Who's Treating Whom?

Sure enough, the next moment, Lu Xian saw the Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy floating in the air begin to move.

"Ah—" Mo Ran, who was standing at the very front, let out a muffled groan as he was knocked aside by the heavy book.

Three or four people were pulled down simultaneously by Mo Ran's instinctive reaction, causing several nearby desks to tilt and collapse.

The force was immense; he clearly must have practiced martial arts, otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to drag four people down with him.

Chu Ming turned back to look, "The book is heavy, my apologies."

With that, he walked toward Ning Hao: "Senior Brother Ning, where is the Politics class held?"

Ning Hao stared at the Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy held in front of him, frozen in place.

The Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy was indeed heavy, but surely not heavy enough to knock over five people and three or four desks, right?

"Senior Brother?" Chu Ming prompted again.

"Oh, that, I happen to be heading that way too." Ning Hao snapped back to reality.

At this moment, Liang Yuan's voice drifted over from behind, sounding rather hollow: "Senior Brother Ning, didn't you choose History and Rites? What's this, changing to Politics?"

"I have always been interested in political texts." Ning Hao's expression was solemn.

Liang Yuan looked at his senior brother, whose face changed faster than flipping a book, and curled his lip: "That's not what you said before, Senior Brother."

"The past is the past, the present is the present. Junior Brother Liang Yuan, do not be so narrow-minded and stagnant."

Upon hearing this, Liang Yuan immediately felt uncomfortable.

You want to find an opportunity to get close to Junior Brother Chu, fine, but don't step on me to do it.

He walked forward a few steps, then looked back: "So, escorting Junior Brother Chu to his Politics class is a 'great step' for you, Senior Brother Ning?"

"...Junior Brother Chu, it's getting late, let's go."

The Politics class concluded.

"Um, Senior Brother Ning, I'd like to return the Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy first. It's inconvenient to carry it to the Dining Hall. Could you please go and have a word with Master Shen for me?"

Chu Ming held the heavy book as Ning Hao walked alongside him.

"No problem, Brother Chu, take your time... walk carefully. I will go speak with Master Shen."

Upon hearing this, Ning Hao was overjoyed; this was a genuine opportunity to seek guidance from Master Shen one-on-one.

Dining Hall.

"Excuse me, has Master Shen arrived?" Ning Hao, carrying his things, searched the area and, not seeing Shen Yu, asked the Dining Hall staff.

"He has, in Private Room Number One." The staff member looked Ning Hao up and down, "Are you the one who invited Master Shen?"

Suddenly, many gazes were drawn toward him.

"Ah?" Ning Hao's face flushed slightly. Without explaining, he lowered his head and walked toward Private Room Number One.

"Why are you only just arriving?" Before he even entered, Master Shen's voice drifted out from the room.

"Master Shen, it is I, Ning Hao. Junior Brother Chu went to return a book to Cloud-Perch Academy and will be here shortly." Ning Hao stood outside the door and said softly.

"Ning Hao, come in."

"Yes."

Ning Hao excitedly pushed open the door to see Shen Yu sitting upright, with several dishes already laid out on the table.

"Master Shen." Ning Hao hurriedly bowed in greeting.

"Mm, sit down."

"Yes."

Shen Yu shifted his gaze to Ning Hao and asked, "You live in the same courtyard as Chu Ming?"

"Reporting to Master Shen, yes."

"How much do you know about him?" Shen Yu asked again.

"..." A flash of embarrassment crossed Ning Hao's eyes. He realized he didn't actually know much about this junior brother, having only spent a day with him. "Reporting to Master, Junior Brother Chu only arrived at the academy yesterday."

"Arrived yesterday and already moved into Cloud-Perch Academy? Does that kid have some backing?" Shen Yu asked again.

"This..." Ning Hao hesitated for a moment before answering truthfully: "Junior Brother Chu was arranged to be there by Senior Brother Xu He."

"Xu He?" A hint of surprise appeared on Shen Yu's face. "Then that means Feng Yuan, then."

