Struggle in Ancient Times

“I’ve listened to your lectures these days, I think you are a better teacher than me.” Teacher Li said while drinking with Liao Tingyu.

“That’s because teacher taught me well.” Liao Tingyu stood up and poured the wine for Teacher Li.

“You don’t have to be so humble. Being better is good.” Teacher Li shook his head, “The greatest achievement for a teacher was having a capable student more than himself.”

Liao Tingyu adjusted his mentality, “Yes, the student has been taught.”

“It’s good for you to be modest. You don’t think too much in your heart. Don’t be like an old man when you are young.” Teacher Li looked at Liao Tingyu seriously.

Liao Tingyu just sat there like a child being scolded.

“Tingyu, you are my favourite student. Teacher couldn’t say much, but the child first teacher was his father. Your father couldn’t do it but this teacher will do.” Teacher Li promised righteously.

“You like to play with that Huang Hao because he was cheerful. You be kind to him, there will be countless betrayal and regret, with a friend by your side. You wouldn’t suffer much; you still don’t get it now. When you are old, you will understand that friends and family were the best wealth in your life. Back then, when I was young, my classmate…”

Teacher Li might be drunk but he sat upright and talked eloquently about his own affairs. Liao Tingyu looked at his face which was full of youthful spirit. He was full of excitement to talk about his past, Liao Tingyu thought he could almost saw the young teacher Li surrounded by his friends.

.

Every parent always concerned about their children’s study. As soon as the students got home, they were dragged by their parents and asked about their school life. How was the first day? How was the master? And how was the food?

When the students in Liao Tingyu’s class returned home, they told their parents, “We have a teacher who was a few years older than us. I heard he was a scholar admitted this year. He taught us about arithmetic. Father, mother, you don’t know, he also used peanuts as example.”

As he talked, he taught his parents or siblings about the method he got from Liao Tingyu. This method was really good, people who didn’t know anything, could understand it a little bit. The ten fingers were useless, then they could count with melon seeds. They didn’t need to use abacus, that thing was too hard to understand. (Also, expensive to buy!)

This trick was summed up through human wisdom over thousands of years. Liao Tingyu just taught this trick a head of their times.

After his first class, Liao Tingyu was respected by his students and made him famous again in the school. He didn’t need to use the ruler or anything like that, just a glance from him was enough to scare these little kids.

Liao Tingyu looked at the well-behaved children who were studying well with him, each of them was a good seedling!

“Everyone is studying hard these days. I brought some peanut candies with me, go get it one by one. These are the reward from me.” Liao Tingyu said with a smile.