Chapter 432 This is discrimination
"But the road to the imperial examination is like a thousand troops crossing a single-plank bridge." A student in a long blue cloth gown held his chin with his hand, looking confused about their future.
"We don't have much talent to begin with. If we don't work hard, how can we possibly pass the exam and become a scholar?"
The person next to him quickly agreed, pausing the pen in his hand, a conciliatory look on his face: "That's right, stop complaining. The teacher made this arrangement for our own good after all."
This didn't convince the complaining student. He raised his chin, his tone slightly dismissive. "I might not be able to do it, but our teacher is! Doesn't she have a special way to ensure everyone in our school passes the exam and becomes a scholar?"
When Sun Hai, who was sitting not far away, heard this, his brows instantly furrowed and he subconsciously clenched the book in his hand.
He put the book down and turned to look at the student, his tone serious. "Even if the teacher has a solution, what good will it do if we don't work hard ourselves?"
"Think about it, all those who came to our school before, who didn't study by lamplight until the third watch every night?" Sun Hai's voice rose a few degrees, his eyes becoming serious. "The reason they were able to pass the exam was not only because of their teachers' unique teaching methods, but more importantly, they were willing to work hard, willing to learn, and had that talent!"
The student didn't expect that his casual complaint would lead to such a serious rebuttal from Sun Hai, as if he had been taught a lesson.
His cheeks flushed slightly, and he felt a little dissatisfied. He stiffened his neck and said, "Sun Hai, don't think that you can tell others what to do just because you have good grades!"
Sun Hai actually didn’t mean that. He just felt that he shouldn’t let the teacher down.
If the Master heard them complaining like this, he might be sad.
But Li Chao was too excited and didn't give Sun Hai a chance to explain.
He slammed the table and stood up.
"Just wait! I will surpass you sooner or later!" Li Chao's eyes widened, his cheeks flushed red with anger, and his voice was full of unwillingness to admit defeat.
Sun Hai felt a little angry when he saw him like this.
It was clearly for his own good, so how did it turn out like this?
He took a deep breath and stiffened his neck before replying, "Okay, I'll wait for you to surpass me!"
We are all grown-up kids, who doesn’t have a temper?
The more arrogant you are, the more I will refuse to admit defeat. Neither of us will give in.
Li Chao snorted heavily, sat back in his chair angrily, and slammed the schoolbag on his shoulder onto the table.
The sound of books colliding was particularly loud in the quiet classroom, as if they were venting their dissatisfaction.
He stared at Sun Hai's back, secretly competing with himself in his heart. Isn't it just third place? What's so great about it? I can definitely surpass him!
He reached into his schoolbag and took out the ranking list of the placement test results, spread it on the table, and his eyes fell on his own name.
No. 48.
If you want to surpass Sun Hai, you must first surpass the 45 students ahead of him.
There is still half a year left, I will definitely be able to do it!
Li Chao encouraged himself in his heart, clenched his fingers tightly around the pen, and then opened the textbooks on the table one by one. The pages made a rustling sound as he turned them, as if to encourage himself.
The other students in the classroom had just been watching the two quarreling quietly. Now that they saw Li Chao starting to study hard, they didn't dare to chat anymore. They all lowered their heads and took out their books to read seriously.
Even the third from the bottom has started working hard. If they still slack off and are caught up by Li Chao, it would be too embarrassing!
"No, I can't let him surpass me!" Some students muttered to themselves, "I want to take the Tongsheng exam too, I want to become a Tongsheng master, and later I want to take the Juren and Jinshi exams!"
For a moment, the only sounds in the classroom were the turning of pages and the rustling of pens across paper.
This was the scene Gu Yuhe saw when he walked into the classroom with his schoolbag on his back.
Everyone lowered their heads, buried in their books; even the students who used to love to play with him didn't look up.
He stood at the door in a daze, his mind full of confusion: Why did it suddenly become so curly?
Didn’t you guys used to pass notes secretly in class and run out to slack off after class?
He moved closer to Gu Huangan, gently touched his arm, and asked quietly, "What happened to them? Were they scolded by the teacher?"
Gu Huangan didn't even raise his head, the pen in his hand was still writing quickly, and he replied lightly: "Who knows, maybe he has eaten the sprouted potatoes."
Just now, Sun Hai and Li Chao had a quarrel for no apparent reason, and then they started competing in studying for no apparent reason.
It's like he's sulking like a child, which is really confusing.
Gu Yuhe was completely confused.
But seeing that everyone was reading, he put down his schoolbag, sat next to Gu Huangan, took out his textbook from his schoolbag, and opened it like everyone else.
Gu Huangan finally stopped writing and turned around curiously, looking Gu Yuhe up and down, his eyes full of inquiry: "The crickets you caught yesterday were confiscated by your second sister?"
"No, I hid it well. My second sister and the others didn't find it." Gu Yuhe shook his head and began to twist the pages of the book with his fingers.
"That was when you were secretly selling sugar figurines in school, and your grandmother found out, and you got beaten when you got home?" Gu Huangan asked again.
"They don't know about this either." Gu Yuhe frowned, a little unhappy.
What's wrong with Gu Huangan? He wasn't a talkative person before. Why did he keep interrupting him while he was reading?