Ning Hao remained silent.

Shen Yu picked up a cup of tea, took a few sips, looked outside, and asked with some impatience: "Why hasn't he arrived yet?"

"Junior Brother Chu is frail and walks slowly," Ning Hao said.

"You are quite protective," Shen Yu set down his teacup, his gaze landing calmly on Ning Hao. "I know you have always wanted me to offer you some guidance."

Upon hearing this, Ning Hao's heart began to race. He had been wondering how to bring it up. "This student has always held Master Shen in the highest regard."

"Enough, I won't waste my breath on you." Shen Yu suddenly stood up and walked to the window, hands clasped behind his back. "It is not impossible for you to receive my guidance, but I must tell you: what I teach you will cause you to rank last in the monthly exams, fail your advancement to the academy, and leave you with no hope of achieving a good standing in the county exams. Do you still want my guidance?"

"Master Shen..." Listening to this, Ning Hao only felt that this instructor did not want to teach him.

Could it be that his talent was insufficient, and he could not catch the eye of Master Shen?

"In your opinion, what is the difference between Traditional Script and Simplified Script?" Seeing that Ning Hao was not giving up, Shen Yu continued to ask.

The difference between Traditional Script and Simplified Script?

Ning Hao's face flushed slightly.

He had been studying Traditional Script all along, but knew very little about Simplified Script, so how could he possibly explain the so-called difference?

"Heh, you are at least honest, knowing not to parrot nonsense in front of me." Shen Yu chuckled softly. "Actually, many years ago, there was no such concept as Traditional Script or Simplified Script; that concept was proposed by me."

"Traditional Script is everything you are currently learning."

"And Simplified Script is the simplified characters and vernacular prose I created—things that, in your eyes, lack any literary refinement."

"Master Shen, this student does not..."

"Are you saying you don't think so, or do you truly not believe it?" Shen Yu's expression grew even calmer as he spoke. "If you don't, why did you use Traditional Script to transcribe my seven lines of poetry?"

Ning Hao fell silent at once.

"Since we are on this topic, Ning Hao, for the sake of your sincere heart, I will say a few more words. The existence of Traditional Script is not wrong, but if all poetry, songs, and literary dissemination were to adopt the Traditional Script method, that would be putting the cart before the horse."

"When you understand the meaning of this sentence, not only will I guide you, but this old man will also pass on all the knowledge I have accumulated to you."

"But you will also end up like this old man, perhaps never receiving a promotion in your entire life, trapped here in this tiny Baiyuan County."

Having said this, Shen Yu glanced at the time, shook his head, and sighed. "That lad is quite clever; it seems he isn't coming."

He looked at Ning Hao again. "If I am not mistaken, Chu Ming left this opportunity to you, but it is a pity you did not seize it."

"Master Shen, I..." Ning Hao could not understand why using Traditional Script was putting the cart before the horse. Had the Great Qin Dynasty not always done things this way?

"Sit and eat something."

Shen Yu ate a few bites on his own, wiped the grease from his mouth, clasped his hands behind his back, and said in a deep voice, "I have other matters to attend to; I am leaving."

"Master Shen..."

Ning Hao watched the departing figure, then looked at the delicacies on the table, but he had no appetite at all.

He pondered that sentence repeatedly in his mind: why was it putting the cart before the horse?

But the more he thought about it, the less he could understand.

"Perhaps, Master Shen simply does not want to guide me?"

Ning Hao walked out of the private room and out of the Dining Hall, feeling somewhat dejected.

But the moment he stepped outside, a large hand grabbed him from behind. "You haven't paid the silver yet."

"What silver?" Ning Hao asked, stunned.

"For the food." The man's eyes were fierce.

"What food... ah? Master Shen didn't pay?" Ning Hao suddenly realized something.

"Were you treating Master Shen to a meal, or was Master Shen treating you?"

"..." Ning Hao turned around and retreated back into the Dining Hall.

"What are you doing?" the man asked.

"I haven't finished eating yet." Ning Hao walked toward the private room.