Chapter Ninety-Four: Two Horses Sharing a Trough

During the noon break, Su Lu, as usual, went to the preparation room to receive special tutoring from Mr. Zhang. Naturally, there was also a heartfelt baked dish made by the teacher’s wife.

Mr. Zhang was deeply pleased with Su Lu’s remarkable progress over the past five months. “I didn’t expect you to have strengthened your weak points in such a short time. Now it’s just a matter of steady improvement.”

“Yes,” Su Lu nodded with a wry smile. “I can clearly feel that my progress lately isn’t as rapid as before.”

“Not fast enough?” Mr. Zhang nearly choked, then nodded after a moment. “Compared to before, yes. But that’s normal. Progress is fastest when starting from scratch; once you reach a certain level, it naturally slows.”

He smiled bitterly. “Otherwise, if we old men who have studied for decades were all brilliant writers, why would we still be teaching in this mountain valley?”

“I suppose I’m just greedy,” Su Lu said with an embarrassed smile.

“No need to be anxious. I haven’t yet seen your bottleneck. At least passing Zhu Zihe won’t be a problem,” Mr. Zhang said reassuringly.

“What about after that?” Su Lu didn’t consider surpassing Zhu Zihe a big deal.

“After that, focus on solidifying what you need to learn. You should be confident about passing the county-level exam.” Mr. Zhang’s gaze grew distant. “Beyond that, it’s not something I can teach. You’ll need to reach a higher place to advance further.”

“Do you mean the prefectural or county school?” Su Lu asked.

“Ha! Of course not. Those places don’t teach much.” Mr. Zhang laughed. “If someday you get into the provincial academy, remember: either find a way to study at the southern examination hall, or seek out a renowned teacher. Don’t waste your years there, or you’ll never pass the provincial-level exam.”

“Yes, I will remember your teachings,” Su Lu said, smiling self-mockingly. “I won’t run away; I’m just aiming to fly.”

“Taking one step at a time while looking three steps ahead is wise, but don’t forget to keep your feet on the ground.” The teacher smiled as he took Su Lu’s essay from yesterday. “Come, let’s analyze it and see how to improve next.”

~~~

After school in the afternoon, Su Lu went to the administration office to receive the reward for ranking fourth in the monthly exam — two hundred copper coins.

This was the second time he had received such a reward. Last time, ranked tenth, he got fifty coins.

The supervisor, Chen, now recognized him and no longer wore that fierce expression. He tied the two hundred coins with a string and handed it over with a faint smile. “Keep up the good work. If you move up one more place, you can earn an extra hundred coins.”

“Yes, I will do my best,” Su Lu said, taking the coins with both hands and bowing before leaving. Indeed, being a “good student” brought goodwill everywhere.

“Go on. If all my students were like you, I’d have much less trouble,” Chen waved his hand.

Leaving the office, Su Lu went to the headmaster’s room for class.

Zhu Zihe arrived just after him, and Su Lu had been getting ahead of him every time, feeling a bit embarrassed. In a good mood today, he stepped aside and said, “You go first this time, Zhu.”

“Hmph,” Zhu Zihe grunted as usual and muttered, “Let’s study together; two at once saves time. If you don’t pity my uncle, I pity you.”

“Oh.” Su Lu thought to himself, you’re always the one standing outside and not coming in.

But he wouldn’t stoop to childish quarrels—whatever you say, then...

Zhu Liu saw the two enter together and faintly smiled, saying, “Looks like two horses sharing a trough.”

“Huh?” Su Lu didn’t understand.

Zhu Zihe’s face flushed red, “Last time I admitted he’s a fine steed.”

~~~

At the same time, at Erlangtan Community School.

Spring Brother was very unsettled today, even pinching his outer thigh several times to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.

Because from morning until now, there hadn’t been a single fight!

He had clearly seen several moments when fights seemed about to break out, but people quickly jumped in to break them up, and both sides held back...

Even more unbelievable—they actually started studying. Although he knew both the Su and Cheng families had good academic traditions, there had been constant fighting these past days. Who would have the mood to study?

Could it be that the ancestors had shown their blessing again? Spring Brother was used to attributing all good things to that mysterious force... and he had even taken out his treasured charm again last night, instinctively raising it twice.

Whatever the reason, this was a good thing! After a whole peaceful day of teaching, Spring Brother finally experienced the joy of being a teacher.

When he said “Dismissed,” the children erupted with a roar, nearly tearing off the roof.

They had been pent-up all day! Their obedience wasn’t for Spring Brother’s sake, but for Monkey Brother’s!

Since last night, the kids had been itching to know what happened to that Monkey. Entertainment was scarce in the mountains; even itinerant storytellers rarely ventured here because outsiders saw these wild mountains as dangerous places with no return...

Only the Cheng family would invite a troupe during the Lower Sand Festival, but they sang only the old folks’ favorites, slow and dull without acrobatics...

