Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 21 Why Did You Give Me This Opportunity?
"Chunsheng, over here."

"Qian Zhongyu, pass the ball!"

"Shoot! Shoot!"

On the academy's playground, a dozen students were playing sepak takraw, while dozens of other students watched and discussed the game.

This novel sport is indeed eye-catching; at least anyone with good legs can get up and swing their legs a couple of times, resulting in high participation.

Of course, the most important thing is that Cuju (ancient Chinese football) has already become a legendary sport in the academy.

Seven days ago, Instructor Xu offended all the scholars present by his own efforts, and left behind the advice that one should be humble.

Later, there were rumors that there was something more important behind Cuju (ancient Chinese football), and it seemed that the academician's wife was going to select outstanding scholars from among them to be given important responsibilities.

So the students brainstormed and, with their half-baked knowledge of military strategy and their imagination, improved the game.

Today, they decided to use their achievements to fiercely retaliate against the blatant disrespect shown by certain individuals seven days ago.

"I want to compete with you" sounds a bit excessive, so "Although I know the road ahead is difficult, my heart yearns for it" is much more appropriate.

Just then, Instructor Xu, Madam Yin, and Professor Gu arrived at the edge of the field.

Everyone bowed, and Qian Zhongyu, a student representative with slicked-back hair and a powdered face, stepped forward.

Although this person has a slick and oily appearance, he still has some connections in terms of family background and learning.

The Qian family of Yuhang originated from Peng Zu, the seventh-generation descendant of the Yellow Emperor. Peng Zu's son, Jian Fu, served as a senior official in the Qian government in the capital of the Western Zhou Dynasty, and thus adopted "Qian" as his surname.

His talent earned him a reputation as a child prodigy even when he was studying at a primary school in his hometown.

They did not fall into the curse of child prodigies who are not necessarily successful as they grow up.

He once exchanged three lines with the education commissioner at Lou Wai Lou restaurant, and left behind seven famous poems by West Lake before going to Chongqi Academy to continue his studies.

Whether it was seeking out famous figures to enhance their reputation or finding people to spread their poems and articles, everything proceeded very smoothly.

It is the orthodox Jiangnan school of talented scholars.

The local Jintian Academy was furious about losing "Young Master Yu".

Other students, represented by Xie Yu, stepped forward.

The Xie family of Jiangnan is even more remarkable, tracing their lineage back to Jiang Ziya, a founding hero of the Zhou Dynasty.

The prime minister Xie An and general Xie Xuan both came from this clan. The "Xie" in the old saying "The swallows in front of the Wang and Xie halls" refers to this clan.

Xie Yu himself is even more legendary.

He was a branch that returned from the north and later merged into the Xie clan of Dongshan.

There are rumors of tiger killings in the north.

To save people, he sneaked into the cave, killed a litter of tiger cubs, and then stood guard at the cave entrance, severing the tiger's waist with a large knife. He was both brave and resourceful.

This man was a scholar personally summoned back by Lady Yin, and he enjoyed a very high reputation among the students.

The scholars of Chongqi Academy were already the best in Jiangnan, and those who could be considered representatives were the most outstanding among them.

In terms of talent and reputation, he is superior to Xu Xuan at this moment.

The two looked at each other after they walked out, and then bowed to each other as students.

"Please give me your guidance, Instructor Xu."

Then, a dozen students split into two teams, and a referee stood outside the field, completing a high-quality ball game in front of everyone.

The venue specifications, number of participants, and competition rules have all been adjusted very reasonably.

Xu Xuan couldn't help but admire the remarkable abilities of these scions of aristocratic families.

Only those who have experienced and witnessed this kind of game can recreate and improve upon it.

After the competition ended, Qian Zhongyu and Xie Yu led the other students to Instructor Xu.

"Excuse me, instructor, this is how you play Cuju."

At this moment, everyone present looked over, wondering whether the instructor would apologize immediately and lose his authority, or make excuses and lose his authority.

The professors shook their heads, after all, putting oneself on the scales of life is never the act of a wise person.

But without such determination and ruthlessness, how could one become a pioneer in the reform of the academy? This newcomer has indeed made many sacrifices for the reform efforts of the academician's wife.

The final conclusion was that Madam Yin wanted more money.

It's hard to find such a dedicated young man these days.

Xu Xuan, on the other hand, did not feel as humiliated; in fact, he was quite elated.

He was inwardly laughing hysterically, thinking, "Why do you all have to give me this chance to show off?"

They are also preparing to unleash a powerful weapon that they have been preparing for a long time.

This era appears to be the Jin Dynasty, but it only bears a few similarities to history, not to mention that it has produced almost no classic works in later generations.

This time, we have no choice but to act as cultural transporters.

Or, for Xu Xuan in later generations, this was no different from paying homage to the sages of the past.

Moreover, he would not covet the fame brought by this article.

Instructor Xu stepped forward and used a skill he had acquired after entering the Dao to make his blue robe flutter without wind, and his voice immediately echoed throughout the surrounding area.

"good, very good."

"We have seen the hard work of all the students."

"Moreover, seeing this scene moved me and reminded me of an article."

The students were dissatisfied, and they could be appeased with short stories during morning lessons. Was the same applied to the matter of Cuju (ancient Chinese football)?

Although it was meant as a game, the reputation of scholars was of utmost importance.

Seven days couldn't even restore a shred of dignity?
The professors also looked serious; Professor Xu had chosen a very bad method.

To know what you know, and to know what you don't know, that is true knowledge.

We cannot be perfunctory and evasive.

"There was a hermit in the north named Han Yu, courtesy name Tuizhi, from Heyang."

"He was intelligent from a young age, and even after becoming the headmaster of the academy, he remained humble and eager to learn."

"In a way, we are all teachers."

“Because people look down on teachers, there is a concept among the literati that they are unwilling to seek teachers and are ashamed to be teachers, which affects the teaching and management of the academy. I was heartbroken about this and wrote this article.”

"It was lost due to the chaos of war and never spread throughout the world. I was fortunate enough to obtain it, and I am sharing it with you all today so that we may learn from each other."

Instructor Xu is still very good at storytelling, explaining the cause and effect clearly in just a few words.

The students' resentment and the professors' dissatisfaction were temporarily suppressed.

"In ancient times, scholars always had teachers. Teachers were those who imparted knowledge, taught skills, and resolved doubts."

The students sneered; at this point, they were still trying to maintain their authority and even hold other professors hostage.

No one is born with knowledge; who can be without doubts? If one has doubts but does not seek a teacher, those doubts will never be resolved.

They started by making excuses, saying that humans are born with knowledge, and that it was just poor technique.

Those who were born before me, whose understanding of the Way is certainly prior to mine, I follow and learn from them; those who were born after me, whose understanding of the Way is also prior to mine, I follow and learn from them.

Upon hearing this, the students' expressions immediately changed.

Even the professor's expression changed.

If someone was born before me, they understand principles earlier than I do, so I should follow them and regard them as my teacher; if someone was born after me, they also understand principles earlier than I do, so I should also follow them and regard them as my teacher.

The first part of this sentence flatters the teacher, while the second part elevates many students to the same level as the teacher.

To put it simply, at least a third of the cultural heritage of Jiangnan was present, yet not a single one of them could have written such a statement.

My teacher is the Way; why should I care whether he was born before or after me?
I'm learning principles from him, so why should I care whether he was born earlier or later than me?
This statement is a complete admission of defeat, acknowledging that the students have surpassed him in this matter.

Therefore, regardless of rank or age, wherever the Way exists, there the teacher exists.

(End of this chapter)