How could such a tiny child understand anything? What qualifications did he have to become Scholar Feng’s disciple?
The crowd grew restless, with no one convinced. The other three disciples each had their own strengths, but at the very least, they had already undergone initiation of learning and didn’t need to be taught from scratch.
“That child from the Xu family probably still needs breastfeeding. Imagine him crying for his wet nurse during lessons—how utterly shameful!”
“Exactly! He might not even have proper bladder control yet, probably still wearing open-crotch pants.”
“The Xu family is despicable and contemptible. Who knows what methods they used to persuade Scholar Feng to initiate learning for such a young child…”
Gossip and slander surged like tidal waves toward Landlord Xu and his grandchild, mostly consisting of belittlement, sarcasm, and even blatant insults directed at the two.
Xu Yue’s smile vanished as he coldly watched these frenzied people. Was it because they couldn’t obtain something themselves that they couldn’t bear to see others get it?
They were causing trouble relying on their numbers, knowing that the law doesn’t punish the masses. Moreover, Scholar Feng might find it troublesome and simply decide not to accept him.
What a bunch of malicious individuals.
So what if he went through the back door? At least he succeeded.
Landlord Xu, who had gone through the back door, was also furious. The gatekeeper gestured for them to ignore the people gathered outside when suddenly someone emerged from behind the gate.
Feng Yi, courtesy name Yizhi.
Born into an official’s family, he had achieved success at a young age, earning the Jinshi degree before he was twenty. Dissatisfied with his ranking, he had directly left officialdom.
Free-spirited and open-minded, his contemporaries said he possessed the demeanor of a celebrity of the Wei and Jin Dynasties. After all, not everyone could make the decision to live with his wife at her parents’ home for several years.
Xu Yue was the first to notice his arrival. Being held up high, he found himself at the perfect height to meet Scholar Feng’s gaze.
Feng Yi looked into the child’s almond-shaped, extraordinarily intelligent eyes and felt secretly pleased. Ah, this disciple was exceptionally good-looking. He playfully winked his right eye at Xu Yue.
A wink.
Xu Yue instantly understood that his future teacher was probably not the rigid type.
“Uncle Wang, has my youngest disciple arrived? The auspicious time is approaching.”
His voice, neither too loud nor too soft, proved more effective than the gatekeeper’s desperate shouts. The people waiting outside dared not make any more noise and gradually quieted down.
Someone gritted their teeth, wanting to step forward and strike up a conversation, but found themselves unable to take that step—
Scholar Feng, with his noble and refined demeanor, dressed in blue Songjiang cotton cloth, standing tall and elegant, seemed inherently different from people like them.
The inside and outside of the gate appeared to be divided by an invisible boundary because of this one person.
The gatekeeper Uncle Wang made a pained expression and turned to complain: “Young Master Xu arrived long ago, but…”
He deliberately glanced at the people outside:
“They blocked Young Master Xu’s path and said they weren’t convinced, believing Young Master Xu isn’t worthy of being your disciple.”
“Oh?”
After hearing the gatekeeper’s words, Feng Yi responded bluntly:
“This is me, Feng Yizhi, taking a disciple. What right do these irrelevant people have to comment? Like a dog trying to catch mice—they’re meddling in others’ business!”
Uncle Wang secretly smiled. These people from Danyang County didn’t know that his master had always been this way—temperamental, unconventional, and sharp-tongued.
After his outburst, Feng Yi turned his head and swept a contemptuous gaze over the crowd gathered outside. Everyone who met his eyes felt ashamed and lowered their heads.
At that moment, reason finally returned to their minds.
Most of these people were from merchant families, large landowners, or minor county officials. Those with scholarly titles like Jinshi or Xiucai understood the etiquette among literati—if a master declined to take them as disciples, they wouldn’t press further.
How could these people contend with Scholar Feng, let alone half-force him into accepting their sons and grandsons as disciples? Truly, greed clouds judgment.
Landlord Xu breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Scholar Feng swiftly take control of the situation. Just as he was about to speak, the words he heard next made his head buzz.
“You’re not convinced?”
Scholar Feng, ever unpredictable, pointed directly at Xu Yue in Landlord Xu’s arms and openly revealed his reasoning with a light laugh:
“My acceptance of this temporary closing disciple isn’t like the other three, who had their own circumstances. I was once admiring the scenery and accidentally fell into a field’s water storage pit, unable to climb out. His grandfather rescued me.”
Scholar Feng’s eyes and brows were full of pride, without a trace of embarrassment, as he drawled:
“As the saying goes, ‘For the grace of salvation, one should offer oneself in return.’ But alas, I, Feng Yi, have no inclination toward the southern breeze…”
Xu Yue felt utterly defeated. Was this master of his a bit too eccentric? Who said saving a life must be repaid with marriage?
And if you have no interest in men, does Landlord Xu? Wouldn’t it be better to promise repayment in the next life as an ox or horse?
“…So, I had no choice but to repay with my knowledge. Isn’t it perfectly reasonable, then, to take this child of the Xu family as my disciple?”
Feng Yi clapped his hands together, his eyes sparkling as he sighed:
“This is the bond between me and Xu…” Scholar Feng suddenly faltered. Landlord Xu softly reminded him:
“Xu Yue, Yue Ge’er.”
“Mm, this is the fate that ties me and Yue Ge’er together.”
The crowd surrounding them was left speechless. They felt there was something to argue but couldn’t pinpoint any fault. Just as they were about to disperse, a milky, childish voice piped up with grievance:
“Grandpa, didn’t Master take me as his disciple because Yue Ge’er is clever and well-behaved?”
Landlord Xu grew anxious: “Yue Ge’er, don’t be unruly.”
Xu Yue wasn’t being unruly. He had sensed that Scholar Feng’s attitude toward him was casual—indifferent, perhaps somewhat fond but not particularly invested.
It was likely that after formally becoming a disciple, he would be left to his own devices for a while. If he didn’t change that impression now, it would be difficult to remedy later.
“Oh? You’re well-behaved and clever? Where does this cleverness lie? Tell your master, won’t you?”
Feng Yi spoke amusedly, assuming the Xu family had spoiled the child and deceived him.
The fair, chubby child in Landlord Xu’s arms squirmed slightly, the baby fat on his cheeks jiggling with a soft “duang.”
Feng Yi felt an urge to pinch those cheeks, his fingers twitching, when he heard Xu Yue declare proudly:
“I can already recite the Three Character Classic, Hundred Family Surnames, and Thousand Character Classic. Isn’t that clever enough?”
These three texts, collectively known as the Three Hundred Thousand Characters, are used for initiating learning in young children. Typically, children begin learning at age four, and the time it takes to master them varies based on aptitude.
For instance, Feng Yi himself had mastered the Three Hundred Thousand Characters in just half a year—but he was already over four, nearly five years old at the time.
Thus, that child who reportedly mastered them at eight could hardly be called bright—at best, average.
Feng Yi finally grew more serious. He crouched down to ask Xu Yue:
“How old are you this year?”
Perhaps the child just looked younger and smaller than he was.
“Three years old.”
Xu Yue held up three tiny fingers, tilting his head adorably toward Landlord Xu as he cooed:
“Grandpa, my birthday is next month. Can I say I’m three years old already?”
Landlord Xu could no longer say anything, nodding hastily as he felt the surrounding envious gazes nearly scorch him.
Ah, having a grandson who is the Reincarnated Star of Literature in the family brings such troubles—it’s truly hard to get used to.