OFTLHFRO C11

Chapter 11: Baiye Academy

From the outside, this academy looks like an ordinary large mansion, but once inside, one realizes just how vast it truly is.

After passing by the classrooms at the front, the guard led them to a side hall. “Please sit here and wait for a moment, I will go find the master.”

Luo Mingchen replied, “Alright.”

Huo Yan placed the basket on the table, noticing the two children appeared nervous, and said, “Answer whatever the master asks truthfully and honestly.”

Huo Yuhui took a deep breath and nodded firmly, “Yes!”

Luo Mingchen didn’t know much about studying here. In his place, there was nine years of compulsory education, so it didn’t matter much how good the students were; as long as they behaved and the family paid the school fees, everything was fine.

Therefore, Luo Mingchen assumed that studying here for these children would be easy, with no pressure.

After all, Huo Yuhui and Huo Xiang were well-behaved types, obedient enough, and their family could afford the tuition. He couldn’t think of any reason why the master would reject these two.

“Don’t worry, the master will definitely accept them.”

Luo Mingchen’s words were like a reassuring pill for Huo Yuhui, “Okay.”

After waiting for a while, a middle-aged man, dressed in a dark green long robe, with some beard and a scholarly demeanor, walked in.

Seeing him approach, Luo Mingchen and Huo Yan stood up.

“Master.”

Seeing Huo Yan bow, Luo Mingchen imitated him and also bowed. The three children followed suit as well. Only Huo Xinyue’s bow was unsteady, almost causing her to fall.

Huo Yuhui quickly caught his little sister by the collar. Huo Xinyue, confused, still smiled at him.

The master nodded slightly, “Please sit, both of you.”

Then he sat on the chair and said, “I heard from the guard about your situation. So, these two children want to enroll, correct?”

Luo Mingchen held Huo Xinyue’s hand and nodded. “Yes, they are. Xiaohui, Xiaoxiang, go introduce yourselves to the master.”

They had rehearsed this at home.

Huo Yuhui took his brother with him and bowed to the master again. “Master, my name is Huo Yuhui, I am eleven years old.”

Huo Xiang was a bit more timid, but with family around, he was less afraid, following his brother’s example and bowing, “Master, my name is Huo Xiang, I am eight years old.”

The master was somewhat surprised that the children were not introduced by their parents but looked at Luo Mingchen and Huo Yan, pursing his lips slightly, and asked, “Has your mother passed away?”

Although he did not discriminate against sworn brothers, he had seen cases where sworn brothers would marry a woman just to have offspring and then abandon her after childbirth.

He could never accept children from such families with poor conduct.

Huo Yuhui answered truthfully, “Master, our mother died due to complications during the birth of our youngest sister.”

“Oh? Then your father married the current stepfather after that?”

Having experienced hardships, Huo Yuhui was more perceptive than Huo Xiang. Seeing the master’s tone and expression shift, he thought for a moment and said, “Master, our father is our foster father and also our mother’s cousin. After our mother passed away, he took us away from our original family. Later, to take care of us, he married what we call the ‘little father.'”

The master’s expression changed instantly after seeing Huo Yan and Luo Mingchen, showing some respect.

“Since that is so, have you read anything before?”

This question implied the family background was acceptable.

Luo Mingchen had thought the master might discriminate against sworn brothers.

Huo Yuhui replied, “We have only learned the ‘Three Character Classic’.”

“Can you recite it?”

“We used to. If there are mistakes, please correct us, Master.”

Huo Yuhui then started reciting: “People at birth, are naturally good…”

Hearing this, Luo Mingchen was somewhat shocked.

This strange era actually had books he was familiar with…

It seemed necessary for him to go to a bookstore later to check the history of this era.

Huo Yan saw Luo Mingchen’s changing expressions and was uncertain what he was thinking.

Huo Yuhui recited the entire text fluently.

However, Huo Xiang was not as good and stumbled, but still managed to finish.

