Moreover, it wasn't easy for Shen Lang to create an image in my mother-in-law's mind that she would forgive me for being unrestrained and loving of freedom. If I were to ask him for leniency just because of Xu Wenzhao, my image would be ruined.
Xu Wenzhao was a distant relative of his mother-in-law. If Shen Lang were to ask for her hand in marriage, wouldn't that put him in a difficult position?
How could he put his leader in a difficult position? Do you still want to be a leader?
Therefore, Shen Lang calmly sat in his seat, quietly waiting for Xu Wenzhao to arrive with his father-in-law.
"Why aren't you running?" Jin Mucong said, "No one can save you if you get beaten up later."
Sure enough, just a moment later, there was the sound of hurried footsteps coming from outside.
"Lord Count, I can't teach this book anymore. I have never seen such an uncultured person."
Xu Wenzhao's voice was transmitted to everyone's ears from far away.
More than a dozen students were sitting neatly, their eyes were excited and their expressions were expectant.
They were waiting to watch a show.
"Our Great Yan Dynasty is most particular about the Heaven, Earth, Emperor, and Master. But Shen Lang is unscrupulous and has no respect for his elders." Xu Wenzhao said sternly, "His behavior, in a small way, is a bad influence on students. In a big way, he is destroying the Count House's reputation. His crime is unforgivable. Please punish him, Lord Count. Otherwise, if everyone learns from him in the future, the Count House's reputation will be destroyed."
Shen Lang was a little speechless.
Xu Wenzhao, if you don't like me, can't you first endure and then find a chance to trick me? Let me make a big mistake and then be kicked out of the Count House.
Even if I were to be whipped thirty times by the Count today, you would only be venting your anger at most. It would not help the situation at all.
Lord Count came in front of Shen Lang and said coldly, "What's going on? You can be so presumptuous outside, but why are you so unscrupulous at home? "
After that, he could not help but hold the whip in his hand.
He was a conservative and inflexible person. Once there was a conflict between a student and a teacher, it was definitely the student's fault. Basically, he would fight first regardless of the consequences.
Previously, Jin Mucong had been beaten up countless times. As long as his teacher complained, he would definitely be beaten.
Therefore, this fat young master was extremely obedient in front of his teacher.
Count said: "Shen Lang, if you can't give me a reason today, then don't blame me for being merciless."
It seemed like it would be very difficult to escape from these thirty lashes.
Shen Lang: "Father-in-law, I didn't do anything wrong, did I?"
"Lord Count, look at him. He's still unrepentant. He's hopeless." Xu Wenzhao sneered.
Shen Lang said, "May I ask, Mr. Xu, did I whisper to anyone during your class?"
"Humph," Xu Wenzhao said.
Shen Lang said, "Then did I read any other books or sleep on the table?"
"Humph," Xu Wenzhao said.
Shen Lang: "Since I didn't do any of these things, how can I not respect my teacher?"
Xu Wenzhao said, "When I was teaching, you were scared out of your wits. That is not respecting your teacher. The teachers worked hard to impart knowledge to you, but you were absent-minded. Isn't this tarnishing the academic atmosphere? "
"There is no arithmetic in the imperial examinations. Why do we, the Count House, focus on studying it?" Shen Lang: "The six arts of a gentleman are etiquette, music, archery, imperial driving, calligraphy, and arithmetic. If you learn arithmetic, you will understand the economy and people's livelihood. You will also understand the changes in the world. Our emphasis on arithmetic is entirely due to His Lordship's foresight and foresight. "
The Earl's expression immediately eased up a lot after this round of bluffing.
Although my son-in-law is naughty, he still understands my heart.
Shen Lang said, "Mister Xu imparted the Dao of Arithmetic to us, and I respect him very much. I don't have any thoughts of disrespecting him."
Xu Wenzhao said, "I was in class and you were absent-minded. How dare you say you respect me? Shameless, a bunch of nonsense. "
Shen Lang: "Mr. Xu, because the things you taught were simple, I learned them all. If I pretended to listen carefully, wouldn't it be a waste of time? That would be the biggest disrespect to you. Therefore, I followed the content of your lecture and extended it in my mind to explore deeper arithmetic. This is the purpose of learning. This is the true meaning of respecting your teacher. "
F * ck me.
The dozen or so students around him were stunned.
Shen Lang really knows how to fool people. But why do I feel like it makes sense even though I know he is talking nonsense?
"Hahahaha …" Xu Wenzhao laughed and said, "The arithmetic I taught is simple?"
Shen Lang said sincerely, "Yes, it's too simple."
Xu Wenzhao said, "You know the arithmetic I taught?"
Shen Lang said more sincerely, "I know more than that. I can use it as I want."
Xu Wenzhao laughed again and said, "You are still wet behind the ears. You have been studying in the school in Cold Water Town for ten years. You haven't even finished Great Learning. You have never touched arithmetic. How dare you say you know what I taught you? You are talking big. It's ridiculous."
Regarding this, Xu Wenzhao had absolute confidence.
Although arithmetic was known as one of the six skills of a gentleman, it was not taken in the civil and military imperial examinations, so not many people learned it.
Even the teachers in the school where Shen Lang was studying didn't know how to do it.
The number of people in Xuanwu who were proficient in arithmetic could be counted with two hands, and Xu Wenzhao was the best among them.
