Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Jiang Jibai looked at the two hands outstretched in front of him. One was shaped like a fan, with large joints and calluses, clearly belonging to a farmer who often did farm work. The other was fair and slender, smooth as jade, with only small, barely noticeable calluses on the ring finger, caused by holding a pen for a long time.

The troublemaking young master was educated and probably quite diligent.

Jiang Jibai looked away, picked up the branch again, and said to the farmer, "I won't let you take his place, nor will I punish him. You go back to your line."

Upon hearing this, the farmer gave Qin Ji a caring smile, "The master has spared you, so hurry up and thank him."

Qin Ji felt a chill run down his spine after hearing Jiang Jibai's words, but he still held onto the other half of his determination to pursue his long-cherished wish. "If you don't punish them, sir, wouldn't that break the rules... How can we convince these farmers?"

As soon as he opened his mouth, the farmers could tell that this was not the fool from the Qian family. Not only was he not foolish, but he even spoke in a refined manner, unlike them, and sounded like someone who had been to school.

"Isn't this just playing with people?"

"Old Li, you shouldn't have pleaded for him. If the teacher had punished him severely with a few strokes of the cane, he would have learned his lesson."

Qin Ji's ears twitched. Who said that last sentence?

I love to hear it, please say more.

Looking at the expectant young man in front of him, Jiang Jibai momentarily wondered if the news of his presence had already leaked.

Because of his reputation, Jiang Jibai has seen far too many students over the years who have resorted to all sorts of tricks to become his disciples. Some play the emotional card, some offer bribes, some threaten to hang themselves if they disagree, and some insist they've been accepted as his disciples after being hit on the hand. The tricks are endless.

While we cannot definitively say for sure what's in front of us, it certainly does resemble the fourth type.

Jiang Jibai gave him a polite rebuff, saying, "You've neither learned to count from me nor are you illiterate. I have no reason to punish you. Please leave."

Unexpectedly, Qin Ji stepped aside and gestured for them to continue. "It's harvest time now, and I don't want to take up too much of the farmers' time. Please continue, sir, but could you please let me know what to do after you're done?"

They didn't cause any trouble, and they knew that the autumn harvest was a big deal, so they were quite sensible. Jiang Jibai withdrew his gaze and continued to test the remaining people.

Qin Ji simply broke off a tree branch as well. "If you don't mind, sir, I'll be the examiner. You can punish their hands with a ruler; that way it'll be faster. Consider it my apology for the time we just wasted."

Since I'm offering to help, asking for a handprint isn't unreasonable, is it?

Jiang Jibai remained noncommittal, which Qin Ji took as tacit agreement, and he took the initiative to help test the remaining farmers.

Now, all those who lined up in front of Jiang Jibai were people who couldn't answer the questions and came to receive punishment. Jiang Jibai took them down one by one, not caring at all that he was acting like a thug.

While testing the farmers, Qin Ji would occasionally glance at Jiang Jibai, watching the burly farmers walk back with their hands clasped in their hands, his eyes red with envy.

With one more person sharing the work, efficiency naturally increases significantly, and the work is completed even earlier than before.

After the farmers dispersed, Qin Ji immediately approached them and took the initiative, saying, "Nowadays, most scholars in the world think highly of themselves, considering the common people to be illiterate and uncouth, and that associating with them is beneath their dignity. I came here and heard that you, sir, have been teaching farmers to count for two months, treating them all equally and without any arrogance. I suppose you are a person who teaches without discrimination, so I became curious and came forward to test you. But it would be wrong of me to tease you, so..."

Qin Ji deliberately emphasized the pronunciation of the word "tease" to make sure that the person in front of him could hear it clearly.

Did you hear that? It's mockery! I'm mocking you!

Are you angry? No need to hold back, come at me, I can handle it.

"So I want to show my sincerity." Qin Ji extended his hand again. "Sir, please don't stand on ceremony. You are welcome to teach me anything."

You claim to teach all without discrimination? Hurry up and teach me!

They start by commenting on scholars everywhere, saying they are either from privileged backgrounds and used to speaking from a superior perspective, or they are arrogant and self-righteous, or both.

As for the word "戏弄" (xi nong), which is pronounced with special emphasis to stimulate the nerves.

It sounds like a teenager's smugness, but it's actually full of inflammatory remarks, as if he wants to get a few more slaps on the hand.

Iron-clad extortionists, if you hit them, they might blame their own sect and refuse to leave. That's how Jiang Jibai's second disciple came to be. Just looking at him is a headache. I don't want to have another third disciple who's even more difficult to deal with.

Jiang Jibai put away the ruler. "You know very well what's going on. I don't have anything to teach you. Please leave."

Qin Ji stared in disbelief as the ruler that had been swung around and was smoking earlier that day was put back into the box when it came to his turn.

You're supposed to be a great fighter, aren't you? Why are you so weak against me?

I even helped you with your work, you owe me a slap on the hand, and you're not allowed to leave!

"Until we meet again." Jiang Jibai jumped onto the carriage before Qin Ji could come up and pull him away, kicking up dust as the carriage wheels kicked up a cloud of ash on Qin Ji's face.

Qin Ji: "..."

Damn it! If you've got the guts, leave your name, or I'll exterminate your entire family!