CHAPTER 163: CHAPTER 163: YEARNING (PART 2)

The Commandery Princess’s orders in the military camp were akin to imperial edicts, executed without any discount and with great thoroughness.

Kong Qingwan had been teaching in the camp for half a year, giving an hour-long lesson every evening. Everyone above the rank of captain in the camp would come to attend and learn.

Tonight was no exception.

The loud and uneven sounds of reading drifted over with the evening breeze.

Jiang Shaohua stopped walking and listened intently for a moment.

Chen Jinyu also perked up his ears, and after listening for a moment, he chuckled, "Commandery Princess, Tao Da’s voice overpowers everyone else. And he’s reading it all wrong. Many people have followed his lead and are reading incorrectly too."

Isn’t that true? This blockhead! Trying to impress someone he likes, yet not using his brain. This is completely counterproductive! Who knows how infuriated Kong Qingwan must be.

Jiang Shaohua also laughed, "Come, let’s sneak a closer look." The Personal Guard Camp was heavily guarded from the outside, but much more relaxed inside.

The two personal soldiers guarding outside the tent saw the Commandery Princess approaching and were about to salute when she quickly gestured for silence.

The two personal soldiers immediately withdrew quietly to the side.

Jiang Shaohua stepped forward and peered inside through the door crack.

Chen Jinyu, being a bit taller than Jiang Shaohua, also stood on tiptoe to look inside.

The spacious room was lit by six large candelabras, brightly illuminating every corner. There were forty desks and chairs in the room, all of which were mostly occupied today.

Tao Da, with his towering stature, sat right in the front row. He sat upright, his eyes wide open like bronze bells, studying with the utmost enthusiasm, his reading voice the loudest of all...

Never mind how many mistakes he made. In any case, his attitude towards learning was exceptionally earnest.

Kong Qingwan listened to the absurdly distorted reading sounds without a trace of annoyance, patiently correcting each pronunciation. Then, she instructed the personal soldiers in calligraphy practice.

The personal soldiers, adept with knives, spears, and clubs, now struggled awkwardly with their large palms holding a slender pen. Each one sighed with a bitter face.

Snap!

"Miss Kong, I’ve broken my pen again," Tao Da exclaimed from the first row.

He didn’t mean to disrupt the class. This was just how he naturally spoke, in such a loud voice.

From initially having ringing ears, Kong Qingwan had gradually gotten used to it, replying gently, "There are new pens here, just get another one."

Tao Da gleefully acknowledged and went forward to get a new pen.

Interestingly, the usually dull Tao Da seemed to become insightful in front of Kong Qingwan. After getting the new pen, he troubledly asked the teacher, "Miss Kong, I have great strength, and the pen breaks as soon as I grip it. I’ve already changed it so many times. Can you teach me how to hold the pen?"

The personal soldiers practicing calligraphy couldn’t help but snicker.

Fortunately, in the past six months, Tao Da had taught quite a few people a lesson with his fists, and Miss Kong was indeed a dedicated teacher. They held much respect for her, and the laughter was directed at the foolish Tao Da.

This trick was taught to Tao Da by a personal soldier in private. Even after half a year, Tao Da had not thought of changing his approach or his wording.

Kong Qingwan found it both amusing and helpless, patiently reiterating the pen-holding method and instructed Tao Da on how to hold the pen. Tao Da listened with utmost seriousness, then resumed his calligraphy practice.

Chen Jinyu couldn’t help but laugh, "He holds the pen as if wielding a knife."

Previously, the voices of the personal soldiers reading masked the subtle footsteps. Now, the chuckle coming through the door crack was especially noticeable with the soldiers deeply engrossed in calligraphy practice.

The personal soldiers raised their heads one by one, and even Kong Qingwan seemed a bit surprised, quickly stepping over to open the door.

...

In just a few moments, Chen Sheren was standing upright. As for the Commandery Princess, she remained dignified and elegant, showing no trace of embarrassment from being discovered eavesdropping.

"Greetings to the Commandery Princess!" Kong Qingwan quickly straightened her robes and bowed.

Jiang Shaohua, smiling, helped Kong Qingwan up, "Please rise, teacher." Then she smiled and said to the personal soldiers, "Continue with your calligraphy practice, I am just taking a casual look."

With that, she stepped inside.

The personal soldiers immediately gathered themselves, each sitting straighter than the last, their gazes sharp, and their strokes forceful and bold.

As for the words they wrote... expectations shouldn’t be too high for these martial artists. Being able to discern what character it was would be considered impressive.

Jiang Shaohua circled around, gauging the situation. She made a point to check Tao Da’s writing.

"Commandery Princess, I already know fifty words," Tao Da eagerly boasted, "and I can write twenty."

In half a year, he’s learned fifty words and can write twenty!

Chen Jinyu silently grumbled in his heart. But then, he heard the Commandery Princess’s smiling praise and encouragement ring in his ears, "Very good. If you keep learning and practicing slowly, in two or three years, you’ll recognize all the commonly used characters."

Tao Da, basking in the praise, cheerfully continued his calligraphy practice.

Jiang Shaohua called Kong Qingwan over and asked with a smile, "How far along are they in their learning now?"

Kong Qingwan softly replied, "We’ve covered half of the Three Character Classic."

In half a year, they’ve only learned half of the Three Character Classic!

Chen Jinyu’s mouth twitched. He was secretly relieved he wasn’t assigned to the camp as a teacher; otherwise, with his impatient nature, he would’ve been driven mad.

This Kong Qingwan lady, however, was very meticulous, detailing the learning progress of these thirty-plus students.

Jiang Shaohua patiently listened to the end, then smiled and praised, "Miss Kong, you are very thoughtful."

Kong Qingwan softly laughed, "It’s only right to be dedicated to the task assigned by the Commandery Princess. They work strenuously building in the camp during the day and have to study and recognize words at night, which is very tiring. It’s fine if they learn a bit slower."

Jiang Shaohua nodded with a smile, "That’s right. If they continue learning like this, in two or three years, they should be able to read the documents and reports in the army."

Her requirement for the personal soldiers wasn’t high; she only wanted them to recognize words and understand military reports. Kong Qingwan had already exceeded her expectations.

Kong Qingwan saw the approval in the Commandery Princess’s eyes and was filled with joy, replying with a smile, "Rest assured, Commandery Princess, with the current pace of learning, in three years at most, they will meet your requirements."

Jiang Shaohua warmly said, "Thank you for your hard work."

Kong Qingwan softly replied, "The Commandery Princess saved my life, gave me shelter, and offered me the opportunity to stand here openly as a teacher. I wish I could repay such kindness a hundredfold. What I’m doing now really is nothing."

Chen Jinyu couldn’t help but glance at Kong Qingwan.

This Miss Kong, hailing from the Kong Family in Lu County, was elegantly beautiful in appearance, poised and filled with knowledge. Not to mention Tao Da, even she, as a woman, found herself liking her.

It’s a pity the heavens have been unfair. Such a wonderful lady, yet she was trapped in a bandit den for two years, like a white jade stained with dust, prompting regret.

Otherwise, such a good woman wouldn’t have been subject to the nitpicking and harshness of Tao Da’s mother.

The hour of class passed quickly.

Jiang Shaohua waited until everyone had left and then said to Kong Qingwan, "Miss Kong, do you have any troubles that you wish the Commandery Princess to address?"