After chatting briefly with the girl, Wei Yu finally figured out the children’s learning progress.

They had no problem recognizing all the characters, but their handwriting skills were a bit lacking.

Because of the shortage of pens, ink, and even paper, the children rarely had the chance to properly hold a pen and write on paper. Most of the time, they could only use small wooden sticks to scribble on the ground.

Letting the little girl continue eating, Wei Yu wandered around the cafeteria casually.

He looked at the food, asked the staff a few questions, and took the chance to meet the person in charge of the cafeteria affairs… In short, after confirming that his inspection as a high-ranking leader was done properly, Wei Yu left satisfied.

Little did he know, just after he left, a commotion broke out inside the cafeteria.

“So this is His Highness the Wise King. As expected, he’s different from us — clearly a living bodhisattva descended from heaven!”

“Uncle Ergeng, His Highness is really nice, not like those city adults at all!”

“Yaya, what did His Highness just say to you? Hurry and tell us!”

“…”

Fang Sheng had sharp ears. He turned slightly and vaguely heard a few praises behind him about the prince being like a divine being descended to earth. He glanced at the back of his lord’s figure, then put on a blank expression.

The world is short-sighted and always fails to see the truth.

—

Everything was going well at the manor, and with He Yong’s good management skills, Wei Yu left feeling very reassured.

Before leaving, he gave He Yong a few pointers on what needed improvement and also increased the monthly salary for He Yong and the other responsible people.

Though Wei Yu was stingy, he never skimped on paying salaries!

After all, you have to give to gain.

After returning to his mansion, Wei Yu went to find his math and Chinese language teachers.

The Chinese teacher was in class, while the math teacher was holed up in his room, holding a math book and scribbling calculations.

Zhang Qingsheng was a math expert who loved to explore everywhere.

Wei Yu had given him math books from elementary to high school level. Following the normal pace of modern students, it would take fifteen years to finish, but Zhang Qingsheng needed only half a year.

Apart from eating, drinking, sleeping, and teaching children, Zhang Qingsheng spent all his remaining time reading.

When Wei Yu arrived, he was met with a wildly joyful look.

“Your Highness, you finally came!”

Wei Yu stopped in his tracks.

How to put it—this look wasn’t very pleasant.

It gave off the illusion that Fusheng was standing before him again.

Wei Yu’s intuition was right. As soon as he stopped, Zhang Qingsheng stood up from behind the desk, strode forward, grabbed him, and started pulling him toward the desk.

“Hurry, Your Highness! You’ve been away for more than half a year. I have so many questions I need to discuss with you!”

Wei Yu: …!

Damn, he had completely forgotten the painful experience from half a year ago when he was chased with questions!

Math is a little demon. Except for those who truly love it, almost no one can face it without a headache.

“Hey hey hey, sir, don’t be so anxious. I still have something to tell you! How about we talk business first, then the rest, okay?”

Wei Yu grabbed the edge of the table and stubbornly refused to sit.

After pulling him for a while with no success, Zhang Qingsheng sighed regretfully, “Alright then, Your Highness, just tell me quickly what it is. I have lots of formulas to ask!”

Wei Yu: …

Little demon is tormenting, old demon isn’t any better.

He shook off the wrinkles on his sleeve pulled by Zhang Qingsheng and leisurely said, “I have a manor outside the capital with a school built there. It has a group of students all eager to learn poetry and books. I want to send someone to teach them math. Sir, would you be willing to go?”

Teaching again!

This kind of thing that wastes his research time made Zhang Qingsheng want to refuse immediately. But before he could speak, Wei Yu’s next sentence stopped him.

“Have you finished reading the math books? Elementary and intermediate math books, learning those only means you’ve just stepped through the door of math. Actually, I have advanced books too.”

Zhang Qingsheng was silent.

He glanced at Wei Yu’s casual little expression twice, straightened his collar, and smiled with dignified seriousness, “To be honest, Your Highness, I have considerable experience in teaching. As the former head of Baima Academy, it is truly my honor to enlighten a group of students in math! I am willing to go teach at your manor, Your Highness. Please do not decline.”

Hearing this, Wei Yu was immediately moved: “You truly are a model scholar among scholars! Since you are so selfless, I cannot hold you back. The advanced math books—I will definitely send them to you in two months.”

Two months?

“So long!” Zhang Qingsheng’s eyes widened, blurting out.

Wei Yu waved his hand, “Advanced math books—once you’ve finished the previous ones, you know math has many branches. One month isn’t even long.”

University-level math is truly vast and complicated. Just one branch can take years to write about. Wei Yu had to organize and write it himself. Even two months felt insufficient.

Just thinking about the overtime made him annoyed.

Seeing Zhang Qingsheng seem to be deep in thought, Wei Yu glanced at the pile of rough papers on the table and felt a headache coming.

He pivoted on his toes.

“To learn math well isn’t an overnight thing. If you want to continue studying deeply, you have to lay a solid foundation, right? Hmm, it seems a piece of paper fell under your desk?”

Zhang Qingsheng immediately looked down, “Where? Oh, there really is one.”

Taking advantage of him bending down to pick it up, Wei Yu tiptoed away.

Joking aside, if he got tangled up in such a thick stack of drafts, his brain would definitely explode!

If not now, then when?

Wei Yu slipped away quickly and only heard Zhang Qingsheng’s shout from behind when he was already outside the yard.

“Your Highness, don’t go! I still have many questions to ask—”

Wei Yu pretended not to hear.

He was a fool who did not offer after-sales service; problems had to be solved by oneself!

After finishing with Zhang Qingsheng, Wei Yu went to see Liu Huaiyuan.

Two children seemed to be reciting texts; Wei Yu could hear their clear reading voices from outside the room.

After feeling the atmosphere for a while outside, Wei Yu was spotted by Liu Huaiyuan.

“Your Highness, what brings you here?”

Liu Huaiyuan came out of the room, and the two began talking under the corridor.

Since Liu Huaiyuan wasn’t like Zhang Qingsheng who needed coaxing, Wei Yu directly told him about his wish to have him teach at the manor.

Upon hearing this, Liu Huaiyuan frowned with difficulty.

Wei Yu asked, “What’s wrong? Does Brother Yuanhua have some difficulty?”

Liu Huaiyuan smiled bitterly, “Your Highness is kind, and I’m well here. Your request is something I should repay, but… I want to participate in next year’s spring examination.”

Wei Yu was surprised and then remembered that Liu Huaiyuan was still a candidate!

The so-called spring examination was the provincial-level exam held in the capital. Only those with the rank of juren (recommended man) could take it. Passing this exam would grant the candidate quasi-jinshi status, and after passing the imperial exam (dian shi), they would become a jinshi (successful candidate).

Once someone became a jinshi, they could basically enter officialdom.