Poor but talented scholar

Chapter 36 Through the Master's Words

Inside the study, the sound of the wind passing through the bamboo curtains became clearly audible.

He originally intended to take advantage of the information gap to seize the land behind the mountain for himself.

But during countless late nights practicing calligraphy, looking at Yan Zhenqing's square and upright calligraphy model, he realized: a poor farmer's son without any connections holding a gold mine is not wealth, but a fuse that invites disaster. Only by binding the whole village together can he succeed.

Finally, Master Zhao slowly placed the stack of coarse yellow paper on the table, his voice steady and certain: "Your thinking is indeed thorough. To be able to extract this practical matter that benefits the hometown from the pile of old papers shows your pure heart, which is truly commendable."

The Master's high praise first calmed Lu Chuan's mind.

Then, after a moment's thought, he pointed his finger at the vermilion seal: "The benefits of planting medicinal herbs are indeed more suitable for the mountainous and land-scarce conditions of Liutang Village than paddy fields. However, this matter concerns the livelihood of the entire village, and you are still young. If you were to take the lead, I'm afraid it would be difficult to convince the villagers."

"When you return home on your monthly leave, I will personally invite the head of your clan and the head of the Lu family to have a meeting and explain the relevant laws and regulations in detail."

At this point, Master Zhao abruptly changed his tone, staring intently at Lu Chuan, his voice becoming more serious: "However, Lu Chuan, you must remember that your primary task now is still the proper path of the imperial examinations. These prescriptions and abacuses are ultimately just minor, miscellaneous studies."

"The foundation of one's character lies solely in the study of classics and literature. One must never become obsessed with money and squander one's noble spirit, like that of Yan Zhenqing."

This is not only a form of care, but also a reflection of the deeply ingrained values ​​of scholars in this era: among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, all other professions are inferior, only studying is superior.

The huge weight in Lu Chuan's heart was finally lifted, and a great joy welled up inside him.

He did not show his joy, but suppressed his emotions and bowed deeply respectfully: "Thank you, Master! You are kind-hearted and understand the suffering of the people. If this matter is accomplished, the livelihoods of all the households in Lu Family Village will depend on your guidance and virtue. I will certainly remember your teachings, prioritize my studies, and never neglect the essentials for trivial matters."

His words cleverly attributed all the credit and fame to Master Zhao.

He knew that in ancient society, the whimsical ideas of a 9-year-old student were worthless. Only by attaching the title of "personally researched by the scholar" could this medicinal field strategy be implemented smoothly in Lujia Village.

Time flies, and the monthly holiday is here again.

A fine drizzle fell from the sky, and an oxcart rumbled along the official road outside Qingyang County. Inside sat the father and sixth uncle, both burdened with worries. Wearing straw raincoats, they drove the cart while conversing in hushed tones, their conversation constantly revolving around Lu Chuan, who was studying at the academy.

"Sixth Uncle, do you think Chuan'er can really gain a foothold in the school?" Lu Shouye frowned. "Although he lost money last time, he is still a farmer's son. I'm afraid he will have to suffer from the rich kids again."

Although Sixth Uncle was composed, his eyes betrayed unease: "Master Zhao is strict, so it shouldn't be a problem. I'm just afraid this child is stubborn. If he falls behind in his studies, or if he schemes against someone he shouldn't, he might get into trouble..."

After all, Lu Chuan was the only hope for the entire village, and his every move affected the village.

The oxcart came to a stop in front of the school. The two men had just tied the ox to the old locust tree when they saw the school's manager already waiting under the porch.

"Sixth Uncle, Brother Shouye, you've arrived." Old Zhang politely cupped his hands in greeting. "The Master has ordered that you two come directly to the study."

For a moment, Lu Shouye's hands trembled slightly: "Did Chuan'er get into a fight? Or is he not doing well in his studies, and the teacher wants to expel him?"

Sixth Uncle, having seen his share of situations, forced himself to remain calm and managed a stiff smile: "Thank you for leading the way, Steward Zhang."

The two walked through the corridor, the raindrops hitting the bluestone slabs, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.

Entering the study, he saw Master Zhao sitting upright behind his desk, while Lu Chuan stood respectfully to his side. Upon seeing his elder enter, Lu Chuan raised his head, his gaze clear and calm, showing no trace of the fear that had followed his mistake.

Master Zhao noticed their awkwardness and smiled slightly: "You two need not be alarmed. I invited you here today not because of Lu Chuan's fault, but actually for a good cause."

Good news? Lu Shouye wiped the rain off his face, his expression full of suspicion.

Master Zhao picked up the stack of manuscripts on the table, which Lu Chuan had organized and which he had personally annotated, and said slowly, "Lu Chuan, this boy, was inspired by studying the Complete Book of Agricultural Administration and said that he wanted to seek happiness for his hometown."

"I have observed that the hills behind Liutang Village are mostly barren slopes covered with lacquer trees. If we plant shady medicinal herbs such as Pinellia ternata and Poria cocos in this way, the benefits will far outweigh those of barren fields."

He handed the manuscript to Lu Dexing, the village head: "This is 'Medicinal Plants of Lujia Village,' which I have recently compiled by consulting ancient books and combining them with the phenology of this county. It covers details such as seed selection, composting, and pest control. You two can take it back and study it carefully."

Sixth Uncle received the manuscript with both hands, feeling as if it weighed a ton. A dignified scholar personally writing a guide to getting rich? This was practically an auspicious blessing from his ancestors.

"Regarding the trial planting, we must not be greedy at the beginning." Master Zhao's tone changed, and his expression became serious. "As for Lu Chuan..."

Lu Chuan's heart tightened, and he bowed his head to receive the instruction.

"His only task now is to devote himself to his studies, for the imperial examination is the proper path to success! Such pursuits as farming and commerce, though they may bring meager profits, are ultimately inferior. If his mind is distracted, his studies will surely suffer!"

The master looked sharply at Lu Dashan and Lu Dexing: "From now on, do not let the child be distracted by trivial matters in the village, and even more so, do not let him develop any greedy thoughts of making profits through business. Can you two guarantee that to me?"

When Lu Shouye and his sixth uncle were swept over by Master Zhao's sharp gaze, they felt a chill run down their spines, followed by an unprecedented sense of trepidation.

In the eyes of these farmers who toil in the fields, Master Zhao was not only a teacher at the academy, but also the embodiment of learning and status within a hundred miles of Qingyang County.

Once the scholar has spoken, it is as good as golden rule. Moreover, the teacher's words reveal an almost harsh but deep affection for Lu Chuan.

"Don't worry, Master, we know what's important!" Lu Shouye quickly straightened his chest, though his clothes were still damp from the rain. "Chuan'er is the root of our Lu family, the hope of our village. From now on, even if we old bones break our backs from working so hard, we will never let this child lift a finger to help with the planting of medicinal herbs in the village. His hands are the ones that hold a pen."

Uncle Liu also bowed down shakily, his calloused hands, trembling slightly with excitement, gripping the stack of manuscripts tightly. His aged voice was choked with emotion: "We will never forget your great kindness, Master."

"It's Chuan'er's good fortune to receive such guidance from you. Any young man in our village who dares to bother Chuan'er with mundane matters in the future, I, this old man, will be the first to break his legs with my cane!"