Volume One, Chapter 10: As Clumsy as a Pig

Half a street away, Guo Shao turned back and whistled at Yin Tiantian. A burst of laughter erupted from Guo Shao’s group of followers.

Reluctantly, Zhang Jing said to Yin Tiantian, “Come with me.”

Yin Tiantian also felt uncomfortable under the gaze of those students and obediently followed Zhang Jing to the side.

“What’s the matter?” she asked, glancing at the books he was holding.

“I’ll help you copy your books, but can you introduce me to your teacher?”

“Are you trying to steal my work?”

Zhang Jing hid the books behind his back.

Yin Tiantian pouted.

“Don’t be so suspicious. I said I’d help you copy for free. Otherwise, copying three books in two days would be impossible, even if you never slept! I have an article here I want your teacher to look over.”

Zhang Jing’s eyes darted around.

“You can show it to me first.”

Yin Tiantian remembered her young master’s instructions.

“What if you copy my article?”

Zhang Jing snorted.

“Then I won’t help you copy your books. What if you take my books away? Where would I compensate Guo Shao? These are all unique copies!”

“Fine, fine, I’ll help you copy right in front of you!”

Zhang Jing wasn’t convinced.

“Can you write?”

Judging by her looks, she probably never had a proper education. It would be surprising if she could write.

Since it wasn’t convenient to grind ink outside, Yin Tiantian picked up a stick, crouched down on the soft earth, and wrote Zhang Jing’s name there.

“Writing on the ground isn’t the same as on paper!”

Yin Tiantian then took out a needle and thread from her basket, pulled up his sleeve, and embroidered two characters on it: “Shou De” (守德 - “Uphold Virtue”).

Zhang Jing’s mouth opened slightly.

“Just because you can embroider doesn’t mean you can write…”

The girl, clearly annoyed, snatched the paper and brush from his arms, dipped the brush in water, and wrote a few characters on the scrap paper he carried.

“Zhang Shou De, not upholding virtue! Who are you insulting? I believe you can write well, but when we copy books, we have to use standard regular script. Do you even know what regular script is?”

Zhang Jing’s ears reddened.

“Of course I know!”

Yin Tiantian sighed. This was a skill she had learned back when she served in the Hou residence. Since Shen Fuzhu was illiterate and they had just arrived at the Hou household, Madam Hou’s first order was to hire a teacher for Shen Fuzhu. As Shen Fuzhu’s personal maid, although he never learned, she had managed to pick it up.

Of course, she could only imitate the strokes; her handwriting was neat, but she couldn’t grasp the profound meanings, the essays, or the subtleties in the books.

“Then help me introduce me to your teacher!”

Zhang Jing didn’t understand.

“You’re just a girl. What good is writing well? You can’t even take the imperial exams. Women should quietly marry, support their husbands, and educate their children!”

Yin Tiantian hated hearing that.

“Just say whether you agree or not. Don’t try to trick me into giving you my article!”

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