Chapter 422: 422: Debate
Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family
Zhang Peng spoke and pointed to the small door.
The few people exchanged glances, nodded, and walked towards the door.
âWait! Only the two of them can enter, the rest of the miscellaneous people will wait.â
Mr. Meng blew his beard and widened his eyes, looking impatient.
After his gaze met Liu Sisiâs, he couldnât help but glare: âDaring ignorant woman! This is the sacred land of Confucius! How can it be allowed for such an ignorant woman like you to enter and exit freely? Get out! â
Liu Sisi was scolded and immediately looked stunned, not understanding the connection between this place and her entering and leaving.
Di Yelei saw it and hurried over to make peace: âMr. Meng, please forgive me! Today, my son came to register, and my wife was too anxious about the childâs registration, so she forgot the rules and followed us in. Please forgive me, Mr. Meng!â
His words significantly improved Mr. Mengâs complexion, but he did not let Liu Sisi go: âConsidering your love for your child, I will not pursue this matter for the time being. However, as soon as the two people come out, you should leave quickly and not pollute this sacred land!â
Liu Sisiâs anger welled up inside her, who had she offended by coming here?
This teacher was so unreasonable, it was simply outrageous!
With a twinkle in her eye, she stepped forward and said with a light laugh: âMr. Meng, you are wrong! I came here first of all because of my love for my child, so I followed him in. Secondly, I heard that you have great knowledge and are a rare scholar. I have a question that I am unable to solve, so I came to ask for your advice!â
As she spoke, she respectfully bowed to Mr. Meng.
Liu Sisiâs attitude was very satisfactory to Mr. Meng!
He spun around, sat back down in his chair, stroked his beard, and raised his chin: âAlright, speak! What difficult question do you have?â
Her knowing look almost made Liu Sisi laugh.
âI am a village woman who admires knowledgeable people. I heard that this is the sacred land of Confucius, so I dared to come and ask today.â
She raised the corners of her mouth, revealing a shallow dimpled smile: âYesterday, a few of us village women were chatting about discussing the origins of the phrases âEqual Education for Allâ and âJudging People by Appearance,â and there were many disputes between us. In the end, it almost turned into a fight, so I dared to come and inquire today. Mr. Meng, do you know where these two sentences come from and what they mean?â
Afterwards, she bowed respectfully again.
A sincere attitude of seeking advice.
These words immediately changed Mr. Mengâs face! He couldnât help but snorted angrily.
It turned out that she had dug a pit for him to fall into!
Just at this moment, two more people came to register. Mr. Meng waved his hand impatiently, wanting to send everyone away.
âGo away! Just a few trivial words from village womenâs casual chat are not worth embarrassing ourselves in front of Confucius. Considering that you are a woman who doesnât understand books and rules, I will not blame you today. Leave quickly! Donât block the way for the students coming to register behind.â
He wanted to fire a blank shot and run away!
Liu Sisi immediately raised the corners of her mouth and countered: âTeacher, you are wrong. I came to see you with sincerity today. Where did the words âblameâ come from in your words? I hope Mr. Meng can enlighten me!â
Liu Sisiâs refutation immediately made Mr. Mengâs face change drastically! But he had nothing to say.
He glanced over the few people present and had to forcefully calm himself down, staring at Liu Sisi hatefully: âWhat are you trying to say?â
Liu Sisi looked innocent: âItâs just some idle words from a village woman, but I would like to ask the teacher for help.â
âWhen the debate escalated yesterday, someone asked: âConfucius lost his father at the age of three and was raised by his mother. The old saying goes, âA woman without talent is virtuous.â But without talent, isnât that the so-called ignorance? So, should Confuciusâ sacred family sweep his ignorant mother out of the house? What right does he have to talk about filial piety then?â â
âYou! You cunning woman, how dare you insult Confucius, I, Iâ¦â
These words made Mr. Mengâs face swell up like a pig liver, various colors changing constantly. He pointed at Liu Sisi but couldnât speak.
âMr. Meng, you are wrong. Iâm a woman with shallow knowledge, and Iâm arguing with my neighbors. Itâs just boring. If I offend you with the wrong words, I hope you will forgive me as I am a humble woman and sincerely ask for advice.â As she spoke, Liu Sisi smiled and bowed to him with an earnest face.
But, this smile fell into Mr. Mengâs eyes and became a naked slap in the face!
It made the suffocating anger in his chest almost unbearable!
But she was so polite, and he was confused for a moment and couldnât find fault.
It happened at this time that the boy who came to register curiously asked his dad: âFather, what does âEqual Education for Allâ mean?â
âThisâ¦â
The man scratched his head, looking embarrassed: âIt should mean teaching people with no class, right?â
âPfft!â
Little Ying beside laughed out loud but immediately covered her mouth.
The boy looked curiously at Yingâer: âLittle sister, do you know the meaning of this sentence?â
Yingâer looked up at Liu Sisi and saw that her mother didnât say a word. She then lowered her head and shook it slightly.
On the side, Di Yelei saw Mr. Mengâs worsening face and immediately said goodbye with a fist greeting: âSince there are more students coming to register, we will wait outside for the time being. Farewell!â
Mr. Meng could hardly hold back his laughter, squinting his eyes and staring at Liu Sisi viciously.
He forced the words through his teeth: âAlright! Alright!â
It was only then that everyone left the room.
Yingâer looked back puzzled: âMom! Didnât you teach Yingâer the meaning of âEqual Education for Allâ? That it means: education shouldnât exclude anyone based on wealth, nobility, intelligence, goodness, or evil, and education should be given to all? Why donât they understand?â
At this moment, only one meter away from the door, Mr. Meng in the room choked for a long time before coughing repeatedly.
A little girl could even understand what was so difficult to ask him?
Liu Sisi chuckled, picking up Yingâer on the way: âOur Yingâer is so smart! Come on, letâs go over there and wait for your brother to return triumphantly!â
Upon reaching the pavilion on the other side, Liu Sisi put Yingâer down, looked up, and saw Di Yelei hesitating to speak. She curiously asked: âWhatâs wrong? Do you have something to say?â
Di Yelei sighed softly: âThat Mr. Meng is famously stingy. You just confronted him, and if Xuanâer and Yunâer donât pass the examination and have to study under him, what will we do?â