The two elders smiled at Su Xiaotian's imposing demeanor.
"Look at this little girl, she's got the right attitude!"
"This child is so sharp, we've spoiled her. Professor Chi, please don't laugh!" Grandpa Su said humbly, but his tone was filled with unspeakable pride and self-satisfaction.
Su Xiaotian's favored status was a known fact in the village, and even Chi Ge, an outsider, was vaguely aware of it.
He had initially thought that a child doted on excessively would become spoiled, but he hadn't expected her to be so well-behaved.
"Children like this are lovable," Chi Ge said with a smile, his words sincere admiration.
As they spoke, they heard Su Xiaotian reading the newspaper with great concentration.
She was a fifteen or sixteen-year-old child, so it wouldn't be surprising. But for a little thing of six or seven years old to be reading a newspaper so earnestly, without a single stutter, was utterly astonishing.
The two old men were startled. Chi Ge, in particular, who was about to drink water with his bowl, almost dropped it.
Grandpa Su was illiterate, but he had heard his grandsons read haltingly. How could his youngest granddaughter read so fluently?
Could it be that she truly recognized all these characters?
It shouldn't be. They had the same teacher, so why such a vast difference?
After a long pause, Chi Ge asked in disbelief, "Brother Su, forgive my presumption, but how old was this child when she started learning?"
This newspaper contained many rare characters. Not to mention the children in the village, even his own son, Chi Yiyuan, might not be able to read them so fluently.
"What do you mean by 'started learning'?" Grandpa Su asked blankly.
"I mean, at what age did the child begin to study?" Chi Ge quickly clarified.
"Last year, she saw her brothers going to school and made a fuss about wanting to study. So, we sent her to school. It hasn't even been a full year," Grandpa Su replied.
"It's too remarkable, too remarkable! A natural talent for learning!" Chi Ge exclaimed, pacing excitedly in the small room.
In one year, to be able to read a newspaper so fluently, what kind of miraculous child was this?
For an ordinary child, in one year, let alone reading a newspaper, recognizing a few hundred characters would be considered good.
"Good child, come here. Grandpa Su wants to ask you, how do you know these characters?" Could it be that the village harbored a true master who could teach such an exceptional child?
Su Xiaotian looked up blankly and said, "I just looked at them, and then I knew them."
"Just looked at them, and then knew them?" What kind of answer was that?
Grandpa Su was dumbfounded, Chi Ge was bewildered, and Chi Yiyuan was lost.
Especially Chi Yiyuan, as he looked at Su Xiaotian, he couldn't quite articulate his feelings.
He had been considered intelligent since childhood, and many praised his innate talent. But he had never learned so many characters just by looking at them.
From the age of three, his grandfather personally tutored him. It had been eight years now, and his level was at most comparable to this young girl's.
No, perhaps his level was not even as good as this little girl's.
At this moment, Chi Yiyuan felt that the reputation of being naturally intelligent was truly undeserved.
Compared to Su Xiaotian, he felt utterly useless.
"Brother Su, is the teacher in your village particularly remarkable?" Chi Ge asked, although he found the possibility unlikely.
Grandpa Su shook his head. "They are just two educated youths from the city who have been teaching for several years. My other grandchildren are also taught by them."
This statement undeniably implied that Su Xiaotian was an exception. While the other children were taught by the same teachers, she had learned, and the others certainly hadn't reached her level.
Therefore, the child was exceptionally gifted and extraordinarily intelligent!
"Brother Su, your granddaughter is extraordinary! In my entire life, I have never met such an intelligent child," Chi Ge said, excitedly grasping Grandpa Su's hand.
Grandpa Su was still somewhat bewildered. Although he had always known his little granddaughter was smart, he hadn't realized she was *this* smart.
Su Xiaotian listened, feeling a blush of embarrassment. She wasn't smart; it was simply that she had learned it in her previous life and was now picking it up again.
However, Su Xiaotian soon felt that it wasn't entirely due to her past life. After all, in her previous life, she had only managed to finish middle school, and her knowledge was quite limited.
It seemed that in recent days, as she read, she had recognized many characters and understood much knowledge she hadn't grasped before.
Moreover, in the process of reading, she discovered that her memory was improving. She only needed to read a book once to clearly remember its contents.
"Is she really very good?" Grandpa Su eagerly sought Chi Ge's affirmation.
After all, the villagers were simple folk. Chi Ge, an educated person from a big city, if he said their little Sweetheart was smart, then she truly was smart.
"Not very good, she's exceptionally good, extraordinarily good. Brother Su, if it were a few years earlier, I would have insisted you let her become my disciple and teach her all my life's knowledge. But now..." Chi Ge's excited mood gradually calmed down as he spoke, recognizing the reality.
This child was born at the wrong time...
What a pity.
The village lacked good teachers. No matter how talented this child was, she was destined not to learn much.
But if he were to teach her, it would be harming the child.
"Grandpa Chi, can you teach me?" Su Xiaotian immediately asked.
Chi Ge hesitated.
It wasn't that he didn't want to teach. Meeting such a good child was luck, a blessing.
"Child, you are a good one, but I fear that teaching you would harm you."
"Grandpa Chi, we can learn secretly. I can come to your place when no one is paying attention. You don't have to teach me for long each day, just an hour. Others probably won't notice," Su Xiaotian said quickly, afraid Chi Ge would refuse further.
Chi Ge was a literary master, not only knowledgeable about astronomy and geography but also skilled in calligraphy and painting, a truly omnipotent figure.
If she could become Chi Ge's disciple, it would be her luck and her fortune.
Ultimately, his appreciation for talent prevailed, and Chi Ge agreed to tutor Su Xiaotian.
Upon hearing Chi Ge's agreement, Su Xiaotian immediately knelt down and kowtowed respectfully.
The little girl's action startled everyone present.
"Good child, this is not permissible. If others see this, it might cause trouble," Chi Ge said, quickly pulling Su Xiaotian up.
Kowtowing was a feudal custom that should be discarded. If anyone saw Su Xiaotian kowtowing to him, he wouldn't be able to explain it.
"Grandpa Su, I've kowtowed. Will you acknowledge it or not?" Su Xiaotian blinked her big eyes and said adorably.
Her expression seemed to suggest she was afraid Chi Ge would go back on his word.
Even Chi Ge's heart melted.
This little girl was not only smart but also perceptive. Such a child would surely have a bright future!
He immediately nodded and said, "I won't go back on my word. However, you should not call me 'master' in the future; just call me Grandpa Su."
Su Xiaotian nodded repeatedly. Being able to learn from a distinguished figure was enough; the title didn't matter.
"Grandpa Su, I understand."