APSIL -Chapter 37 Ge… Ge… Ge…

Tang Ming’s face had darkened so much it looked ready to drip with water.

Yet compared to him, the truly miserable one was Xie Wanquan, who was now drenched in sweat, practically collapsing from exhaustion as he struggled to solve the problems.

By now, nearly every one of the young aristocrats from Cuiyun Hall had poured out to watch the spectacle. Zhang Shou’s reception hall was packed to capacity, while those whose fathers and grandfathers held lower-ranking offices—and who themselves were less favored at home—could only stand on tiptoe outside the doorway to catch a glimpse.

As time ticked away, Xie Wanquan racked his brain but failed to solve even a single problem.

Finally, his patience snapped.

He flung the bamboo problem plaque to the floor with a loud crack and shouted angrily, “I’ve studied the teachings of the sages! Using these petty mathematical tricks to embarrass people—what kind of challenge is that?”

Zhang Shou remained seated in the place of honor, smiling pleasantly as he replied, “In the official academies of the Tang Dynasty, the Ten Mathematical Classics were required reading. Otherwise, once an official took office, how would he calculate farmland, population, irrigation, or determine where to build bridges strong enough to last? Without mathematics, he’d have to rely entirely on others.”

Seeing Xie Wanquan’s face turn ashen, unable to respond, while the gathered playboys whispered among themselves and occasionally glanced toward him, Zhang Shou lightly tapped the armrest.

“You call these questions unfair?”

He chuckled.

“If Zhang Heng of Nanyang, author of the Rhapsodies on the Two Capitals, who served as Grand Palace Attendant and Chancellor of Hejian, were alive today, he wouldn’t even need a brush. He could calculate every one of these problems in his head.”

“When Zu Chongzhi, who wrote On Pacifying the Frontiers, was alive, these questions would probably take him only a few breaths.”

“And don’t forget Minister Qi of the Ministry of Revenue, whom Emperor Taizong posthumously granted a noble title. It was said he memorized the empire’s population, farmland, harvests, and taxes by heart. He could answer any mathematical question on the spot.”

“You dare say someone honored in the Imperial Ancestral Temple merely practiced a ‘petty art’?”

Then Zhang Shou’s expression grew serious.

“If mathematics is insignificant, then let me ask you.”

“What is millet?”

“What is rice?”

“What is wheat?”

“Can you distinguish mulberry silkworms from oak silkworms?”

“Can you tell weeds from grain?”

“If your limbs never labor and you can’t even recognize the five grains, if all you do is bury your head in books, how can you possibly become a good official?”

“Go home. Read a few books on mathematics and agriculture before accusing others of being ignorant.”

Zhang Chen had driven away countless tutors over the years.

Many of them had used students like Xie Wanquan as examples of “other people’s children” to mock him for being hopeless.

Now, seeing Xie Wanquan thoroughly crushed by Zhang Shou’s words, Zhang Chen felt indescribably satisfied.

Immediately, he puffed out his chest and shouted, “Xie Wanquan! You can’t solve the problems, yet you still refuse to admit defeat? So this is what a National Academy dormitory head is like—a sore loser!”

Outside in the courtyard, Zhu Ying’s eyes sparkled with delight.

She only wished Lu Sanlang would add another sharp remark and force Xie Wanquan to kneel and acknowledge his master on the spot.

Instead, she heard Tang Ming’s calm voice.

“A true scholar knows when to win and when to lose.”

“Though these are merely mathematical problems, my junior brother is no coward.”

“If only the old master of Cuiyun Hall would appear before us, he will immediately acknowledge him as teacher. He will never go back on his word.”

Zhang Shou met Tang Ming’s sharp, unwavering gaze.

Although he had won a complete victory in the previous exchange, this top scholar had instantly identified his greatest weakness.

That made him difficult to deal with.

After all, Zhang Shou had never expected challengers to arrive this quickly.

Even though last night’s conversations had achieved excellent results and Xie Wanquan had been driven into a corner, he himself was now being forced into one.

Yesterday he had only just asked Deng Sanniu to send word to Deng Xiaodai.

The talented actor he needed couldn’t possibly arrive in time today…

Taking a slow breath, Zhang Shou smiled calmly.

“Easy for the Top Scholar to say.”

“Do you think anyone can simply enter Cuiyun Hall?”

“Do you think anyone is qualified to remain in the Hall of Gentle Breeze?”

