SGEIRS -Chapter 67 Saying She’s Rowdy

Two days later, Gu Jingxi took Gu Xiuwen to visit the headmaster of Lingshan Academy.

The result was exactly as expected. Gu Jingxi personally requested, and Headmaster Xu tested Gu Xiuwen’s knowledge. He found the boy intelligent, though his foundation was shaky. Wanting to save face for a friend, he generously granted an extra spot.

Inside, the over-fifty-year-old Headmaster Xu and the nearly thirty-year-old Gu Jingxi were deep in conversation, enjoying each other’s company like kindred spirits despite their father-son-level age difference, yet still addressing each other as brothers.

Headmaster Xu glanced at the boy outside playing with the cat in the courtyard. The boy’s smile was sunny and carefree. He said with some puzzlement, “Yaoling, your nephew is quite clever. How come your Gu family didn’t manage to cultivate him into an outstanding student?”

Gu Jingxi replied, “My elder sister-in-law tends to spoil the children.”

Hearing this, Headmaster Xu understood: the child had been pampered into laziness, his studies were weak, and a change of environment was needed to help him start anew.

After a while, Headmaster Xu shifted the topic and took out a brocade box. He handed it to Gu Jingxi. “When you married, I and my students were traveling and couldn’t attend your wedding. This is a gift from me and your sister-in-law for you and your sister-in-law.”

Gu Jingxi took the brocade box and thanked him warmly. “Many thanks, Brother Xu.”

Headmaster Xu smiled and asked, “You’ve been alone for so many years. Now that you have a family, how does it feel?”

He thought of how his younger brother’s wife had truly seemed to descend from the heavens. Even novels wouldn’t dare to write such a plot: the son’s wedding day arrives, he runs away, and the intended bride, in a fit of anger, insists on marrying the intended father-in-law instead. The father, forced into the marriage, is left stunned.

Gu Jingxi answered without hesitation, “It’s fine… just a bit rowdy.”

Headmaster Xu paused briefly, then shook his head, laughing. “Ah, you’ve never lived with a girl before. You think she’s rowdy, but your sister-in-law was lively in her youth too. Sister-in-law’s wife is just a young girl in her teens; it’s normal for her to be energetic.”

Gu Jingxi opened his mouth to explain but thought better of it. His little girl wasn’t merely lively—she was naturally restless. Xiuming would soon be released from confinement, and these two “mother and son” were going to create quite a ruckus. Life at home was likely to become chaotic.

Headmaster Xu, intrigued, asked, “What kind of girl is she that made you break with convention and marry her despite societal norms?”

Gu Jingxi replied, “Next time, I’ll bring her for you and your wife to meet.”

Headmaster Xu nodded with a smile. “Very well. Next time, we’re curious to see her.”

After chatting a bit longer, Gu Jingxi took his leave.

When Gu Xiuwen heard the study door open, he instinctively let go of the cat, stood up straight as quickly as possible, and grew nervous again. Seeing the two men step out of the study laughing, he called out, “Third Uncle, Headmaster Xu!”

Headmaster Xu kindly said, “Young friend, go home and study diligently. Don’t waste your Third Uncle’s efforts.”

Gu Xiuwen nodded eagerly. “I will definitely study hard when I return.”

After bidding farewell to Headmaster Xu, on the way back, Gu Xiuwen sneakily glanced at his Third Uncle, who was resting with his eyes closed. Several times he wanted to ask the results but dared not, fearing that if Headmaster Xu didn’t approve of him, it would embarrass his Third Uncle.

It wasn’t until they returned to the mansion and saw his parents that he heard the outcome from Third Uncle himself.

Seeing his brother and sister-in-law looking at him expectantly, Gu Jingxi said warmly, “Headmaster Xu gave Xiuwen an extra spot, but it’s in the lowest, ‘D’ class. Once he enters, he must study twice as hard. If he fails the exams, he can be asked to withdraw. However, he can gradually be promoted to higher classes—D, C, B, and finally A—if he passes the evaluations.”

The academy classified students to better tailor teaching methods. Different levels required different approaches. A-class teaching would be wasted on a D-class student, while D-class methods would be incomprehensible for an A-class student. For a boy like Xiuwen, whose knowledge was shaky, starting in the lowest class was ideal.

Even though it was the lowest class, Gu Jingsheng and Madam Zhang were overjoyed. In their hearts, they were thrilled. Even D-class was something to brag about for a long time.

Gu Jingsheng couldn’t hide his excitement. “Third Brother, thank you so much. D-class is fine. As long as Xiuwen studies hard, he can be promoted.”

“You flatter me,” Gu Jingxi said. Seeing his brother’s eyes shining, and knowing that lingering might lead to having to stay for lunch and drink more wine, he said, “Brother, Sister-in-law, A-Yao is waiting for me at Weirui Pavilion for lunch. I should head back.”

Gu Jingsheng felt a bit disappointed but nodded. “Alright, Third Brother, take care.”

Gu Xiuwen was elated, unable to believe it. “Father, am I dreaming? I can really attend Lingshan Academy? Today, when Headmaster Xu tested me, I thought I did poorly. I didn’t think I had a chance.”

Gu Jingsheng smiled broadly, almost to his ears. “With your Third Uncle there, even if you perform poorly, you can enter Lingshan Academy. But you must study hard and not embarrass your Third Uncle.”

Madam Zhang reminded him, “Xiuwen, your Third Uncle helped you so much. You must honor him and his wife properly and study diligently.”

After all, she might have wanted Xiuwen adopted into the Third Branch. Otherwise, why help him enter Lingshan Academy so suddenly? Xiuwen’s elder brother, Xiuming, didn’t even have such an opportunity.

Xiuwen nodded eagerly, “Mother, don’t worry. I will honor my Third Uncle and Aunt, and I will study hard.”

This excitement surged within him. He felt he could burn the midnight oil every night, imitating the ancients with extreme diligence.

Yet, a person lazy for many years cannot break the habit overnight.

The first two days were fine. After a few more days, he found studying too arduous. He read for an hour after meals but gave up after just a few days. On the last day, he only held the book for appearances while thinking about what delicious food was available in the capital.

Only after arriving at Lingshan Academy, seeing classmates studying diligently, did he start to work hard. He didn’t dare slack off and gradually overcame his laziness, becoming a dedicated and diligent student.

Of course, that’s a story for later.