CHAPTER 150: CHAPTER 150: TEACHER’S THOUGHTS

Qiao Muchen said excitedly, "That’s awesome! There really is a judge!"

The two little fellows were talking as they arrived at the Teacher’s residence. Zhao Zhitong immediately and skillfully ran into the Teacher’s study to tidy his desk. Qiao Muchen also immediately went to help. As the two little ones were busy, Scholar Meng arrived.

He contentedly accepted the tea brought by the two children and then began to inquire about their homework.

The two children quickly presented their written assignments to the Teacher. After Scholar Meng looked at their work, he stroked his beard and said, "Young girl, you first tell us what the story is about."

Zhao Zhitong respectfully bowed and replied, "Teacher, the story you showed us, ’The Medical Skills of Bian Que,’ mentioned that there were three brothers in Bian Que’s family, all skilled in medicine. One day, King Weiwen asked Bian Que which of them had the best medical skills. Bian Que said that his eldest brother was the best, his middle brother next, and he himself was the least skilled. However, among the three brothers, it was Bian Que who was the most famous, and King Weiwen didn’t understand why."

"Bian Que explained that his eldest brother treated illnesses before they manifested, eradicating them before they even started. So, ordinary people didn’t know he could eliminate the cause of illnesses ahead of time, and his fame couldn’t spread. The middle brother treated illnesses at their very onset, so people generally thought he could only cure minor ailments. Therefore, his fame was only known within his local area. As for Bian Que, he treated illnesses when they were already severe. What people usually saw was Bian Que performing miracles, seemingly bringing the dead back to life, so his fame spread throughout the country."

The Teacher nodded and looked at Qiao Muchen. "Now, you tell me your thoughts."

Qiao Muchen bowed respectfully. "Teacher, from analyzing their fame, my conclusion is that the greater the difficulty one overcomes, the more their abilities are demonstrated to the outside world."

Zhao Zhitong also nodded. "Teacher, Bian Que treated major, serious illnesses. The difficulty of curing them is vastly greater than treating illnesses before they manifest or at their initial onset. Since Bian Que could cure these, his fame is greater than that of his two brothers."

Scholar Meng listened to them discuss, smiling without speaking. When they finished, Scholar Meng posed a question, "Very good, your analyses are both sound. But can either of you tell your Teacher why Bian Que himself said his brothers’ medical skills were better than his own?"

The two children looked at each other, indicating they couldn’t figure it out either.

At this point, the Teacher took out an old piece of clothing from the side and then a pair of scissors. Smiling, he asked, "These scissors can damage this garment, right?"

The two little ones nodded.

Scholar Meng continued, "Now, let’s say these scissors are like the cause of an illness. Before they even touch the garment, Bian Que’s eldest brother takes the scissors away. This means the problem was controlled before anything bad could happen, right?"

The two little ones nodded again. "Yes, Teacher. And then what?"

Seeing the two children’s eager eyes, burning with curiosity, the Teacher asked with a smile, "Now, imagine the scissors have just cut a thread on the garment. This is the beginning of the problem, when the damage is still very small. At this point, Bian Que’s middle brother takes out a needle and thread and mends the cut thread, making the garment good as new." The Teacher then took the garment in his hands, tugged it gently, and continued, "But what would happen if Bian Que’s middle brother hadn’t mended the thread?"

Zhao Zhitong, who loved this kind of interaction, excitedly answered first, "The opening in the garment would get bigger and bigger with the cut thread, and eventually, the whole garment would unravel and become unwearable!"

Qiao Muchen, having missed the chance to answer, just nodded emphatically, listening even more attentively, determined to seize the next opportunity.

Scholar Meng chuckled, stroking his beard. "The young girl is right. Look, now the garment is completely unraveled. At this moment, Bian Que appears. He takes out his needle and thread, sews the garment back together, and it’s restored to its original condition. Now, tell your Teacher, of these three processes for controlling the damage to the garment, which is the most time-consuming and laborious?"

Qiao Muchen immediately spoke up, "The third one! It would be more time-consuming and laborious for Bian Que to sew the garment."

Finally getting to answer, Qiao Muchen was instantly filled with delight.

Zhao Zhitong pouted, huffed lightly, and said, "Teacher, the third process also uses more thread!"

"HAHAHA." Scholar Meng laughed and nodded. "That’s right. So, what principle does this teach us? Who wants to say?"

"Me, me!"

The two little ones began to eagerly vie for the chance to answer.

After looking at both of them, Scholar Meng finally chose Zhao Zhitong. "Alright, young girl, you go first."

Zhao Zhitong was instantly happy. "Teacher, I believe this teaches us that it’s easiest to control a bad situation before it happens. Once it develops to a point where it’s out of hand, it becomes very difficult to control."

When Zhao Zhitong finished, Qiao Muchen quickly chimed in, "Therefore, we must control things before they become bad!"

"Exactly." Scholar Meng laughed heartily. "This story tells us that control after the fact is not as good as control during the event, and control during the event is not as good as control before the event."

Scholar Meng then spoke with the two children about principles for a while longer. Then, the young girl brought up Pei Yuanqing to Scholar Meng.

Zhao Zhitong’s little face flushed with excitement. "Teacher, Uncle Pei is truly a judge! He does good deeds for the common people!"

Qiao Muchen nodded. "And Uncle Pei and my father are good friends. He must be a good official, just like my father."

The two children chattered back and forth, praising him.

At this moment, however, Scholar Meng frowned slightly. He was considering things far more deeply than the two children. Prince Liang was the current emperor’s young nephew. As far as he knew, the emperor had more than one nephew. There was also a nephew by blood, whom the emperor had enfeoffed as the King of Chu. Unlike this Prince Liang, that King of Chu was extremely powerful and arrogant, wielding immense influence in the court. This Prince Liang, on the other hand, had always enjoyed an excellent public reputation. He was said to be a carefree prince who didn’t involve himself in power struggles and was amiable and approachable. In terms of morality, he had even become a role model for people to emulate. But throughout history, how many figures at the center of power were truly so simple? And why would Prince Liang suddenly appear in this insignificant Zhao Village?

"Teacher? Teacher?"

After the two children had been discussing for some time, they noticed the Teacher was lost in thought and called out to him.

Scholar Meng collected his thoughts and smiled. "Alright, you two can go back to the classroom to read now."

"Yes, Teacher."

The two children bowed in farewell, then, hand in hand, cheerfully hopped and skipped toward the school.

Today, since Zhao Zhitong also had to visit her grandmother, she said farewell to her three friends after school and headed straight home with Zhao Cheng and Zhao Yu.

Zhao Cheng carried her luggage box, while Zhao Zhitong happily hopped and skipped ahead of them, occasionally twirling around.

Just as they were passing the well at the village entrance, they suddenly saw a man angrily rushing out of the Zhao Family Old House, heading towards the end of the village.