He could learn other things by himself, but he couldn't even get started with arithmetic without a teacher.
Hence, Shen Lang was boasting and saying that he knew everything. He was truly foolish to the extreme.
Then Xu Wenzhao said, "Since you said you know everything, I will give you ten questions. If you answer three questions correctly, it proves that you know everything I taught. I will not punish you."
"If you answer three questions incorrectly, you will be whipped 30 times."
"If you can't answer one question correctly, it means that you don't know arithmetic at all. You are just making things up. How about a hundred lashes?"
As soon as this was said, Count frowned.
He felt that Xu Wenzhao had gone too far. He could not help but say, "Shen Lang, apologize to Mr. Xu, and this matter will be over. Don't be distracted in class in the future."
Well, my father-in-law still loves me.
Jin Mucong, who was next to him, was surprised. Father, you are not like this. You are so cruel to me. As long as the teacher complains, you will whip me.
Why did Shen Lang only need to apologize when it was his turn?
The Count was conservative and old-fashioned, but he was not blind.
Of course, he knew why Xu Wenzhao did not let go of Shen Lang. It was because his nephew, Wang Lian, was not selected as the son-in-law of the Count House.
However, Xu Wenzhao was an old man in the Count House. He had been in charge of the accounts for more than 20 years. He had worked hard for many years. Therefore, Lord Count relied on him a lot. Therefore, Xu Wenzhao had to give him some face.
Xu Wenzhao immediately became anxious. Just apologizing wasn't enough. He had to properly punish Shen Lang today and vent the resentment in his heart.
When he returned home yesterday, his wife and sister scolded him. They said that he was the confidant of Lord Count. How could he let Wang Lian lose to a piece of trash?
Immediately, Xu Wenzhao said, "My Lord Count, if an apology is enough, then wouldn't every student in the future follow suit? Wouldn't the Count's style of study be ruined?"
Shen Lang suddenly said, "As long as I answer three questions correctly, I will be fine, right?"
"Yes." Xu Wenzhao said, "You only need to answer three questions correctly to prove that you have learned everything I said in class."
Shen Lang asked, "What if I answer all ten questions correctly?"
"Impossible. Young man, don't daydream." Xu Wenzhao said, "The art of arithmetic is broad and profound. You are just a kid. You will never be able to understand it. Don't talk about answering ten questions correctly, even if I answer five, I will publicly apologize to you. "
"It's a deal." Shen Lang bowed and said, "Father-in-law, Old Master, and all the students here can testify."
The Earl was about to reprimand Shen Lang for his nonsense.
In the end, the old teacher behind him who taught the Book of Changes smiled and said, "Alright, this old man can testify."
This old master was in his seventies. Not only was he Jin Mucong's teacher, but he was also Lord Count's teacher. Since he said it, Lord Count couldn't refuse.
"Hmph." The Earl glared at Shen Lang and said, "Being so arrogant, don't blame me for being harsh when you get punished later. Don't cry to the heavens."
Xu Wenzhao said, "Since I am the teacher, I will personally punish him."
He was worried that Lord Count would be too lenient. So he wanted to do it himself. At least, he wanted to beat Shen Lang half to death.
Lord Count was about to refuse.
But Shen Lang bowed and said, "Mr. Xu, please give me the question."
"Hmph!" Lord Count wasn't happy.
Shen Lang doesn't know what's good for him. If he wants to die, then so be it.
I know your memory is excellent, but without a few years of immersion in arithmetic, you won't be able to learn anything.
Xu Wenzhao's attainments in arithmetic are so profound. Comparing with him is like hitting a stone with an egg.
…
Xu Wenzhao was proud of himself. He immediately returned to his desk and began to think about the question.
Of course, he would come up with the most difficult questions. It would be best if Shen Lang couldn't solve any of them.
That way, he could whip Shen Lang a hundred times and beat him half to death.
Of course, Xu Wenzhao knew that Lord Count was biased towards Shen Lang. If he really whipped Shen Lang a hundred times, Lord Count wouldn't be happy.
But, so what? Xu Wenzhao had reached the end of his life. There was no need for him to swallow his anger.
Moreover, the entire account of the Count House was under his control. It was Lord Count who couldn't live without him, not Xu Wenzhao who couldn't live without the Count House.
Therefore, he wasn't afraid of anything.
For half an hour, Xu Wenzhao was completely racking his brain, using everything he had learned in his life.
Finally, he came up with ten difficult questions.
Each one was more difficult than the one before.
Xu Wenzhao was sure that all the students in the room couldn't even solve the first question.
Not only the students, but there weren't many people in the entire Xuanwu city who could solve the first question.
However, this was only the easiest question.
The rest of the questions were hard to come by.
There were a few questions that he had read from ancient arithmetic books. Ordinary people wouldn't be able to solve them. They wouldn't even be able to understand what they were saying.
For someone like Shen Lang, who didn't know anything, to be able to solve one question was already unprecedented.
Xu Wenzhao could almost imagine what would happen when he whipped Shen Lang.
He placed the ten questions in front of Shen Lang and said, "Remember, if you can answer three questions correctly, I won't pursue the matter. Otherwise, you will be whipped thirty times. If you can't even answer one question correctly, you will be whipped a hundred times!"
"Today, I will teach you what it means to respect your teacher and the art of arithmetic."