Gu Huangan's curiosity grew, and he leaned closer to Gu Yuhe. "Then why did you suddenly start reading? Isn't studying hard a way to make up for something you did wrong?"
It’s no wonder Gu Huangan thought so.
In the past, Gu Yuhe would not touch his books for even a second unless the teacher was watching him. He would either be distracted in class or secretly draw.
It’s really strange that he is now actively reading books.
"You..." Gu Yuhe's face turned red instantly, and he felt angry and aggrieved.
Why are they all looking at me like this?
This is discrimination! Blatant discrimination!
Although he had no intention of becoming a student or taking the imperial examination, he knew that if he wanted to become the richest man, he must have basic cultural knowledge.
You can't help others count their money if they cheat you in business in the future, right?
Even if you count money, wouldn’t it be more embarrassing if you can’t even count it clearly?
"Gu Huangan! Can you please stop thinking so badly of me?" Gu Yuhe lowered his voice, his tone full of dissatisfaction.
"You are so disrespectful! You should call me uncle!" Gu Huangan raised his eyebrows and teased him intentionally.
"I..." Gu Yuhe was about to retort when he heard footsteps coming from the classroom door.
The two of them quickly shut their mouths and looked up.
It was Gu Yuchuan who walked in.
Gu Yuchuan stood at the podium, his gaze sweeping across the class. His voice was cold and serious. "Alright, quiet down. From today on, I will be your homeroom teacher for Keju Class 1. From now on, I will be responsible for your life and studies."
Compared to the usually smiling and friendly Gu Jiayue, Gu Yuchuan always had a cold face. His eyes were sharp and his words were cold, which made people more frightened.
The classroom fell silent instantly, and all the students sat up straight, their hands on the table, staring at him intently, not daring to breathe.
"In my class, there are three rules." Gu Yuchuan's voice remained even. "First, no talking without my permission. Second, the homework I assign every day must be completed on time. No procrastination is allowed. Third, you cannot leave the classroom without my permission. You must strictly follow my instructions when entering and leaving class."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the group again, his tone a bit warning. "If you can't do these things, I'm giving you one chance now. Get out immediately, and don't come to my class anymore."
No one in the classroom stood up.
Everyone knew that no matter how many students outside wanted to beg Gu Yuchuan to teach them, he might not agree. But now that they had the opportunity to study with Gu Yuchuan, how could they not cherish it?
Only Gu Yuhe was wailing in his heart: It's over, it's over, the next six months will definitely be difficult! Before, it was fine that my second sister was watching me read at home, but now I have to be watched by my second brother at school. Where is justice!
But he didn't dare to show any complaint. Instead, he sat up straighter and held the pen more tightly in his hand.
Gu Yuchuan is much stricter than Gu Jiayue. If you don't perform well, you may be punished. He can only be more serious than others.
Gu Yuchuan's teaching method is completely different from Gu Jiayue's teaching method of combining education with entertainment.
His classes are serious and efficient, and every minute is fully scheduled.
Under his high pressure, the students were like spinning tops every day, not daring to relax even for a moment.
Whoever stops first may be the one to be eliminated.
As the night deepened, most of the houses in Taohua Village still had lights on.
In the main hall of Li Chao's house, candlelight flickered.
Li Chao lay on the table, writing quickly with the pen in his hand, and fine beads of sweat oozing from his forehead.
"Chao'er, take a rest for a while and then continue working after dinner." Feng came over with a bowl of hot soup. Her voice was gentle and her eyes were full of heartache.
Li Chao stopped writing, raised his hand to rub his sore shoulders, and then reached out to make the candlelight next to him brighter.
That was a new candle developed by Ye Yuntang. It was much brighter than ordinary candles and was most suitable for reading at night.
"Mom, I've already eaten at school, but I haven't finished the homework assigned by the teacher yet. I have to finish it first."
If I can't finish it, I will have to stand in class all day tomorrow, which would be too embarrassing.
Feng looked at the dark circles under her son's eyes, feeling both relieved and distressed. "Then don't stay up so late, it's bad for your eyes."
"It's okay, mom. If you think the light is not enough, please light another candle for me." Li Chao said, picking up the pen again.
Feng was about to persuade him again, but Li Hai, who was standing nearby, tugged at her arm and whispered, "Alright, it's a good thing that the child loves to study. Don't disturb him. Go and light two more candles for him. I'll stay here and watch them to make sure the wind doesn't blow them out."
"Okay, you watch here. I'll get some candles and make him some pastries. He can eat when he's hungry." Feng sighed and turned to walk into the kitchen.
At this time, Grandma Li came over with a staggering step.
Holding a palm-leaf fan in his hand, he slowly sat down behind Li Chao.
While watching him write with a loving look, she gently fanned him, saying in a gentle voice: "My dear grandson, you've worked hard. Let me fan you to cool you down."
Such scenes are played out in every household in Taohua Village.
The students were studying hard, and their families were either accompanying them or busy preparing midnight snacks and adding candles.
It can be said that when one person studies, the whole family joins in, and they all look forward to the next year's Tongsheng examination, hoping that the children can get good results.
But all this happened differently in the Gu family.
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