From the outside, the academy looked like an ordinary large residence. Only after entering did they realize just how enormous it actually was.
After passing several classrooms in the front, the guard led them to a side hall.
“Please sit here and wait for a moment. I’ll go find the teacher.”
Luo Mingchen responded, “Alright.”
Huo Yan set the basket on the table. Seeing the nervous expressions on the two children’s faces, he said, “Whatever the teacher asks, just answer honestly.”
Huo Yuhui took a deep breath and nodded firmly.
“Mm!”
Luo Mingchen didn’t know much about how schooling worked in this world. Where he came from, there was nine years of compulsory education. Whether students were outstanding or not didn’t really matter. As long as they behaved and their families paid the necessary fees, there generally weren’t any problems.
Because of that, Luo Mingchen had assumed that attending school here would be simple and stress-free.
After all, Huo Yuhui and Huo Xiang weren’t troublesome children. They were obedient enough, and they could afford the tuition. He couldn’t think of any reason a teacher would refuse to accept them.
“Don’t worry. The teacher will definitely accept you.”
Luo Mingchen’s words were like a reassurance pill to Huo Yuhui.
“Okay.”
After waiting for quite a while, a middle-aged man walked in. He wore a dark cyan long robe, had a short beard, and carried an elegant scholarly air.
When he approached, Luo Mingchen and Huo Yan stood up.
“Teacher.”
Seeing Huo Yan bow, Luo Mingchen quickly copied him and bowed as well. The three children followed suit. Only Huo Xinyue wasn’t very steady and nearly fell over.
Huo Yuhui reacted quickly and grabbed the back of his little sister’s collar.
Huo Xinyue had no idea what had happened and simply smiled at him.
The teacher nodded slightly.
“Please, have a seat.”
As he spoke, he sat down in a chair.
“I’ve already heard the situation from the guard. These are the two children who wish to enroll, correct?”
Luo Mingchen sat to one side with Huo Xinyue in his arms and nodded.
“Yes, it’s them. Xiaohui, Xiaoxiang, go introduce yourselves to the teacher.”
They had practiced this at home beforehand.
Huo Yuhui led his younger brother forward and bowed again.
“Teacher, my name is Huo Yuhui. I am eleven years old this year.”
Huo Xiang was a bit more timid, but with his family present, he wasn’t too afraid. He bowed after his brother.
“Teacher, my name is Huo Xiang. I am eight years old this year.”
The teacher was somewhat surprised that the children were introducing themselves instead of having their parents do it. Looking at Luo Mingchen and Huo Yan, he pursed his lips slightly before asking,
“Has their mother passed away?”
Although he did not discriminate against contract brothers, he had seen some who deliberately married women to continue their bloodline and then abandoned those women after they had children.
He absolutely could not accept children from families with such poor character.
Huo Yuhui answered honestly,
“Replying to Teacher, our mother died from complications during childbirth when she gave birth to our little sister.”
“Oh? Then did your father marry your current Little Daddy afterward?”
Having grown up through hardship, Huo Yuhui was better at reading people’s expressions than Huo Xiang. Noticing that something seemed off in the teacher’s tone and expression, he thought for a moment before replying,
“Teacher, Father is our adoptive father and also our mother’s cousin. After Mother passed away, Father took us away from our original family. Later, in order to take care of us, he married Little Daddy.”
The teacher’s expression toward Huo Yan and Luo Mingchen changed instantly, carrying a trace of admiration.
“In that case, what books have you studied before?”
So that meant they had passed the family background inspection?
Luo Mingchen had actually thought the teacher was prejudiced against contract brothers.
Huo Yuhui answered,
“I’ve only studied parts of the Three Character Classic.”
“Can you recite it?”
“I have recited it before. If there are any mistakes, please correct me, Teacher.”
Then Huo Yuhui began reciting.
“At the beginning of man’s life, his nature is inherently good…”
Hearing that, Luo Mingchen was somewhat shocked.
This strange dynasty actually had books he was familiar with…
It seemed he really needed to visit a bookstore and look through some historical records about this era.