The master was pleasantly surprised and asked, “Can you write your own names?”

“Yes, but not neatly,” Huo Yuhui replied honestly. Seeing the master bring out paper and brush, he awkwardly wrote his name on the paper.

Huo Xiang’s writing was even worse but he could write as well.

The master was relatively satisfied, “You are still young, just practice writing more. Tomorrow, bring your books, brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and each pay two taels of silver as entrance tokens, then you may enroll.”

Hearing this, Huo Yuhui could hardly contain his excitement, “Thank you, Master!”

Huo Xiang also happily thanked, “Thank you, Master.”

Only by studying hard could one rise above others and not be bullied.

This was something Huo Yuhui had been told since childhood, so if he learned something, he would strive to teach his younger brother.

Huo Yan paid the two taels entrance fee and Luo Mingchen handed the basket of vegetables and fruits to the master, “These are homegrown, please don’t disdain them.”

The master did not see any red envelope inside, and his expression softened a lot, “No matter whose children, once the entrance fee is paid, here they are all my students. I treat everyone equally. Whether one becomes successful depends on whether the child is willing to learn. As long as willingness exists, teaching and resolving doubts is my duty as a master. Originally, I did not accept gifts, but your vegetables and fruits are very good. Since you brought them, I will buy them for ten wen coins. Please do not bring such gifts again in the future.”

Saying that, the master took out ten wen coins and paid Luo Mingchen for the basket.

Luo Mingchen didn’t expect the master to be so principled, “Understood, Master.”

The master wrote two receipts confirming the entrance fee and wrote down the list of books needed.

Luo Mingchen took the receipts and, with Huo Yan and the three children, left Baiye Academy.

“Shall we go buy the books now?” asked Huo Yan.

“I brought ‘The Analects’ and ‘Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art’ yesterday, so we only need to buy one more set,” replied Luo Mingchen.

He nodded, “Good.”

The study room was not far from the academy, just a turn after they went out.

While Huo Yan was selecting books, Luo Mingchen went elsewhere to find history books.

While reading, a narrow-eyed man impatiently said, “Move aside.”

Luo Mingchen looked up and saw there was a wider path right in front of him, “You’re not fat. How can you not get through such a wide path?”

The man rolled his eyes, “Regardless of my size, you being here is the obstacle.”

Luo Mingchen, who never took a loss, said, “I am not holding an out-of-print book. How does me taking this book block you?”

“You? A peasant able to read and write? Anyone who touches the books you’ve handled would not want them.”

“What business is it of yours? I’m not begging you to buy this book. The bookstore keeper hasn’t said anything, so mind your own business. If you look down on peasants so much, don’t eat meals; if you trace back generations, your family also dug the earth for a living. Who is nobler than whom?”

The man had no face to retort, and his companions looked over, their faces even more embarrassed, “It’s ridiculous for someone who can’t read to come to a bookstore!”

“Exactly, I am ridiculous. But you who’ve studied for so many years and still couldn’t pass any official exams, aren’t you even more ridiculous?”

“You!”

Unable to argue, the man tried to make a move, but Huo Yan, who was about to pay, came over and stood in front of Luo Mingchen to block him.

Footnotes:

1. “Baiye Academy” (百葉書院) — A traditional-style academy resembling ancient Chinese academies where Confucian education was provided.

2. “束脩” (entrance token) — Literally means a bundle of dried meat strips given as a minimum gift to teachers, now used for tuition or honorarium payments to teachers.

3. “三字經” (Three Character Classic) — A classic Chinese text used historically to teach children Confucian morals and basic literacy through three-character lines.

4. “論語” (The Analects) — The collected sayings and ideas of Confucius and his disciples, foundational to Confucian philosophy.

5. “九章算術” (Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art) — An ancient Chinese mathematical text, one of the earliest and most influential in Chinese history.

6. “兩兩銀子” (two taels of silver) — A traditional unit of currency used as payment for schooling fees.