Zheng Zhong knew that his father also dreamed of being able to raise more excellent students from their academy, so after talking to Su Nuo today he had immediately become intrigued. That was why he was so curious about Su Tang. After all, if Su Nuo’s knowledge was really taught by Su Tang, then she should have some amazing teaching methods that their academy could reference.
However, Zheng Li only sighed when he heard his son’s wild speculations, “I understand what you want to accomplish, but Su Yongnuo’s sister is just a little girl. How could she have any sort of special teaching methods? Don’t waste your time thinking about this sort of thing. So long as you study hard, you will be able to pass the Recommended Man exam, and our Qinghe Town Academy will be able to gain some reputation.”
Zheng Li didn’t believe that Su Nuo was really taught by Su Tang. And even if Su Nuo really was taught by her, Zheng Li didn’t believe that a nine-year-old girl would have any special method she could impart, rather it should just be a coincidence. For instance, perhaps Su Nuo was just a born genius. After all, there truly were children out there that were born exceptionally smart and able to learn, probably Su Nuo was just one of those.
Zheng Zhong could only fall silent. He knew that his father had already been disappointed too many times over the years, so he had lost his drive and willingness to take these sorts of risks. However, as he looked in the direction where Su Tang and her brother disappeared, he couldn’t help but feel a stir of hope in his heart despite his father’s pessimism. Why not just ask her and see? Maybe that small girl really had some secret methods up her sleeves?
Meanwhile, Su Tang followed the Class B teacher over to his classroom. Although Qinghe Town was a bit backward as a whole, the environment in the academy was still pretty good. The room was being warmed by a charcoal stove, so it wasn’t cold, and there were a few students already in the room studying diligently.
Having finally arrived at his classroom, Su Nuo sent his sister a final reluctant look before following the teacher inside with his small bookbag. He had promised his sister that he would study hard and take the examinations until he could become a big official, so he knew that he couldn’t try to cling to her here. He could only face forward bravely.
As Su Tang watched Su Nuo reluctantly disappearing into the classroom, she also inexplicably felt a vague sense of disquiet in her heart. After a moment she shook her head and smirked. This novel feeling, like she was an old mother sending her child off to kindergarten for the first time, made her feel a bit amused.
At this moment the orange cat finally returned. When he arrived, he happened to see the half-laughing Su Tang, and was stunned to realize that his master also had a silly side. He hmphed.
Hearing that, Su Tang immediately wiped the smirk off her face and looked over with an expression that screamed: ‘Is there a Divine Beast around that’s looking for a beating?’
The orange cat immediately turned timid and began to report, ‘That Teacher Zheng just now…’ He quickly told Su Tang all about the conversation between Zheng Li and Zheng Zhong just now.
Su Tang had felt that it was a little strange how Zheng Zhong had come over to talk to her just now, but she didn’t know what the other party was thinking. Thus, she had sent the orange cat over to take a look while she took her brother off to his classroom.
As a result, now she understood that Zheng Zhong was thinking of asking her for her ‘special teaching methods’. Su Tang really didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry when she heard this. Obviously, this Zheng Zhong was just thinking too much. After all, she hadn’t thought too much about it when she had been teaching Su Nuo, and there definitely weren’t any ‘secret methods’. She had just relayed some of the simple teaching methods her own teachers had used when she was a child. Wasn’t it just common sense that you couldn’t expect anything good from forcing small children to learn by rote memorization?
Even Song Yi hadn’t tried such a method. Of course, after discovering that she was a ‘genius’ he had completely changed the format of their lessons until they were more like discussions where she would learn by directly exchanging views with him, but even before that, it wasn’t as if he had tried to have her learn by rote. Obviously, if a teacher wanted to succeed they would need to approach their students according to each individual student’s aptitude and be flexible with their teaching methods, right?
Su Tang naturally assumed that all teachers would have this understanding, but unexpectedly this academy seemed to rely entirely on rote memorization?
However, knowing that Zheng Zhong had no other thoughts, Su Tang was able to breathe a sigh of relief. Anyway, so long as Song Yi’s existence wasn’t exposed, anything else was fine. After all, Song Yi was actually that Imperial Preceptor Zhong Wen who had even taught the emperor!
The orange cat also understood there was no threat from Zheng Zhong, so he casually leaped up onto Su Tang’s shoulder. As they walked out of the academy, he suddenly said something else. ‘It seems that the imprint I left behind finally had a reaction. From the smell, it should be that two-legged beast called Madam Wu.’
Su Tang took a moment to process what the orange cat was saying, but after a moment, she understood. Back then when Su Tang had run into Su Yongshun’s family shortly before the new year, there had been someone stalking her and she had tasked the orange cat with finding out who it was. Now, it seemed she finally had a result.
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