Huo Yan noticed Luo Mingchen’s constantly changing expression but had no idea what he was thinking.
Huo Yuhui recited the entire text from beginning to end without any difficulty.
Huo Xiang wasn’t nearly as fluent, but he still managed to stumble through and finish it.
The teacher looked pleasantly surprised.
“Can you write your own names?”
“Yes, though they aren’t written very well.”
Huo Yuhui was telling the truth.
When the teacher brought over paper and brush, he wrote his name on the paper in crooked, uneven strokes.
Huo Xiang’s handwriting was even worse, but he could write as well.
The teacher remained fairly satisfied.
“You are still young. Your handwriting will improve with practice. Tomorrow, prepare your books, brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Pay two taels of silver each for tuition, and you may officially enroll.”
Hearing that, Huo Yuhui could hardly contain his excitement.
“Thank you, Teacher!”
Huo Xiang was equally happy and followed with,
“Thank you, Teacher.”
Only by studying hard could they make something of themselves.
Only then would they no longer be bullied.
Those were words Huo Yuhui had repeated to him since childhood. Therefore, whenever Huo Yuhui learned something new, he always did his best to teach him as well.
After Huo Yan paid the tuition for both children, Luo Mingchen picked up the basket of fruits and vegetables from the table and handed it to the teacher.
“These are homegrown. Please don’t mind them.”
Not seeing any red envelope hidden among the gifts, the teacher’s expression softened considerably.
“No matter whose child it is, once tuition is paid, they are all my students. I teach them equally. Whether they become successful depends on whether they are willing to learn. As long as they are willing, teaching, guiding, and resolving doubts is my responsibility as a teacher.
“I normally do not accept gifts. However, these fruits and vegetables are quite good. Since you’ve already brought them, I will buy them for ten copper coins. In the future, please don’t bring such things again.”
With that, the teacher took out ten copper coins and handed them to Luo Mingchen before accepting the basket.
Luo Mingchen hadn’t expected the teacher to be such a principled person.
“Understood, Teacher. We won’t do it again.”
The teacher wrote two receipts acknowledging the tuition payment and also listed several books they needed to purchase.
Holding the receipts, Luo Mingchen left Baiye Academy with Huo Yan and the three children.
“So, shall we go buy the books now?”
Huo Yan replied, “Among the books I brought back yesterday, there are already copies of the Analects and The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art. We only need to buy one additional set.”
Luo Mingchen nodded.
“Alright.”
The bookstore was not far from the academy. After leaving and turning a corner, they arrived.
While Huo Yan selected books, Luo Mingchen wandered elsewhere and found a history section.
As he was reading, a man with slanted eyes said impatiently,
“Move aside.”
Luo Mingchen looked up. There was clearly a much wider path in front of the man.
“You’re not fat, are you? You can’t get through a space that wide?”
The man rolled his eyes.
“Regardless of my size, your presence here is an obstruction.”
Luo Mingchen would rather eat food than suffer losses.
“I’m not even holding some rare out-of-print book. How am I an obstruction?”
“You, a peasant’s son—have you even studied or learned to read? Who would want a book that’s been handled by you?”
“How I am is none of your business. I didn’t force you to buy this book. The bookstore owner hasn’t said a word, yet you’re barking here like a mad dog, worrying about things that don’t concern you.
“And what’s wrong with being a peasant’s son? If you look down on farmers so much, then stop eating food. Go back ten generations and your family was digging in the dirt too. Who exactly is more noble than whom?”
The man’s face darkened from embarrassment at Luo Mingchen’s words. When his companions turned to look over, he felt even more humiliated.
“You can’t even read, yet you come to a bookstore and flip through books. How ridiculous!”
“That’s right, I’m ridiculous. Then you’ve studied for so many years and still haven’t earned a single scholarly title. Doesn’t that make you even more ridiculous?”
“You—!”
Unable to win the argument, the man moved to attack.
At that moment, Huo Yan, who had been preparing to pay for the books, heard the commotion and immediately came over, positioning himself in front of Luo Mingchen.