Fang Yu professionally took out his small notebook, naming the entry: "Mother-in-law's Pit Lamb."
Qiao's mother explained with a smile: "After the lamb is slaughtered and cleaned, first rub it with salt for flavor. Then use a mixture of ginger, scallions, garlic, Sichuan pepper, thyme, fennel, star anise, and other spices to coat and marinate for one hour. During this time, use thin bamboo skewers to poke small holes in the lamb to help it absorb the flavors better. Finally, place it in the roasting oven."
The aroma was intense and dry, strong enough to wake someone up in the middle of the night. The flavor was fresh and juicy, but such roasted meat could be somewhat greasy. Paired with wine, tea, and snacks, it was truly an indulgence.
The day was clear, so everyone simply ate the pit lamb in the courtyard. Open fires were lit in braziers placed around, and they used small knives to slice the lamb. It didn't feel cold at all.
After this meal, the academy would also start classes again. Fang Yu resumed his routine of getting up early to rush to the academy.
At the beginning of the new year, Master Zhang had everyone in the classroom adjust their seating according to their minor exam results. This wasn't the first time seats had been moved, so everyone was quite familiar with the process.
Fang Yu sat cross-legged in his spot, unwilling to move. If seats were assigned based on the minor exam results, he would have to sit right under the watchful eye of dear Master Zhang. In later generations, such prime seats were usually reserved for poorly behaved students. Now, he was expected to sit there, which didn't please him at all.
Moreover, his current seat was very convenient for slacking off. He really didn't want to move.
"Fang Yu, why are you delaying?"
Master Zhang stood at the doorway with his hands behind his back, watching the students change seats. Seeing Fang Yu standing motionless amidst the chaos, he couldn't help but ask.
In order to continue slacking off, Fang Yu put down his things and went up to Master Zhang. "Master, I feel this method of changing seats is inappropriate."
"Oh?"
"If we arrange seats according to grades, it certainly makes things clear at a glance and can motivate fellow students to strive. However, it also has significant drawbacks."
Master Zhang gave Fang Yu a sidelong glance. "Then speak your mind."
"Everyone knows seats in the classroom are arranged by grades. Firstly, it hurts the self-esteem of students sitting in the back rows." Fang Yu said. "Furthermore..."
At this time, they didn't yet know about the Matthew Effect, so Fang Yu could only explain plainly: "As the saying goes, 'near vermilion, one gets stained red; near ink, one gets stained black.' Those in the front rows are diligent, outstanding scholars who encourage and inspire each other to improve. Wouldn't the same logic apply to the back rows? Those who are lazy and perform poorly, now grouped together, might reinforce each other's bad habits, further damaging the classroom's learning atmosphere."
[The "Matthew Effect" is a sociological term describing the phenomenon of "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer" or cumulative advantage, summarized by the biblical verse "For to every one who has will more be given... but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away." (Matthew 25:29)]
[近朱者赤近墨者黑 (jìn zhū zhě chì jìn mò zhě hēi): lit. near vermilion, one gets stained red; near ink, one gets stained black; fig. one takes on the attributes of one's associates]
Upon hearing this, Master Zhang frowned and stroked his beard. He had never considered this aspect. It had to be said that during usual lectures, the back rows were indeed the most rowdy—those dozing off or whispering were always in the back. "What you say has some merit."
Seeing an opportunity, Fang Yu added, "Furthermore, there are also classmates in the classroom with poor eyesight or who are slightly shorter. Having them sit in the back rows makes it hard to see the master on the lectern. Not seeing clearly also greatly affects listening. If this continues long-term, wouldn't it hinder such classmates?"
This was something Fang Yu had noticed in the classroom. Even though there were no electronic devices now, scholars of the time studied diligently, often staying up late into the night with only a dim candle for light—and that was for those from better-off families. Those from poorer families had to save on lamp oil. Eye strain was also a significant issue.
For example, Qiu Yanqi, who sat in front of him, had to squint slightly when listening to the master's lectures.
Master Zhang looked at Fang Yu. "I didn't expect you to be so observant. Then, according to you, how do you think seats should be arranged?"
"You flatter me, Master." Fang Yu pretended to be flustered and quickly humbled himself. "This student merely spoke a few extra words. How would I know how to arrange them? It must be decided by you, Master."
Master Zhang gave him a slight glare. "You've said so much, yet you still try to fool me into thinking you have no ideas? Speak up."
"This student fears speaking poorly."
The master said, "If you speak poorly, I'll just treat it as idle talk."
That was exactly what Fang Yu was waiting for. He then said, "Why not let classmates with poor eyesight or who are shorter sit in the front? Then arrange the remaining seats by choice, preferably pairing one excellent student with one average one. This way, it's easier for them to help and support each other's learning."
The master stroked his beard. "Not bad, not bad. If average students can improve this way, then our classroom as a whole will show great progress."
Fang Yu cupped his hands respectfully. "A tall student like myself is willing to sit in the back voluntarily."
"You are quite capable of making sacrifices for the greater good, willing to consider the classroom's situation. Let it be as you suggest then."
Fang Yu secretly rejoiced, while on the surface maintaining an expression of self-sacrifice. He bowed to Master Zhang and returned to his seat.
Qiu Yanqi looked at the returning person. "Brother Fang, why haven't you moved your seat yet? What did the master say to you just now? Was he asking about the previous minor exam?"
"It's nothing major. A new shop opened in the city, and I brought some small snacks to offer to the master."
Qiu Yanqi acknowledged this—such things were common.
At the start of each term, many students brought things for the master. If students lived in the countryside and their families raised livestock, they would bring a chicken, a duck, some eggs, or a couple of strings of cured meat and sausages. He himself had brought two pieces of cured meat for the master.
As for city scholars, they had many more varieties. Qiu Yanqi asked curiously, "Brother Fang, what snacks did you offer the master?"
"Watermelon seeds from the Book and Tea House." Fang Yu pulled out a handful from his book box—they seemed to be soy sauce flavored. "Try some."
Qiu Yanqi hurriedly reached out with both hands to receive them.
"You two are still here? It's time to move seats."
As soon as the student who came forward finished speaking, the master called everyone to attention and announced the suggestion Fang Yu had given. The students looked at each other, somewhat astonished, then burst into cheers and hurriedly went to pick and choose their deskmates and those in front of them.
Where there was joy, there was also worry. For example, a relatively good student like Liang Minxu couldn't help but grumble. Accustomed to the hierarchical system of superiority, suddenly reverting to equality and having to sit next to poorer students naturally made him very unwilling. But on second thought, he wasn't the best either, and he could still move to sit with someone who had better grades and coursework. Immediately, he became busy again.
Fang Yu, however, remained at ease. He wasn't going anywhere; he stayed in his original spot.
"Brother Fang, if you don't mind, I'll move back to sit with you."
But Fang Yu stopped him. "Your eyesight isn't that clear to begin with. If you move back, won't it be even harder to see the lectern? You're fine sitting in front of me; it's close enough."
"That works well too."
The two smiled.
Master Zhang's voice rang out in the classroom again: "Fang Yu, after things settle here, collect all the students' holiday essay assignments and bring them to the masters' room."
Then, addressing everyone, he said, "You'd all better be honest. I have a record of exactly which essays and assignments were given to which individuals. If any are missing, there will be consequences."
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