Volume One, Chapter 15: Next Time, I’ll Feed It to You Myself

A shrewd gleam flickered in Chen Pingchuan’s eyes.

With those cleverly cut paper figures in hand, he was every bit the captivating storyteller, transforming the dry maxims of the “Three Character Classic” into vivid performances for Zhang Jinbao. Each line of the text was paired with a fitting little prop, and his explanations were clear, simple, and easy to understand.

What once seemed to Zhang Jinbao like a collection of soporific spells now appeared to come alive, brimming with spirit and wit. The despondent look that had so recently clouded the child’s face was gone, replaced by boundless attention and curiosity. He listened, utterly enthralled.

Chen Pingchuan moved at an unhurried pace, methodically peeling back the layers of meaning, much like one would peel an onion, guiding Zhang Jinbao to grasp the deeper truths and lively stories hidden behind each phrase.

Enthralled, the boy’s little head bobbed up and down in rhythm with Chen Pingchuan’s narration, much like a chick pecking at rice. He thought to himself that these lessons were a hundred—no, a thousand—times more enchanting than the tales of outlaws and heroes spun by the storytellers in the market square.

“Big Brother!”

As one segment of the lesson ended, Zhang Jinbao tugged eagerly at Chen Pingchuan’s sleeve, his eyes bright with anticipation. “Aside from the ‘Three Character Classic,’ can you tell me some more fun stories? Just a little more!”

A faint, knowing smile played at the corners of Chen Pingchuan’s lips. “Of course. Since young master is interested, I’ll tell you something even better.” He paused deliberately, stoking Zhang Jinbao’s curiosity.

“This story is called ‘Journey to the West!’”

“It’s about a miraculous monkey who caused havoc in the heavens!”

“A monkey?” Zhang Jinbao’s eyes went wide with wonder. “How could a monkey possibly cause such chaos?”

It was a notion that upended everything he thought he knew.

“Oh, but this is no ordinary monkey,” Chen Pingchuan lowered his voice, shrouding his words in mystery. “He was born from a celestial stone, having absorbed the essence of sun and moon. With a thunderous crack, he burst forth—a spirit monkey of extraordinary power! He could change into seventy-two forms, travel to the heavens, dive into the seas, and stir up trouble throughout the three realms!”

Zhang Jinbao’s mouth formed a perfect ‘O’ as he listened, heart and mind swept away.

“But…” Chen Pingchuan dragged out the word, “you must first master the lines from the ‘Three Character Classic’ I taught you today before I can tell you the rest of this marvelous tale.”

With the promise of such fantastical adventures awaiting him, how could Zhang Jinbao possibly sit still?

He was instantly roused, pointing at the words in the book and reciting them, albeit haltingly at first, with a seriousness he had never shown before.

Before half an hour had passed, the boy who moments earlier couldn’t recite a single line now fluently delivered the opening dozen sentences of the “Three Character Classic,” word for word, without error. Not only that, but he also grasped most of their meaning, no longer swallowing them whole without understanding.

And that wasn’t all. Under Chen Pingchuan’s patient guidance, he even learned to write his own name—Zhang Jinbao—with a brush.

Gazing at the three slightly crooked yet triumphant characters on the page, Zhang Jinbao’s face shone with a joy and pride he’d never known.

“Ha! I can write! Zhang Jinbao can write his name!” he cried. “And I can recite, too! ‘People at birth, are naturally good…’”

Overcome with excitement, Zhang Jinbao leapt from his stool, dancing around the study like a little monkey who’d just pilfered a peach.

“You truly are gifted, young master—quick to learn and quick to understand!” Chen Pingchuan offered just the right amount of praise, though inwardly he mused that the little chubby lad had finally begun to show some promise.

Flushed with pride, Zhang Jinbao scratched his head sheepishly and grinned. “It’s all because you teach so well, big brother! So much better than the old tutor!”

Meanwhile, outside the study, just around the corner, a petite figure peeked out with a stealthy curiosity—it was Miss Zhang Jingshu, the eldest daughter of the Zhang family.

She had been “inspecting” the situation for quite some time.

That wretched pageboy! How was he perfectly fine? From the way he animatedly taught her brother, he showed no signs of stomach distress!

How infuriating! She had specifically ordered her maid to fetch a powerful laxative from the pharmacy, increasing the dose several times over—enough to send ten oxen running to the privy!

The other greedy servants had been left near collapse, still staggering from the effects. So why was this pageboy unaffected? Could it be the medicine didn’t work on him?

Impossible! Absolutely impossible!

Zhang Jingshu’s pretty brows knit with frustration as her mind raced. Unless… unless he didn’t eat what she had “graciously” bestowed upon him at all!

Hmph! Next time, she resolved, she would make sure he ate it herself.

The scheming little lady pressed her brows into a tight knot and pouted in silent defiance, already plotting her next act of “revenge.”

Just then, Chen Pingchuan’s animated storytelling drifted into her ears.

“Now, after Pangu split heaven and earth apart, the vast lands were divided into four great continents. Our story takes place in the Eastern Continent…”

It was that wretched pageboy’s voice again!

“In the Eastern Continent, there is a mystical kingdom across the sea called Aolai. Near the sea, upon a towering mountain known as Flower-Fruit Mountain, there lies an immortal stone. From the beginning of time, it has absorbed the purest essence of heaven and earth, sun and moon. After countless ages, the stone gained spiritual awareness. One day it split open, producing a stone egg as large as a ball. When touched by the wind, it transformed into a stone monkey…”

Zhang Jingshu’s large, dark eyes widened in astonishment. A monkey… that leapt from a stone? What sort of monkey was this—an immortal monkey?

Her curiosity thoroughly piqued, she leaned in to listen more closely.

The more she listened, the more fascinating the story became. She was completely drawn in, swept away by the magic of the tale. Any thought of revenge on Chen Pingchuan was long forgotten.

At that moment, the Zhang family’s carriage rolled to a stop at the gate.

Zhang Shengcai, returning from his social engagements and reeking of wine, staggered into the compound. His eyes instinctively drifted toward the study—he wanted to see whether his troublesome son was slacking off again.

He had only taken a few steps toward the study when he heard a most unusual commotion—Zhang Jinbao’s exuberant shouting.