Chapter 48  : Get Out of the Way, The Pretty Boy Is Going To Get Punished

Moreover, Shen Lang finally managed to portray an image in his mother-in-law’s mind, which asked for forgiveness for demanding freedom. Now, because of Xu Wenzhao, he had to ask her for help. In that case, Shen Lang’s image would be destroyed.

Xu Wenzhao was the relative of his mother-in-law. If Shen Lang asked her for help, wouldn’t it make things difficult for her?

How could he make a leader’s life difficult? Did he still want to live?

Therefore, Shen Lang sat back in his position and waited patiently for Xu Wenzhao to arrive with his father-in-law.

“Are you still not running for your life?” asked Jin Mucong, “then nobody will be able to save you later.”

Indeed, after a few minutes, hurried footsteps were heard.

“Sir, I cannot teach anymore. I have never seen someone who has no manners like him.”

Xu Wenzhao’s voice could be heard from a distance away.

The students in the room stood upright and waited in excitement.

They were waiting to watch the drama.

“The Dayan dynasty is most particular about respecting teachers. However, Shen Lang is so daring and disrespectful,” said Xu Wenzhao angrily, “his actions could influence his peers and ruin the reputation of the Palace of the Earl. His actions should not be forgiven. Sir, please punish him, or people will learn from him.”

Shen Lang was speechless.

“Xu Wenzhao, even if you don’t like me, can’t you hold it in and wait for an opportunity to sabotage me? Wait for me to make a grave mistake and get evicted from the Palace of the Earl.”

“Even if I get 30 whips today, it is merely just you venting your anger and does not solve your problem.”

The Earl came to Shen Lang and said coldly, “What’s happening? You can make mistakes outside, but why are you acting like this in the family?”

After saying that, he tightened his grip on the whip.

He was a conservative and stubborn person. Once conflicts happened between teachers and students, it was definitely the student’s fault, and he would hit them before listening to their explanation.

Jin Mucong had been hit countless times. Whenever the teacher complained, he would get hit.

Therefore, the fatty son of the Earl was extremely obedient in front of teachers.

The Earl said, “Shen Lang, if you don’t explain yourself, then don’t blame me for hitting you.”

Thirty whips seemed to be inescapable.

Shen Lang said, “Father-in-law, I did not do anything wrong!”

“Sir, look, he is not willing to admit his mistake. He is hopeless,” said Xu Wenzhao.

Shen Lang said, “Mister Xu, did I talk with other people in your lesson?”

“Hmph,” said Xu Wenzhao.

Shen Lang said, “Then did I read other books or sleep on the table?”

“Hmph,” said Xu Wenzhao.

Shen Lang said, “Since I did not do any of those, why are you saying that I am disrespectful?”

Xu Wenzhao said, “When I had my lesson, you were not paying attention. That is a disrespectful act. Your teacher is educating the students, and yet you are not paying attention; isn’t that disobedience?”

“Mathematics is not examined in the imperial examination; why does the Palace of the Earl still want us to learn it?” said Shen Lang, “a perfect gentleman should master the Six Arts: rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and Mathematics. Not only can we understand economics after learning Mathematics, but we can also understand the changes on Earth. We emphasize on Mathematics because of the master’s far-sightedness.”

After saying that, the tension on the Earl’s face disappeared.

Although my son-in-law is mischievous, he really understands me.

Shen Lang said, “Mister Xu teaches us Mathematics; I respect him a lot. There’s no way I would disrespect him in any form.”

Xu Wenzhao said, “I am teaching while you are daydreaming, and now, you talk about respect? What nonsense.”

Shen Lang said, “Mister Xu, that is because the content you taught is straightforward, and I have understood all of them already. If I pretend to listen attentively, I will be wasting my time. That is even more disrespectful to you. Therefore, based on your teaching, I am trying to connect and link to other topics. That is the purpose of learning and respect.”

The students nearby were stunned.

Shen Lang was really good at talking. However, why did his nonsense sound logical?

“Hahahaha…” Xu Wenzhao laughed loudly, “The Mathematics I am teaching is easy?”

Shen Lang said earnestly, “Yes, it is too simple.”

Xu Wenzhao said, “So you know how to do everything in the lesson I am teaching?”

Shen Lang said even more earnestly, “Not only do I know how to do everything, but I can also do them extremely effortlessly.”

Xu Wenzhao laughed again and said, “Brat, you took ten years in the Hanshui Town College and did not even clear it. You have not even encountered Mathematics before, and you are saying that you know everything that I am teaching? What a liar! How funny.”

Xu Wenzhao was extremely confident about this.

Although Mathematics was known as one of the Six Arts, since it was not examined in the imperial examination, nobody cared about it.

Moreover, the teachers who taught in the school where Shen Lang studied did not know Mathematics either.

There were less than ten people who were skilled in Mathematics in Xuanwu City. Xu Wenzhao was the best.

