My Wife Is A Sword Immortal
Chapter 362 - 267 Are You Teaching Me How to Do Things?

Chapter 362: Chapter 267 Are You Teaching Me How to Do Things?

Several days had passed since Zhao Rong’s first Calligraphy class at Linlu Academy, and this was the third lesson.

The Shuaixing Hall students felt that, unless something unexpected happened, including this lesson, in the three Calligraphy classes, Zhao Rong had done nothing but give a few brief pointers when a few students actively asked questions at the beginning. The rest of the time, he just took them on ’casual strolls’ around Linlu Academy.

It was euphemistically called happy education.

So it’s about how to be happy, right?

Many students were resentful and harbored grievances.

Moreover, after taking everyone on a casual stroll for a lesson, Zhao Rong would assign a heap of homework before class ended, which invariably involved copying selected model calligraphy pieces, and the scale of the homework...

Truthfully, it was quite harsh.

Worthy of being a ’senior student,’ he knew how to extract every bit of spare time from everyone. However, Teacher Zhao, aren’t we all from the same root? Why the desperate hurry to burn bridges?

The atmosphere at Mochi Academy was relaxed on the outside but strict on the inside. Some Art Classes didn’t even give homework, focusing instead on using class time for inspiring lectures.

As for after class, it depended on the students’ own voluntary study and research.

Although relaxed, there was a great degree of freedom. Most students who managed to pass the assessment to enter Linlu Academy were not lacking in self-discipline, and they took their studies seriously after class, encouraged by things like ’older students’ and ’mid-monthly exams.’

But what if suddenly there appeared a Zhao Rong who took you for strolls during class, taught nothing, and then pushed you to do monotonous copies of calligraphy endlessly after class, demanding they be turned in for review? Wouldn’t you be furious?

In any case, the Shuaixing Hall students felt that they could endure their uncle, but not their aunt—no exceptions, the aunt was intolerable!

Happy education, right? I see it’s more about happy teaching and leading by slacking off.

Some students looked dissatisfied.

Cheng Cong————

At that moment, inside the Cheng Cong Valley, the autumn sun was perfect, and the air was still serene.

’Teacher Zhao’ and his group of students were staring at each other, silent, no one speaking, probably because they were still choking on something Zhao Rong had said not long before.

Zhao Rong scanned the Shuaixing Hall students, including Yu Huaijin and Fan Yushu, his gaze lingering momentarily on some students’ faces as he sized up the group.

He slightly curled his lips.

It felt like the impact of the first lesson a few days ago, where he sternly reprimanded Yu Huaijin, whom they all respected, was still not enough.

Had it only been a few days and there were already signs of collective dissent?

Was it because Yu Huaijin, the Shuaixing Hall senior student, was not as feared and respected by other students as Zhao Rong had imagined, or was it some kind of ’bias’ seed deeply ingrained in the hearts of his classmates and students from the beginning?

Zhao Rong didn’t know.

And didn’t want to know.

Verbally compliant just closed the matter.

At that moment, in the silent hall, Zhao Rong suddenly nodded, lowered his eyes, and patted his sleeves, saying indifferently, "Old rules, everyone partakes in free time activities, just don’t disturb the other teachers and seniors studying."

With that, he turned around and headed toward a pavilion by the waterside lined with apricot trees.

The crowd remained silent, motionless.

"Teacher Zhao."

At that moment, as expected, someone was the first to speak up, just as Mr. Zhao had anticipated.

Zhao Rong ignored him and continued walking forward.

"Teacher Zhao, please wait, your student objects!"

Zhao Rong raised an eyebrow, paused his steps, and turned his head sideways to glance at the speaker, a delicate-looking student entering his peripheral vision.

He nodded secretly.

It’s just like you, Peiliang, to never let me down when it comes to disappointment, not even verbally compliant.

"Your student objects."

At this moment among the crowd, Wu Peiliang slowly stepped forward, his tone serious. In everyone’s view, he pursed his lips, furrowed his brows, puffed out his chest, and raised his head, his steps embodying an air of fearless dignity. This, mixed with a sense of generous readiness to face death, a loyal heart shining through history, and a determination echoing behind him even if he fell, was remarkable.

Zhao Rong gazed at Wu Peiliang with admiration.

"When it comes to standing out, Brother Peiliang, you are always the most active, always rushing forward, although actually, probably 80% of the time no one else is competing for the spotlight. But by imagining an opponent, taking a stand becomes more decisive, right? And you only grow more resolute with setbacks. Not bad at all," Zhao Rong remarked.

He sighed softly, then felt a pang of ’What virtues or abilities do I have to educate him?’

Wu Peiliang’s expression was somber as he spoke in a deep voice.

"Teacher Zhao, I did not mean any offense, just speaking plainly, in correcting your mistakes. Though in the classroom the Teacher has the highest authority, the old Teacher of the Academy also mentioned that a Teacher does not always represent absolute correctness. If there are errors, we students must also courageously point them out without fearing authority, to promote mutual improvement, rather than just complying unquestioningly," he said.

