Chapter 65: Teacher Wang

Cheng Siguang nodded and hurried off to the neighboring siheyuan to find Teacher Wang.

Before long, Teacher Wang was brought over by Cheng Siguang.

Given the times, when someone invited you for a meal, there was no reason to refuse. One less mouth to feed at home meant everyone else got to eat a little more. For someone like Teacher Wang, who didn’t earn much and had several mouths to feed, it was a no-brainer.

“Teacher Wang, long time no see!”

Seeing the thin, bespectacled old man before him, Zhou Yimin quickly stood up and fetched a seat for him.

In his memory, Teacher Wang wasn’t particularly aloof, but he also wasn’t like that greedy Teacher Yan from a certain TV series—the one who’d even taste-test sewage. Teacher Wang would accept gifts from students but wouldn’t hint at or demand them from parents.

He was a proper, by-the-book kind of person.

When Teacher Wang recognized Zhou Yimin, he was very pleased.

Lately, he’d been bragging quite a bit that Zhou Yimin was one of his star students. That newspaper article about Zhou Yimin? It had circulated not just in their alley but several nearby ones. As someone from the same neighborhood, and even more so as Zhou Yimin’s former teacher, Teacher Wang had every reason to be proud.

“So it’s Yimin! Outstanding. I read the article…”

Teacher Wang was chatting enthusiastically with Zhou Yimin.

“Ahem, Teacher Wang, these are my godsons, Shengli and Shengyi. Shengli, Shengyi, greet Teacher Wang,” Cheng Siguang took the chance to jump in while Teacher Wang paused for breath.

Only then did Teacher Wang remember—he’d been invited over for a reason.

“Hello, Teacher Wang!”

Teacher Wang smiled and nodded. “Good! So you’re Shengli? I heard from your godfather that you’re quite good at math. Let me test you a little.”

Actually, Teacher Wang thought Cheng Siguang was exaggerating, trying to make it easier for his godson to get into school. Schools did have a soft spot for talented students and were often willing to bend certain rules.

But out of courtesy, especially since he was staying for dinner, Teacher Wang wouldn’t call him out on it. He figured he’d toss out a couple of simple questions to give them some face.

After all, he’d already caught the scent of roast duck—and maybe lamb too.

Tsk tsk!

Cheng Siguang really had pulled out all the stops for his godsons.

That morning, Cheng Siguang had already sent him some “local specialties.” Clearly, he thought that wasn’t enough, so now he was hosting a feast.

Was Teacher Wang the kind of man who needed a fancy meal to be persuaded? Since he’d accepted the gift, no matter how big or small, he would do his best to help.

With or without the meal, his efforts would have been the same.

Seeing that Teacher Wang was about to quiz the boy, Cheng Siguang and Zhou Yimin both noticed he was probably going to throw some easy ones.

Cheng Siguang chuckled helplessly. “Teacher Wang, let’s go with something more challenging—at least two-digit multiplication or division.”

What kind of test was a single-digit addition?

Teacher Wang paused, then looked at Cheng Siguang, his expression saying, “Are you serious? Don’t say I made things hard if he gets embarrassed later.”

Zhou Yimin smiled. “Teacher Wang, the kid really has a gift for math. I already tested him earlier. Feel free to give him a tougher one.”

Hmm?

Even Zhou Yimin said so? Teacher Wang became half-convinced.

He took Cheng Siguang’s advice and gave a two-digit multiplication problem.

Shengli didn’t disappoint—he gave the correct answer in two or three seconds.

Teacher Wang was taken aback.

“How about 234 times 481?”

This three-digit multiplication problem—he himself could do it mentally, but not quickly. It happened to be on a recent test, and he remembered the answer.

“112,554, right?” Shengli said, not too confidently.

Zhou Yimin noticed it.

Even though Shengli always got the right answer, he still added a mental question mark at the end.

Teacher Wang was stunned.

Suddenly, his throat felt dry.

He turned to Cheng Siguang and asked, “Are you sure he’s never been to school?”

It just didn’t add up!

“He studied for a little over a year, back in the countryside. Then some things came up, and it got interrupted,” Cheng Siguang corrected him.

Teacher Wang remained skeptical and fired off a few more questions. The more he asked, the more delighted he looked.

“Good, good, good! Come with me to school first thing tomorrow morning. He can start directly in fourth grade,” Teacher Wang said, visibly excited.

Getting to recommend a student like this gave him a huge sense of pride.

Plus, he currently taught fourth grade himself. Naturally, he had his own selfish reasons—he wanted to be Shengli’s teacher, so he could proudly say in the future: “He was one of mine,” just like he did with Zhou Yimin.

Cheng Siguang was satisfied.

This was exactly what he wanted. He didn’t want Shengli wasting time starting over from grade one.

That would be a waste of his talent.

“Teacher Wang, I’ll have to trouble you.”

Teacher Wang waved his hand. “Don’t say that! With his mathematical talent, he could even handle fifth grade. But since he might need to catch up on other subjects, I suggest we start with fourth grade to keep things balanced.”

“Understood! We’ll follow your lead.”

They chatted for another half-hour, and finally, the food was served.

Roast duck, braised lamb, napa cabbage, and a pot of white rice.

Even during the New Year, Teacher Wang didn’t eat like this. It made him even more satisfied with how seriously Cheng Siguang took this request. Even if Shengli had been an average kid, he still would’ve done his best to help.

But with that kind of talent, any school would be eager to admit him.

“Look how skinny you are—Shengli, eat more.” Teacher Wang picked up food for Shengli, showing concern no less than Cheng Siguang, as if the kid were his own son.

Cheng Siguang: “…”

Teacher Wang, you’re crossing the line—you’re stealing my role here.

So he turned to Shengyi instead. “Shengyi, you eat too. Eat more.”

Huang Suqin called to Zhou Yimin, “Yimin, don’t be shy. Treat this like your own home.”

Zhou Yimin laughed. “Auntie Huang, I don’t even know how to write the word ‘shy.’”

Teacher Wang chimed in, “That’s true. This kid even came over to my place for food before.”

Uh—he did?

That was awkward.

Freeloading off the neighbors too? The original guy was something else.

After eating and sitting a bit longer, Zhou Yimin walked Teacher Wang out.

When they got to his own door, Zhou Yimin paused and said, “Teacher Wang, please wait a moment.”

He went inside and brought out a bottle of peanut oil, about two jin.

Setting aside the fact that Teacher Wang had taught the original Zhou Yimin, even just based on the fact that the guy had once let him freeload a meal, Zhou Yimin felt it was only right to send something in return.

He thought about it and decided peanut oil was best.

Right now, oil was something everyone wanted. Even if Teacher Wang’s family wasn’t well-off, they could probably still manage coarse grains, so oil would be more useful.

“Teacher Wang, please take this peanut oil home.”

“If you’re offering, then I’ll gladly accept.” Teacher Wang didn’t play coy.

He wasn’t new to receiving gifts. If someone gave him something, he took it. Unless he knew for a fact the student’s family was struggling, he wouldn’t refuse. Otherwise, not even the principal could stop him.

(End of Chapter)