The next morning, Wang Linchi left early with Zhang Dao. Many villagers watched them with indifference; none attempted to stop them.
Mainly, it was because they had neither personal relations nor mutual interests. Zhang Dao was just a child in Wang Linchi's eyes, but to the villagers, he was already considered the head of his household and not a child at all. It was his own choice, and nobody felt obligated to dissuade him.
The two left quickly and endured hardship on the road. Zhang Dao never complained or grew tired. Instead, he was eager to learn. On the second day after their departure, he told Wang Linchi that he had mastered the material.
"So soon? The whole book?" Wang Linchi voiced his disbelief, but inwardly, he wasn't concerned at all. He was even surprised Zhang Dao had lasted two days; he had actually expected him to claim mastery the day before.
