My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 5 The Academy Turmoil (1)

"Young master, get up quickly, it's already Chenshi (7-9 AM)."

Mu Shaoying felt someone patting her shoulder. She paused for a moment, instantly waking up. She looked out and saw that it was Granny Liao calling her to get up. Looking out the window, she saw that it wasn't fully light yet, probably around six in the morning. Sigh, time to go to school today.

When Granny Liao saw that Mu Shaoying was awake, she came up to help Mu Shaoying get off the bed. Mu Shaoying was startled and jumped off the bed before her: "Granny, I can do it myself. You can help me comb my hair."

Granny Liao covered her mouth and laughed, "Alright, alright, young master, do it yourself. This servant will help you comb your hair."

After being here for so many days, she finally figured out how to put on her clothes, but she still couldn't comb her hair. Mu Shaoying put on her clothes, sat on the stool, and had Liao Mama comb her hair.

"Young Master, do you remember what I told you before? You can't let anyone touch you. If you need to relieve yourself at the academy, you must find Zhu Zi." Granny Liao asked Mu Shaoying while combing her hair.

Not letting anyone touch her, even using a pillar to go to the toilet? Granny Liao really knew the original owner was a girl. However, ancient times were harsh on women; for a newcomer like herself, maintaining the status quo was best.

Mu Shaoying nodded and replied softly, "Granny, I understand."

Granny Liao nodded, then turned to instruct the maid to prepare hot water for washing up. She then said to Mu Shaoying, "After you finish washing up, young master, go to the front yard to have breakfast with the master. The master will then accompany you to the academy. I have already arranged for Zhuzi to prepare today's books."

After washing up, Granny Liao led Mu Shaoying to the front yard. The front yard was more spacious than Mu Shaoying's yard, with several unidentified trees and potted plants. Since it was not yet fully light, lanterns shone from the yard into the house. People came and went, busy but not noisy. Mu Shaoying looked into the house and saw two people, one sitting and one standing. The standing person bowed to the sitting person and said something. When the sitting person saw Mu Shaoying and Granny Liao at the door, he stood up and said to Mu Shaoying, "Ziping, come here quickly."

Before Mu Shaoying came two clean-cut faces: the original owner's uncle and Steward Tao.

When Butler Tao saw Mu Shaoying and Granny Liao enter the room, he nodded to Mu Shaoying and then turned to give a few instructions to the people next to him.

"Greetings, Master." Granny Liao knelt down and greeted the original owner's uncle. The original owner's uncle waved to Granny Liao, who then stood aside with Steward Tao.

"Good morning, Uncle." Mu Shaoying didn't know what to say, so she greeted the original owner's uncle as she always did.

The uncle smiled and said, "After being sick, Ziping has become much more sensible. He got up much earlier than usual today. When you come with me to the academy to see Master Li, you should do the same."

Mu Shaoying nodded in agreement.

Just as the food was laid out, the uncle pulled Mu Shaoying to sit down and eat.

Just the two of them? Where are the others? Mu Shaoying felt strange. She glanced at her uncle, the original owner of the body, suppressed her doubts, and lowered her head to drink her porridge.

After the meal, the original owner's uncle led Mu Shaoying, followed by Steward Tao, and walked outside. Soon they reached the door, where a carriage was already waiting. In front of the carriage, a brown horse was stamping its hooves restlessly, and a pillar was holding a package and waiting to the side.

The original owner's uncle helped Mu Shaoying into the carriage. Mu Shaoying sniffed, and her uncle also had a faint fragrance.

It was already bright when Mu Shaoying lifted the curtain on the car window. There was a wooden sign hanging above the door with two characters written on it, which he guessed should be "Lin Residence".

The carriage moved forward slowly. Although there was a cushion, Mu Shaoying still felt a bit uncomfortable on his bottom, just like when he was a child riding a tractor.

The streets gradually filled up, indicating that they had reached the bustling city center. Mu Shaoying lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and looked out at the street. The quaint streets, people dressed in ancient costumes, and the constant hawking of vendors created a scene reminiscent of a real-life version of "Along the River During the Qingming Festival".

Mu Shaoying lowered the carriage curtain, and the carriage instantly darkened. She looked at her uncle, whose face was illuminated by the morning light streaming through the curtain. As the carriage swayed, he seemed lost in thought.

After a swaying and rocking motion, the carriage finally came to a stop. The original owner's uncle lifted the curtain, stepped out of the carriage, and looked back at Mu Shaoying: "Why didn't you get out of the carriage? Are you scared?"

Mu Shaoying shook her head and stepped down from the horse stool.

A long staircase came into view, and the sound of reading could be faintly heard. A young man in a blue robe hurried up the staircase. Perhaps it was still early. Mu Shaoying and his uncle, the original owner of the body, stood among them, which seemed a little out of place. The two walked up the staircase and soon arrived in front of a tall archway. Mu Shaoying looked at the archway and felt that it was heavy and ancient. The characters on the plaque were vigorous and powerful.

