Inside the wooden house.
A middle-aged man wearing a simple green robe sat quietly in the somewhat rudimentary room, waiting.
His gaze was deep and bright, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the teacup in his hand as he looked toward the horizon beyond the window.
"To train his son, he willingly set boundaries for eighteen years. This Su family's Patriarch is quite the character."
Li Qingchen chuckled and shook his head, downing the tea in his cup.
He originally didn't want to come. To be an enlightenment teacher for someone already past the youth of coming-of-age sounded rather trivial.
But there was no choice; the Su Patriarch offered him terms he couldn't refuse.
However, although he came, he only agreed to the responsibility of teaching, never considering accepting a disciple.
Literati have their own pride, and his standards are the highest under heaven.
Which literary giant doesn't have students all over the world?
Yet he, as the contemporary pinnacle of Confucianism, has only accepted three disciples.
"Sir, you need not consider my feelings. Be strict; this will instill fear and avoid arrogance in the lad..."
Recalling that person's advice, Li Qingchen couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head.
Even if he didn't deliberately target anyone, few could persevere, let alone if he intentionally made it difficult.
But since it's the employer's request, he of course had to do it beautifully, taking their money and solving their troubles.
"It's just two years. How much he can learn depends on his own luck."
Li Qingchen stretched lazily, just preparing to stand up when he heard sounds outside the house.
"Young Su Changqing, here to learn."
...
Outside the door.
Su Changqing listened carefully to the noises inside the house, pondering to himself.
In an ancient period like this, scholars likely held high status.
Although just a failed Scholar, he probably looks down on his identity as a rustic villager.
The reason he agreed to teach him was likely because of the money from his parents, reluctantly agreeing.
But whether the Scholar will genuinely teach him depends ultimately on himself.
Yet Su Changqing wasn't flustered. In his previous life, he was at least a top student in a prestigious 985 university, having dabbled in various books.
Though the culture here might be different, bluffing a failed Scholar shouldn't be too difficult, right?
"Creak~"
Just as Su Changqing was lost in his thoughts, the door before him opened with a light sound.
Su Changqing looked up to see a middle-aged man standing inside, dressed cleanly and neatly, with a calm and composed demeanor.
The most striking feature was his pair of deep and bright eyes, seemingly able to penetrate the deepest part of one's heart.
"Greetings, sir." Su Changqing bowed courteously.
He silently praised him, thinking to himself that indeed, someone who has read books carries a different air than the villagers.
Li Qingchen also scrutinized the youth before him.
Tall, handsome, with clear and bright eyes, exuding youthful vitality and energy, and a maturity beyond his age.
"Compared to the two Young Masters of the Su family, this one looks more reliable."
"The Su family's educational methods are nothing to extol, but their results seem quite good."
At the first meeting, Li Qingchen's impression of Su Changqing was decent, but recalling Su Nan's instructions, he nodded nonchalantly and said mildly:
"Come in."
Seeing this indifferent attitude, Su Changqing secretly pouted, thinking that knowledgeable folks are indeed arrogant.
Their villagers are different, always welcoming warmly...
Entering the house, Li Qingchen poured himself a cup of tea, not even looking at Su Changqing before speaking:
"Though I accepted your father's things, I did not promise to teach you, just offered you an opportunity."
"Whether you can stay depends on yourself. If you cannot pass my test, you must go back where you came from."
As Li Qingchen said this, he felt somewhat helpless.
He too didn't want to play these tricks, he could just teach after receiving things, but there were directives from the father, making the apprenticeship not too easy.
Insisting on three trials to make it seem precious and hard-won, he couldn't understand but had to respect.
"Thank you, sir, I will try my best!"
Su Changqing spoke seriously, but internally he was grumbling.
Indeed, he knew it wouldn't be that simple.
Li Qingchen pondered for a moment, thinking of a way to make Su Changqing retreat.
Before long, he had an idea and walked to the desk, picking up a brush to draw on paper.
With a flash of obscure light, an ancient 'one' character appeared on the plain paper, then vanished instantly.
Li Qingchen nodded slightly in satisfaction.
Though the character is simple, ordinary people cannot see it.
When calligraphy reaches its peak, technique is close to Tao, each character is like a pattern representing a specific principle or logic.
Only those with profound knowledge, or very perceptive individuals, can discern it.
The world's so-called book without words isn't without words, just the mortals can't understand the deep meaning.
Initially, his third disciple with Wen Sheng's Body took three hours to decode it, enough to make Su Changqing retreat.
At this time, Su Changqing, observing Li Qingchen with his back turned, was also muttering to himself.
"I don't know what the test is?"
"If it's about the hard knowledge of this world, I'm done for; where could I have learned it..."
While Su Changqing felt a bit anxious, Li Qingchen turned around and handed the paper to him.
"When you understand it, you can stay; if not, then go back."
Having said that, Li Qingchen ignored Su Changqing, returned to the desk, and started reading a book.
"Understand it?"
Su Changqing puzzledly took the paper, upon which a large 'one' character was clearly visible.
"What am I supposed to see? That your 'one' is written straight?"
Su Changqing examined the paper back and forth, but no matter how hard he looked, there was only that central 'one' character.
"Damnit, riddlers should all be damned!"
Su Changqing gritted his teeth inwardly, racking his brain to figure out its meaning.
"Even if I haven't attended school, it's impossible not to recognize the 'one' character, indicating that the old Scholar is certainly implying something else."
"He doesn't want to teach me, is deliberately making it difficult, and if unsatisfied with my answer, I may not have the chance to learn."
"There must be a meaning I don't know, but where could it be..."
As time slowly passed, Su Changqing stared wide-eyed, meticulously examining the paper over and over, his eyes becoming bloodshot.
But no matter how he looked, it was just that damn 'one' character.
Not far away, Li Qingchen watched Su Changqing about to lose his mind, smiled, and drank a cup of tea.
"Without cultivation and never having studied, seeing it would indeed be strange."
"Yet his nature is resilient, staring at an empty paper for an hour without giving up."
Observing the persistent Su Changqing, Li Qingchen shook his head, focusing back on his book.
Another hour passed, Su Changqing wiped the sweat from his forehead.
He gave up.
He truly couldn't discern what else the 'one' could imply.
"No other way."
Su Changqing looked up at Li Qingchen, sighing internally,
"I can only make something up."