In the northwest corner of Iron Pot Mountain stood the small wooden huts where the bandits once kept their female captives.
Those huts had long since been torn down and replaced by two small brick buildings.
One housed the boys bought from the commandery city, the other the girls.
Between the two buildings were two larger rooms that now served as the Iron Pot Mountain school.
There were two classes and four teachers in total.
Ordinary scholars would never agree to teach here, so the teachers were also literate girls bought from the brokers’ yards.
When Jin Feng arrived, a class was in session. A girl of seventeen or eighteen stood at the front, pointing at the blackboard with a bamboo stick. “This character is pronounced ‘en’. It means kindness, as in ‘life-saving kindness’.”
“Teacher, what is life-saving kindness?” one child asked.
Before the teacher could answer, an older child jumped in. “Teacher, I know! Life-saving kindness is when someone saves your life. That’s the greatest kindness of all. Like how Master Jin bought us. That’s life-saving kindness.”
“Right! My big sister says we’re only children. If a landlord had bought us, we wouldn’t survive a year. Master Jin is our life-saving benefactor. When I grow up I must repay him properly!”
“My sister says the same. She told me to work as a clerk in the chamber of commerce when I’m older. She makes soap for Master Jin, and I’ll sell it!”
“I want to become an escort and protect Master Jin!”
“I want to forge iron for Master Jin. My mother says smithing is a skill that can be passed down through generations!”
The children chattered excitedly.
Jin Feng, standing at the door, felt deeply moved.
Most ancient people had little knowledge of the world, yet they were incredibly sincere. Whoever treated them well, they would give their hearts to without hesitation.
Such good people had been driven to desperation by the court. It was nothing short of sinful.
The classroom had been designed by Jin Feng himself. Because glass was unavailable, he had built only two tiny windows for warmth and weather protection, but left doors at both front and back.
One reason was for light, the other for escape in case of fire.
When it was hot, both doors could be opened for ventilation. When cold, closing them kept the room warm.
The weather was now quite cool, so only the front door was open. The back door stood ajar.
Jin Feng pushed it open a crack and peered inside.
Children from poor families matured early. With guidance from mothers or older sisters, they all understood how rare this chance to study was. Every child sat ramrod straight, eyes fixed on the blackboard.
Only one boy lay face-down on his desk, fast asleep and drooling.
Wan Yuhong spotted him through the gap and, furious, shoved the door wide open. She strode over and twisted the sleeping boy’s ear.
“Wan Heming! Get up this instant!”
She was truly angry. She yanked him upright by the ear.
“Who is it? Let go! Ow, ow, ow!”
The boy woke in pain and swatted at the hand.
Only after a few swings did he realise it was his own sister. He instantly deflated. “Sis, why are you here?”
“If I hadn’t come, I would never have known you sleep in class every day!”
Tears of anger welled in Wan Yuhong’s eyes.
This little brother was her entire hope. Back then, no matter how hard things were, she had fought with everything to protect him. Now she had twisted his ear until it bled.
How could she not be angry? Master Jin was so busy he barely went home, living in the workshop. He had come all the way to Iron Pot Mountain just for her brother, and the boy was sleeping in class…
With all the commotion, teaching was impossible.
Every child turned to watch the fun, giggling.
The teacher was completely bewildered.
Literate people were rare these days, and literate girls even rarer. On the mountain, the workers always treated her with respect. No one had ever dared cause trouble in the school.
Wan Yuhong finally realised she had overstepped and hurriedly apologised. “I’m sorry, Teacher. When I saw Wan Heming asleep, I couldn’t help myself and barged in.”
“Sis, let go! I already know everything Teacher taught!” Wan Heming protested indignantly.
“Even if you know it, you’re not allowed to sleep. Father always said we must respect our teachers. Have you forgotten?”
Wan Yuhong scolded.
“Sis, let Heming go. He really does know it all.”
The teacher came down from the platform, a little embarrassed. “He can read more characters than I can…”
“That still doesn’t make sleeping in class acceptable. It’s disrespectful to the teacher. If Father were here, he would hang him up and beat him!”
In the end Wan Yuhong’s heart ached for her brother. Seeing blood on his ear, she released him.
But she gave him a hard smack anyway. “Apologise to Teacher at once!”
“I’m sorry, Teacher. I was wrong!”
Wan Heming had no choice but to bow.
The teacher was about to speak when she saw Jin Feng enter through the back door. She quickly curtseyed to him.
The children instantly swarmed around Jin Feng, talking over each other.
“Master Jin!”
“Master Jin, you’re finally here! You never finished the story last time!”
“That’s right! What happened after Nezha killed the Dragon King’s third prince? Would the old Dragon King let that go?”
During the period Jin Feng had spent on Iron Pot Mountain, after supper he would sit in the open space, enjoying the cool air and telling the children stories.
When he told the tale of Nezha, he left just after Nezha killed the third prince and the workshops were completed. The children had been desperate for the rest ever since, hoping every day that Jin Feng would return and finish it.
“I’m busy now. After supper tonight, everyone gather in the big open space. I’ll finish the Nezha story for you!”
Jin Feng said with a smile.
The children cheered happily.
Elsewhere, Zuo Feifei’s mother, Madam Zuo Zhang, heard that Jin Feng had arrived and rushed to the canteen.
She pulled Zuo Feifei aside and whispered, “Feifei, I heard Master Jin is here?”
“Yes, he just arrived.”
“Then what are you doing standing here? Why aren’t you showing him around?”
Zuo Feifei twisted the corner of her sleeve. “Master came to see the little Wan genius. What would I be doing tagging along?”
There were far too many girls in Da Kang. With the mark on Zuo Feifei’s face, marriage was difficult. Her mother had already given up, deciding the two of them would simply live out their days together on Iron Pot Mountain.
But ever since hearing that Jin Feng did not care about superstitions and had married a “night spirit”, Madam Zuo’s hopes had revived. She constantly urged Zuo Feifei to get closer to him.
Zuo Feifei was no fool. She knew exactly what her mother was scheming.
Truth be told, she quite liked Jin Feng herself. Especially after his poems reached Iron Pot Mountain, she had fallen completely. Every time she saw him, she could not help feeling happy.
But girls in feudal times were far too reserved. Zuo Feifei blushed after exchanging just a few words with Jin Feng. How could she ever confess?
“Don’t play dumb with me!”
Madam Zuo poked her daughter’s forehead. “You’re eighteen already. When I was your age, you could already recite ancient poems!”
“I know, I know!”
Zuo Feifei waved her hand impatiently.