“Those who dismiss mathematics as a mere triviality—who neither understand it nor respect it—have no right to set foot there.”

“Nor are they worthy of sharing a classroom with the aristocratic youths they so arrogantly call ignorant.”

Just as Zhang Chen enthusiastically echoed him…

As Lu Sanlang excitedly whistled…

As the gathered young nobles burst into laughter…

And as Tang Ming, thoroughly enraged, steeled himself to continue pressing the issue—

A booming voice suddenly rang out from outside.

“Well said! Brilliantly said!”

“All that so-called literary brilliance—nothing but a belly full of nonsense!”

Watching Tang Ming and Xie Wanquan suffer, Zhu Ying had been both delighted and nervous.

She instinctively turned toward the entrance.

An elderly man in flowing robes strode through the gate, smiling broadly, looking spirited and full of life.

She froze.

Then rubbed her eyes.

Before she had even finished blinking, she heard a familiar chuckle, followed by two hearty pats on her shoulder.

“Little Yingying.”

“Don’t worry.”

“I won’t let anyone bully your young sweetheart.”

Zhu Ying immediately opened her eyes.

The old man had already walked past her.

The arrogant young nobles who had been craning their necks in curiosity instantly recoiled upon seeing him.

Their reactions were so fast it was as though they had seen a ghost.

Many stepped on the feet of those behind them in their haste to move aside.

In an instant, a broad path opened before the old man.

The moment Zhang Shou heard that familiar voice outside, he was astonished.

Now, seeing the very same Elder Ge he had met only yesterday striding confidently through the crowd into the reception hall, he immediately stood and cupped his hands in greeting.

Before he could speak, however—

Tang Ming’s normally composed face completely collapsed.

The one who reacted even more dramatically was Xie Wanquan.

The National Academy dormitory head’s legs gave way.

He collapsed onto the floor, his face white as paper, trembling like a leaf.

“G-Ge… G-Ge… G-Ge…”

He tried again and again, yet could only stammer out the surname “Ge.”

Watching this, Zhang Shou couldn’t help joking inwardly.

That’s not a title… that’s a hen struggling to lay an egg.

Elder Ge walked over impatiently.

Without another word, he smacked Xie Wanquan squarely on the back of the head.

Whether because Elder Ge was absurdly strong, or because Xie Wanquan had already been scared out of his wits—

The slap knocked him flat onto the ground.

Had he not instinctively caught himself with both hands, his rather handsome face would have slammed directly into the floor.

Tang Ming, considerably calmer, immediately bowed deeply.

“Greetings, Elder Ge.”

Elder Ge raised his chin.

“So?”

“You think being a provincial examination champion is impressive?”

He snorted.

“Back in my day, this old man took first place in the county examinations, first place in the provincial examinations, first place in the metropolitan examinations, first place in the palace examinations, and first place in the special imperial examinations.”

“Every first-place title there was—I won them all until I grew tired of it.”

“But what I’m proudest of isn’t any of those rankings.”

“It’s that I mastered mathematics.”

His eyes narrowed.

“You haven’t even earned the titles of metropolitan or palace champion.”

“What gives you the right to look down on mathematics?”

At that moment, Zhang Shou felt genuine admiration for the old man whom he had dismissed yesterday as merely an eccentric old prankster.

First place in the county, prefectural, provincial, metropolitan, palace, and special examinations…

This wasn’t just an academic grand slam.

It was an achievement unparalleled in history.

Yet what happened next shocked him even more.

As Tang Ming hurriedly apologized, repeatedly saying he dared not disrespect mathematics—

Elder Ge folded his arms and declared matter-of-factly, “Didn’t you want to meet the master of Cuiyun Hall?”

“Well.”

“I am.”

“Unfortunately, I have no interest in accepting your junior brother—the one who despises mathematics—as my disciple.”

“Nor do I have anything to say to a provincial champion who allowed himself to be manipulated into causing trouble.”

“You may leave.”

At that instant, Zhang Shou felt exactly like the magpie that had stolen another bird’s nest…

Like an imposter Li Gui suddenly encountering the real Li Kui.

Could it be…

The mysterious recluse who had once lived in the bamboo grove behind the village—the man who vanished, leaving behind nothing but an empty bamboo house—

…was actually this mischievous Elder Ge?

No way.

When Zhang Shou had walked through the village with Elder Ge yesterday, how had none of the villagers recognized him?