an announcent to make.”
Gao Yiye hurried over to serve as the relay.
“Young Master Bai, would you be willing to serve as the ‘Physics Representative’?”
As expected, Young Master Bai’s spirit soared with the question. “Willing! In fact… I had also wished to ask the Deity to appoint as Physics Representative. I love Physics far more than Math!”
Li Daoxuan conveyed, “But you already serve as the Math Representative. Shouldering both roles—learning Physics yourself while also teaching other children Physics, on top of your Math duties… I doubt you’d have enough ti.”
Young Master Bai fell silent. “That…”
It was indeed a concrete challenge.
Though undoubtedly gifted, he had recently begun feeling the strain.
Gaojia Village no longer had just a few dozen students. With the arrival of refugees from Qingjian County, the student body had surged instantly to over four hundred, dispersed across ten classrooms.
Juggling self-learning Math, teaching Math in ten different classrooms, and starting a new self-learning subject—Physics—had beco a mountain of pressure for this thirteen-year-old boy.
Li Daoxuan shifted his attention to Third Miss standing behind them. “Third Miss, how is your Math progressing?”
“I’ve reached… the first volu of Junior High Year One Level,” Third Miss answered timidly.
“Would you be willing to take on the role of Math Representative from now on, teaching Math class on my behalf?”
Third Miss flinched at the question, nearly hiding behind Gao Yiye. But as Gao Yiye was facing her directly representing the Deity, letting her hide was impossible.
Gao Yiye reached out, pulling Third Miss forward. “The Deity is speaking to you. Don’t cower. Stand straight; your attitude isn’t proper at all!”
This frightened Third Miss even more. Hunched over, she shyly confessed, “I… I don’t an to show disrespectful attitude… It’s just… I feel a little scared…”
Perfectly normal for a girl who had just turned twelve; stage fright was understandable.
Li Daoxuan held no bla. “But beyond you, there really isn’t a more suitable candidate.”
“Huh?” Third Miss thought carefully. It seed true. In Gaojia Village, only she and Young Master Bai had advanced their Math studies fastest, reaching the Junior High Year One level. The children of other villagers, handicapped by their family backgrounds and struggling with independent comprehension and learning abilities, mostly remained stuck at the third grade level in Elentary Math.
Third Miss hesitated, “But I… I am a young lady… Young ladies shouldn’t…”
“Nonsense!” Li Daoxuan countered. “Why can’t a young lady? Won also hold up half the sky! If you dare to try and are willing, I will appoint you as Math Representative. And if anyone counters you, I’ll personally talk to them.”
Who would dare argue with you? You’re a deity!
Third Miss felt the powerful weight of heavenly backing radiating behind her.
Her heart thumped-thumped-thumped. Of course she was willing! Though deeply influenced by Neo-Confucianism doctrines since childhood and twisted by notions of feminine virtue, she was still just a child—unlike fully shaped, bowed adult won weighed by oppression.
She still possessed the courage to break traditions, to shatter constraints.
Third Miss considered it seriously. Raising her small face, a trace of resolve appeared on the rosy cheeks of this twelve-year-old girl. “Deity… I… I am willing to be the Math Representative… Please let serve.”
“Well done!” Li Daoxuan revealed a gratified smile. “Well done! Excellent! In that case, I’ll have Gao Yiye notify Mr. Wang shortly. The class schedule can be revised henceforth: you will teach the other children Math. Young Master Bai can imrse himself in studying Physics for a while. As soon as other children complete Elentary Math, we will imdiately comnce Physics classes taught by Young Master Bai.”
Young Master Bai and Third Miss bowed together. “We respectfully heed the Decree of the Deity!”
Li Daoxuan felt a swell of profound satisfaction within. This marked a significant step forward.
With arrangents set for the ti being, it was ti to edit the video.
Li Daoxuan took out the footage previously fild—”All the Villagers Collaborating to Hand-Pull Noodles.” He began trimming.
He pared down the process of each household making a single noodle strand, culminating in the rging of them all into one large bowl of hand-pulled noodles, crafting a concise, minute-long short video.
He added an equally bad description as usual: “Harvest ti! The folks of Tiny Kingdom prepare their hotown specialty—hand-pulled noodles…”
Seriously, I should have studied harder back in my school days… Ah, at this thought, he shot a deep glance at the Thirty-Two Middle School reflected inside the box.
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