He paused for a moment.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Rong did not respond verbally but glanced at Wu Peiliang, who was carrying forward the fine traditions of Mochi Academy, and nodded.

Seeing this, Wu Peiliang inwardly sneered. He slightly lifted his chin, glanced at Zhao Rong, then surveyed his classmates around him and continued to speak loudly:

"Of course, we are all scholars and must be reasonable. Let us discuss everything openly. Teacher Zhao takes us on strolls every class, and you must have your reasons. Why not share them, let everyone hear them, instead of always deciding everything unilaterally, pressing down on us, making us blindly follow along?" he said.

As soon as he finished speaking, the students from Shuaixing Hall looked at each other, and soon, many voiced their support from within the crowd.

Zhao Rong raised his eyebrows, turned to look, and the voices in the crowd suddenly stopped, but the expressions of the students still showed some dissatisfaction. He suddenly looked at Yu Huaijin, only to see her standing as usual, hands folded and eyes downcast, quiet at the side; Zhao Rong nodded slightly, as long as he did nothing that utterly defied the Academy’s rules and the established norms of propriety, this senior student from the class should be compliant.

Zhao Rong narrowed his eyes, avoiding looking at Wu Peiliang, and instead scrutinized those Shuaixing Hall students, but finally spoke up.

"Before the first class outing, I already explained the reason once; now I’ll repeat it for the second and last time," he said softly.

"To learn calligraphy, one must engage in ’diligent study,’ which means intensive practice; secondly, ’comprehension,’ which means to draw inspiration from the natural world. I ask you to imitate excellent calligraphy as part of diligent study; now in class, I personally take you to experience nature to seek that moment of enlightenment after seeing all the wonders, which is essential for grasping the true essence of calligraphy. The boring, repetitive practice of strokes and the sudden moments of insight, both are indispensable, the former forms the skeleton and flesh, and the latter the spirit and vitality, only then can your characters come to life, or else lacking any of these, it’s all in vain. This is the proper way to practice calligraphy in my view," Zhao Rong explained.

Zhao Rong glanced at the silently watching crowd and shook his head.

"Well, the classes I taught in Justice Hall next door didn’t even involve explanations, yet I didn’t see many objections from Justice Hall’s students, all obediently follow along, and some even proactively recommended interesting places to visit, such as Cheng Cong Valley. But when it comes to our Shuaixing Hall..." he paused, but chose not to continue. After all, Zhao Rong also used to dislike ’someone else’s child,’ but now... it really was appealing.

"It’s just like Teacher Si leading us to quietly appreciate the grand beauty of the universe; it’s a simple concept. Why can other teachers do this, but not me? Could it be because you all have some reservations about me as your teacher?" he asked.

The room fell silent immediately, many students heard him but dismissed his words, yet none dared meet Zhao Rong’s eyes.

Wu Peiliang furrowed his brows. Teachers of Music Art and Painting Skill taking students out for educational trips made sense due to the nature of the art studies, but you, a calligrapher, needing to go outside for inspiration? Has calligraphy even established a path that includes comprehending the universe? If not, don’t mimic others; a drawing tiger that ends up resembling a dog is no good.

He suddenly smiled, stepped forward, and bowed earnestly, "Teacher Zhao, the ’diligent study,’ ’comprehension,’ these principles we’ve already grasped. But now, with the mid-month major exam approaching, what we need most is learning the expert techniques of how to wield the brush from our teacher. Please don’t keep them to yourself; teach us more," Wu Peiliang said.

Zhao Rong’s eyelids twitched slightly, feeling that his words were wasted, as if he had explained only to satisfy formalities. However, since they were classmates, he couldn’t help but speak a bit more than necessary...

Seeing Zhao Rong silently watching him, Wu Peiliang felt quite satisfied, presuming his teacher was at a loss for words. He shook his head internally, glanced at Zhao Rong, thinking it’s time to teach something useful, stop making excuses for slacking off in class. Or do you actually have no capability to teach, just dragging things out? What use are you then? Might as well learn on our own.

The crowd turned their eyes towards ’Teacher Zhao’.

Zhao Rong turned his head towards Wu Peiliang, thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Are you teaching me how to do things?"

Wu Peiliang: "..."

He took a deep breath, then smiled and bowed, "Not at all, please Teacher, let’s not divert from the topic, fulfill Peiliang and my classmates’ request, please stop keeping your knowledge private," he said.

A number of dissatisfied students from Shuaixing Hall stared intently at the ’Teacher Zhao’.

Zhao Rong nodded, not adding further words. He looked up at the sun, then suddenly turned his head to look at the silent Yu Huaijin.

As the scene quieted down,

the crowd looked puzzled, also turning their gaze curiously in the direction he was looking.

They saw the always quietly standing, proper lady, who after a moment of silence, suddenly moved. Her hands slowly emerged from her sleeves, pulling out a... ruler, two fingers thick and quite long, which Yu Huaijin held in her hand, with a stern face, she glanced at Wu Peiliang.

"???" Wu Peiliang.

The entire place suddenly went silent as a Cold Cicada.