I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Chapter 48: Interpretation

At the Zheng household, since there was no study, Zheng Fa had set up a small dining table in the courtyard and was bent over his writing.

His younger sister, Zheng Shan, wore a freshly sewn outfit from their mother and ran around the courtyard. Too considerate to disturb her brother, she occupied herself by circling the yard, tugging at grass by the walls, or scratching lines into the dirt with a stone. Every now and then, her little head would glance toward Zheng Fa.

Finally, when Zheng Fa lifted his head, she couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Brother! You’re done?” Zheng Shan dashed over, tugging at his sleeve and standing on tiptoe to peek at his work.

From inside the house, their mother, still busy at her weaving loom, called out, “Shan’er, don’t interrupt your brother while he studies.”

Zheng Shan pouted but obediently let go of Zheng Fa’s sleeve.

“It’s fine, Mother. I was writing this for her,” Zheng Fa said, pinching his sister’s cheek with a smile.

“For me? I can study now?” Zheng Shan’s eyes lit up, and she leaned onto his knee, staring at the freshly written book on the table. On the cover of one book, large characters were neatly written.

“Elementary Mathematics, Volume One,” Zheng Fa read aloud, teaching her.

Ever since they’d moved to the Zhao estate, he had wanted to teach his sister, but it wasn’t easy.

Their livelihood currently relied on Zheng Fa’s monthly stipend. Though they weren’t lacking in food or clothing, they had no savings. Their mother had tried finding work at local tailor shops, but her background as a farm woman led shop owners to dismiss her as unskilled.

Schooling costs for Zheng Shan were manageable, but the bigger issue was safety. Attending school meant leaving the estate, and Zheng Fa wasn’t comfortable with his mother escorting her alone.

For now, Zheng Shan had no school to attend, and their mother forbade her from roaming the estate to avoid upsetting its noble residents. As a result, she was confined to the small courtyard.

“Feeling bored lately?” Zheng Fa asked, noticing her excitement. It was clear the lively child was struggling with being cooped up in the yard.

“I’m not bored!” Zheng Shan shook her head vigorously. “I help Mother cook in the morning, wait for you to eat lunch, then help her cook again, and wait for you to eat dinner.”

Zheng Fa ruffled her hair. “So, do you want to study?”

“Yes!” Zheng Shan nodded eagerly. “Mother said you went to school, became a study attendant, and now you buy me nice food and new clothes. I want to study too!”

“What will you do after studying?” Zheng Fa asked.

“Buy Mother new clothes!”

Zheng Fa chuckled and pulled her into his arms. Pointing to the Elementary Mathematics book, he said, “Then I’ll teach you this at night. Be sure to learn well.”

“I’ll do my best!”

The young girl, clueless about the weight of her promise, embraced the book with joy, flipping through its pages even though she couldn’t understand them.

Zheng Fa then picked up another book and headed to the study.

He had deliberated over teaching mathematics to his sister. Even though it didn’t involve Immortal Sect knowledge, mathematics had practical value in the Xuanyi Realm. He had waited until now, feeling confident in his ability to protect his family after mastering the Linghe Body.

The other book he carried, Middle School Mathematics, Volume One, was for the Seventh Young Master.

This idea stemmed from his "brain-borrowing plan" and Old Bai’s advice.

Old Bai was just one person, with limited time and patience, especially when faced with the endless diagrams in the Comprehensive Guide to Symbol Diagrams. Moreover, Old Bai’s unpredictable temperament made him unreliable.

Zheng Fa needed new candidates with potential. Tang Lingwu was promising, and Middle School Mathematics was his tool for testing aptitude.

First on his list: the Seventh Young Master.

…

In the study, the Seventh Young Master stood at Zheng Fa’s desk, staring intently at a stack of papers covered in diagram annotations. His lips were tightly pressed together, his face clouded.

“What’s wrong, Young Master?” Gao Yuan, who felt much closer to the Young Master recently, asked curiously.

“How long has Zheng Fa been here?” the Young Master asked suddenly, setting the papers down.

“Not even two months.”

“And he’s only been studying the Comprehensive Guide to Symbol Diagrams for less than half a month…”

The bitterness on the Young Master’s face deepened.

“What’s wrong?”

“In half a month, he’s deciphered more base symbols than I’ve managed in three years,” the Young Master muttered, pulling out a supplementary guide and comparing its entries to Zheng Fa’s notes. After confirming their accuracy, he set the guide down with a defeated sigh. “And they’re all correct.”

Turning to Gao Yuan with empty eyes, he asked, “Why is the gap between people so vast?”

Gao Yuan felt tears welling up. “Young Master, I’ve been asking myself that same question for years.”

“We’re kindred spirits!” the Young Master exclaimed, throwing an arm around Gao Yuan’s shoulder. “Of all my attendants, you understand me best!”

When Zheng Fa entered, he immediately noticed the unusual camaraderie between the two. It made him feel like an outsider.

“What’s that in your hand, Zheng Fa?”

“Oh, it’s a book. I thought it might help with symbol studies, especially with the Eldest Young Lady returning soon,” Zheng Fa said, handing over Middle School Mathematics. “It might not show immediate results, but starting early can’t hurt.”

The Young Master froze for a moment, his eyes flickering with realization. “Is this… something from the person backing you?”

“Backing me?” Zheng Fa blinked, quickly deducing the Young Master’s meaning. Deciding to go along with it, he replied vaguely, “You could say that.”

After all, he was backed by an entire world’s worth of knowledge.

“You learned from this book to develop your talent for symbols?” the Young Master asked, glancing at the diagrams on the desk, his excitement growing.

“You could say that, though this is just the basics,” Zheng Fa admitted.

“Of all my attendants, you’re the best!” the Young Master declared.

Behind him, Gao Yuan’s smile froze. He opened his mouth, clearly torn between swearing and staying silent.

The Young Master accepted the book with trembling hands. Reading the title aloud, he whispered, “Middle School Mathematics, Volume One. The name alone speaks of Immortal wisdom!”

“…What do you make of it?” Zheng Fa asked, curious.

“Middle refers to the core of the Dao, the balance of all things. It signifies the profundity of this Immortal method. School must relate to scholarly arts, perhaps tied to Confucian traditions. Truly, this book carries deep meaning,” the Young Master concluded with reverence.

“You’ve grasped it deeply—better than the author, perhaps,” Zheng Fa said with a straight face.

The Young Master grew quiet before speaking again. “My sister’s return is also to prepare me for the Immortal Talent Conference.”

“Immortal Talent Conference?” Zheng Fa asked, puzzled by the sudden mention.

The Young Master avoided his gaze, his face turning slightly red.

Ah, understood. Another secretive plan to work hard behind the scenes. What a sneaky rascal.

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