This is terrible! My future prime minister keeps trying to kiss me forcibly.

Seeing that the old man in front of him was keeping him in suspense and his impatience was not hidden on his face, Master Lin cursed directly, which made him feel a sense of satisfaction.

"How...how can you, as a teacher, be so rude?"

When Master Du heard Master Lin's words, his eyes widened in disbelief.

Master Lin rolled his eyes: "Say what you mean to whomever you talk. What? Aren't you going to fart?"

Master Du nearly choked on his breath, his finger trembling as he pointed at Master Lin.

"you you you you......"

"What do you mean, 'what do you mean, 'what do you mean'? Speak up!" Master Lin frowned, looking at Master Du who was panting heavily. He wondered who was getting old, humph!

After a long while, Master Du continued:

"His Majesty has granted special permission to hold the imperial examinations next year, instead of waiting two more years. We'll see then—"

"Alright, alright!" Master Lin waved his hand, dismissing the guests.

I thought it was something serious, just this?

His son-in-law came over yesterday specifically to tell him.

"Do you dare to compete?" Master Du had not yet achieved his goal, so how could he give up so easily?

Master Lin wasn't afraid of him, and glanced at him sideways: "What are you competing in? What are you using as the stakes?"

"Let's not compete in the distant future. Let's see whose students can pass the imperial examination next year. If we each have students who pass, we'll compare the number of students who pass. The loser will have to lead all his students to the other school and bark like a dog."

Master Du was certain that Master Lin would lose to him, so he made a bet with the intention of humiliating his opponent.

"it is good!"

Master Lin readily agreed, "So what if you bark like a dog? I'll let you bark to your heart's content!"

Seeing that the other party had agreed to the contest, Master Du had achieved his goal for the day and left humming a song.

......

When Master Lin returned to the school, he was deeply gratified to see the children who were completely unaffected.

As expected of his chosen student, he has impressive composure.

Then, he told the students about the bet he made with Master Du.

"Huh? Master, why did you agree to him? If we lose, we'll have to bark like dogs."

A young boy sitting in the corner didn't quite understand the teacher's actions.

If you lose, you have to bark like a dog, how embarrassing would that be!

I wish I hadn't come to school.

He told his father not to send him to school, but his father insisted on sending him.

Sitting on a hard bench every day is boring, and besides, he has absolutely no interest in reading.

"Li Que, don't boost others' morale and diminish your own." Master Lin glanced at the child named Li Que.

He originally didn't want to take the child in, but his father kept pestering him to let him try for a few days, so Master Lin reluctantly agreed.

After a few days, he slept in class and played with grass after class, not focusing on his studies at all. Teacher Lin even wanted to find an opportunity to talk to his father and ask him to find another teacher, as he himself was not capable enough to teach him.

Li Que's father was the owner of the Yipinju Restaurant in town.

When Manager Li heard that Master Lin was recruiting students again, he wanted his son to give it a try. Although he knew his son wasn't cut out for studying, he thought, "If I don't push him, who knows?"

Li Que gave a light scoff.

"Master, do you think any of us will be able to pass the imperial examination and become a scholar next year?"

Master Lin glanced at the students and said, “Since I have agreed to your request, it means I am confident and have faith in you.”

"Tch! Master, you might as well just say you have faith in He Wuyou. It's not fair that you're putting the rest of us's pride on him!"

"What if he fails the imperial examination and loses the competition? Wouldn't we lose face along with him?"

Lu Shi'an couldn't stand it anymore and rolled his eyes at Li Que.

"Then you should study hard and catch up on your missed lessons, and give it your all. Stop whining here."

Without turning his head, He Wuyou said, "Placing your hopes on others is the most foolish thing to do."

"Exactly! Either do it yourself, or shut up!" Little girl He Wuyang chimed in.

You think you can bully his second brother? No way!

Master Lin glared at the good-for-nothing boy: "They're right. Either he grits his teeth and passes the exam, or you pray every day that he passes!"

