…

The Nine Chapters on Mathematical Art and the Pythagorean theorem weren’t simple for people of this era, but were far too simple for someone who had been tormented by her master.

However, Tie Ci wasn’t in a hurry to solve the problems. She propped her head up with one hand and took a nap first.

In the eyes of the assistant instructor and her classmates, this looked like she was at a complete loss.

The goateed man circled around her, staring at her with the frustration of trying to make steel from iron. Tie Ci found it noisy, so she switched hands and continued sleeping with her head turned.

The goateed man: “…”

Rotten wood cannot be carved!

After sleeping for half an hour and feeling much more comfortable, Tie Ci pulled over a sheet of paper and began writing.

Everyone had been watching her all along. Seeing her sleep the entire time with class about to end, they had relaxed, but now seeing her start calculating, they tensed up again. However, watching Tie Ci write without thinking, her brush moving swiftly, they breathed long sighs of relief.

These problems were so difficult they made people go bald—each step required long thought. How could she work so quickly? Obviously just putting on airs.

Everyone stopped paying attention and focused on pulling at their own hair.

When the allotted time was up, the goateed man knocked on the table and began collecting papers himself.

Some people sighed, some held their heads, some seized the time for one more calculation.

Tie Ci blew on her brush tip, set it in the brush washer, and leaned back with a composed posture.

Qi Yuansi helped collect papers. When he took her ink-covered paper, he looked at her questioningly.

The mathematics assistant instructor was thin with a big appetite—every quiz he gave was packed with problems from top to bottom of the page. No one had ever been able to finish all the questions.

Looking at Ye Shiba’s paper full of black characters—had she finished everything?

But the calculation steps were very few, some even had only the final answer.

Was she just filling in nonsense?

Qi Yuansi was also quite good at mathematics. While taking the papers up front, he glanced at Tie Ci’s calculations and suddenly stumbled.

A nearby classmate asked in surprise what was wrong. Qi Yuansi steadied himself against the desk, looking at Tie Ci with shock and uncertainty. Tie Ci grinned at him, showing her white teeth.

Qi Yuansi was dazzled by that brilliant white smile, all his anger from yesterday extinguished. He hurriedly handed in the papers and sat back down, looking completely distracted.

The goateed man was someone who liked to grade papers on the spot—this behavior was tantamount to public execution for the students. All the students stared intently at the old man’s withered yellow finger as he licked it with saliva and flipped through the ink-covered papers like counting money. Their hearts hung in their throats, everyone temporarily becoming believers in various gods and buddhas, prayers flying everywhere, just hoping the old man would grade someone else’s paper first so they could escape disaster.

The old man’s dizzying finger suddenly stopped, and with a swish he pulled out one paper. He didn’t keep the breathless crowd waiting long—almost immediately, his somewhat rough voice rang out: “Ye Shiba!”

“Student here.”

Everyone turned around in unison, both surprised and unsurprised.

They were used to it—whenever there was something unexpected, Ye Shiba was definitely involved.

“All solved.” The goatted man flicked the ink-covered paper, first dropping this thunderbolt of a sentence, then raising his eyebrows: “Yet there aren’t even calculation steps. How am I to believe you?”

“Please examine me, teacher.”

“Field 12 bu wide, 14 bu long. How much field is there? Answer: 168 bu. How do you arrive at this?”

“Multiply width and length in bu to get area in bu. Divide by the mu standard of 240 bu to get mu. One hundred mu make one qing.”

“Field 2 li wide, 3 li long. How much field is there? Answer: 22 qing 50 mu. How so?”

“Multiply width and length in li to get area in li. Multiply by 375 to get mu.”

“Square pond 1 zhang across, reed growing in center, extending 1 chi above water. When reed is pulled to shore, it exactly reaches the bank. What are water depth and reed length? Answer: Water depth 1 zhang 2 chi; reed length 1 zhang 3 chi. How do you arrive at this?”

“Square half the pond’s width, square the 1 chi above water and subtract, then divide the remainder by twice the above-water length to get water depth. Add the above-water amount to get reed length.”

“Well diameter 5 chi, depth unknown. A 5-chi wooden pole is erected above the well. Looking from the pole’s end toward the water’s edge enters the diameter by 4 cun. How deep is the well? Answer: 5 zhang 7 chi 5 cun. How so?”

“Take the well diameter of 5 chi, subtract the 4 cun entry into diameter for the remainder, multiply by the 5-chi pole height as dividend. Use the 4 cun entry as divisor. Dividend divided by divisor gives 1 cun.”

…

The rapid-fire questions and answers passed in an instant.

The goateed man added several problems not on the paper, and Tie Ci calculated briefly with her head down before answering on the spot.

Her little companions stared wide-eyed, breathing like gossamer.

They watched helplessly as the goateed man nodded slightly and wrote with flowing strokes—the two characters for “Excellent” formed with swooshes, large enough to hurt the eyes.

