TNIBFT -Chapter 38 Promising Students

Ye Tian led the three children to knock on the door.

The two wooden doors were darkened with age, giving off a sense of solemnity and seriousness. Ye Shuangxue followed closely behind Ye Tian, feeling a bit intimidated by the tall doors.

“Knock, knock…”

Ye Tian knocked again.

No one answered for a long while.

Tentatively, Ye Shuangxue said, “No one’s home… should we just go back today?”

Ye Tian was speechless.

This daughter reminded him so much of himself as a kid, always trying to skip school. That was why he had grown up to be a mediocre delivery man with no prospects. In ancient times, you couldn’t even deliver takeout—so if Ye Shuangxue didn’t study, she could never become a little demoness.

Just as Ye Shuangxue was feeling relieved: “Creak!”

The wooden door was pulled open from the inside. A young girl of about fourteen or fifteen, wearing a peach-pink padded jacket, appeared. Her skin was as delicate and fair as a peach blossom in April, her big eyes bright and clear. She scanned Ye Tian from head to toe, then glanced at the chicken and pork in his hands. Relaxing her brows, she asked, “Are you here to see my father to apprentice under him and learn?”

“Father?”

The daughter of the scholar?

Ye Tian nodded. “Yes. Sorry to bother you. Could you please tell your father we’re here? We’ll wait outside.”

Tao Ling’er nodded.

She found Ye Tian to be composed and polite, neat from head to toe, which left her with a good impression. Seeing the three adorable little ones, each one perfectly formed like delicate carvings, Tao Ling’er smiled warmly. She didn’t close the door and quickly ran toward the main room.

“Heaven and earth were dark and yellow, the universe was vast and boundless…”

The sound of reading inside became even clearer. Every single word made Ye Shuangxue’s scalp tingle. She felt almost despairing. Slightly lifting her head, she glanced at Ye Tian’s profile. He stood upright, serious and focused, waiting for a reply from inside. Thinking of all the preparations he had made over the past few days—and how he had started so early this morning—she wondered:

If she can’t get admitted, he’d be really disappointed, wouldn’t he?

Ye Yunting looked at the courtyard with longing; the sound of reading must be the most wonderful sound in the world.

Ye Hanjiang’s big eyes scanned the surroundings. If this place were turned into a food shop, it would probably make a lot of money. A single person paying for the tuition with a bundle of coins—this scholar’s money would be endless. By that calculation, being a scholar isn’t so bad after all.

Someone appeared outside the door, instantly drawing the attention of the children inside the school.

Seven or eight kids whispered to each other. Suddenly, a sharp “Clap!” rang out inside—the stern sound of a warning ruler. The school fell silent immediately. Then a voice called out, “Let them come to my study.”

Ye Tian knew the first step was successful.

Next came the scholar’s selection. But nowadays life was hard—usually, paying a bit of money was enough, as long as it wasn’t excessive. You just had to make sure the scholar didn’t lose face in front of you.

“Dad, this old man is too scary.”

Ye Shuangxue hid behind Ye Tian, her small hand covering her mouth as she whispered to Xiao Jiang.

Xiao Jiang nodded. He was a little afraid too. If he acted up and the scholar scared him into wetting himself, he’d be humiliated. He felt a bit intimidated by this school.

“The scholar won’t eat you, and as long as you don’t do anything bad, what’s there to be afraid of?”

Ye Tian was speechless.

Meanwhile, Tao Ling’er stood in the courtyard, smiling and waving at Ye Tian. “You can come in.”

Ye Tian finally smiled and stepped toward the main room. Seeing that his daughter hadn’t caught up yet, he slowed down, gently pushing Ye Shuangxue forward.

The courtyard was immaculately kept.

In the corners, several plum trees grew, their branches still holding glistening snow, giving off an aura of resilience. The layout of the courtyard was elegant, clearly the domain of a scholar. Ye Tian followed Tao Ling’er into the side room, where an elderly man with graying hair sat on a wooden chair. He looked to be around 50 or 60 years old, his appearance naturally commanding respect, with sharp, piercing eyes.

Before coming, Ye Tian had already instructed the three children: when they met the master, they should behave obediently and bow, saying, “Greetings, Master.”

“Good.”

Tao Lichun set down the teacup in his hand, looking at each of the three children in turn. He nodded slightly, his expression full of satisfaction, then turned to Ye Tian and asked, “All three children are to enroll in the school?”

“Yes. Here is the tuition, and also the customary gift for apprenticeship.”

Ye Tian quickly handed the items to Tao Linger, who took them, looked at what she held, and smiled. “Why bring so many things?”

“Father, these three children are clearly clever and quick-witted. I liked them at first glance. The school isn’t very busy right now, so it’s a good time to have them stay.”

Tao Lichun gave his daughter a sideways glance but said nothing, then turned to Ye Yunting. “Have you ever studied before?”

“No.”

Ye Yunting shook his head.

Tao Lichun was not surprised and nodded, then turned his attention to Ye Hanjiang.

Ye Yunting said, “But what was taught in the school today, I can recite.”

“What?”

Tao Lichun was startled. Looking at Ye Yunting, he asked again, “You’ve read the Thousand Character Classic?”

“I heard them recite it, so I memorized it,” Ye Yunting replied respectfully, his voice calm, without arrogance or fear of the master.

This attitude pleased Tao Lichun very much. Tao Linger, standing nearby, excitedly said, “So impressive! Father, he has a photographic memory. Test him quickly!”

Tao Lichun gave his daughter a stern look, then turned to Ye Yunting. “Recite it for me.”

The Thousand Character Classic is obscure and difficult. It was hard to believe that a child who had never studied could memorize it just by listening. Yet, as Tao Lichun doubted, Ye Yunting began to recite:

“Heaven and earth are mysterious and yellow; the universe vast and boundless; the sun and moon wax and wane; the stars arrange themselves in constellations.”

“Cold comes, heat goes; autumn harvests, winter stores; leap years make the calendar complete; the pitch-pipes harmonize the solar terms…”

He recited a whole section fluently and clearly.

Tao Lichun froze, eyes shifting to Ye Tian, frowning. “I’ll recite the Tao Te Ching once—let’s see if he can memorize it.”

Tao Lichun did not believe it and began reading the first chapter of the Tao Te Ching.

Ye Tian had no worries about his eldest. In the original story, the greatest villain would naturally have some “golden finger” advantage.

“The Tao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name. The nameless is the origin of heaven and earth; the named is the mother of all things…” Ye Yunting recited every word correctly.

Looking at the small child before him—well-behaved, cute, steady and polite in every gesture—such a promising talent was now his disciple? Tao Lichun’s hands trembled with excitement. Clang!

He knocked over the teacup on the table in his excitement.

Everyone in the room was startled.

Ye Yunting frowned at the master. Could it be that the master was dissatisfied with him?

Just as the little one looked confused, Tao Lichun jumped up from his chair, quickly approached Ye Yunting, and held the boy’s small hands, exclaiming, “Good! Good! Excellent!”

Tao Lichun beamed. “What a promising scholar!”

“A photographic memory—rare in this world!”

Tao Lichun looked at Ye Tian, his eyes both grateful and excited.

In the original story, Ye Yunting never had a chance to study. In the slave markets, he fought for survival, learning as he grew. A child like that, capable of conquering lands at a young age, could never lack talent.

“This student, I want him!”

Tao Lichun held onto the eldest, refusing to let go. Ye Tian reminded him, “What about the other two children?”

Ye Tian looked troubled.

Tao Lichun looked kindly at Ye Hanjiang. “And you—what skills do you have?”