After a while, the students, bored with their games, conspired to have some fun with their new teacher.
One student sat at the front and loudly asked, "Teacher, why aren't you teaching? This is a school, after all!"
Xu Zhen glanced at him, saying, "I have been teaching."
The student, puzzled, asked, "What did you teach? I didn't hear anything." He turned to the others, "Did any of you hear her?"
The others shook their heads: "No."
Realizing this teacher was being stubborn, the student became bolder.
He pointed his chin at Xu Zhen and said, "Everyone didn't hear you. You're a teacher; why are you lying?"
Xu Zhen set her book aside, adjusted her posture for comfort, and asked, "How do you know I'm lying? Maybe everyone else is lying to deceive you?"
The student paused before saying, "How could so many people deceive me?"
Xu Zhen replied, "If three people claim there’s a tiger on the street, does that make it true?"
The student, not particularly studious, took a moment to grasp the reference, then quickly said, "You're twisting words! You're the one pretending there's a tiger on the street!"
Xu Zhen thought the young man had some wit.
Feeling idle, she continued, "Why are you so sure you're right?"
The student said, "Because I didn't hear it."
Xu Zhen asked, "Does something not exist just because you didn't hear it?"
The student, full of confidence, seemed spoiled.
He said, "Of course! If I can't trust my ears, what can I trust?"
Xu Zhen stifled a laugh.
She took a sip of tea, saying, "In that case, can you hear a rooster crowing? The wind blowing? Your father calling your name?" She asked, "If you can't hear them, does that mean they don't exist?"
Of course, they existed.
He almost said so but realized he couldn't, or he'd lose the argument.
Standing there, trying to listen, he found he indeed heard nothing. How could he counter that?
Mouth agape, eyes wide, he wanted to speak but felt dizzy, unsure of what to say.
Seeing his confusion, Xu Zhen seized the moment, "So don't just trust your ears—think." After a pause, she added, "Of course, some people's brains can't be trusted either."
The atmosphere in the classroom grew tense.
Xu Zhen chuckled to lighten the mood, noticing everyone's attention fixed on her.
Feeling a bit nervous, she saw it was almost time to finish and quickly gathered her things, announcing, "Class dismissed! Until we meet again."
Chapter 5: Five Treasures ?
Start from the beginning
