CHAPTER 189: CHAPTER 188: A CAUTIONARY TALE

Yu Xiaolian naively believed that ancient people strictly kept their promises, especially a dean, who should be a gentleman whose word once given can never be taken back.

As a result, Dean Ying shamelessly changed the subject and didn’t mention the bet at all.

Scholars... cough, it’s not nice to curse...

Yu Xiaolian really wanted to scold him, but considering that Xiaohu and Su Jingyue would continue at the academy, she held back. Otherwise, she’d let this Dean Ying know what it means to curse someone from head to toe.

The monthly three taels of silver mentioned by Dean Ying didn’t impress her.

However... she quite liked the title of "female teacher."

But even if she liked it, she couldn’t show it too clearly, cough... she needed to keep her composure.

"Not going!"

Dean Ying immediately appealed to emotion and reason, what’s the matter? Do you think the money is too little? I give other teachers only two and a half taels! Your three taels aren’t little at all. Besides, you shouldn’t just focus on the amount of money. You must have a broader perspective. You’re a mathematics genius, naturally equipped to benefit the people and be a role model for students everywhere!

Understand that not just anyone can be a female teacher. In our Great Liang, female teachers can be counted on two hands, and very few people can do it, really.

Think about it, if you became a female teacher, it would bring glory to your ancestors. Not to mention, when you reach the age for marriage proposals, you might even find a noble gentleman.

And you don’t have to teach every day. Just one class every other day will do. It’s an easy and respectable job, and three taels isn’t a small amount.

Dean Ying spoke so much his mouth went dry, and seeing Yu Xiaolian still unmoved, he steeled himself and upped the offer: "Three and a half taels!"

"Four taels!"

Yu Xiaolian rested her elbows on the counter, supported her chin with both hands, and slowly replied, "How about five taels?"

Even for five taels, she was too lazy to go. Selling a couple of soaps earned her more.

Dean Ying hesitated for a moment, "Five taels it is!"

After all, he had just lost for the entire academy, boo hoo...

He didn’t want to be a sore loser, but if his old wife found out he gambled away the academy, he might not survive the night.

Having his wish fulfilled, Dean Ying immediately asked Yu Xiaolian to explain the first chicken-and-rabbit problem.

Although he knew the answer and had seen the solution process, he was still baffled and didn’t quite understand.

"Think in terms of rabbit feet as the main variable:

Imagine all 35 as rabbits, then there should be 35×4=140 feet, thus exceeding by 46 feet, which can be reduced by replacing the same number of rabbits with chickens..."

After Yu Xiaolian’s explanation, Dean Ying was even more confused than before, "What is multiplication? And what is division?"

Yu Xiaolian sighed, it couldn’t be explained, "When I go to teach at the academy, you must attend the class. I can’t give you private lessons afterwards, understand?"

Dean Ying was eager to learn, nodding repeatedly, not minding Yu Xiaolian’s attitude at all.

Before leaving, Dean Ying expressed his hope that Yu Xiaolian could start teaching at the academy the next day, to which Yu Xiaolian nodded and made a few requests.

She couldn’t arrive from dawn until late afternoon; mornings were too early for her to get up.

And she didn’t do fixed hours; she would leave after teaching a class and then go home to sell goods.

Dean Ying expressed understanding, saying that although arithmetic had become popular in the last decade or so, the imperial exams still prioritized literature over mathematics.

Yu Xiaolian and Dean Ying settled on a schedule: every other day, at the time around 9-11 a.m., Yu Xiaolian would go to Shuren Academy to teach mathematics.

After Dean Ying left, Yu Changhe, who had been lingering outside the door, came in, first complaining about Dean Ying not keeping his words, then mentioning Xiaohu’s habit of bragging.

Yu Xiaolian also felt it was necessary to address Xiaohu’s behavior, so when Xiaohu and Su Jingyue returned from school, she called them over for a talk.

Xiaohu protested, "I wasn’t bragging. It was just that our teacher gave us some arithmetic problems. Su and I didn’t think much about it, just blurted out the answers, and Dean Ying happened to hear us at the door, so he praised us a bit.

Later, he tested us with a few more questions, and we got them all right. Then he gave us a really hard one, and I thought I couldn’t solve it, but you surely could, so I just said that one line.

Who could’ve guessed Dean Ying would really come looking for you!"

Yu Xiaolian looked at Su Jingyue, "Is that really the case?"

Xiaohu nudged Su Jingyue with his toe, and Su Jingyue looked down, "That’s exactly what happened!"

Yu Xiaolian noticed their little gestures. These two were as close as if they were wearing the same pair of pants, and Su Jingyue’s words couldn’t be trusted.

Yu Xiaolian spoke with earnest concern, "One must be humble, don’t overreach, don’t boast with no substance. Remember, there’s always someone better.

Also, don’t follow Dean Ying’s example of underestimating people, making reckless statements, and not keeping promises."

Dean Ying, unaware that he’d become Yu Xiaolian’s negative example for her teachings, was happily telling his old wife about discovering a mathematical genius.

Listening to Yu Xiaolian’s recounting, Xiaohu and Su Jingyue shared their disdain for Dean Ying in their hearts.

Yu Xiaolian quickly cautioned, "You two know about this, but don’t go telling everyone at the academy.

Even if we’re in the right, we have to save face for Dean Ying; he’s so elderly, let’s not risk making him sick with anger.

Be careful, okay? If I find out anyone blabbed, I’ll never give you candy again."

Xiaohu and Su Jingyue nodded in unison, "Got it."

Xiaohu stepped forward, grabbing Yu Xiaolian’s hand, eyes sparkling with excitement, "Sis, are you really going to teach math at our academy tomorrow? Then you’ll be our teacher, right?"

Yu Xiaolian tapped Xiaohu’s forehead, "Yes, and you two have to study math well, don’t embarrass me. You must come first in every math test, understand?"

Xiaohu chuckled, "Since you’re our math teacher, you’ll be making all the test questions, right? And since we’re your brothers, with our relationship, maybe we could get a little hint in advance..."

Yu Xiaolian flicked Xiaohu’s forehead hard, "Don’t even think about it. Not only can you not receive favoritism, but you’ll also have to work even harder than others, or I won’t acknowledge you as my brothers."

Xiaohu rubbed his forehead, pouting, "Got it. Can’t you just say it nicely? Do you have to get physical?

Am I the kind of kid who only listens when you use force? I’m the kind of kid who behaves really well with just a piece of candy!"

Yu Xiaolian pointed to the backyard, "No playing cute in front of me; go do your homework."

Honestly, she had realized that Xiaohu was quite a sly one. With such a long time spent together, he was very aware that Yu Xiaolian couldn’t resist cute kids acting cute.

So whenever Xiaohu wanted candy, he’d start to cozy up to Yu Xiaolian, often pulling Zhao Sanyan and Su Jingyue along to act spoilt in front of her.

At dinner, Yu Xiaolian mentioned that she would be going to the academy to teach math the next day, and said that in the afternoon she had found time to price tag everything at Taotao Residence, so Zhao Erya could mind the shop while she was away.