Chapter Forty-Nine: The Sly Scholar

Lin Shuimei turned back, displeased, and asked, “Sir, is there something else you want?”

“Miss Lin, regarding Lin Xiong’s conduct at the academy, I think it’s necessary to discuss it with you,” Hou Tianlu said with a smile. “Aren’t you his elder sister?”

“I have no interest. If Lin Xiong is causing trouble, wait until my parents arrive and tell them.” With that, Lin Shuimei turned and walked away.

But Hou Tianlu hurried a few steps to block her path.

“Miss Lin, I have tea and pastries in my room—pastries you can only find in town, never in the village.” He knew Lin Xiong’s family was from the village and thought the village girls likely hadn’t seen much of the world. If he tempted her with treats, she would surely fall for it.

Sure enough, Lin Shuimei hesitated at once. “What kind of pastries? Are they tasty?”

“Of course!” Hou Tianlu’s tone brimmed with temptation. “Miss Lin, just come and see for yourself.”

Lin Shuimei wavered for a moment but in the end shook her head and dashed off.

Hou Tianlu watched her graceful figure retreat, a wicked smile curving his lips.

“Little girl, sooner or later you’ll be mine,” he muttered, then turned and went back into the academy.

Behind a tree, Lin Sangqian watched, feeling a chill run down her spine. Though she couldn’t hear Hou Tianlu’s words from where she stood, that lecherous smile on his face was enough to tell her his intentions.

Could such a teacher truly cultivate good students? Was this really the esteemed scholar of the past?

“Younger Sister, shall we go in?” Lin Beitao asked.

Lin Sangqian thought for a moment, then nodded. Perhaps Ru Wen Academy had more than one teacher. Maybe that man just now wasn’t the famed scholar.

She entered the academy with her two brothers. A servant boy, dressed in the school’s attire, approached them immediately.

“Can I help you?” he asked.

“Hello, I’m here to learn about the academy because I’m planning to enroll my brothers,” Lin Sangqian replied.

The servant glanced at the two boys. “At their age, shouldn’t they be entering an academy? Our students here are mostly eight or nine years old.”

In this region, children were typically sent to the academy at seven, studied for three or four years, and then moved on to the college. The academy provided elementary education, while the college offered more advanced studies. Judging by their age, the servant assumed Lin Yanbei and Lin Beitao, both in their teens, should be moving up.

“They haven’t studied before, so they’ll have to start at the academy,” Lin Sangqian explained truthfully.

“I see,” the servant nodded. “The fee is three taels of silver per month per person, including board and lodging. Other expenses are your own responsibility.”

Three taels of silver a month—it was indeed expensive.

Lin Yanbei and Lin Beitao were both stunned. Three taels a month! If all three brothers enrolled, that would be nine taels each month.

“I’d like to ask, how many students are there at the academy? And how many teachers?” Lin Yanbei inquired, clearly thinking along the same lines as Lin Sangqian.

“There’s just one teacher, Master Hou, and sixteen students at present.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Sangqian was deeply disappointed. How could a man like that be expected to teach well?

The servant added, “Our teacher was once a top scholar! He’s well-read and an outstanding writer.”

Lin Sangqian forced a smile. “We’ll discuss it and return if we decide to enroll.”

“Very well,” the servant nodded and left.

“Younger Sister, let’s visit another academy,” Lin Yanbei suggested, lowering his voice. “This teacher… doesn’t seem suitable.”

“I agree,” Lin Sangqian replied.

As they left the academy, Lin Beitao hesitated. “Younger Sister, maybe I shouldn’t go to school after all?”

Three taels a month was a small fortune. If they saved it, it would feed the whole family for quite some time. He didn’t want to see his parents and little sister working themselves to the bone. Although he longed to learn to read, he valued working with his sister in business more than chasing scholarly fame.

Lin Sangqian understood his concern and smiled. “Third Brother, don’t worry just yet. Let’s see what the other academy is like first.”

“All right.”

The west end of town was far from the east. On the way, Lin Sangqian saw a vendor selling fried cakes and bought five, giving two each to her brothers and keeping one for herself.

“Younger Sister, you can have mine,” Lin Yanbei offered.

“No need, Second Brother,” Lin Sangqian quickly replied. “It’s not about being frugal. One is enough to fill me up.”

After all, she was in the body of a ten-year-old girl—how much could she possibly eat?

There was no need to save a bit of money on a sugar cake now.

Lin Yanbei considered and realized she had a point, so he didn’t insist.

They walked for nearly an hour before reaching Haixing Academy at the west end of town.

Lin Sangqian was nearly exhausted and sat on a large stone at the entrance to rest for a while. From within the academy came the aroma of food—it must be nearly lunchtime for the students.

Once she’d recovered, she entered with her brothers. The entrance opened into a spacious courtyard with several stone tables in the center. At one of them sat a man reading, dressed in a scholar’s robe, around forty, with a long beard. He seemed utterly absorbed in his book and didn’t notice their arrival.

From a classroom not far off came the clear voices of students reciting their lessons.

“When man is born, his nature is good…”

For some reason, Lin Sangqian instinctively felt this academy was far superior to Ru Wen Academy.

At that moment, a servant carrying tea approached. Spotting the newcomers, he immediately set down the tea and scolded, “Master Ge, guests have arrived—shouldn’t you greet them?”

The scholar finally looked up, dazed. “Ah?”

The servant stepped toward Lin Sangqian, bowed, and startled her enough that she hurried to return the gesture.

“Hello, I’d like to enroll my brothers here,” she said.

The servant regarded Lin Yanbei and Lin Beitao. “Certainly. We currently have three teachers and sixty-two students. The fee is one tael and five hundred copper coins per month per student, including board and lodging, with two days’ vacation at the end of each month. All other expenses are on your own.”

It was half the price of Ru Wen Academy! And Lin Sangqian found the environment here most agreeable. Master Ge, so absorbed in his reading, seemed—whatever his scholarly abilities—far more respectable than the lecherous Master Hou.

She looked at her brothers and, seeing their satisfied expressions, said, “I’ll bring them for admission tomorrow. Is that all right?”

“Of course. Two students, correct?”

“Three.”

“Very well, please follow me to register their names and address.”

Lin Sangqian followed the servant inside. By now, Master Ge was back to his reading, utterly absorbed, as if he hadn’t noticed them at all from start to finish.