John Foster sat to the side watching Nathan Foster practice his writing. He saw that his vertical strokes looked like legs shivering from chills, trembling uncontrollably, while his horizontal strokes looked like someone flexing their muscles—uneven and bumpy, truly an eyesore.

At last, John Foster couldn’t help but curl his knuckles and rap Nathan Foster on the head. “I really don’t get you. If you can write such excellent poetry, how can your handwriting be this terrible?”

In truth, Nathan Foster was just as frustrated. This wasn’t even his own handwriting, but Andy Foster’s. The sloppy script clung to him like a stubborn plaster, impossible to shake off.

“I’ll practice! I’ll practice hard, isn’t that enough?” Nathan Foster stabbed at the paper stroke by stroke, determined.

Seeing him a bit flustered and angry, John Foster couldn’t help but chuckle, and decided not to disturb Nathan Foster’s practice any further, instead sitting aside to read.

At this moment, Little Grace grinned. “Actually, I have a shortcut.”

“What shortcut? Tell me!”

“If I tell you, you have to make tea for me for half a month.”

“Make tea for your head!”

Nathan Foster turned his pen around and gave him a hard knock on the head. “Trying to trick Grandpa Foster into doing things for you? You’re still too green!”

“I’m not lying to you!”

Little Grace whispered to Nathan Foster, “This kind of xuan paper is made of several layers stuck together. You can peel it thinner and thinner. If you tear it until it’s semi-transparent and lay it over a copybook, you can trace the characters. That way, you’ll improve much faster.”

Nathan Foster’s eyes lit up. That was a good idea—he couldn’t believe he hadn’t thought of it himself.

He immediately put his arm around Little Grace’s shoulder and smiled, “Even country folk think my tea tastes awful. I doubt Third Grandpa would like it. Since the capable should do more, you’ll have to work a bit harder. To thank you, I’ll treat you to candy when we get to the capital.”

At the mention of candy, Little Grace nearly drooled. He quickly said, “You can’t go back on your word. Let’s pinky swear.”

Nathan Foster gave him a disdainful look. “How old are you, still wanting to pinky swear?”

“What if you break your promise?”

Nathan Foster patted his chest. “When Grandpa Foster gives his word, not even four horses can chase it down. Would I lie to a little brat like you?”

“All right! All right!”

John Foster watched the two chatting, feeling genuinely delighted. He couldn’t help but laugh, “You little brat aren’t much older yourself. Now get back to writing, no more fooling around.”

The two lowered their heads to write again. This time, Little Grace blushed, gritted his teeth, and muttered, “You’re the little brat!”

Nathan Foster shook his head. “It’s really boring to sit and write with someone as childish as you!”

“Let me quiz you both!”

Finding it amusing, John Foster put down his book and smiled, “I’ll ask Little Grace first. Tell me, why did I stop the boat here?”

Little Grace scratched his head, unable to guess after a long while.

“And you?” John Foster smiled at Nathan Foster.

Nathan Foster sneered at Little Grace, “Outside Gusu City stands Cold Mountain Temple; at midnight, the bell tolls reach the traveler’s boat. You can’t even think of that? All your reading’s gone to the dogs!”

“I actually could have thought of it, I just forgot for a moment,” Little Grace retorted angrily.

John Foster nodded approvingly. “Nancy, you must have seen the Tiger Hill Pagoda outside?”

“I saw it long ago, but I know that’s not the real reason Third Grandpa stopped the boat here!”

“Oh? Then tell me, what’s the real reason?”

Nathan Foster grinned slyly. “Same as in Jiangwan Village—Third Grandpa is afraid of being disturbed.”

John Foster burst out laughing and gave a thumbs up. “What a clever child!”

Nathan Foster spread his hands with a grin. “Shouldn’t there be a reward for guessing right? I don’t want much, just a string of coins from Third Grandpa will do.”

John Foster pulled out a single coin and tossed it to him, saying gruffly, “That’s your prize. A string of coins? Why not ask for a hundred taels of silver!”

Little Grace laughed gleefully, “Serves you right! That’s what you get for being greedy, asking for a string of coins. If it were me, I’d only ask for ten coins.”

Nathan Foster casually tossed the coin to him. “I only wanted the money to pay you back. Since you don’t mind it being little, go buy yourself some candy in the capital!”

……

Chapter Four: Guest Professor

Maybe he drank too much tea last night, but before dawn, Nathan Foster was woken by a full bladder. The bed was so warm and cozy, he was reluctant to get up.

But in the end, he couldn’t hold it any longer. He had to throw off the covers and tiptoe out of the cabin, careful not to wake his sleeping grandfather.

Stepping out of the cabin, a fresh, chilly river breeze hit him in the face, making him shiver.

He hurriedly bent over and dashed to the side of the boat, relieved himself into the river, then turned and ran back toward the cabin.

Just then, Nathan Foster suddenly noticed a few sneaky shadows on the shore. He was startled—thieves!

A gentleman does not stand by a crumbling wall. Having spotted thieves, of course he couldn’t confront them head-on. Nathan Foster quietly crept to the bow and gently nudged the sleeping boatman. “Uncle!”

The boatman was dreaming of eating braised pork knuckle in the capital, savoring every bite, when Nathan Foster woke him.

“What is it?” the boatman mumbled sleepily.

“I think there are a few little thieves on the shore. Uncle, go check it out first. I’ll go find something handy to use.”

“They’re not thieves. They’re a few scholars coming for the imperial exam, here to ask Sir Foster for advice. They arrived in the middle of the night.”