Since the Tianzun had spoken, Madame Bai naturally abandoned the idea of disciplining her son, and the intended slap was not delivered.
She couldn't help but remove herself from the "elder" position, transforming into an innocent seeker of knowledge. "My son, you said water turns into clouds. After careful thought, Mother sees the logic. When water boils, it does turn into white vapor, doesn't it? That vapor rises and becomes clouds. But... how do we explain the Tianzun's clouds?"
Young Master Bai said proudly, "No explanation needed. The Tianzun's clouds are clouds conjured by an immortal, not to be explained by Physics. Ordinary clouds are clouds formed from evaporated water vapor, explainable by Physics. It's that simple."
Only then did Madame Bai have an epiphany. "So that's how it is! My son is truly clever. Ah, my son has grown up. Mother can no longer compare to you."
Saying this, Madame Bai beamed with joy. Unlike Bai Yuan, she wasn't worried about being surpassed by her son. In fact, she eagerly wished for him to surpass her as soon as possible. As a woman of the old society burdened with the era's heavy limitations, she believed in "a woman's lack of talent is a virtue." However, her son must possess talent to inherit the Bai family's legacy. Therefore, her son should—or rather, must—surpass her. And the sooner this day came, the better.
Li Daoxuan was also very pleased with Young Master Bai's growth.
Gao Village's new generation was thriving. By the time Young Master Bai's generation grew up, many things would be different.
They would understand how various natural phenomena occurred, grasp light refraction, comprehend forces, weight, mass, and a whole host of other concepts that were common sense to modern people but seemed like miracles to the ancients.
He hoped this day wouldn't be too far off.
Just then, Gao Yiye returned from the printing house, running pat-a-pat back toward the watchtower, preparing to urgently illustrate the third volume of The Tale of the Daoist Mystic Tianzun Vanquishing Demons.
Li Daoxuan stopped her. "Yiye, go to Young Master Bai. I have an announcement."
Gao Yiye hurried over to serve as the mouthpiece.
"Young Master Bai, are you willing to serve as the 'Physics Class Representative'?"
The question was naturally met with eager acceptance. Young Master Bai's spirits soared. "Willing! Actually... I also wanted to request the Tianzun appoint me as Physics Class Representative. I really love physics, even more than mathematics."
Li Daoxuan: "But you're already serving as Mathematics Class Representative. In the future, while studying physics yourself, you'll also need to teach other children physics. If you also continue with mathematics... I don't think you'll have enough time."
Young Master Bai fell silent. "This..."
This was indeed a concrete problem.
Although he was quite gifted, he had recently begun feeling the strain.
Gao Village was no longer a place with just a few dozen students. Since the refugees from Qingjian County arrived, the student population had instantly exploded to over four hundred, spread across ten classrooms.
Young Master Bai had to study mathematics himself, teach mathematics in ten separate classrooms, and also study the new subject of physics. For a thirteen-year-old child, this was immense pressure.
Li Daoxuan shifted his attention to Third Young Miss standing behind him. "Third Young Miss, how is your mathematics progressing?"
"I've... I've reached the first volume of... middle school first year..." Third Young Miss replied somewhat timidly.
"From now on, you will serve as the Mathematics Class Representative, teaching mathematics on my behalf. How about that?"
As soon as Li Daoxuan asked this, Third Young Miss shrank back in fright, almost wanting to hide behind Gao Yiye. But Gao Yiye was currently representing the Tianzun speaking to her; she had to face her, not let her hide behind.
She reached out and pulled Third Young Miss back out. "The Tianzun is speaking to you. Don't hide. Stand straight. Your attitude isn't proper at all."
This made Third Young Miss even more afraid. She curled up, shyly saying, "I... my attitude... isn't improper... it's just... I'm a little scared..."
Perfectly normal for a girl who had just turned twelve to feel stage fright.
Li Daoxuan didn't blame her. "But, aside from you, there is no better candidate."
"Eh?" Third Young Miss thought carefully. That seemed true. In Gao Village, only she and Young Master Bai had progressed the fastest in mathematics, reaching the middle school first-year level. The children of other villagers, due to family backgrounds, struggled with comprehension and learning ability; most were still stuck around elementary mathematics, third year, second volume.
Third Young Miss: "I... I am... a girl... girls cannot..."
"Nonsense!" Li Daoxuan said. "Why can't girls? Women hold up half the sky! If you dare to do it, if you are willing to do it, I will appoint you as Mathematics Class Representative. If anyone opposes you, I'll have a chat with them."
Who would dare chat with you? You're a deity!
Third Young Miss felt the powerful backing shining brightly.
Her little heart pounded. Of course, she was willing. Although brainwashed since childhood by Neo-Confucianism and led astray by teachings on female virtue, she was, after all, just a child. Unlike adult women who were already set in their ways, bowed down by oppression, she still possessed the courage to break through tradition and shatter shackles.
Third Young Miss considered very seriously, raising her little face. The twelve-year-old girl's rosy cheeks actually bore a look of determination. "Tianzun, I... I am willing to be the Mathematics Class Representative... please let me do it."
"Excellent!" Li Daoxuan revealed a gratified smile. "Very good, very good. In that case, I'll have Gao Yiye inform Teacher Wang later. The class schedule can be adjusted from now on. You will teach mathematics to the other children. Young Master Bai will focus on studying physics for a while. When other children finish Elementary Mathematics, we will immediately start physics classes, taught by Young Master Bai."
Young Master Bai and Third Young Miss bowed together. "We humbly obey the Tianzun's decree!"
Li Daoxuan felt a secret thrill. This was an important step forward.
Alright, matters to arrange were temporarily settled. Time to edit videos.
Li Daoxuan took out the previously filmed video of "all the villagers jointly making hand-torn noodles" and began editing.
He trimmed the process of each household contributing one noodle, finally combining them into one large bowl of hand-torn noodles, crafting a short video just one minute long.
He added a caption: "Bumper harvest. The people of the miniature kingdom are making their local specialty, hand-torn noodles..."
The caption was as lame as ever. I really should have studied harder in school. Ah, thinking of this, I can't help but take a deep look at San Shier Middle School in the box.
(Ming Context: The phrase "女子無才便是德" (a woman's lack of talent is a virtue) was a prevailing Neo-Confucian social norm that severely limited female education and public roles. Li Daoxuan's appointment of Third Young Miss isn't just personal encouragement; it's a direct, divine challenge to a fundamental pillar of Ming-era social order.)
(Meta: Li Daoxuan's quietest revolutions often have the loudest echoes. Today, it's appointing a girl to teach math. Tomorrow, it might be the student who questions why the sky is 'supposed' to be ruled by an emperor and not by the laws of physics.)