CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 44: ENTERING THE SCHOOL

For students, the most precious time of day is the morning.

Scholar Meng was a learned man and accustomed to rising early. Thus, when Zhao Dong arrived at the school with Zhao Zhitong, he was already up and watering his vegetable garden.

Seeing the small figure hopping and skipping over from afar, he knew the Zhao Family had arrived for the apprenticeship ceremony and immediately put down his work.

Scholar Meng exchanged a few pleasantries with Zhao Dong before getting down to business.

"I have already spoken with Country Gentry Wei," Scholar Meng began, "and he has agreed to let the young girl study at the school. Therefore, after the apprenticeship ceremony today, she can enter the school directly."

Zhao Dong was overjoyed. "Thank you, Teacher, for your efforts!"

He bowed slightly at the waist, adopting a very humble posture.

In those ancient times, the status of learned men was very high. He also respected Mr. Meng greatly and was grateful from the bottom of his heart that he had accepted Tongtong into the school.

After thanking the Teacher, Zhao Dong hurriedly presented the Six Etiquettes Bundle.

At first, Scholar Meng hadn’t planned to accept Zhao Zhitong’s bundle. However, Zhao Dong insisted it was a customary rule that couldn’t be waived. Moreover, their family’s situation had gradually improved, so this was a token of Zhao Zhitong’s sincerity as a disciple.

Seeing Zhao Dong take Zhao Zhitong’s enrollment so seriously, Scholar Meng was even more pleased, so he no longer demurred and accepted it with a smile.

The second step of the apprenticeship ceremony was for the disciple to kneel and offer tea with both hands.

Scholar Meng knew Zhao Zhitong would be coming for the ceremony today, so he had boiled water for tea early in the morning; Zhao Zhitong only needed to pour it.

Zhao Zhitong walked to the low table, skillfully poured a cup of tea, and brought it to the Teacher. She had often done such tasks before.

Grandpa Bai had always said that one should be grateful and repay kindness. The Teacher allowing her to listen to his lectures from outside the classroom was a great favor. Therefore, she knew she must be grateful to the Teacher.

However, she was young and couldn’t do anything significant for the Teacher, only small things like serving tea and water.

After pouring the tea, Zhao Zhitong respectfully knelt before Scholar Meng. Offering the tea with both hands, she asked the Teacher to drink in her sweet, childish voice.

Scholar Meng sat in his chair, stroking his beard, and looked at his new disciple with satisfaction. After taking a light sip, he presented her with the reciprocal gifts he had prepared.

It was a Hand-copied Thousand Character Classic, a writing brush, and an inkstone.

Next was the final step: kowtowing to the statue of Confucius. After this, she would officially be a student of the school.

Having accepted such a satisfactory disciple, Scholar Meng was in an excellent mood.

When Scholar Meng noticed Zhao Zhitong had come with her luggage box, he said directly, "There’s a class today, so you needn’t go back. You can go straight to the classroom and listen."

Just then, the sounds of children’s chatter and laughter came from outside; the students for the morning class were arriving one after another.

Knowing class was about to start, Zhao Dong didn’t want to impose further. He hurriedly thanked the Teacher and prepared to go home.

Zhao Zhitong, on the other hand, clutched her precious little luggage box, happily following Scholar Meng to the classroom.

She was especially thrilled today! Not only could she finally attend school, but she had also received a writing brush, an inkstone, and her third book from the Teacher!

However, just as Zhao Zhitong was following the Teacher to the classroom, she suddenly saw several parents with their children approaching Scholar Meng.

Upon seeing Zhao Zhitong, those children pointed at her, shouting loudly, "It’s her! It’s her!"

Sensing trouble, Zhao Dong, who had been about to leave, immediately turned back.

The parents came up to Scholar Meng and stated their purpose directly. "Scholar Meng," one began, "our children told us that recently a girl has been eavesdropping on classes from outside the school. This breaks the school’s rules! You need to address this."

Another parent chimed in, "Yes, and that child outside will distract our children from their studies. If you don’t handle this, we’ll have to take it up with Old Master Wei!"

Their commotion quickly drew a crowd of students, Zhao Yue among them.

Although he had supported the idea of complaining, he hadn’t dared tell his own parents.

His father had always liked that ’annoying pest’ and often told him to play with her more. So, his father certainly wouldn’t come to ask the Teacher to expel Zhao Zhitong; on the contrary, he himself might get a beating for suggesting it.

Though Zhao Yue hadn’t participated in today’s confrontation, he knew about it. Hiding among the students, he secretly watched Zhao Zhitong, his feelings a tangled mess. Part of him hoped she would be driven away, yet another part didn’t want her to leave.

He felt like his head was about to split, all because of that annoying pest Zhao Zhitong! So, he decided, he would definitely continue to dislike her!

As the parents voiced their complaints one after another, Scholar Meng quickly understood their intentions. He smiled and said, "I understand your concerns. It is indeed not ideal for this young girl to be studying outside the school."

Just when everyone thought Scholar Meng was about to expel Zhao Zhitong, he continued with a smile, "Therefore, from today onwards, she will no longer be studying outside the school. Instead, she will study directly inside the classroom."

The parents were bewildered. "Mr. Meng, what do you mean by that?"

Scholar Meng smiled. "Today, this young girl has formally become my disciple and enrolled in the school. Naturally, she will sit in the classroom for lectures. If any of you still have objections, you may take them up with Old Master Wei."

With that, he turned a stern gaze upon the students who had gathered to watch. "It’s getting late! All of you, hurry to your morning reading!"

The students scattered with a RUSH, all running towards the classroom.

Scholar Meng nodded to the parents, then led Zhao Zhitong into the classroom.

Seeing that the matter was resolved, Zhao Dong gave the complaining parents an awkward nod and a smile, then turned and left with a confident stride.

The complaining parents, having made fools of themselves, looked at each other in stunned silence, utterly amazed.

"Is the Zhao Family that wealthy? To actually send a girl to school!"

"Wealthy? Tsk, tsk. You wouldn’t know it by looking at them."

"Didn’t you hear their family started some kind of tofu business? It seems they’ve made a fair bit of money! Still, sending a girl to study is such a waste. What’s the point of a girl reading books? Sooner or later, she’s just going to get married off."

From Mr. Meng’s earlier statement, it was clear that Zhao Zhitong’s enrollment had Old Master Wei’s approval.

Since that was the case, the parents couldn’t say anything more. After grumbling amongst themselves for a bit, they dispersed one by one.

「The school classroom.」

The classroom, though not very large, had big windows on both side walls, making the entire room exceptionally bright.

The children were seated in two sections: boys on the right, and on the left, the few girls from the Wei family.

Scholar Meng led Zhao Zhitong into the classroom and introduced her to the students.

Many children in the classroom already knew her, especially Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue, who were the most familiar with her.

Qiao Muchen, seated in the front row, was happily winking at Zhao Zhitong.

Zhao Yue, however, was in the third row by the window. He was currently whispering with two companions, plotting how to give Zhao Zhitong a daunting welcome.