Other things could be self-taught. However, if no teachers taught Mathematics, it was impossible to learn them.

Therefore, Shen Lang was definitely lying and bragging about it. How foolish.

Then, Xu Wenzhao said, “Since you said you understand everything, I shall give you ten questions. If you answer three of them, that means you have really understood what I have taught, and I will not punish you.

“If you cannot answer three of them, you will get 30 whips.

“Moreover, if you cannot even answer one of them, that means that you don’t understand Mathematics at all and are lying. Since you are a liar, you shall get 100 whips! How about that?”

When he said that, the Earl frowned.

He felt that Xu Wenzhao was being overboard and said, “Shen Lang, apologize to Mister Xu, and I shall let this matter pass. In the future, don’t lose focus in class.”

“Fine, father-in-law indeed likes me.”

Jin Mucong was shocked. His father was not like that. He was extremely mean and cruel and would hit him whenever his teacher complains.

How could Shen Lang get away with just an apology?

The Earl was very conservative and stubborn, but he was not blind.

Of course, he knew why Xu Wenzhao did that to Shen Lang. It was because his nephew, Wang Lian, did not become the son-in-law of the Earl.

However, Xu Wenzhao was a senior in the Palace of the Earl and had helped with the palace’s finances for over 20 years. The Earl depended on him a lot and had to give him some face.

Xu Wenzhao was agitated. Apologizing was not enough. He had to punish Shen Lang so he could vent his anger.

Yesterday, when he returned home, his wife and sister blamed him for letting Wang Lian lose to a useless brat.

Suddenly, Xu Wenzhao said, “Sir, if he can get away with apologizing, then all the students will learn from him, and the manners of the students in the Palace of the Earl would be affected.”

Shen Lang suddenly said, “Nothing will happen to me if I get three questions correct, right?”

“Yes,” said Xu Wenzhao, “as long as you get three questions correct, you have proven that you understood the contents of my lesson.”

Shen Lang said, “What if I get all ten correct?”

“Impossible, stop daydreaming,” said Xu Wenzhao, “mathematics is complicated. Don’t think you can ever understand it and appreciate it. If you get five questions correct, you have proven that you don’t need me to teach you, and I will publicly apologize to you.”

“Deal,” Shen Lang bowed and said, “Father-in-law, you will be the witness. Mister, you will be the witness. All the students will be the witness.”

The Earl was about to scold Shen Lang for fooling around.

However, the Mister who taught “Yi Jing” smiled and said, “Sure, I will be the witness.” 1

The old Mister was over 70 years old. Not only was he the teacher of Jin Mucong, but he was also the teacher of the Earl. Since he had spoken, the Earl could not refuse.

“Hmph,” the Earl glared at Shen Lang said, “since you said it, don’t blame me for being heavy on your punishment later.”

Xu Wenzhao said, “Since I am the teacher, I shall be the one conducting the punishment.”

He was afraid that the Earl would take it easy on him and hence wanted to do it himself. He would make sure Shen Lang gets a well-deserved beating.

The Earl was about to say no.

However, Shen Lang bowed and said, “Please write your questions, Mister Xu.”

“Hmph!” The Earl was unhappy.

“Shen Lang, too bad… you don’t know your limits.”

“I know that you have an exceptional memory. However, one can’t learn anything from Mathematics without a few years of foundation.”

Xu Wenzhao was extremely good at Mathematics. It was impossible to beat him.

…

Xu Wenzhao was proud of himself. He went to his table and began to set the questions.

Of course, he would set difficult questions and make sure Shen Lang could not solve any of them.

Then, he could whip Shen Lang for 100 times and torture him.

Xu Wenzhao knew that the Earl was trying to side with Shen Lang. If he hit 100 times, the Earl would be unhappy.

So what? Xu Wenzhao’s future was bleak. Why should he hold back?

Moreover, all the accounts of the Palace of the Earl were in his hands. The Earl could not live without him.

Therefore, he was not afraid.

For half an hour, Xu Wenzhao used all his brain juice to concoct ten difficult questions.

Every question was more difficult than the previous one!

Xu Wenzhao was confident that everyone in the classroom could not solve the first question.

Not many people in Xuanwu City would be able to solve it.

However, that was the easiest question.

The following questions were so complicated that one would turn purple just by looking at it.

Some of the questions were obtained from Mathematics books. Ordinary people would not be able to understand them at all.

It would be a miracle for Shen Lang, an uneducated brat, to solve one question.

Xu Wenzhao could imagine the scene of Shen Lang being whipped.

He brought the ten questions over to Shen Lang and said, “Remember, three questions, and I will let you off. Or else, 30 whips. If you can’t solve any, 100 whips!

“Today, I will teach you how to be respectful and what Mathematics is!”

Xu Wenzhao thought, “Young man, don’t think you can do anything you like just because you are handsome. You are too young to fight against me. I shall make sure you learn your lesson later.”

***