hen we can get started with this."Let's proceed with preparations then.Oh right, are you sure Wang Ming is really going to start her career like this Even if she wants to go into business, shouldn't s...Chapter 6: Classroom Confrontation Incident

The latest seating chart has been released. Over the course of three days of exams, Su Cen got a taste of Shizi High School's strength. The difficulty level of this exam was comparable to that of the high school entrance examination, and even higher in some aspects. The questions were set by several top teachers at Shizi who specialized in such matters. In their class alone, there were over thirty students who scored above 600 points.

If this test paper had been given when Su Cen was still at the Third Middle School, it would be a stretch to expect even three or four people to score above 600 points.

Tang Wu's scores were consistently top in her class and she managed to outshine Wang Xuebing who was previously considered number one within Shizi High.

This sudden change stirred the crowd. People now viewed Tang Wu, with both her looks and intelligence, with mixed feelings. Some who once revered her did so even more, while a few boys started looking at her with fiery desire; among them was Wang Xuebing.

Chen Lingshan ranked around 20th, to the point that after seeing Tang Wu's high score sheet, she pretended not to notice, as if unaware of Tang Wu’s first-place standing.

Su Cen didn't exert his full effort on this test paper. His scores were only a few dozen ranks behind Xue Yiyang with scores just over 500 points. Su Cen knew that being too ostentatious wasn't good, and recently he had focused more on his parents' shop. He made some mistakes but also intentionally skipped easier questions to avoid scoring low marks, which perplexed the teachers grading the tests since they expected a student tackling difficult problems would naturally handle simpler ones.

"Damn! I thought you were so great, turns out you paid your way in too!" Xue Yiyang looked at the newly issued report card and noticed that their rankings had coincidentally fallen one after another. Considering their seating arrangement, it felt somewhat like they were each other's unfortunate counterparts.

At this moment, any suspicion Xue Yiyang had towards Su Cen was dispelled; he thought Su Cen must have used connections to get in through some channels.

Xiao Rihua felt pleased when the report cards were distributed because of Tang Wu's presence. Although she transferred from the Third Middle School, her performance had completely changed his perception of it. He never would have imagined that even a murky swamp could nurture a lotus. This discovery left him feeling both surprised and contemplative.

Su Cen was also among Xiao Rihua's close watchlist; however, the boy’s performance was beyond his expectations. Xiao Rihua had guessed that the student introduced by the principal who bore him a grudge would be either dead last or near it in class rankings, but unexpectedly, Su Cen could place himself mid-ranking without affecting the average score.

However, this didn't lead to Xiao Rihua relaxing his guard. If a student's academic performance wasn’t poor, there was likely an issue with their character—otherwise Principal Tianfeng wouldn’t have pressed him so easily into taking on such a student.

Instead of relaxing, Xiao Rihua felt a subtle tension in the air, as if something significant was about to happen.

...

After that, high school life fell into its usual routine. Su Cen realized that there was a huge gap between middle and high school; missing just two weeks of classes in middle school wouldn't affect one's understanding too much if they reviewed their textbooks. However, the curriculum and exams were consistent and basic.

On the other hand, missing even one day in high school could make it difficult to catch up with others. The gap would become more pronounced over time.

The heavens had given Su Cen a chance at rebirth, allowing him to quickly build a solid foundation using his wisdom and experience from the future during middle school. He couldn't waste this foundation; just as in construction, if the foundation isn't strong enough for tall buildings, it's meaningless. Therefore, after receiving his textbooks, he started pre-studying, which didn't take much of his time. With a deep understanding and solid basis across various subjects, he could study ahead of schedule and still grasp the core points during lectures even when talking privately with Xue YiYang.

Listening to lectures without distinguishing what's important can be exhausting, especially with back-to-back 40-minute classes. After learning how to absorb knowledge effectively, Su Cen felt much more relaxed than many others struggling with high school’s increased difficulty.

Xiao Rihua taught Chinese and happened to notice the two close friends whispering during his lesson on a piece of classical literature. He immediately stopped teaching.

The entire class fell silent; Xiao Rihua wasn't tall, but his round face made him look imposing. Everyone followed his gaze to see Su Cen and Xue YiYang, with some already giving them disdainful looks.

According to the latest class rankings, both Su Cen and Xue YiYang were in the lower-middle range, making other students who ranked higher view them as inferior despite their outward friendly demeanor.

