#25 - Chapter 25 Literacy

Having settled in Sishui Street for half a month, Cheng Feng and Cai'er have become somewhat familiar with the surroundings.

Sometimes Cai'er goes out to buy groceries and exchanges greetings with the neighbors.

It's a pity that Cheng Feng hasn't had time to go home for a visit; he had planned to go back every seven days!

Today there is a major event to take care of.

He needs to find a teacher to teach him how to read and write.

Cheng Feng had already inquired and found out that there was a teacher two streets over in Sishui Street who taught literacy for a tuition fee of one tael of silver.

However, the martial arts school has periodic assessments, and before mastering the 'Fixed Horse Stance,' Cheng Feng wouldn't dare to mess around.

Now that he has grasped the basics of the 'Fixed Horse Stance,' as long as he and Cai'er are happy and joyful in bed, he can gain experience without any worries.

Cheng Feng calculated that one hundred points would advance him to the 'Proficient' level.

Based on two times a day,

one month plus twenty days should be enough.

For the sake of his health,

add another ten days to space out the sessions and rest.

This is enough to advance the 'Fixed Horse Stance' from 'Entry Level' to 'Proficient' in two months.

This timeframe is neither too fast nor too slow, just average!

Cheng Feng had also observed the three-month assessment of the other people in the martial arts school; only three out of twenty passed, and they were considered true outer disciples.

It's not as simple as just entering the school.

Cheng Feng estimates that it requires at least the 'Proficient' level.

Smooth and unhindered, natural rhythm, every move as natural as breathing.

These are the evaluation criteria of the assessment master.

Currently, Cheng Feng and the other newcomers are at most considered peripheral disciples.

Cheng Feng walked past two streets and arrived at the teacher's house, gently knocking on the door.

After a while, the door opened, and a middle-aged man poked his head out, looking Cheng Feng up and down.

Cheng Feng quickly explained his purpose and presented one tael of silver as tuition.

The middle-aged teacher nodded but didn't accept the silver. He invited Cheng Feng into the house and then asked, "Why did you miss your early education?"

The education of children is called enlightenment.

Cheng Feng didn't hide anything: "My family was poor when I was young, and our financial situation has only recently improved."

The middle-aged teacher nodded.

"My surname is Liu. How may I address you, young sir?"

Cheng Feng gave his name: "My name is Cheng Feng."

Mr. Liu said frankly: "I'm afraid Mr. Cheng has made a wasted trip. I have been busy with family affairs and haven't taught for nearly two years."

Cheng Feng was disappointed: "May I ask, sir, where can I find someone to teach me to read?"

Mr. Liu stroked his beard and said slowly: "Mr. Cheng, rest assured, although the world is not at peace, it is not so bad that there is nowhere for people to learn to read."

He then gave Cheng Feng directions to another place, saying: "This man, Lin You, lives in the North District. I heard that his family has had some troubles and urgently needs money. One tael of silver should be enough for tuition."

Cheng Feng thanked him. The information he had gathered was outdated.

News certainly travels slowly in this ancient society.

Mr. Liu waved his hand casually: "I have always favored those who are eager to learn. I wish there were more and more people like you seeking knowledge in the world."

"So he is a man with the world in his heart," Cheng Feng couldn't help but admire.

He himself couldn't be a hero, but that didn't stop Cheng Feng from admiring heroes. He cupped his fist and said, "Sir, you are righteous."

After exchanging a few more words with Mr. Liu, Cheng Feng left.

Following the address given by Mr. Liu, he arrived in the North District.

"Tianzheng Street, Lane Five, Number Three."

Cheng Feng found the door number and knocked on the door.

An old man in a blue robe came to open the door.

He glanced at Cheng Feng and asked, "What is it?"

"My name is Cheng Feng. I have come to seek knowledge and learn to read," Cheng Feng replied respectfully, handing over one tael of silver.

The old man stepped aside and led Cheng Feng into the house, heading towards the main hall.

The two sat down, and Lin You discussed Cheng Feng's general situation.

He agreed to teach him, as his family did indeed have needs and illnesses.

They needed silver to buy medicine.

He wasn't polite and remained calm.

Cheng Feng followed the old teacher to the classroom and saw neat desks, chairs, and books inside. Most of the students were children, with a few older ones about the same age as Lao San.

Ignoring the children's strange gazes,

Cheng Feng was filled with anticipation.

Lin You's classroom welcomed an older student.

"From now on, you will sit here and study," the old teacher pointed to an empty seat.

After Cheng Feng sat down, the old teacher began the lesson.

But Cheng Feng felt that the efficiency was a bit slow.

These children absorb information slowly, but his, an adult's, speed of absorbing knowledge is not slow.

He couldn't possibly waste time here day after day with the children, could he?

After all, he had paid the money.

After finishing a lesson, Cheng Feng raised this issue with Mr. Lin.

Of course, the solution was simple.

Cheng Feng applied to Lin You for private tutoring, just to learn to read and understand the meaning of words and sentences, separating his time from the children's. Of course, small group classes were more expensive, and Cheng Feng reluctantly added another tael to speed things up.

Then, he mentioned wanting to borrow some books from Lin You to read at home.

Lin You could accept private tutoring for Cheng Feng, but borrowing books to take home was absolutely unacceptable.

Not even if Cheng Feng paid.

At this time, Cheng Feng realized that books in the Great Zhou Dynasty were very expensive.

The circulation of knowledge was very difficult.

It could only be transmitted face to face.

Books could be said to be family heirlooms for scholars.

Since they were family heirlooms, they naturally couldn't be lent out.

But Lin You gave a compromise solution: he could copy books at his house.

Cheng Feng thought that was acceptable too.

This way, he could also have a few books at home.

Later, he could teach Cai'er or Lao San.

Although Cheng Feng knew nothing about the script of the Great Zhou Dynasty, he studied very diligently, constantly asking the old teacher questions.

Time passed quickly, and a month passed in the blink of an eye. Cheng Feng's skill experience continued to increase through the Fortune Points he obtained daily from his lovemaking with Zhang Cai'er, and his literacy skills also made significant progress.

In this process, Cheng Feng also gradually learned about the culture and history of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and he began to develop a deeper interest in this era.

Lin You's family had a copy of "Historical Mirror".

According to the book, before the Great Zhou Dynasty, there was the Great Qian Dynasty, and before the Great Qian Dynasty, there was the Great Shang Dynasty. Before the Great Shang Dynasty, there was the chaos of various kingdoms, and before that, in ancient times, there were powerful deities between heaven and earth, and the human race lived in tribes scattered everywhere.

But there were also conflicts and wars between the deities.

So, with relatives on your side and children on mine, the battles began.

The book described the deities as having unusual appearances, extraordinary statures, and remarkable abilities.

In Cheng Feng's view, that was truly just a legend.

The humans around, who still had tribal systems, struggled to survive, seeking the protection of the deities.

Most deities looked down on the weak humans.

But there were always some kind deities willing to protect them.

Even more so, deities and humans combined to give birth to offspring.

And the wars between the deities were unavoidable, and humans were also affected.

Later, no one knows who won, but in the end, they left the barren land after the war to the humans.

And so began the inheritance from generation to generation.

The human races in these various territories began to develop together, transitioning from a tribal system to a feudal system.

Then there was the chaotic war of various large and small kingdoms,

and after thousands and thousands of years, they finally ushered in a great unification, which was the Great Shang Dynasty.

After thousands of years, the Great Shang Dynasty began to fall into chaos, and the Great Qian Dynasty rose.

After another two thousand years, chaos was reborn, and the Great Zhou Dynasty rose. Now, the nation has also been established for nearly two thousand years.