A man stood at the entrance. Upon seeing Mu Shaoying and the original owner's uncle, he stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Master Lin, Master Li has been waiting for a long time. Please follow me." After speaking, he turned and walked into the academy. The original owner's uncle led Mu Shaoying and followed the man into the academy. This man must be Master Li's attendant.

"Master Li, Master Lin has arrived." The three stopped in front of a house, and the servant who led the way bowed and said into the house.

"Come in." A voice came from inside the house.

Upon hearing this, the servant opened the door, and the original owner's uncle entered the room, pulling Mu Shaoying to bow and greet the person seated at the head of the table: "Greetings, Master Li."

After a while, a voice came from above Mu Shaoying's head: "Master Lin, you've arrived."

Mu Shaoying looked up and saw a man with gray hair, a beard, pursed lips, a serious face, and wearing a gray long robe. Mu Shaoying felt as if she were seeing a strict university professor.

“Master Li, Ziping is young and mischievous. He fell into the water a few days ago and got sick at home. I brought him to school today,” the original owner’s uncle said, and nudged Mu Shaoying.

"Master Li, Master Li, I... I'm a naughty student, I'm sorry to have troubled you," Mu Shaoying stammered, bowing to Master Li.

Master Li looked at Mu Shaoying and sighed, "Ziping has become much more sensible after this illness. It seems you've put in a lot of effort, Lin Zhong. Ziping, listen to Master Cheng and go study."

Upon hearing this, Mu Shaoying looked at the original owner's uncle, who nodded and said, "Ziping, Zhuzi is waiting for you outside the door. Go and listen to his lectures."

Mu Shaoying bowed deeply to Master Li and walked outside.

As expected, Zhu Zi was waiting outside, as was the servant who had led the way. Mu Shaoying nodded to him and then followed Zhu Zi toward the school.

"Young master, we have arrived at your school. Here are the books. I will be waiting in the corner room. If you need anything, please come to me there."

Zhu Zi handed the package he was carrying to Mu Shaoying, and then walked towards a room next to the school.

Holding her books, Mu Shaoying looked towards the school. The class had already started. She hesitated at the door, wondering whether she should call out "Report" or wait until the next class to sneak in.

"Lin Ziping, what are you doing at the door? Come in and listen to the lesson." The teacher said to Mu Shaoying.

The classroom was filled with a group of little kids, about the same age as the original owner, who laughed loudly at Mu Shaoying.

Seeing this, Mu Shaoying tightened the bundle in her arms and walked towards an empty seat in the classroom.

The children around her were whispering among themselves, and a few of them were looking at her with ill intent. Mu Shaoying knew something was wrong, so she quickly walked to her seat, pulled up a stool, and sat down. She noticed that one of the children hadn't had time to pull his foot back.

After I sat down, I heard the child behind me mutter, "So fast."

Mu Shaoying secretly raised an eyebrow, thinking, "Are you trying to trip me up?"

It seems the original owner didn't get along very well with the other classmates.

Opening the book, she still couldn't recognize the characters. The teacher on the platform was lecturing with his head swaying. Mu Shaoying sighed. What was she going to do if she couldn't read? She took out a brush and wrote "Lin Ziping" in crooked Chinese characters on the paper. After thinking for a moment, she wrote "Lin Zhong" instead. She wondered why the original owner of this body had the same surname as her uncle. The Lin family didn't seem like a merchant family in the TV series. Moreover, the attitude of Teacher Li's servants towards Lin Zhong was a bit strange. Could it be that she had some preconceived notions? This was different from what she saw on TV.

"Lin Ziping, come and recite what I just taught you," the teacher said, frowning at Mu Shaoying.

What did you just say? Mu Shaoying looked at Master Li with a blank expression.

The Master took a deep breath: "The Three Character Classic!!"

The Three Character Classic? Now she's learning the Three Character Classic? Mu Shaoying was overjoyed. Oh no, she only knew the first few lines.

Mu Shaoying opened his mouth, steeled his heart, and said, "Human nature is inherently good; people are similar in nature, but their habits differ greatly..."

I can memorize everything in one go.

After reciting it, he looked at the teacher. After a while, the teacher said, "This is the content from the past two days. It seems you haven't forgotten to study at home. But you must listen carefully in class, for you will know that learning is like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you will fall behind."

Mu Shaoying nodded in agreement. With the teacher's permission, she glanced back at the stool and slowly sat down. Looking at the words in the book, she suddenly realized that she wasn't illiterate, just unfamiliar with the characters here. Since there was the *Three Character Classic*, she could find someone to memorize it, write it down in Chinese characters, and compare it with the characters she knew now—then she would recognize them! This idea excited Mu Shaoying.

After spending a day nervously at the academy, Mu Shaoying gained a general understanding of its situation. This academy is the well-known Moshan Academy, which covers elementary, preschool, and primary education, similar to kindergarten, primary school, junior high school, and senior high school. Mu Shaoying is currently in the elementary education stage, which is roughly equivalent to kindergarten. When she starts learning to read, she must pass an exam to advance to the next stage of learning, just like in modern times.