The goateed man didn’t look at anyone else’s papers, just stuck Tie Ci’s paper on the wall: “Everyone look carefully!”

Someone muttered unconvincedly: “His classical studies were still poor…”

“Hmph.” The old man’s beard bristled upward. “Those rote memorization things in classical studies—who can’t learn them? Mathematics is the subject that truly tests wisdom!”

“The bright jewel in the crown of science!” Tie Ci added.

The old man half-understood but nodded vigorously as if meeting a kindred spirit: “Right! Mathematics is the study of practical affairs!”

Tie Ci thought no wonder this person could only be an assistant instructor at his age.

After class, Tie Ci saw Qi Yuansi rush out quickly, not knowing what he was up to.

Next was studying the Book of Changes. Everyone exceptionally eagerly hoped for a quiz—surely this person couldn’t get excellent in the Book of Changes too, right?

But the Book of Changes instructor, under everyone’s expectant gazes, taught the book as usual, greatly disappointing everyone and making them sigh that Tie Ci was lucky.

What no one knew was that the Book of Changes instructor had indeed planned a quiz today to see what level that prominent Ye Shiba was at, except that he had cast a divination before leaving home this morning: today was suitable for teaching books, not suitable for giving exams.

What he also didn’t know was that when he was using copper coins for divination and was about to interpret the hexagram, he suddenly heard a strange sound outside. When he turned to look, the copper coins on his table silently flipped over, changing the hexagram.

After the Book of Changes instructor shook his head and left with his books for class, Rong Wei unhurriedly passed by his window.

Tie Ci actually wasn’t afraid either. She had uniquely favorable learning resources and conditions—there was no reason she should be inferior to these academy students. She just really disliked rote memorization.

At noon in the dining hall, the meal proxy business was doing well, and the first dormitory students’ arrogance had diminished considerably.

As Tie Ci walked through, people avoided her wherever she went. The originally long queue at the food service window had students withdraw one by one when she approached, forcibly pushing her from last place to the very front.

It was exactly like Moses parting the Red Sea.

Facing the serving woman’s ingratiating smile, Tie Ci belatedly realized she had become the school boss?

The academy originally had hidden factional divisions that determined each person’s resource allocation and treatment. For example, Ma De’s maternal family was a great Haiyou clan with good private relations with various Haiyou government offices. Ma De himself seemed generous and hospitable, so he had implicitly become the leader of the Haiyou faction. Now that she had whipped him down with a snake, the entire Haiyou faction was avoiding her today.

According to factional struggle rules, when the Haiyou faction was hostile to her, the Capital faction should have come to court her. When she defeated the Haiyou faction, the Capital faction should also view her as an enemy.

But none of this had happened. The academy’s order hadn’t fully revealed itself before her as Li Zhi had described.

It probably had to do with Rong Pu.

The Rong family might be even more powerful than she had imagined.

Since everyone had made way, she wasn’t polite about it. Tie Ci got her food and sat alone at a table, with all four surrounding tables empty.

Tie Ci didn’t care—she was already accustomed to being alone at the top.

Dan Shuang and Chi Xue also needed to eat lunch. Tie Ci told them they needn’t come serve her. She looked at today’s obviously meat-heavy dishes, thinking about the dining hall’s structure and system. It was very similar to the university cafeterias of her master’s era that her master had described. All these were regulations established by He Zi back then—was there some connection between the two?

Her master had always been nostalgic for that era. In her mouth, it was a highly civilized, free, modernized era a hundred times better than current society. Tie Ci felt some longing for it but wasn’t envious.

Eras always developed slowly—no one could become fat in one bite. High civilization also evolved from lower civilization, requiring countless revolutions, bloodshed, and reforms, slowly blooming flowers on increasingly rich soil.

The legendary flying chickens, thousand-li-a-day vehicles, and small boxes that could allow conversation across ten thousand li without meeting were all marvelous, but without electricity, base stations, and a series of technological foundations, a small box brought to Da Qian would just be a box that couldn’t even hold things.

She ate slowly, thinking about going to academy affairs to collect her prize money and asking for leave to nap this afternoon.

Suddenly someone approached with a meal tray—it was Rong Pu.

He rarely ate in the dining hall. Tie Ci hadn’t seen him for several days, having heard he was ill again.

But today he appeared. As he walked over, the female students eating in the partitions followed him with their rolling eyes.

Rong Pu didn’t keep his eyes straight ahead either, casually glancing over and occasionally smiling slightly, making pink peach blossoms bloom one after another.

He sat across from Tie Ci and pushed over a lunch box with exquisite dishes, obviously not from the cafeteria.

But they weren’t dishes Tie Ci liked to eat. Of course, except for a limited few people, no one in this world knew what she actually liked.

Tie Ci politely took a bite with her chopsticks and reciprocated by pushing her dish over. She thought Rong Pu wouldn’t eat it, but he actually picked up his chopsticks and took a bite too.