Aficionados of causing a ruckus or deliberately defying teachers might get some laughs but only proved themselves to be fools playing clown roles.

"Idiots!" Li Ai, sitting in the back two rows, snickered, his voice barely audible yet piercingly clear in the silent classroom.

His classmate Zhang Xi and Sun Ziyi burst into laughter, with wide grins showing and chuckling sounds coming from their throats.

Slight twitches could be seen at some people's eyelids. Under any circumstances, Lei Ai's words would clearly show his hostility and might even lead to a fight.

Xue Yiyang clenched his fists privately but unusually remained silent.

Guo Su Can glanced at him without blaming Xue Yiyang for his silence. He understood that Xue Yiyang knew who the provocateurs were; sometimes, tolerance in Shiyi High meant enduring insurmountable differences and bitterness.

Xiao Rihua's expression changed but he acted as if he hadn't heard anything and called on Su Can to speak up. "Explain how you would translate this sentence from Xunzi’s 'Persuasion of Learning': ‘I have tried to think all day long, but it is not as effective as a short period of study; I have tried to stand on tiptoe to see far away, but it is not as good as climbing high for a broad view’..."

Xiao Rihua was deliberately throwing out a difficult problem because he hadn't finished explaining the sentence and was planning to use this as an opportunity to embarrass Su Can.

Chen Lingshan turned around and, along with others nearby, watched eagerly for Su Can's impending embarrassment.

Tang Wu, who never turned her head when answering questions, actually turned 75 degrees towards Su Can, her delicate eyebrows furrowed with worry.

Su Can stood up and smoothly explained, "I once spent a whole day in thought, but the results were not as good as short periods of study; I once tried to see far by standing on tiptoe, but my view was not as broad as when I climbed high."

He deeply understood this sentence. Ancient wisdom is astonishing. He viewed his past life from a higher vantage point in the future. Thus, everything he saw and experienced was vast and profound. If heaven had given him a 'godly finger,' it wouldn't be about foreknowledge but rather a mature perspective and a mindset that values experience to face this new beginning!

"Accumulating earth forms mountains where storms arise; accumulating water forms rivers where dragons are born; accumulating virtue leads to wisdom and divine knowledge, thus becoming a sage. Without accumulating small steps, one cannot reach a thousand miles; without accumulating small streams, one cannot form a river or sea.

— How would you interpret this!" Perhaps because of the frustration of losing face and the strain in Xiao Rihua's eyes, his last sentence carried an ancient interrogative tone.

The class was puzzled. This was part of the text they hadn't covered yet; it was too harsh to expect Su Can to answer correctly, which also made Xiao Rihua look unduly rude.

"When earth and stone accumulate, mountains rise; when water gathers, deep pools form where dragons can dwell. Cultivate virtue through continuous good deeds, and wisdom will flourish, achieving the spiritual realm of a sage..."

Before Xue Yi Yang's wide-eyed stare, Su Cen paused briefly before lifting his head and continuing resolutely, "Thus, without accumulating steps one by one, no distance as vast as a thousand miles can be reached; without gathering small streams together, there would be no rivers or seas!"

"A fine horse's leap cannot cover ten strides" Xiao Rihua's hand trembled, his youthful vigor flaring up, and he pursued relentlessly with poor grace.

"Even the finest steed cannot leap a full ten paces!" Su Cen replied.

"An inferior horse, though, can achieve success through constant effort over ten days of driving!"

"Indeed, an unremarkable nag driven daily will accomplish a thousand miles through perseverance!"

The conversation abruptly ended there.

The air was still charged with the intense confrontation that had just taken place, lingering in the atmosphere.

Xiao Rihua's expression changed as he realized his overreaction. He waved a hand dejectedly and said, "Ah, you may sit down; it seems like you've studied quite seriously..."

In fact, at that time, the textbooks only provided obscure character translations without detailed explanations of these passages. At that time, they didn't adhere to rote learning as strictly as in later generations, so teachers were responsible for explaining such content. Without corresponding materials, even studying wouldn't yield precise answers.

The classroom fell silent for a moment at this.

Chen Ling Shan turned back in astonishment, the words "idiot" that Li Ai had directed at Su Cen echoing in her mind. She thought to herself, if such individuals were deemed idiots, what did they consider themselves to be...st Middle School and Third Middle School so well that it eases a lot of burdens for your mother. Yet she’s here cooking for you and serving you; how comfortable are you"It was typical of Zeng He to sa...