Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 164: Sweet and Sour Candied Haws

Shen Yujing waited for someone to open the door, but there was no movement.

Shen Yu had no choice but to knock on the door again before he heard footsteps coming.

The door opened a crack, and a child who looked about the same age as Yu Cheng poked his head out from the crack and asked unhappily, "Who are you looking for? The Master is not here."

Having said that, he shrank back and was about to close the door.

Shen Yu quickly held the door with his hand, put on a gentle smile and asked, "Young man, where is Mr. Yang? When is the class?"

The boy stopped moving, stood up straight, opened the door wider, and said seriously: "I'm not calling this young man, my name is Yang Songtao, the teacher went to his great uncle's house."

"The teacher said that he would relax for a few days while the new students haven't arrived yet. You can come back in a few days."

After saying that, he was about to close the door again.

Shen Yu tried hard to keep smiling, reached out and took out a bright red and shiny candied haws wrapped in a crystal clear layer of rock sugar from the food box, and held it in front of little Yang Songtao.

After coming out of He's house, Shen Yu saw someone selling candied haws with a straw basket. The candied haws on the basket were big and red, and the sight of them made people drool.

Shen Yu thought that Yutao liked to eat this, so he bought a few and put them in a lunch box, preparing to take it back for her. Unexpectedly, they came in handy at this moment.

As soon as the candied haws appeared, Yang Songtao's eyes were immediately glued to them and couldn't be pulled away.

Shen Yu smiled and said, "Do you want to eat it? Sister will give it to you."

Yang Songtao stretched out his hand hesitantly, and when he was about to take it, he retracted it and shook his head, saying, "No, you don't have to ask me anything. Some things can be said and some cannot be said. I still don't want to eat it."

Having said that, I still couldn't resist the temptation and swallowed my saliva, trying hard to lower my eyelids and not look at the string of candied haws still in front of me.

Shen Yu took Yang Songtao's hand, put the bamboo stick of the candied haws in his hand, and said with a smile: "I will ask you two questions. If you can answer, then answer. If you can't, it doesn't matter. I will give you the candied haws anyway."

Although Yang Songtao tried hard to act like an adult, he was still a child after all. He squeezed the candied haws hard and asked, "Really? You'll give it to me even if you don't answer the question?"

Shen Yu nodded and said with a smile: "I want to ask you, when your teacher teaches students, do the students find the class very interesting and want to listen more and more, or do they not want to listen at all and can't help but fall asleep."

"Can students memorize the books taught by the Master quickly?"

Yang Songtao's eyes widened: "You only ask these two questions?"

Shen Yu still had a smile on his face: "Yes, can I tell you this?"

Yang Songtao raised his head and said, "Of course I can speak. I also follow the teacher's class. The teacher's lectures are very interesting. I never doze off. I can memorize the teacher's books very quickly because I can understand what the teacher says. Of course, I can memorize quickly."

Shen Yu remained calm and thought that Mr. Yang was quite good.

Shen Yu smiled and nodded, "Thank you, Yang Songtao. I understand. Mr. Yang will be back in a few days."

Yang Songtao bit off a large hawthorn candy ball, chewed it twice with a crunching sound, and his face wrinkled because of the sourness.

He shrank his neck, blinked his eyes and said, "It's delicious, sour and sweet."

"Our teacher didn't say when he would be back. If you have any urgent business, go to his great uncle's house to find him."

"My uncle lives in Hulu Lane in front of the East City Market. It's the third house inside."

After saying that, he started to crunch the translucent pieces of rock sugar on the candied haws.

The more Shen Yu listened, the more familiar it sounded. Yu Cheng next to him said, "Hey, isn't that Uncle Yang's house?"

The little boy stopped chewing the rock candy and said, "Oh, you know old man Yang, then you can just go over there, the master is helping the uncle plant flowers."

Shen Yu was delighted. It turned out that this Mr. Yang was the nephew of Mr. Yang. He could just ask Mr. Yang directly.

Shen Yu thanked Yang Songtao and said goodbye, and then asked with concern: "You are so young, are you here to look after the academy by yourself?"

Yang Songtao munched on the candied haws with a smile and shook his head: "There are also Uncle Qiu and Aunt Qiu, they are here with me. I am the teacher's servant. Uncle Qiu went to buy groceries and hasn't come back yet."

Shen Yu looked at Yang Songtao's innocent look and said, "Then hurry in, we are leaving."

Yu Cheng waved to him, and Yang Songtao waved the candied haws in his hand. He watched the two people walk away before closing the door and going in.

Shen Yu and Yu Cheng walked back for a while until they reached the city gate, where they found a mule cart carrying passengers.

It was almost noon at this time, and Shen Yu decided to go home first and then visit another Jinlu Academy in the afternoon.

When I got home, Li and her family had already gone to deliver the food.

Shen Yu and Yu Cheng took a short rest and then prepared to make lunch.

There were vegetables washed by Jiang in the kitchen.

Shen Yu followed Jiang's preparation and made a braised pork rib, a cold cucumber salad, a minced meat and tofu soup, a candied lotus root slice, a steamed scallion roll, and a pot of red bean sweet soup.

After the family had lunch, Shen Yu took out the candied haws from the lunch box and asked Yutao and the others to eat them. He then told Li about asking He about the school and going to Baihe Academy to take a look.

When Li heard that the teacher at Baihe School was Old Man Yang's nephew, she volunteered to take Yucheng to visit Old Man Yang's house.

See if Mr. Yang is there and ask if I can go to study.

Shen Yu was a little hesitant, after all, he had not been to Jinlu Academy yet.

How can you know which one is better without comparing them?

Jiang also thought that it would be better to go to Jinlu Academy first, and then come back to Mr. Yang's house to inquire. It would be better to make a decision after comparison.

Li said confidently, "Mr. Yang is a very good person. Some time ago, Yucheng sent steamed buns to his house. Every time he went, he always thanked us profusely and was very polite. He never looked down on small vendors like us."

"With such an uncle, how can a nephew be bad? Didn't you hear what the little boy said? He was always happy and could understand Mr. Yang's class. This is a good teacher."

After that, he couldn't help but sigh and said to Shen Yu: "When your father taught students in the past, the children were also happy."

"Your father said that you can't make a good student under the stick. You were still young at that time, so you probably don't remember it."

Shen Yu smiled dryly and said, "I really don't remember anything."

After a pause, Shen Yu suggested, "Mom, I think it would be better if we go to the Golden Deer Academy with Aunt Jiang to see what's going on."

"Mr. Yang will stay at Uncle Yang's place for a few days. We'll talk to him after we come back after the visit."

"I'll tell my third sister about the academy's situation when I get back. She's still waiting for my reply. I can't just make a decision based on what a little boy says."

Li smiled and nodded, "Well, look at my memory. I was so impatient that I forgot all about it."

"Then go quickly, and we'll discuss this matter when you come back."