Tie Ci had a somewhat strange feeling—while two men sharing food with each other wasn’t unusual, with Rong Pu knowing her identity, this kind of interaction between them didn’t seem quite proper and aboveboard.

What made her uncomfortable was that Rong Pu seemed to be deliberately not being proper and aboveboard.

What was even more depressing was that when he deliberately wasn’t being proper and aboveboard, she couldn’t make a big deal of it and appear presumptuous.

She could only eat with her head down. Occasionally when Rong Pu chatted with her, she couldn’t ignore him.

Remembering something, she asked: “I heard you’ve been ill these past few days?”

Rong Pu coughed once: “An old ailment.”

Seeing he didn’t want to say more, Tie Ci asked again: “That day you went into the woods looking for me?”

Rong Pu paused, served her some food with his chopsticks, then smiled: “After class that day when I didn’t see you, I went in to look. Now several days have passed and you finally ask.”

Tie Ci: “…”

This lotus-like resentful tone.

So she answered in her iron-blooded straight woman way: “Good that you know.”

Rong Pu: “…”

There was no way to continue this conversation.

Although both parties felt the conversation couldn’t continue, the table was narrow, making it look like they were eating head-to-head, plus their whispering made people around them constantly glance over, all thinking they were getting along very well.

Before long, Dan Ye came striding over pulling Hu Yin, sat down beside Tie Ci, and pressed Hu Yin down next to Rong Pu across from them. Hu Yin wasn’t angry, turned to Rong Pu with a smile and asked: “Your food looks delicious. May I taste a piece?”

Rong Pu glanced at Dan Ye, smiled, called for someone to bring another small bowl, leisurely served Hu Yin a small bowl, gently pushed it over, and said lovingly: “Eat up.”

Tie Ci felt his look was like feeding a little dog.

Hu Yin happily began eating. Dan Ye watched, and who knows what nerve was triggered, but he pushed his bowl in front of Tie Ci: “You give me half a bowl too.”

Tie Ci was shocked: “What thing. If I give you half a bowl will I have enough to eat? Besides, don’t you Western Rong people not eat fish!”

Dan Ye said angrily: “Can’t you share the leek and chicken shreds with me! How can you be so stingy!”

“You got leek and chicken shreds for yourself too! Being too greedy will get you struck by lightning!”

Dan Ye angrily devoured the chicken shreds, finishing in two bites: “Now I don’t have any!”

“If you don’t have any, go get more. The Western Rong royal family hasn’t gone bankrupt.”

Dan Ye: “…”

Someone else approached, suppressing the Wolf Lord’s momentary urge to smash his bowl. It was Wei Xuan bringing Wei Xing, sitting at the table next to them.

Wei Xuan had always been likable, treating people kindly and amicably, very popular at the academy. As she walked, she distributed small treats like a wealth-scattering boy. When she sat down, half remained on her plate—a type of light green pastry, crystal clear and looking extremely refreshing.

“This is a pastry made from a type of southern nectar grass, soaked in well water afterward for a cool, refreshing taste. Come, everyone try some.”

Wei Xing only buried his head in plain rice with some radish, eating while staring straight at Tie Ci.

Anyone being stared at like this while eating would inevitably feel chills. Dan Ye felt such a gaze and his eyebrows slowly rose. Just as he was about to speak, Tie Ci stepped on his boot, making him yelp.

Tie Ci held him down and leaned over to talk to Wei Xing: “A’Xing, is the radish good?”

After a long while, Wei Xing slowly and stiffly moved his shoulders.

Wei Xuan said: “He only eats those few things. He’s unwilling to try most new foods.”

But Tie Ci saw Wei Xing’s eyes fixed on the braised egg Rong Pu had given her. She wasn’t in a hurry to give it to him, staring into his eyes: “This is an egg.”

Wei Xing said: “Egg.”

Tie Ci: “Do you want it?”

Wei Xing was silent.

“Tell me you want it, or gesture to tell me. Otherwise I don’t know what you’re thinking.”

Tie Ci brought the egg closer, letting Wei Xing smell its aroma, but didn’t immediately give it to him: “Tell me what you want.”

Wei Xing’s eyes followed the braised egg, finally saying: “Want, egg.”

Wei Xuan’s eyes widened.

Tie Ci smiled and immediately handed over the egg, indicating for Wei Xing to take it. And she unceremoniously took another sliced braised egg from Rong Pu’s plate.

Dan Ye stared intently with an indescribable expression.

Tie Ci said to Wei Xuan: “Pay attention to things he likes. Use what he likes to guide his expression. Don’t give it to him too quickly or too proactively.”

Wei Xuan nodded thoughtfully.

“Come find me in the evening. I’ll do some exercises with him.”

Wei Xuan nodded again. Just as she was about to say something grateful, she suddenly stiffened.

Someone sat down beside her, stretching out comfortably: “No seats left. You don’t mind, do you?”

*Note: The arithmetic problems and answers are from the Nine Chapters on Mathematical Art.