Xu Wan tilted her head and replied, "That’s true, but you studied while practicing martial arts and became a double top scholar at fifteen. Were you as hardworking as Jin Cheng and the others are now?"
Zong Zhao thought for a moment and said, "I woke up earlier than they do—usually at mao hour, because dawn is perfect for both martial arts and memorizing texts."
Xu Wan: "…"
She had been reflecting on whether she was pushing the children too hard for exams, but Zong Zhao’s words made her seem downright relaxed in comparison.
Xu Wan remarked, "You really are something, pushing yourself so ruthlessly."
Zong Zhao replied earnestly, "Back then, I was in a hurry to prove to my father that I could excel in both martial arts and studies, so I pushed myself harder. It was just an attempt—I never expected to actually pass."
"So?" Xu Wan waited for him to continue.
Zong Zhao deadpanned, "So maybe I just got lucky and happened to compete against a weak batch of scholars that year?"
Xu Wan couldn’t hold back her laughter. "You broke Great Chu’s record for youngest top scholar, and now you’re saying something so infuriating? If your fellow examinees heard that, wouldn’t they storm our house to fight you?"
Unfazed, Zong Zhao nodded. "Let them come. I’d like to see how scholars fare in a fight."
Xu Wan: "…" Absolute annihilation.
Who would dare challenge a general in combat?
Zong Zhao gazed at her quietly and asked softly, "Which part of Mr. Su’s words confused you?"
Xu Wan’s smile stiffened, and she awkwardly admitted, "It’s not that I didn’t understand. I know he was criticizing my rigid teaching methods, and I get that. What I haven’t figured out is how to improve, which is why I’m frustrated."
Zong Zhao said, "Summarizing all knowledge and insights and force-feeding them into their minds—that method is indeed rigid."
The bluntness caught Xu Wan off guard. She laughed in exasperation. "What’s going on? Did I misread you? Weren’t you supposed to comfort me? Why are you joining Mr. Su in criticizing me?"
Zong Zhao’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he looked at her, his voice low. "But this method can help them surpass thousands of competitors—it’s the kind of shortcut scholars dream of. Mr. Su’s advice might have merit, but it’s more like adding flowers to brocade than sending charcoal in snowy weather. You only need minor refinements to make it even better. So don’t doubt yourself. Even without changes, you’re still their best teacher."
Xu Wan was momentarily stunned. Her bright eyes wavered before finally softening into a smile. "Is not overthinking yourself a family trait in your household?"
Zong Zhao looked puzzled. "What do you mean by ‘overthinking’?"
Xu Wan explained, "It means setting impossibly high standards for yourself and then feeling guilty, anxious, or self-critical when you fall short."
The stern lines of Zong Zhao’s face softened. He reached out, gently smoothing her furrowed brow, and murmured, "Believe in yourself. You’re good—so very good. They’ll never find a better guide than you."
A sudden warmth pricked at Xu Wan’s eyes. She turned away, gazing at the lotus-filled pond as she replied, "Mm, I understand…"
Zong Zhao slowly withdrew his hand, his heart tender as he admired her delicate profile. Then, abruptly, he asked, "Do you want to eat grilled fish?"
"Eh?" Xu Wan was taken aback by the sudden shift.
How did we end up at grilled fish?
Zong Zhao clarified, "Cui Zhi mentioned you didn’t eat much at dinner. Since I haven’t eaten either, let’s grill some fish."
"Us?" Xu Wan glanced around the now-empty courtyard, then pointed uncertainly between him and herself. "Just the two of us, doing it ourselves? I don’t know how…"
"I do."
Zong Zhao wasted no time. He stood and fetched a forked stick, clearly intending to spear fish from the pond.
Xu Wan kindly reminded him, "The fish in the pond are ornamental—goldfish and koi. They’re not for eating."
No sooner had she spoken than Zong Zhao skewered two brownish-yellow fish. "Mandarin fish. Beautiful and delicious."
Xu Wan blinked. "Our pond’s fish are truly versatile—pretty and tasty."
Zong Zhao deftly cleaned the fish without looking up. "Originally, there were only goldfish and carp. But when Zong Yan was around ten, he went through a phase of loving to catch fish. To indulge him, Mother stocked the pond with mandarin fish."
"So you’ve got experience in this. I never noticed before." Xu Wan leaned in. "Is there anything I can help with?"
Zong Zhao initially meant to refuse but, seeing the eagerness in her eyes, changed his mind. "Gather some twigs?"
Delighted to contribute, Xu Wan nodded eagerly. "Wait here—I’ll find some."
As she walked away, Zong Zhao’s lips curved faintly before he returned to his task.
Soon, Xu Wan’s voice carried from a distance. "Zong Zhao, the courtyard’s been swept too clean—no twigs. Will sticks work? They’re a bit thick—can you break them?"
"Sure."
"Great." Xu Wan hauled over several sticks—leftovers from Jin Cheng’s lotus-seed-picking earlier—now repurposed for their impromptu barbecue.
By the time she returned, Zong Zhao had already cleaned both fish and skewered them on slender rods.
He handed them to Xu Wan, who hesitated. "There aren’t even dry leaves to start the fire. Should I ask someone outside to bring some?"
Zong Zhao shook his head, picking up a book from the ground. "This’ll do."
Xu Wan stared. "You came prepared… Did you plan this grilled fish idea beforehand?"
Zong Zhao nodded. "It just occurred to me, so I thought I’d try."
"What book is this? Is it important?" Xu Wan squinted at the title under the moonlight, but the dim light obscured the words.
Zong Zhao replied, "No. It’s just a handwritten copy. The original was burned by Zong Yan long ago."
Xu Wan: "…"
She asked tentatively, "Was it… used to grill fish?"
Zong Zhao’s voice held both amusement and nostalgia. "Yes. While I was out gathering wood, he used my rare original as kindling. By the time I returned, the fish were nearly cooked, and he proudly asked me to taste how fragrant they were."
"Pfft—" Xu Wan laughed unapologetically. "Zong Yan was just a martial arts kid, too young to understand the value of rare books. Poor you… tragic yet hilarious."