Then came the wildly popular “Monkey King,” and the children’s enthusiasm was understandable.

To hear the next part, they would do anything—not just study without fighting, but even set fire to their own homes if asked.

Seeing the children swarm him in excitement, confused, Spring Brother was startled. What’s going on? No fights, but now they’re ganging up on the teacher?!

Fortunately, they had no intention to harm. They just surrounded him, grabbing his robe and shaking him, chirping, “Teacher, teacher, we didn’t fight all day. Can you tell us the Monkey’s story now?”

“What Monkey story? It’s the ‘Monkey King’!” a Cheng family child loudly corrected, “Don’t call my hero that!”

“Your hero? He’s my hero too!” a Su family child retorted loudly!

Just as a fight was about to break out again, someone shouted, “Remember Brother Qiu’s words: no fighting, no Monkey King story!”

Both groups immediately linked arms, smiling, “No, no, the Monkey King is our shared hero!”

Spring Brother, clever as ever, instantly understood his younger brother’s intention and felt a warm glow in his heart.

He hurriedly recalled the story he had heard before bed last night. Luckily, he hadn’t memorized it deliberately, but it was clear in his mind and ready to tell the children.

Clearing his throat, he said, “You behaved well today, so I’ll tell you a part!”

“Wow! Wow! Wow!” the children cheered wildly, feeling their day’s ‘hard work’ was worthwhile.

“Where did you stop?” Spring Brother asked once they quieted down.

“The Monkey King decided to find a master and learn skills, sailed out to sea!” the children answered in unison. “The story ended just before he landed, and we’re dying to know what happened next!”

“Alright, I’ll continue...” Spring Brother cleared his throat and took over from Brother Qiu:

“Picking up from last time, the Monkey King sailed across the ocean for a long time, first arriving at Southern Jambudvipa. He jumped from his raft onto the shore, where people were drying nets and gathering seafood. Curious, he went to ask for directions, but his strange appearance made the locals think he was a demon, and they dropped their tools and fled in terror...”

Spring Brother cherished this chance created by his brother and threw himself wholeheartedly into the role, bending and twisting gracefully like a handsome monkey, making the students roar with laughter.

“An old man with stiff legs was left behind. The Monkey King seized him, stripped off his clothes, and wore them to disguise himself as a human. This is what ‘a monkey wearing a hat’ means,” he explained, blending education with entertainment.

Surprisingly, Spring Brother had some talent for this. Moreover, Su Lu had laid a solid foundation, so the children smoothly reentered the atmosphere of last night. With his lively storytelling and animated movements, time flew until dusk.

The adults at home thought the children had been held back for fighting again and came to pick them up, only to become engrossed themselves.

“...The patriarch smiled and said: ‘Since you are a monkey, your surname shall be Sun. According to our clan’s generation names, you belong to the ‘Wu’ generation. You have no parents and sprang from a stone, so I grant you the name ‘Kong’ as well.’ The Monkey King happily scratched his ears and cheeks, saying: ‘Great! From now on, I shall be called Sun Wukong!’” Spring Brother finished recounting the Monkey King’s quest for a master, then slowed his voice.

“To find out how the Monkey King learned his skills, stay tuned for next time!”

“You brothers are all the same...” The children were hooked, then suddenly it ended, and they couldn’t help but grumble.

“Hm?” Spring Brother, still in the role of Patriarch Bodhi, hummed instinctively.

“I know my mistake!” The children immediately quieted down, dropping to their knees.

Spring Brother understood at once. The children had fully immersed themselves in the Monkey King’s story. He solemnly lectured, “See how hard it was for the Monkey King to find a master, how determined he was to learn? Since you all take him as your example, you must study diligently and never slack off. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Master!” the children answered in unison.

“All right, go home and eat. Do your homework seriously. If anyone doesn’t finish tomorrow, you’ll have to do it while others listen to the story,” Su Man said increasingly skillfully.

“Yes sir!” The children didn’t dare bargain, stood, saluted, and left.

The parents were dumbfounded. Su Dacheng’s eldest grandson was impressive! In just a few days, he had tamed the two groups of kids so well?

Truly, one should not judge a book by its cover; ambition is not measured by age.

Su Man watched everyone leave with a calm demeanor. When only he remained in the community school, he jumped three feet high in excitement!

“Teacher, what’s wrong with you?” a student who had forgotten his book and returned just in time saw Spring Brother hopping and asked.

“Ahem!” Su Man quickly composed himself, putting on a serious face. “I’m rehearsing tomorrow’s ‘Monkey King’ story for you all.”

“Wow, Teacher, you’re so serious!” The children were easily impressed, clapping with admiration.

“Of course. You should study with the same dedication,” Su Man breathed a secret sigh of relief.

P.S. Today is still the fourth update; the next one will be posted soon.