An Extraordinary Achievement

Abandoning the old system and introducing a new one would be a difficult task. Fortunately, arithmetic isn't like the Four Books and Five Classics; it won't lead to literary inquisitions, so the change is relatively less challenging.

Su Li started recalling the most basic math lessons from first grade and began drafting a math textbook from the very fundamentals.

Bai Lu was grinding ink nearby, occasionally glancing at what Su Li was writing, only to find that what Su Li penned was something she'd never seen before and couldn't understand at all.

"Madam, what is this you're writing?" Bai Lu couldn't help but ask curiously.

"This is the new math textbook I'm compiling," Su Li answered seriously while writing.

Bai Lu exclaimed, even more curious: "Madam, why are you writing a math textbook? Could it be because you read Young Master Yuan Ling's math book?"

Su Li looked up and smiled at Bai Lu: "Because your madam here is going to be a math teacher at Wutong Academy. This is the textbook I'm writing for my students."

"Ah!?" Bai Lu almost shouted in surprise, her eyes wide as saucers. "Madam, did I hear that right? You're going to teach at Wutong Academy? The one at Shilipo, the top academy in the Great Jin Dynasty?"

"Yes, exactly, the Wutong Academy at Shilipo, the number one academy in the Great Jin Dynasty," Su Li said, smiling at Bai Lu's stunned expression, pinching her cheek. "Your madam here is about to become a teacher at Wutong Academy!"

"This..." Bai Lu was in a state of excited disbelief.

What is Wutong Academy? It’s the top institution every student in the country dreams of!

Getting into Wutong Academy requires not only a wealthy family to afford the tuition but also passing multiple rigorous exams. It’s not easy to get in.

For wealthy families, if their child gets into Wutong Academy, it’s a proud honor they boast about among relatives and friends!

But for our madam to become a math teacher there—that’s truly an extraordinary achievement!

Su Li wasn't surprised to see Bai Lu’s silly grin.

Wutong Academy here is like the modern-day Tsinghua or Peking University. Only top scholars get in, let alone becoming a professor there—that’s truly impressive.

So Bai Lu looked at Su Li with eyes that practically sparkled, as if staring at a deity.

She immediately served Su Li tea, water, and ink, saying, "Madam, you just focus on writing the textbook. If you need anything, just tell me!"

Su Li chuckled, "Alright, I’m going to start at Wutong Academy in a few days. I need to finish the first textbook before then."

"Yes, yes! Madam is amazing!" Bai Lu admired sincerely. As Su Li wrote, Bai Lu watched nearby, silently thinking: Truly, madam is a hidden genius!

Su Li muttered, "It’s a pity most people don’t understand these Arabic numerals and operations. Otherwise, using this method for bookkeeping would be much clearer and more straightforward."

After saying that, Su Li focused intently on her textbook writing. So absorbed was she that she didn’t even have dinner.

Bai Lu didn’t want to disturb Su Li, so she asked the kitchen to prepare a late-night snack for whenever Su Li got hungry. She continued to bring tea, water, and ink to Su Li, only to look up and see someone quietly entering through the door.