After hearing the Master's words, Li Que glanced in He Wuyou's direction, his eyes filled with even more resentment.

Although he hadn't attended school for more than a few days, the teacher clearly treated He Wuyou differently.

What others had to write twenty times, He Wuyou only needed to write five times. Moreover, the teacher always greeted He Wuyou and his friends with a smile, showing them preferential treatment.

In addition, he overheard his father saying that recently, the business of their Yipinju restaurant had been taken away by the newly opened Shuiyunjian restaurant, and the person in charge of Shuiyunjian now was He Wuyou's older brother.

snort!

Li Que glared fiercely at He Wuyou.

The He brothers were his nemesis. Not only did they steal his business, but they also dominated him at school.

"Hmph! What future could he possibly have? His family used to make a living by hunting, relying on my restaurant to sell their game to them."

When Li Que mentioned this, a sense of superiority suddenly arose in his heart.

Master Lin frowned and glared. This kid was too competitive and jealous. His mind was not on his studies at all. He would find an opportunity to make this kid drop out of school! Otherwise, there would be endless trouble in the future.

He said earnestly:

"I admit, I do favor He Wuyou more, and that's absolutely true. I adore this child. He's diligent in his studies, quick to ask questions, intelligent, neither arrogant nor humble, and always polite. Tell me, which teacher wouldn't like him?"

"But there's one thing I want to clarify. What I teach each of you is the same, without any bias. How much you learn and understand is up to you."

"Furthermore, once you enter the school, I will treat everyone the same, regardless of whether your family is hunters or shop owners."

"If you want me to look at you differently, then show me some real talent."

"Let your abilities speak for themselves!"

However, before Master Lin could expel Li Que from school, Li Que himself caused a mess.

During a break between classes that day, after Li Que returned from relieving himself, he suddenly exclaimed that one of his ancestral jade pendants was missing.

"My jade pendant is gone! Who stole my jade pendant?! That was my family heirloom jade pendant!"

Li Que called out while rummaging through his pockets and satchel, looking anxious.

When the students in the school saw him like this, they all tried to defend themselves.

"I was not in the classroom just now."

"I'm not here either, I went to pee."

"Me too, but when I came back, I saw that only He Wuyou was in the school."

This statement undoubtedly placed the suspicion of theft on He Wuyou.

In an instant, everyone's attention turned to He Wuyou.

He Wuyang stood in front of He Wuyou with his hands on his hips, and said angrily, "What do you mean? Are you accusing my brother of stealing?"

“We didn’t say that, but when I came back, I saw him alone in the school. There was no one else there.”

“Wu Yang is right. You can eat whatever you want, but you can’t say whatever you want!” Lu Shi’an said, supporting He Wu Yang.

A barely perceptible glint of triumph flashed in Li Que's eyes: "He Wuyou, I didn't expect you to be this kind of person. If you return the jade pendant to me now, I will not pursue this matter."

He Wuyou's face remained calm, showing no sign of being wronged or flustered by the slander, nor any anger whatsoever.

He put down the book in his hand, pulled He Wuyang and Lu Shi'an, who were blocking his way, aside, and said calmly:

"You accuse me of stealing your jade pendant, but did you see it with your own eyes? If you didn't see it with your own eyes, do you have any witnesses to prove that I took it?"

Li Que shoved the man out of the way: "He said he saw you alone in the school just now!"

He Wuyou turned his gaze to the man: "Did you see me take the jade pendant from him with your own eyes?"

"No...no, that's not the case."

“Just because he didn’t see it doesn’t mean you didn’t do it. After all, nobody knows what you were doing in there all by yourself.” Li Que insisted that He Wuyou had taken the jade pendant.

He Wuyou calmly asked, "Has anyone at the school seen your jade pendant?"

Li Que answered readily: "How can I easily show my ancestral treasure to others?"

It means that you people are not worthy to see my jade pendant.

He Wuyou remained calm and continued to ask, "If that's the case, how can you prove that you have such a piece of jade? After all, no one has ever seen it."